(Gary Megson can’t bear to look at the trailer for “XXX : State Of The Union” one more time)
Our condolences go out to the supporters of Nottingham Forest, who yesterday became the first two-time European Cup winners to be relegated to Football League One (or as it used to be known, the Third Division) with their 2-1 defeat to QPR at Loftus Road. Life-long R’s fan Marc Bircham’s 51st minute strike was the difference as 10 man Forest’s fate was sealed.
Brighton have likely escaped their own relegation, yesterday’s 1-0 victory at Rotherham via a Paul McLaren own goal putting them in 20th place. Crewe, 5-1 losers at Ipswich, appear doomed with a week to go.
Chelsea’s 50 year wait to be crowned champions of the top flight came to an end yesterday with the Blues’ 2-0 win at Bolton. Owner Roman Abramovich has long since proved himself to be the Anti-McClatchy when it comes to spending heavily for superstar talent, so much so that I’m not sure Jaromir Jagr will get a game next season.
The MLS’ NY/NJ MetroStars won their first game of the 2005 campaign, 3-1 at Colorado yesterday on reigning league MVP Amado Guevara’s hat trick. The MetroStars are giving away tickets to the new Will Ferrell vehicle “Kicking & Screaming” on their website, the sort of crossover promotion that should do wonders to reinforce soccer’s image with the American public as a serious sport, almost as much as the late Rodney Dangerfield’s “Ladybugs” (which, to its credit, explored the difficult issue of teen transvestism in a mainstream film).