More Footie

Someone needs to give me a swift kick in the noots. Last week on these pages, I erroneously reported that my beloved Toronto FC was getting ready to take on FC Dallas. Some fan I am. Not sure what schedule I was looking at, but they play FC Dallas THIS WEEK! Sunday, 1:00 pm. Anyway...same story, else wise. Dallas is still atop the West, and we need the 3! Killer road trip looms, including 3 teams immediately above them in the table (NE, KC, Chicago) and wraps up at defending champs Houston.

Oh...and we just added veteran Jamaican defender Tyrone Marshall from LA. Seems with the addition of Cunningham, forward Edson Buddle became expendable. I'll await the official word from my Toronto correspondants :)
and finally, from those aforementioned correspondants:

my boy Dichio "sucked the big one" last week.

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On the Spanish front, we had to DVR La Liga action last weekend, as we were absorbing the beautiful mountain air of Potter County (thanks Tirpak and fam...great times!!!). Madrid, Barca, and Sevilla all in huge matches last Saturday. Now I understand, from a competitive standpoint, why the league dictates ko times for the final weeks (any team atop the table plays at the same time, in hopes to reduce any "shenanigans" as Ray Hudson would say). But from a viewer's standpoint, it kinda sucks. I guess it would be the equivalent of playing the AFC and NFC Championships at the same time.

THAT'S were GolTV was supposed to step in. They broadcast the Madrid / Zaragoza game live, to be followed by taped delays of the Barcelona derby, and Sevilla / Mallorca match. But when we tuned into the Madrid match, much to my chagrin, Phil and Ray comment that they will keep us "informed" with updates from the other matches. We thought we'd get to watch all 3 live (not knowing the scores = live to me), but GolTV switches to a split screen to show the Barca/Espanyol goals?!?! Buzzkill. Six hours of "live" footie condensed into two.

Anyway, what happened at the end of both games was absolutely amazing. Up 2-1, and with Madrid trailing 2-1 late, Barca had taken a commanding lead atop the table. Within a span of 20 seconds van Nistelrooy ("Horseface" as Hudson calls him) notches his second of the match, and Espanyol's Tamudo gets the equalizer against Barca. 2 goals in separate games, and Real takes back the league lead in 20 SECONDS!. Incredible drama.



Sucks being a Barcelona fan, but hats off to Real Madrid. Seems like only yesterday Capello was swearing off Beckham, saying he'd never play for Real again. Now he's one of the key reasons they'll be crowned champs after this Sunday. Watching him gimp around on that bum ankle in the final minutes (Capello had used all his subs) was pretty gutsy.

And if you haven't seen Lionel Messi's "Hand of God" goal, the following was pretty crazy. Anyone who remembers my "catch" from Cincinnati a few years ago has probably stopped reading by now, but that's almost what it reminded me of. I don't care what anyone says, I love Messi. And like Hudson was saying, "if you're not cheating, you're not trying hard enough." Here goes...



This Sunday, Real takes a step down in competition, and should wrap things up at home vs. Mallorca. Barca gets Ronnie back, and also takes a step down. I'd have to check on Sevilla, but if Kanoute doesn't come back, they're d.u.n. as well.

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And finally, no footie update would be complete w/o news from my beloved Internazionale:

LUIS FIGO!!! One More Year!! Confirmed.

David Suazo!!! Welcome Aboard!!