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.

The NBA is back

So much for good sports TV during prime time.

The Fifth Official

sums up the weekend rather nicely.

I'm still a bit hungover from the losses.

Which of these things is not like the other one?

The Italian town of Castellammare di Stabia is considering a ban on miniskirts, low-cut tops, swearing and pick-up soccer from their town. Apparently it has something of an image problem and wants to come off as less trashy. That's all well and good, but why ban soccer?

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."

Couldn't be happier

I couldn't be happier to wake up today to the news that Wayne Rooney was staying at Manchester United until 2015. He'd been making noise about leaving the club where he's played since he was 18. For me, it's just so much easier to have all the despicable things in one place. Someone mentioned yesterday that City might have been looking to pick him up and I threw up a little in my mouth.

I don't know what it is about this guy, but Rooney is also one of the reasons that I don't want the English national team to do well. He's like the A-Rod of football and he plays for the equivalent of the Yankees. What's to like?

Plus after a brief glance at his Wikipedia page, I found this to confirm my conviction: "Rooney owns a French mastiff dog, which was reportedly bought for £1,250."  Really?

When dogs resemble their owners...