Can you believe that this is the twentieth weekly football post? What is this world coming to? While the NFL is looking toward a Super Bowl between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers, my favorite NFL team stole the news with a big head coaching hire. Wouldn't it be nice if the Cardinals could actually win the Super Bowl? Maybe.
The former Los Angeles Rams are finally back on the LSF WFP this time around with the news that we've hired a new coach. Former Giants' defensive coordinator and Whitinsville, Massachusetts native Steve Spagnuolo has taken the job that I wouldn't think anybody would want. The word on the street is that Spags is picking up just under $12 million, but years of the deal have yet to be announced (that can't be for one year, can it?). Taking over a squad that finished 2-14 in the 2008 season can't be high on anyone's wish list, but the so called "architect of the Giants' sack happy defense" could be ready to take his shot at making things better. The offensive line, of course, could use some hope as well. Spags is 49 years old, and was able to turn around a sad defense in New York to help earn himself a Super Bowl ring in the 2007 season. According to the St Louis Today dot com website, here are the 5 reasons Rams Nation should be excited about Spags: 1) He is, above all else, sincere 2) He has presence, 3) Faith is important to him (wait, is her Protestant? Damn!), 4) Though intense and feisty, Spagnuolo has a lot of inner calm, and 5) Spags and his wife will be involved in the community. Hm, I wish one of those would have been that he is a winner who will help take this team to the Super Bowl. Just remember, head coaches don't matter that much.
The only way I can describe the feeling around Glasgow is shocked. The Bhoys from Celtic got blown up by Aberdeen 2-4 over the weekend, and now only lead Rangers by two points in the race for the SPL title. It was Aberdeen's Zander Diamond with a double in the second half that did the trick, after the sides played even over the first 45. The midfielder from Dunfermline, Scott Brown, nailed home an equalizer early on after the Abs got the first goal, and then the Aussie mega stud Scott McDonald nailed home a goal before the first whistle to cancel out the second goal from Aberdeen. The striker's netter would be the last goal we would see for the Hoops, as Siedlce, Poland native Artur Boruc just couldn't hold the door shut. The win by the Dons has most of Celt Nation a little nervous, let's be honest. At 16-3-3 (51 points), the Hoops sit just +2 on the Protestants from Rangers, and need to get back to their winning ways quickly. The #6 Hibs are next on the hit list for The Mighty Celts, and with Rangers lining up against Aberdeen on the same day, the Green & White could have a chance to move 5 clear with a little help.
I wish I could say looking up north to Newcastle could make me feel a little better about my footie squads, but it just isn't so. 'Castle got straight jacked by Blackburn over the weekend, dropping a 0-3 affair. Black's coach Sam Allardyce has to be feeling pretty good after beating his former club, despite still being 2 back of the squad that he ruined. Irish native Shay Given just couldn't keep the inferior side out of the twine over 90 minutes, and the sadness around Magpie-ville continues to loom like a dark cloud. This loss has led to an increase in problems around Toon Town, with boss Joe Kinnear refusing to commit himself to agree to a new contract because he wants to "create his own team" (he's also coming out in the papers wasting the time to say that Newcastle's problems aren't his fault, which is totally lame). Meanwhile, Shay Given is starting to get linked to rumors of a change, and Michael Owen continues to refuse to sign on a new contract. When will this squad get sorted out? 2019? The 5-9-8 club (their 23 points keep them just 2 clear of relegation) next line up against #11 Manchester City, or Money City if you're with me. A chance for a big upset? I sure hope so, because 'Castle needs to do something to put some smiles on our faces.
Chivas de Guadalajara earned a 3-3 draw with Cruz Azul over the weekend, after two huge goals from Apatzingan, Mexico native Carlos Ochoa in the first 27 minutes. Ocho's first goal was after a failed corner kick set piece. The ball bounced around outside the box, and came right back to his feet for the impressive strike. His second goal was a pass through the box that found him streaking toward the net. Ocho laid out, and his sliding foot connected to put the ball over the gloves of "Strawberry" Yosgart Gutierrez. Pretty. Down 0-2 after the two goals, Cruz got to Luis Michel three straight times from minute 35 to minute 43, and the Goats found themselves down 2-3 really, really quickly. Luckily, early on in the second half it was Guada native Sergio Ponce getting the cancelation strike that would lead to the game ending in a 3-3 draw. With the UNAM Pumas getting the only win in the Group 2 division through week one, Chivas only sits 2 points back of the lead with an upcoming match against Tecos on Saturday (the DVR is set, baby). This is shaping up to be my most involved FMF season in history.
Has anyone else noticed that when Boston lost 7 out of 9 games they had crazy media coverage, but now that they have ripped off five straight wins you haven't heard anything about them? The most recent W was the 104-87 win over Phoenix where Rajon "The Three R's" Rondo had 23 points. At 34-9, my Green & White hardwooders sit 23 1/2 games up on the Los Angeles Clippers by my count in the chase for the "LSF Cup," which doesn't actually exist.
And then there is this, in honor of the inauguration.
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