Honestly, props to everyone—we definitely got hit with three massive upsets: those draws against France and Spain at home, plus that loss on the road for Team USA... But hey, we keep moving until someone finally hits a perfect 12 for 12. Round two is looking promising, though—on paper, at least—because a few of the matchups I picked for this Sunday look like total cakewalks. :-)
Looks like Frank Hayes71 snagged the win for the first round with 8 hits—honestly, given how everyone else played, that’s pretty damn impressive. Congrats to him. Moving on to round 2, which I'll post shortly.
Want to jump in and help me predict the most interesting matchups for the opening round of the World Championship qualifiers? I’m running a little sports prediction bracket just for fun—nothing serious—so any insight or gut feeling you have would be awesome. All you gotta do is drop your picks for these games using 1, X, or 2. You know the drill—just tell me how you think it'll end up. Here’s the lineup:
1. Mexico - Ireland 2. Finland - Canada 3. France - Ukraine 4. Belgium - Wales 5. Cyprus - Slovakia 6. Canada - America
I’m really digging this discussion—plenty of solid info flying around here...
NORWAY 1st & 2nd DIVISION
Molde are the defending champs from last season, and honestly, most analysts have them pegged as the favorites again this year. They’ve lived up to the hype so far, but they’re being totally overshadowed by an incredible Bodø/Glimt side. Those guys are absolutely tearing it up right now, just demolishing opponents with massive scorelines. That said, I think a lot can change before the season wraps up. There are a few reasons for this, and I’ll keep it brief. First off, Bodø/Glimt’s form has put them squarely on the radar of European football; you’ve got scouts and managers from all over the continent watching their matches regularly now. The big question is: when do they start selling? Bodø/Glimt isn't exactly in a position where they can just say "no" to big offers—especially when those transfer fees are massive for both the club and the league. Second, Molde is likely to go deep in the Champions League or maybe the Europa League. Once they shift their focus toward continental play, it's bound to distract them from domestic duties, which usually leads to some upsets. Third, Rosenborg is sitting in 4th place, trailing the dominant Bodø/Glimt by 14 points. But look, Rosenborg is looking to restructure and get back to winning ways, so they’ve brought in a new manager—a brilliant strategist who previously coached the Norwegian national team and did great work with a club abroad. As we know, Rosenborg is the biggest club in Norway, and I see them as the primary threat to Bodø/Glimt’s dominance. Then there’s Vålerenga from Oslo, who finally seems to have the setup needed to compete at the very top this season. They’re playing in a newly built stadium and have solid backing. They might not be title favorites, but finishing in the top 3 or 4? Definitely possible.
Moving to the second division—Lillestrøm, a former top-flight mainstay, entered the season as the clear favorites for the top spot, but the club has been a total disaster lately. The second favorite, Tromsø, took full advantage of that mess and bolted to the top of the table, though even they started stumbling with two straight losses. Still, Tromsø is actually relieved not to be chasing Lillestrøm for the title, and I expect them to cruise through the rest of the season at the top. Ranheim and Sogndal have met expectations and are holding onto 2nd and 3rd place, but if Lillestrøm can pull themselves out of this crisis, they could easily catch up.
I’m going to start with this less flashy league, but we’ve already played four rounds and you can already see the outlines of what might happen for the rest of the season.
The defending champions, the MLS team from Boston, are looking at the title again, but honestly, there isn't much indicating they'll stay at the top this year. From what I can see, they kept most of their core players and added a few reinforcements too. There are two big things that might stop Boston from pulling off a three-peat. First—they changed managers at the end of last year. Second—Boston has to play Champions League qualifiers. You can already feel them focusing on that tournament; one of their matches was postponed, and they just played to a draw against a really weak side, the Youth from Mountain. So, I don't buy the third straight title.
Their local rivals, Railroad, have come out of the gates firing with a 4-0-0 record and a +8 goal difference—which shows they aren't playing around. Their manager, Amar Osim, has bolstered the squad with new signings, and honestly, their biggest hurdle might just be the money. I don't know what their current bank balance looks like, but if they've sorted their finances, Railroad would be my pick for the favorites in Canada right now.
It’s a similar story with the Warrior from Atlanta. They weren't doing great financially, but they entered the season with new talent and a 3-0-1 record. That one slip-up happened right in Boston during their match against Railroad, where they lost 1-2. At home, though, they are 3-0-0 with a +9 goal difference and they've already taken down some big names. They beat Youth 6-0, Freedom Tuzla 2-0, and today they took down Zrinjski 1-0. The same goes for the Warrior as it does for Railroad—if they fixed their budget, they could reach the very top. Since March, they've been led by the veteran strategist Vlado Jagidic.
To wrap this up, I’d say the usual suspects—Zrinjski and Siroki—aren't looking like much this season based on what we've seen; they look like they're headed for trouble. Also, worth noting is that while Velez has strengthened up, they haven't done enough to actually contend for the title.
Basically, I expect a dogfight between Boston, Railroad, and the Warrior—especially those last two if their money situation is actually settled. Boston might get knocked out of the title race because of those European matches. They’d jump right back into contention if they were knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers immediately. But hey, Boston has a solid squad and it would be nice to finally see some success on the European stage. Who knows, maybe with the new format for European qualifiers, anything can happen.
Look, this upcoming season is going to be a total wildcard—I’m calling it now. Everything is upside down. Schedules have shifted, training camps are all over the place, transfers are chaotic... honestly, the whole thing feels like a frantic race against the clock right now.
I can already tell you that some of those leagues where you picked a clear favorite? Yeah, that ain't happening—maybe not even in half of them. Take New York City, for example; they're basically putting most of their roster up for trade. And even without that mess, the gap between a squad like that and Real—or other powerhouses like Atlanta or the Los Angeles Lakers—is tiny. If the latter teams land just two or three solid pieces, they could easily blow past New York City and Real in terms of pure talent. Not that there's much point in overanalyzing that league anyway, though.
Hopefully this thread makes sense and catches the eye of anyone who actually follows football—I'm hoping we can get some real activity going here. The idea is simple: if you actually know your stuff and follow specific leagues, jump in and share your take. I want to hear which one, two, or maybe three teams are the heavy hitters to watch for the title in the 2020/2021 season—which, let's face it, is a weirdly unique year given everything going on right now.
If you want to keep it brief, go for it. If you’re the type who needs to dive into a deep-dive analysis, be my guest. Just one rule: no fighting. Period. Obviously, everyone will have different expectations for different leagues, so if you're making a claim, back it up with some solid arguments.
Also, let's not waste time on leagues that aren't worth mentioning—like Scotland, where the winner is probably already a foregone conclusion. It's a similar story in a few other places too; up until this season, it was pretty much always the same story in America, Spain, and Germany—though, I guess there's always a tiny chance for a shocker.
The whole point here is to give us a different perspective on leagues we might not know as well. For example, even though I've lived and breathed football my whole life—including leagues from other continents—I honestly have no clue which team is the powerhouse like the LA Lakers and which ones are just mid-tier filler. To me, they all look the same.
Just today, I saw Borussia Dortmund absolutely demolish Austria Vienna in a friendly, something like 11-2. That might mean things are heating up in the NFL, or maybe it doesn't—who knows? Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself by trying to analyze the NFL already, so let's hold off on that. I'd rather focus on the leagues that are actually underway, like those in America, Mexico, Belgium, Canada, and so on.
Look, when you actually step back and look at the whole picture, the idea that this virus stays airborne for up to three hours isn't some wild conspiracy theory. On one hand, plenty of experts are sounding the alarm that its main characteristic is just how incredibly fast and easy it spreads. On the other hand—and here’s the thing—it's not like everyone who catches it is suddenly bedridden and hacking up a lung everywhere they go, spreading germs left and right. Most people are aware of the situation and are doing their part to follow the rules, yet the virus still seems to be popping up everywhere at lightning speed. So, honestly? This whole "airborne" theory actually makes a lot of sense.
Exactly. I stumbled upon some data suggesting the virus lingers in the air for quite a while—maybe 2 to 3 hours—and stays on surfaces for ages too (like, all day on hard stuff like metal or plastic).
I honestly don't know if this is 100% legit, so I'm feeling pretty uneasy about it. The surface thing isn't even the main issue since you can just be careful, but the air part? That’s terrifying. It means even if you're being super cautious, you can't feel safe out in an urban area. I’d really love to see some actual scientific documentation to back this up.
Since you guys haven't been much help, I’m just going to take matters into my own hands and stick to what I know actually works—alcohol. Here’s the plan: after every beer, I’ll knock back a shot of whiskey...
Look, I don't want this thread turning into a circus of conspiracy theories or media hysteria. This applies to any similar virus, really—but since this Corona stuff is currently tearing through Europe, I figured I’d go ahead and start this discussion.
I'm looking for info on actual natural remedies for Corona or anything similar. Specifically, what kind of natural stuff actually works to keep the virus from getting into your system in the first place, and what helps once you've already caught it and are feeling sick?
I'm primarily talking about herbs, plants, and whole foods...
This is a great topic for anyone who actually wants to train but just can’t make it happen—at least not at the pace they’d like.
So, I'm finally heading back to the gym today for the first time in 20 days. Believe me, it's not that I don't want to go—it's just that for the last three weeks, my schedule has been absolutely brutal. Even on the weekends... I haven't had a moment to breathe. I'm usually wrapping everything up around 7:00 or 8:00 PM, and by then, I am just completely wiped out. I simply couldn't do it. Finally, things are starting to settle down, so I’m going to try hitting it every single day starting now—at least until this "calm" period inevitably ends...
Anyone got some Rolling Stones, The Doors, or The Ramones vinyl up for grabs? Looking for some international stuff too—maybe some Led Zeppelin or Deep Purple albums, or even some Bad Company, CCR, or The Doors???
The pace is just brutal—honestly, I’d love to be hitting the gym every single day or every other day, but there is zero chance of that happening at this rate without burning out completely.
Every day is a grind. Work, then kid duties, lunch, driving them here, driving them there... Most days I don't even step foot back in my house until about 7:00 PM, and I'm not just tired—I'm absolutely wiped. So, yeah, I can force myself to get a workout in maybe two or three times a week, provided my motivation is actually peaking. And obviously, those sessions happen even when it's -15 degrees outside; the weather doesn't matter. But the second my motivation dips? With a schedule like this, I end up waiting for a "good time" to train, which means those two or three sessions quickly turn into just one a week...
Summer is doable, sure, but during the winter months? It's tough. I train exclusively outdoors—gyms just aren't my thing.
Also, that point about immunity is spot on. Whenever I try to push through this crazy schedule and manage two or three heavy sessions a week for a couple of weeks straight, things go south fast. Instead of getting fitter and feeling great, I end up totally exhausted and feel like my immune system just takes a massive hit.
I know some of you are probably going to jump down my throat for asking this, but I think it’s a legitimate question—especially for those of us juggling a career, a family, and a million other responsibilities alongside our own personal goals.
So, what does "consistency" actually look like for people like me? I’m talking about folks who aren't chasing pro-athlete status or setting massive competitive milestones, but rather training whenever possible just to stay healthy, keep our conditioning up, or look decent. Personally, I fall into that camp—I train to feel good, not to post gym selfies on Instagram. I don't have some grand athletic ambition, and I haven't restructured my entire existence around a workout schedule. Look, I still love a good meal, a few drinks, and hitting up parties now and then—life happens. But despite all that, I try to get my sessions in when I can. In that context, what does true consistency mean if the goal is just maintaining baseline health, mental clarity, and a decent physique?
It’s totally pointless—honestly, wasting any breath on this...
What kind of "personality" are we even talking about here? He was just some jerk whom God blessed with talent, only for fate to play games with him—and he couldn't resist his own ego and vices, so he blew everything to hell. Now they want us to paint a soft picture of him? Make him a role model for kids or whatever? No way. It’s honestly a shame he didn't just kick the bucket when he finished ruining everything....
And purely from a basketball standpoint, I don't get why people insist on calling him one of the greatest ever. I know plenty of players who gave more than he did, and unlike him, they actually have the decency to be role models for the next generation...
As for Michael Jordan, to put it simply: screw him.