http://www.runner-up.org Where 2nds Count Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:04:32 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I've been hearing a lot of criticism of Austria's national football team. As co-hosts of the Euro 2008 tournament along with Switzerland, Austria's team didn't have to go through the gruelling qualification process that the other 14 teams did, and most people feel that the Austrians are the weakest team ... http://www.runner-up.org/2008/06/10/austria-worst-euro-hosts-ever/ The 2008 NCAA Men's Division 1 Basketball Tournament has already produced some history. For the first time ever, all the games at one site (Tampa) have resulted in the lower seed beating the higher seed: Western Kentucky (12) beat Drake (5) 101-99 (OT) in the West bracket San Diego (13) beat Connecticut ... http://www.runner-up.org/2008/03/22/topsy-turvy-tampa/ Today was the deadline for cities to apply to host the 2016 Olympic Summer Games. I've always had a fascination with the Olympics and the whole bidding process. What excites me most is that there are many more unsuccessful bids than successful. And even if a city wins the right ... http://www.runner-up.org/2008/01/14/2016-summer-olympic-bids/ New magazine Monocle (founded by Canadian Tyler Brulé, of Wallpaper fame) has a fascinating series of articles on breakaway states and country branding in its September 2007 issue. Unfortunately, you'll have to buy the printed magazine since only subscribers have access to full articles online, but you can see the ... http://www.runner-up.org/2007/10/01/breakaway-states/ From my film blog, Toronto Screen Shots: Groundhoppers (Director: Eivind Tolås, Norway, 2005): Thank goodness for the internet. While reading about obsessive football (soccer) fans who attempt to visit as many football grounds as possible, I came across the title of this Norwegian documentary. I was able to get in touch ... http://www.runner-up.org/2007/06/21/groundhoppers/