WORLD CUP!!!

As has been tradition, the inaugural game of the world cup features the host country.

Brazil vs. Croatia caps off the next month of the world's wildest, longest celebration.

I'm not going to go on a diatribe about how I know what will happen based on whatever metrics the analysts have drawn up. Personally, I think Brazil will tie Croatia, eventually crushing Mexico and handily defeating the quick Cameroonians to move past the group stages.

But that's my subjective, non-professional opinion.

What I love about the World Cup is the hype. It gets me going. I'm an active person, but I WANT to sit on a couch or go the bars with my friends and celebrate all day, every day.

Who doesn't?

Hell, my friends in Brazil tell me school is on permanent holiday until Brazil is knocked out of the tournament.

America, you can learn something from these Brazilians.

What I like most, though, is how everyone is re-exposed to the fact that soccer players are perhaps the fittest athletes on the planet. The average midfielder runs over 7 miles (11km) per game. Even LeBron (only) runs 2 miles per 48 minutes.

That's amidst the strategic planning of when and for how long to use explosive bursts of energy, knowing there are only 3 subs per game.

All this makes me want to go out and run 7 miles -- or at least a mile for every beer I expect to consume in the next 24 hours (I'm a lightweight, go easy).

It's similar to March Madness, America's 68-team college basketball tournament, during which I'm compelled to go ball out at the gym. Or alone shooting 1000 buzzer-beaters in my driveway.

Not on Wii Sports, or Sports Rivals or whatever. Digital only goes so far.

So please, take the time to go out and exercise. Your fútbol watching experience will be so much more invigorating; the drunk will be better, the food tastier, the friends more wholesome.

And if you haven't, check out John Leary's rant on how corrupt FIFA has become and will continue to be. Definitely worth the 13 minutes while you shotgun the last of your beers and take the first of many shots of tequila.

Let the games begin.

What We Can Learn From the Spurs

In a league where success has become predicated upon having a superstar and sidekick, the Spurs continue to roll over the competition when it matters the most.

Regular season? Gregg Popovich's strategy was simple: Inflate the team's record by winning the games that were expected to be won, and resting/learning from the primetime match-ups with the league's top 7.

The end result was a 62-20 record, a #1 overall seed, and healthy veterans ready to lead another long playoff run.

Now? A 15 and 16 point margin of victory in the 2nd and 3rd quarters against OKC in Game 2 last night in San Antonio.

Pop knows his team, knows the chemistry, and knows which players to invest 2-3 years on to eventually complement the dynasty he's already built (See: Kawhi Leonard).

Let's not forget this is the same OKC team from 2012 that lost the first 2 against SA before winning 4 straight before losing to the Heat 4-1 in the NBA Finals. Despite being Ibaka-less, Durant and Westbrook have the offensive prowess to lead OKC to, at the very least, a competitive 6 or 7 game series against the Spurs.

In the end, though, I don't foresee San Antonio blowing it this time around. Thirsty after last year's debacle against Miami, Timmy Duncan is thirsty for his fifth ring. Duncan will stick around for a couple years, but for Manu, I don't see his elderly, niche style of play holding up for much longer.

Spurs win series 4-1.

The Miami series is nigh impossible to predict at this point.

Which Wade will show up?
Where has Bosh been?
Is Paul George's concussion a factor?
Can Hibbert revive his 2013 Miami match-up playoff form?

If LeBron decides to rely on his teammates (which is a perfectly reasonable assumption), then I see Miami winning in 7.

If he expends the extra 30-50% energy needed to dominate like we all know he's capable of, it's Miami in 5 or 6.

Unfortunately, we have to wait until Saturday evening at 8:30 to see the Pacers on the road at American Airlines Arena.