Today’s IAH! Weekend Edition post is a Father’s Day (poor man’s ) television guide. And you are welcome, Disney, for subtly promoting your brand. You can send the check to Medium Happy’s headquarters.
Brought to you by Jacob Anstey (aka The Intern)
Starting Five
Lionel Messi looks to lead Argentina to their first World Cup final since 1990.
1. More Futbol
Watch some soccer and leave. Come back, watch more soccer. Leave again. Come back — more soccer!
Today’s matchups feature six countries, three continents, two top 10 teams in the FIFA national rankings, and Lionel Messi.
Switzerland versus Ecuador, 12 p.m., ABC
France versus Honduras, 3 p.m., ABC
Argentina versus Bosnia-Herzegovina, 6 p.m., ESPN
No World Cup analysis just yet; I am still learning. But, for now, I’ll be your messenger. And my message for today is simple: Watch some soccer. Preferably Argentina and the Swiss.
2. America’s Pastime
Daisuke Matsuzaka plays for the Mets? Where have I been?!
No rockstar aces on the mound today. A few solid ones, though.
Twins (Ricky Nolasco, 4-5) at Tigers (Rick Porcello, 8-4)
Padres (Ian Kennedy, 5-7) at Mets (Daisuke Matsuzaka, 3-0)
Blue Jays (J.A. Happ, 5-3) at Orioles (Chris Tillman, 5-3)
Pirates (Vance Worley, 0-0) at Marlins (Henderson Alvarez, 3-3)
Indians (Corey Kluber, 6-4) at Red Sox (Brandon Workman, 1-0)
Cubs (Travis Wood, 6-5) at Phillies (A.J. Burnett, 4-5)
Royals (James Shields, 7-3) at White Sox (Andre Rienzo, 4-3)
Reds (Mike Leake, 3-6) at Brewers (Marco Estrada, 5-3)
Rays (David Price, 4-6) at Astros (Brad Peacock, 2-4)
Nationals (Doug Fister, 5-1) at Cardinals (Jaime Garcia, 2-0)
Yankees (Vidal Nuno, 1-2) at Athletics (Jesse Chavez, 5-4)
Rockies (Juan Nicasio, 5-5) at Giants (Madison Bumgarner, 8-4)
Rangers (Nick Martinez, 1-3) at Mariners (Hisashi Iwakuma, 4-3)
Diamondbacks (Bronson Arroyo, 6-4) at Dodgers (Josh Beckett, 4-3)
Angels (Hector Santiago, 0-6) at Braves (Mike Minor, 2-4), ESPN, 8 p.m.
3. College World Series
Nice ballpark. Few home runs.
Yesterday’s Opening Day featured an Anteaters (University of California – Irvine) victory over the Longhorns (Texas), as well as a Commodores (Vanderbilt) victory over the Cardinals (Louisville).
The College World Series is a weird event. You watch absolutely none of it during the regular season (the season starts in February), but get slightly excited for it when it comes to Omaha (there were over 23,000 people at the opening game yesterday). As a viewer, I encourage you to watch anywhere from 3-5 innings of the ball game.
You won’t be blown away by massive home runs (TD Ameritrade is a big park — 375 ft in center), but will get a taste of the atmosphere and a lot of small ball. Both are quality components.
Texas Tech (Chris Sadberry, 5-3) versus TCU (Preston Morrison, 9-4), ESPN2 , 3 p.m.
Mississippi (Chris Ellis, 10-2) versus Virginia (Nathan Kirby, 9-2), ESPN2, 8 p.m.
4. Nascar? Yes, Nascar
Deep down, I want to post today’s WNBA schedule. But, because of unwarranted hatred by some, I will not oblige with my own interests. Instead, you can watch cars go around in circles for 400 laps. Hippie!
The Quicken Loans 400 takes place at 1 p.m. and it’s on ESPN TNT.
5. Spurn the Heat
This was 2007.
Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs won an NBA championship when I was four, eight, ten, and twelve. It is now 2014, and the core of those same Spurs championship teams are looking to add their fifth title in the past 15 years.
They must be defying something other than age, because that is way too damn impressive.
If you remember, I picked the Heat in six on my first weekend on the job. Hopefully you can still respect me. I can’t promise any better predictions in the near future…
Anyhow, the Heat are looking to become the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the Finals and win it all. Can it be done? Sure.
Will it be done, though?
It’s very hard to believe this Spur team dropping three straight games (two on their home court) to this overwhelmed Heat team.
Michelle Beadle is going to troll a lot of Miami fans tomorrow, folks. Be prepared.
Remote Patrol
Game of Thrones, Season Finale
HBO 9 p.m.
The experts tell me that tonight is the highly-anticipated season finale of Game of Thrones. The Intern runs on a budget, so no HBO for me.
But, all of you Game of Thrones fans should indulge yourselves. Season finales are always bittersweet. Don’t miss it!