The qualifying competition turned into something of a farce with teams qualifying then withdrawing - and teams already eliminated being offered places. India withdrew because FIFA would not let them play in bare feet. So only 13 teams participated in the final tournament.

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/p/pwc/1950.html

After last night…well what more do I need to say, in the words of Bougagloo, “jordanesque”

I’m going to be honest (when haven’t I been), and lay it straight. I’ve never watched a full game of soccer or as the rest of the world likes to call it Football. I’ve played it, not to well mind you, but seeing as to how Mandeep went to the lengths of calling me and saying in his raspy loud voice, “yo guy write a post on it”, I feel nothing less then obliged to create this topic.

For those of you as ignorant as me to way it works (correct me if I’m wrong) you got several pools with 6 teams each. For the first while, each team plays within its pool, and from there the top two teams qualify for the actual tourney.

For more info on the teams and all that jazz check out the official site.

With that said here are my picks as to who’s going to win what pool:

Group A: 1st: Germany 2nd: Costa Rica
Group B: 1st: England 2nd: Sweden
Group C: 1st: Argentina 2nd: Serbia and Montenegro
Group D: 1st: Portugal 2nd: Mexico
Group E: 1st: Italy 2nd: USA
Group F: 1st: Brazil 2nd: Croatia
Group G: 1st: France 2nd: Korea
Group H: 1st: Spain 2nd: Saudi Arabia

Now I’ll leave ‘yall to go at it…

Rafeal Arujo, the Raptors (Babcocks) first round pick a few years back, finally ended his tenure today with the Raptors, after being dealt to the Utah Jazz.

Surprisingly we got two guys for him (Kris Humphries and Robert Whaley) leaving many to wonder if we got ripped off (how do you give away two guys of Hoffa of all people), but then again Hoffa’s stay in Toronto was as painful to watch, as watching one of those PETA videos, but you can only hope that he found a better home.

Now to describe Hoffa’s tenure with the Raptors isn’t hard, but rather then talk and write about it, I feel this video sums up his abilities, and why the fans felt the way they did about him.

**Note** Nate Robinsons is 5 foot 9 while Hoffa is 6′11.

The final installment in our playoff round-up, has Miami pitted against Dallas.

Firstly, that last round was amazing. Miami clobbered Detroit, although Detroit put up a fight, the Justice League prevailed, with The Glove coming up big, and playing once again like he was in his old Seattle Supersonics jersey. Shaq, anyone else catch the block on him? I’ve never seen someone push Shaq to the floor like Big Ben did, but eh, even Superman falls.

As for the Phoenix, Dallas series, yea I dropped the ball on this one, but then again like readers commented in the past, I went with what I wanted rather then what would. Although Phoenix slugged it out for as long and as hard as they could, end of the day the current Suns team just isn’t up to par. They were able to out-run the Lakers, and the Clippers, but Dallas was on pace with them when it came to playing Phoenix ball, and were able slow things down just a notch by playing there lock down defense. I don’t think there was a doubt in anyone’s mind that this Dallas team wasn’t playoff bound, but when you got a team like the Suns who in every matchup were the underdogs, you just can’t help but to love them..

With that said lets look at how everyone else did..

Harsimran - 1/2 + 1
Tejdeep - 2/2
Gagan - 2/2
Mandeep - 1/2 + 1
Heera - 1/2 + 1
Columbus - 2/2 + 1
Gurjet - 2/2 + 2
D.Singh - 1/2 + 1
Jason - 1/2
Cincinnati - 1/2
Kamaldeep - 1/2
Myself - 1/2 + 1

So winner of that round was Gurjeet, but then again anything less would be disappointing.

As for the finals match up, this is definitely a tough one, and will be a fun one to watch.

Dallas has the run gun game of Phoenix, and the stellar defense of the Pistons. All in all they are the team to beat in this one. Miami and the justice league have been playing like crap, the whole playoffs. Shaq is playing like an uninspired third wheel, although his comments are still at par. Wade is looking tired, but then again he’s going into this series well rested. Payton, is playing like he was 10 years younger and in many ways put the team on his back. Truthfully I’d call Dallas to beat Miami in 6, but due to my long standing relationship with my brotha from anotha motha, I’m (out of fear of being smacked and not invited to watch the games) go with the Heat. Clearly they’re the underdogs here, but Paytons been playing with heart, after all this is his last chance at getting the championship. This is clearly Shaq’s last chance to prove that he’s a champion with and without Kobe, and as far as Wade, if he’s ever going to win a championship then its now. So Miami in 7.

Now ‘yall know the drill, so get to it..

A while back Sikhs secured the right to wear Kirpaans in school, thanks to Gurbaaj Singh taking the case to the Supreme Court. However the verdict that allowed us to wear our Kirpaans wasn’t all that concise, and left plenty of room for individual school boards to decide on the particulars.

Any time the Kirpaan and its “dangerous” side effects ever enters any type of discussion, Sikhs are quick to jump up and shout that the Kirpaan has never been used to harm any individual or in any criminal activity. Although a bold statement to make, most individuals are hard pressed to find a case involving the violent use of a Kirpaan. With that said though, its articles like the following that really hit a nerve especially considering we’ve barley earned the right to wear a Kirpaan and all of a sudden you got dumb shits like this pulling them out and using them in fights and even worse getting booked. Listen we all do stupid things growing up, and even so at that age and in Brampton fights are common place, but if your going to go do something stupid at least don’t get booked doing it, ruining it for the rest of us.

Here’s the Brampton Guardian article, if you know more about this in detail and if you notice that Guardian article is exaggerating or missing certain pieces then share them, but left inciting rumors by naming names and getting the Police asking me for ip’s, after all this ain’t crime stoppers.

Student attacked with sword

A 15-year-old Brampton Centennial Secondary School student is lucky to be alive after a sword attack on school grounds Monday.

Another 16-year-old student is under arrest and facing several assault and weapons charges. According to Peel Regional Police, the two teenagers were involved in an argument in front of the McMurchy Avenue school around the noon hour. The dispute escalated into a physical altercation and the older teen pulled out a metre-long sword police believe he had tucked in his pants.

The younger teen was struck with the weapon several times on the head, arm and back, police said. He received deep lacerations to his head, arms and legs that required more than 50 staples and stitches to close, according to police at the scene.

His wounds were not life threatening and the 15-year-old was treated and released from Brampton hospital.

Swift intervention by school staff to stop the fight and contact police may have saved his life.

A spokesperson for Peel police said it was unclear what started the argument or fueled the violent attack.

Brian Woodland, a spokesperson for the Peel District School Board, said privacy laws prevent him from speaking about the specific students involved. However, he did note bringing a weapon onto school property and assaulting someone is cause for immediate disciplinary action by the school and school board.

“Our normal process would be to suspend (the student) for the 20 day maximum,” said Woodland. During that period the school and board would also begin the expulsion process, he added.

In a letter sent home to parents, the school’s principal explained the incident and commended staff and students for their actions during the crisis. He assured parents the school remains a safe learning environment and asked anyone with information to contact police. “This (kind of incident) is extraordinarily rare,” Woodland said.

The 16-year-old has been charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public and carrying a concealed weapon.

He is being held in custody until a bail hearing scheduled for June 2. The teenager cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to contact 22 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau at 905-453-2121, ext. 2233 or Peel Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477).

Source: The Brampton Guardian

Its that time of year again ,when every Sikh, Gurdwara Parbhandik, and Jathabandi takes a moment out of their normal routine and spends just that extra time to reflect on 84, the genocide, the fight and the attacks.

In Toronto, I don’t know about any big public programs, which is quite sad really, and the onus falls largely on us the youth, considering its now our turn to pick up the slack. Fortunatly not all the Sangat or youth are as lazy as us Torontonians when it comes to raising their voice at this time of year publicly, and it seems like the UK Sangat (yes I realize how hypocritical this post must seem considering last weeks post), have really started something positive. The 84 march/rally is definitely something that would be awesome if we could pull the likes of here in Toronto, but I highly doubt that the number of supporters and Sangat there would ever be replicated.

It would be awesome if we could get even a good 10 000 + people together and march downtown just to bring awareness in the media and the people that Sikhs are still bleeding from the terrorist attacks taken against us, by the Indian government, but just seems like every year less and less is done, which again is our fault.

Anyways for all you UK readers be sure to go out and support the rally, since every head counts, and the more people that walk, the more the community will make its point.