Nice piece in the latest issue of Sports Illustrated on Brady and his forthcoming comeback.
When your finished with that, there is this oddball piece by the Globe's Dan Shaughnessy, who appears pretty bitter that Brady isn't providing him with hourly updates on his status.
''Good for King. These days, it's rare when anybody at Gillette grants an interview of substance without cash changing hands.''
Tonight is a tough match up to call, because the event really is playing host to the two greatest Clubs in World football. Having said that, the one thing that should happen is there should be goals. Possibly plenty of them. Several factors lend themselves to this hypothesis. The two teams are stacked with attacking talent, both teams have forward thinking managers, both teams have somewhat suspect back fours and both teams are entirely fearless.
Look at the attacking players on display. Ronaldo, Inniesta, Tevez, Xavi, Berbatov, Messi, Rooney and probably Henry too. That is one serious stack of striking superiority. It is no exaggeration to say eight of the world greatest attacking footballers will be on the pitch at some stage tonight. As far as most are concerned, the two current best players in the world will be playing, Ronaldo and Messi. Having watched Messi play dozens of time this year, there is no comparison at all, the little Argentinean is head and shoulders above Ronaldo, a vastly superior overall player. Be that as it may, there is no doubt Ronaldo can score, almost at will. So, check the first box, the right players are involved for a game conducive to high scoring.
Messi
The two managers, Pep Guardiola and Alex Ferguson, really only know one way to play. Guardiola may be young enough to be Ferguson’s son but he has taken to football management, under the harshest of spotlights, like a duck to water. Both bosses demand their teams push forward at all times. Barcelona play a somewhat more aesthetically pleasing game, keeping the ball on the ground at almost all times, United are a little more direct, however there is no denying both teams overall ethos is, simply, score
Both United and Barcelona have suspect defenses, both have had their issues through the course of the season. Whilst both have domineering, great players, for some reason they both can concede goals, often plenty of same. Who can forget Liverpool’s absolutely stunning 4-1 destruction job of United in Old Trafford, less than two months ago? Barcelona are missing some key elements in their back four making them vulnerable also.
Must have wallpaper for all United fans
Finally, there is no doubt at all that both teams believe strongly they can win this match 3-1 or 4-1 or whatever, both sides are commendably and entirely fearless. Look at Barcelona in particular, with only ten men they quite literally spent the entire 90 minutes in Chelsea in the semi final throwing themselves at the big physical blue wall Chelsea set between them and the Champions League final. Both teams only know one way in terms of movement, and that’s forward. Unlike Chelsea’s despicably negative tactics, you won’t see anything bit attacking football tonight.
And so we come to the bet of the night. I suggest Over 2.5 goals, which is currently as high as 11/8 with some bookies. Put your tenner down, sit back and enjoy what has the potential to be a wonderful nights football.
Wrote this piece on the best tournaments in the World last year. Thought I would dig out the Champions League section, which I placed third at the time, with tonight's final in mind.
3. The Champions league - Final knockout phase The atmosphere in Milan last night got me thinking about this piece in the first place. 70,000 fans singing, cheering, an atmosphere that US sports, for example, simply can not touch. Shivers up the spine stuff. The game itself, Arsenal @ Milan, was another excellent advertisement for the Champions League. A vibrant young Arsenal team took the game to the old masters, regal Milan, and one of the next big superstars in training, the superb Cesc Fabregas, scored a dramatic goal to send Arsenal on their way. The finals are generally superb, be it Liverpool coming back from the dead to beat Milan, or the excellent Barcelona v Arsenal game in 2005. It's all about the incredible atmosphere though. Be it the Liverpool fans singing 'You'll never walk alone', the Barcelona fans incredible, game long participation or those freakish, vibrant and almost scary Turkish fans! Actually, you know what, you want a taste? Check this out. the pre-match atmosphere before Celtic against AC Milan. You may have not seen anything like this before.
The atmosphere at a Champions league game can not be matched, and those 'European nights' down the years have provided some of the best games I have ever seen.
Perhaps the Post should remember, as it happily slates Papelbon, that it is the paper that misquoted the Red Sox closer which resulted in a media storm at last years All Star break, a storm that ended with Papelbon’s wife being threatened. The Post should also remember that it was the paper that encouraged Yankees pitchers to throw, or as they put it, ‘drop’ Big Papi during a Sox v Yanks series.
I had to love this NY Jets fan-site where the rabid Jets fans were whipping themselves into a frenzy about getting a chance to 'beat up' Tom Brady, and, I assume, the Patriots in '09.
I imagine the Jets posse were embiggened by their paper-thin 2008 season?
The cold facts though are that the Patriots have completely owned the Jets this decade.
In 2002 the Pats and Jets split 1-1 however not without New England putting a serious 44-7 beat down on the hapless Jets in week 2. In 2003 the Patriots went 2-0 against the Jets without breaking sweat. In 2004 2-0 again, with the Jets scoring an absolutely pathetic 14 points in the two games combined. 2005 and the Patriots again cruised to two easy wins over the keystone cop like Jets.
Getting the picture, Jets fans? Between 2002 and 2005 you managed to go 1-7 against the Patriots. That's not very good.
In 2006 the Jets finally managed to get a win against their (apparently) hated rivals. Splitting 1-1 that season must have felt like a huge deal to Jets fans. Sadly for them, in 2007 normal service was resumed, the Patriots went 2-0 against the Jets including a 38-14 laugher in week one. You probably remember the second game in 2008, a brilliant 31-34 Jets in in OT, where both teams played out of their skins. Earlier in the season the Patriots took game one 19-10 though producing a 1-1 season split.
Long and the short of it? Since 2002 the score between the Patriots and the Jets is 11-3, New England.
The following is best said in Stewie Griffin's high pitched voice.
''Not really much of a rivalry now, is it? Kinda one sided, no?''
Slugfest is a new debating forum on the Boston Globe that allows user to debate a sporting related topic that other readers than vote on.
My opening 'Slugfest' revolved around Keith Foulke. Yes, that's me, PappaCSkillz. Let's just move along quickly to the event itself.
Slugfest!
PappaCSkillz
DirtDogGuy
Topic: Keith Foulke was misunderstood in his time in Boston
I opened with the following; PappaCSkillz said the following @ 05/20/2009, 6:12am
I contend that Keith Foulke, in an admittedly short sampling, was as important a player as any in Boston winning the 2004 World Series. He was never supported by the Boston sporting media because he was never an easy interview, and the Boston sports public has never given him the gratitude he deserves. I contend Foulke was completely and utterly misunderstood in his time in Boston, and was never given the benefit of the doubt by media or fans. Finally, I propose that Foulke should never have to put hand to wallet any time he is in Boston or indeed any New England bar. The man should be on free jars for the rest of his life.
The colourfully names 'DirtDogGuy' responded with; DirtDogGuy said the following @ 05/20/2009, 10:24am
Can we see some examples of how Keith was "never supported by the Boston sporting media because he was never an easy interview?" If you look back, there were countless stories about Foulke's efforts in 2004, and he even received a free truck just for talking to the media on the radio! How much does the media need to support him? Isn't the media supposed to be even handed and not cheerleaders?!? "The Boston sports public has never given him the gratitude he deserves." Huh, last I saw he had 35,000 cheering for him every night at Fenway when he showed no love back for the fans who paid his salary. One guy, who worked at a fast-food restaurant apparently, booed him late in his career in Boston, and Mr. Warmth chose to highlight the one fan who expressed his disappointment with him, vs. the thousands who cheered him. "I contend Foulke was completely and utterly misunderstood in his time in Boston, and was never given the benefit of the doubt by media or fans." There was nothing to misunderstand about Foulkie. It's pretty clear when he tells fans who paid his salary, "I hate that you're bothering me too." Like he's the first athlete that's ever been approached in a restaurant? You can politely decline an autograph request without belittling the person who dares to approach him. The man was paid $19 million in Boston. He should walk into a bar and buy a round for the hard working fans of Boston. Enough with the free drinks for multi-millionaires who never pick up a tab
My retort, and the final part of the short debate was; PappaCSkillz said the following @ 05/20/2009, 11:07am
If you think Foulke was treated fairly and in an even handed manner by the Boston sports media in the period Post ’04 WS to his eventual free agency, well, you simply weren’t reading the Boston sporting media. Foulke was placed under a microscope, lampooned and lambasted by the media, an easy target because of his steadfast refusal to regurgitate dross clichés that 95% of MLB players feed us on a daily basis.
Was Dan Shaughnessy being ‘supportive’ or even fair when he wrote; ''We have rejoiced in the retirement of Keith Foulke and we won't sleep until the Sox make a decision on the 2008 contract extension for the Big Blowhard himself, the inimitable Schill.'' Reference 1
How about Tony Massaroit? Being supportive? Being fair? Being even handed? ''Now Foulke is gone and here is the truly amazing thing: No one is shedding a tear. Not Foulke, not Epstein, not anyone who has watched the Red Sox over the past two seasons.'' Reference 2
The famous ‘BK’ quote has been debated at length, suffice to say, it was a throw-away comment that some scribes latched on to and made more of than was intended. Continuing to argue that one line comment is beating a dead horse, particularly when Foulke issued a lengthy apology describing how the quote was taken out of context. If anything Foulke appears to still be paying the price for having the freedom of spirit to actually speak his mind rather than spout out hackneyed and well worn quotes that people want to hear.
The "I hate that you're bothering me too." Quote, taken from a story in the Globe today, is actually pretty funny. Should Foulke have to put a lid on his personality and sense of humour when approached in a bar or on the street? Surely, if a person decides to approach another person in a private setting, they have to be aware perhaps they are not going to get the answer they were looking for? On the mound, on the hill, Foulke gave absolutely everything for Boston, including his immediate sporting health. His sensational, MVP worthy 2004 playoffs was precursor to his 2005/2006 injury plagued seasons. He has, to this day, never complained about this.
Final score? 26-13. Although ostensibly a win, for me this indicates that although some people respected what Foulkie did in Boston, there are still plenty (well, 13 in this case) that have a very strong, very real dislkike for the man. Personally I believe this is down to an unfair treatment from the media that has left his name tarnished beyond recognition as far as some are concerned.
Keith Foulke: Polarising opinion in Boston since 2004
disappointed–adjective1. depressed or discouraged by the failure of one's hopes or expectations
This all comes from being asked by several people how I feel about recent sporting setbacks. Those same setbacks include the Bruins and Celtics being ousted in two bitter 'Game Sevens' and also Sunderland, my favourite English Premiere League team, losing last night, leaving them on the shaky, nerve wracking precipice of relegation into the lower tiers of English football. Not to mention the Sox look decidedly shaky right now.
I am disappointed.
What's it all about though? Why do we feel like this? Does it matter at all? Does any good come from it?
It is a tangible feeling, of that there is no doubt. On a personal level, right now my 'sporting disappointment' is as low as it has been in a long time. The teams I root for, the teams I invest in emotionally (and, sometimes, financially!) are all experiencing some sort of down turn, a reversal in fortunes. If you take it any way seriously, if you invest any amount at all, you end up with symptoms. You wake up feeling lethargic. You purse your lips a lot. You listen to 'Song for Bob' by Nick Cave. A lot.
This is the kind of music you listen to when Jon Lester can't get outs or when Paul Pierce can't get any net
This is obviously a very distinct and unique form of disappointment. There is nothing I could have done to have helped Sunderland, for example, avoid losing last night. I had absolutely zero input into the Celtic's capitulation on Sunday night. And yet still I remain disappointed. Obviously, as a fan of a team, any team, you invest a certain amount emotionally into that team, and the results of same. The level of your investment is proportionate to the level of your own disappointment when that team, for want of a better term, fails.
Interestingly the type of team you support probably says quite a bit about you as an individual. If you are a Manchester United supporter, you hardly ever have to deal with disappointment. They win everything. Disappointment for their supporters is very different to the disappointment felt by, for example, Sunderland supporters. My father and I have been rooting heavily for Sunderland since 1973. That was the year they won the FA Cup. Excluding the lower divisions, and promotion to the Premiership, they have won nothing since. Zip. Nada. Nothing.
Instead, year after year, they battle in the lower regions, hoping basically to avoid relegation and dropping into the lower leagues and relative anonymity. A big success for Sunderland is a half decent result against a 'big' club. And yet still we love them, and forgive them when they lose 3-1 to an awful Portsmouth side on a Monday night in May.
Perhaps because my expectations are so low for them, the elation that comes from a decent result for Sunderland is higher than what, for example, a Manchester United fan might feel when they win, over and over and over.
Is there anything good about this feeling? The feeling that you wake up thinking someone kicked you in the stomach the night before. Anything good at all? Maybe it's just me, but I find it heightens the senses. Anyone else get that? A beer tastes a little crisper. Does disappointment actually sharpen the senses, perhaps? It definitely slows things down. I'm reading a book at the moment, and the state of mind I am in, the sentences have slowed down from the last few books I read. Each word has extra meaning.
Wait, maybe it's tied to the emotions? I heard a song today that almost made my eyes well up. Worse yet, perhaps it's senses and emotions combined, sharpened by a bad losing streak. Heightened by a stack of fresh sporting disappointment.
Part of the reason New England fans are admittedly insufferable at the moment is because they are unsure as to how to deal with success. For the nineties, up to the shocking Patriots win in 2001, all the big New England sports teams went through a period of abject failure. The Celtics were absolutely horrific. The Bruins? Did they even exist in that period? The Patriots were sometimes competitive, but always came up short. The Red Sox? They gave us Pedro and Nomar, yet were always in the shadow of the mighty Yankee squads of the 90's.
For now, the Celtics are out, and Sunderland are awful. Really awful. The Red Sox are up and down to say the least, and who knows how Brady's knee is going to be? Knock back after knock back in the little sporting world I call my own.
..and yet we still follow our teams blindly.
''So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.''
So we beat on, waiting for those few fleeting moments of elation, that validate the general feelings of disappointment. Those same feelings that set up the good times, the good vibrations. You really have to take it on board, enjoy it, for what it is worth, take the stomach punch finishes, the drubbings, the tonkings, the beat downs, and roll with them.
One Irish/American's all time top five sporting 'stomach punch' games. I would say 'enjoy', but...well...
Number five:Ireland 2 Macedonia 3 (World cup qualifier 1997)
Not a heart-breaker, more humiliating than anything. A terrible result for a talented Irish team. The woeful result came with Ireland wearing a horrific, high visibility jersey that, as far as I know, was ditched after the loss. Irish Times journalist Peter Byrne described it (and the game itself) as such;
'Garbed in something approaching fluorescent amber, Ireland often projected the appearance of a gang of council workers . . . but significantly less productive.''
Ireland were awful, and not only gave away two penalties but also had Jason Mcateer sent off late in the game when trying to get back on even terms. Steve Staunton described it as the worst result of his professional career. Zero fun to play in, it was equally dismal to watch.
Number four: New England Patriots 14 New York Giants 17
Come on, seriously, it ends like this?
I was quite literally numb after this one. Walked around in a daze for a while, head spinning. The glorious 2007 NFL season was not meant to end like this. With a whimper, and not a bang. The Patriots beautiful season went up in smoke as the tired defence couldn't stop the Giants driving all the way field to snatch the title right at the end. Certain aspects made for an even worse experience than the defeat itself. The idiots rooting against the Patriots for no reason other than New England's (to that point anyway!) success. The fact that many of the players will no doubt retire unless Bill can talk them into trying one more time. The season ending 18-1, not 19-0. Horrific finalé, no doubt about it.
Number three:Ireland 1 Spain 1 (Spain win 3-2 on penalties) World Cup 2002 - knockout rounds
Game over, that's it, I am so cycling drunk into the city and falling asleep at 'Attack of the clones'
Picture an entire nation totally swept up in the excitement generated by a huge game like this. Ireland quite literally came to a stand still for this game. With the time difference between Japan and here it was played around noon, and still the bars were jam packed all over the country as people cheered on the boys in green. Ireland had played with great character in the tournament, scoring in the last minute to draw with Germany (I get chills just thinking about Robbie Keane's goal in that one) and played superbly against a vastly superior Spanish side, on paper at least. Amazingly Ireland had several chances to actually win the game, a late missed penalty would have put them through at the expense of a Spanish side full of big name stars.
Alas it wasn't to be and Irish hearts were quite literally broken by a cruel penalty shootout. Some of the Spanish players were too tired and spent to celebrate and flopped to the grass exhausted after the titanic show down.
The bar I was in emptied quietly, people too upset to break the game down amongst each other. Me, I cycled into the city, half drunk, with the intention of seeing the new Star Wars movie (Attack of the Clones!). I forgot to lock my bike and, after buying about $20 worth of cinema junk food, fell asleep only waking up in the last 20 minutes of the movie. I spent about a half hour trying to unlock my already unlocked bike and finally got home only to find out I was locked out. It was a beautiful summers evening and I sat at the door going over the game in my head until my room mate finally kicked me awake and let me in.
In my defence, it was a horrifically tough loss. One the Irish soccer team never fully recovered from, and that game was the highest we have climbed since.
Number two:New England Patriots 10 Chicago Bears 46 Superbowl XX
Why was this one worse than the most recent debacle? I'll tell you why. I cried, that's why. I couldn't have been any more excited about this game, and was completely deflated when Tony Eason and the Patriots simply forgot to turn up. I cried my little heart out actually, only barely able to hold it in until my Dad had finally gone to bed. I actually remember staring into the dying embers of the fire, wondering if any team I rooted for would ever win anything. Now that's a stomach punch game. Right there.
Number one: Boston Red Sox 5 New York Yankees 6 2003 ALCS
You can't top this one. The Red Sox were a bullpen call away from finally beating the hated swine from the Bronx and casting aside thousands of years of angst. I will never ever forget the disgusting sinking feeling that grabbed hold in the pit of my stomach as I watched that pop fly 'home-run' slip over the left field wall and the roided-up pinstripes celebrating as Tim Wakefield dropped to his knees on the mound. My heart would have gone out to the guy had it not been in absolute shreds.
Sure, 2004 more than made up for it, but hey, that's another posting.
Imagine how completely upset you would be if you had a quick glance at the Globe online this morning, and thought, ‘Yes! The Celtics whipped the Magic!’ – until of course you saw the ‘Magic win 4-3 part’ and maybe saw the other headlines regarding last nights tough, season ending loss.
Should be interesting to see how long that remains up there!
I blame, in entirety, the Boston Globe, for last night's double-whammy Bruins and Celtics losses, with a side of Red Sox extra innings demise. The worst part? It, perhaps, only gets worse from here. In time honoured fashion, as the Junior Russian officer who turned to his commander on the submarine in 'The Hunt for Red October' that blew itself up said, 'Your arrogance has killed us all'.
In lay mans terms, the Boston Globe has angered the Sporting Karma Gods, and retribution will be painful and plentiful.
Four titles? how about NONE?!
Whilst it is completely enjoyable that Boston teams have enjoyed so much success over the last few seasons (for those of us with Boston sports in our veins), was it anything but wildly arrogant for the Globe to come out with this self congratulatory rubbish? Is it any wonder the Sporting Karma Gods stung the Bruins bad last night? Is it any wonder sports fans from other cities, states and indeed countries rejoice when The Celtics lose, when the Patriots lose or when Big Papi strikes out? Not really, no. If I had say, for example, the Cowboys, Mavericks and Stars rammed down my throat I would not particularly like it very much.
The Sporting Karma Gods do not take this kind of stuff lightly. You want to name your City 'Titletown USA'? No problem, enjoy it while it lasts, but be prepared for a series of stomach-punch events that end your teams seasons prematurely.
If you sit down and actually pen an article suggesting a City might sweep all four major US sporting crowns, you think the Sporting Gods are going to let you get even a gentle whiff of any of those trophies? As a Boston sports fan, I am absolutely blaming the Globe for the fact that I am now going to have to watch the dominoes fall one by one, in painful fashion too, if last night's demise of the Bruins is anything to go by.
Revenge, Sports Karma style.
There is simply nothing enjoyable about arrogant sports reporting, and the above mentioned articles were absolutely destined to come back to haunt Boston's sporting scene.
All that is left now, the only hope, is for Boston sports fans to break out the humility, break out a rain dance or two and a lucky rabbits foot, whatever it is you think will offset the Globes asinine arrogance in the eyes of the Sporting Karma Gods. It's that or watch in dismay as one by one the Celtics, Red Sox and Patriots get picked off.
Four titles? We would be lucky with one, and should be entirely grateful with one also!
Live in the moment and enjoy each game as it unfolds. Pining for four titles? Inane. One down and three to go. Perhaps the Celtics gritty, full-of-heart professionalism will appease the Sports Karma Gods. Maybe with their blue collar work ethic the afore mentioned deities will take them to their hearts and reward them with something special. Maybe Tom Brady has paid the penance due with a year on the sidelines and perhaps the Patriots will find something special in '09.
Who is to say the Red Sox won't knuckle down and pull a win out of the bag. Maybe one of those, maybe. But all four? What clown even thought it would be sensible to even start thinking about suggesting that?
And now look where it has got us, the Bruins are coming home to watch the rest of the chase for the Stanley Cup on TV. Any which way you look at it, jokes on us from here on in, and we have the Boston Globe, more than anyone, to thank for that.
This year, every time a Boston sports team is knocked out of the running for the title in the concerned sport they just got evicted from, you can remember the Globe running a piece suggesting Boston was going to take home all four titles.
So, anyway, there are some particularly annoying, grating, individuals in sports these days, let's face it. From the inane to the asinine and back again, there's a couple of athletes that really get under ones skin.
Here's one of them.
Me first. I. Me. Ronaldo, the selfish, introverted Manchester United striker, should just go ahead and change the name on the back of his jersey to ‘Me’, his selfishness is that forthright and obvious. As a young striker a couple of years ago, Ronaldo was, admittedly, fun to watch. He ran hard, ran for 90 minutes, and was always quick with a smile and was even spotted on tour in Ireland having a kick around with kids in a park. Then fame and fortune stepped in.
Ronaldo was most recently seen being substituted in Manchester United’s weekend league match. When his legendary manager. Alex Ferguson, called him ashore, Ronaldo responded with a petulant, pathetic, childish, arm-waving, gesticulating and whining display any spoilt five year old would be proud of.
Dive! Dive! Dive!
The lad has gone full circle, from being a relatively fun loving, humble, friendly individual, to a full blown prima donna who has no problems putting himself ahead of the rest of the team. His ugly side dealings with Real Madrid as United look forward to the Champions League final are in direct comparison to the wonderful Lionel Messi’s recent request that he stay a Barcelona player for life. Messi insisted he would take a ‘home town discount’ to stay at Barcelona, there would be two hopes of Ronaldo issuing a statement like this, and Bob just left town.
Ronaldo is in a dream situation, at a club that will challenge for league titles and the prestigious Champions League for the next decade at least. Instead he is openly courting advances from a sad shell of a team that capitulated 2-6 to Barcelona not more than a week ago. Real Madrid are a rotten, bloated corpse of a team and do not have a bright immediate future in any shape or form. So why the move? As Smooth Lester Freamon would say on ‘The Wire’, ‘Cash Money’. Ronaldo is all about the bling bling.
Smooth Lester Freamon - way cooler than Ronaldo
Ronaldo isn’t as much playing football this season as ‘going through the motions’ Last season, when his head was in the right place, he scored a veritable bucket of goals. This season? He is a borderline liability at times (as mirrored by Ferguson’s substitution with over a half hour to go last weekend). He doesn’t tackle, at all. He doesn’t track-back, meaning his full-back is often left exposed. He is diving even more than he used to. Diving, flopping, or ‘simulating’ as FIFA like to call it. He is calling out his own team-mates after a bad pass or any mistake on the pitch. He is openly flirting with Real Madrid as his club approaches the eve of one of the biggest games in its entire history.
This is potentially amusing. It is reported the New York Yankees are 'studying' wind and balls and what not to try and find out why so many home runs are being hit at their fancy new digs. Perhaps they should just have a look at the no-name, low talent bullpen they have at their disposal in '09?
''Forty-seven home runs hit, four shy of the record for the first 13 games at a major league ballpark. Thirty-two of the homers were hit to right field.''
Seems like maybe, possibly, there might be a problem with the distance to right field. There's your 'study'.
This whole Glen 'Big Baby' Davis v a 12 year old Orlando fan thing was getting a little bit insane. Thankfully Big Baby himself has (hopefully) put the entire matter to bed with an eloquent and timely apology. The whole truckload of rubbish that emanated from this 'incident' was just another indication that the Internet may not be as good for sports as some think it is.
Speaking of game winning shots. I hadn't actually seen the 'no call' on the foul on Carmello Anthony that everybody is talking about until tonight. Sadly, as you can see, the standard of refereeing in the NBA is nothing but a really bad joke.
Meanwhile, Isiah Thomas is saying 'I tried my best' in a failed, failed, oh so failed, stint as coach of the Knicks. Goodness, one would have hated to have been witness to his worst.
Nice piece by the NY Times Jack Curry on how the Blue Jays are leading the AL East even thought they have about four thousand players on the disabled list. While it's nice to see a team that didn't spend 458 billion on a stack of 'superstars' this offseason passed, Curry kind of hints at the potential short term nature of the Jays lead with this line;
''The good thing has lasted 34 games, about a fifth of the 162-game season. ''
And so it came to pass, and 99.999% of the Soccer loving world got its wish, a dream ticket Barcelona v Manchester United Champions league final on May 27th. It is, quite literally, what the people wanted.
It is the world's best team of last year – winners of the European Cup, the World Club Cup and the Premier League – against the side that many consider the world's best this year. Sir Alex Ferguson reckons this is his strongest team ever; Catalan commentators have described Pep Guardiola's Barcelona as the greatest of all time. Could any side other than Barcelona deny United their right to the tag of favourites? If the European Cup final is supposed to be between Europe's best two clubs, this is the right pairing.
Break out the clichés. Last night football was the winner, as Barcelona stunned Chelsea with a last gasp wonder goal to advance to the final. Here's the thing. If you are an angry Chelsea fan sitting there reading this, quietly stewing over your morning coffee, it really isn't the referee, Iniesta, Barcelona or any other factor that should be the focus of your ire. It is your own team that you should be raging at.
..at least Chelsea took it all pretty well
Chelsea, a team put together at a cost of hundreds of millions, spent 180 minutes over two games with practically eleven men behind the ball, playing boring, defensive football, afraid to lose more than trying to win. Once they got their (admittedly brilliant) goal from Essien, they simply sat back and tried to place a blue wall between Barcelona and the Champions League final.
For a team full of multi million pound talent, these tactics were at best questionable, at worst, cynical. Your team has made the Champions league semi final! Play football, fools! Their display in Barcelona was downright disgusting, to anyone who appreciates the game of football. They barely ventured past the half way line at any stage, John Terry humping the ball forward to open field any chance he got. That's all Chelsea football club amount to? Pathetic, boring, defeatist tactics?
"I switched on 20 minutes from the end and heard a commentator say "...has been sent off," For the next five minutes I sat admiring Chelsea's resolve in defending with only ten men, before realizing it was the attacking team who were a man down. So let's put an end to all that "Barca didn't deserve it" nonsense right now."
Perhaps if it was West Bromwich Albion, Malaga, Accrington Stanley, or even my own club, Sunderland, you would understand the necessity of placing eleven bodies behind the ball and praying to hold out against a team such as Barcelona. But, Chelsea? Really?
Meanwhile, Barcelona, reduced to ten men after a sham of a sending off, stuck to their guns and played passionate, attacking, free-wheeling football, and guess what, they were rewarded. The little genius Messi broke into the box, layed it off and Inesta stick it home, a simply beautiful finish to send Barcelona into dream land, and Chelsea, well, send them a little insane.
Messi at work
Their ugly reaction at the final whistle simply capped 180 minutes of ugly football from them. At the end of the day, they have no one to blame but themselves.
Meanwhile, the rest of the world can savour the anticipation of what could be a Champions League final for the ages.
On top of everything else, wasn't that a simply shocking last five minutes of football? What a goal! Can you image the mental strength to take your time, shape up properly, hit the ball with the outside of your boot and place it in the top corner from 25 yards out? Holy mackerel, what a beautiful finish by Iniesta.
Beautiful game 1 - Chelsea 0
I am so happy I am going to take my shirt off and shout a lot!
Looks like we can count on Yankee hurler/headhunter Jibba Jobba Chamberlin to keep us amused in the news over the next couple of seasons. If he is not throwing at Kevin Youkilis's head or wrapping his car around and tree on a DUI, his mother is selling felony type drugs to under cover cops.
Good times.
Hey, maybe at least this will take some of the heat off of A-Fraud.
Would you purchase methamphetamine off of this sales person?
Maybe this was all destined to happen 24 years ago, when the woman named her son 'Joba'. Naturally Red Sox fans will have absolutely nothing to say about this next time round at Fenway. The mind does boggle on this one though, how come this woman is reduced to peddling crack? Is Jobba not sending any cash home at all? Bad son alert!
Anyway, the moral of the story, Joba's Momma, just say no!
Relegation is a funny thing. Basically, in the English Premiership, the bottom three clubs are relegated to the lower division. Punishment for winning so few games.
As a Sunderland fan, one of the 'joys' of every season is the annual relegation battle they inevitably find themselves entwined in. Managing to avoid relegation is about as much fun as going to the dentist but finding out you actually don't need any work done. You don't win anything, per say, however you don't slide into the relative anonymity of the lower divisions.
Relegation would be a complete disaster in the big US sports, for financial reasons. As it is, the English clubs that get relegated struggle mightily, however a die hard element of support keeps the turnstiles clicking, keeps buying club jerseys and basically keep the clubs that do go down afloat. Imagine the Tampa Bay Devil Rays got 'relegated' to an imaginary lower division? Tampa, the AL champions, hosted the Boston Red Sox for a big series last week. Some of the gates at those games were downright pathetic, one as low as 14,000. If there was relegation in MLB, and Tampa took the slide, they would disappear completely, bandwagon fans who won't go to see the Sox v Tampa surely wouldn't turn up to support the ball club in tougher times.
Those passionate Tampa fans, you just can't top their love for their team
I guess in Tampa, if it's not the playoffs, don't bother going, apparently anyway.
Meanwhile, Sunderland, who I have yapped on about at length before, are left with three games to save themselves from the disaster known as relegation. With just the three games left in the season, there are five clubs basically in the hot seat. The bottom of the table looks a little something like this.
16 Sunderland 35 17 Hull City 34 18 Newcastle 31 19 Middlesbro' 31 20 West Brom 28
In the Premiership you get three points for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss. Each team has a tricky finish to the season, with plenty of banana skins laying in wait for them as they try to tip toe their way to safety.
The way Sunderland are ending their season, you could see them losing all three remaining games, away to Bolton this coming Saturday, away to Portsmouth and then ending the season at home to Chelsea (yikes). However I feel they will draw with both Bolton and Portsmouth which would give them 37 points to end the season.
Hull City have quite literally collapsed since a bright start, they play Stoke at home and then Bolton away, finishing with Manchester United on the road. Stoke are safe, and aren't playing that well away from home, so I can see Hull battling to a vital win, a draw with Hull and losing 0-9 on the final day of the season to the Champions elect. That leaves them with a nifty 38 points.
I have seen Newcastle a few times live on TV lately and I have to say, I have not seen as poor a side in many a year watching Premiership football. They lack creativity, heart and passion, and their caretaker manager, Alan Shearer, seems completely clueless. On Saturday, as Liverpool won easily 3-0 (and could have put ten past them) the 'Pool fans chanted 'You shoulda' stayed on the telly!' in reference to Shearer's other career as a football pundit. Crucially, however, Newcastle finish with two home games and one away, Middlesboro, Fulham and Aston Villa in that order. The Newcastle fans, some of the most passionate in the world, simply will not let them lose those two home games. I see them finishing win, draw, draw, the last result on the basis that Villa will have absolutely nothing to play for while 'Castle will be scrapping for their lives. That leaves Newcastle with 36 points.
This particular tackle is known as 'the Joey Barton', best not tried at home
Middlesboro have a tough finish ahead of them, away to Newcastle, home to Aston Villa and away to West Ham. I already predicted they will lose at home to their North East rivals, Newcastle, after that I see a couple of draws, meaning 'Boro will grab two more points leaving them with a paltry 33 points for the season.
Finally, West Brom are finishing with two home games against Wigan and Liverpool, and then away to Blackburn on the final day of the season. Ironically it is the bottom team that are finishing with something approaching a fighting spirit. It is not impossible to see them going win/draw/win to end the season, seven crucial points, leaving them with 35 to finish the year.
After all that the final table would look like this;
Hull City 38 Sunderland 37 Newcastle 36 West Brom 35Middlesbro' 33
Newcastle, West Brom and 'Boro down to the lower divisions and facing a summer of unrest and a completely uncertain financial future. The final day of the season will feature many shots on TV of fans, young and old, half covering their tear stained faces as they face a season or more of watching their club in the lower rungs of English football.
Meanwhile, Sunderland and Hull City fans will consider themselves lucky and, rough handling of the mouth by an imaginary dentist aside, escape without any fillings.
Actually wrote this one on August 24th 2007. Doesn't that seem so long ago now? The Red Sox play the Yankees tonight for the first time at the new Yankee Stadium. Back when I originally wrote it, the Sox were about to play the Yankees in a pivotal series near the end of the MLB season. Some of the players have left the stage, some have moved to other teams, some, like Roger Clemens, have become, well, legends (if not for the reason they woould prefer to be known as legends). Many of the players and comments still hold true, hopefully you get a giggle at the very least, out of reading it again. Enjoy.
A great man once said, ''I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal.'' Well, the upcoming series between Boston and New York (starting next Tuesday) is 'kind of a big deal'. Make no mistake, this series will decide who takes the AL East. The Yankees need to take two out of three or face Boston disappearing over the horizon with the AL East title. A Boston sweep would pretty much end New Yorks chances of taking the pennant. The pitching matchups are superb, the positional players on display have enough side stories attached to them to populate an entire series of the Sopranos with intrigue. Finally, both fan bases are on edge, if online forums, blogs and message boards are anything to go by.
So with the upcoming series in mind, a look at the players that will feature most in the biggest series for both teams this side of 2004. Each player gets his own, somewhat suitable, quote from the movie 'Old School'. If you haven't seen it, well, too bad. Go rent it, it's a giggle. A hoot.
Old School
The starters
Frank: So what do you guys like better? Nurse or cheerleader?
Daisuke Matsuzaka - Has anyone figured out how many pitches Matsuzaka actually has to pick from? Seven? Nine? Twelve? Which do you like better? Cutter or Gyro Ball?
Beanie: Guys this is a very special occasion. The Godfather himself has decided to grace us with his presence. This is his damn house. He sleeps twenty feet away!
Josh Beckett - He may not be the Godfather but the blog 'Surving Grady' calls him 'Commander Kick Ass of the F#%k Yeah Brigade'. Possible CY Young candidate. Takes owners private jet to All Star games. Probably throws harder than you. That's 'Commander Kick Ass of the F#%k Yeah Brigade'.
Beckett - why fly any other way than your club owners private jet?
Beanie: Well why don't you give me your number in case anything happens to my wife.
Curt Schilling - So, yeah. Schilling has announced he might be willing to pitch for Tampa next season. Curt appears to be heading into the back end of the season, one which will end with him a free agent, handing out business cards to prospective employers. Normally a Schilling fan, I now say, Curt, shut up and pitch.
Marissa: You know exactly what I mean. You've come along way since Frank the Tank and we don't want him coming back do we?Frank: Honey, Frank the Tank is not coming back, ok? That part of me is over. Water under the bridge. I promise. Andy Pettite - On September 30, 2006 the Los Angeles Times reported that former relief pitcher Jason Grimsley, during a June 6, 2006 federal raid by federal agents investigating steroids in baseball, named Pettitte as a user of performance enhancing drugs. But hey, the entire world is ignoring the 'steroids in baseball' scandal so we can enjoy fat-head Barry Bonds smashing a few dingers. Awesome. Carry on so, I guess. Water under the bridge
Gordon Pritchard: Half these guys don't even go here and that one guy is like ninety! Roger Clemens - A poor 5-5 record, an era bigger than Barry Bonds enormous, steroid fattened noggin and an inability to pitch past the sixth inning. If that isn't eighteen million well spent I don't know what value is anymore. Better yet, that one guy is like ninety!
''YOU'RE MY BOY BLUE! You're my boy.'' Chien-Ming Wang - From the 2006 season to the present, Chien-Ming Wang has more wins than any other pitcher in baseball. So Torre says to his Wang, ''YOU'RE MY BOY BLUE! You're my boy.''
The infield
Beanie: You think I like avoiding my wife and kids to hangout with nineteen-year-old girls everyday? A-Rod - Do you think A-Rod likes avoiding his wife and hanging out with busty blonds everyday?? ''As the doors to an elevator opened, he and the blond got in together, the witness said. The doors then closed, and they disappeared upstairs.''Whatever happened to that story anyway? Got kinda swept under the carpet eh? Mr April, A-Rod, being photographed heading into a Gentleman's club in Toronto with a mystery woman. Maybe they were just hanging out.
Frank: Yeah, thanks. Took the restrictor plate off to give the Red Dragon some juice. But it ain't exactly street legal so keep it on the down low. Jason Giambi - So MLB now says it's okay that Giambi took roids, which he admitted himself Hey, it ain't exactly street legal so keep it on the down low.
Beanie: Max, can you earmuff for me? We are going to get so much ass here, it's going to be sick. I'm talking like crazy boy band ass. Derek Jeter - Right, pay attention. Jeter has had a well publicized relationship with pop diva Mariah Carey from 1997 to 1998. Jeter has also dated former Miss Universe Lara Dutta and actress Jordana Brewster. He was rumored to have dated actresses Scarlett Johansson, Gabrielle Union, Jessica Biel and Jessica Alba. He has also dated Brazilian Supermodel Adriana Lima; whom he did a commercial with. Jeter also had an on-and-off relationship with television personality Vanessa Minillo from late 2003 until early 2006. Most recently, Jeter had been linked to actress Jessica Biel. That's allot of ass. I'm talking like crazy boy band ass.
Frank: We're going streaking! Robinson Cano - For Cano, right now, substitute streaking with s-l-u-m-p-i-n-g
Beanie: He's playing hardball. And I got to admit. I'm impressed. Kevin Youkilis - Not many Red Sox fans were too happy with Youkilis taking the every day first base job at season start. Right now he is one of the most solid defensive first basemen in the majors and an on base machine.
Beanie: Frank here was staring at a white picket fence. Now he's single, he's broke, and has second-degree burns all over his body. And I see a spark in his eye that I haven't seen in fifteen years. Mike Lowell - Lowell was an after thought in the Beckett/Hanley trade, a guy the Sox thought they would unload after one season. Then Lowell started hitting. Now there's talk of extensions and Iron-Mike ending his career in Boston. He has a sore hand, he is by no means broke and I don't know about the burns, but Lowell definitely has that spark back in his eye.
Beanie: Didn't we lock you in a dumpster?Gordon Pritchard: I got out. Julio Lugo - Red Sox fans, a few short weeks ago, wanted to lock Julio Lugo in a dumpster. He got out. In style. Lugo is absolutely mashing the ball right now, and leads all AL shortstops in steals, crotch grabs and high fives.
Beanie: Six weeks ago Abdul here had a one-way ticket to an arranged marriage with a broad he never met in Bangladesh. Now he's crushing ass every Thursday night at our mixers. Dustin Pedroia - Last season Pedroia was an afterthought. Early this season there were many, many calls for Tito to bench him in favour of Alex Cora. Now Dustin is probably one of the first names Tito pencils into his lineup.
Pedroia - Pretty big swing for a little guy
Peppers: Hey, hey. Careful with that. That's the most powerful tranq gun on the market. Got her in Mexico. David Ortiz - New York will probably be very careful with Ortiz over the entire series. The fella they got to pitch to him, Myers, is gone, so they will have to approach with caution.
The outfield
Frank: [laughs] Y-You're crazy, man. You're crazy. I like you, but you're crazy. Manny Ramirez - We like him, but he's crazy.
Beanie: What about Mitch here? He saw the wheels come off his life, guys. His whole world crumbled. Now he's the Godfather. Coco Crisp - Another of the Red Sox 2007 before/after rejuvenation stories. Coco had a horrible offensive start to the season and is now whacking everything around, hard, and has amazingly upped his batting average from .210 to .270 since the All Star break. Also survived being hit by a mascot in a golf cart. Seriously.
Mitch Martin: True love is hard to find, sometimes you think you have true love and then you catch the early flight home from San Diego and a couple of nude people jump out of your bathroom blindfolded like a goddamn magic show ready to double team your girlfriend... JD Drew - Apparently right fielders are hard to find, for Theo anyway. JD Drew, plainly put, is not what Boston expected.
Frank: Ill do one more! It tastes so good when it hits your lips. Bobby Abreu - So did you know, Bobby is known as "El Comedulce" in Venezuela. The name roughly translate to "the candy-eater." Abreu received this moniker due to his penchant for the sweeter things in life. It tastes so good when it hits your lips
Mitch: So what are you? Campus security? Gordon Pritchard: Try again. Beanie: Jehovah Witness? Gordon Pritchard: I'm the Dean. Dean Pritchard. Melky Cabrera - Think Melky ever gets asked who he is when trying to get into a Manhattan nightclub?
Beanie: I'd like to welcome you all to the Mitch Martin Freedom Festival. Now for those of you who don't know who Mitch Martin is, he's the very successful, very disease free gentleman standing by the mini bar. Johnny Damon - Someone needs to get Johnny Damon out of New York. He looks about as comfortable as George Bush answering questions from any crowd other than school kids. They need to hold a Johnny Damon Freedom Festival and let him grow his hair back. That's where his mojo is.
The bullpens
Beanie: Weensie, you're on lifeguard duty. Weensie: Sir, I can't swim, sir. Joba Chamberlin - Jabba, as he will eventually become known, is going to be asked to 'dive in at the deep end' and get some serious outs against the Red Sox. Sink or swim? Only next week's series will tell.
Therapist: Frank, this is a safe place. A place where we can feel free sharing our feelings. Think of my office as a nest in a tree of trust and understanding. We can say anything here.Frank: Anything? Well, uh I guess I, deep down, am feeling a little confused. I mean, suddenly, you get married, and you're supposed to be this entirely different guy. I don't feel different. I mean, take yesterday for example. We were out at the Olive Garden for dinner, which was lovely. And uh, I happen to look over at a certain point during the meal and see a waitress taking an order, and I found myself wondering what color her underpants might be. Her panties. Uh, odds are they are probably basic white, cotton, underpants. But I sort of think well maybe they're silk panties, maybe it's a thong. Maybe it's something really cool that I don't even know about. You know, and uh, and I started feeling.....what? what I thought we were in the trust tree in the nest, were we not? Mariano Rivera - With impending free agency and the possibility New York won't pay 10 million to retain the services of an ageing, almost 40 year old closer, doesn't it look like, deep down, Mo is feeling a little confused right now? Maybe he is thinking of how he might look in another teams threads. Whatever it is, right now he is getting shelled.
Frank: Well, um, actually a pretty nice little Saturday, we're going to go to Home Depot. Yeah, buy some wallpaper, maybe get some flooring, stuff like that. Maybe Bed, Bath, & Beyond, I don't know, I don't know if we'll have enough time. Kyle Farnsworth - he may as well go to Bed, Bath, & Beyond for the entire series, Torre isn't going to trust the man with the flattest fastball in Major League baseball with anything other than mop up duty.
Spanish: Damn, I don't wanna end up workin' at Red Lobster!Frat Brother: You already work at Red Lobster.Spanish: Yea, well its part time...dick. Eric Gagne - Gagne is three or four bad appearances away from working at Red Lobster. Or pitching in the 5th inning with the Sox up ro down by ten. Either.
Frank: I had an awesome time!Beanie: I know that you had an awesome time. I think the entire town knows you had an awesome time. Jon Papelbon - Papelbon is having an awesome time.
Mitch: I wasn't looking for a girl like that.Beanie: Well, Columbus wasn't looking for America, but that turned out to be pretty okay for everyone. Hideki Okajima - No matter what the Red Sox front office says, they had zero clue Okie Dokie was going to be this good. It turned out to be pretty okay for everyone though.
The Dublin City Hurricanes are now three games into their 2009 Irish Baseball League campaign. They have played all three games against the Blacksox and Spartans, teams consistently in the running for the title year after year. After the three games, the 'Canes are 3-0, have scored 24 runs in 21 innings and have only conceded 6 runs in those same 21 innings. The veteran side look like they know there is plenty of work yet to be done however to date, their performances have been suitably impressive.
Clearly captain Steve Divito has cleverly assembled a powerful and talented lineup, with depth at all positions and a level of flexibility with a very strong 'B' 'Baby' 'Canes squad also playing very well in the Irish 'B' league.
This morning at Corcaigh Park the Hurricanes showcased what will, with a few tweaks here and there, be almost their full strength lineup for 2009. The result was a powerful, eye opening 12-3 win over the Dublin Spartans. The Hurricanes came out swinging, the first four batters all reaching with clean hits, and went on to score an incredible 7 runs against a shell shocked Spartans defence. Spartan pitcher and former Irish Cy Young award winner Jaime Cuevas was powerless to stop the Hurricanes onslaught, with his defence making several errors behind him. By Comparison, Hurricanes pitching had the luxury of just throwing strikes and allowing the 'Canes fielders to 'go get it'.
By way of example, Tom Kelley made an absolutely sensational catch late in the game, sliding, diving to grab a fast dropping fly ball in center field. His great catch kept the momentum in the Hurricanes favour.
Meanwhile the 'Canes welcomed back veteran leader and Synergy endorser Chris Foy. He made an instant impact doing a bit of everything, getting several hits, walks and runs and constantly proving a thorn in the side of Spartan pitching all game long.
Canuck Mike Johnson made his 2009 debut for the 'Canes and showed plenty of defensive ability. He also managed to score three runs without getting a hit, testament to his eye at the plate. Johnson has a sweet swing and will no doubt crack a few hits in the near future. He played perfect baseball in left field and is a great addition to the Hurricanes squad.
Canes second baseman Dioni Guerra also deserves special mention for a stinging line drive, power alley double that drove in two runs just when the Spartans were starting to steady their ship. His big double basically sealed the deal.
The Hurricanes short stop Steve Divito, first baseman Chris Foy and substitute right fielder Kevin Richards all made fine defensive plays as the 'Canes pushed their '09 record to an impressive 3-0. Obviously it is a long, tough season however the 'Canes fundamental solidity at this early stage augers well for their '09 outlook.
If you would like to get involved with Baseball Ireland at any level, Adult or Youth, or would like to support the game in Ireland, pleaserefer to this link
Ah yes. Ain't nothin' like bringin' another brother down. I have decided to, from now on, write in the style of the title of a Spike Lee movie. This here article be about stupid athletes, and stuff.
Okay, enough of that. So, anyway, there are some particularly annoying, grating, individuals in sports these days, let's face it. From the inane to the asinine and back again, there's a couple of athletes that really get under ones skin.
People like this guy. He didn't make the list but he definitely belongs.
Naturally, these fools need to be called out.
Let's get started.
The five biggest clowns in sports Clown number five
The appearance of this swarthy individual so low in the listing may give you some indication of just where this is going. This fine fellow is right now trying to make his way back from injury and into the Major Leagues. Once he gets there, he may wish he had never bothered. Thanks to one Selena Roberts, who is about to release her tome on the man, A-Rod is going to have one hell of a summer.
A-Rod - really, what's not to like?
Gone will be the mocking chants of 'Aaaaaaaaaaaa-Rod...Aaaaaaaaaaaa-Rod' only to be replaced with what will become the catch phrase of the summer, 'B**** T***s'. And where did that come from? In a section released from Roberts book, it turns out A-Rod's nickname on the Yankees in 2005 was, in fact, 'B**** T***s', on account of the large, round pectoral muscles he was forming from his steroid usage. Yes, that's right, A-Rod, not C.C Sabathia, the guy one would most expect to be on the Yankees and be anointed with that nick-name.
..at least he still loves himself
Despite the fact that there is no word on whether the book explains A-Rod's purple lips or Orange hue/tan, I can honestly say I can not wait to purchase it. Sign me up.
''Alex Rodriguez may have bulked up with steroids as early as high school - and was suspected of juicing while playing for the Yankees, a bombshell new book reports.''
There is so much you could use as evidence in the court of stupidity against this clown, however the weight of material is so great at this stage that he has gone from being a greedy, me-first, virus on any team he played on, to something of a comical and almost vulnerable figure.
Hated in Texas, by his own team-mates, who nicknamed him 'The Cooler' (and not in a good way), apparently mocked by his team mates in New York, and ridiculed in every online and offline sporting medium in circulation. Where is this going? Would you be shocked if you found out A-Rod was actually a woman? Or would you be shocked if A-Rod became, overnight, a Buddhist monk? There is no limit any more on this chap.
I actually remember his first major league at bats. Summer of '94 I believe. I was working in a hotel in Cape Cod, and listening to Boston play Seattle on the radio, WEEI. Roger Clemens was pitching and A-Rod was a highly touted young shortstop with a 'can't miss' tag attached to him. As I sat there, reading a paper, eating nachos with my feet up on the counter, little did I know I was listening to the debut of who would become one of the biggest clowns to be an athlete. Little did I know he would make this particular list.
Boston plays in New York next week. Imagine the carnival if A-Fraud makes it back in time for that one?
Messi
Must have wallpaper for all United fans
Goal, Goal, Goal!
Keith Foulke: Polarising opinion in Boston since 2004
..better days
Come on, seriously, it ends like this?
Game over, that's it, I am so cycling drunk into the city and falling asleep at 'Attack of the clones'
Four titles? how about NONE?!
Dive! Dive! Dive!
Smooth Lester Freamon - way cooler than Ronaldo
..at least Chelsea took it all pretty well
Messi at work
I am so happy I am going to take my shirt off and shout a lot!
Steve Grogan - sweet threads
Would you purchase methamphetamine off of this sales person?
Those passionate Tampa fans, you just can't top their love for their team
This particular tackle is known as 'the Joey Barton', best not tried at home
''woohoo, we're not going to the dentist!!''
Old School
Beckett - why fly any other way than your club owners private jet?
Pedroia - Pretty big swing for a little guy
A-Rod - really, what's not to like?
..at least he still loves himself
