USA vs North Korea Women's Olympic Footie

USA play North Korea at OT, needing only a draw to win the group.Come join us if you can and see if The US can do the job.

Team GB vs UAE

Team GB faces a must win match vs the UAE after Senegal's shock 2-0 victory vs Uruguay , Suarez and co., earlier today. That threw this group wide open, so come join us from Wemberley to see if GB can put themselves in a good position to qualify for the quarters.

RIP Jack Taylor (1929-2012)

Jack Taylor - one of England's most venerable football referees - has died at the age of 82 at his home in Shropshire. Jack, seen here having a bit of a "chat" with Revie's finest, is probably best known for officiating the 1974 World Cup Final between Germany and the Netherlands and for having the bottle to give the Dutch a penalty within minutes of the kick-off after Cruyff was hacked down in the area. Jack was a top man.

A Day of Preseason Footie

We start with United on their preseason tour as they play Ajax Cape Town. Leeds United play the mighty Alfreton Town and this afternoon Liverpool play at Toronto.How do these teams look for the new season. Come join us and find out.

London Calling?

The Great Britain team will get started on their quest for Olympic gold today as they take on a tasty Brazil side. Before then, we got Citeh away to Besiktas in a pre-season friendly. Perfect activity for a rainy Friday afternoon, then. Anyone care to join me?

Fiona Apple on WTF

Crazy Town alert! Yes, you thought that Louis C.K. bizarre defense of Daniel Tosh rape jokery on The Daily Show was this week's weirdest cultural moment. Not so, my friends. Fiona Apple - the train wreck of pop folk - pulls into the WTF pod land for a "chat" with Marc Maron - and it's well worth a listen. If you thought the title of her latest disc was a bit indulgent, you've heard nothing yet. Download from iTunes or other spots.

Footie Trivia of the Week

The 1989-90 season is notable for one thing - one city in world football set the record for the largest number of local football clubs in one single division of league football.

* Name the city
* Name the number of clubs from that city in the same league in the 1989/90 season
* Name the clubs from that city
* Name the league

Simple, eh? Good luck!

John Terry Not Guilty of Racial Abuse

In the most baffling courtroom decisions since the OJ trial, John Terry has been found not guilty of racial abuse of Anton Ferdinand. The verdict came after days of in-depth testimony to just that, brilliantly summed up in today's New York Times here: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/13/world/europe/trial-of-soccer-star-terry-revolves-around-foul-language.html

What I like most about the Times' coverage is its typically priggish PG-rated language when describing the details of the testimony - here's my favorite bit: 

"Most of these constituted 'handbags,' or 'normal verbal exchanges between the players,' Mr. Terry told the police, according to the transcript. These types of things, the players said, include calling other players fat, or taunting them about how their mothers like to have sex with people in other cities. 'However unpleasant,' Mr. Terry said, “'it’s a fact of the modern game.'”

Your thoughts, gents?

Premiership Transfer Tracker

We're only a month off the new Premiership season and transfer market is heating up. You can follow all the latest here:

 http://www.football365.com/f365-features/7782192/Transfer-Tracker

The big signings of the season so far are:

* Lukas Podolski to Arsenal (£11 million)
* Eden Hazard to Chelski (£23 million)
* Shinji Kagawa to ManYoo (£12 million)

Your thoughts, gents?

Chuck Klosterman on NPR's "Guest DJ Project"

Just a quick heads-up that one of my favorite music writers Chuck Klosterman picks his top five songs on NPR's "Guest DJ Project" this week. This is a guy who can split the difference between 80s hair metal and pop metal and live to tell the tale. Check it out on iTunes and the other usual sources.

Angus Podgorney vs. The Blancmanges!

Thanks to Someone Said for reminding me that the geniuses of Monty Python predicted today's Wimbledon Men's Final some forty years ago. Now if only two of the audience members will contrive to eat Roger Federer, perhaps Andy Murray has a chance. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday, UWS!

Raise your glass today to UWS as he inches closer to his half-century. Have a great day, mate!

Goal-Line Technology

So... FIFA had a news conference yesterday announcing the introduction of goal-line technology. The technology will first be used at the FIFA Club World Cup in December, followed by the 2013 Confederations Cup and then the 2014 World Cup. The Premier League wants to start it as soon as possible meaning half way through next season. Surely that cannot be fair. What happens if United don't get a deserved goal in November but Citeh get a decision in their favor in March... I think there should not be different rules half way through the season. What about the FA Cup? Will it be used in all rounds? Will it not be used at Port Vale but be used at Old Trafford? Here are some interesting questions asked http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/07/05/article-0-13EFC74F000005DC-233_634x347.jpg Your thoughts? UWS

Rangers Expelled From the SPL

I know that we at LOB rarely follow the SPL, but a major story came as ten out of twelve clubs voted to expel Rangers from the SPL.Anyone who has been following this story has seen this coming, but it still feels like a shock as this is one of the two Old Firm Clubs in Scotland, that has won 54 League Titles,numerous other trophies., and was in the UEFA Cup Final as recently as 2007. They provide a major following in the Scottish game along with major revenue brought into the Scottish game that has precious little.They were seized by administrators due to the fact that they had not paid their taxes and basically the current Rangers club is a brand new club.So what next??? Next week the Scottish Football League, which consists of Divisions One, Two, and Three, will vote as to which division to admit Rangers or whether they would even be admitted to the Scottish Football League.It is expected that Dundee, who finished second in the Scottish First Division would take the Gers place in the SPL. Therefore, they have not been allowed to vote on the matter as that would be considered a conflict of interests.The normal process would be to place them in the Scottish Third Division, but due to the financial implications, there are rumors that they may be admitted to the Scottish First Division. If that is not the case then I would see Scottish football falling into oblivion.I remember when Scottish football was competitive, albeit not at the standard of English football, but still a decent standard.With the loss of Rangers, I could see their football being at the standard of the likes of the Faroes,Andorra, and San Marino sooner rather than later. While the Jocks may be considered the enemy, I don't think anyone wishes this on the Scots, especially due to the actions of one club. The issue is fair play and following the rules vs finances.I always fall on the side of fair play,but am caught between a rock and a hard place as the consequences could be catastrophic. I could really use some help from the LOBERS on this matter.

Little Oiks Attempt to Nick the Olympic Torch

In perhaps the worst lapse of security since those two reality stars bumrushed the President's state dinner a couple of years back, two kids in Coventry attempted to nick the Olympic Torch yesterday before being hastily escorted offstage by some sporty looking coppers. Enjoy!

Are Spain The Greatest Side of All Time?

After Spain's sensational 4-0 win over Italy yesterday, there has been the inevitable discussion of the issue of whether this current Del Bosque-led side is the greatest footie team ever. Here's my two cents: given that they've won an unprecedented three consecutive major trophies, they must be on the list but, for me, they're toward the bottom after the following:

1. Brazil - 1970
2. Brazil - 1982
3. Hungary - 1950s
4. France - 1980s
5. Netherlands - 1970s

The reason for that is that the measure of greatness is not just having won trophies - Hungary and the Netherlands famously won nothing during their heights of greatness - but having entertained. On that score, Spain falls short. Spain aren't just boring because they're too good or don't make any mistakes - the popular theories this past few weeks. Rather it's because they go out with the intent of controlling possession rather than actually creating goal-scoring chances. There is a connection, as any novice footie watcher knows that a team risks losing possession the further up the pitch they go. Moreoever, I still think this Spain can be found out by a more dynamic side - and I'm surprised that the Germans haven't done that yet. Roll on Brasil 2014!

More discussion from the Torygraph here - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/spain/9369689/Euro-2012-classic-international-football-teams-to-contest-Spains-claim-to-be-the-greatest-of-all-time.html

Congratulations, West Ham Rising!

Hearty congratulations go out tonight to West Ham Rising for winning the Euro 2012 Predictions Game and the inaugural LOB Tournament Trophy. I'll be rushing the trophy down to a sweltering Washington, DC where I hope that it will provide some cool comfort during their current power outage. Well done, Johnno - the trophy is yours until the end of Brazil 2014.

Here are the final standings:

1. West Ham Rising – 38
2. Simon Burke – 37
3. Someone Said - 33
4. Blue Devil – 27
5. Matt – 24
6. AZ Kicker – 23
- The Red Devil 1FCK – 23
8. Thomas - 22
9. Chelskilad – 21
- Gooner71 – 21
11. ManUtd Rules – 20
- UWS – 20

Euro 2012 Final Live!

I feel very fortunate today to be living in Fred-town where the current temperature is 76F and the power will be very much on this afternoon as Spain and Italy will wrap up an unexpectedly exciting Euro 2012 tournament. I don't really expect a classic - both sides favor a cagey possession-heavy style, but I won't complain about it. Join me for the final starting at 2pm EST.