Open Thread.

Federer in some trouble against Berdych at Wimbledon. Djokivic through to the semis. Murray and Rafa Nadal (vs. Soderling) still to play.

Open Thread.

World Cup - Penalty kick shootout to finish Paraguay-Japan. Spain faces Portugal this afternoon.

Open Thread.

World Cup and Wimbledon continue. Tour de France starts Saturday.

The Kagan hearings are scheduled to start today but I suspect it may be put off in light of the passing of Robert Byrd. UPDATE - Nope. The show goes on, confirmed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Open Thread.

England was robbed of an equalizer goal by Lampard in its game with Germany. Germany leads at half 2-1. It's been a wide open game. Should be a great second half.

Argentina-Mexico. Mexico will shock the world.

Bill Clinton and Mick Jagger at the World Cup. Also having a good time with Bill: Katie Couric and Wolf Blitzer.

More photos here.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Open Thread. All topics welcome. But I will add a few words about today's World Cup matches.

While both Brazil and Portugal are virtually assured of going through to the Round of 16 (Brazil IS assured), this morning's game between them has significance nonetheless- it determines who will play Spain (if Spain gets through) in the Round of 16.

Interestingly, if you wanted to avoid Spain (Chile is a very good team), you would not know whether to play to win or draw. Spain does not face Chile until this afternoon.

If Spain falters, avoiding Chile to instead play Switzerland would be a big plus. In any event, Brazil and Portugal should be incapable of playing an uninteresting game. A must see. In the afternoon, Spain again plays for its World Cup life against a very good Chile team. (Group H turned into the real Group of Death.) Switzerland can, indeed, should, beat Honduras. If it does, Spain MUST beat Chile to advance. In effect, Spain must win the Group or go home. I like Brazil, Ivory Coast, Spain and Switzerland in today's matches.

President Obama has surfaced in the Blagojevich trial about what he knew about Blago's desire for a cabinet position if he named Valerie Jarrett to the Senate. Blago's former Chief of Staff John Harris testified he thinks Obama did know. Obama has said he didn't and U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said the same when announcing Blago's Indictment. Now Team Blago wants the FBI 302 (investigative report) of Obama's interview with the feds. Will they get it? This judge doesn't seem to give Blago's lawyers an inch, between limiting their cross and sustaining objection after objection to their questions, so I doubt it. He also refused today to delay the trial so the defense could study any effect of the Skilling opinion on honest services fraud. He told Team Blago, it "may not offer a lot of hope for you."

The report in Sarah Palin's latest ethics probe is out. Her fund for legal fees was unethical. She's agreed to pay back more than $300,000. The report found no criminal conduct because she relied on advice of counsel. This latest probe was one of the reasons she gave for resigning as Governor. The report is available here.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

World Cup - The Azurri in deep trouble, losng to Slovakia 1-0 at half. The Kiwis look non-threatening against Paraguay.

Open Thread.

I'm traveling again tonight.

This afternoon in the World Cup, Germany plays Ghana and Australia faces Serbia. Ghana leads the group and is assured of going through with a draw. A win of course seal the group win. Germany goes through with a win or a draw and a Serbia draw or loss by less than 8. Serbia goes through with a win or a draw and a German loss. Australia goes through with a win and a German loss. Clear?

I like Germany over Ghana and a draw between Australia and Serbia. This result would put Germany through at the top of the group but Ghana could still qualify with on tiebreakers with Serbia. The goal count would decide it.

The USA probably would prefer to face Ghana or Serbia rather than Germany in Saturday's Round of 16 game. Therefore, root for a German win.

Open Thread.

World Cup - On paper, the Mexico-Uruguay match should offer a game where both teams pull out all the stops to win this game the reason is both teams are 3 points clear of the other two teams in the group, France and South Africa, and both hold large goal differentials over these two teams (France would have to pick up 5 goals on goal differential (or 4 goals with a +4 goals scored) to qualify.)

The incentive for winning Group A is playing South Korea or Greece instead of Argentina in the Round of 16. That is a pretty big incentive.In the other early game, France has disintegrated and South Africa is simply not very good.

Mexico-Uruguay is clearly the match to watch. I like Uruguay.

Final scores -Uruguay 1 - Mexico 0, South Africa 2 - France1. Uruguay wins the group and avoids Argentina. Mexico also advances but has to face Argentina in the round of 16.

Open Thread.

Spain's last stand in the World Cup comes this afternoon versus Honduras. With Chile's 1-0 win over Switzerland, Spain's chances hinge on a win today. If they draw, even a win over Chile can not guarantee Spain's passage to the Round of 16 (Switzerland could qualify with a win in its final match with Honduras.) Spain, the pre-tournament favorite, has to win today. And even a win today is no guarantee- only a guarantee that Spain will control its own destiny.

It's a huge match.

Open Thread.