Nutmeg Radio

12:09pm  EST:  Well the World Cup draw is finally here.  I’m excited for the draw, and excited to stop listening to all of this ridiculous banter about who could draw who and what teams are scared of drawing England.  Looking at history, I wouldn’t be too scared of drawing England.  They’re bound to disappoint.

12:11pm EST: It’s interesting that the draw is on a big screen in Times Square, although I don’t see anyone watching yet.

12:14pm EST: Also on the list of things to stop talking about, Handshakegate.  So first, whether you’re scared to draw England.  Second, Handshakegate.

12:18pm EST: Before every World Cup draw, you could script the conversations leading up to the draw.  From the conversations about banter in the dressing room, to who you want to draw even though you have no idea of how it will play out and no control over what will happen.  What do you think Captain?  “Well, of course we’d want to avoid the big teams, but we’ll play anyone because you need to get past the big teams to go deep into the tournament. “  Compelling stuff.

12:23pm EST: Efan Ekoku over on ESPN is a brilliant commentator.

12:28pm EST: Basic critique on commentating and media coverage.  Amy Lawrence over at the Guardian recently wrote an article about double standards in English coverage when it came to Handshakegate.  I know I brought it up again.  But if there was a bit more diversity of background, which often brings diversity of opinion in coverage, we wouldn’t end up with such skewed perspectives on the game, such insular debate, and a lack of understanding about what the outside world believes.  Sky Sports has got Roy Hodgson, Terry Venables, and David Seaman on board.  That’s a capable group, but how about some external flavor to provide some outside knowledge (and a pulse) to the conversation?

12:38pm EST: Nothing happening.  So far some really colorful commercials on ESPN that are actually accurately capturing some of South Africa’s flavor.

12:40pm EST: Rob Stone covering in from Nevada Smith’s in NYC.  Apparently Landon Donovan will be showing up there.  And Jack, as usual is pouring the drinks behind the bar.

12:43pm EST: The difference between ESPN’s coverage and Sky’s coverage is that you actually get the sense on ESPN that this is the World Cup.  On Sky, they are apparently covering the England World Cup where England is the only team in the tournament.

12:53pm EST: It’s begun.  Zuma, Blatter, Theron, all the characters are there …

12:55pm EST: Goosebumps … Maybe it’s just the French accent.

12:57pm EST: I’ve got tickets for Group B so come on Group B.  So far, so good.  Great South African musical opening.  I’m glad it wasn’t someone like Beyonce or some other generic musical act.  So far, South Africa is doing a great job of showing that this is an African World Cup.

12:59pm EST: By the way, over on Sky, Terry Venables is babbling on about something.  Maybe they haven’t realized yet, but the show has started. Unbelievable.

1:01pm EST: Representation from South Africa’s men’s and women’s football, cricket, and rugby sides are assisting with the draw.  And a marathoner from Ethiopia, and of course David Beckham.  A very nice selection.

1:04pm EST: We got Argentina in Group B.  Hell yeah.  This is dramatic stuff for those with tickets.  If you don’t have them, none of this matters until we get to the next swath of teams.  Teams will want South Africa in Group A.  Time for the U.S., Mexico and Honduras.

1:07pm EST: Mexico gets South Africa in Group A and will open up the World Cup in Johannesburg.  And WOW, U.S. gets England.

1:18pm EST: Wow. I get to see Argentina v. Nigeria.  That should be lively.  The U.S. won’t have it easy, and there’s one more team remaining to be placed in the groups.

1:22pm EST: U.S. avoids the Group of Death by drawing Slovenia as the fourth team in the group.  South Africa however gets France as another tough team in Group A.  They will need a miracle to get out of the group stage.  Portugal has yet to be placed into a group.

1:24pm EST: It’s looking like Portugal might get Brazil’s group.  YEP, that will be interesting.  Good luck Kim Jung-Il.  That’s the Group of Death and Ivory Coast once again gets a tough, tough draw.  Last year they drew Argentina and the Netherlands.  Now they get Portugal and Brazil. Poor Drogba.

1:27pm EST: The final groups:

Group A

South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France

Group B

Argentina, Nigeria, Korea Republic, Greece

Group C

England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia

Group D

Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana

Group E

Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon

Group F

Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia

Group G

Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal

Group H

Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile