Chelsea banned from making new signings: Until 2011. That's two transfer windows. As they're one of the older teams in the Premier League, what impact will this have on their position this season and next?

posted by trox to soccer at 10:58 AM - 16 comments

Jozy Altidore heading to Hull City: And he releases the news via Twitter of course (it's been that kind of day).

posted by trox to soccer at 03:24 PM - 8 comments

The journey of Delino DeShields: "This is how it happens. You play 10, 12, 13 years in the big leagues, cash in a couple of big contracts at the end. "Retire" by the simple act of not answering your phone for an entire offseason, your career numbers a statement for all eternity as to who you were. You lay low, help raise those kids, get the oldest ready to fly the nest. Get divorced -- ouch -- and watch the economy go down the toilet -- double ouch. Start thinking that, well, if you were ever going to get back in the game, this might not be a bad time."

posted by trox to baseball at 09:54 AM - 3 comments

300:: Another milestone reached.

posted by trox to baseball at 01:58 PM - 8 comments

Beckham makes it official.: He'll move from Real Madrid to the LA Galaxy this summer. What impact will this have on MLS and the state of the game in America? Can Becks conquer even a disinterested America?

posted by trox to soccer at 10:15 AM - 74 comments

World Cup Draw Now!: Let's discuss and predict.

posted by trox to soccer at 02:16 PM - 80 comments

Cricket almost derails a wedding.: A good read about suddenly and inexplicably falling in love with the game. Even the video of Harold Reynolds breaking down the differences between cricket and baseball swings is entertaining. What's up with the Ashes again?

posted by trox to other at 01:08 PM - 9 comments

Donovan's coming home again: Well, so much for trying to succeed in a European league. What does this mean for the most visible face in American soccer. A coming elevation of MLS, or the silly pouting of a mama's boy.

posted by trox to soccer at 03:50 PM - 13 comments

Another soccer phenom?: This time he's nine years old. Is it a little over-the-top for major clubs (FC Porto and Manu U) to be already talking signing someone this young, or was Freddy Adu the first of many more to come? Check out the video! [shamelessly lifted from mefi]

posted by trox to soccer at 01:28 PM - 15 comments

Sportsillustrated.com redesigned.: And where did the hell did the soccer tab go? Oh, that's right, under More Sports, which returns a picture of Michelle Kwan, when I select it there? Their dedicated Soccer Page doesn't seem to exist any more at all. Is SI giving up the ghost on it's soccer coverage? If so, where will I read Grant Wahl and Gabriel Marcotti (even though he annoys me more often than not).

posted by trox to soccer at 08:50 AM - 10 comments

The Miracle League.: I just heard about this on local sports talk radio. I had never heard of it until now, even though it was founded in the Atlanta suburb of Conyers, and it is a pretty good story, growing exponentially in the last couple of years.

posted by trox to baseball at 04:13 PM - 4 comments

World Cup Qualifying is about to begin for the US (I know it's lost in the lead up to the European championships). They are about to say hello to the Spice Boyz!

posted by trox to soccer at 09:05 AM - 8 comments

Mourinho Champion's league final set (and who would have thunk it). Monaco get two away goals to send Chelsea packing (Guardian match report), while Porto wins another away leg, scoring a penalty to hold off Deportivo. So let the nit-picking begin. Did Ranieri "tinker" too much in the first leg? Who'll win the final? Will Mourinho take Ranieri's place next season? Does anyone care about any of this?

posted by trox to soccer at 03:51 PM - 10 comments

Get your star player back. Win an exciting overtime game against a division leading rival. Get fired. Dan Reeves out as Falcons coach. Does the timing of this strike anyone else as odd? Maybe some straw just broke the Camel's back after a long year of losing, or is the owner being, shall we say, indiscreet in talking about new coaches?

posted by trox to football at 08:57 AM - 5 comments

Arsenal's European campaign flames out.: Kiev withstands late storm in their box to win. I just can't catch a break this week from any of my teams. What's in store for the other English teams in the Champion's league, especially tomorrow's newest Battle of Britain - ManU v. Rangers.

posted by trox to soccer at 04:04 PM - 19 comments

Champions League Draw.: Now that Newcastle has exited to the UEFA Cup a bit earlier than last year, the draw is set. Arsenal look set to travel quite a bit, Manchester United will play at least one not too far away, and one of Chelsea's newly bought superstars will face a former team. Thoughts? Predictions?

posted by trox to soccer at 10:14 AM - 12 comments

How bad's your EPL Team?: At long last, the EPL season proper is two days away, and the Guardian is posting fans' pessismistic assumptions about their teams fortunes (parts 1, 2, and 3). We have a pretty good spread of supporters here, what are your pessimistic projections for your teams?

posted by trox to soccer at 05:10 PM - 32 comments

Atlanta Falcons unveil new logo. I assume updated uniforms won't be far behind. Are the Falcons, after adding Peerless Price as a target for Mick Vick, trying the uniform upgrade tactic that worked so well recently for Denver and Tampa? Or is this more like the new unis sported by the Redskins part time last year.

posted by trox to football at 10:21 AM - 14 comments

Don't know much about history.: Wow. The Falcons of all teams just ended the Packers' Lambeau playoff unbeaten streak. Let the passing the torch stories begin. Now, do these Falcons have a shot at upending a somewhat gimpy Donovan McNabb and the decidedly un-gimpy rest of the Eagles next week?

posted by trox to football at 09:56 AM - 13 comments

New look for Atlanta Braves rotation. Sign Hampton, lose Glavine to the Mets, trade Damien Moss for Russ Ortiz, sign Paul Byrd, but probably keep Maddux (scroll down). Add to this a shakeup in progress in the bullpen was the best in baseball last year, next year's Braves could have a whole new look. Aren't six starters too many? Or are one or more of these guys trade bait for a big stick?

posted by trox to baseball at 04:17 PM - 4 comments

Beat Report: UEFA Cup and Champions League

The last two days have been active in the Champions League. On Tuesday, Arsenal only managed a draw against Valencia at Highbury (losing star Patrick Viera to injury in the process), while the Newcastle and Barcelona match was postponed due to downpour. When play resumed on Wednesday, Newcastle was left wishing they had played in the rain as Barca stretched its record to 10-0 in the competition. Manchester United easily dispatched Spanish rival Deportivo de Coruna, scarily returning to world-beating form with the same mix of regulars and reserves that defeated table leading Arsenal last week at Old Trafford. Juventus destroyed Basle (and probably their hopes of advancing) by 4 goals, and Lokomotiv continues its track to advance by earning a draw with reigning champion Real Madrid (who are rescued by Raul). Inter defeats Bayer Leverkusen, and Ajax continued to add to Roma's woes. Finally, AC Milan handed Borussia Dortmund a loss. [First predictions on who advances inside.]

Over in the UEFA cup, there is a full slate of matches today as well; look for report next week (since Champions League play doesn't resume until February).

posted by trox to soccer at 09:01 AM - 8 comments

Beat Report: Champion's League

One day early, but all the matches are done and I will be away from the computer on my regularly scheduled day. Yesterday, in the most closely followed match here, Manchester United overcame a lightening fast goal by Basle to win their match. AC Milan triumphed over reigning champion and old champion's league rival, Real Madrid. Dortmund also unsurprisingly beat Lokomotiv Moscow on the frozen tundra of Lokomotiv stadium, and Juventus battles back to earn a draw with Deportivo.

Today's action has Thierry Henry providing a lot of firepower as Arsenal uncharacteristically dominate a team on the continent as the knock off Roma 3-1. Some domination also took place in the game involving the final EPL representative, as Inter Milan hammered Newcastle. Finally, Barcelona beat defending runner-up, Bayer Leverkusen, while Ajax and Valencia play to a 1-1 draw.

posted by trox to soccer at 04:06 PM - 6 comments

Beat Report: Champion's League and UEFA Cup.
Not much action this past week in either the Champion's League or UEFA Cup, so I thought I'd follow last week's post about the Champion's League draw with the draw for the draw for the next round of the UEFA Cup. before the games get underway next week. Liverpool, rudely bounced from the Champion's league last week by upstart Basle, have to look here to keep there European cup hopes alive. Also, Celtic struck a blow for the Scottish Premier league last week by elimating a representative to the better regarded league just south, Blackburn.

But how important is Europe's other cup? The Guardian hasn't even updated its page on it from last year. Is this a European version of the NIT basketball tournament, or something that really means something to fans?

posted by trox to soccer at 12:47 PM - 10 comments

Mike Hampton traded to the Braves.: My guess is that this means that either Glavine or Maddux will not be returning to Atlanta. The fan reaction is mixed. Local columnist's definitely aren't. Glavine's already been offered contracts with the Phillies and Mets, while Maddux's agent, Scott Boras, is looking for a large payday. Do you think this is the right move for the Braves? Or will Hampton continue to pitch the way he did in Coor's field?

posted by trox to baseball at 02:48 PM - 9 comments

Groups set for second stage of champions league. Groups A and B look to be mini groups of death. Group C looks like a clash between Spanish and Italian titans. And everyone's favorite/least favorite English side seems to have an easy road in Group D. Predictions? Thoughts?

posted by trox to soccer at 09:05 AM - 5 comments