I fear my ignorance of International Football (a.k.a. soccer) is about to become a handicap again; up until now it only mattered every four years.

Here are some sporty midday news/views high-energy snacks:

* U.S. prosecutors announce big case involving FIFA corruption, which involves enough officials from multiple countries to make this a political as well as a sports story.

* There is, of course, an alleged Clinton angle in the FIFA story.

* Vatican Secretary of State executes calm, measured reaction to Irish marriage equality vote: “A defeat for humanity.”

* Scott Walker thinks it’s nifty that women can get these “cool” ultrasounds thanks to being forced to do so by state law.

* At the Grade, Alexander Russo discusses the new “compromise” state school chief chosen by New York.

And in non-political news:

* Just cannot resist: video of tiny baby bears wrestling.

As we break for lunch, let’s acknowledge another musical birthday, that of Neil Finn, who turns 57 today. Here he is with Crowded House performing “Chocolate Cake” on Letterman in 1991.

YouTube video

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Ed Kilgore is a political columnist for New York and managing editor at the Democratic Strategist website. He was a contributing writer at the Washington Monthly from January 2012 until November 2015, and was the principal contributor to the Political Animal blog.