Hello?

Any one there?

Wow, look at all the cob-webs.

Yup, we’re (I’m) back! It has been a long time, since May it seems like and though this blog was supposed to be a lot of things, it looks like my time only allows me to write about the main passion in my sports life, Manchester United.

So the new season is upon us, within 24 hours actually and boy oh boy is it going to be a doozy. Right off the bat, here goes my predictions for the standings at the end of the season.

1. Manchester United
2. Chelsea (very close)

3. Liverpool
4. Tottenham

5. Arsenal
6. Aston Villa
7. Portsmouth
8. Everton
9. Manchester City (unless they get kicked out of the league)
10. West Ham
11. Sunderland
12. Bolton
13. Blackburn
14. Newcastle
15. Middlesboro
16. Wigan
17. Fulham
18. West Brom Albion
19. Hull
20. Stoke

Yup yup. More to come later!

After a successful media black out for most of the day (no internet, no mail, no text messages), I ran home and started to watch the epic match that was Manchester United vs Chelsea.

The game had everything in it. Goals (though only 1 a piece), but lots of chances for goals. It had hard tackles and blood and a red card at the end for Drogba. It had an extra time where both teams were pushing to win and not go to penalties. Then it came down to penalties were the best player in Europe couldn’t score, though he had scored 42 goals throughout the whole campaign. Then there was the “Captains” folly and finally the save again “Le Sulk”. It was exciting, it was nervous, it was down right painful - and then it ended with pure joy and elation!

Here are a couple good quotes:

Cristiano Ronaldo
We showed this season that we are the best team in Europe and in England and it’s a great feeling. Next season we will try to do the same. I feel very proud. It means everything to me - it is the happiest day of my life.

Nemanja Vidic
The game against Manchester City [which marked the 50th anniversary of the Munich air crash] was very disappointing and we still remember that. But I think we made up for it in Moscow and by winning the league and gave the fans what they wanted.

Edwin van der Sar
Of course, nights like this are what you dream of. It’s been 13 years – a long time – since I last won the competition and it feels fantastic, especially in the way we won it. It was the last penalty – saving it - I don’t have any words for it. What can I say? It’s great.

Rio Ferdinand
I said before the game that you’re only really considered a great player at this club when you win the Champions League. There have been a lot of top players to play for the club, but to be revered by the fans and everyone associated with United by becoming a European champion sets you apart from others.

Wayne Rooney
I hope we can win it again. Doing it this year has given us a taste for it and we want to do well again next season. We’ve got some great young players in the squad mixed with experience, so hopefully we can do well again.

Michael Carrick
When you take a penalty you’ve got to have the belief in yourself that you’re going to score and obviously hope for the best! You know there is always someone who’s going to have to miss and you pray it’s not you.

Carlos Tevez
It has been a long time since I felt like this - it’s a huge emotion in my heart. When I was a child, I never thought I would be now lifting the cup, but dreams usually come true and I am very, very happy.”

Joy!

I couldn’t watch game six of the Lakers/Jazz series, not after I almost ran through a wall in my living room when I watched game 5. Seriously, my blood pressure was sky high during that series and I wasn’t even happy that the Lakers moved on (because I knew they were going to do it), I was just more relieved that my heart could go back to normal for a couple days, or at least until the Hornets/Spurs series was over. Well, with the Spurs shutting down the Hornets last night in New Orleans, my anxiety can return.

Near the end of the Hornet/Spurs series I didn’t know who I wanted to advance and then play the Lakers in the western conference finals. It would have been fun seeing the runner up in the MVP race face off the the MVP, plus who wants to see the Spurs go at it again. Then again, a Lakers/Spurs match up in the conference finals seems like the appropriate way for the west to develop: Last years champion and western regime being taken down by the revitalized Lakers - the new western regime. The more I thought about, the more I am glad that the Lakers will be hosting the Spurs. The Lakers will take the reigning champions down and then lay the path towards their own crown. I like it, it is poetic. As for the match up, it is going to be a tough one. I think if the Lakers focus on shutting down Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli and then just let Duncan get his points, it should be easier than trying to match up in every position. This is another series that’ll go to the wire, and I see the Lakers taking back at home on game 7 (and my heart might explode!)

Well, Boston also made it through to the next round, and really they working for it. Two 7-game series where if this team was legit, would have only gone 4 in the first series and 5 or 6 in the second versus the Cavs. That being said, the Cavs could have won that series no problem. If they didn’t blow that first game LeBron would have gone off in the 2nd game and could have won the whole shebang by game 6. Instead LeBron couldn’t do it all by himself in game 7, though he came close. So I see no chance that Boston will be able to take on the Pistons. Unless Ray Allen find his shot in a big way and Tayshaun Prince forgets how to walk… so yeah… Pistons in 6 games.

Damn, those Celtic suck!

Yes United have once retained their title. It came down to the wire and it came at the hands of Wigan. The win was 2-0 and 3 very important players were part of those very important goals. Wayne Rooney who was taken down in the box to draw the penalty. Ronaldo with his 41st goal in all competitions slotting home the penalty kick and of course, Ryan Giggs coming on as a substitute to score the 2nd and final goal! It was a magical and what made it even better was when Bolton pipped a goal with seconds left to draw level with Chelsea, so United didn’t win on goal differential but on points. It was beautiful, it was gorgeous, it was football.

It was wonderful to see United win the title again and to see the joys on all the players faces. Yes they are a week away from their most important game of the season when they go against the rivals of Chelsea in Moscow, but for now I am still celebrating the league title and Ryan Giggs record tying appearance in United colors. It was a good day.

As for the rest of the league, this is how it panned out:

• 1. Man Utd | 58 (GD) | 87 (Pts)
• 2 . Chelsea | 39 | 85
• 3 . Arsenal | 43 | 83
• 4 . Liverpool | 39 | 76

Uefa Cup

• 5. Everton | 22 | 65

мебелиSafe

• 6 . Aston Villa | 20 | 60
• 7 . Blackburn | 2 | 58
• 8 . Portsmouth | 8 | 57
• 9 . Man City | -8 | 55
• 10. West Ham | -8 | 49
• 11. Tottenham | 5 | 46
• 12. Newcastle | -20 | 43
• 13. Middlesbrough | -10 | 42
• 14. Wigan | -17 | 40
• 15. Sunderland | -23 | 39
• 16. Bolton | -18 | 37
• 17. Fulham | -22 | 36

Relegated

• 18. Reading | -25 | 36
• 19. Birmingham |-16 | 35
• 20. Derby |-69 | 11

So Reading, Birmingham and Derby all get relegated back down to the Championship divison, with Fulham getting a last gasp win to secure that they stay up in the league. It was pretty exciting.

The “Big Four” once again are incontention for the UEFA Champions League next year with both United and Chelsea automatically making it while Arsenal and Liverpool are in the qualifying rounds. Everton was able to mainting their 5 spot and therefore guarantee a chance to make the UEFA cup, with Tottenham also having a chance because they won the Carling Cup early in the season. This leaves Aston Villa having to wait another year before they can try again for European glory.

I have to be honest this year was a quite a mix up in things after the top 4. I really thought that Tottenham was going to push into top 4 and bump off Liverpool, I also had no idea that Manchester City was going to do so well (even though they were one of the worst teams in the 2nd half of the season. I was sorry to see Reading go down, while Sunderland not do as well or Boro. In fact, let’s look at my predictions prior to the start of the season and see how off I was:

Incorrect predictions are in Red with their actual position in Bold and the difference in brackets

• 1. Man Utd
• 2. Chelsea
• 3. Arsenal
• 4. Tottenham (11) [-7]
• 5. Liverpool (4) [+1]
• 6. Blackburn (7) [-1]
• 7. Aston Villa (6) [+1]
• 8. Everton (5) [+3]
• 9. Porstmouth (8) [+1]
• 10. Reading (18) [-8]
• 11. Sunderland (15) [-4]
• 12. Middlesbrough (13) [-1]
• 13. Newcastle United (12) [+1]
• 14. West Ham United (10) [+4]
• 15. Manchester City (9) [+6]
• 16. Fulham (17) [-1]
• 17. Bolton (16) [+1]
• 18. Bimingham City (19) [-1]
• 19. Wigan (14) [+5]
• 20. Derby

Well so I got the top 3 and the last spot correct and the rest was all wrong. To be fair though, most of my predictions were just one or two spots off. But yeah, I was way off with Wigan, Sunderland, and Manchester City.

Now we can take 3 months off, wait for the transfer window to heat up and of course there’s the Champions League match a week from today.

Oh and the Euros!

But bravo to Manchester United for winning the title in style. Just one more win this season lads!

I have to give major props to Chachee. He told me about Dan Patrick show being placed on SI a couple months back. I never really gave it any thought. When DP ended his employment at ESPN, it was an end of era for me. I thought I’d never get it back. I’ve been able to fill the void with more soccer podcasts and even enjoyed a nice long run with Tony Kornheiser (also thanks to Chachee). But when Chachee told me that itunes was providing the podcasts for the Dan Patrick show (now supplied by Sports Illustrated) it felt like a new era was started, and my hero was re-born.

Now I’ve been listening to Dan Patrick for 3 hours each day (thanks to itunes) and my life is on the up and up. My hero is back with some fresh blood in Seaton (”Pooch”) and Paul, but the familiar ringing of bells for caller giving their height and weight, as well as the breaking news sounds is still around. The show has the left off right when I last heard DP’s smooth voice. The shenanigans are once again a plenty, and the guests are fabulous. So far in the last week i’ve been listening to the show again, I’ve heard Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller, Adam Sandler, Lamar Odom and LaDainian Tomlinson! I’m like a kid in a candy store again, the possibilities are endless. Yes there are some blatant voids that haven’t been filled, namely Keith, but I can’t be that sad.

So, thank you Dan Patrick. Thank you for being a hero. Thank for making sports fun and enjoyable, the way it should be. Thanks for keeping it real and thanks for keeping it light. I hope that this continues on for many many years to come.

Oh and happy birthday tomorrow, the big 5-2!

Well the season is finally over. 9 months have passed, and over 380 games have been played. In the end, my beloved Manchester United Red Devils have retained their league title and lifted the trophy once again. It came down to the wire, and it was very exciting. It took a lot of friends and 3 magners to get through the match, but in the end it was worth it. But I’ll discuss that in a later post. Right now let’s get down to my predictions for the final week and for the season as a whole.

The Final Week!

• Birmingham (1) [4] - [1] (2) Blackburn –INCORRECT
• Chelsea (1) [1] - [1] (1) Bolton –PERFECT
• Everton (1) [3] - [1] (1) Newcastle –INCORRECT
• Middlesbro (1) [8] - [1] (1) Man City –INCORRECT
• Portsmouth (1) [0] - [1] (2) Fulham –CORRECT
• Sunderland (0) [0] - [1] (2) Arsenal –CORRECT
• Tottenham (1) [0] - [1] (1) Liverpool –INCORRECT
• West Ham (2) [2] - [2] (2) Aston Villa –PERFECT
• Wigan (0) [0] - [2] (5) Man Utd –CORRECT
• Derby (1) [0] - [4] (1) Reading –INCORRECT

Week #38 5/10 CORRECT || 2/10 PERFECT

___
TOTAL: 176/380 || 39/380

So for my first full year of predicting results, I finished with a 46.32% accuracy for correct results of wins, draws and loses. When it came to predicting the actual score, I had a whopping 10.26% accuracy rating. I did finish #15 (out of 50) in the mini league I was in, so at least I’m not that bad. Let us see if I’m a bit wiser next year!

So ESPN has a giant feature today about my Nippon Ham Fighters superstar pitching stud, Yu Darvish! It’s long and fairly boring, but it’s got a nice video highlighting Darvish.

It also spends a section discussing the issue of Darvish coming to the US, which I remember being unlikely when I read about him last year. Based on the video and parts of the article though, it seems much more likely that Darvish will inevitably end up in the MLB. Hopefully he propels the Fighters to a few more championships before leaving though.

In some other NPB news:
-Yu Darvish lost his first game of the year. This puts him at 5-1 for the season with a 1.46 ERA and about 8 strikeouts per 9 innings.
-My Hanshin Tigers are destroying the Central League. They have a 24-11 record with a 2.5 game lead over the Chunichi Dragons.
-The Ham Fighters are in second place in the Pacific Coast League, but are 6 games back of the scorching Seibu Lions.

…But not has disappointing as those Refs for game 4. I know I know, people always complain about the referees when their team doesn’t win a game, especially in the NBA, but by the end of that game on Sunday you could completely tell that the refs were being persuaded by the Non-Mormon crowd in Utah (it was a Sunday early afternoon game, and in the Mormon church you’re not supposed to do anything that isn’t Mormon-related). Though, I mean I’m going to blame the refs for their part, but the Lakers still had plenty of chances to win that game - being 12 points behind and coming back to force overtime (thanks to D-Fish). Too bad that by overtime, the Lakers were completely done and even Kobe couldn’t get 2 buckets, though to be fair, the new MVP was playing through back spasms. The Lakers also choked it hard at the foul line, let 14 points of free throws go to waste. I’m just hoping this creates another spark, especially in Pau Gasol who spent a lot of his time complaining to refs, oh wait, that’s what I’m doing now! Uggh.

Seriously, Kobe is finally MVP, or at least that’s the speculation because of the NBA announcing that there will be an award announcement at a Los Angeles hotel this afternoon. Of course it could be a huge joke by the NBA and they announce that Kobe is all Defensive player or something stupid like that, or maybe in order to infuriate Kobe to the point of where he drops like 80 points a game in the playoffs and announce that CP3 is the MVP (after yesterday’s game he could still be, that was amazing).

But really, what I’m pondering about is how happy can Pau Gasol be right now. Joins a team that goes on a tear when he gets there, gets the #1 seed in the tough West, sweeps the first season in the playoffs (the first playoff series and game he’s won) and now can say he played with an NBA MVP (and not on an all-star game squad). Freaking awesome for Pau right now. Oh right and Kobe - but he’s already enjoyed success.

I didn’t want to jinx it. Yes. I know, but I wanted to wait to put out my predictions until after all the results. I’m serious, this is the tightest race in Premier League history, and if it comes down to me prematurely posting results and thus jinxing United, dammit I’m not going to do it!

Well United handled their part, though to be fair West Ham did seem to be more focused on their summer holidays then fielding a competitive team. It does help that Alan Curbishly is a good friend of Sir Alex. The only sad thing was that Kevin Keegan’s men also seemed to be thinking about next season, well at least in the 2nd half of their game against Chelsea. I draw would be been nice, but it looks like United has to take Wigan this weekend dead serious. I don’t think I’m going to talk about it though. Instead I’m going to talk about the relegation zone this week, since some interesting results means that some teams are safe for sure and some are back in the drop zone.

It looks like those loveable Americans at Fulham are trying their hardest to make sure that they stay up for another year and with their impressive win over fellow-nearly-relegated Birmingham, it seems that they have a good chance. Of course they need to get a good result away to Porstmouth, while Reading needs a win away at for-sure-relegated Derby. Birmingham still has a slim chance of skipping out of the drop if they can get a win at home against Blackburn. So as it heats up at the top of the table, the real boiler is down at the bottom 4.

Here are my predictions and results.

Week #37:

• Man Utd (4) [4] - [1] (0) West Ham –CORRECT
• Aston Villa (2) [0] - [2] (1) Wigan –INCORRECT
• Blackburn (3) [3] - [1] (0) Derby –CORRECT
• Fulham (2) [2] - [0] (2) Birmingham –INCORRECT
• Middlesbro (1) [2] - [0] (2) Portsmouth –INCORRECT
• Reading (1) [0] - [1] (1) Tottenham –INCORRECT
• Bolton (1) [2] - [0] (1) Sunderland –INCORRECT
• Arsenal (2) [1] - [0] (1) Everton –CORRECT
• Liverpool (2) [1] - [0] (1) Man City –CORRECT
• Newcastle (2) [0] - [2] (2) Chelsea –INCORRECT

WeeK 37: 4/10 CORRECT || 0/10 PERFECT
Total: 171/371 CORRECT || 31/371 PERFECT

At least I’ve been consistent these last couple weeks of getting 4/10 correct. Hmmm.