| Top | Blog | Sport |

We’ll never know why a flock of pigeons decided it was a good idea to hang out on a football pitch while San Lorenzo was playing Tigre in a rare three-team playoff for the Argentine Apertura title. We’ll never know what that bird was thinking just before Gaston Aguirre’s clearance kick fatally wounded it — whatever the bird equivalent of “Oh, shit!” is, perhaps. Alas, the end result is that a pigeon is dead, and even those actresses who pose nude for PETA photo shoots aren’t there to mourn it.

My latest post at World Soccer Daily talks about MLS, USL, Dwayne DeRosario and pareidolia. I'm sure those WSD boys appreciate one of their bloggers writing about MLS in the middle of December...

First, I’d like to thank the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for 1.) forgetting how to tackle and last night, and 2.) with the exception of Antonio Bryant, forgetting how to catch a football. That was quite pleasant to watch, and one day, I hope to write about it. (Sportz Assassin offers this recap at FanHaus.)

Second, the gang at World Soccer Daily has let me start blogging on their web site. You can see the early results here. I’m certain this will all end in tears one day, but for now, it’s something to do until I figure out exactly where my blogging future lies…

Keeping Fernando Torres from scoring goals isn’t easy, but Gerrard the dog seems up to the task. Word in the British tabloids is that Steve Bruce will attempt to sign the dog in January to replace Titus Bramble.

And I think this is a good thing, because injuries up front mean the young American striker -- now known as 'El Torito' -- is going to get increased playing time for a Champions League-caliber club. Go get 'em, Jozy!

Someone at The Guardian clearly enjoys turning headline writing into an exercise in short slash fiction. Bravo, sirs.

Here's your complete list of fixtures for the third round -- or, as most people consider it, the first round that MATTERS -- of the FA Cup, courtesy of EPL Talk.

The Guardian's Daniel Taylor interviews Viv Anderson, who, 30 years ago this weekend, became the first black man to play for the England national team. Good reading.

Today’s my birthday, so I’m taking it easy for the rest of the weekend. However, I do have a birthday wish for next year:

One competitive NFL game on Thanksgiving. Just one. Please. That’s all I ask, because I didn’t need all that Turkey to put me to sleep yesterday. The only football worth watching yesterday was the Portsmouth v. AC Milan UEFA Cup match, and that wasn’t even on TV.

Whisky. Tango. Foxtrot.

You know what’s funny about this video featuring Kaká displaying his sublime skills? It looks like it should be an ad for something, yet I don’t see a logo on there anywhere. It’s kind of the opposite of this video, which seems far more staged and, in a way, far less likely.

(Spotted on 101 Great Goals.)

In lieu of actual posting today, I’m just going to direct you to these sites…

The Calgary Stampeders won the Grey Cup yesterday. That’s about all I can tell you about that, as I was too depressed to watch any more football after seeing the Carolina Panthers stink up the join in Atlanta. (Moron that later.)

The Columbus Crew beat the New York Red Bulls, 3-1, to win the double. Click here for video highlights. The Red Bulls still have as many MLS Cups as the Carolina Railhawks. Ha ha.

Canada.com is reporting that the Cleveland City Stars, who won the USL-2 title last season, are moving up to USL-1 in 2009. It’s as if there’s promotion and relegation in American soccer. Who knew?

So with the Seattle Sounders moving to MLS and the Atlanta Silverbacks suspending operations, the Cleveland City Stars and the Austin Aztex will keep USL-1 at 11 teams for the 2009 season.

Let’s compare, shall we? First, the Corinthians v. Avai dust-up in Brazil:

Next, Scotland v. Fiji turns into a boxing match at the Rugby League World Cup:

The difference? For one, the soccer fight dragged on for a little while, and all sorts of side skirmishes broke out, whereas the rugby fight, while clearly fiercer, ended quckly, and nobody came off the bench.

Last spring, U.S. men’s national team boss Bob Bradley was scheduling a simulated “group of death” for his squad. This year, Bradley doesn’t have to worry about that. FIFA’s already done it for him.

Today’s Confederations Cup draw put Italy, Brazil and Egypt in Group B with the U.S.A. Group A? Spain, Iraq, New Zealand and host South Africa. Man, the EURO 2008 champs got off easy. You would think an 8-team tournament would be a little more balanced, but there’s no doubt that Group B is the group of death next summer.

Soccer by Ives is reporting that Montreal has exited the Major League Soccer expansion race. Joey Saputo, co-owner of the USL-1 Montreal Impact, tabled the bid yesterday, citing concerns over getting Saputo Stadium re-financed to get the necessary cash for the expansion bid.

That seems pretty likely. The Canadian dollar, which was equal to the U.S. dollar not too long ago, has been losing a fair amount of value lately, and that affects how much Saputo and George Gillett, the Montreal Canadiens owner who’s having his own financial troubles at Liverpool, will end up spending on the expansion fee.