It should really come as no shock here.  We're American.  We're in America.  This is how we do it.  USA USA USA!

It's been fun.  But up next in a few short weeks:  HATEFEST.  Gobble gobble, bitches.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Mr. Northerner has been too busy "working" to notice that's almost August. Hatefest starts Thursday.

It's down to beef and potatoes. Looks like I know what I'm having for lunch*!!

*Answer: Taco Bell

Hatefest 2010 is so close... I can taste it...

Voting ends Friday. Yeah. Get your shit in quickly.

Holland's biggest fan.

Another North End Zone reader tournament, another stellar performance from your very humble editor.

Yes, as the World Cup sadly comes to a close, the bracket predictor challenge picture becomes clear:

• If The Netherlands win, your humble editor is crowned champion once again.

• If Spain wins, Hokie Jaybee of FireBryanStinespring will receive that illustrious copy of powerhour.

But no matter what happens, last place goes to Shitzel, the greatest entry name in the history of ESPN Fantasy Games. If anyone out there has some decent photoshop skills and can get us a picture of a “shitzel”, we will be forever in your debt.

It must be noted that Stacey is only in last place because she forgot to fill out her bracket. The true last place goes to avid readers J.K. Bowling and C-Frakes (nicknames made up on the spot). They tied with 29 points, each picking Italy and Portugal to win it all, respectively. What a shitzel.

Sorry fellas. Apparently you know as much about World Cup soccer as we do about college football.

Since The Northerner is "swamped" at "work", I am taking over Food Madness detail. Luckily there's only four foods left, otherwise I'd have told him to piss off.

So here we go. Two more rounds until we can finally get to Hatefest 2010....

------------------------

#1 Beef vs. #3 Strawberries

Well, beef finally took out turkey, the local favorite. It was a close 26-20 battle with savory cow meat cutting down the nets. Strawberries ROLLED apples, 31 - 17. This one is going to need a taste-test to figure out. I assume strawberries include Cool-Hwhip when voting.

------------------------

#1 Cheddar vs. #3 Potatoes

Certainly the best combo match-up thus far. Mmmmmm... cheddar potatoes... gaaaaaaaaah

Anyways, as an Irishman, my heart is with the spuds. But the choices are yours and yours alone. Good luck.

It's been a while, huh?  I could give you a long explanation of why I haven't updated this in a week, but let's just leave it at: wife's car got totaled, went to Vegas, computer had viruses, and work.  That should suffice, right?  Anyways, ONTO THE FOOD!

It's finally here.  The Sweet and Savory 16.  Getcha popcorn ready, because it could get wild.

In World Cup qualifying, France beat Ireland on an obvious handball that wasn't called. The victory put them into the WC over Ireland.

Today, France lost embarrassingly to Mexico. So on behalf of all Irish fans out there...

Love,

C. Patrick Gallagher

No, not this one. Though I must say... BAAAAAAH!!!

Yeah yeah, we haven’t posted anything about the World Cup, and I’m only a week behind on the whole Strasburg thing. So let’s get all caught up after the jump.

Only the Pirates, who don't use a DH, have scored fewer runs than the Orioles.

31-33 (.484)(Last in NL East)

28-35 (.444)(Third in NL Central)

17-46 (.270)(Last in AL East)

Yeah, so I said this would be posted Friday, but things came up.  So you get it today.  Good news is, Hopefully, by Thursday, we will have the sweet sixteen posted, ALL AT ONE TIME.  Did that just blow your mind?  I bet it did.  Anyway, onto the cheese!