MCFC in the FA Cup Final

"My" team is going to a cup final. I'm not sure how excited I should be. It isn't USA or Brazil in the World Cup, it sure wasn't Notre Dame for the March Madness Cup (go with it...), and it sadly won't be the Red Wings fighting for Lord Stanley's cup. It's the team that I only started following last summer, and for that reason I'm not sure I deserve to celebrate.

Before the EPL season started, I was drawn to Manchester City because they had Robinho. He was off the team before I even had a chance to buy his jersey. I figured once he was gone I'd go back to mildly supporting Everton; I like Tim Howard, they have a couple of Irishmen and their beer sponsor isn't horrible. But then I started cheering for Man City. They were quick, albiet not as graceful as Arsenal or tough as Man U. Carlos Tevez, who I initially loathed on principle, is fascinating to watch when he's in top form. I'm pretty sure their 9/25 win over Chelsea sealed my fate as a fan. It also didn't hurt that I really like their kits.

So here I am, a new supporter to a band-wagon-able team. I bought a jersey and a scarf. Now what do I do?

Turns out, there's an app for that. I mean, there's a website for that: Bluffer's Guide to Manchester City. I already knew most of the trivia, but I still think it's notable. The team has basically acknowledged that they are so awesome as to attract new fans, and instead of pooh-poohing our newfound support, they are welcoming us with open arms.

via Pitch Invasion
Photo by Johnny Vulkan/

Football Championship of minor importance: Shirts.

When choosing a sports team, uniforms matter. I've always been fascinated by sports uniforms: the colors, the logos, etc. I've long been a fan of the blog Uni Watch and can't wait to share pointless tidbits about my teams' fashion.

Over at Avoiding the Drop, they are having an excellent tournament of football shirts that you can participate in. Each head to head competition includes a picture and description of the jerseys with just enough snark. Personally, I don't think there is a more elegant shirt than the 1960s Ireland national team shirt (though the current Man City shirt is going to be a strong contender).

What's your favorite? Leave a comment.

Update: They're onto the Round of 16!


Thanks to Brian for the link, even if he is a jerk about baseball.

Squeaky Bum Time!

Well kids, it's squeaky bum time. Here is lovely screen grab from ESPN to get you in the mood for this weekend's derby.  I'm actually looking forward to getting up at 7:45 am on a Saturday.

Also exciting: only two days until the end of the Void.  My eyes will be on Lakeland, FL to see how the infield is going to come together. 

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!"

Big Sports Weekend

I love weekends in October: college football, NFL football, playoff baseball, hockey, soccer and, if you are in Lexington, Kentucky, Keeneland fall races. With so going on, it can be hard to keep track of how my teams are doing.

Last weekend was great: I was at a wedding on Saturday, but the bride and groom scheduled a break between the ceremony and reception so we could watch the Notre Dame v. Western Michigan game. Plus,
my friends at home kept me updated throughout the day with various scores and highlights. The best moment was finding out via text that Kentucky was winning over South Carolina while seated next to a current SC grad student at dinner. Sure, we were both Irish at heart, but a little friendly competition never hurts anyone.

Fantasy Squad 

This weekend is much bigger than last weekend: Notre Dame plays Navy, the Giants and Rangers are making decent underdog runs at the World Series,  I'm attending the UK v. Georgia game, my fantasy team is probably unstoppable, and Man City is playing Arsenal.

That last game is especially important because though I meant to wait a season before throwing my support behind a team, I find myself cheering for the Citizens every weekend. Now they are playing three of my friends' favorite team. As a wise man once said, "This shit just got real."