Shadow Scholar Syndicate: EM 2016--Day Five Recap

Your “Syndicate Hangover” is proudly presented by “Das Bier”

Image result for 1997 das bier das fest karlsruhe

Only at Karlsruhe’s “Das Fest” can one buy beer bottles labeled “Das Bier”. Your friendly bookie does not often drink beer…but when he does, he prefers “Das Bier”. May we all meet again together under cerulean Southern German Skies. Bleib durstig, Kumpels!

Day 5: Recap

Record—

Spread: 3-9

Straight up: 6-2-4

Hot Girl Standings

Country	Tally	Games Played
France	14	1
Spain	12	1
Germany	8	1
Austria	8	1
Switzerland	7	1
Albania	7	1
Italy	7	1
Republic of Ireland	6	1
Sweden	6	1
Wales	6	1
Turkey	6	1
Poland	6	1
Romania	5	1
Slovakia	4	1
Czech Republic	4	1
England	4	1
Portugal	4	1
Iceland	4	1
Hungary	3	1
Russia	3	1
Belgium	3	1
Croatia	2	1
The Ukraine	1	1
Northern Ireland	1	1

Your friendly bookie has a bit of explaining to do after last night’s “Riffs Section”. Frist off, no one has to worry about me and 122-M. We’re brothers forever. ; ) We often have these debates. It’s all part of our long and deep friendship ; )

I should actually address the issue of the deplorable acts of the Russian fans, lest anyone confuse me with that Russian fucktard who encouraged his country’s spectators to “keep on fighting”. For the record, I agree with the actions UEFA has taken. Should there be anything resembling a recurrence of that behavior, they should be disqualified from the tournament and have their hosting privileges in 2018 revoked. Don’t forget that your friendly bookie regularly lambasts football fans for their moronic actions. The Syndicate is rife with denunciations. You won’t have to dig too deep to get my views on the Croats and their flares.

I suppose my frustration with the prevalence of “off the pitch” news in this tournament stems mostly from how much credit we’re giving these loons with all the coverage. Furthermore, we’re ruing a bunch of well-earned and well-deserved fun for ourselves. Should we all decide to be haughty and pedantic pricks lecturing everyone about how unimportant football seems in the wake of these unfortunate events, we’re getting it wrong.

Sports may be an escape from reality, but that happens to be VERY important. Everyone deserves a break from the harsh realities of the World. Football brings with it some violence, but it also brings joy to billions struggling with personal, professional, and political misery on this planet. I’ve actually written on this topic extensively in previous pages of the Syndicate. There are so many mini essays scattered about the chapters. I wrote pages on in the 2009, 2012, 2013, and 2014. Your friendly bookie shall always be a thoughtful and caring person…but one cannot live every moment of one’s short life laser-focused on what a Sad Veil of Tears the world is. We simply HAVE to cut loose, make love & laughter, and smile every so often.

The tendency of the current media, and the younger generation to a certain extent, to judgmentally scold everyone looking to relax and disconnect a bit is also deplorable. People do not need a reminder how unfair and cruel life is. They need to keep their spirits up and have fun on occasion. Picture yourself at a Friday Night Soiree after a long and stressful workweek. You’ve got you drink in hand, you’re chatting with a pretty girl, and are finally enjoying yourself for the first time in days. Do you really need a reminder that literally thousands of children on this planet die of starvation every day at that point?

The Bottom Line is as follows: ESPN needs to stop pretending that they’re “Frontline”. I read all about the tragedies in this world over coffee in the morning paper. I work my ass off and come home to flick on the tele to relax and watch a little football…and you clowns are attempting to shame me with your arrogant attempts to pretend as if you’re journalists. You’re not! I get my news from REAL Journalists. I expect my entertainment from you.

Wanna know something interesting? There’s no such thing as the “Subway Halftime Show” on German telecasts. Instead of a sponsored studio piece, we watch professional news reports in between halfs. I’d have no quibble with ESPN if they brought in the PBS Newshour Team to do a 20-minute News Segment after the first 45 minutes. That would be great! I have a serious fucking problem with Sports Anchors considering it their duty to inform the public with insipidly shallow reminders that people died and got injured today.

Image result for espn euro 2016 coverage

GET OFF MY TV!

I’ve already DVRed “Frontline” and am looking forward to watching it. You guys stick to the Sports, please.

Whew. Feels good to get that off my chest. Hopefully, that’ll be the last media rant of this Chapter.

Thoughts on Today:

--Oh man did the Magical Magyars cost me a great deal of money. Shocker. Had Alaba been able to sneak that First-Half effort in, it might have been a different story. How could I have ever doubted a coaching staff featuring Andreas Müller?

--Speaking of lost chump change….WHAT? Iceland with the 50^th minute equalizer! Didn’t see that one coming. Your friendly bookie lost his shirt today…and he no longer looks good naked ; (

--Kate Markgraf rocks!! She’s my favorite commentator of this tournament.

“Riffs of the Day”—Day Five