Friday, April 06, 2007

Arsenal Colorado, It's On The Way

As you may know, Kroenke Sports Entertainment (KSE) has come to an agreement with ITV to buy both their 9.9% stake in Arsenal Holdings PLC (Parent company of the club) and ITV's 50% share of the joint venture Arsenal Broadband Limited. Not too long KSE was denying reports that they were in talks with ITV to buy a share of the club. Kroenke and other KSE officials were known to be fans of Arsenal. And before the new uniforms for KSE's other soccer team, the Colorado Rapids, were unveiled, it was widely rumored that the team was going to change it's name to Arsenal Colorado. Later when the team launched it's new stadium's web site, some of the copy in fact said Arsenal Colorado (pictures below). At the time it was thought that Nike essentially vetoed the name change. Arsenal had entered into a joint venture with Nike with the joint venture controlling the image rights to the club (leased from team). It was thought with Nike have a 50% stake in that, they were able to put the brakes any name change agreement at the last minute. But now with KSE owning a large chunk of Arsenal Holdings PLC, is it just a matter of time before the Colorado Rapids become Arsenal Colorado? Links to the large images showing the name Arsenal Colorado on Dicks Sporting Goods website :

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Southampton Back In The Premiership?

So what are the chances of the Saints making the playoffs? The current spots are Birmingham City GP 38 Pts 71 Preston North End GP 39 Pts 68 West Bromwich Albion GP 40 Pts 67 Wolverhampton Wanderers GP 40 Pts 66 Saints have played 40 and have 63 points. Same with Cardiff. Stoke's played 40 and are sitting at 61 points. Saints have these games left Sat, 7th @Luton Mon, 9th Sunderland Sat, 14th @ Birmingham Sat, 21st Leeds Sat, 28th @Norwich Sun, 6th Southend With how Sunderland's been playing, that game won't be easy. The same with traveling to Birmingham. 12 points from their last 6 would have Saints finishing at 75 points on the year. Last year that was enough for Crystal Palace to make the 4th play-offs spot. Would that be enough for Saints this year? Cardiff Sat, 7th Sheff Wed Mon, 9th @ Burnley Sat, 14th Stoke Sat, 21st @ QPR Sat, 28th Hull Sun, 6th Ipswich Wolves April Sat, 7th @ Sunderland Mon, 9th Hull Sat, 14th @ Crystal Palace Sun, 22nd Birmingham Sat, 28th QPR May Sun, 6th @ Leicester Stoke April Sat, 7th @ West Brom Mon, 9th Crystal Palace Sat, 14th @ Cardiff Sat, 21st Hull Sat, 28th Colchester May Sun, 6th @ QPR WBA April Sat, 7th Stoke Mon, 9th @ Norwich Fri, 13th Sheff Wed Mon, 23rd @ Burnley Sat, 28th @ Coventry May Sun, 6th Barnsley

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Another Blog Talking Out Of Their Hind End

It still amazes me to find some of the things some bloggers will write. Like this one about Greg Dalby. The blogger is correct in the trials that Dalby's had recently. But to say "Dalby is currently playing [plying] his trade with MLS side Colorado Rapids" is flat out wrong. Not as wrong as calling him a center back (he hasn't seen time at that position for a few years; his a holding midfielder). Dalby has not signed with the MLS. He's not registered to the Colorado Rapids. He is a free agent. And technically he really hasn't had a career in the US. That is unless playing in college for free constitutes a "career". I don't expect folks overseas to know everything. But if you don't know, just say it. Please don't make stuff up.