Francona's gone. Wow. I thought this might happen, but not so soon. Lots of ugly rumours coming out about the Sox clubhouse, it looks like the next manager is going to be strict. With Wakefield, Varitek, and probably even Ortiz leaving, this is going to be a much different team next year. Guess I don't have to worry about a lack of changes, now I just have to hope they make the right ones.
I get the feeling that we'll lose this afternoon. Not had this gut feeling for a while; even when we played Sheffield United I didn't think we'd lose. But today down at Brentford I get the suspicion that the unbeaten run stretching back to last December will end.
Before Francona's announcement, and when it was only speculation, I heard an interesting comment on the radio. The caller said it would be good for him to leave, because he deserves better. The Sox weren't really a team this year, they were a gathering of egos, and Terry Francona is better off going to a team where he can work his managerial magic. He always said that he would know when it would be time for him to go, and he would then leave.
My gut was wrong. We didn't lose. Instead, we hammered Brentford 4-0. At their place. We also hit the woodwork FIVE times.
Rangers got screwed over yesterday by the Umpire calling crappy calls.. It's not CJ's fault. Oh well hopefully Holland can help us win tonight and tie the Rays. Darn you Matt Moore!
It's very ironic how that game turned out, and I wouldn't doubt for a second that the Rays just might win if they meet the Yankees again. The Rays' performance this season opposite the Sox has surprised me, too, and caused some superstitious dread as each new series against them approached. As for the Sox's last fateful game, I had gone to bed after waiting a half hour into the rain delay, deciding that either we would win or the Rays would lose, simple as that. . . so one can imagine the complete and utter shock when I discovered the Sox were out and the Yankees had failed. It wasn't enough that the Yankees had been in the homestretch, leading 7 to nothing in the eighth on a Teixeira grand slam, but that the last play of the Sox-Oriole game was committed by an ex-Ray, left-fielder Crawford. That was insult to injury.
I was really shocked to hear about Francona, I mean it's barely been two days, not to say I didn't think it wasn't coming. Personally, the fact that this team resembles very little to the glory of the '04 and '07 team puts into perspective just how much the clubhouse must be different. And that would absolutely give room to the stories and rumors of what really might be transpiring on the inside. But I don't know. These are the guys that make our team, specifically Tek, Ortiz, Wake, and any other player who's been with us a number of years, prior to and after the '04 Championship. They're the DNA of the team, so I don't know if drastic change is what this problem is calling for at the moment.
That Badger game... ah, beautiful. Russell Wilson, I like him a lot. Wonderful player and guy on all accounts, and what a player he is indeed.
Anyone who thinks the NFL isn't biased against the Raiders needs only watch today's game to be proven wrong.
Derby day! Tonight's ref is card-happy Paul Tierney. From Lancashire. Just what we need for a blood-and-thunder West Yorkshire Derby. He's managed to send 4 off in 9 games this season, and book 27. It ain't ending 11 v 11. Booked someone within 90 seconds of kick-off and was a joke throughout. Managed to rule out a perfectly good goal for offside and not award two stonewall penalties. Booked six in a game where only one yellow should have come out.
Sounders just won the US open cup for the third consecutive year!! They are the first teamn in 42 years to do so, and I believe they are the first MLS team to do so. They played wonderfully against Chicago and I am so proud of them!! My team is pretty fantastic
Watched the key moments of the match again. My 10 thoughts: 1. Novak's goal is clearly onside. 2. Alan Lee was clattered by their keeper when clean on goal - penalty and a red card not given. 3. Handball in the box - ref got it right, the lad got a shove in the back. 4. The penalty he did give - what was the defender thinking? He just wrestles Peter Clarke to the ground (very lucky not to see red for a second bookable offence... which came back to haunt us when he scored five minutes later)! 5. What was Antony Kay doing for the own goal and the free-kick leading up to it? 6. Why didn't Peter Clarke pick up the big gangly 6'7" centre-back he was meant to mark for their second? 7. Peter Clarke again - what a finish! 8. How many times did they make blocks on the line? At least four. 9. Why doesn't the JPT have extra time rather than just going straight to penalties? 10. Saves our keeper's had to make: 0. Saves their keeper's had to make: 8.
Jordan Rhodes has just scored his maiden international hat-trick. Granted, it was for Scotland, but an international hat-trick! Scoring one at any level is difficult enough. Against the cream of another nation...
I hate international break. I neeeeed my PL and CL fix, dammit. No matches until October 15th, which I know I will spend all morning sitting down watching TV. At least the Manchester United - Liverpool and Manchester City - Aston Villa matches (Hargreaves is supposedly going to be fully fit and ready for PL action after international break, yay)
Quarter Finals start this weekend. Ireland - Wales England - France SA - Australia NZ - Argentina Should be fun down at the pub...
Quarter Finals start this weekend. Ireland - Wales England - France SA - Australia NZ - Argentina Should be fun down at the pub...
Congratulation to the Yankees and Devil Rays on their majestic playoff runs! Also, the Leafs won The CBC should have named Optimus Reim all three stars
Al Davis died. For all that the team's failures in recent years have been laid at his feet, I've never been more worried about the future of the Raiders than I am today. It's because of Al Davis that I'm such a fan of the sport, and obviously he's a big part of why I love the Raiders- he made them something other than every other team in sports, a team that didn't care about its league, having a good public image, or even about profits. So many owners claim all they care about is winning, but none have lived it like Mr. Davis. Love him or hate him, there has never been another figure like him in North American sports, and there will never be another. I would venture to say no one loved American Football, and their team, as much as Mr. Davis, and whatever triumphs and failures await in the future, they will never be the same again. It's the end of an era, and now the nightmare of a corporate, soulless Raiders may well begin Here is the best tribute I could find on what it meant to be a Raider fan in the age of Davis: In football, I root for the Oakland Raiders, because they hire castoffs, outlaws, malcontents and fuck ups. They have lots of penalties, fights, and paybacks, and because Al Davis told the rest of the pig NFL owners to go get fucked. Someday, the Raiders will be strong again and they will dip the ball in shit and shove it down the throats of the wholesome, shitty, heartland teams that pray together and don't deliver late hits. - George Carlin
Huge win for the Raiders today and not just in terms of record. There is no more fitting tribute to the greatest owner in sports than a win from his team the day after his death. Almost all the key contributors in today's game were players Al Davis was blasted for bringing in. It's too bad he isn't here to see himself proven right once again.
Beat Stevenage 2-1 at the weekend. In terms of teams who employ deplorable tactics, Stevenage are right up there. Diving, feigning injury, ten players crowding the referee; that sort of thing. So, so satisfying to beat them. Nice mass brawl at the end as well, sparked off by their assistant manager refusing to shake hands with our manager. Their bench had spent the game running up and down the touchline, abusing Clark and the fourth official and (at one point) ordering a player to stay down injured. They also ordered another to go down injured so they could have a team-talk to reorganise with 20 minutes to go. Clark watched all this, including the time their manager deliberately miscontrolled the ball so we couldn't restart play quickly - and with 10 minutes to go, he pulled the same trick, with a massive grin on his face. Cue their assistant manager storming from the dugout, berating the referee and fourth official and hurling abuse at Clark. Who pissed himself laughing. Their assistant manager decided to take being a classless nobody to a whole new level when he refused to shake hands post-match.
Lee Clark charged with improper conduct. Apparently it's fine to get your team to roll about on the deck faking injury, to shout abuse at a fourth official and the opposition bench and to leave your technical area whilst wasting time, but to offer an overly aggressive handshake is the ultimate evil. The FA really are bloody useless.
