Monday Pitch Talk

AND WE'RE BACK! With both Chelsea and United winning their Champions League matches then subsequently falling to second rate clubs in England's FA Cup, the importance of the FA Cup has now reached a new low... regardless of SAF's tirade against the referees. Although it would be tragic because of the rich history of the Cup's, the FA should think about removing the Premier League from one of the competitions and letting the Championship and lower divisions battle it out for alleged glory.

In league play in England, we saw Arsenal draw against the much weaker Wigan... and Liverpool continue their improved form versus the seemingly regulation bound Newcastle side to regain fourth place. Torres is on fire, simply a force of nature. Moving on, a hiccuping Spurs club got over their Carling Cup hangover with a 4-0 Premier League thrashing of West Ham at White Hart Lane. Now we'll see if they can beat the Dutch side PSV in Eindhoven to continue on in the UEFA Cup.

I don't have any updates from Serie A, La Liga or the Bundesliga, since I didn't watch any non-Premiership matches over the weekend. As always, I recommend listening to the Guardian Unlimited's Sid in Spain to get the low down. Or Jimbo and his sidekick Train can chime in with an update from his viewings. Sorry, Train. But you're the sidekick... at least that's just the way I'm writing it.


Lastly, it was looking like half of the Gillet/Hicks ownership debacle at Anfield was going to come to an end with DIC in Dubia buying out Gillet for 49% of the holdings of L'pool. That, until today's news that Hicks is pulling out of the talks. Not good news for the Reds. The faster the better for those Texans to get out of the owners box as far as I'm concerned. After talking to a couple of new Facebook friends [that I randomly met playing poker on Facebook] from Liverpool about the team, they are convinced the two will eventually sell all of their shares. Apparently the papers over there are going crazy over the possibility.

Revolving Doors

Jimbo appropriately placed Bellevue High legend JR Hasty in the pic of the day today, setting up a week of hirings and firings around the globe. I'm not sure Hasty earned his playing time with his frequent academic ineligibility and questionable dropping in and out of the program. That doesn't exactly exude confidence in a player. Good luck in I-AA, JR.

Rewind earlier to the week and we see the US Women's National Soccer Team coach getting the boot, less than a month after his now infamous goalie switch of Jimbo's GK fave Hope Solo (pictured on the left). So I failed to watch even one match of the Women's 2007 World Cup. The fact this fabulous story came out of it was good enough for me. The media jumping all over the goalie for speaking her mind and calling out a huge mistake by her coach was reminiscent of Cameragate and the Pats. The media's holier-than-thou attitude "policing" others with moral rules is the definition of hypocrisy, if you ask me. That, and I just found Jimbo's desktop wallpaper for his work computer with this pic of Solo. Oh, and Hope is from Seattle also, Jimbo. Check her MySpace page.

Now we come to yesterday, when the SG's forgotten team, Tottenham Hotspur, sacking Martin Jol from his post as team manager. Now, normally I wouldn't praise any firing of a fellow Dutchman. But this move was long overdue. Spurs haven't been competitive enough with the talent they have assembled at White Hart Lane. Jol's insistence on rotating his players in and out is archaic and I'd be frustrated if I were playing for Tottenham also.

Ending with some positive hirings... since most of you probably didn't notice, but in America's pastime, the Seattle Mariners locked up Mel Stottlemyre as pitching coach, and soon to be named third-base coach Larry Bowa also returning to the Emerald City. I like the moves... the more former managers you have around the better. Especially firey managers like Bowa, who add a much needed spark to a clubhouse that has been asleep for the past 5 years under the softspoken Melvin and Hargrove. It's good to have you back, Larry.

Weekend Review

I'll take the reigns from Train since he's visiting Will Hunting in the Northeast. Here is a quick recap of what happened over the weekend in the world of sport.

Chelsea drew at Blackburn on Saturday... I actually watched this match while working out. Thank you, SoCal DirecTV. Bad news for the Blues in the coming weeks though... first match in the Champions League has both Drogba and Lampard out. With Pizzaro out also, that leaves Joe Cole starting. Ouch. I'm pretty sure Cole has to have set a record for most Premier League shots without scoring a goal. He should consider kicking in the NFL though, because most of his shots go over the post.

Keeping on the pitch... the 2nd best English Owen is making bold statements for Jimbo's Devils. While Seatown's newly adopted Arsenal club is sitting atop the Premiership table. Serious Ewing Theory potential with Henry bolting for France.

As the pic o' the day indicates... both the Huskies and the Hawks lost on Saturday. Locker looked like a redshirt freshman on his picks. But the Dawgs showed promise playing a solid first half and putting a temporary scare into the ranked Buckeye nation.


The Hawks on the other hand... it's a handoff people! Do we need to get Rex Grossman's 5th Grade Tutors in to teach this fundamental to the Seattle backfield? Wow. Shawn seemed to predict this loss though in his Seahawks preview post. So I'm blaming him.

Signings...

SEATTLE -- Going with the theme of the day, hopefully the Times didn't jinx the reported contract extension with Ichiro with their front page story in today's paper. In my opinion, this would be Bill Bavasi's first good move as the Mariners GM. Even if the speculative price is $20 million per year, it's worth it considering the box office draw, market appeal both here and in Asia. It's a no-brainer. And something Seattle should have done in the offseason.

The story is starting to get national media attention, and with good reason. If Ichiro becomes a free-agent next Winter, Seattle will have lost to free-agency their fourth HOF in his prime, following Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr. and Álex Rodríguez out of town.


If Ichiro indeed re-ups with the M's, it'll be a great day. And it might buy Bavasi another year or two as MLB's worst GM... but hey, we'll take the bad with the good, eh!?! At least we have Kevin Durant in the Northwest for the next three years...

UPTON PARK -- From the Irony Department, another reported signing is the transfer of Craig Bellamy to West Ham United in a club-record £7.5million move. Bellamy joins a West Ham club that barely escaped regulation this past season after two shady signings of now notorious Argentinians. I think Bellamy thinks by signing with United, he gets to roll with the Green Street Hooligans firm, and saw the appeal in a guaranteed fight every week.

Top 5 Podcasts

Since Jimbo has only a few days left in India and not much is going on until Saturday's FA Cup Final at the new Wembley Stadium, to pass the time, I've included below my updated Top 5 Podcasts list to give Jimbo something to listen to the remainder of his trip and plane ride back to the States. Please note that Ask A Ninja should be mentioned for being occasionally funny & The Onion Radio News must be mentioned for being consistently funny. Both barely missed the cut and are well worth a listen and/or watch. I subscribe to each podcast on the list below on iTunes.

Top 5 Podcasts

5. ESPN Soccernet Extra
Jimbo and Train might know of better football podcasts out there, but this one is easily accessible and well done overall. It's available each Thursday for download & covers all football around the globe, not just the Premiership. It's produced by ESPN, but the hosts are English and true fans, each not afraid to call out clubs, players and broadcasters alike.

4. KCRW's Film Reviews
The podcast is a little short. But it's amazing how little words you need when you are a good writer. And Joe Morgenstern is a great writer. I guess you must be to earn a Pulitzer Prize. Morgenstern drops a word like denouement as easily as Train eloquently mentions yabboos. Quality stuff.

3. Strong Bad Emails & More!
From the classic HomestarRunner site, comes a video podcast of Strong Bad Emails & other video clips. Trogdor the Burninator came from this creative collection, so you know it's good. Genius all around.

2. Filmspotting
Most of these podcasts are about movies... but these guys give a Lodge-style podcast, complete with fights over each others reviews, Top 5 Lists and Massacre Theaters where they butcher select scenes that you can email in answers to for free DVDs. Each show ranges from about 45 minutes to an hour.

1. The Treatment
Do want an interviewer to finally ask the questions you want to ask? Well, The Treatment is your show then. KCRW's Elvis Mitchell gives the best interview on the planet. And his subjects range from directors to writers to designers to musicians. It is easily my favorite podcast out there.

Day Three: Marty, the Dredges have Found Me

So as my time progresses I find that working 12 hour shifts half way around the world is probably just like working 12 hour shifts elsewhere, except that I see approximately half a million* people on my way to work.

1726 UTC// 02.05.07

This morning, on par with the whole experience I slept until the exact time I told the cab driver to pick me up (the three layered curtain thing really works). So, another morning, another rushed Felix and I’m out the lobby. I come to find out that it would have behooved me to stay an extra five minutes.

1754 UTC // 02.05.07

(Please do not eat while reading the following story)
On my way to finding an ATM machine this morning I immediately get hit with something that can only be described as a five alarm on the downside. Out of know where I’m suddenly waiting in an ATM line and looking around at available destinations for the impending doom that is quickly forcing its way to the surface. As my cab driver patiently waits for me to draw out money I immediately run to his side of the car with screams of help, the following conversation quickly occurs:

Me:”I need….a….bathroom…sorry…washroom…”
Cabby: “there is no…”
Me: “no…I need now…”
Cabby: (points over shoulder to an Indian Oil station)

I run to the air-conditioned inside to ask the Oil barons if they would be so kind to show me the rest room. A young man takes me behind the station to a cut out closet with a urinal and bar door to keep you “private”. Since my needs did not match those that were being provided and a mudslide on its way to freedom, I was left with no choice…I…I….pulled a Stan Marsh.

(a nation of scousers understands)


Why do I share this story with you? I really don’t know, unless to prove the point that, don’t judge you too could wind up in the same place. Oh, and I did pull the money out of the ATM and somewhere in Mumbai there is a group of Oil barons that course my existence and believe that all white men from here on out will provide the same damage to his urinal.

But hey, what happens in Mumbai goes on the Lodge and Curry Fiesta

I will report that no one was hurt in this story and everything is operating correctly now.

As for the rest of the day, well there was a lot of work involved. I didn’t ride home on the same street as yesterday so I’m still not prepared for my Z survival rating, but I did try my first curry and yes, I have to report that it is true that India does make good curry. Hold back you amazement and open your minds.

0712 UTC // 02.05.97

Starting to adjust to working through the night, which I’m not sure how I feel other than there is a since of optimism that is far greater when the light is just coming up and you are just leaving work. I have some photos below from my car ride home today.

Recommendations:

Champions League Football:

Livapool/ Blues:
I got home and the final touches were on the game…a little bit of joy (not for the result) to an already traumatic day.

That’s all I got, I promise I’ll try better tomorrow.

Weekend Wrapup

This past Friday, I was able to work from home since we were having the Comcast people come by to upgrade our service and join the Digital Revolution. Needless to say, with the new Digital Cable and subsequent extra 300+ channels, coupled with the NBA Playoffs, NFL Draft & Premiership matches, my weekend was pretty much set before it even started.


So as I watch Michael Owen's Newcastle comeback from injury (Owen scored a goal in the 6th minute before being called offsides, alas, the match is still scoreless as the first half comes to a close), I'll start off with condolences to Train's Blues... who squandered a chance to defend their Premiership Championship with an uninspired performance for the second week in the row, again only coming away with a draw against an inferior football club. Mourino's lineup seemed effected by the UEFA leg this week, as was ManU's starting squad with Ronaldo sitting, but the Devils were able to overcome a first half deficit with an inspired Rooney performance. Rooney now has 12 goals in his past 13 matches.

Keeping with the theme of fallen champions, in the NBA I witnessed the baby Bulls take out the hobbling and visibly over-the-hill defending NBA Champion Miami Heat, sweeping the series 4-0. Luol Deng was big throughout the series, but Ben Gordon is the key to that team. If you see Chicago continue on through the 2nd round, it'll be because of Gordon's clutch play and ability to take his man one-on-one and make key plays when the play breaks down.

Finally, not to beat Goose to the punch and give you my breakdown on the NFL Draft festivities from this past weekend, but some brief thoughts on the draft and one bold opinion on the coverage... as I was watching too many hours of the NFL Draft on Saturday and continuing into Sunday, I came to shocking revelation about 1 hour into the Draft: The NFL Network kicked the shite out of ESPN this weekend.
Sure, ESPN has Mel Kiper Jr. But that can be both an advantage and a hindrance. Kiper has an encyclopedia of knowledge about NFL Prospects since scouting college football players has been his gig for over 25+ years now. But one can only take so much of Kiper before wanting to strangle him and shave his ever growing head of hair. He's basically been reduced to a glorified team manager. You remember the guy in High School and college who couldn't make even the Junior Varsity squad but wanted to be around the sports and athletes so much that he resorted to fetching water bottles and taking detailed stats of games and practices. Well, Mel Kiper Jr. has more detailed stats than anyone. But that doesn't hide the fact that he's the biggest geek in the room.


Which leads me to the NFL Network's brilliant coverage. Each anchor and analyst knows football inside and out (with the possible exception of Rich Eisen), with no talking heads like the aforementioned Kiper and Tony Kornheiser types. The analysis was faster, and more accurate. The team needs were more clear and updated along the bottom tracker throughout the days. And the "breaking news" was literally 30-40 minutes ahead of ESPN's stories. For example, NFL Network "On-site reporter", Adam Schefter, was reporting from the Radio City Music Hall floor (where the team tables are spread about), and he reported the Cleveland trade (back up for the 22nd pick to take Brady Quinn, great recap of the details behind the deal was written today by Peter King) over 30 minutes before ESPN even mentioned it. And when the NFL had moved on after discussing the Randy Moss trade (on day 2, when New England stole a Pro-Bowler for a 4th round pick, similar to the Seahawks draft day deal, only Randy Moss doesn't drop passes), ESPN couldn't stop talking about it. ESPN basically drove me to watching the NFL Network coverage. But I couldn't have been happier about the move.

Kiper's role on the NFL Network is played by Mike Mayock. The difference is that Mayock played in the NFL. Where Kiper probably hasn't even played Madden before. Mayock had just as much knowledge about the NFL prospects, and was able to point out team needs and tendencies much more often than Kiper. It wasn't even a contest.

If you break down the match-up further with a tale-of-the-tape style, the host, analysts and reporters for the NFL Network outperformed ESPN in every category (with the notable exception of Todd McShay (who was spot on with his breakdowns leading up to the draft and during) and Seattle's own John Clayton (who still has inside knowledge on teams and deals that is unmatched). Chris Berman has three forks stuck in his back at this point, ironically bumbling & stumbling over draft pick names, still clinging to the nickname schtick, a schtick that lost it's legs at the turn of the century. That all said, ESPN has better post-draft coverage thanks to their much more robust online coverage on the dot com.

Now that I got that out of my system, the Draft itself saw big winners in Oakland (getting a QB, making quality picks and deals, plus a possible gold-mine in the healing Michael Bush from Louisville, & getting rid of the unhappy Moss), Minnesota (having Peterson drop to them at #7) and Dallas (great draft moving down the board for more picks & stealing a possible 2008 Top-10 pick in the Cleveland deal). There also were big losers with Kansas City (over half of their OL retired/left in the last 2 years yet they draft no-one of significance to help, plus kept Trent Green instead of trading him for picks even though they'll have to cut him by June for cap-purposes, just stupid moves all around & a word of warning when thinking about drafting Larry Johnson next year in Fantasy) and the Tennessee Titans (who drafted a Safety when they need a replacement for the suspended Pacman and a have glaring needs at WR and took 3 underachieving wideouts on Day 2).

A New Dawn on the Sou' Coast

We had some big news(rumors) come out of the UK today. It appears that Paul Allen (yes our very own Paul Allen) is attempting to buy Southampton FC. Foreign buyers are becoming more and more prevalent in English football.

Many of these investors are American and current owners of Major American sports teams. Liverpool FC was purchased by Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Randy Lerner purchased Aston Villa FC near the beginning of the Premier league season. Just recently Stan Kroenke started a hostile takeover of Arsenal FC. What this means to me is not that Americans are into world football but these millionaires see the ability to tap into a trillion dollar sports industry, which in the long run should mean quality teams in all divisions.

A source close to Allen told the Daily Mail: "He sees Southampton as a sleeping giant, a family-supported club with traditional values."

We know what Allen can do with a team. See 2005 Seattle Seahawks.

I’ve always believed that smaller English clubs could and should be bought by investors. This would elevate the overall game in the England. I bet even the Lodge could pool some money and buy Millwall. Who wouldn’t want a return of Queens Park, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday to the Premier league? Let the big 4 teams (Chelsea, Arsenal, ManU, Liverpool) feel some real heat. I don’t see many negatives to these foreign owners, though they of course must be dedicated to winning.