FA Cup Looms

I'm in Yongsan right now, but if all goes well I'll be back soon enough, and leave for the field late enough, that I'll be able to watch the FA Cup Final Saturday night. I don't have a good feeling for Chelsea at this point, but Wembley Arena is in West London, so it could work out to be a home game fopr them. Right now I sort of wish United would've beat AC Milan so they would have to worry about the Champions League final on the following Wednesday. Oh well.

The consensus seems to be that Man U will win because Chelsea is plagued with injuries, but I tend to think they would be favored anyway. Ronaldo is poised to be a major pain in the ass for the Blues....

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I've noticed that the fan correspondant position for Chelsea has remained unfilled. I keep thinking about applying for this, but I really don't think I'd make it. It's hard enough trying to say a little something halfway intellegent about a couple of matchups here and there. If they would let my columns be completely devoid of analysis I might have a shot, but I think I'd still run out of things to say.

I think my best shot would be to hold an "anti-fan" position for Manchester United, or perhaps even for the big four, more or less like my pieces on Notre Dame or the Yankees. Even then, I question whether or not I could generate enough venom for any of these teams. This sort of hatred requires years of breeding, or otherwise some sort of shock to the system, such as being involved in a riot or something. Since I am stranded in Korea with slim to no chance of finding myself in England in the forseeable future, any sort of attempt seems doomed to be stillborn.

What I need is to periodically do a radio piece with Bill Simmons where we collectively demonstrate our cluelessness about the most popular sport in the world. Maybe even bring in an expert who could attempt to "educate" us. Not sure if the "" are necessary--maybe yes, in the way David Stern seems to want to educate him about the WNBA....maybe yes because we really don't know what the hell is going on and will be incapable of any true insight.

I'm in the middle of the $14,000 Guarantee Rebuy tournament on Full Tilt....not any more--i busted out in 69th place out of about 170 entrants. LiTTle roQQ got hungry and needed a diaper change, etc. etc.

In real time, when I started that first sentence it was the top of the first in the Yankees game at Seattle and Alex Rodriguez had just struck out, stranding Derek Jeter on first.

The next time I looked up somebody was up 7-0 (diaper change), and I got it into my head that the game must not be live, since they were obviously skipping some of the action. Soon after I realized it was only the third inning, and the game was live. As usual, the Korean on my TV screen was preventing me from knowing who was in the lead, but soon after one of the Mariners tripled, driving in two runs. 9-0? No, 7-2. The Yankees were up. Oh well.

It's still 7-2 right now in the bottom of the 9th. Torre has brought Mariano Rivera in to protect a 5 run lead. The Yankees stranded 2 more in the top of the inning and it makes me wonder if Torre would bring him in to protect a 7 run lead.

Seattle's lead off batter just punched a single into right. Protect indeed.

Rivera let two runners on, but completed the inning without allowing any more runs. This should help his 7.71 ERA a little.

Either a.) Torre is overusing Rivera for no reason, or b.) his other relievers are so used up that he is using Mo to give them a rest.

Neither bodes well for the Yankees. Roger Clemens to the rescue right?

I wrote about Roger's comeback the day it was announced, but it didn't save. I hate that.

Anyway, I really enjoyed this game, considering that the Yankees won. Alex Rodriguez went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts and a walk. What I really enjoyed, however, was how somebody in the crowd went BOOOOOOOOOOOOO! about every pitch. I'm wondering if that happens every where he goes, or if Seattle holds a special grudge because he used to play for them. Other than A-Rod, I didn't hear anyone else get this sort of treatment, except Derek Jeter a couple of times.

I guess this is the price you pay for getting paid more than anybody else. Although now Roger Clemens makes more than A-Rod does, at least for the remainder of the season. Not bad for somebody who only has to show up every 5th day.

Not bad for somebody who will be getting in shape in the minor leagues for the next couple of weeks either.