How are the elite soccer players made? American Soccer dads and moms spend (waste?) untold riches trying to turn their Darling Daughter into the next Mia Hamm or their Prodigal Son into the next Ronaldinho. Economist Stephen Levitt suggests some of those well-meaning parents may be wasting their money. They'd be better off timing their offspring's conception! Read Stephen's provocative thoughts at the New York Times.

A correction to yesterday's post about Theo Walcott. The kid does have some 1st league experience with Southampton, his former club. Still, he's awfully green for the World Cup. And, Peter Crouch, is not England's great hope on the front line, it's of course, Michael Owen. But Owen, like Rooney has had a serious foot injury, and is still recovering. He played some the week before for Newcastle and experienced some soreness, so it still remains to be seen what he can bring to the WC.

All that aside, I don't believe England will go far without Rooney. And it's all academic anyways, because the Boys from Brazil are going to take their 2nd consecutive World Cup.