3000 Miles of Opinion
The 2026 World Cup is in the books, and with it this edition of the World Cup of Tea (well, there might be a little bit more in the next couple of weeks...). So if you're already beginning to have that slightly lost, a little bit down, pinching yourself that it was all real as the every day takes you back in its grasp, well, we have at least a couple of takeaways to give you solace!
We have reached our destination - at least the tournament part of it (the WCT still has at least one, maybe two, episodes left). So it's time to total up World Cup Bingo and then make the big selection for the big game! Oh, and an "old friend" of Zeff's gets a TACO.
Day 38 of the World Cup of Tea, and it's also the 3rd Place game, well, Zeff will have to find something else to talk about. So he's enlisted AI to script the episode. There's also TACOs to give out and some hot dog business.
Frustrated with the use of VAR during this World Cup? You're not alone. Fortunately Zeff is on hand with some solutions - not little ticky-tacky stuff, no, big stuff, real big stuff, that can save VAR from itself.
England earn a trip to Miami and the glamour of a (high) stakes battle with France to earn the right to be the 2026 World Cup's.....third place team! No doubt David Beckham will be along for what is sure to be an emotional, rip-roaring football classic......
It's time to put a bow on our review of "series featuring first episodes of reality TV shows featuring celebrities buying football teams"(copyright, Atlantic Voice). Zeff has watched them all and now gives his final thoughts and recommendations. Yes, there will be one - as if you somehow thought he'd be short of an opinion....
A 64-team World Cup is coming? Or is it just some misdirection from the President, no not that one - our one, Mr Infantino himself (so yes, it's coming). And a word on the passing of actor Sam Neill.
Math guru and soccer coach Joey stops by to talk statistics in soccer and if and how they entice the general sports fan into following the beautiful game. Or if the game truly lends itself to the kind of statistical interpretation that comes so naturally to other sports.
Our "series featuring first episodes of reality TV shows featuring celebrities buying football teams"(copyright, Atlantic Voice) reaches the entry "Welcome to Wrexham." It's the grand-daddy of them all (copyright, the Rose Bowl) but is it the best? And later in the final week, Zeff will contrast and compare all the shows reviewed.
England v Norway later in the day, and Zeff is explaining what it means whenver you hear a football fan or media member refer to a "Golden Generation." And then it's a look back at the 1981 England-Norway World Cup qualifier and the famous bit of commentary that comes from it.
Our final book review from our venerable literary correspondent, Peter. His selection is "Soccer IQ" by Danny Blank - a book about the skills of the beautiful game written by a coach. But as we discover, this is not some dry coaching manual....
Nathan has returned to give his take on FIFA and their seemingly outsized influence on the game that we all love. Is their modus operandi smudging the romantic lens through which we view the sport? Is there a different way we could all come together and celebrate football without the pricetag that has been set on it?
The round of 16 concludes, sending the tournament into its first 'off' day - a day without a game. Colombia-Switzerland, the last game of the round, was decided by the only penalty shoot-out of the round, leading Zeff to ponder the alternatives.
It's the end of the road for the US, as all three host nations now watch the rest of the tournament from the comfort of their own homes.
Yes, that's right.
Good Mornng and welcome to "Live with Kelly and Mark." And Zeff, as he continues his reviews of "series featuring first episodes of reality TV shows featuring celebrities buying football teams"(copyright, Atlantic Voice). This time it's Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelas heading to Italy for "Running with the Wolves." What's that? You didn't know they even had a team?
"I'll tell you something. I'm glad I found out in time just what a partnership with a pair of w*****s like you would've been. A sleeping partner's one thing but you're in a f*****g coma! No wonder you've got an energy crisis your side of the water. But us British... we're used to a bit more vitality, imagination, a touch of the Dunkirk spirit, know what I mean? The days when yanks can come over here and buy up nelson's column, and an Harley street surgeon, and a couple of windmill girls are definetly over". "Now look".... "Shut up you long streak of paralyzed p!ss. What I'm looking for is someone who can contribute to what England has given to the world. Culture, sophistication, genius... a little bit more than an hot dog, know what I mean?
Croatia took on Portugal in a Round of 32 game featuring two heavyweights of the beautiful game, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric. Only one can leave as a winner.....
England live on the edge in their match against the Democratic Republic of Congo, giving Zeff flashbacks to a darker time......
Day 21 and our friend Nathan has returned to look at some off-the-field considerations of the knockout stages. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe keeps scoring and a duck can't get a ticket......
The knockout is in full swing and in reality that this is when the tournament really begins. Get ready for all the cliches about "It's win or go home" or "There's no tomorrow for one of these teams" and of course the penalty shoot-out will be making an appearance. If it hasn't already (ahem, Germany....)
Another review in our "series featuring first episodes of reality TV shows featuring celebrities buying football teams"(copyright, Atlantic Voice), this time featuring actress Eva Longoria and her share of Liga MX team, Necaxa FC.
Zeff takes a break from watching football and heads off to New York and Madison Square Garden to watch......the darts! Yes, grown men throwing small projectiles at the wall. But as you're about to find out, there's a little bit more to it all. And get ready, because it's going to be here for a little while.....
Peter is back to talk about the book "Football Hackers" by Christoph Biermann, to understand how numbers and statistics are helping to redefine how we see the beautiful game and the whos, hows, and whys, of the 'data revolution.' Is "Moneyball" just for baseball?
Part 2 of the reknown Summer Movie Preview is here (Part 1 can be found when you click this) and Eric and Zeff are looking at what's on at your local picturehouse in July and August. As always there's superhero or too, but this summer the work of two of cinema's most celebrated directors, Christopher Nolan and Ridley Scott. All the trailers can be found here
What's your daily routine? Does it exercise the mind? The body? Zeff has one, though the positive effects have yet to be proven....
Watch your national team over the years and you might find yourself having a sense of "Deja Vu all over again", as Yogi Berra once said (and apparently sang by John Fogerty). Losing you? Watching England can do that to you, as Zeff wll explain.
It's the host's position that those "Greatest of all time" debates are pointless; but that's an entirely different thing to acknowledging it and appreciating it. And even then, comparisons will inevitably be made.....
Day 12 of the World Cup of Tea and one for the football "geeks" amongst you, as Zeff goes through FIFA's official match summary of the USA-Paraguay group match from Day 2. Take a peek behind the curtain as we learn how the pros quantify what goes on in a match for players and the teams.
The second review in our series featuring first episodes of reality TV shows featuring celebrities buying football teams (gosh, that sentence is a mouthful). Up next from 2025, "Built in Birmingham: Brady & the Blues" that follows star quarterback-turned-TV-analyst Tom Brady, as he becomes part owner of Birmingham City, currently in The Championship, the tier below the Premier League in England.
Book review day, and Peter is back, sharing with us his thoughts on James Montague's "Thirty-one Nil" which looks at the world's game away from the mainstage slate of the Brazil's, France's and Spain's that hog our attention. In light of the expanded field this year, it is, as Peter points out, more than timely reading.
A win - or even a draw - sends the hosts to the knockout stages of the Mundial. And with all the excitement and hype, what would, and this World Cup, mean for the future of the beautiful game in the US? As seems to be forever the case, the media are wondering about soccer's ultimate destiny on these shores. But is it time to stop asking, or even care, what the answer is? (I didn't mean to go in hard - it's a great article.....)
The first round is done and the tournament should really kick in to gear over the next week, as teams now have a real sense of their direction of travel. And it's the same for show, as we follow up on some thoughts and lay out the next few days.
The 23rd edition of the Mundial ends its first seven days of action and Zeff decides whether or not this expanded edition is in fact better than what's gone before. Yes, we all know it's more expensive, but is it better? Plus England take the field for the first time - what will the "Pick of the Day" dictate you do with your hot dog?
"Angel City" is the first in Zeff's reviews of the first episodes of the many (well, five) reality show docu-series about teams and their 'celebrity' owners. We're start with "Angel City" as, well, it starts with an 'A'. And executive producer Eric drops by with a few of his ....."notes"
Day 5 and Zeff is reviewing the rules for the reality show reviews that begin this week. He's also getting in touch with his Scottish heritage (no pun intended although one of the upsides of a kilt is the accessibility). But that other Gaelic mob the Welsh, shouldn't feel left out, as "Welcome to Wrexham" will get a mention....
We promised you culture and you're getting it, as today's guest Peter drops by the show to share this thoughts on David Winner's book "Brilliant Orange" - a look at the Dutch and their relationship with the beautiful game. And Zeff has a couple of TACOs to award.
A day for other voices, as our friend Nathan drops by to take a look at some of the group stage matches that are compelling for reasons other than football. And in an unscheduled visit our esteemed executive producer has a few words of ..........wisdom?
We're heading out to Los Angeles! Well, we're imagining we are, as the US open their campaign against Paraguay in Sofi Stadium. And so we're spending a few figuring out if playing at home will propel any of the three host countries to the ultimate victory.
It's back! The World Cup of Tea returns to the Atlantic Voice's chunk of the internet airwaves. You daily companion piece to the big tournament that will be going on for what might feel like forever! It's Day 1, and here at the pod, we invite you to play World Cup Bingo! So, download your sheet here! There are prizes, you know....
The World Cup of Tea is returning to the Atlantic Voice! As this year's World Cup looks set to land in North America like an Independence Day-sized (that's Independence Day, the movie), UFO, the World Cup of Tea is back! A bite-sized daily show, each day of the tournament. Of course, what's not bite-sized is this Preview Special as Zeff's whet's your aural tastebuds with what's coming up this June and July. Put the kettle on!
Miss them?! Perhaps, but they wouldn't miss this - bringing to you an Atlantic Voice staple, The Summer Movie Preview! Eric and Zeff are, for the umpteenth time, previewing this summer's releases, all by watching the trailers. Which you can watch for yourselves, right here. If you're a long-time, you know the deal, and if you're new, well, this isn't hard to pick up......
Part 2 of the 2025 Summer Movie Preview. If you missed it, go back and listen to Part 1! In this episode, Eric and Zeff are looking at the July and August releases, so -spoiler- more superheros, dinosaurs, and a comedy or too. For all the trailers, check out the YouTube playlist.
When it rains, it pours.... Yes, that's right another episode! Eric and Zeff are here to clear the, ahem, backlog, as they total up the scores from last year's Summer Movie competition. Think of this as sort a half-time show between Parts 1 and 2 of this year's Summer Movie Preview. What's that? You mean, you haven't listened to Part 1 yet? Shame on you. And there the guys were, feeling bad about not putting out new episodes for the past year......
Did you miss them? (Don't answer that). Regardless, they're back! Eric and Zeff return with Part 1 of their annual Summer Movie Preview, watching trailers, talking some, and then telling you what to watch. And then talking some more. So business as usual then. Time may go by, but in the New Basement Studio by The Lake, it does appear to have frozen somewhat.... YouTube playlist right here
The 2024 Summer Movie Preview rumbles (rambles) on, with Eric and Zeff using Part 2 to look at some July and August releases. Reboots, remakes, retreads, and some returns, the fellas will tell you what's worth your time, and your money. Part 1 is here. And the Youtube playlist is here.
They have returned! Eric and Zeff are back on the internet airwaves with their infamous (Zeff tries to explain) summer tradition of previewing the summer cinematic releases by watching only the trailers. From June to the end of August, they have you (pretty much) covered, with sequels, prequels, comic book films and films from books. And as is the tradition, they're also competing to see who is the most prescient..... Click here for the Youtube playlist of all the trailers
To paraphrase the Los Angeles Lakers - "It's Winning Time!" Because on this episode Eric and Zeff are totaling up their predictions from the Summer Movie Preview, seeing who was the most prescient prognosticator of them all (to paraphrase some Disney film). There's also related movie talk, a look ahead to the upcoming Christmas Special, and Eric is laying down his New Year's Resolution early!
What's this you say? A new episode of The Atlantic Voice? Yes, it has been a rarity of late, but what need for quantity with this quality.....Eric and Zeff are back and catching up on some things AI, our old friend Asteroids!, as well as something to help your movie-going experience.
Here for 2023, Eric and Zeff's annual gift to you all, the Best Of Special. On this year's Eric opines on the World Cup of Tea and ranks the deaths in Jaws, while Zeff challenges AI's review of the pod. Plus a mash-up and a couple of bad segways. What would summer be without it, the 2023 Best Of Special.
Eric and Zeff are still previewing and picking, as the annual Summer Movie Preview rolls on. In Part 2 (go back and listen to Part 1!), it's onto July and August with such offerings as Barbie, Oppenheimer, and The Meg 2 - shall we say a "varied selection of offerings".... To check out all the preview, go to the YouTube playlist right here.
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