"When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose." -- Bobby Dylan, "Like a Rolling Stone."
"If you don't give a damn, we don't give a fuck" -- Youngbloodz, "Damn"
About a week ago somebody posted a comment wondering how Fox Soccer Channel selects the matches it airs. Good question, because around 12:30 the prospects of the Arsenal v. Hull City Premier League match seemed like little more than some nice background noise as I caught up on some reading and futility decided to tidy up the living space of my condo.
This was an ant vs. a steamroller; Glass Joe v. Mike Tyson; the Big Bad Wolf vs. a straw hut etc. After all, Arsenal's teenage reserves had whipped Sheffield United 6-0 in the midweek Carling Cup competition.
Fast forward an hour later and Mr. Clean and "Boys Will Be Boys" would have to wait.
And to think, after Theo Walcott set up a Hull own-goal, making it 1-0 I was about 30 seconds from firing up a little Halo 3. Master Chief could wait. Hull coach Phil Brown might have been the only person alive who actually thought his team could get something from the match at that point.
Perhaps there should have been inklings when Andy Dawson -- who's seen the Tigers through four promotions -- made a picture-perfect slide tackle on Walcott from behind in the first half and wasn't whistled for a foul simple because he was in orange-and-black and the other guy was in red.
Where in the world did Geovanni pull that leveling goal out from? Has that been the goal he's dreamed of his entire life? And Daniel Cousin's training ground perfect header to the upper corner? This was lighting striking twice in the same 18-yard area in North London. It simply doesn't, and shouldn't happen.
But it did and it reminded me why I got wrapped up with this crazy game in the first place. I wouldn't know Hull from Houston or Hartford, but Saturday I labored with the rest of the populous as the final 20 minutes ticked at a pace slower than an 85-year-old driving on the expressway.
My heart skipped a beat when Kolo Toure found himself unmarked in the box and fluffed it wide.
Cesc Fabregas found a milimeter of space at the top of the area, only for Myhill to make a full stretch deflection got my pulse racing.
Surely Robin Van Persie's left-foot rocket was going to lash the upper 90...but no, it soared high as my sphincter, well, let's not get too graphic.
Destiny, it seemed, went to the team in the orange and black tiger stripes, who now have as many points (11) from six games as the 2007-08 20th place finisher Derby Country accrued in 38.
Hull might be labeled as England's "crapest town", but there was no where else you'd have rather been Saturday night. It may have only been a league win, and survival in the Premier League is a long way away. Yet a win over a member of the "Big Four" -- on their home turf -- is something to cherish and sing about for years on end.
In the big picture, as said before this Premier League season is going right down to the nitty gritty and an established team might make the drop. Can Hull or Stoke maintain this level of gutty-ness all the way to May? Probably wouldn't bet on it. Still, this teams aren't content to be starstruck and rollover to the big guns.
Arsenal? Everyone is allowed a hiccup, but you figure it wouldn't be at the cavernous Emirates.
But this morning isn't about Arsenal gagging it up and losing two massive points in its long-term chase of Chelsea and Liverpool. It's about a small team that was mocked, derided and left for dead before the season started showing initiative and that it wasn't afraid to tangle with the big boys.
You only wish this industrious attitude lasts the whole season. Why bow down and kiss the ring to the presumed elite clubs of the league? The promoted teams especially have nothing to lose.
Sure there's a talent gap, but you don't need to bend over and say ahh every time either. Hull, you might get relegated, but you showed some guts and earned respect.
Around the league:
Tottenham are now worse off than Derby County were at this point last season. At least the Rams had the good sense to defeat, yep, Newcastle. ... Ugh, the Magpies, please read Brad's comment on my Friday post. Sums up the St. James Park disaster pretty well. Even if Bobby Hill sells the team, it's a long haul up the table. ... West Ham has the same point total as Arsenal, what? ... The Setanta announcers were aghast on the JLloyd Samuel penalty decision awarded to Ronaldo. I've seen worse and with his Thin Lizzy approved bad reputation, wouldn't it be wise NOT to lunge at the Portugeezer's legs? ... A reader called me out for by 543rd Frank Lampard deflection joke Friday. Fair enough. Guess all that mojo went to Niclas Anelka on an gift wrapped bounce-back by a Stoke defender. ... I'll be honest, on four hours sleep I tried my best to stay away during the Merseyside Derby, but Mr. Sandman was only interrupted by the Fernando Torres brace. ... So much for the 6-0 drubbing, Man City and Portsmouth are now on level terms. ...
Congrats to -- Nick Dolce's entry "Blarg" notched 83 fantasy points, thanks to Ronaldo and Bosingwa.
"If you don't give a damn, we don't give a fuck" -- Youngbloodz, "Damn"
About a week ago somebody posted a comment wondering how Fox Soccer Channel selects the matches it airs. Good question, because around 12:30 the prospects of the Arsenal v. Hull City Premier League match seemed like little more than some nice background noise as I caught up on some reading and futility decided to tidy up the living space of my condo.
This was an ant vs. a steamroller; Glass Joe v. Mike Tyson; the Big Bad Wolf vs. a straw hut etc. After all, Arsenal's teenage reserves had whipped Sheffield United 6-0 in the midweek Carling Cup competition.
Fast forward an hour later and Mr. Clean and "Boys Will Be Boys" would have to wait.
And to think, after Theo Walcott set up a Hull own-goal, making it 1-0 I was about 30 seconds from firing up a little Halo 3. Master Chief could wait. Hull coach Phil Brown might have been the only person alive who actually thought his team could get something from the match at that point.
Perhaps there should have been inklings when Andy Dawson -- who's seen the Tigers through four promotions -- made a picture-perfect slide tackle on Walcott from behind in the first half and wasn't whistled for a foul simple because he was in orange-and-black and the other guy was in red.
Where in the world did Geovanni pull that leveling goal out from? Has that been the goal he's dreamed of his entire life? And Daniel Cousin's training ground perfect header to the upper corner? This was lighting striking twice in the same 18-yard area in North London. It simply doesn't, and shouldn't happen.
But it did and it reminded me why I got wrapped up with this crazy game in the first place. I wouldn't know Hull from Houston or Hartford, but Saturday I labored with the rest of the populous as the final 20 minutes ticked at a pace slower than an 85-year-old driving on the expressway.
My heart skipped a beat when Kolo Toure found himself unmarked in the box and fluffed it wide.
Cesc Fabregas found a milimeter of space at the top of the area, only for Myhill to make a full stretch deflection got my pulse racing.
Surely Robin Van Persie's left-foot rocket was going to lash the upper 90...but no, it soared high as my sphincter, well, let's not get too graphic.
Destiny, it seemed, went to the team in the orange and black tiger stripes, who now have as many points (11) from six games as the 2007-08 20th place finisher Derby Country accrued in 38.
Hull might be labeled as England's "crapest town", but there was no where else you'd have rather been Saturday night. It may have only been a league win, and survival in the Premier League is a long way away. Yet a win over a member of the "Big Four" -- on their home turf -- is something to cherish and sing about for years on end.
In the big picture, as said before this Premier League season is going right down to the nitty gritty and an established team might make the drop. Can Hull or Stoke maintain this level of gutty-ness all the way to May? Probably wouldn't bet on it. Still, this teams aren't content to be starstruck and rollover to the big guns.
Arsenal? Everyone is allowed a hiccup, but you figure it wouldn't be at the cavernous Emirates.
But this morning isn't about Arsenal gagging it up and losing two massive points in its long-term chase of Chelsea and Liverpool. It's about a small team that was mocked, derided and left for dead before the season started showing initiative and that it wasn't afraid to tangle with the big boys.
You only wish this industrious attitude lasts the whole season. Why bow down and kiss the ring to the presumed elite clubs of the league? The promoted teams especially have nothing to lose.
Sure there's a talent gap, but you don't need to bend over and say ahh every time either. Hull, you might get relegated, but you showed some guts and earned respect.
Around the league:
Tottenham are now worse off than Derby County were at this point last season. At least the Rams had the good sense to defeat, yep, Newcastle. ... Ugh, the Magpies, please read Brad's comment on my Friday post. Sums up the St. James Park disaster pretty well. Even if Bobby Hill sells the team, it's a long haul up the table. ... West Ham has the same point total as Arsenal, what? ... The Setanta announcers were aghast on the JLloyd Samuel penalty decision awarded to Ronaldo. I've seen worse and with his Thin Lizzy approved bad reputation, wouldn't it be wise NOT to lunge at the Portugeezer's legs? ... A reader called me out for by 543rd Frank Lampard deflection joke Friday. Fair enough. Guess all that mojo went to Niclas Anelka on an gift wrapped bounce-back by a Stoke defender. ... I'll be honest, on four hours sleep I tried my best to stay away during the Merseyside Derby, but Mr. Sandman was only interrupted by the Fernando Torres brace. ... So much for the 6-0 drubbing, Man City and Portsmouth are now on level terms. ...
Congrats to -- Nick Dolce's entry "Blarg" notched 83 fantasy points, thanks to Ronaldo and Bosingwa.
Labels: Arsenal, Hull City, Monday recaps, Premier League, Soccer
To answer that question, that was left unanswered before. These scenarios are for US rights only.
FSC always has the 5.30 Saturday kickoff. Whatever game is put there by the EPL is the one they get. Likewise, the 12.45 kickoff is always Setanta's. Setanta has first choice of 3.00 kickoffs. FSC has second choice. These are the rights as paid for by the two channels. Sunday at 4.00 is FSC's as well.
As for the tape-delays, I'm not sure. Maybe someone else can finish that off.
Hope that helps.