UEFA 2012, Champions league, etc.

[Don Barbiere]

You guys are so serious, it supposed to be fun :)

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt4X7zFfv4k[/YOUTUBE]

[AfterHours]

The NBA is one huge exibition of diving and falling over and trying to get your opponent to get given a technical foul. How many times in an NBA match do you see a defender in the paint falling over backwards hands up in the air with an astonished, angry look on his face.

While the two are not mutually exclusive, that's not what I'm (Kevan too, I imagine) talking about. If all footie players did was "act astonished" or "angry," do you know how fvcking happy that'd make me?! The fact is many roll around like little girls while sneaking glances at the ref to try to make more of a meal of what happened to them. Many go WAY past simply trying to get a technical foul given.

This is why I don't have too much of a problem with Iniesta going down in the video posted 5 or so posts above -- I'm not saying they ALL roll around, but a lot do.

American athletes rolling around in pain, clutching their faces, screaming - and then getting straight back up once they realize they won't get the call?

A consideration: The NBA is a very high scoring game - probably the antithesis of soccer/football when it comes to scoring. As such, the gravity of a dive in soccer/football is much, much worse, and can and does decide many games. This is another reason why I believe the behavior deserves more scrutiny by everyone: the fans, the commentators, and yes, the referees, who should (as Kevan said) employ one on the sidelines with a camera and retroactively yellow card any player blatantly trying to influence the game unfairly when they judge it purposely or willful to a point that is so grossly past what an ordinary, reasonable player would have done in such a circumstance. I think this would be fair and would help the game a lot, and until this happens it will bother me and many others.

That said, if I'm wrong about the NBA, I have a disclaimer: I do not watch the NBA.

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

Hey, Hey Football / Soccer Fans:

The Champions League UEFA Final Game will be shown in the USA on FOX at 2:00pm (1400hrs), Eastern Time on this Saturday, 28 May 11 between;

vs
And if I was a betting man (I told my oldest son...no more betts because I've lost enough $$$ to him ), I'll 'go with'... as the The Champions!!!


I know where I'll be , what about you?


[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFfCKy0nKr0[/YOUTUBE]
It's going to be great match...just my

Christopher "Enthusiasm is everything. It must be taut and vibrating like a guitar string." Pele

[Don Barbiere]

Hey, Hey Football / Soccer Fans:
The Champions League UEFA Final Game will be shown in the USA on ABC at 1400hrs Eastern Time on this Saturday, 28 May 11 between;

vs

And I pick.....The Champions -

I know where I'll be , what about you?


[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFfCKy0nKr0[/YOUTUBE]

Christopher "Enthusiasm is everything. It must be taut and vibrating like a guitar string." Pele

Fixed :) I know RM is your favorite team, but they are out :) I do hope Man U win but if i have to put money on it , it will be Barca!

[Kevan]

ABC? I've been hearing for the past 2 weeks that it's going to be on (regular) Fox. ABC/ESPN lost the UCL broadcast rights 3 years ago.

Still think it will be 2-1 to Barca, though I don't think it'll be as easy for them this time as it was in the '09 Final. And yeah, I'll be on "Dive Watch." Puyol, Iniesta, Alves....you've been warned.

[Mr_Amazing]

ABC? I've been hearing for the past 2 weeks that it's going to be on (regular) Fox. ABC/ESPN lost the UCL broadcast rights 3 years ago.

Still think it will be 2-1 to Barca, though I don't think it'll be as easy for them this time as it was in the '09 Final. And yeah, I'll be on "Dive Watch." Puyol, Iniesta, Alves....you've been warned.

It will be on Fox at 2pm Eastern time.

I can't decide who will win. In my gut, Barcelona has the better team. That said, the game is being played at Wembley, so Manchester has an enormous advantage there. It should be a great game.

[Kevan]

As much as I don't want Barcelona to win because of their dishonest players, I have to grudgingly admire the WAY they play....it's like a video game in real life and VERY entertaining. The more I think about it, Man Utd's only chance is hitting Barca on the break. That's what Arsenal did earlier in the knockout round and Graeme Souness echoed it on Sky today. They love to pour players forward from time to time, and leave themselves wide open in midfield. If Man Utd can exploit that, they have a chance.

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

ABC? I've been hearing for the past 2 weeks that it's going to be on (regular) Fox. ABC/ESPN lost the UCL broadcast rights 3 years ago.

Still think it will be 2-1 to Barca, though I don't think it'll be as easy for them this time as it was in the '09 Final. And yeah, I'll be on "Dive Watch." Puyol, Iniesta, Alves....you've been warned.

Kevan:
Oops...my bag (I can't seem to find my glasses ),...it is on FOX @ 2:00pm today....YaY Baby!!!!

Christopher "Enthusiasm is everything. It must be taut and vibrating like a guitar string." Pele

[Kevan]

Watching the pregame stuff now. Brad Friedel has an accent. I didn't expect that.

[Kevan]

1-0. Man Utd isn't showing anything so far that suggests they want to win this game.

Check that....game on! 1-1 after Rooney scores and I love the shocked look on Guardiola's face.

[texaninkc]

and the equalizer 1-1

[franz]

Giggs was offside!

[Kevan]

I was making tea when it happened so I need to see the replay to see if it was offside. From what Martin Tyler was saying, it was a tight call.

[Don Barbiere]

Giggs was offside!

Offside it is, Barca is dominating and if Man U don't change something, Barca will score 3,4. big mistake on Sir Alex to keep Berbatov out of the team. They will need him !

[texaninkc]

it was so close, it could have gone either way. assistant did the good thing and let it play on

[Don Barbiere]

it was so close, it could have gone either way. assistant did the good thing and let it play on

Yes, it is close but he was still offside. Man U got lucky to be tied, given the way they played. should be a good second half!

[Kevan]

And business as usual in the 2nd half. Barca is being allowed far too much room to do their thing. I hate that. If Man Utd grew a pair and got in their face we'd see a different game.

....And a Messi wondergoal. 2-1. Game should be over now. And Man
Utd have themselves to blame for not putting ANY pressure on.

[Don Barbiere]

2:1 and the way Man U is playing i foresee final score like 4:1 ,4:2!

[Don Barbiere]

And business as usual in the 2nd half. Barca is being allowed far too much room to do their thing. I hate that. If Man Utd grew a pair and got in their face we'd see a different game.

....And a Messi wondergoal. 2-1. Game should be over now. And Man
Utd have themselves to blame for not putting ANY pressure on.

Exactly, too put pressure on Barca is not just running and chasing , is keeping the ball, which non of the middle fielders can do for Man U, the only player that can do that is Berbatov, got the pass and got the ball control, but dont know why he is not even in the subs

[texaninkc]

Offside it is, Barca is dominating and if Man U don't change something, Barca will score 3,4. big mistake on Sir Alex to keep Berbatov out of the team. They will need him !

doesn't matter who you put at striker if you can't get/keep possession of the ball... ManU's midfield is getting owned