No to the offsides rule change. The game originaly did not have an offsides rule, and it was very static. Defenders did nothing but defend; midfielders were exclusively midfielders; and so on. The situation was so unacceptable that when the rule was introduced you had to be behind (not even) with the third-from-last defender. This was later modified to the second-from-last defender, and the rule further tweaked to make even with this defender be an on-sides position. Bad offside decisions have denied good goals in this World Cup. FIFA has emphasized that the attacking player should get the benefit of the doubt, something that most assistant referees still do not take to heart. The difficulty for the referee's assistant (and I speak from experience) is in determining when exactly the pass was made, while simultaneously keeping an eye on that last defender. This is especially difficult in a packed stadium with screaming fans, where it is unlikely that the assistant referee can hear the pass being made. Here FIFA should not be reluctant to introduce technology. It's been done in tennis and in other sports. It can be done here.

Yes to ending the diving and the stretchers. Again, FIFA should not be reluctant to use technology to punish divers and cheats after the fact (with game suspensions, not fines; highly paid players can afford fines, but not lost games). These Cup games are being broadcast in HD! Use it! Also, once off the field, a player needs the referee's permission to re-enter. If the referee suspects that a player was tanking for time, s/he should be allowed to make them cool their heels for a while, leaving their team down a man.

Finally, a couple of rule change of my own.

First, a change in timekeeping. The referee should stop the clock on injuries (feigned or otherwise), which would discourage time wasting (with the clock stopped, you can't waste playing time, right?).

Second, I would like to see more flexibility in substitutions. I don't wish to see the game marred by unlimited substitutions, which waste time and interrupt the flow of the game. A rule that would allow a team to use up to 5 substitutes, but only up to 3 substitution occasions (including at the half), whould take care of this. Thus a team could stop the game only up to 3 times each, as they can now, but could change up to 5 players.

The NY Times was right to publish this story, but was wrong to consult with the Administration before doing so. It is not the duty of journalists to run their stories past the subjects of their investigations for aproval or permission to publish, as NYT Executive Editor Bill Keller did.

It should also go without saying that the president should not be breaking laws, and that "security" should not be used as a cloak to do so. Citizens are far likelier to lose their freedoms to an oppressive, secretive government than to putative "terrorists."

Finally, Rep. King should read the Constitution. The First Amendment has no clause about it being suspended during times of war.

The signature "Gooooooooooooooool!" call is called in Spanish "cantar el gol" (singing the goal). It's not an Andres Cantor immitations. He merely did what most (if not all) Spanish, Latin American and Brazilian announcers do when a goal is scored. I remember hearing them sing out goals when I was a kid living in Guatemala and Brazil back in the 60's and 70's (hate dating myself like that). Each announcer had a particular style. I remember this one Brazilian guy that I was sure would die of asphixiation every time a goal was scored.

Now I'll go and drown my sorrows. My Spain side just did the usual, and exited early after a great group round.