February 27, 2009
Headballs? WTF?!? LINKS!
Uhhhhh....I'll just get to the links:
- Torres is gonna miss some time. [BBC]
- Hull City advances in FA Cup. [FourFourTwo]
- Beckham is frustrated with his situation. [Yahoo!]
- UEFA Cup. What's the point? [EPL Talk]
- Landon being phased out at Bayern. [SBI]
- Juve loses Camoranesi to a broken rib. [ESPN]
- Sweden and Norway bid for Euro 2016. [SI]
- Kalou linked to Arsenal, likes it. [Guardian]
- A clash over the 6+5 rule. [Goal.com]
Punch!
Talk about a sore loser. Some Blackburn dude slugged a teenage fan of Conventry City after a loss.Premier League ace Jason Roberts punched a jubilant 17-year-old fan in the face after the lad’s side dumped Blackburn out of the FA Cup, it was claimed yesterday.What a horrible person. I hope he's out of play for a while and takes a hit in the pocketbook.
Police were called when the striker, 30, allegedly flipped as he boarded his team’s coach home.
Shocked witnesses, including an off-duty cop, said the £3million star vaulted a barrier to belt the jeering Coventry City supporter.
FIFA agents held in drug case
"Spanish police have arrested 11 people, including professional footballers and agents from FIFA, over alleged involvement in drugs smuggling."That's not good.
1,320 pounds of cocaine! My lord.
The police believe the drug folk were using football connections to skate by. An ex-coach in the French Division and a former Atletico Madrid player are believed to be in the middle of it.
Somewhere Sepp Blatter is throwing things.
Pavel Nedved to retire
The Czech Rep. and Juventus mainstay says he's calling it quits at the end of the season."Maybe you think I'm still young but I'm almost 37 - I will quit at the end of the season," he said.Always the optimist. Anyways, kudos to a great career.
"I'd love to finish with a Champions League win. We lost to Chelsea but can turn it around in the return leg."
Hiddink to be the permanent Chelsea boss?
I think it's a great fit. The team has responded well to the change and is playing some quality soccer.He's clearly an established and respected coach. Why not give him a shot? Is there really a clear, better fit out there?
I'm not sure there is...
Beckham crashing at Clooney's villa
That's the word from People magazine.Hollywood star George Clooney isn't using his luxury pad at Italy's Lake Como, so it was open for the Englishman to crash with the fam.
Hello! magazine, which first reported the sublease, says Clooney and Beckham became friends after being introduced by designer Giorgio Armani at last year's Met Ball in New York.Awww, that's so cute. They're all buddy buddy and were hooked up by Mr. Armani himself!
They grew closer once Beckham moved to Italy, where, the magazine reports, Clooney took the soccer star under his wing.
Though Brad Pitt might get jealous his BFF is sharing time.
VIDEO: Goal o' the day
I'd say a 35-yard free kick that rattles a couple posts and goes in is worthy of such praise...
What a strike by Hatem Ben Arfa of Marseilles.
World War III
Turns out the Columbus Crew folk are declaring war against the Sounders FC.Here's an excerpt from a Crew supporters blog that specifically mentions an ant-Seattle scarf.
I and a few friends of mine are of the opinion that Seattle Sounders FC sucks for a lot of reasons.Pretty funny, don't you think. Some clever kids behind this one. But the Crew will prove to be nothing without Sigi. 2009 will prove that.
Not so much the Sigi thing, but the fact that you have these weak supporters out there in Seattle who couldn't support their club in USL, but then you get a comedian, a Microsoft trillionaire and a producer together to buy them a club and now they are going to fill half an NFL stadium with latte sipping soccer moms to watch an underwear model in a neon kit run around on plastic grass to the tune of Gary Glitter played by a f'in marching band.
Seattle has no soul and it's not what ultras culture in North America should be about . . . in our opinion.
[Credit MLS Rumors with the tip]
UEFA Cup results
Here are your advancers (* -- advanced on away goals)...Dynamo Kyiv* 3-3Goodbye Milan. See ya Tottenham and Aston VillaValencia
Zenit 4-2StuttgartOlympiacos 2-5St. EtienneAston Villa1-3 CSKA Moskva
Bremen* 3-3MilanSampdoria0-3 MetalistNEC0-4 Hamburg
PSG 5-1WolfsburgBordeaux3-4 Galatasaray
AaB 6-1Deportivo
Braga 4-1StandardLech3-4 Udinese
Shakhtar 3-1TottenhamKøbenhavn3-4 Man. City
Marseille 1-1 (7-6 PKs)TwenteFiorentina1-2 Ajax
Soccer is destroying the world
So say the treehuggers. Seriously.Check out this story at TreeHugger.com, listing the top seven sports that ruin the environment.
2. SoccerHere's the countdown: 1, Skydiving; 2, Soccer; 3, NASCAR; 4, Hunting and blood sports; 5, Downhill skiiing/snowboarding; 6, Drag boat racing (motor boat racing); 7, Aerobatics and Air Racing.
For many, soccer is a fantastic, beautiful sport. The game unites cultures, countries, and backgrounds in a common bond of athletic competition. It requires nothing but some friends, a ball, and an afternoon full of fresh air: Unless you're one of the hundreds of thousands of people who play it professionally. Then, you'll need buses, cars, and airplanes to transport you across continents. After all, soccer (rather, football, to everyone but us stubborn Americans) is the biggest, most widely followed sport in the world--and that means players across Europe, Australia, North and South America, Africa, Asia, virtually everywhere except Antarctica are traveling from game to game, collectively creating a fossil fuel-burning storm.
Oh my lord... I know what you're thinking. No. 2?!?
Ahead of NASCAR and hunting? Ridiculous.
[Hat tip to Goff and his readership for the find]
February 26, 2009
Gettin' cut LINKS
One of my boys Ely Allen -- a former Pac-10 Player of the Year at Washington -- was released by the L.A. Galaxy the other day.Sad. Unless he gets a call from the Sounders FC (who did have other Pac-10 POY and former Husky Kevin Forrest in camp recently)...
Now the links:
- Here's a crazy challenge. [101GG]
- Some Stoke dude was retained by the cops. [Caribbean Net News]
- The Chinese national team is up for grabs. [Reuters]
- 55,000+ fans at a Montreal game? [Yahoo!]
- Tips for players during the recession. [EPL Talk]
- Hoffenheim duo facing doping charges. [IMScouting]
- The Bulgarian league has issues. [ESPN]
Freddy Adu update
This all according to his blog says SBI:"I met with Ricardo and am confident that I will get chances over the next few months to show what I can do" said Adu through his blog.He hasn't seen time at Monaco (a struggling French team) and hasn't been involved with the national team much either.
Has any teenager been through as much...?
United fans attacked in Milan
Here's the story (it'll be in italics). My analysis will follow."Three Manchester United supporters were attacked by four Inter Milan fans in the aftermath of the Champions League match between the teams on Tuesday, ANSA news agency reported."I can do that math. Unless one of the United supporters was Jackie Chan or The Transporter, the Italians had the edge in numbers.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight, near the stadium, on a road connecting the San Siro with the nearest metro stop.Where's the mention of staggering drunks? Don't lie, you know alcohol was involved.
The United fans, aged 28, 48 and 49, were taken to San Carlo hospital in Milan for treatment. One suffered a broken nose and another a cut on the head. All three were later discharged.Jackie's 54 years old, Jason Statham is 36. The numbers don't add up. Couldn't have been them.
The group of Inter fans escaped in a car before police could apprehend them. No motive was given for the attack.No motive? Really?
Bookies no longer taking Benitez bets
With everyone and their mom placing wagers on when the Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is resigning/getting fired/leaving in some capacity, the bookies are screaming out 'no mas!'Betting was suspended the other day. Rumors swirling that he turned down a contract extension only brought more people and their money.
Bookmakers William Hill offered odds of 20-1 on Tuesday that Benitez would be the next Premier League manager to leave his club, But they had to suspend betting on Wednesday morning after being flooded with calls that he would leave after Liverpool's game at next-to-last Middlesbrough on Saturday.Though beating Real Madrid at the Bernabeu might levy the fire a little bit.
"The level of interest on Rafa getting the sack is unprecedented with over 300 calls logged today alone,'' William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams said on Wednesday. "We would be very surprised if Rafa is still the Liverpool boss by midnight on Sunday.''
Especially if the Reds can gain a little ground on United in the Premiership race.
VIDEO: Who needs players?
I've never seen one of these machines. Seen it for baseball and football, it was only a matter of time...
Mourinho gives Fergie wine, not a handshake
Word is the Inter Milan coach snubbed Sir Alex when it came time for a postgame handshake.Mourinho said it's because his fancy dugout has its own exit. Then he revealed a kind, anonymous gesture that he was never going to keep a secret from the media.
"Yesterday I left a £300 bottle of wine in the hotel with a note saying we would meet each other after the game at Old Trafford.Fergie said he wasn't surprised his counterpart ran off after the game. He probably never got a bottle of wine anyways.
I look forward to hearing what Jose says on Special-1 TV.
Raul to MLS?
By his own admission:"As an experience, not just for me but also for my family, I could try to play a year probably in the United States. If I did it, it would be for the experience. If not, it's clear that I will finish my career here (at Real)."The 31 year old said he'll probably retire in a couple years, so it probably won't be a while until it could actually happen.
But it's kinda cool to think a legend is open to playing in America.
Now someone has to make him an offer he can't refuse...
Champions League round-up
Chelsea 1, Juventus 0 -- The Blues looked to be the stronger side all game. Didier Drogba looked especially sharp, and put away the game-winner thanks to a perfect pass from Salomon Kalou (I love that kid). Both sides will leave semi-satisfied in this one.Bayern Munich 5, Sporting Lisbon 0 -- Holy beatdown. Ribery was too good. Toni had a couple goals. The only sad thing was Landon Donovan wasn't in the lineup. Bayern could start me and a couple friends in the second leg and be fine.
Liverpool 1, Real Madrid 0 -- I did not see this coming. Especially in the Bernabeu. And how: Yossi Benayoon rises above the field on a set piece to power home a header? Really? Well, whatever works. It capped off a great group of first-leg matches for the English clubs.
Villareal 1, Panathinaikos 1 -- The Greeks got a great goal from Giorgias Karagounis and escaped with a draw and an away goal. Mission accomplished for them, but the second leg will be a toss up.
February 25, 2009
Inflatable soccer LINKS
I want one of these in my backyard. First, I need a backyard.Anyways, the links:
- EPL playoffs? [Unprofessional Foul]
- Mexico's Torrado to Chivas USA? [No Short Corners]
- Should soccer emulate baseball in one way. [EPL Talk]
- AC Milan looking to sell? [SI]
- A vulgar Ronaldo float for Carnaval. [Futbolita]
- Wembley Stadium has a double booking. Uh oh... [ESPN]
VIDEO: Hopefully this guy is really hurt
Jump to the 3:00 mark. This guy goes down in a heap and gets stretched off.
I hope to goodness he didn't end up on the field again.
Word to the wise...
...don't leave your keys in the ignition of your Ferrari.Middlesbrough midfielder Gary O'Neil found that out the hard way when he was at a gas station the other day.
Some 28 year old took his prize car for a joy ride.
North Yorkshire Police said the vehicle was then driven at speed along the A59 to York, which is around 15 miles away.The assailant was caught and arrested. But I'm sure he enjoyed the ride.
Officers said the car was spotted overtaking other vehicles on the 15 minute journey and was later abandoned on Tadcaster Road.
AirAsia looking at United sponsorship
The Malaysian air company is considering becoming the main shirt sponsor of Manchester United.But there's one last hurdle: the company thinks they might already be big time enough.
"We would not be the global brand we are today if we hadn't invested early on," [AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandes] added. "The question is whether we need to anymore. And that's what I'll be examining."The United deal with AIG ends in 2010.
FA looking at sketchy 9-0 game
An unusual score coupled with unusual betting patterns has caught the attention of the FA.Rushden & Diamonds' beat Weymouth on the road 9-0 on Saturday. The kicker is, some Weymouth players were refusing to play due to wage issues. That definitely adds another wrinkle.
Fans aware of the dispute placed bets on Rushden to win, with more than 10 times as much money than would normally be expected staked with bookmakers.Bookies ended up paying almost $1.5 million in a game involving two small, small clubs.
Sounds kinda shady....
Dempsey scores in Fulham's FA Cup win
Deuce led a comeback effort at Craven Cottage with a goal in the 77th-minute equalizer. Bobby Zamora capped the win with a header in the 81st minute.The other EPL team playing in the FA Cup yesterday, Blackburn, fell to the mighty Coventry City 1-0.
VIDEO: Drunk/tired dude falls 20 feet
It's not really funny, but kinda funny, but horrible, but a little funny, and sad, all at the same time.
Harry Redknapp has to wear Juande's suits?
Oh the travesty! A busy UEFA Cup and EPL schedule means the Tottenham boss doesn't have any spare time to go to the tailor."We've got suits we had measured up last year. I don't know if (Juande) Ramos' suit is going to fit me!"Maybe worry about that relegation zone a little more, and your threads a little less.
UCL roundup and predix
Lyon 1, Barcelona 1 -- Kind of a shocking result, and only a diving header from TH14 saves the day for Barca. Juninho (right) had just a wonderful goal. Messi was off, but the Spanish side should advance with a home win in March.Inter Milan 0, Manchester United 0 -- Ronaldo proved he's better than Zlatan. United also was clearly the stronger side. Not playing Rooney was a mistake and Fletcher's house getting raided is a shame. But the Red Devils will advance.
Arsenal 1, AS Roma 0 -- The Gunners got the win and didn't allow an away goal, Arsene has to be thrilled with that. RVP netted a PK winner and Toure got a bizarre booking. Roma will make it tough in the second leg.
Atletico Madrid 2, FC Porto 2 -- From the highlights I saw -- which featured some horrible goalkeeping -- it didn't appears to be a game of the highest quality.
* * *
Some quick-hit predictions.
Chelsea 2, Juventus 1 -- I think the home-field magic will be there for the Blues. Hiddink (right) for President?Real Madrid 2, Liverpool 0 -- With or without Gerrard, the Reds fall flat on the road.
Sporting Lisbon 1, Bayern Munich 1 -- A crucial tie and away goal for the Germans, coming from Landon Donovan, whoo!
Villareal 3, Panathinaikos 1 -- Not really thinking about this one too much. A couple afterthoughts in this one.
* * *
The highlight of Day 1
The lowlight of Day 1
Galaxy accepted Beckham fate?
A great story in the LA Times takes a long look at the Beckham saga. One quote in particular caught my eye:The Galaxy publicly says it is trying to keep him, but privately it already is resigned to losing him.While I'm not entirely surprised, it is still a newsworthy assertion. I don't think the league needs him. How many of the 20,000 Sounders FC season-ticket holders will be asking for refunds if he leaves?
Exactly.
VIDEO: Fake ad looks pro, and vice versa
Great work -- do they do any other kind -- over at The Offside the other day.
Big Daddy D spotted a couple soccer ads. You'd never guess which one was legit and which one was remarkably loud, long and overdone...
1. The real one, epic and awesome
2. The fake one, turn the volume down
Big Daddy D spotted a couple soccer ads. You'd never guess which one was legit and which one was remarkably loud, long and overdone...
1. The real one, epic and awesome
2. The fake one, turn the volume down
Women's Professional Soccer fashion show!
Check out the lovely ladies of the WPS play model for a day and show off the Puma kits of the various teams in the new league.
Too bad there was no Sounders FC rave green.
Too bad there was no Sounders FC rave green.
February 24, 2009
Last chance LINKS
Word is Landon is living out his final moments at Bayern. Hopefully he gets a goal. Hopefully he finds another home.On to the links:
- Kobe chilling at a soccer game. [Dirty Tackle]
- 1000 posts for a great blog. Whoo! [SSR]
- A Steve Zakuani diary. [ESPN]
- A new Manchester United shirt. [EPL Talk]
- Zlatan says he's better than Rooney. [Goal.com]
- This guy is not an ideal soccer coach. [Unprofessional Foul]
- Arshavin escaped initiation at Arsenal. [FourFourTwo]
- A Spanish player kissed a drag queen? [Off the Post]
- Ole Gunnar turned down Norway. [SkySports]
- There is no locker room rift says Cech. [Guardian]
- A new world's top 25. [Soccer Source]
- Arteta is out for the year. [Yahoo!]
Sit down Middlesbrough!
There's nothing I can add to this letter to Middlesbrough fans from the club safety officer, so I'm just going to copy the text into a post and wait for you to laugh at it's ridiculousness.Dear Block 53A supporterThis is the saddest thing I've ever heard. How could you cheer when the 'Applause' sign was clearly NOT flashing?!?
Standing at Riverside Stadium
Here's a message sent to its fans by the EPL team:
Over the last few games this season the stewards have tried hard to persuade you all to sit down in this area of the ground.
The club are grateful of and encourage your noisy passionate support, but please remember that the Safety Certificate for the ground, issued by Middlesbrough Council, does not allow permanent standing within the seating areas.
I know when the action is exciting and the team are shooting at the north end of the ground the instinct of every fan is to stand, I do not want to stop you doing this, but then please sit down. If you could adhere to this but still maintain your level of support then all parties will be happy.
We need you to work with the stewards towards a safe environment, this compromise is the way forward and respects the wishes of other fans, which want to sit in the same area as you but cannot stand.
I am receiving more and more complaints from our own fans also seated in this area about both the persistent standing and the constant banging and noise coming from the back of this stand. Please stop, make as much noise as you like when we score, but this constant noise is driving some fans mad.
Coach ditches team for Survivor
Needless to say, Ben Wade -- wasn't that the name of the dude in 3:10 to Yuma? -- was fired.A great post over at SbB introduces us to the Southwest Baptist University women’s soccer head coach who left the team midseason to go film the show that has been around longer than Ryan Giggs.
SBU athletic director Brent Good said the school bought out the remaining three months of Wade’s contract because Wade did not tell Good that he left the team at mid-season to be on television.Now after seeing this photo, I picture this guy doing everything without his shirt on, including games and practices.
“He said he was going to be gone for a week,” Good said. “And the week went beyond that, which went beyond that, which went beyond that.”
Maybe it's the best for SBU. Can't have shirtless guys running around all over the place.
Beckham used illegally in ad
Some Chinese ad for sexual enhancement has been using Beckham's likeness to sell product without consent.Safe to say, the Englishman isn't very happy.
With Becks’ face on screen, a voice says: “Want to know how I can keep being strong and running on the football field? USA Selikon capsules help me a lot. It’s also the secret weapon with which I can satisfy Victoria.”That is horrible and not funny at all.
Beckham, 33, is fuming. A source said: “He doesn’t find it funny.”
According to the original posters, it appears as though Beckham will have to live with it, because, well, it's China. The government over there has already given the OK, so it's pretty much a closed case now.
David Blaine works on Lampard
Only one Premier League goal since October...? I'd blame the magician too.A sheepish Lamps took part in a card trick with the US magician after what the club’s website describes as a “relaxing lunch”. It is just as well as I find unrelaxing lunches are very bad for digestion. Blaine also bent a 20p piece, rotated his wrist 360 degrees and ate part of a wine glass.Lies. No such thing as magic.
Or bending money. Or eating glass.
All lies.
VIDEO: Backheel flick goal
No talent at all here. None.
Lucky punk.
Kidding, great goal dude. I've done this many times in my mind...
Champions League predictions
I totally love the UCL.Inter Milan 1, Manchester United 1 -- I'm expecting a damn entertaining game in Italy between two of the world's best. Each side has separated itself in its own league, but only one can advance. We'll have to wait until the second leg in this one.
1, Inter, Ibrahimovic (Muntari) 37:00; 2, United, Rooney (Berbatov) 66:00.
Lyon 1, Barcelona 2 -- There is a faint glimmer of hope still for the French side after a narrow defeat to the Catalan club. Even though we all know Lyon has no chance, Barca doesn't win via blowout. Shouldn't matter in the end though.
1, Barca, Messi (Eto'o) 19:00; 2, Barca, Krkic (Messi) 54:00; 3, Lyon, Juninho (fk) 80:00.
Arsenal 1, AS Roma 1 -- As familiar as we are with the teams, this a far from an exciting matchup. The 5th EPL team versus the 6th Serie A team? Yeah, not anything to write home about. Anyways, I think the Gunners squeak out a draw at home, but give up a vital away goal.
1, Roma, Vucinic (un), 41:00; 2, Arsenal, Van Persie (Nasri) 73:00.
Atletico Madrid 2, FC Porto 0 -- Atletico is far from fine form coming into this one. The club is currently seventh in La Liga and only has one win in 2009 -- ouch. Porto are the Portuguese league leaders, but Champions League is a different beast.
1, Atletico, Aguero (Maniche) 49:00; 2, Atletico, Aguero (Simao), 87:00.
Nadal and the boys
I love Rafa. I stayed up til 6 a.m. to watch his Australian Open triumphs -- twice.Too bad this is the most awkward, uncomfortable picture ever...
February 23, 2009
VIDEO: Uhhhh, two soccer balls on the pitch!
This should be implemented in some all-star game festivities I think...
Manchester United has a cooking show?
Looks like the Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson along with some players and club personalities will be on a cooking show on the team's in-house television station.Oh my...
Barca reconsidering MLS bid
Not a good couple days for the Catalan club.They lost at home to the worst team in La Liga, Espanyol, AT HOME and now it appears as though the struggling economy is affecting their hopes at branching out to Major League Soccer.
In response, [club CEO Joan] Oliver said the matter was “very delicate and we are evaluating if the situation allows for the model planned to be implemented in Miami or not.” He added that Barcelona could postpone its bid and try to obtain a team when “there was not financial risk to the club.”Well despite the horrible loss, the team is still seven points up in the league standings.
So that's good news, hopefully the MLS expansion news will turn positive also...
Onyewu linked to Real Betis
Until our boy lands at a bigger, better club, I'm gonna keep passing along the links/rumors/hopefuls...
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