Odds and Sods

Here is my first, and hopefully not my last post for the Big Lead.

In an e-mail exchange with Deadspin, Bill Simmons lashed out at his bosses at ESPN, sort of.  Simmons maintained that he is still working for ESPN, but has reduced the rate of his writing for ESPN.com.
I still love writing my column and only re-signed last year because I really did believe that we had hashed out [...]

How does one tip a manservant?  It is not a question most of you will encounter, unless, of course, you are a Premier League footballer.  Soccer players often opt for a game-worn jersey, a pair of shoes or a few hundreds discreetly slipped into the palm as gifts for their boot boys, but not Olivier [...]

Here is my All Premier League Team for 2008
David James, Portsmouth (GK) He was calm, collected and competent.  Unfortunately he didn’t bring back the slicked doo.
Gael Clichy, Arsenal (DL) Good defender.  Great going forward.  Provided the width Arsenal needed.
Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United (DC) He is a phenomenal defender, when not out “merking” his pals.
Nemanja Vidic, Manchester [...]