Sunday, May 19, 2013

Footy Filler

In typical Gheorghian fashion, we've waited until the final day of the Barclays Premier League season to bother writing about soccer. We'll make up for it with a mishmash of semi-related footie items.

In Paris yesterday, David Beckham played what will likely be the final match of his storied career, as Paris Saint Germain topped Brest, 3-1. While his international celebrity outpaced his on-pitch performance, Becks will go down as one of England's all-time greats. Very few in the history of the sport can match the accuracy of his service and his ability on set pieces. Check out arguably the most famous goal of his career, the 2002 strike against Greece that sent England to the World Cup and inspired the movie, 'Bend It Like Beckham':


David Beckham goal - England v Greece 2002 by fatv

If you're reading this before 11:00 you've still got time to turn on Fox Soccer Channel to catch Tottenham Hotspur taking on Sunderland in a final bid to overtake Arsenal and snare the BPL's Champions League berth. The Gunners play at Newcastle at the same time, needing a win to ensure the all-important 4th place finish.

Matheson's late goal gave Canada bronze at the 2012 Olympics
Closer to home, the Washington Spirit beat the Seattle Reign, 4-2, earlier in the week to capture the franchise's first-ever National Women's Soccer League win and improve to 1-2-3 on the season (combined with DC United, local professional soccer squads are a dismal 2-11-4 in league play this year). Canadian national team stalwart Diana Matheson scored the Spirit's first goal, her league-leading 4th of the season. Matheson also paces the NWSL with 10 points. More importantly, she's also my daughter's favorite player. We've attended two Spirit games this season, and the 5'1" Matheson was, by far, the smallest woman on the field. Nonetheless, she tallied goals in each of those games, inspiring my little one, who will be lucky if she makes it to 5'1". You can have 'Bend It Like Beckham' - we're Driven Like Diana up in here.

Finally, if you want an entertaining (and far more knowledgeable) take on all things footie, check out FOG:TB John Day's stylings over at Dangerman Futbol. Maybe next season, anyway.

24 comments:

rob said...

zman, put these four in order based on q1 2013 u.s. sales:

bmw 7 series
mercedes s-class
tesla model s
audi a8

Mr KQ said...

I'd go Audi Tesla MB Bimmer

You guys will like this. http://tinyurl.com/ab3mfu4. SFW

rob said...

big country and mike peters of the alarm live at a venue within walking distance of my house? yes, please:

http://www.tallyholeesburg.com/event/267843-scenic-big-country-leesburg/

who wants to go?

Mr KQ said...

Very tempting - Just bought tix to We Were Promised Jetpacks show the same week at Jammin Java. 2 VIP seats left on website..

mayhugh said...

Zman - this headline of ESPN caught my eye: "Manuel says Bills' scheme easier than FSU's".

Yikes - what if he's right?

Clarence said...

I'm an unabashed but frequently bashed fan of 1970's Heart. (80's Heart blew.) They are wailing on a killer tendition of "Crazy On You" in the RnRHoF show airing in HBO. The Wilsons still bring it. And no, I'm not being facetious.

zman said...

I'll guess Audi tesla bimmer Benz. I see teslae all over the place lately. zfather, an astute observer of human nature, opined that "After the consumer reports review every dentist in Scarsdale will want a Tesla."

zman said...

The Bills suck.

rob said...

tesla, benz, bmw, audi. the future is coming.

zman said...

Remarkable, although I suspect all are relatively small volume. A tesla 5series fighter will be interesting and in high demand.

rob said...

shlarence, looks like the virginia gop chose farrrr right over just plain far right for lieutenant governor. and to think that shlara and i could have told stories about that one time we talked about virginia educational policy with the lieutenant governor if they'd only selected pete snyder.

zman said...

Snyder's website has a section titled "the rub on Pete." While I have no problem with that type of behavior it probably didn't curry favor with the GOP base, you know, fear of blindness and hair on your palms and all that.

Dave said...

my son ian bent in a lovely free kick on saturday it what was the ugliest, most violent U-8 soccer game i've ever seen. parents screaming at the ref, tramplings, pushing from behind. that's what you get when you play kids from elizabeth, new jersey. definitely toughened up our little small town dudes, but NOT what a kid's sporting event should be.

Squeaky said...

Mr. KQ enjoy the WWJP show. They are great live. If the venue is small bring earplugs.

zman said...

Mario Williams isn't particularly well-spoken.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9295395/mario-williams-buffalo-bills-denies-contemplating-suicide

Shlara said...

Rob--I was surprsied the VA GOP went so extreme. Heard some quotes from the dude they nominated...he doesn't seem to be playing with a full deck of cards

mayhugh said...

Regardless of his purported suicidal tendencies, the marriage didn't happen. Unless he proposed on her birthday or a [largely recognized] holiday, she will need to give the ring back.

zman said...

I think there are different rules in Different states and im not capable of doing the correct choice of law analysis. Regardless, he can't form a coherent sentence.

Dave said...

"barracuda" is one of the worst songs ever recorded. right on up there with "locomotive breath."

Dave said...

sentence of dave is the only website that proposes that michael chiklis and andrew strong are the same person. i am monopolizing that topic!

Mr KQ said...

Cheers Squeaky, can't do ear plugs will just drink myself silly.

zman said...

Nadal is woodshedding Federer in Rome.

rob said...

ewwww

TR said...

Don't judge, Rob. When in Rome...