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Inevitably, as we start to get excited about the World Cup being just around the corner, the arguments arise as to who will win the Golden Boot or score the nicest goal of the tournament.  For casual fans, the forwards are the focal point, as they are the face of the team, due to a highlight-driven culture.  There’s a reason that more people know who Wayne Rooney is instead of Xavi or Maicon, even if they’re just as talented.

I just love strikers because there is such a variety of players who are incredible entertainers and they achieve their impact in so many different ways.

In an effort to discern who the tournament’s most efficient attacking players are, we can compare them using SOAR from this past league season with their clubs.  SOAR is a way to measure the total offensive impact of a player.  For a full explanation of SOAR, click here.

More after the jump......

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In an attempt to spice up their image the perennially sucky Golden State Warriors had planned to put out a new logo for the 2010-11 season, but a copy was leaked early and the team that plays in Oracle Arena decided to try to go all Web 2.0 by running basically an online scavenger hunt of clues for their fans to try to piece together the new design.

The new Warrior's logo actually looks pretty fresh, although a bit familiar.

It's a decent attempt at a PR save in what has otherwise been a crappy situation for the team - sort of like when the supposed-to-be lead track of a new Wayne album just becomes a hot mix-tape. But for us and our fans, we're not quite sure its enough.

While it's nice that they figured out a way to harness the World Wide Internet to let their die-hard fans feel like they got a special, exclusive sneak peak, it seems like that same technology could be used to actually get fan input on the logo that they will be spending million to wear emblazoned on t-shirts, hoodies, hats and even unnecessary wristbands. The design is actually pretty decent and is reflective of the old "The City" throwback that's been quite popular in recent years - just tuned forward to reflect the new Bay Bridge that is in the process of being erected (TWSS) between Oakland & SF.

When Project Franchise get's a team, one of the first things we are going to do is let our fans submit their own ideas for our team's name, mascot and logo - then turn it over to a full vote of the fan community to determine the winning design.

Opening Day was a bit tough for my own team, as the Jays got beat in a walk-off by the Rangers, but all around baseball there were some noteworthy games and moments that reminded me just what I love about this game.

Mega-prospect Jason Heyward hit a homer in his first career at bat. Roy Halladay began his dominance of the NL, going 7 innings with 9 strikeouts, giving up just 1 run and even getting an RBI - albeit against the Washington Nationals. Albert Pujols started enough another year in Pujolsian ways, with two home runs. And, just hours into the first day of the season, Mark Buehrle made the best play you'll see in baseball this year.

>>>UPDATE 2<<<The final weigh in ended up being just under 163, so I only put on about 5.5. lbs during Super Bowl Sunday, but luckily by this morning I'm back down to the 150's and on my way to recovery. PS - the Jalepeno cornbread were really the big hit of the party (compliments to the wife).

>>>UPDATE 1<<< I just did a preliminary post game weigh in and came through at 162.7, definitely below expected but there is still a lot of beer to be drank.

I'm a fairly slender late 20's male (6ft, 155 - ding!) with a pretty high metabolism, so I have the ability to put on and take off weight very quickly. It's not strange for my weight to fluctuate by 3 or 4 pounds at different points in the day - and when I was training for a marathon last year I could literally take down a full In-N-Out double-double meal with a milkshake and be still quite hungry. However, my greatest display of eating weight gain occurred during the 2004 Super Bowl  - in that game the Pats beat Panthers, but the most memorable part of the game was Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" - where I put on approximately 8.7 lbs from kick off to the end of the game. Now most of this was probably water weight from the half dozen brews I took down, but there was a considerable amount of wings and seven layer dip adding to that mix.

For today's game, the wife and I are hosting a small affair for 10-15 friends and (given our inclination to root for the Saints) have taken on a "Southern" theme - think hurricanes, fried chicken, mac & cheese, cole slaw, shrimp po' boys, etc. We will also have a variety of more traditional items - chips & guac, beer, pigs in a blanket (ok thats not so traditional, but they are delicious) - and then are washing it all down with some Coca-Cola cake and ice cream.

I'm entering todays all day pig-out slightly heavier than normal and have just weighed myself and am tipping in at 157.4 lbs 2 hours before kick off and without having eaten anything today. The wife thinks I'm going to finish up this evening at 164, but I'm hoping to hold it together and stay right on 162. I guess it will depend on how good the game is (figure a better game means more engaged and less roaming in the kitchen) and of course how good the cake is - because a couple of slices of that business and I could be clearing 165 and nearing a new personal record.

Enjoy the game - and all of the eating!

Tonight the Lebron's crew got a solid W at home against the Lakers - but the coolest thing on the court (other than McLovin sitting front row) was the Cav's throwback jerseys in that retro burgundy. Although the NBA teams are kind of hosed because they all have to wear adidas - and we all know every hoopster wants to only rock Jordan brand - the Cav's do an awesome job in bringing back old skool looks and freshening them up with a new style. For starters it looks cool, but its also a genius way to sell more LeBron jerseys. When we get our squad, you can believe that we will be sporting some very clean fits - and they will all be for sale in the concession stands... even the sliding shorts.

Courtesy of David Liam Kyle/NBAE/Getty Images

I'm sorry for being horribly wrong about the Chargers-Jets game this weekend.  Congrats on beating the Chargers and shutting me and the rest of all the Jets haters up.  I'll be shaving my head either today or tomorrow and I'll upload the picture.  I'm now going to say goodbye to my hair.  

Our fine writer Ashwin has vowed to shave his head if the Jets win today's game!  I'll tell you what, he's made this game a lot more interesting for me.

I don't know if this is as bad as the Super Bowl Shuffle or the greatest viral video ever. Either way, I want the ringtone immediately. And after a Debbie Downer of a sports day (thanks to Big Mac and Pete Carroll) this should put a little sunshine in your life.

Now who's ready for the Playoffs?