SPORTS FOLDEROL

  Briefly told: FORMER RICHMOND Kickers goalkeeper  MATT  TURNER  apparently will open soccer’s World Cup (Friday  against Paraguay) No. 2 to  M A TT FREESE  No. 1 for the U.S.  National Team … despite a weak effort on Germany’s first goal  by Freese in Saturday’s not-so-friendly won 2-1 by the visitors  in Chicago. Nevertheless, it was an encouraging performance by the team  in its  final warmup for the FIFA-sponsored Cup, held everyfour  years and returning to this country for the first time since 1994  … with the Americans, once again not expected to prevail.  Their best finish was a quarterfinal appearance in 2002 under  former University of Virginia coach  BRUCE ARENA . Saturday, after a shaky opening 15 minutes or so, the U.S.,  pretty much dominated a game that threatened to get out of  hand in the second half when there were several scrums.   ANTONEE ROBINSON’s  first interna...

  We’re baaaaack. Like anyone noticed or cared, we’ve been AWOL for a month dealing with assorted illnesses usually associated with old people … like moi. While still to be dealt with is some clean up of both eyes,  making typos more likely (if you can believe that), herewith  an attempt to catchup a little bit. Like the FIFA World Cup of soccer comes to these shores  for the first time in more than 40 years, starting Friday ... …  and here’s hoping futbol’s intelligensia learned from their  arrogance when the Cup was held here in 1994 … and  actually welcome media interest rather than discourage it. I got to Detroit for the Americans’ first-round match looking  forward to the experience. Didn’t take long to change my  mind. First, I was told my media-rate reservation at the hotel  (made and accepted long before deadline) was not available  … but they probably could find something else for me, at a  higher rate, of course. Then...