The Beautiful Game

Samuel L. Jackson: a red

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:54:00 +0000

The ESPYs host proudly flashed his own personal jersey on the aptly named red carpet the other day.

He dropped down a fraction of a notch in my book for this one...

Manchester City watchdogs

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:39:00 +0000

Some anonymous English publication that I won't mention, ~~The Sun~~, got busted for potentially publishing a horribly false story the other day.

The paper allegedly said Manchester City players all got some nice watches as a gift from the team ownership. The club was soon to refute the report:

Manchester City can confirm that the story in The Sun newspaper this morning claiming that our players visiting Abu Dhabi had been given expensive watches by Sheikh Mansour is a fabrication.

The club is pursuing the matter legally and will do so in the most robust fashion possible.

The link the original story on the website has been taken down.

Sounds like someone journalist is gonna get a talking to...

Ljungberg staying in Seattle

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:21:00 +0000

Now that's a nice DP.

The Anti-Beckham (kinda) Freddie Ljungberg said he isn't looking to make a move to any European club -- whether there be interest or not. He's staying in the Emerald City.

"I will stay here. I like it in Seattle," Ljungberg said after the Sounders wrapped up practice Thursday at Microsoft Corp. headquarters. "I just want to say that there may be rumors and stuff but I want to stay here and want to play, and let the fans and everyone know that I'm staying."

The former Arsenal and Swedish national team star is under contract for one more year. There was no mention of any extension talk.

Oh and bad news for another Sounders FC players. Rarely used and oft-injured Jarrod Smith has been released, but can rehab with the team.

VIDEO: Down goes Blatter!

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:05:00 +0000

A nasty, but hilarious, fall.

Call him Sepp Splatter.

Estudiantes: Copa Libertadores champions!

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:50:00 +0000

I'm a day late on this one, but I don't think I get many readers from South America anyways. The Argentine side beat Brazil's Cruzeiro 2-1 in the second leg after a scoreless first leg to win the tournament.

I think I care more about the Juan Sebastian Veron sighting as much as anything...

Anyways, congratulations boys!

Beckham returns, L.A. throttles N.Y.

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:33:00 +0000

Whatta day for a comeback!

The ~~Galaxy v. Red Bulls game~~ return of David Beckham to MLS had the attention of the soccer world Wednesday night. Heck, the Fox Soccer Channel announcers were all but reading Grant Wahl's book on the air during the broadcast.

Predictably, there were (scripted?) awkward man-hugs and unnatural affection between the two Galaxy stars. I wasn't buying it, but with a 3-1 scoreline, it really doesn't matter.

The team will take all the drama in the world to dominate opponents and continues its winning streak -- now at four games.

But don't be fooled into thinking the madness is close to over. England national team coach Fabio Capello is already pleading for the Beckham return to Europe.

Oh and this other columnist dude really ripped the Englishman.

USMNT gets an ESPY

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:17:00 +0000

Look at the sharp lads, led by Landon Donovan (not the captain Bocanegra?), accepting the award for Best Upset.

Suck it Spain. Dos a cero!

VIDEO: Dude your shorts...

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 06:21:00 +0000

They're on backwards...

Where's the love LINKS?

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:32:00 +0000

Guadeloupe is having another great run in the Gold Cup, in the quarterfinals in 2009 after reaching the semifinals in 2007.

But don't expect the see the small French region in FIFA World Cup qualifying.

Damn politics.

Gimme some links:

Ronaldo won't wear "C. Ronaldo" shirt. [Daily Mail]
No beer in Toronto is good? [The Offside]
Vieri and the paunch. [Unprofessional Foul]
Newcastle rules out Kinnear return. [Guardian]
All-ugly MLS team. [Goal! NY Times]
Old John Terry photo. [Who Ate All the Pies?]
MLS and Miami? [Miami Herald]
Drogba and Bosingwa's bans reduced. [BBC]
Iraq can host internationals now. [Canadian Press]
Grant Wahl's L.A. notebook. [SI]
French team call off tour for swine flu. [ESPN]
A Maurice Edu update. [Yahoo!]

VIDEO: Beckham making the rounds

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:17:00 +0000

1. The Today Show

2. Regis and Kelly

Inter Milan dudes and Marilyn?

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:56:00 +0000

More interesting than Ochocinco...? (8 posts ago)

Happy transfers

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:39:00 +0000

Every day, another million links:

Adebayor close to Manchester City?
Or Manchester United?
Danny Szetela to D.C. United.
Flip-flopping. John Terry not for sale now?
Barca sign Inter defender Maxwell.
Downing to Aston Villa.
Ronaldo happy to stay at Corinthians.
Mexican team gets Carlos Ruiz.
Aquilani and Liverpool?
RSL gets Campos from San Jose.

The big four in the EPl still pretty quiet.

Seattle Sounders FC and attendance

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:21:00 +0000

A great post over The Offside: Seattle compares the glowing attendance totals at Qwest Field to those around the world's leagues.

12th in the Bundesliga (top attended league in the world)
12th in the Premiership
8th in La Liga
6th in Serie A
3rd in the Scottish Premier League
13th in Major League Baseball

VIDEO: Dynamo, Atletico and the chicken

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:04:00 +0000

Not a lot going on in soccer land these days, less than a month before a lot of the big Europeans leagues start up again, Off the Post gives us an ol' entertaining clip...

Improved Liverpool faces

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:48:00 +0000

On Pro Evolution Soccer that is.

I must I'm very impressed, especially with Torres and Carragher. Pies doesn't like the Gerrard one, but I don't mind it -- the Xabi one bugs me more...

MLS power rankings: week 17

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:32:00 +0000

I was in Disneyland for the weekend, so I missed all the action. Including the Sounders FC's big win over the Dynamo via a Patrick Ianni bicycle kick.

The bottom teams of the league are really start to separate themselves. The league certainly appears to have levels of very good teams, very capable teams and horrible teams.

Good news in New York. The Red Bulls didn't lose, but they didn't play. The Galaxy have to be the wildcard now with the return of David Beckham.

Here we go, not a lot of changes:

1. (1) Houston Dynamo 9-4-4
2. (4) Seattle Sounders FC 7-3-7
3. (3) D.C. United 5-3-9
4. (5) Chicago Fire 6-3-7
5. (6) Columbus Crew 5-3-9
6. (2) Chivas USA 8-5-3
7. (7) Colorado Rapids 6-4-6
8. (8) Toronto FC 7-6-4
9. (9) L.A. Galaxy 5-3-9
10. (11) Real Salt Lake 5-6-5
11. (10) Kansas City Wiz 5-6-5
12. (12) New England Revolution 4-5-5
13. (13) F.C. Dallas 4-8-5
14. (14) San Jose 'Quakes 3-9-4
15. (15) N.Y. Red Bulls 2-13-4

Franck Ribery gallery

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:15:00 +0000

The Guardian folk had an easy subject this time. I like the Napoleon complex bit.

VIDEO: Ref's alphabet song

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:57:00 +0000

Great bit seen over at Pies.

Chad Ochocinco and Inter Milan

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:40:00 +0000

From one headcase to another.

To another.

Figures that the biggest NFL diva would be see with two of soccer's equivalents...

Can you imagine Rooney as a priest?

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:23:00 +0000

The British bulldog gave an amusing answer to the 'if not football, what would you have done with your life?' question.

England striker Roo, 23, said of his footie career: “I haven’t a clue what else I could have done. I wasn’t really the best in school.”

But pressed to pick another profession, he admitted: “I always enjoyed RE — so maybe a priest.”

The RE stands for 'Religious Education' I think.

Judging from his brutish style of play, surely that wouldn't have been my first guess.

Garber adds RSL duo to all-star team

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:06:00 +0000

Playing to the crowd, eh Donny?

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber added Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman and Javier Morales to the 2009 MLS all-star team that will play Everton later this month.

Of course, the game will be played in the new Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah -- the new recruits home-field.

Hopefully this fills the stadium up.

VIDEO: Beckham interview showdown

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:43:00 +0000

In the most anticipated matchup of the year, Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl (author of The Beckham Experiment) fires a tough question at David Beckham.

Take a look...

VIDEO: A bit o' this and that

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:30:00 +0000

1. Eye-poking goal celebration

2. Holding hands at practice?

3. Ronaldinho's magic is back!

Miscellaneous stuff roundup

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:51:00 +0000

Obama met with Sigi, Ezra and the rest of the MLS champion Columbus Crew of '08 the other day.

In case you missed it, Fernando Torres introduced his newborn to the media too.

A cool story involving Charlize Theron and her work to help build soccer fields in Africa.

Iraq and Palestine played a historic friendly the other day in front of a raucous crowd.

Here's a mildly disturbing picture involving some FIFA brass -- including Sepp Blatter -- kicking around a soccer ball.

Finally, the Beckhams get paid to make a video in their underwear. Ah, the good life...

VIDEO: Violent videos

noreply@blogger.com (The Beautiful Game) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:30:00 +0000

1. First, an air attack

2. Then an assault/tantrum

3. Finally a brawl