- 11:53 PM
- 05/21/13
It appears Wigan FC will be celebrating the FA Cup and a relegation in the same seven days. They have to win tonight in London against Arsenal to extend their chances to the final game of the season, but to do that they'll have to score four goals in 20 minutes.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 04:18 PM on May 14
If Seb could crash into both Ferraris every race Sunday, that'd be ok.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 02:53 PM on May 12
That's bonkers. (Not Bonkers)
posted by Mr Bismarck at 01:12 PM on May 11
"Speaking of rally drivers... in case anyone missed this in the Guardian last week. If you're offended by swearing Irishmen, don't watch it."
That's why we're speaking of Irish rally drivers, JJ.
It's a fantastic video that makes me smile every time I watch it.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:34 PM on May 10
Moyes
A grumpy Scot in charge at United? That'll never work.
I presume if it is him we'll see Fellaini in red ten minutes later, which is a scary thought because, with motivation, Fellaini's an unstoppable combination of hair and elbows.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 11:05 AM on May 08
Interesting night for Wigan. They threw away 1-0 and 2-1 leads at home to Swansea and as a result they must now be favourites to take the third and final relegation spot from the Premiership.
Tonight's other game was won by Manchester City - a result that both confirms that City will play in the Champions League next year and that Wigan qualify for next season's Europa League, as Wigan and City play each other in the FA Cup Final on Sunday.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 04:45 PM on May 07
I'm happy to see an article push the financial side - Locke will cost about $400,000 this year - and the stats - bottom half of the league in several areas - as other places, like Yahoo, (surprise surprise), seem to be intent on shouting "Vocal Gay Rights Supporter Cut From Team! NUDGE NUDGE."
I suspect he'll end up enjoying a new city, making slightly less than the Vikes were going to give him this year.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:10 PM on May 07
The Guardian podcast pointed out yesterday that not only were the last promotion spot, last playoff spot and last relegation spot in the Championship decided in the 46th and final game, but they were also all decided with goals after the 88th minute.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:04 AM on May 07
Holloway doesn't have much to say about Ipswich Town's use of a seeming army of loan players, I presume because we're not above him in the table.
At one point our starting eleven featured more loan players (six), than owned players and we could have played seven, because two were from outside the country.
We had nine loan players in the squad at one point and after a few went back to their clubs we borrowed others.
Having said this, NBC should give up on the Premiership and just show the Championship - it's vastly more interesting.
For obvious reasons someone new wins the pot every year and on top of that the type of team that wins also changes - it can be a the nouveau riche, riding a wave of money through the lower divisions, someone using parachute payments to outspend the entire division or the plucky outsider with moderate pockets who goes on a run after Christmas and vaults from bottom to top.
That potential vault is there because at mid-season it's entirely possible to be nine points off the relegation spots while also being nine points out of the promotion play-offs.
On top of this, Ipswich only confirmed they would avoid relegation this past week with a win over Birmingham that moved them to sixty points.
Meanwhile, beneath them are Wolves who fell out of the Premiership last year and could well be enjoying day trips to Stevenage next year in the third division.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 11:08 AM on May 03
"Chicken chicken toothpaste" should go into some sort of misheard lyrics hall of fame.
To Haiti!
posted by Mr Bismarck at 10:32 AM on May 03
This was sent to me as a joke, because it's funny watching Youtube's new auto-caption feature trying to make head or tail of the guy's accent, but I think it's a good and funny watch, even without the subtitled hilarity.
NSFW Warning : Irish people, using several words you shouldn't use on TV.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 08:31 AM on May 03
With six minutes to play, Madrid - Dortmund was still 0-0 (4-1 on aggregate to the Germans).
With three minutes to go it's now 2-0 Madrid, 4-3 on aggregate. One more Madrid goal and they go through on away goals.
The Ref is going to need to thrown on about six or so minutes of added time. This could get very noisy.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 04:33 PM on April 30
A friend suggests that USA Rugby should throw some money at him.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:48 PM on April 29
"Sub .500 team cuts fourth string Quarterback."
I presume Skip Bayless will shout a lot about this.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 11:02 AM on April 29
May the 4th is my birthday, so I've been doing that joke since I was a kid. I can't believe I went seven years without thinking to add "revenge of the fifth!"
Also, I'm sad I won't be able to buy one of those jerseys.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:33 PM on April 28
I presume we'll see Remy go for money, but I wouldn't be surprised to see several others out for no money, just to get their wages off the books.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 10:47 AM on April 28
Reading and QPR being the very example of futility today - the only result guaranteed to relegate both today was a draw and so they play out a 0-0.
Rangers fire sale starting in 3... 2...
posted by Mr Bismarck at 10:41 AM on April 28
Hartlepool United's last away game of the season today and the Monkey Hangers like to go fancy dress for their final trip... Here they are going through London on their way to Crawley.
Short video of the penguins minding the gap.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 10:41 AM on April 27
Did you have an opportunity to holler any cordialities at Kiper?
I think his hair stopped him from hearing me.
Meanwhile...
Don't give up your... wait...
posted by Mr Bismarck at 08:45 PM on April 26
I went to the draft yesterday and ended up being recruited into a "crowd" to be filmed for reaction shots for a Kevin Costner movie.
British Tackle Menelik Watson was first by - he looked confused when I shouted "Mancini out!" at him.
Ladies and Gentlemen, your first and second overall picks...
When I shouted "enjoy Kansas" Joeckel laughed, but Fisher didn't. I like to think that's why they picked him.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 10:26 AM on April 26
Bad news for Real Madrid : they just got hammered 4-1 in Germany.
Good news for Real Madrid : they did better than Barcelona.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 04:42 PM on April 24
I guess Arsenal have shown they didn't need van Persie to finish in the top five, twenty points off the title. So well done them.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:05 AM on April 23
Subtitles might be available.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 03:53 PM on April 17
No that's purely coverage of the top English division, which will feature eighteen English clubs and two Welsh clubs.
Fox and ESPN maintain coverage of the European Champions League and I think you'd need to get Be In Sports too to get extensive coverage of La Liga, (Spain), Bundesliga, (Germany), and Serie A, (Italy), which, along with the EPL, would allow you to see just about all the best players in the world.
Start with La Liga, if you want to see what's probably the best two - Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Meanwhile, from that Reddit link, I'm amused to hear that to fit that final day coverage in NBC has to put a game on E! Entertainment network. I dearly hope it's something like Wigan-vs-Aston Villa.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 08:27 AM on April 17
"The coverage of the Premiership is going to be unbelievable next season. People from England should move here. They'll see more of their football league."
Finally my decision to leave old England for New England is justified.
Now all I have to do is get NBCSN on my cable package.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 05:00 PM on April 16
5'9" Nate Robinson vs 6'8" Rudy Gay in the best jump ball ever.
Sadly also an illegal jump ball.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:37 PM on April 13
I thought it was funny when he hid it behind his back, just after going all Braveheart.
Then politely passed it back.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 11:20 AM on April 04
Frightening Canadian of the week:
posted by Mr Bismarck at 08:17 AM on April 04
Phil Jackson made his first tweet last night.
I presume it came some distance after his first drink.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 01:07 PM on March 28
I don't really care about the uniforms*, just try being a decent front office for once.
I really wish I could just give up and follow another team to get away from the fairweather fans and celebrity ownership, but it's been 31 years, this year, so I'm kind of stuck with them.
I might start casually seeing other teams though, on a season by season basis. Pick one that's in an interesting phase of life and just hang out with them for sixteen games. I'm thinking maybe the Chiefs this year, or the Browns.
That way I can watch two teams lose a week.
*Apart from that Lost-At-Sea-Orange they wear once a year. That thing has to go.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:58 PM on March 28
"If this doesn't end the streak, nothing will."
Tada!
posted by Mr Bismarck at 08:18 AM on March 28
If this doesn't end the streak, nothing will.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 02:55 PM on March 27
Phew! For a moment there I thought his $10 cup of Bud Lite was ruined!
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:33 PM on March 27
Uli Hoeness is tired of paying for Spain's shit.
"When people ask me what clubs could be in danger, I reply with the list of the only clubs that are not in any kind of danger. They are Barcelona, Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao."
posted by Mr Bismarck at 10:48 AM on March 22
I'm glad the comments mention Ali Dia.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 11:42 AM on March 20
Carlos Condit and Johny Hendricks may have just put on one of the best MMA fights I've ever seen. The announcer accidentally called it the main event of the night in the introductions and he may end up being right.
Condit had no answer for Hendricks' take downs, but he'd find a way back to his feet and instantly press forward again.
I think the takedowns won it for Hendricks in the end, because I felt Condit won the fight, but was probably taken down double figure times.
Great punches and takedowns from Hendricks, good escapes, kicks and range from Condit. Just a great fight.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:00 AM on March 17
Then I see a headline "Flacco traded to New England" and had a heart attack.
Turns out it's the Orioles' Mike Flacco, going to the Red Sox.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 08:20 PM on March 15
Meanwhile, some sort of clusterfuck between the Broncos and Elvis Dumerville has led to Denver failing to place contract paperwork with the league in time and so the Defensive End has officially been released.
The Denver Front Office and Dumervil's camp are, of course, blaming each other - Denver says Dumervil took too long to agree the new deal, while Dumervil's agent says he had about 12 minutes to review the deal and get it signed and returned.
Apparently the dead money cap hit Denver take as a result of the release means they will find it difficult to resign him.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 08:12 PM on March 15
John Abraham and Adrian Wilson have signed with the Patriots, who are also apparently on the verge of re-signing Kyle Arrington.
It's like they had defensive issues last year or something.
Dustin Keller has signed with the Dolphins.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 07:56 PM on March 15
I think Freeney would work too - he's undersized for a 3-4 end, but Belichick does weird two-gap/one-gap combinations on his front, meaning it's not a traditional gap assignment line.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 11:59 AM on March 15
One person the Pats have signed is Leon Washington.
Steven Jackson has signed with the Falcons, while released Chief Matt Cassel has gone to the Vikings.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:38 AM on March 15
The correct and best one-for-one replacement for Welker would be Davone Bess.
The fact that the Pats would have to steal him from the Dolphins just seals the similarities.
And even as a Dolphins fan, I'd be glad to leave the Belicheat stuff to Yahoo! commenters.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 06:43 PM on March 14
I guess that means Geno Smith is on his way to New York.
I'd be happy to see the Dolphins pick up Asomugha. He's still a good corner when you remember what he's good at. He's not a fire-and-forget corner like Revis in his pomp, but Asomugha plays excellent press coverage, when his defensive co-ordinator isn't lining him up inside to cover short zones or playing him as some sort of centre fielder.
I remember a play at the end of one of the Giants games last year - the Eagles looked like they were in cover 3, except it was cover two and a half, because Asomugha was up tight. With the clock running out Manning threw the ball that way, but Asomugha had played it perfectly and the receiver got called for Offensive Pass Interference making sure Nnamdi didn't get an interception.
It was an good example of a rare time Philadelphia took a standard defence and tweaked it to get the most out of one of their better talents. Didn't happen very often though.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 07:17 PM on March 12
"I mean, it's a nice dunk, but Brandon Knight is tiny compared to Jordan, he had no chance on that play. "
Absolutely. Knight never really has a chance because he's a Guard jumping in front of the Incredible Hulk. You have to credit him for trying - especially as Knight doesn't have any ankles left since the Rising Stars game...
This dunk is a real ensemble piece, because of the sound of the dunk, the "I think I just killed a guy" face Crawford pulls, Knight lying on the floor for about six seconds contemplating how much he hates basketball, Barnes running from the crime scene, the reactions in the stands and the crowd of Pistons paying their last respects.
It's not the greatest dunk evar! But it has been making me laugh all day.
To his credit, Knight took it well - after the game he tweeted something like "The scouting report didn't say they threw lobs" which is funny to anyone who's seen more than four minutes of Clipper basketball.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 08:14 PM on March 11
The Seahawks have reportedly traded their first and seventh round picks this year, with a mid-round pick next year to the Minnesota Vikings in return for wide receiver Percy Harvin.
Seems a steep price, but if he plays up to his talent the Hawks offence is going to be alarming this year. This could be one of those trades both teams win.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 03:00 PM on March 11
De'Andre's look, post-dunk, is simply fantastic.
And Matt Barnes, (nearest the camera), who just turns and runs away like they're all six years old and Jordan just broke a window.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:52 PM on March 11
"5 great reactions to DeAndre Jordan's dunk on Brandon Knight"
Those are now only two-through-six.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:15 PM on March 11
It turns out Goalkeeping gloves are not bite proof.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:08 PM on March 11
The Clippers' 2013 dunk highlight reel is being made into eight movies by Peter Jackson.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:23 AM on March 11
He's jut risen on the Hornets' draft board.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 02:31 PM on March 08
WTF was going on with the NBA last night?
I just saw this...
posted by Mr Bismarck at 08:39 PM on March 07
This play probably doesn't work in High School, but against the Hornets?
No problem.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 11:53 AM on March 07
...and an hour-long evening show hosted by Regis Philbin.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 08:40 AM on March 07
If only because - if that WSJ article is to be believed - the Union video contains about 25% of the in-play action of your average three-hour NFL game.
In four minutes.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:28 AM on March 06
That Union video is ridiculous.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:41 PM on March 05
Smith was a barely mundane Quarterback when saddled with bad coaching. I don't expect big things of him in KC.
He is, at least, cheaper than Sanchez.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 03:33 PM on February 27
Six Fouls is my nickname for Jason Collins. (I fail at sentence structure)
Since 2006 Collins has more personal fouls (1,211), than points (949). So far this year he has eight fouls per 36 minutes.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 10:52 AM on February 22
Attending Your First Premier League Game
"French fries with curry sauce"
I have found two places over here that do a good job of this. One is in Hartford, the other is in Toronto. I haven't quite reached the point where I'll fly to Toronto just to get them, but it's close.
As for the games, I suspect if you've been to a USA-Mexico game, then you've not much to fear about Arsenal-West Ham.
It is worth going to an English game if you have the chance though - even if you're just on an appropriately timed layover at Heathrow - the noise and the constant singing is such a contrast to the moribund crowds I've been in in the US.