The US Federal Reserve bailed out insurer AIG a few days ago.  AIG happens to sponsor my favorite English Premier League Team, Manchester United.

Since the Federal Reserve injected $85 Billion to save AIG, an argument can be made that American citizens now indirectly sponsor Manchester United.  For instance, a CNN reporter walked around Manhattan asking people if Man U's jersey should have "Federal Reserve" instead of "AIG" on the front.  Granted, it's somewhat of a reach but there is a point.

Though I am part owner of Ebbsfleet United, I did not ever expect nor wish this kind of scenario to happen with AIG.  I do want everyone to root for Man U of their own free will, instead of as taxpayers against their will.

"May you live in interesting times" is a famous Chinese proverb.  Given the current turmoil in the markets, I can go for some boredom right now.

Posted by a concerned Tank in NY.

I met up again with the Professor yesterday to watch the Euro 2008 Final pitting Germany versus Spain.

Though Germany was the favorite, I liked Spain because I knew Ballack wasn't 100 percent.  I thought that Casillas is a better goalie than Lehmann.  The Professor disagreed but that's what makes sports and the world go around.

Torres' header went off the post in the 23rd minute.  Whoa!  So close!

Torres silenced the crowd in the 33rd minute.  What a goal past Lahm and Lehmann!  Spain 1 - Germany 0.

Ballack was bloodied in the 36th minute.  It takes a few minutes to patch him.  Ballack and Casillas were yellow carded in the 43rd minute.

Spain led 1-0 at half.

The Spainards tried to get too fancy on a back kick in the 54th minute.

Ballack missed in the 60th minute.

Casillas made a nice save on a cross in the 62nd minute.

Spain had nice chances in the 67th to 69th minutes.

Senna just missed in the 81st minute on a header cross.

Spain continued to attack as the Professor counseled.  They kicked the ball over the goal in the 86th minute.

A yellow on Kuranyi in the 88th minute.  He should have gotten it a few minutes sooner.

Spain wins 1-0.  Congratulations to Spain for winning their first major title in 44 years!  Quite coincidential for a country of 44 million people.

Football condolences to Germany fans such as Ronjon and Kai.

------------

On a light note, the Euro 2008 Program had the "Top 10 excuses for leaving work early" to watch Euro 2008 were awesome. 

(10) The gas company has to read my meter once a year and this was the only time they would come.

(9) I have to pick up my car from the garage, if I don't get there in half an hour it'll be locked up all weekend.

(8) I have to get my contact lenses fitted.

(7) I have a dentist/doctor/hospital appointment.

(6) My kids are locked outside.

(5) I have to take my dog to the vet and they close early today.

(4) My son/daughter is competing in the school sports day.

(3) I have to go to the airport to pick up my mother.

(2) The couch I ordered umpteen weeks ago has arrived and this was the only time they could deliver it.

(1) I need to give blood.


    My personal favorite was Nick's from Aussie Rod's party.  He put "International Roundball Appreciation Meeting" in his office calendar.  Some co-workers were invited to nearby pubs, others were not. 

Posted by The Tank in Football Heaven.  Only two more years to the World Cup.  Woooo!

The boys gathers at Aussie Rod's place for the first Euro 2008 semifinal between Germany and Turkey. 

I asked Steve and Ronjon NOT to tell me the score during the day.  I purposely avoided checking the score.  If I saw a red shirt (Turkey's color), I covered my eyes and walked the other way.

Turkey had nine men out to injuries and suspensions.  What an opportunity for a second unit player to play for a contract with a major league club in the Premiership, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, etc. 

Turkey scored in the last minute in their previous three matches against Croatia, Czech Republic, and Switzerland.  Thanks for JH for the final two Turkish victims.

Ugur Boral of Turkey strikes first blood in the 22nd minute through Lehmann's leg.  Whoa!

Schweinsteiger equalized with an awesome finish off the outside of his right foot in the 26th minute.

Podolski had a nice run in 34th minute.  But his upper body was leaning back like Italy's Roberto Baggio's on a penalty kick over the goal into outer space in the 1994 World Cup Final against Brasil.

After a 39th minute collision, both sides try to stop the their bleeding players like boxing cutmen.  Check that, the Turkish player is getting stapled on the top of his head.  OMG!  You leave it all out on the pitch.  Pain is temporary, pride is forever.

It was 1-1 at half.

JH and his brother Brandon make a good points about Turkey's freshness and looseness.

Nick's wife has negative interest in soccer but she told Nick the score during halftime.  Our future karaoke duets for her and me are in jeopardy.

Turkey continued to attack in the second half.  But Germany should have had a penalty kick after Lahm was tackled just inside the box.

We're watching the Fan Zone outside the Stadium as ESPN has technical difficulties.  James asks for the radio feed.  The Swiss had a power issue for a few minutes. 

Klose scored for Germany in the 79th minute during another Swiss power outage.  The Turks equal with Senturk in the 86th minute.  You've got to be kidding me.

James demands the BBC line-by-line Internet feed.  The power finally comes back on Lahm scored the go-ahead goal in the 90th minute.

A nice cutout to the crowd with ladies with Mrs. Lahm, Klose, etc.  Mrs. Jeter, Wright, and their American counterparts have nice competition.  Das fraulein!  

Three strikes and another power outage.  We find out Germany won 3-2. 

ESPN gets burned.  I thought they learned from World Cup 2006.  Their commentators watched and commented from the ESPN Studios in Bristol, Connecticut.  Talk about cost cutting but this is ridiculous.  So much for the world wide leader in sports.  I nominate the six of us to cover the next soccer match for ESPN.  James and Nick with the radio commentary, Brandon and JH with insightful analysis, Aussie Rod keeps the referees honest, and yours truly blogs it from the Stadium.  I'm serious about this.

Congratulations to Germany!  They meet the winner of Russia-Spain on Sunday.

Posted by The Tank reporting live from Aussie Rod's awesome apartment in Manhattan.

Spain had never won an international soccer competition on any June 22 according to the graphic on ESPN.

They were matched in the Euro 2008 quarterfinal against defending World Cup Champions Italy.  Italy was favored but you can never count the Spanairds out with players like Fabregas, Casillas, and others.

I was hoping to watch the game with JH and Aussie Rod but my meeting with the Professor took longer than expected after Church.  The Professor was a right half in his younger days and told many stories.  I asked him who was the best player ever.  He replied Diego Maradona because of his speed and you could never take the ball off his foot.  The Professor gave the edge to Diego Maradona over Pele and former Manchester United and Northern Ireland legend George Best.  Pele was blessed with teammates who made perfect passes with the right spin to him.  George Best was great (R.I.P.) but not Maradona.  BTW, if you are ever in Argentina, you should check out the "Church of Diego Maradona".
 
Back to the match at hand.  Spain controlled play most of the first half, about 65 to 35 percent according to another ESPN graphic.  But, the match was scoreless at halftime and the end of regulation.  You know what that means, penalty kicks.

Penalty kicks sends a surge of adrenaline through this goalie's body and soul.  I knew two next to last penalty kicks would be blocked.  Call it goalie intuition.  Spain won 4-2 on penalty kicks.  They are going to the Euro semifinals against Russia on Thursday.

Congratulations to Spain! 

Posted by an exhilirated Tank in NY.

Yes, the Russian Army recently paraded tanks and soldiers in Moscow.  But, I am talking about the world's best Red Army, Manchester United Football Club. 

Wow!  You may have heard by now that Man U traveled to Moscow this past Wednesday for the Champions League Final against Chelsea.  It was so classic that ESPN Classic made it an Instant Classic.

Man U struck first blood with a goal in the 26th minute.  Tevez almost scored on a crossing pass and made it 2-0.  Chelsea countered late in the first half to tie the match at 1.

Both teams had their opportunities in the second half but it went to extra time. 

Chelsea's Drogba drew a red card after he slapped Vidic in the 117th minute, or late in the
extra (over) time.  Vidic took one of best penalty kickers out of the match as we went to penalty kicks.

I was nervous going to penalty kicks as Chelsea's Cech is a better goalie than Van Der Sar. 
   
Penalty kicks brought back memories as my Central New York Team Handball Club won the U.S. Team Handball Federation Division II Championship on penalty throws in 1994 in Hotlanta.  I was named Most Valuable Goalie.

Back to Moscow.  It was the fourth Champions League final in the last eight years to go to penalty kicks.  Some of my reactions are below:

Tevez - Gol!
Ballack - Darn it!
Carrick - Yes!
Chelsea player - Darn it!
Ronaldo - You stutter stepping idiot!  Cech easily caught his classically weak penalty kick.
Lampard - Ah!  Just beyond Van Der Sar's finger tips
Hargreaves - Whew!
Ashley Cole - Darn it!  Just hit Van Der Sar's finger tips
Nani - Wow!  Nice fake move by Cech
Down to Terry.  What?  He missed!  Terry was more wide right than Scott Norwood - OMG!
It's tied at 4 after 5 penalty kicks.
Anderson - Yes!
Kaku? - Ouch!
Giggs - Yes!
Carvahlo - Blocked by Van Der Sar. 

Manchester United won 6-5 on penalties.  Yes!  The Red Army rolls again.  I jump up and down and high five total strangers.  Others look on in disbelief.

Ronaldo lives.  So does Rooney who had no shots on goal.
      
I felt bad for Chelsea's Lampard after his Mom recently passed.  R.I.P. 
                 
Posted by a psyched up Tank reporting live from Jake's Saloon on 57th Street and 10th Avenue. 

JH, Tony, and I got together at Clancy's on 52nd and 2nd this past Saturday to watch an important match, Manchester United versus Arsenal in the fifth round of the FA Cup.  It was a pleasant distraction from steroids and preparing taxes.              
    
For the uninitiated, Man U versus Arsenal is like Yankees versus the Red Sox.  In fact, Man U had a cross sport marketing agreement a few years ago with the Yankees and NJ Nets. 
                     
Tony and I bonded instantly as we are both Man U fans.  JH is a great person and friend but is an Arsenal fan.  However, we agree on watching world class soccer. 

J.S. Park missed on a cross at 13 minutes.  Darn it! 

Rooney finished on a header at the 16th minute.  Man U 1 - Arsenal 0.  Yeah! 

No one likes Lehmann, the Arsenal goalie.  He's a dirty player.

"Your steak and eggs are ready!" the bartender yelled from the bar.  Hey, I have to eat too.
  
Fletcher scored on a header from Nani in the 20th minute.  Man U 2 - Arsenal 0.                          

We had a spirited discussion of SWAGS - Soccer Wives And Girlfriends.  In our small and unscientific sample, the French have the best SWAGS in this small sample.  J'accord!  Agreed!

Rooney couldn't finish on a brilliant cross from Fletcher in the 34th minute.  Darn it!

Nani's goal in the 38th minute passed an outstretched Lehmann.  Man U 3 - Arsenal 0.                 

During halftime, I informed Tony of my partial ownership in Ebbsfleet United.  My fellow owners and I plan to take Ebbsfleet from the English Fourth Division and take them to the highest heights of global soccer.
    
We all agree that Nani should stop diving.

Rooney almost added more goals in the 47th and 49th minutes.

Eboue of Arsenal was given a red card foul on Ezra.  Ouch!  Buh bye.  
                     
Not be outdone, Rooney was given a yellow card to Rooney in the 61st minute.  Let the ball go Rooney!
 
As boneheaded as Rooney can be at times, he just missed on the 62nd minute.  Nice block by Lehmann.  Hey, I am a former goalie and have to call it as I see it. 

JH's friend and co-worker Sheila stops by in the 68th minute.  Very nice!

Fletcher scored his second goal in the 74th minute.  Man U 4 - Arsenal 0.

As the camera pans the crowd, I thought I saw my friend Manchester Sam in the arena.  I met Sam at the 2005 Great Wall Marathon.
                       
Adebayor gets a yellow card for a real bad flop in the 76th minute.  The announcers were incredulous.

Nani juggles just like they teach at the Brasilian soccer school for kids in Riverdale.  Man U won 4-0.  Yeah!

Posted by The Tank reporting live from Clancy's on the East side of Manhattan.

Last night I was out for dinner on las Rumblas in Barcelona, early by Spanish standards at about 11pm. As I stepped off the metro I thought I walked into the middle of a riot. Was there a massive government protest? Did George Bush decide to visit? No, Barcelona is host to a match tonight between the Rangers of Scotland and local hometown favorite FC Barcelona.

To say that tonight's match is a huge one is an understatement. The Rangers and FC Barcelona are tied in the E Group in the Championship League with two wins and 1 draw apiece.

The Scottish Soccer hooligans were out in full force on the Rublas last night. I have experienced some crazy European soccer experiences in the past, including being in Paris (by accident) when France won the World Cup, but nothing could prepare me for this. The hooligans took over the square and were separated by police barricades, Scots on one side, Spaniards on the other. They were drunk (of course!), dressed in team colors and singing at the top of their lungs the songs of their team and country. Chants of intimidation in unison were shouted over and over again and at one point the crowd gathered into two groups (separated by police) and were throwing beer, food, and clothing at each other (over the line of police separating them.)

It was a lot of fun to be a part of. What amazes me is that life just stops for soccer fans in Europe and they travel to the city where their team is playing an important match and just go to bars, sing, dance, get in trouble, and watch the game on TV since there is usually no chance of getting a ticket. (I tried, but going rate is 350 euros on the scalper market, too high for our budget, I will be watching at a bar on las Rumblas, hopefully with a camera this time!)

Tennis:

Football is not the only thing going on in Spain this week, the Sony Ericsson Championships are going on in Madrid. With her ailing shoulder clearly healed, Maria Sharapova looked like her usual self. She won her first match in more than two months yesterday in Madrid, a 6-4, 7-5 win against Daniela Hantuchova.

 

Posted by Steve in Barcelona, Spain

I leave the party I was at and enter the cab and say to the driver: "Football!" He knew where to take us.

 

We file into the FC Barcelona stadium at Access 19 yesterday at 10pm. The stadium is like nothing I have ever seen, holds 100,000 people and huge. The 20,000 fans that came out for this late game made the stadium look empty. Since this was just a small Spanish Cup qualifying game, we were able to get tickets in the 3^rd row, behind about 15 ten year old school boys and future soccer hooligans. After I call the tank to rub in the fact that we have 3^rd row tickets, I ask the kids in Spanish what time they have school tomorrow.

 

FC Barcelona was playing CF Badalona, an inferior team and since FC was a heavy favorite some of the best players were rested. We only catch a glimpse of Ronaldinho’s bad hair from the sidelines. Despite that, we were treated to an amazing game.

 

After some good back and fourth, about 20 minutes into the first half a nice corner kick to Gio ( at 23 mins) and GOAL! FC up 1-0. Then just about 10 minutes later Ezquerro ( at 39 mins) scores another on a nice bounce back. 2-0 at the half.

 

The kids start to torment the referee. I yell at them in Spanish to show some respect and one kid turns around and says that the ref is blind and deserves it. My Spanish is not good enough to counter. Remi from the Netherlands informs me that the ref was not blind and it was not offside. (We go into a long discussion of the rules of soccer, friendly match vs international play rules.)

 

I run and get a hot dog for Richard and I and in my bad Spanish I attempt to obtain peanuts for Richard’s wife. (She actually got salted corn nuts.) The Spanish put ketchup, mustard, spices and grilled onions on a hot dog. Rock on.

 

As the game was winding down, I still held to my pregame prediction of a 3-0 FC win. Remi had predicted 5-0. Towards the end of play in the second half Saviola scored on a great direct kick (78 mins) and then just 5 minutes later he kicked, was blocked and then kicked again for his second goal of the night (83 mins) and was then soon subbed out to rest with a 4-0 lead.  (Thankfully he was subbed out since I did not want Remi to win our wadger, I said 3-0 and he said 5-0, so it was directly in the middle.)

 

As midnight approaches, the kids parents wise up and decide that it is time to take the boys home so they can sleep and go to school.

 

We leave after the 90 minutes and the metros in Barcelona close at midnight so we have to walk 30 minutes to a Hilton hotel to catch a cab home. A great and memorable night.

Posted by Steve, Live! from Barcelona.