Road trip Nashville, anyone?

The US Men's National Soccer Team (USMNT) is hosting two games in March, the first on March 26th against Argentina at the Meadowlands and the second on March 29 against Paraguay in Nashville, TN. While watching the Yankees possibly not lose to Argentina would be amazing, Nashville is only three and a half hours away. Tickets go on sale 1/21/11, so let's try to get a group confirmed by the 19th or so.


(Tempting as the $150 on-field seats are (and the opportunity to keep the chair), ticket prices actually start at $20.)

Leander on the Politics of Football

Schaerlaeckens letter to FIFA

Really, Blatter?

Gaff by the FIFA president Sepp Blatter doesn't do much to improve soccer's image as the least gay-friendly sport on the planet. While discussing the current laws in Qatar, including the illegality of homosexuality, Blatter had this gem of a joke:

"I would say they should refrain from any sexual activities."

Lovely. And his save?

"We are definitely living in a world of freedom and I'm sure when the World Cup will be in Qatar in 2022, there will be no problems."

No offense, Mr. Blatter, but I'm not holding my breath.

Source: Sepp Blatter in hot water for making 'gay joke' when discussing Qatar World Cup 2022 - Telegraph

The Ails of Football

Becoming a fan of any team is a long and dangerous journey, and my early support for Manchester City is approaching it's first obstacle.  Carlos Tevez, this seasons highest scorer for the Citizens, has requested a transfer from the team. While transfers themselves are not rare, it is still painful when a club's captain feels he just can't work things out with upper management.

How will this affect my feelings for the team? Hard to say, really. City performed well without Tevez this weekend against West Ham (3-1 win). Adam Johnson got some playing time, which always makes me happy.  So I can see myself still supporting the Citizens even without the talented Argentinean.   However, if a transfer brought in a player I strongly dislike (read: Rooney, which I'm pretty sure is impossible), then my feelings would be hard to predict. I would probably be heard calling out such silly phrases as "Come on, you Lilywhites!" or "Go Liverpool!"

The only good to come of losing the World Cup to Qatar...

... is that these scarves are were on sale!

Detroit Lions, not really getting it done

If I had to choose one team from the National Football League to cheer for, it would be the Lions of Detroit. It is rather fortunate, then, that I don't care too much for the NFL, but I do occasionally watch former Notre Dame players that have moved up (some of them play more than others). I wonder, however, if I had been born in Indianapolis or some place with a history of professional football success, if things wouldn't be different.

My sister married into a Colts family, and since then her Sundays seem so much more exciting. They have people over to watch the games and can buy jerseys and hats and t-shirts with horseshoes on them. She has a reason to watch the Super Bowl (other than for the ads).

It's not too late for me. I just wish that the Lions would get their act together so that maybe I can be the one converting my future in-laws to a team, and not the other way around.

Game v. South Africa

U.S. Soccer Mens team against South Africa:

22 Agbossoumonde, Gale

17 Agudelo, Juan
7 Bedoya, Alejandro
6 Borchers, Nat
12 Bornstein, Jonathan
9 Bunbury, Teal
16 Carroll, Brian
23 Cervi, Dominic
14 Diskerud, Mikkel
20 Findley, Robbie
11 Gaven, Eddie
21 Goodson, Clarence
18 Guzan, Brad
13 Lichaj, Eric
15 Pause, Logan
5 Ream, Tim
8 Rogers, Robbie
2 Spector, Jonathan

Who are these guys? They look really young. I recognize some of them from the World Cup, others from the USMNT blog, but still.

Here are some handy facts about today's game and the Nelson Mandela Challenge.