Am I dreaming, or has ESPN gotten Kenny Mayne to vouch for the validity of football as the world's game to a couple American meatheads?
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Bill Simmons' Addresses International Soccer In A Recent Mailbag
Great, great analysis here from ESPN's acclaimed Sports Guy in a recent "Mailbag" column where Simmons addresses reader emails...
-- T.J., Leeds, England
SG: Sure. I'll do it in five short paragraphs and 500 words total. The theory goes like this …
1. Americans enjoy watching the best (fill in any sport). We are elitists. That's why we like the Olympics, that's why we enjoy any finals, that's why we watch Wimbledon and the Masters, that's why we don't care about sports like the WNBA, MLS or arena football as anything other than a niche sport. International soccer plays into this. It's the best of the best. Hell, we even liked "The Best of the Best" even though Eric Roberts was the biggest star in it.
2. The games zoom along: no commercials, no sideline reporters, no corporate tie-ins, no four-hour games like in baseball, no "takes 20 minutes to play the last two" like in the NBA. You can sit down for a soccer game and say, "I'm going to spend the next two hours watching this and then I'm going to do something else." Like watch more TV.
3. Give credit to ESPN for committing air time in non-Cup years to elite international soccer tournaments like the UEFA Cup. I know that's how I started paying more attention. If you like sports, you cannot NOT get caught up in the level of play, the maniacal crowds, the intensity and tension and everything else. It's impossible.
4. Widescreen TVs make it easier to see the field; HD makes it easier to see faces and numbers (and the grass looks green and vibrant); and better camerawork (and also more cameras) make the games more intimate. Now you feel like the players are flopping right onto your living room rug! Just kidding, soccer fans. Seriously, settle down. Jokes.
5. International soccer never took off here for the simple reason that American sports fans had trouble following anything they couldn't attend in person and/or watch on television at their leisure. Now? We're turning into a sofa culture; since it's more expensive to go to games, many of us find it just as rewarding to stay home, save money and watch games on a nice TV. Throw in the Internet, DirecTV, fan blogs and everything else and you really can follow soccer from across the Atlantic.
That's why, over the next decade -- starting with the World Cup in 2010 -- I predict international soccer takes off to a modest degree in America during the '10s. Not to compare everything to "The Godfather," but for America, the NASL was Sonny (exciting, impetuous and ultimately self-destructive), the MLS is Fredo (weak) and international soccer is Michael (the heavy hitter who was lurking all along). That's how this plays out I think.
Google Launches Google Moon To Commemorate Lunar Landing
It's the 40th anniversary of the moon landing today. In fact, right about now, the lunar module would be detaching from the command module and starting its descent toward the Sea of Tranquility.
Google is using this opportunity to launch Moon in Google Earth, giving folks everywhere the opportunity to take virtual lunar tours using Google Earth. Clever bastards.
Hleb Regrets Leaving Arsenal
Last week I talked about how hard it is to be a Arsenal fan, since we lose al of out top players. One player on that list was Alexander Hleb, the Belarus international whom we lost to Barcelona. Well today, everyone and their mother is reporting that Hleb regrets the move, citing Arsene Wenger as a father figure to him....
The Belarus international moved to FC Barcelona in order to win more trophies, but failed to establish a regular place in the side.
Hleb said: "When you mostly sit on the bench, winning titles brings very little joy, while getting to the last eight of the Champions League with Arsenal was unforgettable.
"I regret my move from London, but unfortunately nothing can be done about it now.
"For me, Wenger was like a father. I consider him one of the best managers in the world.
"For such a boss one wants to die on the pitch. Arsène managed to create a smashing team with a wonderful atmosphere inside of it.
"I have no doubts that if Arsenal had the same budget as Barcelona, the Gunners would be among the three best clubs on the planet."
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Why It's Hard To Be An Arsenal Fan
For all those football fans out there, this rant is for you...
I've been supporting Arsenal of London since I was 12. For more than a decade of support, I've watched them go from the immortals in the '03-'04 season where they went undefeated in the Premier League, to where they are now; the least dangerous of the Big Four. You look at the players of the team, and you ask how it is that they are continually battling for 3rd and 4th position in the hardest league in the world? Well it's because they continually sell off a major star who regularly provides impact. Thierry Henry to Barcelona, Alexander Hleb to Barcelona, and now the impending sale of Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City. With every step we take forward with some 19 year old phenom, we drop a proven professional on the way.
In a similar respect to the US national team, there is a point when the youth experiment ends, and you develop a cohesive mix of young stars, crafty veterans, and a handful of next level super stars. The latter group is imperative for a team like Arsenal, who have continually floundered in recent years behind the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea. The coming year will be unbelievably tough for manager Arsene Wenger should they lose Adebayor to the Blues at Man City. I pray the Robin van Persie and the teenagers at the Emirates can fill in his large boots.
Galifianakis Does Kanye, Musically That Is
Hilarious video made by Zach Galifianakis and Will Oldham doing Kanye's "Can't Tell Me Nothing."
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