Champions League Final Viewing: Brickhouse Sports Cafe

This year's Champions League Final between Manchester United and Barcelona is one of the most anticipated matches in recent years.  This is a perfect time to get together with fellow soccer heads to enjoy the beautiful game together.  So, where are you gonna watch it?

There is one group of dedicated fans who will be gathering at the Brickhouse Sports Cafe in Providence.  The game starts at 1PM and all are welcome to join them.  I have a family commitment that may keep me from joining them, but expect a soccer bar review of the Brickhouse next week.

HUGE SOCCER WEEKEND!!! US OPEN Cup and Champions League

This weekend will be a huge weekend for soccer in the Tennessee Valley.  There are two high quality US Open Cup Qualifying tournaments within a two hour drive from Huntsville and a dream match up in the Champions League Final on TV.


US Open Cup Weekend in NPSL SE Region

The NPSL Southeast Region season will take a break for the week to focus on determining a qualifier for the US Open Cup tournament.  The NPSL has been given four automatic spots in the nearly one hundred year old knockout tournament.  Previously, each NPSL club had to qualify out of its USASA region to gain entry to the tournament (see next section).  Each NPSL region has been given free reign to decide how to determine its qualifier with the Southeast Region electing to hold a mini-tournament over the Memorial Day weekend at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga.  Here's the schedule of games.

All times Eastern
Friday, 5:30 PM Knoxville Force v Jacksonville United
Friday, 8:00PM Rocket City United v FC Tulsa
Saturday, 5:30 PM Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves v Winner Friday 5:30 PM Game
Saturday, 8:00 PM Chattanooga FC v Winner Friday 8:00 PM Game
Sunday, 7:00 PM Winner Saturday 5:30 PM Game v Winner Saturday 8:00 PM Game

Tickets are available for $5 per game or $15 for all 5 games.  At this price, it's well worth the short drive up to Chattanooga.


USASA Region III US Open Cup Qualyfying in Tuscaloosa

Of course, if you wanted to drive in the other direction, you could catch some pretty good soccer in Tuscaloosa this weekend, too.  The US Amateur Soccer Association Region III will be holding its tournament over Memorial Day weekend, too.  Eight teams from six states (but none from Alabama) will compete for two slots in the US Open Cup.  The schedule will be published on Thursday night from a blind draw in Tuscaloosa.   Until the NPSL was granted the 4 automatic berths this year, the Region III tournament was the route teams like RCU would take to attempt to qualify.


Champions League Final on FOX!!!

Oh! BTW, there's a little soccer match on TV, too.  Manchester United doesn't often find themselves the underdog, but that's what they are in this match against Barcelona.  The game will be shown on FOX54.  That's right!  For the second year in the row, the UEFA Champions League will be shown over the air on FOX in America.  The broadcast starts a 1PM with the kickoff at 1:45PM.  If I hear of any watch parties, I'll let you all know.

Side Volleys

Holy smokes, did you see the Stankovic goal?!  If not, here it is.

That was a great goal, but there was another right footed side volley that was more important yesterday.  Real Salt Lake's Jamison Olave second half side volley form 8 yards put the MLS club into the CONCACAF Champions League Final.  Despite losing the match, RSL came out on top 3:2 in the aggregate score to qualify for the home and away style final with games on April 20th and 27th.

CONCACAF Champions League Semifinal Highlights

This is a big deal for US soccer, since no US club has made it to the final of the CONCACAF championships since the format went to a Champions League.

This and That

Champions League on FOX through 2015

FOX has extended its contract with UEFA to broadcast the UEFA Champions League.  FOX Sports will show matches through FSC, FSP, and the regional FOX Sports stations.  The CL Final will continue to be broadcast in HD on the main FOX network, including the local FOX54, for the next 4 years.


NAIA Women's Tournament

Two Saturday's ago, I called the play-by-play for the 2010 NAIA Women's Championship Final.  Lee University took home their third straight national title in a 3:0 victory over Cinderella story Hastings College to end another exciting tournament.   I'd like to thank the hardworking folks at the Decatur Parks and Rec. department and Jack Allen Soccer Complex, Amanda Dahl from the NAIA's media relations, and my buddy Juergen Beck from Freedom Light Productions, who runs a mean camera while catching all the action and braving the weather. 


Oh Yeah, This Happened

If you've followed this blog for a while, you already know that I believe FIFA's only reason for existing is to line the pockets of the bigwigs in charge.  On December 2nd, they erased all doubts of their corruption by naming Russia and Qatar as the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.  Don't believe me?  Below is the BBC's Panorama program that ran on the eve of the bid award, and casts a critical eye at the behavior of many FIFA Excutive Committee members who cast the votes to send the World Cup to Russia and Qatar.

Soccer Bar Review: The SmokeHouse Restaurant

Just in time for tomorrow's big game, here is the latest installment of our soccer bar reviews.  PWT-blog's roving restaurant reviewer, Darrell, has the low down on the Smoke House Restaurant.

Conveniently located at the north end of Bridge Street, Smoke House Restaurant was the site that we recently watched the UEFA Champions League Final. This restaurant is very spacious around the bar, which has two 52” flat screen TVs overhead on one side and two more 52” flat screen TVs on the other side. There are two additional large flat panel TVs beside the bar on a wall. There is a separate dining room with a single 42” TV. Channels available include ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, FSC, and ten or so UEFA channels. They might also purchase a PPV channel for special sporting events. The restaurant manager Chelsey Maples told me they could open early for an early match with advanced notice.

Food at the Smoke House is a bit eclectic. There is variety, including some items you would not expect. I had Frank’s Steak which came with two sides. It was excellent; I would order it again. Prices were a little on the high side. They have a kid’s menu. View the menu. I noticed 12 beer taps at the bar including Yuengling, Sam Adams, Killians Red, Boulevard Wheat, Miller, Bud, etc. In bottles, they serve Sam Adams, Corona, Heineken, Bud, Coors, etc. Other beverages include O’Douls non-
alcoholic beer, soft drinks, tea, coffee, etc.

The restaurant is a spacious open style with lots of tables and bar integrated in the floor plan.  Across from the bar is a bandstand and dance floor. I expect they play only late at night. There are three separate dinning rooms and two patio seating areas, one of which is adjacent to the bar with garage doors that open on good weather days.

The only negative comment I have is a few pesky flies were around when I was there in May.  This was probably because of the garage doors that open by the bar. This is understandable, but still annoying.

On the soccer bar scale, the Smoke House rates "3 soccer balls" mainly due to the good food, and big multiple TVs with soccer channels.

UEFA Champions League Final Preview

I've been a huge Bayern fan for decades and I've already written about one of the last times they made it to the finals. I'm certainly excited that Bayern are in the Finals, but this match-up has so many intriguing plot lines that should really pique the interest of the neutral fan.


Master vs Pupil

Inter coach Jose Mourinho knows that he's not the only "special one" in this match. In fact, he may have picked up some of tips on being special from Bayern coach Louis Van Gaal when Mourinho served as Van Gaal's assistant during the pairs wildly successful time at Barcelona.

Ex-Real Dutch Duo

In an ironic twist of fate, both teams are propelled by Dutch attacking midfielders who were cast offs from Real Madrid, who has continued their European mediocrity by crashing out in the second round of the tournament for the fifth year in a row. Wesley Schneider pulls the strings for Inter while Arjen Robben has been tearing up the field for Bayern.

UEFA Coefficient Battle
The UEFA Coefficient is an algorthm that compares the top leagues in UEFA and assigns the better leagues more teams in European competitions. As it stands today, four teams from Italy's Serie A qualify for the Champions League each year based on its superior coefficient. However, Germany is set to overtake Italy and gain an additional automatic qualification spot to its three current. Italy would then be reduced to three. The only way it can be prevented is if Inter defeats Bayern in tomorrow's Final. There is yet another ironic twist to the story because the fate of Italy's fourth automatic qualification spot rests on the shoulders of Mourinho, who just happens to be public enemy number one with the Italian soccer media. Delicious!

All this juiciness is in addition to the actual fact that this should be a great match-up on the field. The Zonal Marking blog has the best preview of the game that I've read anywhere.

See you guys at the Smokehouse Restaurant tomorrow for the watch party! If you can't make it down there, remember the game is on FOX 54. So, there's no excuse for not watching.

Champions League Final Watch Party

This Saturday is a huge day for soccer fans in the Tennessee Valley. Rocket City United opens its season that night at 7:30 PM at the Madison City Schools Stadium (201 Celtic Drive, Madison). However, before that game, Rocket City United and the Perfectly Weighted Through Blog would like to invite you to join us in watching the UEFA Champions League Final between Bayern Munich and Inter Milan Saturday afternoon at 1:30 PM.

We'll be gathering at the Smokehouse Restaurant's inside/outside bar to watch the game on their 4 large flat-screen TVs. The Smokehouse Restaurant is located in the Bridge Street Town Center next to the Westin Hotel. This will be a great chance for us to rate the Smokehouse on the PWT-blog's Soccer Bar Review page.
Following the Champions League Final viewing, we'll be heading over to the Madison City Schools Stadium for the Rocket City United reserve match at 4:30 PM. Later that night, the first team will open up their NPSL Southeast Region play by hosting the Birmingham Pumas in an Alabama derby match at 7:30 PM. Then, it's back to the Smokehouse for a post match party.

In The Presence Of Something VERY SPECIAL

Since today is the second leg of the UEFA Champion's League tie between Inter and Barcelona (FSC, 1:30 PM) , friend of the PWT-blog and former Rocket City United Technical Director, Greg Petersen, has written of his recent experience traveling to Barcelona and witnessing this Barca team up close and personal. Please don't confuse the "special" qualities described below with the "Special One" as Inter's coach, Jose Mourinho, likes to describe himself. Enough of my "special" diatribe, here's Greg's post...

Recently, I was on a business trip to Barcelona and YES, it was football related. During the four days of work, extended by another four days due to the volcanic ash situation, in which Europe was in a complete MESS, I had the privilege to witness something very special. Let me reiterate, SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL! That something special was watching FC Barcelona play live in Camp Nou.

Former RCU TD/Coach and Barca Fan Greg Petersen

I must put a disclaimer out first before I describe my experience and observations. My two favorite football clubs in the world are Ajax and Barcelona. Always have and always will be. The reason is simple; they promote a style of football I truly believe in, not only as a fan, but as a coach. Nothing gave me greater satisfaction last years Champion's League when Barcelona defeated Chelsea.

The match I saw live at Camp Nou was FC Barcelona versus Deportivo La Coruna, a match Barcelona won 3 – 0. Even though Barcelona was not in the best of form that night, you could still tell you where in the presence of a very special team made up of some very special players, supported by incredible fans that I would call “one big family” who happen to live in the best city in the world, and the match being played in a stadium that is truly one of the wonders of the world of football stadiums.

FC Barcelona v Deportivo La Coruna

Camp Nou: From the outside, Camp Nou does not look as big as it does from the inside, but once you enter the stadium, the visual is absolutely stunning! Even someone like me, who has seen a lot of Europeans stadiums, seeing and being in Camp Nou for the first time is a somewhat spiritual experience. I was very fortunate that my host had tickets right on the field. I was so close I could talk to the players. Watching the match from these seats was incredible. The seats also gave you an incredible perspective of the stadium. I'm still in “awe” how people from the very top deck even get to their seats? Friend or Foe of FC Barcelona, every true fan of football must experience a match at Camp Nou once in their life!

Camp Nou filled to the rafters.

The Team: The current squad of FC Barcelona, even if they don’t win this season’s Champion’s League trophy (I still say they will!) , will still go down in the history books as one of the special teams in the history of football. Watching players like Xavi, Messi, and Alves play live is very special, but even more special is watching this group of players play as a collective unit.

Attacking-wise, there is not a better team in the world. There ability to create scoring opportunities with their possession, passing, positional play, and individual flare is unsurpassed. All of this done in the name of “team”.

As we know, FC Barcelona is known for their attacking qualities, but to see them defend, especially after loosing possession of the ball is just AMAZING! I truly believe there is a Superman. If you don’t believe me, just watch Daniel Alves lose possession of the ball and watch him get it back!

Barca, not a lot of tall players there.

One interesting observation I would like to share... Out of the starting 11 in this match, other than Pique, Marques, and Toure, everyone else was probably less than 5 foot 10 inches. It just shows that size is not really an issue when you have players with serious technical qualities combined with intelligence, strength, and incredible explosiveness. Players who don’t possess these qualities really stand out against the norm here at FC Barcelona. With the current roster, players like Marques will probably be playing for another team next season. Even a great striker Imbrahmovic needs to prove he can fit into this squad.

Considering all of this, one of my main purposes of this trip was to review a trial of a 13 year old American player who had a week long trial at Espanyol and a one week trial at FC Barcelona recently. The player did exceptionally well, and most likely, he will be back in Europe full-time in August. It just funny to hear he not good enough for a MLS Youth Academy because of his size, but he is good enough for top European clubs. Go figure?

FC Barcelona Fans. One big family who love their team! God help the visiting opposition. Watching Barca fans in action is like seeing one body with many heads, but with same eyes and thoughts. Their expectations are high, but so is the level of play being played at their home Camp Nou. Watching them in action at home is very special! I am a fan!

Barcelona. My most favorite city in the world! If you have not been, put it on your places to visit. If you been there before, you know what I am talking about.

I hope everyone is doing well back in Northern Alabama. I look forward to posting my 2010 NPSL Southeast Division season preview (Coming soon to the PWT-blog!). It is going to be a very competitive competition! Go get your Rocket City United season tickets. There might not be a better value for your money in whole country.

The Dillema Of Watching Live vs Recorded: A Story Of The 1999 UEFA Champion's League Final

This week's UEFA Champions League semifinals and this post from the blog, A More Splendid Life, got me thinking about the peculiar situations soccer fans in the US go through when attempting to follow the UEFA Champions League matches. Having to decide whether to skip out on work/school to watch a match live is tough enough, but attempting to record the match and then avoiding all information about the result of the match has become nearly impossible. Any shred of evidence regarding the match could be crucial, as you'll read below.


In his post, Richard Whithall described his attempt to watch the 2005 Champions League Final between Liverpool and AC Milan and how a misguided glance at a newspaper effected his viewing pleasure. This particular final was famous for the fact that Liverpool stormed back from a 3:0 halftime deficit to lift the trophy with 3 second half goals and a shootout victory. As Whithall describes, avoiding soccer game information was much easier to do just a few short years ago. It used to be all you had to do was avoid your friends who knew you are a soccer fan but hadn't learned the etiquette of not talking about a game that someone may want to watch later. But that was before the advent of smart phones, ESPN/FSC news tickers, and blogs like the one you are reading now.

I had a similar experience to Whithall's during the famous Manchester United v Bayern Munich Champions League final in 1999. I had recorded the game and had successfully avoided all signs of the result except that I had somehow learned that the game ended in regulation. I don't remember how I knew that it ended without overtime, but it was the one piece of intelligence that I was unable to avoid in the hours between the live event and my date with my couch and the videotape. This one bit of info would change the way I took in the match.

Now, as you may know, I am a huge Bayern fan, and after Bayern took the a sixth minute lead on a Mario Basler free kick and successfully thwarted all ManU attacks for 84 minutes, I was elated... until seconds after the fourth official indicated 3 minutes of added time. Shortly into the added time, on a ManU corner, after a series of scuffed shots and failed clearances, Teddy Sheringham scored typically lucky late ManU goal, and the realization of what would soon take place from my video tape filled me with doom. You see, ManU had seized all of the momentum and I knew there was no way Bayern would come back from that goal. Fortunately, I didn't have to wait long for the second goal, that I knew was coming, as a few seconds later, Ole Gunnar Solskejaer roofed a into the goal from three yards off another ManU corner.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer inserts the dagger in my soul and the ball in the net

I sat dumbfounded on my couch and was certainly upset about the loss, but in retrospect, I'm thankful that I did not watch the game live and had discovered that the game ended in regulation. It was easier for me to handle the dejection of that last minute loss by having the somewhat deterministic knowledge that no other result could have occurred. If I had viewed that match live, it would have been much more painful to have maintained a shred of hope that Bayern might weather the ManU storm to get into extra time and score the winner or survive to PKs. That sense of hope would have been annihilated by the sucker-punch of that second ManU goal. That is the sort of pain I can do without, thank you very much...

Fortunately, UEFA has helped eliminate the work versus soccer decision faced by the US soccer fan by deciding to hold this year's Champions League Final on a Saturday (May 22nd on FOX54 at 1:30PM). It's up to you now to clear your schedule for that afternoon, so you don't have to play the game of attempting to hide from the results.

Champions League Concert and MLS Stadium Vids

Can You Imagine?

Heineken's Italian ad agency deserves an award for creativity. In the days leading up to this year's Real Madrid v AC Milan match, they arranged for hundreds of soccer fans to be duped into attending a classical music concert and poetry reading that would coincide with the match. Check out the results below.

MLS Stadiums Opening and Renovating

Lots of good news from the stadium front in MLS. We've already seen the beautiful new Red Bull Arena is complete and will open Saturday.

Down the turnpike, there's a new stadium being built for the expansion club Philadelphia Union with plans to open in April.

PPL Park will be the home of the Philadelphia Union

And the Toronto FC stadium, BMO Field, is expanding and they're laying down grass turf to replace the plastic pitch that they've played on for the past 3 years.

Toronto FC talks BMO Field and other TFC news

These are great developments for the league. Now, if they could only figure out the CBA mess.

Watching at Home vs Bar vs Stadium, Fox Soccer Plus, FoxSoccer.tv, and Jens Lehmann Clowns Around Again

With whom do you watch the game?

I've been beating the Huntsville soccer bar drum pretty loudly, lately. Maybe it's the long, cold winter we've been having. And it may be because I'm getting cabin fever while sitting alone on my couch, screaming at the TV over missed goals and terrible calls. I need a change of venue. I need a social outlet, a place where I can hang with my fellow soccer pals and shoot the bull while taking in the game.

Jesse Chula categorizes the various types of soccer viewers in his post for EPL Talk. While I suppose I qualify as a guy who lives close enough to visit the stadium during the RCU season, the NPSL season is only a few months long. So, I mostly identify with what he calls the "All Alone Football Fan".


Good news and bad news about Fox Soccer Plus, FoxSoccer.tv


I'll go with the good news first. Fox Soccer Plus will be offered as a replacement of Setanta by DirecTV beginning on March 1. The bad news? It will cost the same as Setanta, which runs $14.99 per month. As I wrote last year in my review of Huntsville soccer on TV options, I don't think the programming justifies the cost. And it looks like I'm not the only one who thinks it may not be worth it.

In related news, FoxSoccer.tv will live stream EPL matches (and maybe other leagues) beginning on March 6. They also be taking over where Setanta online presence left with pricing at $4.95 a game, $14.95 a month and $49.95 a season. Again, the question is, "Is it worth the money?" This time, I'd say maybe. It really depends on how many and which games they are going to be streaming, but $50 for a season's worth of games doesn't sound too bad.

Jens Is At It Again

Tuesday's Barcelona v. Stuttgart Champions League match had a lot of entertainment value, but not just for the soccer played. PWT-blog's favorite goalkeeper turned circus clown, Jens Lehmann, cranked up crazy again.

Jens up to more antics

First, Jens takes out a photographer. Then, he performs a flying leg drop that would make Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka proud. This is just weeks after peeing on the field and stomping an opponent.

Champion's League, FIFA Elections, and Soccer Shirts

Champs League Knockouts Today

For all sceptics and know-it-alls: How can you still doubt the AR's decision?

FC Bayern Munich scored a blatantly offside goal in last week's first leg of the Champions League knockout tie against Fiorentina, but the funny photo above from a German soccer blog, 90elf.de, shows Miroslav Klose was clearly onside! :)

BTW, I'd like to take a long lunch today and watch the rest of the Champions League games, but I don't have a soccer bar in which to watch it. Barcelona play at Stuttgart (1:30 PM FSE) and Bordeaux travel to Olympiacos (1:30 PM FSC).


FIFA Presidential Elections: What it means to the USA World Cup bid?

FIFA President Sepp Blatter will face stiff competition in the next election.

Bill Archer writes an interesting blog post on how the 2011 FIFA presidential elections could affect US Soccer and the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Uh-oh...


Wearing Soccer Shirts, Sending Messages

I was out on a family outing to the local shopping center yesterday, and we went into Marshalls to look for cheap toys for my daughter's birthday party. When lo and behold, in the Men's section, I stumbled upon two sweet DC United shirts for less than half the original price!

Now, the guys at EPLTalk try to explain just what I'll be communicating non-verbally when I wear those DC United shirts.

CL Final On Fox, RCU Schedule, and Beer for Strong Bones

Champions League Final Will Be On Fox!


Fox will show its first soccer match ever when it broadcasts the 2010 Champions League Final on Saturday, May 22 at 1:30PM. This is huge news for two reasons. First, it will be on the flagship over the air Fox network available to millions, not Fox Soccer Channel or as previously reported FX. Second, the game is on a Saturday which is a change from years past when the final was on a weekday and required one to take off work/school to catch the action live. Nice!

I have an inquiry into Fox54 to verify that they will indeed be showing the match on their affiliate. I'll let you all know when I hear from them.

UPDATE: Elizabeth Zaideman from WZDX confirmed that Fox54 will indeed be broadcasting the game. Hooray!


Rocket City United To Release Schedule in March
RCU president and NPSL Southeast Region Commissioner Andy Zorovich has told the Pwt-blog that RCU will release its schedule in March. The Chattahooligan blog had posted a schedule for Chattanooga FC which included the dates with RCU, but Zorovich called the release premature. Zorovich went on to say, "There is a probability of changes on what is seen at Chattahooligan."


Beer, Good for Strong Bones

This has nothing to do with soccer, but being a member of the Free the Hops organization that aims to rewrite Alabama law to bring high quality craft beer to the state, I thought I'd pass this nugget along anyway. It's now been proven that beer is good for you. Turns out, those "Got Beer" t-shirts weren't just a hokey rip-off the old milk ads. :)

Barca Babies, US Soccer Movie, Stadiums, and FSP

Barcelona Babies: The Iniesta Generation

The New York Times Goal Blog has a funny little article about the sharp increase is births around 9 months after Barcelona won the European Championship. They're calling it "The Iniesta Generation" after the fancy-footed midfielder.


The Rising Beast of US Soccer

The opening paragraph of this interview from Culture Of Soccer Blog with filmmaker Pablo Miralles really defines the fear that the rising US Soccer juggernaut causes in fans of the traditional soccer powers.

"An English fan he was interviewing said to him, “You know what I’m most scared of? I’m scared that Americans will actually start caring about this sport.” The thought of this clearly spooked the (slightly inebriated) English fan, who proceeded to start crying. Which led Pablo Miralles to wonder: What was it that would lead a fan halfway across the world to shed tears over the possibility that the US would become a soccer power?"

Miralles' current film project called "Gringo At The Gate" describes the different views that US Soccer fans have of the sport from their southern neighbors in Mexico.

Trailer for Miralles' film "Gringos At The Gate"

Note to self: Re-up Netflix when this one comes out.


Stadiums Are The Key

Rendering of the Philadelphia Union's stadium that opens this year.

Respected Houston soccer media icon Steve Davis is right on target when he says that the key to long term growth in soccer in the US is stadium development. Having a building of thier own gives the clubs financial viability and gives the community and supporters a sense of permanence. You also gotta love the tongue lashing that Davis gives soccer haters, too.

"It also says to the soccer haters: 'Screw you, we’re here to stay. So go hide in the forest with the rest of the xenophobic jackholes and douchey ding dongs who always want to know ‘Why can’t things just be the way they used to be?' "

More Leagues For Fox Soccer Plus


EPLTalk.com has been right on top of the Fox Soccer stories this winter. They were on top of the FSC HD news and now they're giving us the rumors on Fox Soccer Plus. Looks like we'll get to see the French League Un and the English Championship (2nd divsion just below the EPL).

TV Stuff: 3D, Champs League, And FSC In HD Or Not?

3D Soccer on TV: How It Works

I was watching the Arsenal v ManU broadcast this weekend, and the announcers mentioned that it was being broadcast in 3D in England. Well, that got me thinking about the how it is technically done. Lucky for me, the Daily Mail has the answer.


Champions League Watched By More Than The Super Bowl

Reuters reports that the UEFA Champions League Final has passed the Super Bowl for the first time last year as the most viewed annual sporting event. The CLF between ManU and Barcelona was watched by 109 million people worldwide, while the Super Bowl was watched by 106 million.


Fox Soccer Channel "Available In HD"? Not Really

As I told you last week, FSC has started broadcasting in HD, but as EPL Talk points out in this article, that don't mean squat, if none of the carriers have the HD version in their line-up. From what I could piece together, my carrier, DirecTV, currently doesn't have the capacity to add the HD version of FSC. An additional satellite has been launched to increase the capacity, but that will not go online until "late first quarter or early second quarter 2010." Still no joy in HD-ville.

Minute By Minute Champion's League Food Fest Part 3

In Part 3 of our gastronomic tour of UEFA Champion's League matchday 4, Chris watches the tape delayed match between AZ (prounounced ah-zet) Alkmaar and Chris' club Arsenal with some nice cold Heinekens and Good Humor Ice Cream...

4:00pm: Time for AZ Alkmaar @ Arsenal, the third and final leg of this UEFA orgy. Since Alkmaar is in Holland, it’s also time for a Heineken. Then again, when is it not?

Important note: In the interest of full disclosure, I am an Arsenal fan. Not only will this colour (note UK spelling) my coverage of this game, it also requires some very specific pre-game preparations. My Arsenal baseball-style cap must be retrieved from the car and be brought into the room in which I will watch the game. It may not be worn before or during the game. Likewise my Arsenal jersey from the glorious double winning side of 1998 must be in the room, but not worn. Then a slew of other stuff I’d rather not write about. The fact that this game is already over does not matter. It’s new to me, I don’t know the result, I’m stuffed with crap from Walmart and enjoying a second wind, probably provided by the Heineken.


As the camera pans the stands of the Emirates Stadium in London, AZ’s traveling fans are jumping up and down and singing prior to kick off. Some of them are wearing cheese wheels on their heads, a la Green Bay Packers fans. Edam! I should of thought of it. Edam is Dutch cheese and Walmart probably carries it, but it’s too late now. There is, however, a nice Good Humor/Green Bay/Cheesehead tie-in.

Kick-off: Hey, they didn’t show the UEFA Anthem. Outstanding. Two weeks ago Arsenal squandered a one-goal lead at Alkmaar late in the game. They need to put this thing away.

10’: Arsenal playing good passing combinations. They really should score soon.
This is Arsenal Coach Arsene Wenger’s 187th game in European competition. Alkmaar has a player named Pelle, but he is Italian. Arsene Wenger has never beaten Alkmaar Coach Ronald Koeman.

14’: Arsenal continues to dominate and play attractive soccer, but, as is often the case, have no goals to show for it. I think Ronald Koeman can read Arsene Wenger’s mind.

15’: Clearly, I need a chamber pot.

20’: Still no goal. Maybe drinking Heineken is working against Arsenal. Nahhh. “It’s not been a vintage start, that’s for sure.” Obviously the referee, along with Interpol and the “Dutch Underground” are conspiring against Arsenal. Wenger should cover his head with aluminum foil. (I just can’t call that stuff ‘aluminium.’)


25’: GOAL ARSENAL. Midfielder Cesc Fabregas beats AZ ‘keeper to the near post from 18 yards. Cesc Fabregas is on my fantasy team. I’ll drink to that.

33’: This is by far the most dynamic, fluid soccer I’ve seen today. Both sides are creating and attacking. Although Arsenal’s Sami al Nasri, recently returned from injury, has been a complete non-factor.


43’: GOAL ARSENAL. Sami al Nasri has scored. Shut my mouth. Nice assist from Andrey Arshavin, the friendly Russian.

Halftime: 2-0 to Arsenal and off to the potty.


46’: And we’re back. My head is swimming, stomach roiled and Arsenal in command.

52’: GOAL ARSENAL. Cesc Fabregas has scored his second off a fantastic feed from Arshavin, curling his shot around AZ ‘keeper Romero. This is fun for me but, wait, what’s this? The AZ fans aren’t sad or mad, they’re actually singing. They sing in their shirts, they sing in their shoes, they sing in their cheeseheads with suspenders and booze. Whoa there, Dr. Boddington’s. “An extraordinary amount of work now for Alkmaar to restore parity in this fixture.” You think?

67’: Cesc Fabregas is subbed out the game, dashing my hopes for a fantasy hat trick. Brazil–born Croat (really) Eduardo comes on for Robin Van Persie.


72’: GOAL ARSENAL. Eduardo played an incredible back-heel to Arshavin near midfield. Arshavin split the defense with a pinpoint through-ball to Abou Diaby. Goal Diaby. Well I’ll Diaby’d. 4-0 to Arsenal. With the game all but over, it’s time to dig into a Good Humor cookies and cream bar. Now, if I could just get out of the chair…

82’: GOAL AZ ALKMAAR. Well, there goes the shutout. Jeremain Lens has scored for AZ. I never should’ve opened that Unilever product. My bad, Arsene.


Fulltime: Arsenal 4-1 AZ Alkmaar. Arsenal have clinched advancement to the knockout stage.


Now, if I can make it to midnight, the good people at Fox Soccer Channel will be showing the Dynamo Kiev/Inter Milan game from today. Not very likely.

Minute By Minute Champion's League Food Fest Part 2

In part 2 of our "fine" dining review of UEFA Champion's League matchday 4, Chris enjoys some Boddington's and pommes frites while taking in the Liverpool at Lyon match. Check out the first match of the day here.


1:30pm: Finally a game with an English team. Time to crack a Boddington’s. Goals, please.
FSC analyst Warren Barton: “Liverpool’s whole season is at stake here. They can’t win the English Premier League. The Champions League is it for them. They must win…” Did he mention Geico?

Now FSC gives us a look-in at every stadium where a game is about to kick–off, along with a bit of commentary. This is refreshing.
Bad sign for Liverpool: aging central defender, team captain and Anfield legend Jamie Carragher is starting at right back due to a spate of injuries.

Geico, Heineken and Fifa Soccer 10 ads run constantly. Now I see an ad for XL Soccer Tours. Didn’t they go out of business last year, ignominiously removed from West Ham jerseys DURING the season. Hmmmm. Must be a different XL Soccer Tours.

1:40pm: Since all remaining games today will kick-off at 1:45 and I don’t want to spoil the result of Arsenal/Alkmaar which I’ll be watching on tape delay, all communications devices are turned off.


OK, here’s the Stade de Gerland in Lyon. The teams are lined up and the Champions League Anthem is playing, again.

Our referee is Frank De Bleeckere of Belgium, a second-generation FIFA ref.

Commentator Richard Kaufman sets the scene: “It’s a massive night in the gastronomic center of France.” Hey, that was my line.

Let’s hear Matt Millen come up with something like that.

1:45pm: Kick-off

5’: I’m not ready for the fish and pommes frites yet. Another Boddington’s should aid in tapas digestion. Both Marseille and Bourdeaux won in UCL yesterday. If Lyon wins today, all three French teams will have won on matchday four. Sacre Bleu!

14’: Commentator: “Should Liverpool lose tonight, it would be their worst run of results in fifty years.” Sacre bleu! I don’t think referee Frank De Bleeckere likes Liverpool’s captain Jamie Carragher, as if he didn’t already have enough to worry about.

17’: OL ‘keeper Lloris denies Dirk Kuyt with a fantastic save. Wait a minute…I have Kuyt on my UCL fantasy team. Lloris must die.

21’: Liverpool’s rarely used Ukrainian midfielder Andriy Voronin has fallen over backward, dirtying his ponytail. Voronin is like a Ukrainian version of “Zoolander.”
Doesn’t Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov look like actor Andy Garcia?

28’: Voronin almost scores. Great save again by Lloris. Shocking.

35’: This game is mercifully more end-to-end than Rubin/Barca. OL seem, perhaps, to be lacking that “je ne sais quois.”

40’: OL Coach Claude Puel forced to use 2nd substitute in first half due to injury. This doesn’t bode well for OL.

Halftime: 0-0. Three halves of top-notch European soccer yields no goals. Time for the last Boddington’s. I’d better heat up the oven for the fish et pommes frites. My stomach thinks otherwise. Has my mind made a promise my body can’t fill?

According to the Geico gecko, “(Liverpool Coach) Rafa Benitez doesn’t want to lose this game.”

46’: Someone please score a goal.

51’: Liverpool star striker Fernando Torres gets his second touch…of the game.

55’: Refs Frank De Bleeckere and Konrad Plautz should form a musical combo.

60’: I’m not eating these fries with mayonnaise, no matter what the French custom is.

64’: OL’s first corner of the game. What exactly does he mean, “a sniff of a chance”?

68’: Mercifully, Andriy Voronin is subbed out for Dutchman Ryan Babel.

69’: OL ‘keeper Lloris with another great save, denying Lucas. This is the high point of the day so far.

73’: OL striker Sidney Govou comes in for Gomis. Govou has been in the doghouse of late due to photographs printed in a local paper showing him leaving a nightclub in “poor condition”. Hey Sid, you should be here.


83’: GOAL Liverpool. A “wonderstrike” from sub Ryan Babel has the Reds up 1-0. It really was a great effort from 20+ yards out into the upper corner. “A bolt from the blue from Babel.” Ah, alliteration, the commentator’s best friend. My decision to postpone a bathroom break until the end of the game has paid off.

86’: Man I need to go to the bathroom.

90’: Just a couple of minutes to kill and Liverpool will get the win they sorely need.
GOAL OL. Lisandro equalizes for OL off a Bastos flick-on. Agony for Liverpool.


Fulltime: 1-1 OL has clinched advancement to knockout stage of UCL. Impressively, Olympique Lyon have made it to the knock-out stage eight consecutive years. Less impressively, they have not made it to a final. Liverpool no longer controls their destiny. “Heart-break for Liverpool.” Bathroom break for me.


Chris watches that AZ Alkmaar vs Arsenal match in the 3rd and final episode in Part 3.