So here we are, another Wednesday, and now, we know the final eight in this year’s iteration of the Champions League. To review, we’ve got Manchester United [England], Arsenal [England], Lyon [France], Bordeaux [France], CSKA Moscow [Russia], Bayern Munich[Germany], Internazionale [Italy] and the defending champions, Barcelona [Spain].
You’ll notice that the field is now spread out a bit more than in the past, and I’m sure the powers that be at UEFA are thrilled that there are only two sides from England still in the draw, given the last few years of domination. I quite fancy this draw myself as it’s a great selection of talent from across the entire continent. The draw for the quarterfinals and semifinals will be held this coming Friday, so at that point everyone will know where, when and whom their favourite side will be matching up against for the rest of the tournament. For the English and French sides, they will want to avoid being in the same half of the draw so that they won’t have to match up with each other in the quarters or semis. For the others, I’d expect that Barcelona will be hoping to avoid United especially. The final is in Spain this year, albeit in Madrid, so Barca will be quite keen to defend their title on their home turf (so to speak).
Elsewhere, it’s been a busy day as baseball gave itself yet another black eye, St. Timothy the Brave had his Pro Day, and Seton Hall’s men’s basketball team imploded. It was a full rich Wednesday. Give us your take on all this in comments, you mugs.
Oh, and it’s St. Patrick’s Day. I rank the American drinking holidays thusly: New Year’s Eve, St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco De Mayo (you’d be surprised how many people get drunk early in the day on May 5), the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, and Labour Day. Think I’m wrong? Tell me why. Go on then.
Karen: It’s like I have ESPN or something. My breasts can always tell when it’s going to rain.
Cady: Really? That’s amazing.
Karen: Well… they can tell when it’s raining.
Sculptor?!? and Gally:
Thanks for the baking advice last Thursday. The hot cross buns worked out really well (excepting the fact I didn’t have a pastry brush or a thing to put the cross of the icing on).
Later on Friday, I visited a former roommate and his wife. We were discussing how lazy people can be (he wows his co-workers when he takes a sandwich to work and his wife was making something from that same magazine which was basically a two-day dessert recipe). I’m pretty incompetent (the stipulation of visiting the roommate’s place was that I was to remember to wear pants), yet I will try and read through a recipe.
My name is Fuse and I endorse that photo.
I celebrated my first cinco de mayo last year; it was good craic.
So, who’s the bigger idiot:
Matt Derbyshire for being a forward who got sent off, or Diarra, for being sent off when his team was a man up?
Also, re: Champions League teams to avoid. I think that Barca would want to avoid Inter more than ManU. Inter knocked out the English leaders… they’d be at least as deadly, if not more, considering Mourinho’s past efforts against Barca (& Chelsea’s without him).
That photo needs more exposed skin. Otherwise, quite tasty.
I love Amanda Seyfried, and er…she has a naked lesbian scene coming up in her next movie. Sadly, it’s with Julianne Moore, who I like but is a bit long in the tooth.
well, with any luck, Julianne will be on the bottom.
Totally innocent question: isn’t there a movie coming up wherein Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johanssen, um, engage in a mutually satisfactory relationship?
oh, i certainly hope so!
I endorse Veronica Mars alumni.
Clash of the Titans (in 3D!!). I’m betting it bombs faster than the Harry Hamlin/Harryhausen version from the 80s.
Pretty good second leg in the CONCACAF Champions League tonight in a few minutes on FSC, Toluca v. Columbus Crew. First leg was 2-2 and quite tasty in terms of the action. Plus, the Lenhart kid from Columbus was actually very impressive. That’s what I’ll be watching.
Oh, and the TiWoo South Park is tonight.
TiWoo?
Tiger Woods.
Ah, gotcha. TiVoing the episode in case I forget to watch (happens more than you’d think).
Do your best to ignore Shane’s DTs and missing teeth- it’s a beautiful Irish ballad.
Heh. Shane’s DTs are what make him an awesome performer.
And regarding the closing question, Super Bowl Sunday needs to find its way into that drinking rotation, even though it’s not technically a holiday.
That’s a great shout, I forgot about that. I know a few who treat 4th of July as a full day of drinkery, as well.
Amateurs. When I was 10, I had a neighbor who was hardcore. He’d have a party on his lawn EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. I finally asked him why he drank all the time (yes, I’ve *always* been a loudmouth broad/lacking a filter) and he answered “Because it’s June 22nd, and it only comes once a year, so I’m having a party to celebrate today”. It sort of became a running gag between us – I’d ask the question, and he’d answer with that, filling in the appropriate date.
I imagine he’s dead of cirrhosis of the liver by now…
I have solved the mystery as to Duke’s Ole Bracket of Scrub Teams. The NCAA Committee hangs out with Ron Washington.
*cough spluttter cough cough*
nicely played, sir
I feel like that South region is going to be a disaster for the people who are serious about their brackets. It feels like a mess waiting to happen.
I’ve done picks now a few times and I think my brackets have looked exactly the same every time. I just can’t talk myself into any of the non-one seeds other than Ohio State, and I don’t think they beat Kansas.
It’s a bit frustrating.
Well, Villanova’s a 3 or 4 seed. Then again Baylor is a 4 or 5 seed, and whoever the fuck the South’s 4 seed is probably is a 9. Whoever “wins” that region will … (considers making RATL’s famous prediction against East winner).
Kansas St. doesn’t do much besides lose to Kansas.
West Virginia maybe since they D up. But they can’t shoot very well. Then again, I have them in the finals. Then again, I never win the pool.
None of those teams were appealing except Nova with Scottie Reynolds. But blech. And if someone can explain how Purdue got a 4 seed, I’d love to hear it. They get credit for showing up I guess.
The only question I have, will they play a consolation game if Kentucky & West Virgina play in the regional finals? Because, I mean, we all assume that Kentucky will vacate this Final Four in 2 years, and Huggy Bear isn’t known as Mr. 0% Graduation because it sounds good…
Oh, and anyone with an IPhone and an interest in music should download an app called “BabyScratch”. You won’t regret it.
i don’t have (nor will I) an iPhone, but the name intrigues me. What in Hades is “BabyScratch”?
So, is everyone watching the Clippers game/N.I.T. when they could be here helping to artificially inflate our page views?
Fine.
I was busy leading FC Libourne to the Ligue 2 Orange title (and financial ruination) in FIFA 07.
I’ll try to contribute more to page views to dress up the annual numbers for the ATD stockholders in a bit.
CSKA are winning the Champions League, I can feel it.
Sorry, was watching Barca beat the hell outta some Germans, and playing Modern Warfare 2 at the same time. Can’t type with me toes yet!