Fernando Torres knocked home the 1 goal that was needed to win Spain’s first major Championship since 1964, when it won the European Championship on it’s own soil. Since I have been in the Czech Republic this whole tournament, I’ve been able to watch most of the games on a huge screen in a public square. This is something that puts any Super Bowl party to shame.

I haven’t written about the other matches mainly because I don’t know a ton about soccer and didn’t feel like I could adequately comment on the games. What I can tell you is that I’ve definitely become a soccer fan. And I have definitely accumulated some likes and dislikes for national teams. For example, I don’t like Germany. They seem to play dirty. But I do like watching Bastian Schweinsteiger, always seems to be making a play. And while Portugal are very pretty to watch, they do a lot of diving and whining. I genuinely enjoyed watching Spain with Torres, Senna and David Villa.

I could go on and on, but you probably don’t care who my favorite footballers are. Suffice it to say, I had a great time watching Euro 2008. I will definitely continue to watch, and can’t wait for the next World Cup.

So what?

Yeah, it’s a big deal. And obviously no team wants to get swept, but just a week ago, the Cubs swept the Sox at Wrigley. I may be biased (maybe?) but Cubs fans were excited about it, but I didn’t see the across the board outcry of Cubs fans that “Sox suck!” I can’t even believe that I’m defending Cubs fans. As a rule, Cubs fans (save myself of course) are a bunch of dopes. Now I do have to say that Sox fans are typically knowledgeable, but also generally classless (I guess most Cubs fans are too, but I digress).

It’s 3 games. The Cubs are still 16 games over .500 and in first place and the Sox are 11 games over .500 and in first place. They split the season series, and both look like likely playoff teams. If they meet again and either team sweeps, there’s your story. Until then, let’s relax a bit?

The Mariners completed Phase 2 of cleaning out the crap that is the “leadership” of the Seattle Mariners by firing manager John McLaren. McLaren will be replaced by bench coach Jim Riggleman. I have a little history with Riggs. He managed the Cubs a while back and he didn’t do too much with a pretty good ball club. What is he expected to do with a crap heap like the 2008 Mariners.

Interim General Mangager Lee Pelekoudas said that the firing of Bill Bavasi and now John McLaren would not be the last moves they would make. Ichiro Suzuki also made statements that players needed to be held accountable for the teams horrid year and that they should also be dealt. It seems like no one’s job is safe on the Mariners… and that’s a good thing in my eyes. I want everyone on my team to know that he is replaceable. Do your job, or it won’t be yours anymore. Accountability. Richie, you know I love you, but you’re not good, and you’re paid too much. You’re probably next Richie.

Congratulations to the Mariners true leadership, president Chuck Armstrong, for seeing that a change must be made and making a sweeping, extensive change. I like that. And I am excited to see the direction the team will now take.

By the way, you think we can get Adam Jones back?

The Mariners started the season expecting to challenge for the AL West title. Now they’re just trying to get out of last place. Because of this, the Mariners fired Bill Bavasi. I think this is definitely a move in the right direction. But more should be done. John McClaren should be next. Even though he exploded at his team a while back he is too passive and doesn’t seem to be leading the team anywhere good. Now with Bavasi out, they can fire McClaren, and put some interim head coach in there. Maybe Mel Stottlemyre? And when then find a GM in the off-season they’ll be poised to bring in a top shelf skipper.

So Carlos Marmol should replace Kerry Wood, eh? 15 pitches, 1 out and 3 runs. I really do like Carlos Marmol, but he’s not ready to be the closer. Kerry Wood has been seasoned and even though his arm can’t go much longer than an inning. He’s the closer… it doesn’t have to. Marmol has electric “stuff”, but he nearly blew the game against one of the worst offenses in one of the most pitcher-friendly ball parks.

Of course everyone has a bad day, and I’m not writing off Marmol at all, but Kerry Wood is and should be the closer.