Odds and Sods

Any Boston Team: Since there has been a New England, it has been universally disliked.  People have an active hatred for the education, the conceit and the image of the snobbish Boston Brahmin.  There has been an upsurge of disquietude with Boston teams since they’ve been successful.  The Red Sox have a large payroll.  The Patriots have Bill Belichick and Spygate.  But the hatred of Boston teams is time and success specific, not a general trait.

New York Yankees: This one requires no thought.  Every casual fan not of Yankee ilk hates the Yankees.  True baseball fans hate them even more passionately.

Los Angeles Lakers: People do despise the Lakers.  They are successful.  They are from Los Angeles.  Kobe Bryant eludes likability for numerous reasons.  But it is a passive rather than an active hatred.  When thrust into their face, people root against them.  But no one actively checks scores and cheers when the Lakers lose.

Ohio State Unviersity: Ohio State does not belong on this list, and this is coming from a Michigan fan.  They aren’t the most hated school regionally, Notre Dame.  Michigan are more maligned in the Big Ten (see the 1973 Big Ten Title Decision).  Notre Dame football and Duke basketball are far more universally disliked.

Chelsea: Chelsea is an incongruous choice because they are English-based.  English  fans dislike the arrogance, the money, the knuckle dragging football and the baby Bentley sense of entitlement.  But, I am not sure the hatred is really of the same magnitude as in American sports.  Chelsea doesn’t have a major rival.  The other successful clubs Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal also have their detractors.  There are also clubs like Newcastle and Leeds that are often maligned.  It just seems out of place.

Omissions: I mentioned two before, Duke Basketball and Notre Dame football.  I would throw the Dallas Cowboys in there as well.  My general critique is that there should be a tradition of hatred and it should transcend rivalry.  Only the Yankees, the Cowboys, Duke and Notre Dame really fulfill that.

It was a night to celebrate English dominance, or continental decrepitude, depending on your perspective.  We knew it would be an all-Premier League final, the only question was whether Liverpool or Chelsea would move on to play Manchester United in Moscow.  After a predictable 1-1 regulation draw, and an entirely unpredictable 2-1 extra-time, it was Chelsea who prevailed 4-3 on aggregate

Liverpool gave a creditable effort.  The Reds relied on Rafa’s tactics, grit and European romance, but they could not escape Chelsea’s superior squad.  Liverpool have elite players–Torres, Mascherano, Carragher and, by some interpretations, Gerrard– but Riise, Benayoun and Kuyt fade behind a Chelsea squad loaded with Essien, Ballack, Lampard and the rest.  Ryan Babel and his scuba mask tried admirably, but the vaunted Liverpool magic died in the first leg with Riise’s errant header.

Chelsea have finally reached their Roman-inspired destination but it comes ironically in the midst of squad shuffling, managerial turmoil and less than inspiring performances.  Most indicative of this were the heroes of the night, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba–the players most miffed at Mourinho’s departure and the players most likely to leave during the summer

The rhetoric regards this Chelsea-Man U final as an awesome, magical match–a clash between titans.  The result could decide the legacy of arguably the two most decisive reigns in the Premier League era, Ferguson’s sovereignty of United and Abramovich’s change at Chelsea.  It should be a hallmark occasion for English football, but something about it feels a bit empty.

Liverpool and Chelsea are often blamed for sucking the essence and style out of football, and no player embodies that more than Dirk Kuyt.  His work-rate is tremendous., his vitamins are in order, and he covers great ground.  At the same time, he has the finesse of a demented walrus and is as pleasing to the eye as a swarthy Barbara Bush.  He is…effective. 

It was Kuyt who jack-knifed a bobbler through the rugbyman’s five-hole to put the Reds 1-0 up, the lone puncture in this dreary affair.  The margin held for much of the match.  The result would have placed Liverpool in a commanding position for the second leg at Stamford Bridge, but it was not to be.

In the 95^th minute, John Arne Riise inexplicably executed a diving header, straight into the back of his own net, saving Chelsea from themselves.  It was a moment of pure madness.  A magic night at Anfield.

Riise’s gaff gives Chelsea the conch for the return fixture, a precious away goal that, with Chelsea’s defensive record at home may prove decisive.

But, do not count out Liverpool.  They are prone to fits of craziness, but often that works to their advantage.  If Chelsea merely come out to hold, Liverpool can easily weasel back into it.

Liverpool and Arsenal had an Oscar and Felix feel.  Both clubs are each other’s bogey teams.  Arsenal’s Frenchified fancy dans cannot break down disciplined defenses and remain prone to adept counterattack.  Lump and pray Liverpool struggle when forced to play chess on the ground rather than checkers in the air.  The clash can create soccer nirvana or reaming vulgarity.  This 1-1 draw had a bit of both.

If a side should feel aggrieved, it is Arsenal.  They dictated the second half, only to shoot blanks.  The Carragher rules apply to Dirk Kuyt, who pulled Hleb down in the penalty area without reprimand.  Kuyt also picked this one match to maraud around the pitch like a crazed baboon, rather than remain oblivious.  The match could hinge on the Pool’s away goal.

Apparently, Avram Grant rowing down the straits on his sinister raft of skulls failed to shock the obstinate Turks, as Fenerbahce beat Chelsea 2-1.  The Dark Lord has vowed “not to rest” until the rematch next Tuesday, because he looked like he was sleeping well before.  The match is more tabloid fodder than demonstrative, however.  Expect Chelsea to close them out 1-0 next week at Stamford Bridge.

Roma tumbled without their talisman Francesco Totti, beaten 2-0 by Manchester United.  The two teams play a similar style, but United is the seven diamond version.  Isn’t Rooney overdue for his bi-monthly metatarsal injury

Former Chelsea boss and current “I’m on Setanta Sports” presenter Jose Mourinho has had discussions with Inter Milan about becoming their new manager.

Current Milan boss Roberto Mancini previously mentioned he would resign at the end of the season, before retracting the comment one day later.

The situation would be ideal for Mourinho.

The man is naked in his ambition.  He’s not taking a second-tier Tottenham or England job.

Inter are one of the richest clubs in Europe.  Massimo Moratti will spend liberally to bolster the squad.  Mourinho would have the funds to fashion his own squad to conquer Europe.

Unlike other potential suitors like Real Madrid or Barcelona, he would also have untethered control of the purse strings.  He won’t be handed an unwanted 30m GBP striker or compelled to quibble over change to buy an extra defender.  He can be “the man” without regard for petulant pissing matches.

He could also feed his ego by playing the Milan Messiah and winning in Europe.

Signing Mourinho would be a masterful move for Inter as well.

There are no better managers in Europe, particularly that are available.

Mancini lead the team to a Scudetto last season, and has them in first place currently.  However, last year was an erratic post-Calciopoli season.  This year they have won two of their last seven matches with their lead slipping.  They have been eliminated in the first knockout round of the Champions League both seasons.  Their success has been more fortune than substance, and it would be unrealistic to expect to compete in coming years by maintaining the status quo.

Mourinho is the ideal man to rebuild and to reload Inter’s squad into an effective team that can win in Italy and perform in Europe.  He may begin immediately by poaching Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard from his previous place of employment.

The deal makes sense for both sides.  It will be interesting to see whether or not another Titan will try to sway him.