AZ Sporting Memories of 09

We are lucky to be one of the few cities in America that has all 4 professional sports in the area. We've yet to make it to see the Phoenix Coyotes (the NHL Ice Hockey team) but I did get to see some NFL, MLB and NBA games this year. Below are a few pictorial and video sporting memories of 2009 to share with you as we head into the new year...

Tuesday August 11th - Arizona Diamondbacks vs New York Mets - The roof was closed, normal for August in AZ - and we enjoyed baseball in 75f comfort when it was proobably 110f outside. I'd hate to think what the electricity bill must be to keep 50,000 fans cool in a building that size...

We enjoyed great $200 seats behind home plate compliments of Guy and US Airways (I think!); great view, really feel part of the game and waitress service to your seat! Oh, and the Dbacks won 6-2! Enjoy the national anthem on the video below...

Wednesday 12th August - Arizona Diamondbacks vs New York Mets -

The very next day I had booked seats in advance with some friends for the day game. We paid for these ourselves and were therefore much higher up in the stadium. Whilst further from the game, these seats still give you a great overall view...a good way to spend a Wednesday afternoon, although this time they lost 4-6.

Wednesday 11th November - Phoenix Suns v New Orleans Hornets

Andy was visiting from the UK, so we went to take in our first game of the new NBA basketball season at US Airways Center. It was Veterans Day, so there was even more pageantry and patriotism than usual, as well as a flying gorilla at half time! Our luck of home wins contunued as the Suns beat the Hornets easily 124-104.

 

Sunday 15th November - Arizona Cardinals vs Seattle Seahawks

Andy and Ed were visiting from England and they wanted to go and see an NFL game; this is at the University of Phoenix stadium in the city of Glendale, about 45 minutes from us. Again the roof was closed, although I don't know why...it was only about 70f outside... This is a state of the art stadium; the pitch is kept outside and is slid in before the game, allowing players to enjoy real grass whilst playing inside. The Cardinals won...another home victory!

Happy New Year Everybody!

More great football quotes...

Just like a bus, you wait ages and then a few come along at once... here are some more great quotes compiled by ESPNSoccernet... I've listed just a few of my favorites, but take a look at the link at the bottom for a full list...those sensitive to language should read no further...

"A virgin" - October 2007 - Peter Crouch responds to a question about what he would have been if he had not become a footballer. Instead, he ends up with Abbey Clancy (left)... what does she see in the 6 ft 7 inch gangly, not quite handsome millionaire footballer?

"My greatest challenge is not what's happening at the moment. My greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool right off their f****** perch. And you can print that" - September 2002 - Sir Alex Ferguson makes clear his feeling towards United's rivals.

"We call them 'busy c***s' for their endless grumbling about everything in general and nothing in particular. They never stop" - August 2001 - Manchester United defender Jaap Stam secures a move to Lazio as his comment on the Neville brothers in his autobiography reportedly infuriates Sir Alex Ferguson.

"What in heaven's name was f****** Ranieri thinking in bringing Veron on? And I'm sorry, but I f****** think that f****** Desailly is a cheating f***. That was wrong. He's f****** been gone for two and a half years! And instead of playing like an old man and saying, 'All right, I'll f****** stay where I can't get exploited' ... I've always thought that he has no awareness of danger. He is what is known in some schools as a f****** lazy, thick n*****. That is a f****** disgusting performance. Full marks to them, though. They were f****** different class" - April 2004 - Ron Atkinson famously brings an abrupt end to his career as a television commentator/pundit after his racist attack on Marcel Desailly was accidentally broadcast during the coverage of Chelsea's Champions League exit to Monaco.

ESPN Soccernet's quotes of the decade

Great sporting quotes of the decade...

The end of a decade is always great time for reflection; things that you did, things that you said...and perhaps things that you wish you hadn't said...Here are a few of my favorite sporting quotes of the decade...

"He's the only man I know who could start an argument with himself."
Sir Bobby Robson - and his assessment of Craig Bellamy.

Gary Lineker: "So Gordon, if you were English, what formation would you play?"
Gordon Strachan: "If I was English I'd top myself!"
Pundit Gordon Strachan showed just why the BBC hired him for Euro 2004.

"I've had a text from granny - she's going to throw a party for you!"
What Prince Harry told England Rubgy star Mike Tindall after they had won the Rugby World Cup.

"I went to the bank the other day and got a standing ovation."
England rugby player Jason Leonard on how life changed after winning the 2003 Rugby World Cup

"He cannot kick with his left foot, he cannot head a ball, he cannot tackle and he doesn't score many goals. Apart from that he's all right."
George Best's verdict on David Beckham.
 
"At this time, I am retired and have no intention of returning to football."
Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers NFL quarterback, during a tear-filled February 2008 news conference. Five months later, he reported to camp with the Packers, who then traded him to the New York Jets, for whom Favre started 16 games. 

"It's time to leave."
Brett Favre, in a February 2009 conference call to announce his next retirement. Six months later, he signed a 2 year deal with the Minnesota Vikings.

"To put it in gentleman's terms, if you've been out for a night and you're looking for a young lady and you pull one, you've done what you set out to do. We didn't look our best today but we've pulled. Some weeks the lady is good looking and some weeks they're not. Our performance today would have been not the best looking bird but at least we got her in the taxi. She may not have been the best looking lady we ended up taking home but it was still very pleasant and very nice, so thanks very much and let's have coffee."
QPR boss Ian Holloway came up with the quote of the century to describe his team's lacklustre performance against Chesterfield that resulted in a win.
 
For more quotes, go here Quotes of the Decade Part 1

100 Best Sports Photos - Part 3

If you've been waiting, here's part 3 of the 100 best photos of the year...

Monks playing volleyball in Bhutan is pretty unexpected! Oh, and if you can't tell, that's me in #15 - I love bog snorkelling!

100 Best Sports Photos - Part 3

Golf Digest Latest News

Golf Digest Latest News

Elin Nordegren moved to the top of the money list on the PGA tour today after "beating" the world's #1 golfer. The win came after the top golfer played the wrong hole.

Sorry, couldn't resist!!

Are you D Wanka?

Happy Boxing Day!

Came across this today; the worst football kits of the decade.

I think the point about the tight fitting Italy shirts is very appropriate and I can see why thousands of shirts from a little known Peruvian side were sold in England.  "Everyone in Britain seems to think we have a funny name," a Deportivo Wanka spokesman told The Sun. "It is very strange."

10 Worst Kits of the Decade

A bit of World Cup fun for Christmas Day

Castrol, one of FIFA' s World cup sponsors have launched a cool little website. You plug in the country you're interested in and it will give you various stats on how likely certain match-ups are or your team's chances of winning the WC based on the likely opposition and World Rankings...

So for example it gives England a 90% certainty of getting out of the group, 59% chance of getting to the Quarters, a better than 1 in 3 chance of getting to the Semi's and a 10.4% chance of winning the World Cup next year...We'll see...

It also suggests that the match against the USA is vital; if England come second in their group they will have to beat Germany, then Argentina, then Spain, then Brazil to lift the trophy... By winning the group they can avoid the Germans and the Argies...

It's just a bit of fun I'm sure, but it should keep you occupied while the relatives are snoozing on the couch after your Christmas dinner...Happy Christmas everyone!

http://www.castrolfootball.com/predictor/

The greatest football games of the Decade

This time of year there are a lot of great articles out there...especially when you come to the end of another decade! This one takes a look at the writer's opinion of the 10 greatest games of football of the decade. Not surprisingly there aren't any England international matches featured...perhaps when reviewing the 2010s in 10 years time, England's  fantastic 6-3 demolition of Brazil in the 2010 World Cup Final will be featured...you read it here first folks...  

The greatest games of the decade

An Ode to Tiger...

I can't claim to have written this very amusing poem; it appeared in my inbox so who knows where it originated...funny though...and the rhyming pentameter is spot on! 

Twas the night of Thanksgiving and out of the house
a Tiger came flying, chased by his spouse.
She wielded a nine iron and wasn't too merry
Coz a bimbo's phone number was in his Blackberry.

He'd been cheatin' on Elin, and as the story progressed
Woman after woman stepped up and confessed.
He'd been cheatin' with Holly, Jaime, and Cori,
With Jocelyn and Kali-ka...The world had a story.

From the top of the Tour to basement of blues,
Tiger's sordid tale was all over the news.
With Hostesses, waitresses, he had lots of Sex,
When not in their pants, he was sendin' them texts.

Despite all his crying and beggin' and pleadin',
Tiger's wife went investing, a new home in Sweden.
She was heard to exclaim from her white Escalade,
"If you're getting laid, then I'm getting paid."

Now she's not pouting, she's of jolly good cheer
Her pre-nup made Christmas come early this year!

Ze Germans are coming...

So Michael Schumacher, 7 time F1 World Champion, is back in the hot seat having signed up to drive for Mercedez Benz in next year's Formula 1 World Championship.  The German, who turns 41 on 3 January, was unveiled at the Mercedes factory in Northamptonshire.

Schumacher has signed a three-year deal with Mercedes. He will partner compatriot Nico Rosberg in the team that won the drivers' and constructors' titles in 2009 in its former guise as Brawn. Schumacher will reportedly earn £6.2m after three years of retirement.

The man who dominated Formula 1 for a decade is reuniting with Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn, who masterminded all seven of Schumacher's titles, the first two with Benetton in 1994-5 and the subsequent five with Ferrari from 2000-4.

The question is can Schumacher at 41 years old perform at the same level as he did when he was in his 20s and 30s?  I imagine he feels he can; I'm pretty sure he's not in it for the money...He's joining a team with a winning pedigree - this is the same team that brought Jensen Button his first World Championship in 2009 - and he certainly has the experience.  And looking at this video, physically he doesn't look much different to ten years ago...swine...

This will also be a shot in the arm for Formula 1; Schumacher will bring to Formula 1 what 'Tiger' brought to the PGA, just hopefully without all the ladies....

Citeh? You're having a laugh...

So picture this... you give a man as much money as he wants, allowing him to buy the best available players from around the footballing world (which totalled about £200m); you agree a performance target of a Top 6 finish and around 70 points for the season...and then...you sack him! 

What's that all about? Sometimes the actions of Premier League football clubs are laughable.  Manchester City currently lay 6th in the Premier League table (on target); if they win their next 2 games (likely, as they are vs Stoke & Wolves) they will be at the halfway point of the season and have exactly 35 points (on target). They are in their first Cup semi final for over 20 years where they face Man Utd in January. A reasonable man might think 'So far so good' right? Obviously not. There are few reasonable men running the boardrooms of Premier League football clubs these days. 

Hughes spent nearly £200m on players during his 18-months at the helm, including a record-breaking British transfer fee of £32.4m on Robinho. He also spent heavily on Gareth Barry (£12m), Roque Santa Cruz (£16m), Tevez (£25m), Adebayor (£25m), Kolo Toure (£15m) and Lescott (£22m). It would have been considerably more had outrageous bids for Kaka, Terry and Eto' been accepted...

I think Barry and Tevez were good signings, but the others came with special Arab billionaire price tags...and have not yet proved their worth. But he's not been sacked because of poor transfers.  

City released a statement in which Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak 'explained' the club's decision  "The targets were agreed as a result of the player acquisition strategy of the club being radically accelerated in the summer. A return of two wins in 11 Premier League games is clearly not in line with the targets that were agreed and set. Sheikh Mansour and the board felt that there was no evidence that the situation would fundamentally change."

Now admittedly a run of 7 consecutive draws is problematic when you're pushing for a top 6 finish, but on the other hand, whist they've drawn too many games, City have only lost 2 matches this season - a last minute heartbreaker to Utd *smile* and a fairly significant trouncing by Spurs last week. That's fewer games lost than anyone else in the league!!  When they are where they wanted to be (top 6) and on track for their points target (plus a semi final against their nemisis), how can the evidence suggest that Hughes was doing anything other than what he was contracted to do?   

This is another instance of a multi-billionaire owner throwing his toys out of the pram because they weren't top of league and running away with it. Ask Sir Alex Ferguson...it takes a long time to get to the top...

The question is, can Roberto Mancini do any better? He has been out of football for 18 months since Inter Milan sacked him and replaced him with Jose Mourinho last summer. He did do very well in Italy, but that is no guarantee of success in the Premier League...Only time will tell..

One thing is for certain though...the timing is such that Mancini will be able to spend another fortune in the upcoming January transfer window! Watch out for an influx of Italians to Manchester!  

The 100 Best Sports Photographs of 2009 - Part 2 - Big Shots - Boston.com

As promised here's batch number 2 of the 100 best sports photographs of 2009. Not that I think 'Office Chair Racing' is an officially recognised sport - well maybe it is in Germany...check out number 17!  But to be fair to the Germans, neither is 'Stilton Cheese Rolling' - check out #16...

The 100 Best Sports Photographs of 2009 - Part 2 - Big Shots - Boston.com



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The Tiger Woods Commemorative Plate Collection

Now this is funny...Order now...Get yours today...!

Boys and their toys...

This is quite an interesting video, if you're into cars...and football. Ever wondered what cars some of the biggest soccer stars in the world drive ? Now I'm sure most of them have more than one, so we don't need to delve too deeply into the accuracy of this, but I have 2 questions - What was Allesandro Del Piero thinking? And did David Beckham simply buy the Aston Martin because he though the DB7 was named after him??

The 100 Best Sports Photographs of 2009 - Part 1 - Big Shots - Boston.com

I came across these today; a 4 part series of some of the most striking photographic sports shots of the year... what I like about them is the randomness of the sports covered...from Sand Surfing in Egypt to the Rural Olympics in India.  My favourite of this batch is number 19...

This is part 1; the others will follow in the coming days...

The 100 Best Sports Photographs of 2009 - Part 1 - Big Shots - Boston.com

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"I could see she was a big girl, round and strong."

Now you know there are some things that you should never say to a woman; so next time your wife asks you if that dress makes her look...shapely...don't use that quote as your answer.

This story is amazing; and given what weightlifters must subject their bodies to, we can only hope the surprise arrival grows up to be "big, round and strong".

Olympic Weightlifter Unexpectedly Gives Birth During Training Session - Incredible Health - FOXNews.com

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No Tiger, no refund for Match Play event north of Tucson

OK, sorry I've been out of commission the last few months...lots of things go on which kept me away...but I found this little snippet interesting...

Golf really is a one man draw at the moment, and this might be an ongoing issue for them until Tiger stops night putting and get's back to his day job...

No Tiger, no refund for Match Play event north of Tucson