Iverson Returns

Warrick Dunn returned to the Bucs a few years ago after spending time in Atlanta. Ken Griffey Jr, one of the greatest baseball players of all time, went back to Seattle after years of his body and ability deteriorating in the cellar of the NL Central. Neither of those will compare to tonight when Allen Iverson returns to the team he carried night in and night out during his youth. Iverson won scoring titles, MVP's and one eastern conference championship during his first tenure with the Sixers. He had the greatest basketball player of all-time on his heels with a crossover that dropped both mouths and defenders-just ask Antonio Daniels. Iverson will return to an arena that he routinely filled in the late 90s, but lately has been as full as the Petersen Events Center with Pitt up 30 on a helpless out of conference foe-or DePaul. With the Sixers minus guard Lou Williams and forward Marreese Speights, the Sixers were in need of a spark. Allen Iverson is more of a fire starter. With the Sixers riding a nine game losing streak they will need that fire inside of The Answer or this season will be up in flames. With more than likely a soldout Wachovia Center for probably the first time since Philadelphia native Kobe Bryant brought his Lakers in and bombarded the basket with an array of bricks and clankers. At least for tonight, it's the house that A.I. built.

World Cup

The World Cup draw was today. Though it was tough to concentrate between the excutive's English, which was less understandable than an ewok, and Charlize Theron, who tried to make herself look like she actually belonged there, none the less the groups were set. A few things stood out in the 2010 World Cup groupings.

The U.S. should go double or nothing on the national debt with Saudi Arabia and China right now. Because if the luck carries over from these selections, we would be out of the red. The United States is in a great position to get out of the groupings. Though they've never played, the U.S. should get victories over Algeria and Slovenia, at the least a win and draw. But against the big boy of the group England, America needs no motivation. Just go and get things done. Even without a victory, the U.S. should be fine.

The only other place I would have like to see the United States was in group A to get the host country, which is the only group without a traditional seeded power. A place the team might have wanted to go was possibly group H with Spain. After this summer's monstrous upset of the Spaniards in the Gold Cup, the team could have seen this as another opportunity to put a signature win on this team. On the other hand it's difficult to beat a team like that twice-in-a-row, and no doubt Spain would have been heavily motivated in a rematch

I'll be interested to see what happens in group A. Every team selected was praying to get put with the South Africans in their initial groups. However, this group now has two traditional powers in Mexico and France. Though both teams haven't played well lately (just ask Henry's hand), these teams show up for the World Cup making it an interesting group to watch. Plus host countries always play well, so don't count the South Africans out.

The "Group of Death" goes to group G no question. North Korea returns to the World Cup after an absence, but good luck getting out of this group. Brazil, Portugal, and the Ivory Coast should all get 3 points from North Korea, but after that you might as well pull names out of a hat. One has to figure Brazil will find a way to get in regardless of this competition, so the opening game between Portugal and the Ivory Coast will be pivotal.

None of this actually matter until next June when the cup will kick off with South Africa versus Mexico, but it's always fun to take a look into the future. Hopefully, all teams can stay healthy, prepare well and make the 2010 World Cup a memorable one.