He gets the ball; he scores again...

Ladies and gentlemen, lock up the liquor, hide the women and children, and get ready for my comprehensive review and preview of all UEFA Euro 2008. In case you are unfamiliar with Euro 2008, it is a World Cup style tournament featuring the best 16 teams in Europe (Or at least belonging to UEFA.) If you are unfamiliar with Euro 2008, you might want to just stop reading now. Without further ado, let's begin with Group A....

Group A Standings After 1 Game
Portugal 3 points (+2 goal differential)
Czech Republic 3 points (+1)
Switzerland 0 points (-1)
Turkey 0 points (-2)

After one game, Portugal showed their class and prove that they will easily win Group A. While the 2-0 win over Turkey was not quite a walk in the park since the insurance goal came at the death, no one in the group will be able to challenge Portugal. Tomorrow's clash with the Czech's should determine the group winner, Portugal's potentially ferocious offense should carry the day. Lead by Manchester United's (soon to be Real Madrid's) flop happy, Euro 2008 Mr. Handsome Christiano Ronaldo, you can go ahead and pencil Portugal into the Euro semis. The interesting plot-line out of this group is who will claim the second place spot and a chance to face probable Group B winners Germany. The winner of the Czech Republic/Turkey clash will most likely end up in second. The phenomenal goalkeeping of Chelsea's Petr Cech will be enough to see the Czech Republic out of the group stages and into the knockout rounds. Co-host Switzerland still has a chance, but the loss of leader Frei severely dings their hopes.

Group B Standings
Germany 3 pts. (+2)
Croatia 3 pts. (+1)
Austria 0 pts. (-1)
Poland 0 pts. (-2)

As with Portugal in Group A, Germany should cruise into the semis. The 4 to 1 favorites entering the tournament, their easy 2-0 win over Poland further cemented their favorite status. The battle for second in the group will turn on the Poland/Croatia match. Croatia managed a penalty kick winner over Group B whipping boy Austria in the first game. I personally have been down on Poland ever since the U.S. national team blitzkrieged them 3-0 in Poland. However, after watching the first games in this group, Croatia looked flat while Poland looked legitimately frisky. I think Poland will prevail over Kovac, Kovac, & Assoc. despite Croatia's obnoxious checkered uniforms. Austria, not even ranked in FIFA's top 100, has no business in the tournament. They are a non-factor.

Group C Standings (The Group of Death)
Holland 3 pts. (+3)
France 1 pt.
Romania 1 pt.
Italy 0 pts. (-3)

I like the Dutch in this group. The Oranje and their "total football" provided an entertaining match against the ancient Italians. Holland seems to have the right balance of experience (Van Der Sar and Van Nistelrooy), hard workers (Liverpool utility man Dirk Kuyt and Wesley Sniejder), and youth (Arsenal man Robin Van Persie). They do not seem to be too impacted by the loss of Liverpool starlet Ryan Babel and serial injury absentee Arjen Robben. The only hitch in the Dutch domination is if France shakes off their first game rust and comes out guns blazing. Holland has all the momentum, and I predict them to carry the group easily. Italy, France, and Romania are relegated to a battle for second. Romania, though ranked 12 in the world, do not have the firepower to stay. Italy, the defending world champions, are headed for an early exit, much to the relief of their aging lineup, who don't want to miss bingo night at their nursing home. Against Holland, Italy trotted out 10 starters that were older than 30. In the footballing world, that is ancient. France, while also aged, at least has some young legs to throw on in a pinch. I see France advancing in second.

Group D Standings
Spain 3 pts. (+ 3)
Sweden 3 pts. (+2)
Greece 0 pts. (-2)
Russia 0 pts. (-3)

Spain advances with ease. They put on a masterful performance, sparked by the two best strikers in the tournament in Torres and David Villa. Their defense looked a little suspect at times today, but that won't trouble them until the knockout stages. Sweden will take second, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic providing all the goals they need to advance to the knockout stages. Defending Euro champions Greece looked overmatched today, and Russia is only in the tournament because England has psychological issues (and coaching issues which have since been resolved. Steve McClaren? Really?).

Quarterfinals:
Portugal over Poland
Germany over Czech Republic
Holland over Sweden
Spain over France

Semifinals:
Germany over Portugal
Holland over Spain

Finals:
Holland over Germany

Go Oranje! In closing, please enjoy a fine goal by Spain's David Villa against Italy from earlier this year.

Now in the morning I sleep alone...

So I have not met my goals for posting. I sincerely apologize. Tonight's post will be fairly simple. The topic: tort reform. I realize I just lost 50% of my readership (1 of 2), but I will persevere nonetheless. Today in class, we talked about the Texas Constitutional provision that limits non-economic damages (think primarily pain and suffering) to $250,000 per claimant. Under certain circumstances the total non-economic recovery can be increased to $750,000. $750,000 is the absolute cap. Some argue that this artificial cap is heartless. To a certain level I agree, but I'm ok with that. We Republicans aren't anything if not heartless. Certainly the law is not perfect in every situation, but anyone who tries to tell you something is perfect is either selling something, lying to you, or both.

But on the whole, the cap has worked fairly well. It has severely cut medical malpractice insurance premiums for doctors allowing better, more affordable healthcare for all. Also, it has reduced frivolous lawsuits. By taking the hostage element out of medical malpractice claims (Settle or I'll put my sadly damaged (but not negligently damaged) plaintiff on the stand and pop you for $10 million), the claims are actually adjudicated instead of just immediately settled. This weeds out the frivolous claims while still allowing legitimate claims to be proven. And justice being done is good for everyone.

In closing, this is no where near a complete discussion of all aspects of medical malpractice damage caps. I look forward to my uncle's postings about the problems with my approach. Maybe that will coax me into a follow up post. In a final aside, I want to thank the recruiting staff of my future employer who will be reading this in the fall. (In case you are unfamiliar with the modern hiring process, a quick google of the applicant is almost standard now.) And yes future law firm employer, I am in favor of tort reform. That's all for tonight...