Let's Talk About Sport, Baby.

[Trust Me I'm A Stomach]

So what have you been watching/paying attention to/playing, sportswise?

Lets make this a general sort of thread. Anything to do with sport. Talk about sports you play, are you good at them? Home team doing well? Then brag about it! Let it all out!

Last year I was slowly falling out of love with soccer: Scotland failed to qualify for Euro 2008, two English teams in the Champions League final, and Aberdeen were pretty shite for the second half of the season.

But this season, I've fallen back in love with the old flame. Euro 2008 was amazing to watch (no England, and several amazing games), and while my home team are still pretty shite this season (went out to Dunfermline, a team a division below them, on penalites in the Scottish Cup, and are struggling for a Europa League place), I can't stop watching FC Barcelona.

FC Barcelona, very much a symbol of Catalonia, where during the time of Franco's dictatorship their stadium, the Camp Nou, was the only place where Catalans could freely speak Catalan without fear of arrest. Barcelona has been home to some of the game's finest players: Kubala, Cruyff, Neeskens, Maradona, Lineker, Romario, Stoichkov, Guardiola, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldiniho amongst others have all worn the blue and red colours of FCB.

One player that I can't stop hyping over is Lionel Messi. He's only 21, but he has already shown that he is the best footballer in the world today. The way he darts into the box; his runs; his one-two passes; they never fail to amaze me. Here's some footage of the kid in action.

YouTube - The Legend of Lionel Messi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZnUr8lcqjo)

Anyway, Saturday saw the second Clasico (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Clasico) of the Spanish La Liga season, between Real Madrid and Barca. Both teams desperately needed a win.

YouTube - Fc Barcelona vs Real Madrid (6-2) Full Highlights HQ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg0zgQk9Ado)

Barca won 6-2. It was so brilliant to watch live on the TV. A truly epic display of attacking football by Barca that could make any doubters of football fall in love with the sport. Just wonderful.

Anyway, I'll stop harping on. Favourite sports teams anyone?

[FinalUltimaSquall]

Well right now the only thing to follow in the USA besides the Hockey and NBA tournaments is Baseball and the NFL offseason. I'm a Minnesota fan so I'm following the last place Twins and how the Vikings are trying to get Favre for a year.

[Vilandra]

Anxiously following the transfer talk for summer premiership soccer ;)

[Trust Me I'm A Stomach]

Anxiously following the transfer talk for summer premiership soccer ;)

You can forget about Tevéz, Ronaldo, and Alonso. All I care about is who Aberdeen are gonna bring in for next season! I just got a season ticket for christ's sake!

Oh, and Burnley too.

[ShaolinAce]

I only watch hockey and basketball. And football but not the NFL because I'm Canadian and we have our own leage to drink beers about.

[dissonance]

I only watch hockey and basketball. And football but not the NFL because I'm Canadian and we have our own leage to drink beers about.

Yeah, but sadly (for me) French-Canadian tv stations tend to NOT show CFL games... CTV?

[Trust Me I'm A Stomach]

Whats the difference between Canadian Football and it's U.S. offshoot?

Is anyone watching Le Tour de France? Mark Cavendish is a machine, he's won two stages in a row now.

[dissonance]

Whats the difference between Canadian Football and it's U.S. offshoot?

The teams. I don't think there's any difference in the rules, but ShaolinAce seems to know the sport better than me, so maybe he could tell us...

[Shun]

The field is a different size. Canadian fields are much wider. Rules aren't too far off from one another, except for presnap motion of the offense (though it may just be because NFL players don't need running starts?). The field goals may be setup different... Again, not too much of a difference, but it's enough to keep them very much separated. (Also, no one aims to play CFL, it's a doorway into the NFL at most - and not a good one.)

[Ilythia]

Let's talk about sports, eh?

Been watching the Gold Cup religiously. Exciting games here and there, though probably the most frustrating one for me was US. vs Panamá. Both teams scored goals and had to go over-time as they were already in the semi-finals. 1-1. Then watching Panamá give away a penalty was the funniest shit I had ever seen yet at the same time, I felt for the guy receiving the ninja flying kick.

YouTube - USA vs Panama 2-1 All Goals & Higlights (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCDVztQc4mc)

Video's has spanish commentaries and by far I prefer hearing these guys over the english ones. Latter are so damned frustrating.

Did anyone watch AC Milan vs Galaxy today? Ended 2-2, though I was betting Milan would win for sure.

[Trust Me I'm A Stomach]

The best commentators know when to shut up when there's nothing going on.

I really like the US national team. They have a great set of players: Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore being the best of them IMO. And they appear to play the game properly. No diving, playacting, being twats to the ref - they're setting a good example.

The MLS is still weird to me though, especially because it's a major football league with no promotion or relegation. I think I will be keeping an eye on Colorado though, as former Aberdeen player Jamie Smith has signed for them.

Shamrock Rovers vs. Real Madrid is on now. Ronaldo's debut for los Galacticos. Should be interesting. Come on you Rooooovvvverrs!