- 10:42 AM
- 11/17/24
Looks like England are doing their best to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Hold on there!
posted by BigCalm at 06:35 AM on September 12, 2005
Mm, bad light, and the Aussies took it. Unusual decision that one, given that they need to win it. 112-0 isn't bad I suppose, but they're going to have to score lots of runs quickly tomorrow and put England back in.
posted by BigCalm at 09:42 AM on September 09, 2005
Yeah, but their run rate is very slow. Is it too early to start praying for rain?
posted by BigCalm at 08:52 AM on September 09, 2005
One thing I can never understand is how if you lose one game everyone goes batty and starts calling for Sven's head It's just the English disease, we beat someone we'll be world champions next year, we lose to someone, we're the worst in the world and the manager should be sacked. It's just the way we are. But he should be sacked. 5 million quid for watching football every weekend, picking whoever The Sun (or Mr. Beckham) tells you to pick and then getting a mate (Steve McLaren) to do the team talk at half time. Er, can I have that job please? Good on the Irish, we deserved a thumping for that performance.
posted by BigCalm at 08:44 AM on September 08, 2005
Don't forget the second goal scored in that match. Now that surely was influenced by god.
posted by BigCalm at 09:05 AM on August 23, 2005
I think he's not a bad buy for us. We shall just have to wait and see.
posted by BigCalm at 04:05 AM on August 23, 2005
but he has - liverpool /runs off and hides
posted by BigCalm at 06:49 PM on August 19, 2005
off topic, but it looks like motorsport is the most watched sport, football (with the feet guys, not the helmets) is the most played with table tennis (!) behind that.
posted by BigCalm at 09:30 AM on August 19, 2005
was trying to find some numbers to dispute the fact the "Leave the #1 team sport in the world out of your mouths" statement (it's not even the #1 sport in the US, let alone the world where it's barely played), and I found, ladies and gentlemen, that we're linked off The wikipedia entry for sport. Go us!
posted by BigCalm at 09:28 AM on August 19, 2005
Yes, good article, what fun is there in a three horse race if you're supporting horse number 14? The relegation dogfights are far more interesting than the top-spot nowadays. I'm with squealy on this, I go down to Solihull Borough more often than the Villa now, sure, they're crap (bottom out of 24 teams last season, hoping for any kind of improvement this season), but it's a fiver to get in AND there's a bacon-butty van at the side of the pitch.
posted by BigCalm at 07:43 AM on August 19, 2005
...So the fielders don't have positions ... on the contrary, they have quite a bewildering number of names for every possible fielding position on the cricket pitch examples: silly mid-off, long-off, square-leg, fine gully, point, and a whole host of others that confuse anyone who isn't versed in cricket-lore.
posted by BigCalm at 05:57 PM on August 16, 2005
that's it bill. normally when a test fails to finish in time, it's normally due to rain, or obstructive batting practises, or both.
posted by BigCalm at 06:50 PM on August 09, 2005
Beat me to it! (except I was going to post something snarky about Celtic at the same time, hehee). I read the article at the Guardian and thought this is good, and nearly double posted it here. I'm a bit of a Solihull Borough fan (as well as the Villa of course) and they managed to finish bottom last season. I can totally sympathise with East Stirlingshire's plight - Solihull get about the same number of fans as them. And they tend to be just as sarcastic. I've been to home games where the away support has outnumbered the home fans too.
posted by BigCalm at 03:21 AM on July 28, 2005
I was pretty uninformed before the Tour, believing team Disco was weaker than previous years. They were pretty weak this year (at least compared with past years), but Lance was as strong as ever. There were several mountain stages where Lance was left for most of the stage without a domestique to power him up the mountains, but he still managed it. Guardian has a list of the next generation who may challenge, and an interview-like thing with Eddy Merckx talking about Armstrong. Squealy - it's on ITV2, and Eurosport. Just get yourself a digital-set top box for fifty quid next year.
posted by BigCalm at 08:34 AM on July 25, 2005
In a way, I'm glad to see him go. I want to see a more open competition where there is no out-and-out favourite. Next year's tour will be great! I can't see Basso doing it - he seems at his physical peak now and I he's too slight to really challenge next year. Ullrich is getting a little old, and though he is one of the best atheletes on the tour, that extra 10kg of muscles really hurts his chances in the mountains. I think we could be looking at an outsider for next year - maybe Rasmussen, but he'll have to train harder, and get his time trialling a lot better. Maybe Vinokourov, he certainly has the aggression to win it, he just needs to improve his mountain climbing, maybe that promising Ukranian who had to pull out half way through (I forget his name, apologies). Perhaps even a complete outsider like Axel Merckx might come through and challenge.
posted by BigCalm at 06:24 AM on July 25, 2005
I imagine the original decision was something like this... Inter Milan chairman: "We agreed to play who??? I thought you said Newcastle and Liverpool, not Norwich and Leicester! Is there any way we can get out of it?"
posted by BigCalm at 03:09 AM on July 25, 2005
Well, I doubted him, I admit it. Winning 6 I thought was impossible, winning 7 I thought was beyond human capabilites, but he's proved me wrong again. Considering the Tour de France is probably the most gruelling sporting event on the planet (random fact: each rider burns up to 9000 calories during a mountain stage), it's quite unbelievable that someone has won it 7 times. I'm amazed, and I'm sure it won't happen again in my lifetime. I've really enjoyed watching this tour, it's a shame they didn't go up Col du Tourmalet, but Ax de trois-domains was a great alternative. My hat is off to one of the greatest cyclists of all time, the only one I think could even stand next to him is Eddy Meckx. Can we stop the French hate-mongering here? The French don't hate Lance, why do you insist on hating the French?
posted by BigCalm at 03:06 AM on July 25, 2005
Could be worse, could be worse.
posted by BigCalm at 05:50 AM on July 22, 2005
Armstrong has been magnificent during this tour. But I won't be sad to see him go, I think it'll be a lot more interesting when you have more of a competition - Ullrich v Basso for example.
posted by BigCalm at 04:40 AM on July 22, 2005
We're winning? What's going on? 97 for 5 at lunchtime? I'm taking cover, England beating Australia must be surely a sign of the apocalypse.
posted by BigCalm at 06:49 AM on July 21, 2005
The alternative has England 4th and USA 12th, which is a bit more like it if you ask me. (Czechs are extremely good, and yes they deserve that placing in both systems).
posted by BigCalm at 01:42 PM on July 20, 2005
Cricket is very simple really: You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that's in the side that's in goes out, and when he's out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out. When they are all out, the side that's out comes in and the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in, out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out. When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out, and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in. There are two men called umpires who stay out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out. When both sides have been in and all the men have been out, and both sides have been out twice after all the men have been in, including those who are not out, that is the end of the game.
posted by BigCalm at 01:36 PM on July 20, 2005
7 million pounds for Rodney Trotter? Yeah, that Rafa Benitez, he's oh so sharp.
posted by BigCalm at 09:11 AM on July 20, 2005
Yeah, it's so good it deserved two consecutive postings, LMAO.
posted by BigCalm at 09:09 AM on July 20, 2005
I thought the ashes of the stumps signified the death of English Cricket. Smirk. Oh well, even when the Aussies 'win' the ashes, they're still kept at Lords. I'm not much of a cricket fan, but this should be good to watch, mainly because it's going to be a pretty even contest this time, rather than the Aussies flattening us like they do normally.
posted by BigCalm at 09:05 AM on July 20, 2005
Ah yes, if you missed this article when it was first posted, I can highly recommend it.
posted by BigCalm at 10:49 AM on July 05, 2005
IMHO Richard Kraijceck was the best ever tennis player I've ever seen on grass - Out of 8 wimbledons, Sampras won 7 - who won the other one in the middle of Sampras' streak? Richard Kraijcek, who flattened Sampras that year. However, Kraijcek was the Stan Collymore of Tennis - supremely talented, but could never get his head together, except for that one year when he was just outstanding.
posted by BigCalm at 10:31 AM on July 05, 2005
Is it just me or do you think the agent is blowing hot air in order to earn himself a fee? I don't think the transfer will happen personally, it's not as if Liverpool have oodles of decent players to replace Stevie G with.
posted by BigCalm at 10:27 AM on July 05, 2005
He's just so much better than everyone else, that's the worrying thing. Good match, if a little one-sided!
posted by BigCalm at 05:43 AM on July 04, 2005
A great match - they were both hitting the ball incredibly hard.
posted by BigCalm at 05:30 AM on July 01, 2005
Hold on there, I'm not understanding you, 'England beat Australia'? But, but, that doesn't happen!?! Wow, I might watch the ashes this year. You mean we could be in with a chance? No way.
posted by BigCalm at 11:06 AM on June 14, 2005
A great article, cheers JJ. Looking forward to wimbledon!!!!
posted by BigCalm at 05:23 AM on June 10, 2005
4 leagues, on top of each other Premiership: 3 relegated Championship: 2 auto-promoted, 1 playoffs, 4 relegated. League 1: 3 auto-promoted, 1 playoff, 4 relegated. League 2: 3 auto-promoted, 1 playoff, 2 relegated. Below: conference - supposedly 'amateur' league. Below this, have a look at The Pyramid. We've just gone through a painful renaming scheme, which has just confused everyone - when ever anyone says 'Division 1' you have to clarify whether they mean the top league, the second league, or the third league, because of pointless and confusing name changes over the last 15 years. It'd be simpler to just rename them after say, teletubbies than the system we've got at the moment. The rules on European qualification however, require degrees in advanced mathematics to understand however.
posted by BigCalm at 09:58 AM on June 01, 2005
1. True, you don't hear them harping on about Sunderland being back, despite Sunderland having a bigger fan base and stadium than the Hammers, oh, and being a better side. But that's a problem with the (London) media, rather than the Hammer's themselves. 2. I totally agree with you. I was stunned when listening to 606 that West Ham fans wanted to sack the man that got them promoted. That's pure arrogance. But that still doesn't make me hate them. Milton Keynes Dons, now, there's a team that makes my blood boil. And Man United fans who couldn't tell you who was the manager before Ferguson, and ...hmm...think I'll stop here, before I offend everyone!
posted by BigCalm at 07:31 AM on June 01, 2005
I'm just curious as to why squealy has so much animosity towards West Ham. Sure, they've got a bunch of hooligans (but, let's face it, there are much worse clubs for it). Maybe it's just the (glorious) claret and blue they play in. heh.
posted by BigCalm at 03:24 AM on June 01, 2005
I think there's 99.5% chance that Liverpool won't be allowed to defend their 'title'. Liverpool will not be in next season's champions league. The two other cups you just mentioned are meaningless. On Preview: Bah, even though I hate Manchester Soccerballs Buccaneers, they deserved to win the FA Cup.
posted by BigCalm at 05:53 PM on May 25, 2005
I doff my cap in the direction of Liverpool this evening, it gives the rest of us hope.
posted by BigCalm at 04:53 PM on May 25, 2005
And now I realise it's a double post. Someone please post a dancing banana and delete the thread. Sheesh.
posted by BigCalm at 07:45 AM on May 19, 2005
He then failed a field sobriety test registering .22, nearly three times the legal limit for alcohol. If this had happened in the UK, he'd probably be jailed. Just saying.
posted by BigCalm at 06:45 AM on May 19, 2005
Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool.... Let me guess, the second best colour was bright blue.
posted by BigCalm at 02:57 AM on May 19, 2005
The Bluenose vice-like grip on this league shall come to an end sooner or later. But it won't be me that wins the league.
posted by BigCalm at 07:26 AM on May 17, 2005
I'll offer to buy the trophy, just give me an address to send it to. The only condition is that you have to buy the next one, or send it on!
posted by BigCalm at 03:07 AM on May 17, 2005
| # | Team | Manager | Gam | Tot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ardley Athletic | Squealy Neily | 45 | 2045 |
| 2 | Sauril's Wideboys | Mark D | 40 | 1994 |
| 3 | BillSaysThisSCORES!! | Bill Lazar | 59 | 1978 |
| 4 | Deadly Calm | Big Calm | 38 | 1974 |
| 5 | RED DRAGONS! | worldcup 2002 | 46 | 1968 |
| 6 | Crap City United | g s p m | 28 | 1960 |
| 7 | the pistolwhippets | Ufez Jones | 40 | 1939 |
| 8 | kwacky's kwitters | mr kwacky | 36 | 1909 |
| 9 | Cutters Redux | mbd1 mbd1 | 50 | 1873 |
| 10 | Cream of Chicken | Ian Townsend | 45 | 1865 |
| 11 | Salmacis FC | Huw Morris | 40 | 1850 |
| 12 | 40,000 Headmen | Fat Buddha | 38 | 1810 |
| 13 | FC Murcielago | skronk _ | 24 | 1801 |
| 14 | phatcat footie | garfield on catnip | 33 | 1797 |
| 15 | ATL Untitled | Tim Truxell | 28 | 1768 |
| 16 | Spacemen United | Jason Wilder | 42 | 1739 |
| 17 | Bayern Mucus | Danny the Taupe | 37 | 1737 |
| 18 | Arsenal's Back Four | Pete W | 18 | 1729 |
| 19 | sporting lisbian | john o'neill | 26 | 1668 |
| 20 | Blammos! | Star Unsuitable | 33 | 1656 |
| 21 | Terrapin Utd | R Scully | 14 | 1554 |
| 22 | born to lose | J B | 21 | 1540 |
| 23 | Bosiak Bashers | etrader 9 | 29 | 1530 |
| 24 | Mossy Unathletic | Me Mossy | 17 | 1478 |
| 25 | Slow And Foamy | J Warwick | 31 | 1474 |
| 26 | Cool Springs United | John Hill | 50 | 1387 |
| 27 | last again | eckeric eckeric | 6 | 1306 |
| 28 | Napsacks | lil nemo | 19 | 1103 |
posted by BigCalm at 03:23 AM on May 16, 2005
I'm in Amsterdam again Wednesday - Friday. I'll post the table on friday evening if no-one steps up to the plate.
posted by BigCalm at 02:29 PM on May 10, 2005
My money's on squealy. What does the winner get as a prize?
posted by BigCalm at 05:11 PM on May 09, 2005
Excuse my ignorance - I always thought that football (sorry, soccer, whatever) was a minority game among the Aussies? I thought rugby, cricket and aussie rules held sway over there? Mmm, maybe it just seems like Leeds United signs all your best players.
posted by BigCalm at 05:08 PM on May 09, 2005
I'm embarrased to say I've only read three books on the list (1,9,45). Great link, thanks FB.
posted by BigCalm at 05:04 PM on May 09, 2005
| # | Team | Manager | Gam | Tot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ardley Athletic | Squealy Neily | 53 | 1913 |
| 2 | Sauril's Wideboys | Mark D | 68 | 1900 |
| 3 | BillSaysThisSCORES!! | Bill Lazar | 61 | 1875 |
| 4 | Crap City United | g s p m | 60 | 1867 |
| 5 | RED DRAGONS! | worldcup 2002 | 49 | 1853 |
| 6 | Deadly Calm | Big Calm | 57 | 1852 |
| 7 | the pistolwhippets | Ufez Jones | 62 | 1840 |
| 8 | kwacky's kwitters | mr kwacky | 69 | 1813 |
| 9 | Cutters Redux | mbd1 mbd1 | 50 | 1770 |
| 10 | Cream of Chicken | Ian Townsend | 61 | 1762 |
| 11 | Salmacis FC | Huw Morris | 39 | 1752 |
| 12 | 40,000 Headmen | Fat Buddha | 71 | 1717 |
| 13 | phatcat footie | garfield on catnip | 55 | 1696 |
| 14 | ATL Untitled | Tim Truxell | 47 | 1689 |
| 15 | FC Murcielago | skronk _ | 29 | 1687 |
| 16 | Arsenal's Back Four | Pete W | 31 | 1673 |
| 17 | Spacemen United | Jason Wilder | 41 | 1655 |
| 18 | Bayern Mucus | Danny the Taupe | 61 | 1647 |
| 19 | sporting lisbian | john o'neill | 19 | 1606 |
| 20 | Blammos! | Star Unsuitable | 54 | 1572 |
| 21 | Terrapin Utd | R Scully | 27 | 1520 |
| 22 | born to lose | J B | 34 | 1487 |
| 23 | Bosiak Bashers | etrader 9 | 41 | 1471 |
| 24 | Mossy Unathletic | Me Mossy | 45 | 1406 |
| 25 | Slow And Foamy | J Warwick | 65 | 1379 |
| 26 | Cool Springs United | John Hill | 23 | 1289 |
| 27 | last again | eckeric eckeric | 24 | 1253 |
| 28 | Napsacks | lil nemo | 7 | 1047 |
posted by BigCalm at 02:58 AM on May 05, 2005
England currently get 4 spots for Champions league qualification but this does not change if an English team win the competition. If Liverpool win the Champions league, The English FA will then have to decide whether Liverpool or Everton get the place for the Champions League. Also, the last time there was a new pope, Liverpool won the European Cup (wasn't called the champions league then). more here. So, going purely on destiny (certainly not on form or ability), Liverpool are going to win the Champions League.
posted by BigCalm at 04:37 AM on April 28, 2005
| # | Team | Manager | Gam | Tot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ardley Athletic | Squealy Neily | 57 | 1860 |
| 2 | Sauril's Wideboys | Mark D | 42 | 1836 |
| 3 | BillSaysThisSCORES!! | Bill Lazar | 44 | 1818 |
| 4 | Crap City United | g s p m | 49 | 1811 |
| 5 | RED DRAGONS! | worldcup 2002 | 65 | 1804 |
| 6 | Deadly Calm | Big Calm | 51 | 1795 |
| 7 | the pistolwhippets | Ufez Jones | 57 | 1778 |
| 8 | kwacky's kwitters | mr kwacky | 52 | 1744 |
| 9 | Cutters Redux | mbd1 mbd1 | 57 | 1720 |
| 10 | Salmacis FC | Huw Morris | 51 | 1713 |
| 11 | Cream of Chicken | Ian Townsend | 58 | 1701 |
| 12 | FC Murcielago | skronk _ | 66 | 1658 |
| 13 | 40,000 Headmen | Fat Buddha | 39 | 1646 |
| 14 | phatcat footie | garfield on catnip | 57 | 1645 |
| 15 | Arsenal's Back Four | Pete W | 33 | 1642 |
| 16 | ATL Untitled | Tim Truxell | 51 | 1642 |
| 17 | Spacemen United | Jason Wilder | 36 | 1614 |
| 18 | sporting lisbian | john o'neill | 42 | 1587 |
| 19 | Bayern Mucus | Danny the Taupe | 45 | 1586 |
| 20 | Blammos! | Star Unsuitable | 50 | 1522 |
| 21 | Terrapin Utd | R Scully | 32 | 1493 |
| 22 | born to lose | J B | 41 | 1453 |
| 23 | Bosiak Bashers | etrader 9 | 32 | 1430 |
| 24 | Mossy Unathletic | Me Mossy | 57 | 1361 |
| 25 | Slow And Foamy | J Warwick | 35 | 1314 |
| 26 | Cool Springs United | John Hill | 53 | 1266 |
| 27 | last again | eckeric eckeric | 28 | 1229 |
| 28 | Napsacks | lil nemo | 14 | 1040 |
posted by BigCalm at 04:14 AM on April 28, 2005
Compare them to Aston Villa, who never look like challenging the big teams, yet at the same time they never look like getting relegated. They just stagnate in the middle of the table, playing for draws. Every. Single. Year. Darn, I so hate it when you're right. Arse.
posted by BigCalm at 09:45 AM on April 27, 2005
If only the top of the table were as interesting. Frankly, I sometimes wish the Villa were a 1st division (sorry, 'Championship') club, at least it's interesting all the way through the season there. My take on it: It's way too close to call! I'd say the Baggies and Southampton look doomed, with either Norwich or Palace fighting for the survival spot, but really, I've got no idea. 2 weeks ago, I'd have probably said the opposite, with Norwich looking a dead cert to go down and the Baggies with the best chance of staying up. Compare them with teams like Blackburn, Newcastle, Aston Villa who are all hopeless mid-table wannabes that play ugly football. I think you missed the most obvious candidate - Bolton.
posted by BigCalm at 09:05 AM on April 27, 2005
Makelele: He won't amaze you with his flair, or passing ability, or leadership. But, (I think I'm quoting Mark Lawrenson here, sorry) he's probably the most disciplined defensive midfielder in the world. Yes, he does the simple things so well, always covers, always in the right place at the right time. Even Mourinho wants to make him Chelsea's player of the season, despite Lampard and Terry grabbing the headlines. Look at Chelsea when he's not involved and they concede far more goals, and score less (e.g. Birmingham about 3 weeks ago). Oh and his record speaks for itself in his absence - what have Real Madrid won, despite their millions and galacticos, since he left?
posted by BigCalm at 09:38 AM on April 21, 2005
The relegation dog-fight is hotting up nicely now, with Norwich, Palace, Southampton and the Baggies all within 2 points of each other, it's a real scrap down there to stay in the premiership. Congratulations to Chelsea, who've surely won the league now. Claude Makelele is a genius.
posted by BigCalm at 03:45 AM on April 21, 2005
| # | Team | Manager | Gam | Tot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ardley Athletic | Squealy Neily | 41 | 1807 |
| 2 | Sauril's Wideboys | Mark D | 51 | 1802 |
| 3 | BillSaysThisSCORES!! | Bill Lazar | 41 | 1774 |
| 4 | Crap City United | g s p m | 46 | 1762 |
| 5 | Deadly Calm | Big Calm | 59 | 1752 |
| 6 | RED DRAGONS! | worldcup 2002 | 46 | 1739 |
| 7 | the pistolwhippets | Ufez Jones | 44 | 1721 |
| 8 | kwacky's kwitters | mr kwacky | 59 | 1692 |
| 9 | Cutters Redux | mbd1 mbd1 | 36 | 1663 |
| 10 | Salmacis FC | Huw Morris | 35 | 1662 |
| 11 | Cream of Chicken | Ian Townsend | 45 | 1643 |
| 12 | Arsenal's Back Four | Pete W | 34 | 1609 |
| 13 | 40,000 Headmen | Fat Buddha | 42 | 1607 |
| 14 | phatcat footie | garfield on catnip | 48 | 1596 |
| 15 | FC Murcielago | skronk _ | 50 | 1592 |
| 16 | ATL Untitled | Tim Truxell | 27 | 1591 |
| 17 | Spacemen United | Jason Wilder | 40 | 1578 |
| 18 | sporting lisbian | john o'neill | 35 | 1545 |
| 19 | Bayern Mucus | Danny the Taupe | 46 | 1541 |
| 20 | Blammos! | Star Unsuitable | 32 | 1472 |
| 21 | Terrapin Utd | R Scully | 23 | 1461 |
| 22 | born to lose | J B | 35 | 1412 |
| 23 | Bosiak Bashers | etrader 9 | 46 | 1398 |
| 24 | Mossy Unathletic | Me Mossy | 36 | 1304 |
| 25 | Slow And Foamy | J Warwick | 35 | 1279 |
| 26 | Cool Springs United | John Hill | 50 | 1213 |
| 27 | last again | eckeric eckeric | 17 | 1201 |
| 28 | Napsacks | lil nemo | 23 | 1026 |
posted by BigCalm at 03:23 AM on April 21, 2005
I'm so glad it's a Man U Arsenal final. But only because there's now an extra spot in the premiership for a UEFA cup place, not that my team are going to get it.
posted by BigCalm at 09:19 AM on April 19, 2005
I really can't see Armstrong winning again this year anyway. But then, I said that last year. Who says it's a niche sport? It's officially the largest spectator event in the world.
posted by BigCalm at 03:25 AM on April 19, 2005
EPL Fantasy Premier League
Hello, long time since I checked in. I'm not doing very well am I? Perhaps I'll change my team for next season eh? I'm still beating Starfucker even though I haven't looked at my team in months. Oh and squelchy's winning again?!? Well, blues fans need something to cheer them up at the moment i guess :-p