“SERVES YOU RIGHT” SURGING

Summer League round 4~~

With three rounds to play, it looks like “Serves You Right” is a safe bet to reach the finals. Taking their 3 point lead atop the standings last week, they have now extended that to 15 and more importantly, are 19 points ahead of the 4th and 5^th placed teams. Once again, their sizeable leap forward was thanks to the 7 bonus points they picked up and the 5 matches they completed – 4 of which they won. “Serves You Right” now have 28 bonus points for the season, averaging 7 per week which is rather impressive for the Summer League. There was many a team in the winter league that couldn’t reach that number.

The next four teams are closely bunched together and it should be a healthy battle to see who advances after the 7^th round. The “Nick Knacks” in 6^th position are by no means out of the running either. Six points is hardly a huge deficit to overcome – just two 3-0 wins would manage the gap. The last 2 teams are making life difficult for themselves, but are also within reach. Although “Art of Incompetence” are picking up less and less points as the weeks go along – obviously that is a recipe for failure. They scored 15 points in week 1 alone – and only 21 since.

There were a few matches played last night, but not surprisingly it was a relatively light turnout. The USA was playing in the World Cup during that time and even though 90% of the population could not care less about soccer under normal circumstances, the World Cup seems to make us gravitate towards the sport as if we were life-long fanatics. What was surprising was that the USA actually won the match against Ghana. Here’s what happened: USA scored in dramatic fashion in the 29^th second. Then for 82 minutes, absolutely nothing happened. Then Ghana scored a pretty goal, and then 4 minutes later USA scored again. The End.

It’s difficult to top excitement such as that, and I’m sure that Al Iafrate (“Coordination Zero”) who took a 2-1 win over Jeff Gembis (“Serves You Right”) won’t be claiming such a feat. Even after winning the first game 15-14. Nor would Nick Cinqeranelli (“Drop Dead Gorgeous”) who also managed a 2-1 victory, against Matt Turnbull (“Art of Incompetence”). At least, I can say with confidence, none of the squash players last night were flopping on the court with life threatening injuries every time their opponents brushed up against their shirts. Nor were they running around the facility like a drug crazed lunatic taking their shirts off and getting mobbed by their teammates after every time they ‘scored’. Yes, yes, soccer (or should I say “fooze-baal”?) is the “beautiful game”.

Take note, all players have until July 8 (inclusive) to get the matches completed. If teams are tied after round 7, then the bonus point totals will be the tie-break. Top four advance, bottom four are done. Done like Ghana. And Australia. And England…