I HEART DirecTV, EPL on FOX on Sunday

DirecTV Still The Way to Go in Huntsville

A few years ago, I posted a study on which Huntsville area TV package provides the most soccer for the discriminating fan.  Since that post nearly two years ago, the landscape of soccer on TV has changed a little bit; FOX networks showing EPL and Champions League; NBC and NBC Sports (Versus) soon to show MLS matches; and Sentanta is replaced by FOX Soccer Plus.  However, my recommendation remains the same.  DirecTV is the soccer lovers choice here in Huntsville.

Note:  The development of soccer on the Internet is a greatly welcomed addition to soccer viewers choices.  From MLS Matchday Live, ESPN3.com, foxsoccer.tv, and the various reliable (and nefarious) live streams of matches across the globe adds literally hundreds of additional choices to the soccer fan's menu.  I won't attempt to describe these here, but they are still a viable option for someone looking to view matches on the cheap.

So, here's some update info for soccer on TV in Huntsville.

Leagues/Competitions: Networks

American MLS: ABC, ESPN2, FOX Soccer (FSC), FOX Soccer Espanol (FSE), MLS Direct Kick, RSNs, (2012: NBC, NBC Sports)
English EPL: FOX, FSC, FSP. FSE, RSNs,
Italian Serie A: FSC, FSP, FSE
Spanish La Liga: GolTV, DirecTV LaLiga Channels
German Bundesliga: GolTV
Brazilian Pulista Championship: GolTV
Columbian League: GolTV
Australian A League: FSC
Scottish Premier League: FSP
Mexican MFL: FSE, GolTV, Univision, Telemundo
UEFA Champions League: FOX, FSC, FSP, RSN, DirecTV Europa Channels
UEFA Cup: GolTV, DirecTV Europa Channles
Copa Libertadores: FSE
Concacaf Champions Cup: FSC, FSE
World Cup/Friendlies: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNClassic, FSC, FSP, FSE, GolTV, Univision
American USL/NASL: FSC
NCAA Soccer: CBS CS, FSC, ESPN2, ESPNU, RSNs

To catch all of this soccer action here are the packages you need.

DirecTV Premier Package: Includes FOX, ABC (WAAY), ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPN Classic.

DirecTV Sports Pack Package: Includes the major Soccer related channels like Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Sports Espanol and GolTV. Also included are the regional sports networks (RSNs) and others channels that show the occasional Soccer match or two (ESPNU, CBS College Sports, etc.)  This package also includes at no extra charge the DirecTV Europa Channels (480-489) and Spanish LaLiga (477-479) channels which show all of the Champions League and Europa League matches including a mix channel to watch them all simultaneously.  If you've not seen this Mix Channel in action, you are missing out.  I often record the games with Americans and watch later.   IT ABSOLUTELY ROCKS!

DirecTV's Europa Mix Channel is Awesome!

*FOX Soccer Plus: This is a channel that DirecTV offers that is not included in the Sports Pack and used to be called Setanta. You must pay an extra $15 a month for the channel.  It broadcasts EPL matches, SPL, Italian Serie A, and English 1st division matches. I personally don’t think it is worth the extra money, and that's probably why Sentanta went out of business.  I suppose if I followed a certain team in one of those competitions, I might reconsider. 

MLS Direct Kick: This is the best deal around. For a once a year fee of $70, you get all of the MLS matches not shown on ABC, ESPN2, FSC, or Telefutura including play-off games. That’s over 200 games a year. This is how I watch my beloved DC United.

So, as you can see, there is plenty of soccer to be seen, if you know where to get it. 



FOX54 To Show ManU-Chelsea on Sunday

Keeping with the soccer on TV theme of this post,  FOX54 will air the Manchester United-Chelsea match at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.  The local over-the-air FOX affiliate will show the tape delayed match that will originally air on FOX Soccer earlier in the day.  The match-up of EPL giants will go up against prime NFL broadcasts including the Chargers-Patriots game over on WHNT.

It will be interesting to see if any casual gridiron fans will be turned to the dark side by this game.  I feel conflicted about this for a couple of reasons that are well put by Jason Davis at Match Fit USA.    And then again, maybe I'm just afraid that my love of the game will be overtaken by bandwagon jumpers.

This isn't the only broadcast of EPL matches this season.  There will be at least two more broadcasts in the next two months.  As always, I'll let you know when they do.

UAH Season Opener, USA v Costa Rica Viewing Party, TV Updates

UAH Kicks Season Off Thursday

UAH hosts Talladega in their season opener at 2PM on Thursday.  Coach Mike Mitchell is looking forward to playing the NAIA school to guage his teams progress from a disappointing season last year.

American Outlaws host USA vs Costa Rica Viewing Party Friday at the Brickhouse

The local American Outlaws chapter will be hosting a viewing party for the USA v Costa Rica match this Friday at the Brickhouse.  Game time is at 10PM and as always there will be food and drink specials.



Soccer On TV Just Got Sexier

Soccer on TV in the USA has reached a few milestones recently.  MLS has announced a major deal with NBC Sports where 45 MLS and USMNT matches will be shown on NBC and the NBC Sports Network (currently called Versus).  Originally, I was lukewarm about the deal, but in the days since,  NBC has announced a major effort to challenge ESPN's dominance and will feature live sporting events like MLS and NHL.  

Another sign that soccer is coming to the mainstream sports consciousness is FOX's announcement that they will broadcast 4 EPL games this season.

Harry

The North London Derby is today (ESPN2 1:55PM), and Arsenal fan and PWT-blog contributor Chris has written a love/hate note about arch-rival Tottenham Hotspurs manager Harry Redknapp (love only because Arsenal has dominated since Harry took over Spurs). Enjoy!

Here it is, April 14, 2010 and time for the North London Derby once again. Arsenal’s relative dominance over Spurs both head-to-head and in the final EPL standings over, well, over the entirety of Arsene Wenger’s reign at Arsenal not withstanding, it’s still as fierce and bitter a rivalry as exists in the world of club football. When Arsenal beat out Spurs for 4th place in the EPL and a lucrative Champions’ League berth four years ago on the last day of the season, amid reports of mysterious stomach ailments among key Spurs players, whatever the rivalry might have lost was renewed. Go ahead, blame the lasagna. Harry Redknapp probably knows the guy who made it. The present match also has much riding on it, namely Spurs hopes for that elusive 4th place finish this year and Arsenal’s slim, but not dead, hopes for the EPL crown.

I write, however, not about the rivalry, but about Spurs’ head man, one Harry Redknapp. Like Larry Brown of American basketball, Harry Redknapp is well traveled, to put it mildly. He began his coaching career in 1976 with the Seattle Sounders of the NASL. Really? I didn’t know that. He looks a picture of health compared to Sigi Schmidt. Following long-term stints at Bournemouth (1983-1992) and West Ham United (1994-2001), Harry’s been increasingly peripatetic, doing managerial duties at Southampton, Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur. Oddly enough, part of the lore of the origin of the club’s name involves one “Harry Hotspur.” Ah, the interconnectivity becomes apparent.


Interconnected? Harry Redknapp, father of player Jamie and Uncle of Frank Lampard, is, coincidentally (I mean, is this really irony?), the son of a lifelong Arsenal fan. In fact, when the senior Redknapp passed on a few years back, Arsenal Football Club sent a wreath to the funeral.

What, however, would Harry Redknapp do to make a living were he not a football coach? Yes, that’s what I’ve been trying to get to. The man simply oozes a sort of loveable cheesiness, like a guy in a wife-beater t-shirt, adorned with gold chains, cooking a cheesesteak sandwich in South Philly. If you think I’m ragging on Philly, please note that I did not refer to it as “Philthy.”

So here’s a speculative list. Please feel free to add to it.

1. Philadelphia sandwich maker
2. Used car salesman
3. Used car salesman (it’s just so apt)
4. Aging London gangster in Guy Ritchie films
5. London cabbie
6. Barker at French Quarter strip club
7. Car title loans huckster
8. Ace recruiter for Alabama and Auburn (“Wot, you only sent a shoebox of guineas?”)
9. Dick Van Dyke role in “Mary Poppins”
10. Cockney bootblack (“Shine yer boots, Guv’ner?”)

Old Guys, US D2 Pro League, and Nice Bike Goal

Let's Hear It for the Old Guys!

Did you know that there are 144 players in the EPL that are 30 years or older? MLS has its share of players in their 30s, too. In fact, Climbing the Ladder has named an MLS Old Player of the Year award for each season. As we know, our local league has an appreciation for old guys as HASL has announced that it will start an Over-35 division this fall. And there is also a US cup tournament for old guys with the very PC name of the Veteran's Cup.


Division 2 Preview
MLS began its season this past weekend. Now, the new USSF Divsion 2 Pro League will begin on April 10th. Brian Quarstad of Inside Minnesota Soccer has a complete preview of the league that consists of 12 teams from both the USL and the NASL, including two teams (Portland and Vancouver) who will be joining MLS next year.

Get on Your Bike

Nice overhead kick goal from the Turkish league.

On his bike

World Cup Uniforms, EPL Refs, Jolazo, and Arena quotes "Dumb and Dumber"

World Cup Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder

How did this not make the worst uniform list?

ESPN Soccernet has posted two articles with their best and worst World Cup uniforms. I guess I have no fashion sense, because some of the uniforms on their best list would make my worst and vice versa. But what do I know? I let my wife pick out all my clothes...


EPL Refs Let Too Much Go?

Ouch! Did De Jong learn how to do that in the EPL?

In the wake of the two bad tackles over the past week, EPL referees have been taken to task for allowing too much rough stuff. In fact, Bert van Marwijk, the Dutch National Team coach, chewed out Dutch defender Nigel De Jong after his terrible tackle which broke USA midfielder Stuart Holden's leg in last week's friendly. Van Marwijk lays the blame on the referees who allow such challenges routinely on the EPL pitches. De Jong has apparently gotten used to getting away with the lunging challenge in the EPL where getting "stuck in" is just part of the game.


Jolazo!

US soccer geeks have coined a new term. The "jolazo", used to describe a goal by USMNT and Hull City foward, Josie Altidore. It's a mash-up of the term golazo and Josie's name, and is also teasingly used to describe a long anticipated goal scored after a long drought. In fact, it's already appeared in the Urban Dictionary as

"A brilliantly lashed ball that finds the back of the net to end a scoring drought in dramatic fashion.

and

Any goal struck by Hull City and UMSNT striker Josmer Altidore."

They're even selling shirts.

Arena: Dumb or Dumber


LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena used a quote from the famous Jim Carey movie last week when describing the chances that star player Landon Donovan would extend his loan with Everton. "It was kind of like in that movie 'Dumb and Dumber', where the man says that there is a chance, it's just one in a million." Jacob at Southern Soccer has a posted the clip from the classic movie.

More Weekend Warrior, Ref's Sweet Backheel, and Eurosnob Smackdown

Weekend Warrior Is Upon Thee


Don't forget to bring your new or used soccer equipment to benefit Haiti out to the Weekend Warriors tournament this Saturday and Sunday. They'll also have a juggling contest to benefit the Melissa George Neonatal Memorial Fund at Huntsville Hospital with some great prizes including Rocket City United gear and season tix. PWT-blog will be on hand to bring you highlights of the fun from John Hunt Park this weekend. Lastly, they'll be selling T-shirts featuring the logo above.


Nice Backheel, Ref!

Apparently, fancy footskills aren't the sole domain of players anymore. When Spanish referee Alvarez Izquierdo accidentally got in the way of a pass, he decide the fair thing to do was to return the ball to the intended player with a nonchalant backheel. Nice pass!

You're So Vain, Eurosnob!

Adrea Canales of Goal.com calls out the American born Eurosnob in her weekly column. She lays it down on the fools who for years dissed Landon Donovan, who is currently tearing it up for Everton in the EPL, because he choose to play in MLS rather than sit the bench for a European team. They claim that Donovan's years of playing for San Jose and LA have stunted his growth as a player and has subsequently hurt the USMNT. Suddenly, those same fools are his biggest fan, and Canales let's 'em have it.

Monday, Monday

Due to my recent bout with flu and the CDC's frowning upon those with flu getting on airplanes, I had to cancel my family's trip to Arizona this week. So, it's back to work for me. It shouldn't be too bad. Most folks are on vacation this week, and it'll be a bit of a ghost town. Unfortunately, I will miss all of today's EPL matches.

EPL Holidays

Speaking of missing the matches due to work, here is a nice little article from EPL Talk to remind us that we in America work too much. :)

Missing the old days

Back in the day: We had the greats like Cruyff to ourselves! See how much space we had to relax in the stands!

According to some, soccer has finally hit the mainstream. This is a good look at the remorse some of us who have been on the bandwagon for decades may feel when the USA wakes up and starts paying attention to the beautiful game for real.

It's a lot like when I went to see Blink 182 in 1995 and was one of 5 guys in the joint. I had room to pull off all of my fancy dance steps. Five years later, I took my nephew to see them play an arena show and we had to share the experience with 20,000 others. My round-house skank just didn't seem as much fun when I kept bumping into teeny-boppers by the hundreds.

Now, we have to share with the Johnnies-come-lately!

It's just like soccer now. Instead of walking up before kick-off, going right up to the ticket counter, paying for the cheap seats and ignoring the number on the ticket to sit down right at the midfield stripe, now we'll have to start buying season tickets just to make sure we get in the stadium. And the referee won't be able to hear me call him a bum anymore!

I'm going to start missing those days. Just call me an old curmudgeon! :)

Things for Thursday

Picking the Right Coach

With RCU's recent coaching change, this article from former Chicago Fire General Manager Peter Wilt for Pitch Invasion was a timely read. It's a very interesting look into the types of things organizations consider when sorting through candidates to run their team.

Oh no Jens...

Insert adult diaper joke here!

First, he pees on the field, during a game. Now, he stomps on an opposing player, costing his team precious points in the Bundesliga. What is going on with VfB Stuttgart's enigmatic goalkeeper Jens Lehmann? My favorite soccer writer, Raphael Honigstein, breaks it down and drops another great quote on us.

The Stuttgart keeper had already endured a busy week that included public criticism of the board – and peeing on an advertising board in the Champions League win over Unirea. "He handled it quite expertly," was the sporting director Horst Heldt's verdict. Bild, however, wondered why the referee hadn't shown the keeper a yellow card. (No pun intended, we presume).

Here's hoping the former Arsenal netminder can keep his head together for a few more weeks. He is just too entertaining a figure for him to retire now.

More On Diving

Here's another quality article from the Guardian. This one is on the hypocrisy of the English player who claims to abhor flopping, only to look like they are on iceskates once they enter the penalty area. BTW, the same can be said about American players. I've heard that players from the US are too "honest" to dive, but those people have never watched Chris Rolfe or Taylor Twellman hit the deck. It happens in MLS, too.

Funny Diving Video

Weekend Bits

UAH Keep Conference Record Undefeated

Keeping to the script of scoreless first halves, UAH found net 4 times in the second half to come from a goal down for the 4:1 victory at Delta State. Finding themselves trailing by a David Horstman goal in the 52nd minute, UAH responded via hot handed Oscar Leon who converted from a Andres Flores feed in the 57th minute. Sean Kerber found the game winner in the 73rd minute when Kyle Gonclaves found him for the first of his two assists on the day. Kota Kashiwagi provided the rest of the UAH offense with two goals in three minutes and by the 80th minute the contest was over at 4:1.

MLS Playoffs Set

After an amazing weekend, the MLS teams have either claimed thier positions in the post season or started the offseason early. To start the fun Saturday night, Toronto FC was eliminated from the playoffs after being trounced 5:0 by an bottom of the table New York Red Bulls who were playing their last game in Giant Stadium. The LA Galaxy won the west with two goals from Landon Donovan's foot for a 2:0 defeat of San Jose. Real Salt Lake beat fellow Rocky Mountain squad Colorado 3:0 and Seatle beat FC Dallas 2:1 for wildcard spots. On Sunday afternoon, Houston topped Chivas USA 3:2 as both teams qualified for the playoffs and New England beat Supporters Shield winner's Columbus 1:0 for the final wild card spot available.

The wildest game of the weekend had to be the DC United v Kansas City Wizards match up where DCU needed a win over the already eliminated KC squad. After going down a goal in the first half, DC United fought back to tie the match and then pulled out all of the stops. After the 3 allotted substitutions had been made, DCU defender Julius James suffered a leg injury in the 75 minute. He was repositioned from central defense to center forward where he would be expected to do nothing more than hobble around and occupy space. However, despite the damaged leg, it was James who became the improbable goalscorer when he out leaped a KC defender to nod home the go ahead goal in the 80th minute. Unfortunately, as has happened all season for DCU, they could not hold the lead when in the 91st minute, a goal bound ball was stopped by the elbow of Fred. The Brazilian was shown the requisite red card and KC converted the PK. The excitement didn't end there however as DCU rookie Rodney Wallace's last ditch effort from 18 yards beat Kevin Hartman in the KC goal but agonizingly struck the inside of the post only to flash across the wide open goal mouth and referee's whistle blew the end of both teams' season.

Now here's the playoff match-ups:

Columbus vs Chivas USA
Chicago vs New England
Houston vs Seattle
Los Angeles vs Colorado

I'll pass along the TV schedule when details are worked out.


Arsene's Arsenal Built With Brains

The EPL Talk site has a terrific article discussing how Arsene Wenger has built a perennial top club with a fraction of the expenditures that the other top world clubs have.

"Arsenal has finished in the top four every year for the past decade, and under Wenger has collected three Championships, six FA Cups, and went undefeated for the 2003-2004 EPL season. He has done this while spending a small fraction of what his rivals have spent in the transfer market. If you add up all of Wenger spending since he joined the team in 1996 and subtract his sales in the transfer market over that time, his net expenditures are a measly £17 million – less than £2 million per year."

The article goes on to describe the unwritten rules followed by Arsenal in their player acquisition strategy. Simple, really. Buy low, sell high, right? :)

EPL Fantasy Talk and UAH road loss

EPL Talk Gives Fantasy Tips


Fantasy football isn't just for the gridiron game. There are many fantasy leagues for MLS and EPL. For those of you who just started your EPL league, Kevin Coleman over at EPL Talk provides the low-down on how to move to the top of the table in your league.

UAH Falls In Road Opener

Despite twice taking a one goal lead in the first 45 minutes, University of Alabama-Huntsville was not able to hold on and dropped a 3:2 tilt on the road to Shorter College. First half UAH goals by junior striker Brett Hughson were matched goal for goal by Shorter's Gary Perks, and in the 60th minute Shorter found the winner from a John Calderwood strike.

TV Tidbits

ESPN To Air EPL, Bundesliga Matches

ESPN is certainly looking to make up for losing the UEFA Champion's League broadcast rights.


ESPN is set to announce that they will broadcast selected English Premier League matches in the USA. Starting with next Saturday's match-up between Chelsea and Jozy Altidore's new team, Hull City. ESPN acquired the rights from the troubled Setanta network and will show the Saturday 8:45AM and the Monday 2PM matches on ESPN2.


Also, the New York Times is reporting that ESPN has reached a deal with GolTV to broadcast the German Bundesliga. GolTV currently owns the USA broadcast rights, but is set to announce a deal in which ESPN would broadcast selected matches similar to the one they recently reached regarding Spain's La Liga.


ESPN To Air USA v Mexico WCQ Special


Although, they are not showing the match, ESPN is planning on providing extensive coverage of the USA v Mexico World Cup Qualifier on Wednesday. Bob Ley and Alexi Lalas will host a live pregame show from the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on Wednesday at 2:30PM on ESPN.

DirecTV Moves Mun2 In Preparation For USA v Mexico WCQ



In more WCQ TV news, satellite TV service provider, DirecTV has moved Mun2 from channel 410 to channel 203 to help it's customers find the English language broadcast of the much anticpated USA v Mexico World Cup Qualifier. Phil Shoen and Marcello Balboa are set to broadcast the match in English which will be shown on the little known, normally Spanish language network. The network will be made available for free to all satellite and cable TV providers for the day of the match.