First of all, apologies all around for CSTB’s utter failure to acknowledge Sunday’s MLS Cup victory by Brian Ching and the Houston Dynamo. Though the former QPR underachiever John Spencer failed to win any major silverware during his playing career in Scotland, England or North America, this assistant coaching thing is working out, a-ok.
Secondly, there’s been no comment from this corner thus far regarding MLS’ so-called “Beckham Rule”, mostly because the promise is far scarier than the premise. If the league has established a salary exemption designed to attract genuine top flight talent, so be it. But if the intent is to bring in aging superstars no longer capable of earning playing time in Europe, no thanks. Lothar Mattheaus did zilch for the quality of play in 2000, and David Beckham won’t be much improvement in 2007.
Eugenijus Riabovas, mostly recently of Lithuanian side FBK Kaunas, was named the new manager at the SPL’s Hearts Of Midlothian earlier today. He’s Hearts’ 5th field boss in the past 21 months.
Portugal beat Khazakhstan, 3-0, in Euro 2008 qualifying Wednesday. Portugal moved up to 2nd in Group A with 7 points, and a game in hand on 2nd place Serbia. For Khazakhstan, there’s much worse news. Not only do they suck at football, but it turns out their potassium isn’t actually very strong or plentiful.
Throughball nominates the late Rodney Dangerfield’s “Ladybugs” for “Worst Soccer Movie Of All Time” (link taken from The Offside). Perhaps, but it might’ve been the finest film to deal with the touchy subject of teenage gender confusion since “Just One Of The Guys”.
Annanova.com reports on a sponsorship deal far more inspired than the Mets’ CitiField deal.
An under-10 football team has landed a sponsorship deal with heavy metal band Motorhead.
The Greenbank B team from Lincoln have the band’s name on their shirts along with the band’s motif – a skull named Snaggletooth.
The North Hykeham team also run out onto the pitch to music from the band.
Team manager Gary Weight says he managed to secure the deal as he used to know lead singer Lemmy.
“It was from a bizarre idea one evening. I sent an email off to them and they came back and said it was a great idea.
“I knew Lemmy years ago and for him, I think the thought of a football team running out with the Motorhead logo made him chuckle a bit, so that’s where it’s come from.”
“The hope is that we can go out on the football pitch and terrorise the opponents and come away worthy winners.”
There’s no truth to the rumor Queens Park Rangers have inked a similar deal with Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts.