The Curious Case of Wayne Rooney -

Posted on August 7, 2013 by sammies

It’s no secret that Wayne Rooney may have outstayed his welcome at Old Trafford. With the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson and the arrival of David Moyes, a transfer of Wayne Rooney might be just the stamp the new administration requires to make their mark. However, while a transfer would be important, it also will not be done without thought.

Chelsea offered 30 Million GBP for Rooney which was rejected by Manchester United. So Manchester United is more than satisfied to keep Rooney as a spot player on their squad rather than giving him up at a profit (they brought him over from Everton for over 25 million GBP in 2004). But what is 5 million GBP to one of the world’s wealthiest sports properties?

But could Rooney be one of the tipping points in the balance of power for the English Premier League? Well, of course, Arsene Wenger has an opinion. But what is mine? His time at Man Utd. is done. And his time was positive for both club and player. His name still carries weight in England so to have him play spot time is a waste. And to have him play outside a top 6 club certainly will not suit him.

So here are the players:
Liverpool – He has Everton roots so this would be considerably worse than him having gone to United
Chelsea – A decent chance of this happening. Man Utd understands that they have displayed deep pockets and probably will not let this go for less than 40 Million GBP which I think even Abromovich understands is ubsurd.
Arsenal – I still am in disbelief that they would offer 40 Million GBP for Suarez (Liverpool appears to have shied away from this deal as they are concerned that it puts Arsenal ahead of them in the chase for a Champions League spot. Rooney does not have the upside that a Suarez could have for comparable money so I cannot see Wenger losing his mind twice in one transfer window.
Manchester City – For the uninitiated, could you picture the Yankees trading Derek Jeter to the Red Sox?
Spurs – This is my best guesstimate as to where Rooney will end up. If Spurs gets even half the discussed transfer fee for Gareth Bale, then this is a done deal.

Posted in Arsenal, Association Football, EPL, Soccer | 1 Comment

MLS to add 4 Teams by 2020

Posted on August 1, 2013 by sammies

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber announced last night the intention of MLS to add 4 additional expansion teams by 2020. With the arrival of NYCFC (co-owned by the New York Yankees and Manchester City) the total number of teams would be 24 in the league. That would make it the largest top-flight association football league in the world.

Is this a good thing? The interesting thing about association football more so than baseball, gridiron, hockey, or basketball is that the talent pool is truly global. And in a league that is looking to increase the overall play on the field in an organic manner, there certainly is no shortage of players available. While salaries are not comparable to the top leagues in Europe and Asia, they are certainly higher than many of the leagues in other parts of the world. Now, MLS has restrictions on the number of international players on each roster, however with more teams, that opens more roster spots that US players (many of which are going to Europe at the top flight) cannot fill with much competency.

The main thing we have to realize is that this is not the EPL. This is not La Liga. And no one is playing calcio. The MLS model is unique and offers a different format that is not only more palatable to the American audience but also allows for it to exist in a conservative economic model given the large amount of travel required to play a schedule from coast to coast.

My opinion? If done correctly (placed in the correct markets where natural rivalries can emerge) this is a great thing. There is a lot of talk in Miami. The league has failed there before. The Dolphins, Marlins and Panthers have quite a bit of trouble drawing. Miami is not the answer. The great expansion that has been done recently is along the model of building teams out of lower level franchises with a raucous following. The excitement is already there to build off of. There is no excitement in Miami. There is no natural rival in Miami. Miami does not make sense. Please, no Miami.

What about NYCFC? Well, you have a killer built in rival with the Red Bulls. And there is already several sets of fans waiting for the arrival of this team (and have been for years). Tie in the Yankees and Manchester City and you have something to build off of. A proper stadium in an accessible area within the borders of NYC, and you have a winner. The loser will be the Red Bulls at first. But I feel the construction of a dirty derby will help the Red Bulls in the long run by bringing interest that has not previously existed.

Well done, Don Garber. Now that is something I never thought I’d say.

More here from ESPN.

P.S. – MLS in Hartford!

Posted in Association Football, MLS, Soccer | Leave a comment

Madden Football 25th Anniversary Team -

Posted on July 31, 2013 by sammies

EA Sports has begun announcing their picks for the 25th Anniversary All-Madden Football team.

All I have to say is they selected Marshall Faulk over Barry Sanders? I mean, if you played Madden 94, you had to select the Lions because Sanders was unstoppable! He is the Madden Football version of Bo Jackson in Tecmo Bowl!

Anyway, check out the list (they reveal one position per day) and yell at the screen along with me.

Posted in NFL, Video Games | Leave a comment

The Benefits of a Stadium in Silicon Valley

Posted on July 31, 2013 by sammies

Apps! Apps! Apps!
All designed to make your visit to (the poorly named) Levi’s Stadium more pleasurable. And by more pleasurable, we mean apps to assist you with finding a bathroom and getting beer. Tis a truly enlightened age we live in.

More on Levi’s Stadium on Si.com.

Question: Is it better than the Ironpigs Urinal Gaming?

Posted in Baseball, Football, Minor League Baseball, NFL | Leave a comment

Can you imagine the game without it?

Posted on July 18, 2013 by sammies

I find myself doing and I bet a lot of others do as well. It’s 3rd and 6 and your team’s wide receiver caught the ball on a screen behind the line and sprinter up to the sticks and stepped out of bounds. And there it is. Fourth and 1. Didn’t he see it? That huge yellow line that is stretching across the screen? Oh. He can’t.

The first down marker has become such a part of televised gridiron that most cannot imagine the game without it. Even fans who had that trained eye that could sense the ten yard mark find that the skill has been dumbed down due to the advent of this television special effect. And it has grown. It will turn red when it’s fourth down. They will put a line in to represent the outside range of a place kicker.

SI has done a piece on it’s berth and place in the game. Check it out here.

Posted in Football, NFL | 1 Comment

The Big Dipper in 1957

Posted on July 15, 2013 by sammies

It could potentially be that I have read/listened to way too much Bill Simmons, but I just always think that Wilt Chamberlain has been overrated as a player. He certainly belongs to be in the discussion for one of the most dominant players ever, but to call him one of the best ever I feel is a bit of a stretch. But that is a discussion for another round.

Let’s talk about this. Footage was released of Wilt Chamberlain playing for the Kansas Jayhawks in 1957. I always enjoy watching footage from previous eras to get a glimpse into how the game has changed and evolved over the years. The footage is clipped to be a Wilt the Stilt highlight reel, however some pretty good stuff overall.

Take a look and judge for yourself:

Posted in Basketball, NBA, NCAA | Leave a comment

The Origin of the Cheap Trick Logo

Posted on July 11, 2013 by sammies

Cheap-Trick-logo

NOTE: This is purely un-sports related. But I feel I would be remiss if I did not include it

It is one of the most iconic logos in the history of rock and roll. And it almost did not happen. Here is more from the horses mouth(s).

Posted in Music, Off Topic | Leave a comment

The Lion and the Football

Posted on July 9, 2013 by sammies

Bob Marley - Lover of Football

Posted in Association Football, Music, Soccer | Leave a comment

How Do You Stop Fans From Swearing?

Posted on July 9, 2013 by sammies

Disorderly fans have been an issue in stadiums the world over for a long time now. And things are no different at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ. Here, fans have had a long standing tradition known as ‘YSA’ which is applied when the goalkeeper from the opposing team sends off a goal kick. Many fans have called this an old and tired practice saying that it has run it’s course and they can certainly put a better foot forward.

As many fans have had enough, Major League Soccer has also been calling for this practice to end for some time feeling that it causes a negative impression to (prospective) sponsors as well as the casual fan. The message has been received by the clubs as well. And New York Red Bull is putting their money where their mouth is by offering a cash incentive to the major supporters clubs in The South Ward of Red Bull Arena for them to not use the ‘YSA’ chant.

Time will tell if this will work for the masses but the leadership of the supporters groups appear to be on board.

Here is more from SI.

Posted in Association Football, MLS, Soccer | Leave a comment

Phil Jackson: At It Again

Posted on July 8, 2013 by sammies

Remember when I talked about Phil Jackson ruining his legacy? Well, it appears he is choosing to not keep his mouth shut again. This time his ranting is taken to the Twitter-sphere with 2 tweets in regards to Dwight Howard leaving the Lakers after one season for Houston.

Jackson states that Howard’s tenure and departure has ‘left a distaste in Lakerland’ and that he wishes him well as an ‘Astro’.

As someone who brings a Zen-like presence to the basketball court and has generally been seen as above such things, Phil Jackson certainly has taken a new tact in retirement.

Here is more from SI.

Posted in Basketball, NBA | Leave a comment