The video above is footage of American Clint Dempsey's critical game-winner for Fulham Saturday vs. Liverpool. The goal likely ensured Premiership safety for the Cottagers and cult-status at the club for the man we endearingly call Deuce.
Why, in one of the busiest weekends in world football would we open with that goal?
As you may or may not have seen, over the weekend the Premier League decided they're jumping on the sue-YouTube bandwagon. So in the future you may simply have to rely on my silly words, instead of moving pictures.
Naturally, this really angered me when I read it.
The short-sightedness of a move like this is baffling. Yeah, yeah tell me the whole thing about copyright law, intellectual property, etc.
Don't you think that the EPL's recent £2.7 billion (over $5 billion America?) television deal was aided by services like YouTube? Don't you think people like you and me get wrapped up in the flash, drama and panache of the Prem because of being able to watch sick goal compilations and all the highlights at the click of the mouse?
The league likes to bill itself as the most exciting, if not best in the world. Why do something that would only hurt this reputation?
Do the powers that be realize they're going to alienate an entire culture of fans by taking YouTube to court? People aren't exactly profiting off posting clips to the site, you're talking about pale faced kids and diehards across the globe taking their hard-earned free time to cut up vids of their favorites like Wayne Rooney and Thierry Henry. They're doing it because they love the game, not to infringe on your precious lawyer's copyright books.
The league's presence -- along with soccer in general -- in America has certainly been aided by the videos passed along the blogosphere. Think of the Lionel Messi goal from a couple weeks ago. (Wait, maybe don't. YouTube took that one down too. Bastards!)
For crying out loud, the NHL of all sports leagues allows its clips on the site. You'd think the world's most popular league might do the same, no?
At least come to a compromise where people can't post until the round of fixtures is complete. That should make everyone happy, right?
In the end let's hope this lawsuit ends up being a waste of time.
As far as video on the Internet goes, the cat is out of the bag.
And also out, is Chelsea as EPL champs.
As I type this Khalid Boularouz just yanked down Julio Baptista in the area at the Emirates. Gilberto Silva connected on the PK and the look on Jose Mourinho's face looks like someone farted in his mouth.
In a way its fitting that the man they call 'Khalid the Cannibal' officially ended Chelsea's hope of three-straight titles. Most of Mourihno's additions to the 2006-07 season haven't exactly worked out according to plans. Ashley Cole, Salomon Kalou and Michael Ballack each had their moments, but overall didn't make as huge an impact as expected. What more can be said about the $40-million-dollar man Shevchenko? He didn't have a terrible season, but wasn't worth the rubles, except for helping Drogba morph into one of the world's best.
Of course, Chelsea didn't go down meekly. Michael Essien again played out of his mind, scoring the leveling header and making about a bizzillion plays on both sides of the field. If he were a 'Madden' player he'd have a 100 'awareness' rating. (And prolly a 200 'tackle' rating.)
And the last say, 25 minutes were almost impossible to watch (in a good way) -- and I don't like either team, or Manchester United. It felt like two hours. Heart-in-mouth stuff.
There was simply so much tension and drama in the air my weak heart couldn't bear to watch. I blame the Gooners for favoring passing around and laying off, in favor of scoring the second goal. In the end, Kalou missed his golden opportunity in extra time.
So ends Chelsea's two-year reign. It's a safe bet the squad at Stamford Bridge looks a whole lot different come August. Still, at least a classy gesture by Chelsea to salute the fans after the game. Wish FSC stuck with it a little longer, especially for Jose's reaction.
As for Manchester United?
By hook-and-crook, they nabbed their ninth Prem title under SAF. Well done. (Still care that the Glazers bought the team, Manchester?)
Back in August I thought United wouldn't win the title and I'll eat my words. Frankly I didn't think they had the depth or quality of Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea. Yet, they had one true out-of-this-world superstar -- Cristiano Ronaldo -- who played a season at a simply unreal level of football.
Naturally, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes et al aren't slouches, but factor in the razor-thin depth of the squad and you must walk away impressed because it was the Darren Fletchers and John O'Shea's of the world, plus the never-say-die attitude which probably made the difference for the Red Devils. They certainly stole more than a few points at the death, especially in the critical February/March window.
For what its worth, in typical soccer fashion, since the inception of the Premier League in 1992 only four teams have lifted the trophy -- United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers, a certain team is noticeably absent, no?
It'll be interesting to see what kind of juice the FA Cup final on Mother's Day has, not that I personally care about the FA Cup not being bloody English and all.
** As great as the top of the table stuff was, the relegation stuff is just as intriguing. A couple weeks ago I wrote about the crazy season for West Ham. It took another turn Saturday when the Irons thumped Bolton 3-1 to pull ahead of Wigan Athletic in the drop zone.
Carlos Tevez ran rampant, scoring twice (once on a free kick) and assisting on the other. Naturally this courts a lot of controversy since it is the signing of Tevez that cost West Ham a lot of money...but not a points deduction. Apparently Wigan and some other clubs want to take legal action. Can you blame them for desperately wanting another bite on the Premiership golden apple?
Suppe poses an interesting question, when was the last time Tevez shampooed his hair?
Bottom line, life is always more interesting with West Ham in the mix.
** Congrats to Sunderland for winning the League Championship. Let's hope Roy Keane gets the Black Cats a little more competitive than the 2005-06 shit-show.
For those that care the promotion playoffs feature: Derby v. Southampton; West Bromich Albion/Wolverhampton....which are two of the more hated rivals in England. Those will be some interesting encounters at The Hawthorns and Molineux, interesting as in, wear your homemade body armor to the game. The West Midlands is the midst of a football renaissance, Ozzy Osbourne would be proud...should he still have a brain.
Bottom line, with Watford, Charlton and likely Wigan going down, the Premiership is gaining three 'big-ish clubs'. Glancing at the roster, the Baggies seem to have the most Premiership-ready players on the roster, led by Curtis Davies, though it would be nice to see Mick McCarthy back in the top flight with Wolves. (Especially when they play Sunderland.)
** One more note from England. Glen Roeder, thankfully, out at Newcastle United. The Magpies have a boatload of talent and realistically should push for the Top Four next season.
Spain
"Shit just got Real" -- Bad Boys/Hot Fuzz
A day after Barcelona easily dispatched Real Sociedad 2-0, thanks to some Ronaldinho brilliance, the race in Spain went wild on Sunday thank to Real Madrid's comeback 3-2 win over Sevilla, which leapfrogged them over the Andalusia club into second place.
Down 1-0 at the half, under-fire/lame duck coach Fabio Capello went for broke and added a couple attackers -- including Spanish-mullet campeónGuti. When a manager makes a move like this, he looks like a genius...if only for a day.
Guti assisted on the first two Real goal, with a pair of perfectly weighted passes, first from about 35-yards out to Ruud VanNistelrooy, the second a poised chip from the edge of the area to Robinho. (Afterward Robinho was tossed for an excessive celebration, which GolTV commentator Ray Hudson called, without batting an eye, orgasmic.)
The second half Sunday, is I'd guess, what Madridnistas have waited for all season as far as attacking football goes. Maybe that's the problem with Real, too. They have too many attackers, at least that's my problem in the few games I've played with Real in PES 6 (Winning Eleven 2007). It's hard to find space on the field for Ruud, Jose Reyes, Raul, Robinho, Gonzalo Higuaín, Antonio Cassano, et al. Factor in a defensive-minded coach in Capello and you've gotten an underwhelming team that is still somehow in second place in La Liga.
And whomever takes over at the Bernabeau next season, whether it's Bernd Schuster or Mourinho, they've got a lot of talent to work with.
And whoever that new guy is, he won't have Golden Balls (and Golden-haired) David Beckham to kick around anymore. Becks did get a bogus yellow card and will likely have to sit out next week at Espanyol.
In the aftermath, Barcelona is ahead by two points with four games left to play.
Germany
Quiet weekend in der Motherland. Schalke, Stuttgart and Werder Bremen each won, and remain in that order with two games left on the docket. The biggest intrigue might come next Saturday when Schalke travels to Ruhr rivals (think unemployed coal miners) to play Borussia Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion. A hiccup here and the perennial brides maids, Schalke, might not recover since Stuttgart has a pair of "easy" games.
MLS
All good things must end and for Red Bull New York that meant conceding their first goals of the season, including a pair in extra time at Salt Lake. So ends RBNY clean sheet streak. Credit new RSL coach Jason Kreis for snatching a point.
The Dynamo strikeforce woke up, with both Brian Ching and DeWayne De Rosario netting in their 3-1 win at Colorado. Kansas City kept up its strong start with a late 1-0 win vs. Columbus in front of a sellout crowd at Arrowhead. (By sellout I mean 4,000 fans.)
Labels: Soccer
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