Nery Castillo is the Chicago Fire DP

Well, no complete surprise. Didn't expect to see Mexico's equivalent to Matt Stairs in the shape of Blanco's 37yo beer gut coming back to MLS. Instead, the Fire decide to pick up 26yo Nery Castillo on loan for the rest of the season from Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Fire are looking to jump start an offense that has been rather anemic (although their D has been pretty bad too). The loan has an option to buy, but unless Castillo really impresses, I don't expect them to do so.

Really, all Chicago tends to do is pick up players with little quality and a big name that appease the home fans (think a lot of Polish and Mexican fans) so this comes as no surprise to anyone.

San Jose v Tottenham Highlights

Well, aside from seeing the new Spurs jersey and the fact that the announcing duo of Twellman and Stone is collectively an idiot, this was a rather boring affair.

Twellman and Stone were pretty bad. How bad? Well, they talked about how Jenas was behind Gerrard in the English squad. Yeah, and so is pretty much everyone else. Jenas can't even crack the starting squad when half the Spurs are injured you idiots. (Funny but vulgar description of Jenas by Spurs fans). And their fawning over Bale seems like they were handed a sheet of who they should talk about prior to the game because every time Bale touched the ball, they talked about how great he was and unique in going forward.

Bob Bradley to Remain USMNT Coach

We're going to make the leap and just say it now. Bob Bradley is your "new" USMNT coach and Martin Jol is your new FFC manager. Not that we're happy about the USSF decision, but we were playing with our magic 8-ball on the toilet this morning and well, "all signs point to yes".

Bob Bradley is rumored soon to be given an extension of his contract by USSF. Currently, no word on the expected duration of the extension, but one assumes that it is through the next WC cycle in Brazil.

The Capello Index

Well, despite it not being posted on The Capello Index, Sky Sports is reporting the Capello grades for the English team at the World Cup. Personally, I'm still kind of freaked out by the fact that it said Emile Heskey was one of their best players. Actually, on second thought, that explains a lot.

Celtic v Man U Highlights

Man U wins 3-1. The lone goal for Celtic is off a penalty kick from Greece's Samaras. Good to know he can score for club, cause he was nothing but junk for country at the World Cup. Berbatov put one away for the Devils will notching two assists as well. Wellbeck and Cleverley also scored for Man U.

Despite the scoreline, Celtic did play a much better second half and were unlucky not to tie it earlier.



Video: SkySportsNewsHD

Ronaldinho Moving to LA Galaxy?

ESPN is currently reporting that the LA Galaxy will be signing Ronaldinho "imminently".

Apparently, the Galaxy are looking to respond to NYRB's signing of Thierry Henry by signing the Brazilian from AC Milan (65 app. 20 goals in 2 seasons with ACM).

So my question is this, why is MLS not giving help to the other teams in the league?

Sure, Chicago had Blanco (who has since turned down an offer at age 37 to return to the Fire and is weighing up options to play 2nd div Mexican ball)* and Seattle got Freddie Ljungberg, but wtf?!

Bocanegra Sold to St. Etienne

Carlos, formerly of the Chicago Fire (MLS), Fulham (EPL), and now Rennes (Ligue 1) has been sold to fellow Ligue 1 team, St. Etienne, for ~$500,000 and some Roqueford cheese. Well, not really the cheese, but definitely the $500K.

Having played 64 matches for Rennes since the 2008 season, it was time for the 31 yo defender to move on as his injury plagued last year at Rennes saw him fall out of the starting lineup on a regular basis.

St. Etienne opens it's regular season away at Paris St. Germaine on August 7th.

Photo: Skysports

Superliga Day Two

An interesting second day of the MLS-vs-Mexico Superliga. Both games were decided by 2-1 scores. First, Houston Dynamo defeated Pachuca 2-1 on two goals by Joseph Ngwenya. San Diego State's own Tally Hall was strong in goal for Houston. The first goal was on a shot by Mike Chabala, deflected off Brian Ching into the path of Ngwenya, who one-timed it past Pachuca's extremely talented Colombian 'keeper Miguel Calero, one of my very favorites in the Mexican League for many years ever since I saw him score on a header on a corner kick to tie a game in the final seconds. "Every goalie's dream" said my club team's 'keeper when I told him about it.

Richmond Kickers Cribs

Yeah, it is that funny. I stumbled upon this on USLlive.com. How baller are the Richmond Kickers? So money that one player shows off his whole family in what appears to be hair gel product, another plays nerf basketball off the front window, and that's just the beginning. Yeah, don't know what's going on there. Enjoy.



Video: USLlive.com

Upcoming Action

THIS WEEKEND:
July 16
Man. United vs. Celtic @ Toronto 7pm EST on ESPN360 and ESPN2

July 17
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Tottenham 4pm EST on ESPN360 and ESPN or try Justin.tv
Charleston Battery vs. Bolton Wanderers @ Black Baud Stadium
Ventura County Fusion vs. Portsmouth 7pm EST

July 18
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Celtic 3pm EST on ESPN360 and ESPN
Club America vs. San Luis @ Cowboy Stadium in Arlington

UPCOMING:

Al-Qaeda Soccer

Yeah, so I'm giving credit to my lovely wife here for showing me this one. It's an article from the first week of this July's Newsweek about how militant jihadists bond over the World Cup. Quite a good, short read.

And it got me thinking, is there really that much to read into a game between 22 men (or women) played in a span of ~90mins?

I mean, if Bin Laden is an Arsenal fan despite credible witnesses to the fact that he actually donned a kit of theirs, why can't we just think that maybe everyone everywhere can put down bombs, guns, and fighting to enjoy a match?

Soccer's Lost Boys

I picked this one up from Vanguard and Current.com in the wake of the South African World Cup. It's a stirring piece about player trafficking in Africa to Europe. Take a bit of time, watch it, think about it, and realize that there is always a "dirty" side to soccer. It's definitely worth your time.



Video: Current.com/Vanguard

More of Kids, Try This At Home

He's back with a brand new invention... alright, seriously, no more Vanilla Ice quotes... Anyways, kids, here's more to keep your game up, snapping ankles on the pitch. Just in time for the weekend pickup game.



Video: Carilho90

What South Africa Really Thinks of Sepp Blatter

The article at right was on the President of South Africa Zuma's site a few days ago (it's since been amended).

What's so funny you ask? Well, apparently in South Africa, Bellend is slang for a d**khead. Awesome.

You know what South Africa? I stand corrected. I don't care about you averaging ~6000 empty seats per game, having a horrible WC ball in the Jabulani, blind refs and being outright thieves to people trying to fly to your country to watch the Cup. After this, you guys are okay in my book.


Photo: Deadspin.com

Emile Heskey Retires from the English National Team

After realizing he wasn't much more than a hack and after repeated chants of "You are nothing but an English Brian Ching..."* from the stands during the England v US match in South Africa, Emile Heskey has chosen to retire from international play.

Despite 62 caps and 7 goals, he was never a real threat up top unless you were an opposing player looking to not break your leg or arm on a late challenge. Just ask Tim Howard or even his own teammate Rio Ferdinand.

His inclusion speaks volumes of the lack of quality up top as a paired striker for England. That or the fact that they somehow think he "practices well". Damn am I tired of hearing that and seeing crap players take the field and not produce, repeatedly.

I would say a fond farewell and we'll miss you to Emile, but I don't think anyone cares that he's gone.

* I made up that chant just now, but for having so many caps due to a lack of credible talent/managers, and constantly under-producing, it is pretty much dead on in my books.

Photo: Skysports.com

Superliga Day One

The MLS vs Mexican League "Superliga" began tonight. Flipping through channels looking for sports, I caught some of the second half of Morelia vs. Chicago Fire. Disgusting display of incompetence by Chicago. The score was 4-1 for Morelia when I turned it on, and just as I was thinking that must be an aggregate score, Las Monarcas scored again to make the final score 5-1. Rather pathetic showing by Chicago.

Netherlands v Spain 2010 WC LEGO Final

Yeah, even with LEGOs, the De Jong Kung Fu kick doesn't look any less painful.



Video: guardian.co.uk

Should We Have Goal Line Technology?

I know we are thinking "YES! We need GLT (Goal Line Technology)"! After watching the debacle during the England v Germany match I did too, but let's see what is behind the tech and it's positives and negatives.

Thierry Henry is a New York Red Bull

It's official. One of the worst held secrets in recent history now sees everyone's favorite Guadeloupan (oh, yeah, he chose France), is now the Designated Player up top for NYRB.

There are still rumors that they are looking to sign a third DP to go with Henry and Juan Pablo Angel. Just in time to debut against my boys Tottenham Hotspurs in the NY Challenge on July 22nd.

BBC's Best 10 World Cup Goals Ever

Yeah, I'm feeling a little lazy today. Sit back and enjoy some pimp Michael Caine and the BBC's Top 10 Goals of the World Cup (previous to 2010).

Special 1 TV

For those of you that had the chance to catch this "show" on Setanta Sport before they went belly up, are in for a treat. For those of you that didn't, well, get ready for some British humor that is still pretty good. Think "Spitting Images" from the early 1980s, only funny.

And now I give you, Special 1 TV...




Video: BBCComedy

Are Sports Players' Salaries Inversely Proportional to Playing Time?

I saw a quick breakdown picture from Mint.com the other day. What struck me is the highest/lowest pay, the average pay and the sports in which those salaries are paid. Here's the short and skinny of it (based in conjunction with playing time stats per game according to snippets.com):

Uh Oh, Something's Got To Go

Some of you may not have heard, but just a few days after Italy's (in)glorious exit from the World Cup, Italy's Football Federation, contrary to Serie A's vote, decided that too many foreigners were ruining Italian football. Too bad they didn't realize it was a poor coach, too much diving, and some prima donas that think that Italian football is the end all be all of football as a whole. That is going to leave a lot of teams scrambling.

The result? Each Series A team is limited to one new non-EU player per team per year. Yeah, that'll go over well. Juve was looking to sign Dzeko and a few others. Guess that won't be happening now.

2010 World Cup Award Winners

It's all over. And Tiger "TSI's Choice for the World Cup Psychic" Woods chose poorly. Damn, he didn't even get the score right.

Well, it's all done and behind us, we fired Tiger, so without further ado, let's announce the 2010 Fifa World Cup Award Winners.

Golden Boot: Thomas Mueller, Germany. 5 Goals, 3 Assists. Well done.
Silver Boot: David Villa, Spain. 5 Goals, 1 Assist.
Bronze Boot: Wesley Sneijder, Netherlands. 5 Goals, 1 Assist.


Golden Ball (Most Outstanding Player): Diego Forlan, Uruguay. 5 Goals.
Silver Ball: Wesley Sneijder, Netherlands.
Bronze Ball: David Villa, Spain.
Blue Ball: Larissa Riquelme Fans.

Best Young Player of the Tournament: Thomas Mueller, Germany. Obviously, heads and tails above the competition.

Golden Gloves: Iker Casillas, Spain.

I think the choices were pretty fair, and almost completely unanimous. Maybe next time I'll bring back Marty McFly's Sports Almanac and I can just jump all the competition and tell you who to pick up for your fantasy squad.

Photo: thesoccerinsiders.com

Netherlands v Spain WC 2010 Final Highlights

A little slow of a game that set records in the number of yellows and came close to setting records in amount of sand in players' vjays. All in all, not a bad game, but also not as exciting as the Germany v Uruguay 3rd place match in my opinion.

Video: bobcats40

The World Cup Final Mistake Goal That Never Happend

I was watching the first half and just after Casillas kicked the ball out to receive attention, a show of good sportsmanship nearly turned into an "accidental" goal.

Here's how it went down: The Dutch kicked the ball back to Casillas on the other side of the field and a slightly over-hit ball took a funny bounce and nearly became a goal.

It got me to thinking, what would the Dutch have done had that ball bounced into the goal? Would the Netherlands stand aside and let the Spanish dribble down and score to equalize? Technically, there isn't any FIFA rule stating they have to, but there would be hell to pay if they didn't such as in the Netherlands v Portugal game a few years ago.

On-Field Matchups

A few matchups I will be watching on the field

Sergio Ramos vs. Dirk Kuyt - I was absolutely fascinated watching the end-to-end battle between Maicon and Kuyt in the quarterfinal. Maicon is the greatest attacking back, and forced Kuyt to defend (and defend very well) which took him out of the offense. Now Kuyt is matched against the other greatest attacking back, Sergio Ramos, who will likely take Kuyt out of the offense but on the other hand, Kuyt will shut down Ramos' attacks just like he did Maicon's.

Netherlands v Spain WC Final Matchup

VS.

So, if you are like me, you are wondering, is it Holland or Netherlands? Make up your damn mind. Actually, Holland refers to 2 of the 12 provinces of the Netherlands, despite even some Dutch referring to their own country as Holland. If they can't make up their own mind on one name for their own country, they may have trouble here in the finals.

Well, this is it. Back to the finals. But this time we're back with two teams that can hoist the trophy for the first time. The Netherlands, having been here before, brings a tried and true winner, Yolanthe-Cabau van Kasbergen (wife of Wesley Sneijder). Spain, on the other hand, brings a woman that called out her own boyfriend, Iker Casillas, after a loss to Switzerland. Makes you wonder what goes on at home... Anyways, without further ado, let us introduce Spain's Sara Carbonero.