In school I was always pretty good at math...until geometry which began my first-ever 'C' grade...and then the nightmare called pre-calc. I'm still trying deduce what the heck a cosign a is and why I should care.
Anwyays, a modified geometry proof. (Well an attempt.)
Liverpool > Real Madrid.
Liverpool = Middlesbrough, Stoke City, etc.
Proove Middlesbrough > Real Madrid.
That was an absolute shit-stomping by the boys in red at Anfield. The 4-0 scoreline probably flattered Real Madrid, which could have been a lot worse if not for Iker Casillas.
Usually I'll take the cynical approach with Rafa's men, but there's no denying they were awesome Tuesday. Or as Spicolli might say, "Awesome, totally awesome."
Why the Reds can't replicate this performances in the week-in, week-out grind of the Premier League is a mystery on par with the four-toed statue on 'Lost.' Must be that night time air, right?
The midfield completely choked anything Real tried to attempt. The attacking passing was precise and perfect. And of course, Gerrard and Torres did their thing.
What more could you ask for?
Well, on the flip side...God, please prevent us from Liverpool/Chelsea Round 47.
Actually, maybe give us that match. After Chelsea won a thrilling two-leg affair with Juventus, perhaps the only team that can derail the Blue Machine is Liverpool. I wasn't buying the Chelsea/Hiddink hype, but I may finally -- sadly -- have to submit to it.
Chelsea is coming.
Damn it.
Due to the entanglement of international rights, this is impossible, but after Liverpool went ahead 3-0 Tuesday, it would have been nice for ESPN to have been able to switch like CBS during the NCAA tournament to a different game. While Villareal and Panathinaikos aren't the marquee names, that was certainly the more lively affair Tuesday...unless you want to hear the Kop sing Jay Spearing's name.
Oh well, a pipe dream. At least we got Adrian Healy instead of the beyond stogdy Derek Rae and clueless Tommy Smyth. Claudio Reyna in the postgame studio...pass.
Wait...rant coming...again ESPN and it's staff in Bristol has no clue. NO CLUE! They tease 'Sportscenter' during the postgame to feature "UEFA Cup highlights" not just that, the anchor (Jay Harris) says the same thing. How can you not even write on the teleprompter properly?
I know it's too much to ask for the Worldwide to superimpose the aggregate score during Champions League game -- yeah, that would be too hard for the American brain to comprehend. It's not too much to ask to get the name of the god damned competition correct.
Please Lord, keep the Premier League rights out of the hands of the Worldwide Leader. Why even own the rights? Why not bring back Dave O'Brien and Marcelo Balboa.
Clueless. Clueless. Cluess.
As my friend Mike Suppe texted me, "Would anyone notice if they confused the NIT championship with the NCAA title game?"
Amen.
Rant over. (Ok, an unrelated ESPN note, is Dwayne Wade hitting a buzzer beater in a midseason NBA game really that big of a deal? Christ, you would have thought that shot ended WWII or cured cancer judging by the amount of times the network aired it in the last 12 hours. Egads.)
As I write this I haven't seen the Chelsea highlights. Apparently there was another goal-line controversy, that was rectified since Chelsea scored quickly afterward.
Watching the replay, in real time it was impossible to tell if Drogba's freekick was in since Buffon acted so quickly. It was weird place for a shot to go in, nestling on the inside of the post. It probably did go over, but it was nearly impossible to tell in real time, so it's hard to fault the refs.
Michael Essien scored two minutes later, out-running two Juventus defenders to Frank Lampard's rebound off the cross bar, so Chelsea didn't have to complain too much.
FIFA or UEFA need to figure something out. Sooner or later a high-profile game will be decided by a bad goal line call. In this day and age how hard would a chip and sensor system be for the most important games? Or a quick video review. There is already a fourth-official on the sideline. A quick call to him from somewhere inside the stadium would save some possible embarrassment.
Again like ESPN getting the name of the Champions League correct, it's not that hard, but FIFA/UEFA have never been the most progressive or forward thinking.
Moving on.
I was wrong about Panathinaikos (hardest name to spell in the world) beating Villareal and playing Chelsea in the next round, so I guess that's a good thing. Chelsea will probably get Villareal now, and just roll them in the quarterfinals.
Amazingly, Bayern somehow improved on it's 5-0 first leg win against Sporting, winning 7-1 in Munich.
Somewhere Landon Donovan shed a single tear.
Wednesday's games
Arsenal/Roma -- Aresnal is up 1-0 after the first leg, and most think this will be a stroll in the Stadio Olimpico...except for the would-be travelling Gunners fans. Arsenal might get Theo Walcott back, too.
For some reason this might be a tough game for Arsenal, even with Danielle De Rossi suspended.
Do I have the guts to pick Roma, no? But it Arsenal will have to work.
This Arsenal team still isn't that good, so watch your back Gunners.
Barcelona/Lyon -- Barca was in a spot of trouble until Thierry Henry snatched the vital away goal in the 67th minute in France. Barca was struggling, going over a month without a win in any competition until getting back on track in La Liga this weekend.
Again, Barca should win, but it won't be easy.
It's funny that Barca were the easy favorites during the competition break, but now seem to have lost at little of their luster. Still, with all the talent on its roster can you count the Blaugrana out?
Porto/Atletico -- I erroneously mentioned this one on Monday. It should be a fun game and for some reason after watching Villareal today I like Atletico's chances.
Manchester United/Inter Milan -- Jose Mourninho is playing mind games, which means he's probably worried about the Serie A leaders chances. Inter have defensive injuries and if not for Julio Cesar in the first leg would be going to Old Trafford in a major hole.
The Red Devils are on a goal-scoring binge as of late and Fergie should have a full compliment of options at his disposal. Even with that said, I think United gets through 1-0 and like everyone else is going to have to work hard for it.
The big x-factor is Zlatan Ibrahimovic. If the big Swede can show up and Inter can play him the ball, Inter will have a chance, and the sky is blue too. I know.
For some reason I think this could end 1-1, with United going out on away goals. Inter knows what's going on and Mourinho isn't going to let them lie down. This is going to be so tight and since United couldn't score in the first half at the San Siro two weeks ago, they'll have to come out and play which could leave space for Inter on the counter.
In short, an awesome, must-watch game.
Anwyays, a modified geometry proof. (Well an attempt.)
Liverpool > Real Madrid.
Liverpool = Middlesbrough, Stoke City, etc.
Proove Middlesbrough > Real Madrid.
That was an absolute shit-stomping by the boys in red at Anfield. The 4-0 scoreline probably flattered Real Madrid, which could have been a lot worse if not for Iker Casillas.
Usually I'll take the cynical approach with Rafa's men, but there's no denying they were awesome Tuesday. Or as Spicolli might say, "Awesome, totally awesome."
Why the Reds can't replicate this performances in the week-in, week-out grind of the Premier League is a mystery on par with the four-toed statue on 'Lost.' Must be that night time air, right?
The midfield completely choked anything Real tried to attempt. The attacking passing was precise and perfect. And of course, Gerrard and Torres did their thing.
What more could you ask for?
Well, on the flip side...God, please prevent us from Liverpool/Chelsea Round 47.
Actually, maybe give us that match. After Chelsea won a thrilling two-leg affair with Juventus, perhaps the only team that can derail the Blue Machine is Liverpool. I wasn't buying the Chelsea/Hiddink hype, but I may finally -- sadly -- have to submit to it.
Chelsea is coming.
Damn it.
Due to the entanglement of international rights, this is impossible, but after Liverpool went ahead 3-0 Tuesday, it would have been nice for ESPN to have been able to switch like CBS during the NCAA tournament to a different game. While Villareal and Panathinaikos aren't the marquee names, that was certainly the more lively affair Tuesday...unless you want to hear the Kop sing Jay Spearing's name.
Oh well, a pipe dream. At least we got Adrian Healy instead of the beyond stogdy Derek Rae and clueless Tommy Smyth. Claudio Reyna in the postgame studio...pass.
Wait...rant coming...again ESPN and it's staff in Bristol has no clue. NO CLUE! They tease 'Sportscenter' during the postgame to feature "UEFA Cup highlights" not just that, the anchor (Jay Harris) says the same thing. How can you not even write on the teleprompter properly?
I know it's too much to ask for the Worldwide to superimpose the aggregate score during Champions League game -- yeah, that would be too hard for the American brain to comprehend. It's not too much to ask to get the name of the god damned competition correct.
Please Lord, keep the Premier League rights out of the hands of the Worldwide Leader. Why even own the rights? Why not bring back Dave O'Brien and Marcelo Balboa.
Clueless. Clueless. Cluess.
As my friend Mike Suppe texted me, "Would anyone notice if they confused the NIT championship with the NCAA title game?"
Amen.
Rant over. (Ok, an unrelated ESPN note, is Dwayne Wade hitting a buzzer beater in a midseason NBA game really that big of a deal? Christ, you would have thought that shot ended WWII or cured cancer judging by the amount of times the network aired it in the last 12 hours. Egads.)
As I write this I haven't seen the Chelsea highlights. Apparently there was another goal-line controversy, that was rectified since Chelsea scored quickly afterward.
Watching the replay, in real time it was impossible to tell if Drogba's freekick was in since Buffon acted so quickly. It was weird place for a shot to go in, nestling on the inside of the post. It probably did go over, but it was nearly impossible to tell in real time, so it's hard to fault the refs.
Michael Essien scored two minutes later, out-running two Juventus defenders to Frank Lampard's rebound off the cross bar, so Chelsea didn't have to complain too much.
FIFA or UEFA need to figure something out. Sooner or later a high-profile game will be decided by a bad goal line call. In this day and age how hard would a chip and sensor system be for the most important games? Or a quick video review. There is already a fourth-official on the sideline. A quick call to him from somewhere inside the stadium would save some possible embarrassment.
Again like ESPN getting the name of the Champions League correct, it's not that hard, but FIFA/UEFA have never been the most progressive or forward thinking.
Moving on.
I was wrong about Panathinaikos (hardest name to spell in the world) beating Villareal and playing Chelsea in the next round, so I guess that's a good thing. Chelsea will probably get Villareal now, and just roll them in the quarterfinals.
Amazingly, Bayern somehow improved on it's 5-0 first leg win against Sporting, winning 7-1 in Munich.
Somewhere Landon Donovan shed a single tear.
Wednesday's games
Arsenal/Roma -- Aresnal is up 1-0 after the first leg, and most think this will be a stroll in the Stadio Olimpico...except for the would-be travelling Gunners fans. Arsenal might get Theo Walcott back, too.
For some reason this might be a tough game for Arsenal, even with Danielle De Rossi suspended.
Do I have the guts to pick Roma, no? But it Arsenal will have to work.
This Arsenal team still isn't that good, so watch your back Gunners.
Barcelona/Lyon -- Barca was in a spot of trouble until Thierry Henry snatched the vital away goal in the 67th minute in France. Barca was struggling, going over a month without a win in any competition until getting back on track in La Liga this weekend.
Again, Barca should win, but it won't be easy.
It's funny that Barca were the easy favorites during the competition break, but now seem to have lost at little of their luster. Still, with all the talent on its roster can you count the Blaugrana out?
Porto/Atletico -- I erroneously mentioned this one on Monday. It should be a fun game and for some reason after watching Villareal today I like Atletico's chances.
Manchester United/Inter Milan -- Jose Mourninho is playing mind games, which means he's probably worried about the Serie A leaders chances. Inter have defensive injuries and if not for Julio Cesar in the first leg would be going to Old Trafford in a major hole.
The Red Devils are on a goal-scoring binge as of late and Fergie should have a full compliment of options at his disposal. Even with that said, I think United gets through 1-0 and like everyone else is going to have to work hard for it.
The big x-factor is Zlatan Ibrahimovic. If the big Swede can show up and Inter can play him the ball, Inter will have a chance, and the sky is blue too. I know.
For some reason I think this could end 1-1, with United going out on away goals. Inter knows what's going on and Mourinho isn't going to let them lie down. This is going to be so tight and since United couldn't score in the first half at the San Siro two weeks ago, they'll have to come out and play which could leave space for Inter on the counter.
In short, an awesome, must-watch game.
Labels: champions league, Chelsea, ESPN sucks, Liverpool, Soccer
Am I the only one who thought the ref in the Liverpool game was terrible? Regardless of whether Pepe seemed to be going down I don't see how a striker grabbing the defender's shoulder and pulling him down isn't a foul. Additionally, that handball call was brutal and compounded by the stupid card he gave Heinze. There were a number of other dicey cards (I can't remember them off the top of my head since my brain is fried from studying for my Torts final).
Regardless, Liverpool was dominant from start to finish and props to them. I have to say I think that the decision not to start Gutà was strange and it was even stranger to not bring him on in the second half since Real was clearly missing a creative fulcrum.
Am I the only one who thought the ref in the Liverpool game was terrible? Regardless of whether Pepe seemed to be going down I don't see how a striker grabbing the defender's shoulder and pulling him down isn't a foul. Additionally, that handball call was brutal and compounded by the stupid card he gave Heinze. There were a number of other dicey cards (I can't remember them off the top of my head since my brain is fried from studying for my Torts final).
Regardless, Liverpool was dominant from start to finish and props to them. I have to say I think that the decision not to start Gutà was strange and it was even stranger to not bring him on in the second half since Real was clearly missing a creative fulcrum.
The Chelsea Juve game was the more exciting game although Liverpool was the strongest performance.
I had not seen or heard about Geovinco (5ft 3 120lbs) but when he came in I had a smile on my face the rest of the game. There is no way he can be a 90 min player at the international level but I'd be willing to guess he could be the best sub in the world for Italy by 2010.
His touch is actually better than Kaka, Torres, or Messi only because it has to be. While Messi can run through the defender or Torres past the defender, Geovinco has to stay away from defender with great touch.
Looking foward to seeing Luca Toni and Geovinco celebrating a goal in the future.
Ugh, another year with 4 English teams in the final 8. Boring! We're pretty much guaranteed a 3 team English semis and the only team who looks capable of stopping an all england final is Barca. Time to pray for some upsets :/. Go Bayern!