Clemson University's soccer coach, Trevor Adair, was arrested over the weekend. While the arrest was not for what UF usually covers a coach's arrest, it was for a crime paradoxically better and worse than groping a trusting underaged team member. While Assault and Battery may not initially seem as bad as molesting kids, the story twists a bit when it allegedly involves Adair beating up on his own daughters.
Yeah, that's not so good.
Adair has been head coach at Clemson since 1994. He replaced the founder of the program, Dr. I. M. Ibrahim, who first coached the team in 1967. Ibrahim resigned his position, and at the time there were rumors flying that it as not his idea but the university's insistence. Now, the second coach in the program's 41-year history may be forced to do the same.
As first reported by the Anderson Independent-Mail on Saturday, Adair was arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning on two counts of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. The article says as well that the charges stem from an argument with his two daughters that occurred on the front lawn of Adair's home around 2.30 AM.
As best as I can surmise, these two daughters are Adair's only children. One of them is a senior in high school, while the other has a much lesser online profile. My assumption is that the second girl is younger, but I have no proof. Therefore, my initial reaction was that Adair, who was born and raised in Belfast, was simply letting his curfew-busting kids have it verbally for coming home at such a late hour. Unfortunately, now that the battery charges have been revealed (initially, the articles listed only an assault charge), I can't help but think that what has transpired since is in the university's best interest.
As of Saturday night, Adair has been placed on a leave of absence by the university. The AD has stated that Adair has been given the time in order to get his affairs straightened out. If the charges do in fact move forward, Adair will surely be fired, ahem, resign his position.
This is kind of tough for me to process. Adair is well-known in the local sports community. He has a weekly slot on the Clemson sports radio station. You can often see him out and about in Clemson, and even where I live, which is about an hour's drive away. He has never, to me at least, been seen as an overly aggressive guy, but instead as a jovial (Northern) Irish man. Although I guess that his daughters have a different tale to tell.
I'm reticent to put his picture up on the site, but will link to Adair's mugshot here. Doesn't look so jovial there, I guess. If you really want to see what schadenfreude looks like, then you can go to a massage board of Clemson's main rival. Unlike me, they assume the worst from the start. Of course, they forget that Adair's first post-collegiate job was as a Gamecock assistant, but what can you expect from mouthbreathers?
Monday, April 13, 2009
College coach arrested
UF Quick Throw: Luton Lose Battle for League Status.
Luton Town were relegated from the Football League today after they failed to beat Chesterfield. Grimsby were surprise winners at Notts County and that vital away win lifted the fishy people 13 points from Luton who have just 4 games left and a possible 12 point haul. Luton faced a struggle all season after being docked 30 points by the Football League for financial irregularities including entering administration. Without the 30 point deficit Luton would currently sit 15th in League 2. They drop out of the league and face some very important challenges to keep the squad together in a league largely filled with semi-pro sides and just 2 promotion places up for grabs.
-Bigus
Jon Oster enjoys a good weekend roast
Jon Oster: roasterSunday lunch is a traditional thing in the UK, whereupon everyone takes a trip to their mum's house for a leg of lamb or side of roast beef with all the trimmings. It can't be beat, both for the quality family time, and the superb English food. However, ex-Everton/Sunderland midfielder Jon Oster is a fan of the contemporary roast, which involves group sex, and he's been caught and charged.
It lends weight to the adage that you can take the midfielder out of the Mackem, but you can't take the Mackem out of the midfielder.
Oster, a married 30-year-old now ambling up and down the wing for Crystal Palace, is alleged to have taken a 19-year-old girl back to her home (yeah, she still lives with her parents) with one of his friends, where they groped her a while before his friend had sex with her. I'm not sure what Oster was doing during the second bit, but I'm sure that's what the court transcripts are for.
Police are investigating the allegations, and both Oster and his friend are out on bail until May.
Jon Oster used to be a hot prospect in the footballing world, until he got in brawls here and there, shot his teammate in the eye with an air rifle (prematurely ending his teammate's career), and began on the roasting trail.
Here's hoping his wifey is taking notes. There's some divorce money to be had!
Read more on "Jon Oster enjoys a good weekend roast"...
Fox Soccer Report's Parent Company Is in Trouble
Chalk up another victim of the global credit crisis.
I know that we don't usually cover Canadian corporate governance structures, but try to follow along closely: Fox Soccer Report, which is licensed and broadcast by Fox Soccer Channel in the U.S., is actually produced by Fox Sports World Canada, which is managed by Global TV, which is owned by Canwest Media Inc., which is owned by CanWest Global Communications Corp., which is in deep, deep financial trouble.
How deep? On Friday, Canwest took a C$1.2-billion writedown of its assets, which resulted in a C$1.4 billion loss for the second quarter of 2009. Ouch. (A "writedown" is where a corporation announces a one-time reduction in the value of its assets, i.e. net worth.) And, this was the second writedown for Canwest in the past six months, with the company having announced a C$1 billion loss in November 2008.
Things get even worse, because Canwest owes the banks an imminent C$30 million interest payment. The payment was originally due in March, but the bondholders have provided a series of extensions -- the most recent to April 21. What happens if Canwest can't make the interest payment? The bondholders have the right to demand repayment of C$761 million in principal. And if Canwest can't make the payment? It's likely off to bankruptcy.
This latest interest payment might only be delaying the inevitable, because Canwest expanded rapidly over the past few years and as a result is carrying a whopping C$4 BILLION in debt. Most of this is due to Canwest's purchases of Canadian newspapers. Whoops.... Too bad the publishing industry is completely in the tank. At least one financial analyst thinks that Canwest is already "done."
And now for the important part: What does this mean for Fox Soccer Report? We've sent emails to Canwest's PR department, but so far have not heard anything back (we'll put up an update if we do). All we know is that, even if Canwest can stave off bankruptcy, it is spinning off any and all profitable assets. Could this include Fox Sports World Canada? The channel broadcasts Fox Soccer Report, Sky News, Serie A matches, the occasional USL game... and that's it. Oh, and the channel costs an extra C$2.99 a month to subscribers.
Here's the key to the whole equation: What does Fox Sports International want to do? Don't forget that Fox Soccer Channel (the U.S. channel) is owned by a separate entity, Fox Sports International, which licenses the rights to show Fox Soccer Report in the U.S. Does Fox Sports swoop in to purchase Fox Sports World Canada from Canwest? Does Fox Sport purchase only Fox Soccer Report? Or does Fox Sports use this as an excuse to produce a brand new program in the U.S.?
We'll just have to wait and see how this plays out. In the meantime, it's clear that things are bleak at Fox Soccer Report's parent company.
Ligue 1 Weekend Review
This week saw numerous clubs go without a goal and a shake-up at the top of the table. The result of the week goes to Marseille, as L'OM destroyed Grenoble 4-1 to take them into first place in Ligue 1.
Saturday, April 11th:
Auxerre 0-2 Bordeaux - The Brazilians were out in force for Bordeaux in this match, with Fernando and Wendel making things seem hopeless for Auxerre. Kahlenberg got off the first shot for the latter club, but it was easily saved by Bordeaux GK Rame. Fernando then scored the 1st goal in the 34th minute with a header off a Wendel corner. Birsa had a chance to equalize, but his header came back off the crossbar. In the 77th minute Wendel had his free-kick stopped by Auxerre GK Sorin, but just 3 minutes later Wendel sent home the deciding goal.
Le Havre 1-2 Caen - Caen picked up their first win since November despite Le Havre having 8 corner kicks (to 1 for Caen) from which to threaten. In the 5th minute a Savidan volley was saved by Le Havre GK Revault, but the latter was unable to stop Savidan again in the 20th minute after he sent home a 1-timer from an excellent Yatabare pass. Noro attempted to equalize with a free-kick in the 30th minute, but Caen GK Plante was well-positioned to stop the attempt. The equalizer did come in the 42nd minute when Alassane finished off a one-two with Alla. They could have even taken the lead just before the half, but Revault did well to stop a shot from ben Khalfallah. Caen then came out with increased pressure in the second half, as Nivet blasted a shot off the crossbar in the 47th minute. Their efforts were rewarded in the 87th minute when Lemaitre headed home a corner from Eluchans.
Le Mans 2-0 Sochaux - Le Mans had won only 1 of their last 14 matches before this, but get a well-deserved win here. In the 2nd minute Lamah had his header saved by Sochaux GK Richert, and a few minutes later Maiga had his shot barely cleared off the line by Perquis. Goulon then sent a shot over the crossbar. Le Mans finally got their goal in the 36th minute when Gervinho had his shot cleared by Richert, but only as far as Lamah, who sent home the rebound. In the 40th minute Gervinho should have had a goal of his own, but his free-kick was saved by Richert. Sochaux finally got an attempt on goal in the 60th minute, but Erdinq was easily stopped by Le Mans GK Pele. The second goal came in the 87th minute after Maiga finished off a defensive mistake by Mikari.
Nancy 2-0 Valenciennes - In a match where they were outshot 8-1, it wasn't until the very end that things fell apart for Valenciennes. In the 3rd minute Dia had his shot saved by Valenciennes GK Penneteau, and then Darcheville began to apply pressure for the latter club. However, Nancy responded in the second half through Hadji, who forced a save from Penneteau in the 47th minute and shot just wide in the 67th minute. In the 87th minute Darcheville and Macaluso traded headers, but neither club was able to break through. In the 91st minute Macaluso finally gave Nancy the lead with a header off a free-kick. Just 2 minutes later Traore was adjudged to have committed a handball in the area, and Hadji converted the resulting PK for the final tally.
Nice 2-0 Lorient - In a fairly even match, it was Loic Remy who made the difference for Nice. The southern club started strong, with Lorient GK Audard forced to hastily clear a Hellebuyck corner that threatened to go in directly in the 8th minute. In the 28th minute Vahirua had his free-kick poorly cleared by Kante, and Gameiro's resulting header was saved by Nice GK Ospina. Remy then struck in the second half, with both goals coming within minutes of each other. In the 58th minute Remy dribbled through the defense for a clinical finish, while in the 60th minute he finished off a one-two with Adeilson by dribbling through the defense to score again and complete his brace. Remy could have had at least a hat-trick, but he was twice denied by Audard. Lorient had 1 final chance at goal in the 88th minute, but Amalfitano was denied by Ospina.
Toulouse 1-0 Nantes - Toulouse controlled this match from the start, and earned the 3 points through some gritty play. However, the first true chance of the match came for Nantes, when an N'Daw free-kick was volleyed wide by Vainquer in the 23rd minute. In the 34th minute Mareval saw Toulouse GK Carrasso off his line and attempted to lob him, but Carrasso was able to recover. In the 41st minute Braaten sent in a well-struck corner that was headed wide by Mathieu, and Toulouse used that momentum to come out with pressure in the second half. The goal came in the 53rd minute when Didot played Braaten through, who then laid off a pass for an easy finish from Gignac. They almost struck again in the 65th minute, but a Didot free-kick deflected off Mathieu and then hit Nantes GK Alonzo in the chest and bounced out of play off the post. Mathieu was then on the other side off a deflection in the 72nd minute when his shot hit Nantes defender Pierre and went wide. Nantes had a final chance to equalize in the 90th minute but Carrasso did well to stop Abdoun.
Rennes 1-0 Saint-Etienne - In another of the weekend's well-played, even matches, Rennes eked out a win by scoring early in the second half and then hanging on for the next 40 minutes. In the 19th minute Dabo hit the crossbar for Saint-Etienne, and then Sow was stopped by Saint-Etienne GK Janot. Ilan then forced a save from Rennes GK Douchez, while Leroy hit the post in the 33rd minute. Saint-Etienne almost broke through just before the half, but Mirallas was stopped by Douchez. Almost immediately after the restart Danze sent home a header from a Sow cross for the goal. Machado and Mirallas then both forced saves from Douchez, but Rennes managed to hang on.
Sunday, April 12th:
Marseille 4-1 Grenoble - Marseille came out ready for this match after their disappointing loss in the UEFA Cup this past week, but they did not break through until the second half. The first goal came in the 52nd minute when Batlles fouled Valbuena in the box and Taiwo sent home the resulting PK. Just 4 minutes later Valbuena was involved again, as his free-kick was headed in by Hilton. Taiwo then completed his brace in the 65th minute with a brilliant free-kick. Wiltord almost had a goal off a 1-timer from a ben Arfa free-kick, but Grenoble GK Wimbee was able to make the save. The 4th goal would still come, however, when ben Arfa played Brandao through in the 89th minute for an easy finish. Grenoble did manage to get a goal back in the 93rd minute when Courtois sent a pass from Dimitrijevic into the upper corner, but it was far too late.
Lille 0-0 Paris Saint-Germain - In the most listless match of the week, both clubs fell further adrift of the top of the table. Lille had the better chances in the match, getting off 4 shots on goal to only 1 for PSG. Bastos sent an early free-kick directly at PSG GK Landreau, while Vittek sent his shot over the bar. Balmont then put another shot wide, while Hazard and Bastos elicited more saves from Landreau. PSG had their only shot on goal from Sessegnon in the second half, while Bastos had 1 final effort for Lille.
Lyon 2-2 Monaco - Lyon only managed a draw against the club from the principality despite having 14 corners from which to threaten (to 0 for Monaco), thus falling to 2nd place in Ligue 1. The match began very slowly, with both clubs playing hesitantly. Monaco drew first blood in the 34th minute when Leko scored off a counter-attack (and picked up the GSTGC award for this week by default). Just 3 minutes later Benzema hit the post for Lyon, and he and his teammates were booed off the pitch at half-time by their home supporters. Leko should have had a brace in the 48th minute, but he sent his shot wide. Lyon then had Makoun and Juninho stopped by Monaco GK Ruffier, but they finally broke through in the 65th minute when Cris beat the onrushing Ruffier to a Juninho cross. Monaco re-took the lead 1 minute later when Pino took a through-ball from Gosso and dribbled around Lloris. Things looked bleak for Lyon, but Piquionne rescued 1 point in the 81st minute with an incredible bicycle kick. Freddy Adu watch: A sighting on the bench, but still no playing time.
So, after Matchday 31 the top of the table looks like this: (1) Marseille, with 61 points on a 17-10-4 record and a +25 goal differential; (2) Lyon, with 60 points on a 17-9-5 record and a +19 goal differential; (3) Bordeaux, with 59 points on a 17-8-6 record and a +21 goal differential; and (4) Toulouse, with 56 points on a 15-11-5 record and a +17 goal differential.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
The Bootroom: Let's Go Sunderland (Open Thread)
Let's not beat around the bush here, there is no love lost for ManU here at UF. We would all like to see them go down in a flaming wreck. Too soon? Sadly, it does not appear they will be obliging us this season, but that does not mean we can't root for Sunderland to reverse its form this year that has provided only 1 win since I opened my new girls on cars calendar.
So, pretty please Blackcats, get that Trinidadian & Tobagon sensation Kenwyne Jones back in goal scoring form and baptize the Red Devil backline.
After the jump, select matches.
EPL
Saturday, April 11, 2009
7:45 ET Liverpool v Blackburn Rovers
10:00 ET Middlesbrough v Hull City
10:00 ET Portsmouth v West Bromwich Albion
10:00 ET Sunderland v Manchester United
10:00 ET Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United
10:00 ET Wigan Athletic v Arsenal
10:00 ET Chelsea v Bolton Wanderers
12:30 ET Stoke City v Newcastle United
Sunday, April 12, 2009
9:00 ET Aston Villa v Everton
11:10 ET Manchester City v Fulham
Fizzydrinkship
10:00 ET Swansea City v Norwich City
League Two
10:00 ET Lincoln City v Luton Town
SPL
10:00 ET Aberdeen v Inverness Caledonian Thistle
La Liga
Saturday, April 11, 2009
14:00 ET Barcelona v Recreativo Huelva
16:00 ET Villarreal v Málaga
Sunday, April 12, 2009
11:00 ET Osasuna v Athletic Bilbao
11:00 ET Sporting Gijon v Valencia
11:00 ET Racing Santander v Real Betis
11:00 ET Mallorca v Almeria
11:00 ET Real Madrid v Valladolid
11:00 ET Numancia v Espanyol
13:00 ET Sevilla FC v Getafe
15:00 ET Deportivo La Coruña v Atlético Madrid
Bundesliga
Saturday, April 11, 2009
9:30 ET TSG Hoffenheim v VfL Bochum
9:30 ET Borussia Dortmund v FC Cologne
9:30 ET Energie Cottbus v Arminia Bielefeld
9:30 ET Borussia Monchengladbach v VfL Wolfsburg
9:30 ET Hannover 96 v Hertha Berlin
9:30 ET Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt
9:30 ET Schalke 04 v Karlsruhe
Sunday, April 12, 2009
11:00 ET Bayer Leverkusen v Werder Bremen
11:00 ET VfB Stuttgart v Hamburg SV
Serie A
Saturday, April 11, 2009
9:00 ET Napoli v Atalanta
9:00 ET Fiorentina v Cagliari
9:00 ET Torino v Catania
9:00 ET Chievo Verona v AC Milan
9:00 ET Internazionale v Palermo
9:00 ET Lazio v AS Roma
9:00 ET Lecce v Sampdoria
9:00 ET Bologna v Siena
14:30 ET Genoa v Juventus
Sunday, April 12, 2009
10:00 ET Reggina v Udinese
Friday, April 10, 2009
Pau-lo Can You Go.
Q.P.R. and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone must have been really desperate to get rid of manager Paulo Sousa. The excuse they used to sack the former Portuguese international was so daft and so pathetic that I thought it was a joke.
Sousa was fired for divulging secret and sensitive information. Woaahhhhhhhh. Paulo, WTF man? You leaked the clubs finances to the press? No? You told the fans that the club was being moved to Scotland? No? You found out about the underground missile base hiding below the 'school end' at Loftus Rd? No? Then why did they give you the boot? Oh...You complained that you didn't know anything about Dexter Blackstock's loan move to Nottingham Forest! Oh, that will do it alrigh...wait!
It is a decision for the board and only they can answer it. I'm not frustrated, I said from the first day I have to adapt and try to do my best with the players I have. - Paulo Sousa after Q.P.R.'s draw with Palace last Saturday.
What a sack-less bunch the Q.P.R. board must be. They are technically the richest team in the country and they look for lame arse excuses to fire the coach. Ecclestone should have just manned up, admitted he was after instant success and fired the guy because the team were not doing the business on the pitch. But that would have meant paying Sousa money. The remainder of his contract. This lowdown move is nothing short of disgusting and disrespectful. If talking about the players and the board to the press is a sackable offence then managers would be fired daily. Rafa would have been fired long ago. Sousa was basically just telling the truth. Maybe he shouldn't have but football managers often speak out of turn and say what they mean. They are not geniuses.
Q.P.R.'s results haven't been great recently. They are currently 10th in the Colaship, 9 points from the playoffs. When Sousa was handed the reigns just 4 months ago he was told that he was expected to build a team. How he was supposed to do that and achieve success in just 26 games is just beyond me. Not as if they were struggling near the bottom is it?
Sousa is the 4th guy to get the chop at Loftus Rd since F1 a-hole, I mean Warhol-lookalike Ecclestone and his mate Flavio Briatore took over in September 2007.
One thing is for sure, managers are out the Q.P.R. door faster than Ecclestone's Renault Formula 1 cars. His racing team are currently 4th in the standings, a whopping 21 points off the top of the constructors table and rivals Brawn-Mercedes.
-Bigus
Quick Throw: David Villa to Chelsea, or not?
Anatomy of a Transfer Rumor: because a lot can happen in 3 hours.
Friday morning, EARLY: Chelsea prep a 45 million pound bid for David Villa. [Guardian Sport]
Friday, 5.37am: No, sorry... Chelsea prepare 40 million pound bid for David Villa. [Daily Mail]
Friday, 6.42am: David Villa is adamant that he doesn't want to leave Valencia for Chelsea, but he'll be ready to discuss his future should a suitable bid come in for his services. [Guardian Sport]
Friday, 8.10am: David Villa says he wants to see out his crazy contract at Valencia. [Daily Mail]
In less than 150 minutes (or roughly the time it takes for Alex Ferguson to complete a regeneration in his wicked biochamber that's fueled by the souls of children), you damn journos have messed with the hearts of middle-class Chelsea fans everywhere.
For shame, Daily Mail and Guardian. Foooooorrrr shaaaaame.
Zombedine Zidane
Before waking up fully to the horror that Chelsea have an outside shot at a treble this season (what a difference a fortnight makes), enjoy this little slice of nightmare from a French website, Portraits of the Living Deads, devoted to the painstaking drawing and coloring of what famous people would look like if they were zombies.
I must admit, it's a thought that has crossed my mind several times. What if Diego Maradona snorted brains instead of cocaine? Would Bill Gates still be such a great philanthropist if he joined the legions of the walking dead?
Looking at Zidane above, I feel confident that if he tried another headbutt, his head would come clean from his atrophied neck. Still, look out Marco!
The tubby Argie after the jump, along with another, far more troubling sketch.
At the back of archives are zombie estimations for several famous dead people, including John Bonham, Buddy Holly, people like that.
The most troubling one, as pointed out by tipster Brian (that we now echo), was Marc-Vivien Foé. You may remember the tragedy with Foe back in 2003. The then-Man City loanee and Cameroon midfielder suffered a fatal heart attack on the pitch during a Confederations Cup game against Colombia, caused by an undetected heart condition. The French artist drew him in his Cameroon kit.
Bit much, perhaps?
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Thursday Backpasses: Death!
Tonight's theme is brought to you by '70s Detroit proto-punk band Death, which is what happened to Man City's season today in Hamburg.
Girl fight! [Dirty Tackle]
A pro-soccer column... in an American newspaper! [Chicago Tribune]
Forbes' 25 most valuable soccer franchises [The Offside]
Maurice Edu scored his first goal for Rangers [SI]
Adebayor is actually kind of boring [Off the Post]
Red Star - Partizan riot.... It's like Escape from New York meets Mad Max [The Offside]
An interview with FSC VP David Sternberg [Soccer Lens]
How to make the UEFA/Europa Cup interesting... A single game elimination tournament! [The Times Online]
And finally, Ford Field, Michigan Stadium and Michigan State Stadium considered for possible World Cup sites. [Free Press]
(Please save your tired Detroit sucks comments for someone who cares.)
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