WATCH FOR FLYING BASEBALLS: YES, JOSH TOWERS IS BACK

Some other items of interest as you slept away the afternoon.

• So now Sweden only has to beat Germany in the Round of 16 to advance in the World Cup. The Tre Kroner at least had the satisfaction of causing more hand-wringing among the Brits by tying England 2-2 in the final group match. Steven Gerrard's goal around the 85th minute had given England the lead, but Henrik Larsson tied it in the 90th minute thanks to what even soccer dilettantes could see was an amateurish play, letting a throw-in bounce around in the box, where Larsson got a deft touch to score.
  
  Yes, Sweden against Germany. There'll be frauleins and an airing-out of the concept of "fraught," at least for yours truly, the soccer dilettante with the Scandinavian roots and German surname.
• And this will lower ticket prices how? The NHL is apparently looking to strengthen its ties to Wall Street, says a story in the Toronto Star. Well, it is appropriate in one respect: Gary Bettman does make the Gordon Gekko from Wall Street (the Michael Douglas character) look a little less sleazy by comparison. (You can never take too many pot shots at Bettman. This is only my fourth in the past 24 hours.)
• She's jusssssssttttt a bit at large: courts proceedings against Bob Uecker's alleged stalker have been delayed because they can't find her.
• If you're wondering why all flights out of Atlanta will be grounded at 7:35 tonight, it's because Josh Towers is starting for the Jays. Some of those home run balls that will be flying out of The Ted might interfere with departures and arrivals at the local airport.
  
  Here's the pitching matchups against Notlanta.
  
  Tonight: Josh (Faulty) Towers (1-8, 9.00, 1.93 WHIP) vs. Jorge Sosa (1-9, 5.35, 1.54 WHIP). Good grief. There's a pitcher out there with a worst W-L than Towers?
  Wednesday: Theodore Lilly (6-7, 4.12, 1.53 WHIP) vs. Tim Hudson (6-5, 3.88, 1.26 WHIP). Couple ex-A's teammates meet up. Can you ever believe that Lilly will get in a groove?
  Thursday: A.J. Burnett (0-1, 6.30, 1.40 WHIP) vs. Horacio Ramirez (2-2, 5.06, 1.50 WHIP). Ramirez has already had four stints on the DL this year. Burnett totally can't relate to that.

See you after the game. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.