This is completely random, but it appears Manchester United midfielder Nani, who is looking to fill the shoes of the recently departed Cristiano Ronaldo, will be in Rhode Island tomorrow. Nani is bringing along his countryman Ricardo Vaz Te, a winger for Bolton Wanderers of the Premier League. The two Portuguese will be on hand for the Day of Portugal celebration for Rhode Island.
Apparently, June 10 was the Day of Portugal holiday celebrated by Portuguese speaking areas around the world and this weekend there will be additional celebrations in Rhode Island.
If anybody wants to or can make the trek to Rhode Island, there is a UF post in it for you.
Nani and Vaz Te are scheduled to be a part of the soccer demonstration during Youth Day portion of the celebration. Joining the two Premier League players will be Nani's cousin Fabio Ivan who was the reason Nani is even attending. Ivan plays for the USL PDL Rhode Island Stingrays club. Nani will also be on hand to sign autographs at a Stingrays match Saturday evening.
If we had known about this earlier and you are under 21, you could have registered for the soccer demonstration. For more information on Youth Day go here or here.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Random EPL Sighting Possible In Rhode Island
Friday, March 27, 2009
UF Road Trip to Baltimore!
UPDATE: Here's the latest. Thanks to those of you who have emailed already. I am extending the deadline to let me know you if want in to MONDAY AT NOON. Send an email to unprofessionalfoul [at] gmail [dot] com. I'm also happy to report that more of the UF crew are now on board. We are looking at me, Ian, Sven, Lingering Bursitis (probably), Bigus, the NY Kid, ΓΌ75, the Likely Lad, Moonshine Mike and E-Town Hooligan all being in attendance. So c'mon, it'll be a fun time! (in Baltimore! with anonymous bloggers!)
Okay, I threatened to do this and have managed to not change my mind....
So, I'm happy to announce that not only will I be going to Baltimore on July 24 to see Chelsea take on AC Milan, but I'll organize the purchase of a block of tickets. So far Moonshine Mike is in, Ian is a maybe .... and the rest are unlikely. But that just means more fun for us.
Here's what you need to do if want in: Send an email to unprofessionalfoul [at] gmail [dot] com no later than FRIDAY NIGHT. Most importantly, tell me how many tickets you want. I'll then set up a paypal account and handle distributing tickets. I know, you are taking a slight risk here, but you know where to find me. Email if you have any questions. And I'll see you in Baltimore.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Portland's MLS Expansion Bid - An UF Field Trip
Yesterday, Timbers supporters packed the City of Portland Council Chambers donning club colors and scarves as MLS and Merritt Paulson put on its dog and pony show for the City of Portland. It was the first meeting of the MLS Soccer/AAA Baseball Task Force, a group of private citizens who were selected to sift through Merritt Paulson's proposal to bring MLS to Portland and eventually provide a recommendation to the City Council before March 2009, the deadline MLS has set for the expansion bids.
The Merritt Paulson and MLS presentations were long on bromides and short on substance. The proposal, according to Paulson whose wife gave birth only the day before, will have a positive economic impact on Portland and enrich the community. He warned that public funding was necessary and this would be Portland's one chance at getting an MLS club. But, Paulson evaded a task force member's question on whether the Paulson family would individually guarantee the revenue that would be used to pay off bonds to finance the upgrades.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber put in his two cents saying MLS wants to come to Portland, although he probably tells this to all of the bidders. He praised Portland's passionate fanbase as evidenced by Timbers supporters grumbling at any suggestion that they would support and watch the Seattle MLS expansion club. Garber also noted that MLS did not consider the lack of local Fortune 500 companies to be a detriment to Portland given the "national" presence of MLS mentioning the Rio Tinto sponsorship in Salt Lake, although that was probably not the best choice considering Portland's political leanings the Rio Tinto's track record.
Garber again noted that PGE Park needed upgraded facilities and that only one of the MLS soccer specific stadiums was completely privately funded saying most were public/private ventures. The current proposal calls for only public money to upgrade the facilities of a publicly owned facility.
The one piece of new information came from Garber who indicated MLS is going to announce a "game" at a soccer specific stadium that will attract international attention to highlight the benefits of a soccer specific stadium. Garber gave no other details.
Mayor-elect and current council member Sam Adams appears supportive of the attempt to bring MLS to town, but cautioned that there is much work to be done in securing a development agreement and financing. Mayor-elect Adams acknowledged the current economic climate makes such a proposal difficult.
City Commissioner Randy Leonard also was supportive of the proposal so long as the proposed moving of the AAA baseball team is moved to the Lents neighborhood an area he has represented for many years.
The Task Force will meet bi-monthly until the March deadline, although it certainly won't have the attendance of this initial meeting. I will try to attend some of these meetings.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
UF Field Trip: A Preview of USA-Argentina
We will be somewhere in there.As you may know, some of us here at UF will be partaking in the festivities at the June 8th tilt between the USMNT and the Argentines at Giants Stadium. If you want a match preview in terms of rosters, look here for the Argentines and here for the Americans (assuming the roster is the same as for the Spain friendly). If, however, you are interested in our shenanigans, join me after the jump.
There are several things to keep in mind here: (1) The match is on a Sunday, but several of us have strategically taken off on Monday; and (2) With Hirshey in attendance, the afterparty is guaranteed to look like this:
We're hoping the Special One shows up
So, on to a few prop bets.
1:2 - Odds that Hirshey will be called a "sellout"
1:3 - Odds that Hirshey will be blamed for Will Leitch leaving Deadspin
Over/Under (11) - Number of times that Hirshey will hear "I have a great idea for a book"
Over/Under (OFF) - Number of times that Hirshey will hear "You're going to let me write a guest column on ESPN, right?"
Over/Under (3) - Number of UFers that will become drunk and obnoxious before, during, or after the match
Over/Under (3) - Number of UFers that will be drunk and obnoxious before, during and after the match
Over/Under (7) - Number of UFers and assorted hangers-on (of 30) who will be arrested
We'll be back (sometime) with a scintillating (and titillating!) wrap-up of the game some time next week (as soon as Lingering Bursitis recovers from his post-match hangover).
Friday, March 7, 2008
UF Presents: Bigus Tripus 2008
At UF, we're trying to get into the experience business, instead of merely reporting on the sad and the hilarious from the futbol world. Precious Roy has his excellent TWAG column, and we're planning a few field trips for the spring and summer once the MLS season has kicked off.
As such, Bigus Dickus has stepped up and decided to take a little jaunt across to the UK, his homeland [and mine too], to take in 3 games of varying quality and a couple of training sessions at Norwich City over the next 5 days. He has Relegation Zone Mikey, the erstwhile Spurs fan and butt of many jokes in Hirshey's Deadspin column, along for the ride, and they'll be sending field reports from their travels.
Saturday, they're off to see Norwich City at Coventry [been there, the old stadium was great], Sunday it's Spurs at West Ham, no doubt to try and wash off two consecutive embarrassing defeats, Monday it's off to Norwich for their training sessions [and maybe even a stint on Radio Norfolk], and Tuesday night concludes the journey with Norwich at home to Stoke City. Yes, it's the highs and the lows of the EPL and the Championship.
Without further ado: Bigus' first report. There will be more.
Felt bad as Packimo [Ed. Note: RZM] looked on sad and desperate with the fate of one being sat for 7 hours next to a fat old snorer with a Birmingham accent, a weak bladder and no leg room. Gave him the 'come on son' nod and hooked him up. He was asleep before we took off. Bastard! So was Ivy (see pic). Once we were airborne she retired to her 'crib' which was essentially a box with a blue checked tea towel in it. No expense spared. Which brings me to the in flight meal: Chicken. One bite. Gone. Question. Was that chicken? Note: Best not to ask. Read the Times and noted that Matt Hughes described Chelseas football against Olympiacos as "cold-hearted professionalism" so in other words, "crap". "3 nil!" he emails. Get excited when you draw someone good pal. From the look of what's left that will be rather soon! For now, you are Bolton. Unlike Packimo, I havent slept yet so I look forward to filling my arteries with a greasy breakfast offering upon arrival before taking a nap to prepare for 6 pints and a curry. Packimo is in for a treat. Taking him to one of the best curry houses on the planet tonight after some beers and a catch up with some friends in Laaaandon. Note: This has been sorely missed. Tomorrow we will head to Coventry to see Super Glenn's Super Yellows at the Ricoh Stadium. An early start is required to make it to a pub called the Blackhorse in time for United v Pompey and a few beers with some City fans I know from the NCFC message boards. Sad git I know!
Flight left an hour late but we got a touch when they called me up to let me know they were moving me forward to world traveller 'plus' and giving me the entire row! Leg room too! Note: travel with a baby! You also get on first!
"The Greeks came bearing the gift of qualification, their ambition so limited that it was a wonder they had travelled at all".
This is my slap to all those misguided Chelsea fans like my mate Q who watches amazing football through his blue-tinted glasses.
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