The Candidates Choose their Favorite Telly

I know it sounds trivial, but sometimes these cultural questions provide interesting insights into the ways in which the campaigns are positioning themselves. So it is with the latest list of the current Presidential candidates' favorite television programs. To wit:

Hillary Clinton - Grey's Anatomy, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars.

John Edwards - "Watching Fred Thompson on 'Law and Order'"

Dennis Kucinich - The Tonight Show, Letterman, Daily Show, Colbert Report.

John McCain - Prison Break

Barack Obama - Spongebob Squarepants (presumably with the kiddies?)

Mitt Romney - Lost (hip choice for a square dude.)

Fred Thompson - ESPN Sportscenter

Anyone's mind changed by this information?

The Sack Race Rolls On

The sack race rolls on apace this week. First Macca is unceremoniously shown the door after the miserable England failure in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. Then Derby's Billy Davies is given the boot over the weekend - Paul Ince is favorite to take his place, increasing the ManYoo old boy contingent in the Premiership. Who's next - rumors are that it will be no other than Liverpool's Rafa Benitez, who has been throwing the toys out of the pram over the issue of January transfers.

Your thoughts, gents?

Footie Trivia Question of the Week

Right lads, so it's Champions League time again starting tomorrow, so here's a relevant brain teaser to get your heads back into Europe:

"Which club was the first to win the Champions League without having won the domestic championship or the Champions League title the previous year?

Good luck, lads!

South Africa 2010 Draw

So, here we go on the road to South Africa.
I will post the draw here. Your thoughts?

Odds for the Next England Manager

Here are the latest odds for the next England manager from William Hill: 

Jose Mourinho - 5/1

Martin O'Neill - 11/2

Felipe Scolari - 6/1

Guus Hiddink - 7/1

Stuart Pearce - 12/1

Marcello Lippi - 12/1

Alan Shearer 12/1

Alan Curbishley - 16/1

Fabio Capello - 16/1

Sam Allardyce - 16/1

Harry Redknapp - 16/1

Arsene Wenger - 25/1

Terry Venables - 25/1

I think that El Tel might be worth a flutter at 25/1 - anyone else?

Disaster!

Bugger! England have crashed out of Euro 2008 qualifying after somehow managing to throw away Israel's weekend gift by losing 2-3 to Croatia at Wembley tonight.

So, what next? The 2010 World Cup draw comes out Friday. Steve McClaren will almost certainly resign either today or tomorrow. My choice for the next gaffer is Martin O'Neill. And there should be a wholesale clear out of the England old boys. The Beckham era is well and truly over. Bye bye Lamps. See you, Sol Campbell. We need to rebuild the side around the U21 side that's won the last six qualifying matches.

Your thoughts on a black day for England footie?

Leeds vs. Hereford Replay Live!

It's all on the line this afternoon at Elland Road, where Leeds need to finish off Hereford to start another glorious Cup run in the image of 1972. Where's "Sniffer" Clarke when we need him?

Follow along via the Internet with me today.

Steve Bruce to Join Wigan

Steve Bruce will leave Birmingham to join Wigan today or tomorrow. The phrase "out of the frying pan and into the fire" comes to mind. Is he mad?

Your thoughts, gents?

MLS CUP FINAL

Let's Make it a perfect weekend and have the New England Revolution finally get their championship!!!
I will be here rooting for the Revs. Join me.
Let's hope they are wearing white!!!

Footiepalooza!

Yes, there is a cornucopia of festive footie today, and most of it is on FSC. First up, it's the U.S. vs. S. Africa in the Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup at 9 a.m. Then, for lunch, there's the crucial Israel vs. Russia qualifier. And later we can follow the other qualifiers such as Italy vs. Scotland online. Go on, take a big bite!

England vs. Austria Live!

England take on the weaker of the two hosts of next year's Euro 2008 tournament today. Yes, it's a fairly meaningless exercise in and of itself; however, with the big one coming up next Wednesday against Croatia, it'll be a good indication of the morale in the camp and the way Steve McClaren will set up for that match.

Follow it with me, eh?

Yet Another Democratic Presidential Debate...Live!

Yes, it's another fall evening and another Democratic Presidential debate. CNN is hosting with the "Wolfman" asking the questions.

Look, the Writer's Strike means that "The Office," "Earl" and "30 Rock" are in re-runs anyway; so tune in at 8 p.m. and join me on the blog, eh?

Name the Seattle MLS team

The next MLS franchise will be a Seattle team that begins play in the spring, with comedian Drew Carey as majority shareholder. They're currently being called Seattle F.C. but with two other sides in the league with that name, MLS is looking to fans to put forward more creative monikers. My choice - Seattle Grunge!

Other suggestions? Let's be having you!

Goals I Remember, Volume 10

With a crucial week of Euro 2008 qualifiers coming up, I thought we should look back to one of the best European Championship qualifying matches in my memory - England vs. Denmark from 1979. Wish we still had King Kev in the side. Enjoy!

Footie Trivia Question of the Week

The current Premiership manager of the month is, of course Arsene Wenger. Over the years the Arsenal manager and Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United have been the most frequent recipients of the award.

However, in the first year of the Premiership (1992/3), managers of Wimbledon, Norwich, Sheffield Wednesday, Blackburn and even Oldham Athletic were the Managers of the Month. Name them.

Good luck, lucks.

A Big Sunday... Much Better Than Saturday

Lots of big games today.
A live Skysports Center on following the matches until the United Rovers match.
Bad news on the England front. Yossi Benayoun out of the big match.

Indoor League!

Hey-yup Lads. It's getting a bit parky out there. Time for some indoor league, yes?

What's so Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Saturday?

The big footie moneymen have left us with another Saturday with a conspicuous absence of footie. Three games in the Premiership - that's your lot. FSC is replaying that dire Leeds vs. Hereford FA Cup match from yesterday, so all we've got to look forward to is the Liverpool match at noon.

Get the guillotines back out!

Leeds vs. Hereford Live!

It's a new era for my Leeds boys - the first time that the club has participated in the First Round of the FA Cup. We're away to Hereford today and I'm hoping it's the start of a glorious Cup run.

It's the first time I've seen the Whites live in a couple of seasons, so join me for the FSC coverage starting in a couple minutes.

Gooner Trivia Question of the Week

Arsene's cleaned up the camp during his time at the club, but here's a brain teaser that speaks to the legendary drinking culture at Arsenal:

"Which former Gunner lost the captaincy in 1985 after a drinks driving arrest. And who lost the captaincy after his drinks driving arrest ten years later in 1995?"

The latter is fairly easy but can you get the former?

Good luck, Gooner!

The Revolution vs. The Fire Live!

Yes! It's Revolution time. The Eastern Conference Finals. Time to stick a sock in Cauhtemoc Blanco's big gob. If you're around this evening tune into ESPN2 from 7:30 p.m. onward and join me on the blog for a bit of chinwag about the MLS.

All time best Footie Films

I was trying to compile a list of the best films with footie as a theme, in two categories. The first is a list of dramas about football, and the second is a list of documentaries. There aren't that many really. Any ideas?

Champions League - Gameday 4!

After that stirring 8-0 Liverpool win yesterday, the smile is back on British faces in Europe. And today we've got the strong side of the draw with games featuring ManYoo, the 'Gers, and the Arse - all of whom seem to be destined to get out of the group stage of the Champions League this year.

ESPN2 will be showing the United game - join me for it, eh?

Michael Parkhurst - MLS Defender of the Year!

I'm happy to announce that Michael Parkhurst - Boston University alum and center back with my beloved Revvies - has been named Defender of the Year in MLS. And rumor has it that he'll be on his way in January to join fellow Yanks Clint Dempsey, Carlos Bocanegra, Brian McBride, and Kasey Keller at Fulham. Marvelous!

The Sack Race Continues

After their sixth successive loss on Saturday, Wigan announced that they've had quite enough of Chris Hutchings. In all fairness, Wigan have an extremely thin squad and once they'd lost Emile Heskey - their main attacking threat - to injury, they were always going to struggle. Can a new manager turn it around?

In other managerial news, the LA Galaxy have parted ways with Frank Yallop.

Any comments, lads?

Premiership Live!

Another Saturday has magically rolled around again and all eyes are set on the big one - Arsenal vs. United - which is unfortunately the early Setanta game today. I'll be following along on Football365. The clocks have already gone back in the U.K. so they're an hour closer to us than usual, so the FSC coverage starts at 11 rather than 10 this morning. Enjoy your football this weekend, lads.

Graham Poll on WSD Today!

Yes, Graham "Three Yellow Cards" Poll, the notorious ex-referee will be featured on World Soccer Daily today. According to Steven Cohen, all questions are on the table, so it might be worth tuning in to hear the great man.

Poll will be on in the first hour so if you've got Sirius, you can tune in at 1 p.m. EST or you can download the WSD podcast and listen to it at your leisure.

Enjoy!

D.C. United vs. Chicago Fire Live!

It's crunch time in the MLS Eastern Conference play-offs. On Saturday night, my beloved Revvies face the Red Bulls, but tonight it's D.C. and the Fire in their second leg playoff clash.

The Fire took the first leg, but by only 1-0; thus, it's poised on a knife's edge tonight. So, turn off "Comedy Night Done Right" and tune in to ESPN2 at 7:30 for the sake of MLS. I'll be around - will you?