Charlotte Eagles: Game One

from charlotteeagles.com

The Charlotte Eagles were immediately put to the test as they began their 2010 campaign with a home opener against the Charleston Battery. The Battery returned to the USL -2 after competing in USL-1. After the Battery took control with a two goal lead the Eagles were able to respond by tieing the game with a late goal in to the second half, only for Charleston to answer immediately with the goal winning strike of rookie Levi Coleman leading Charleston to their first victory of the season 3-2.

April 17 marked the start of the 2010 campaign in USL-2. The weather was perfect for a home opener with sun and light winds. Fans awaited a great match up between two of USL-2 best. Neither team disappointed.
It took Charleston twenty four minutesto find the back of the net as Pierre Rudolf Mayard found success after receiving a pass from Colin Falvey. Charleston's first goal allowed both teams to settle into a bit of a rhythm. Unfortunately for Charlotte the Battery were able to break through the defense for a second time in the first half by Machael Zaher in minute thirty-two.
Charlotte had their share of opportunities and with their first real break. Debola Ogunseye was able to find Ben Page for a goal just before the half ended.
Half time score 2-1, Charleston.
Charleston, happy with a one goal lead, were able to defend well deep into the second half. Rookie, Debola Ogunseye, finally had something to show for his efforts in minute seventy-eight giving the Eagles new life in a game that began to swing their way.
But it took Charleston just three minutes to answer with rookie Levi Coleman to beat Steward Ceus, Eagles keeper, scoring the winning goal leading Charleston to a 3-2 victory over the Eagles.
After a well fought match the Eagles must recoup and prepare for Richmond on April 24. Debola Ogunseye was named Eagles player of the match with one goal and one assist. [end story]

Goal scorer Ben Page (nice smirk, Ben!)

Man of the Match with a goal and assist, Debola Ogunseye

When I first read his name, all I saw was Ebola!  I'm sure his name means something better!

Man with the million-dollar smile!  Hopefully Chris will be back for the next game!

So close!  Arggghh.  That's why we love sports because they lift our spirits and then smack us down again!  I have faith that the Eagles will rebound quickly from this loss.  First games are always difficult.  Although they've played pre-season games, the nerves can get you when you know it counts for something.

Player of the Week

Jorge Herrera (9/11/80)

Hometown: Bogota, Colombia

Height: 5’ 9"
College: Jorge went from high school to Pro soccer!
2009 Club: Charlotte Eagles
Previous Clubs: Bogota, Colombia. 1997-1999. Independiente Santa Fe. Bogota,

Colombia. 2000-2003 Atletico Nacional. Medellin, Colombia. 2003. Deportes Quindio. Armenia, Quindio. 2004 Club Atletico Huracan. Buenos Aires, Argentina. 2004-2005. Millonarios. Bogota, Colombia. 2005-2006 Guarani. Asuncion, Paraguay. 2007

Interesting Fact: His father is a professional bullfighter.
Favorite Bible Verse: Luke 18:27 "Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."
Hobbies: Bullfights, Play Golf, Play Video Games, Play Ping Pong. Classic Music Concerts

Jorge in action vs Charleston

A final note:  I'm liking the new Eagle kit but not feelin' the Battery kit at all...I would call it "Newcastle Halloween" ewwww.

The Ups and Downs of Footy

Well...wouldn't you know that the day would start out eerily reminiscent of a day back in September.  Then, the Blues of the Dark Side of Manchester were guests at Old Trafford and the Reds from the Shining Side of Manchester were looking to make a statement that losing the World's Best Player wouldn't affect their team.
That match, officiated by Martin Atkinson, was a derby to remember, with Michael Owen slotting home a magnificent injury time goal...6 minutes into injury time.  Of course the Dark Side thought it was too much time, but every official agreed Atkinson was spot on for the time.
So...fast forward to April 17.  The Reds made the somber drive to Middle Eastlands to take on a desperate Dark Side, who needed a win to slide into fourth spot in the table and the all-important Champions League playoff spot.  The Reds would need the Force and their knighted Yoda to muster a win that could keep them in the hunt for their unprecedented fourth-straight Prem League title.
Before the match even started, the Blues were haggling about the last-minute appointment of Martin Atkinson as the official.  Steve Bennett, who was supposed to be the main man, was stuck in Spain because of the halt in air travel across Europe due to a volcanic eruption in Iceland.  Instead of taking a champion's mentality (something of which the Dark Side know nothing) they complained vociferously to the FA, who of course said, "Wha?...you blue Mancs is a right dodgy bunch, r ya?"
Throughout the first half, United had many chances to score and just couldn't connect.  The only chance the Dark Side had was a freekick by a Troll...no go.  At the half, the 0-0 score was nothing like the first derby in September.
During the second half United continued to dominate possession, with Valencia easily outhustling the third member of the Terry/Perroncel/Bridge love triangle that rocked the prem league earlier in the season (Wayne Bridge...although his estranged girlfriend could have been playing for all he was worth), and also tamed the pit bull, Bellamy.  He put in several balls to Giggs and Rooney but they couldn't get a goal.  Nani came on and left his mark in the dust.  He also had many chances to score and slotted wide each time.  Would this really end in a draw?
Nope.
Paul Scholes, who on Wednesday signed a new deal to keep him at United for one more year, decided to take things head on...he put a perfect ball past Shay Given from a superb cross by Nani.  0-1 United.  That's where the score would end...in the 92nd minute...just 20 seconds from the end of the match.  Oooooooo...life can be so harsh.  But, when you follow the Dark Side, that's what you get!  Poetry.  Pure poetry.
Some pics of my fine Reds in action:

Buh-Bye!  Go, Giggsy!

Vidic was in fine form today.  Go Vida!

ALERT FOR SMALL CHILDREN!!

Ewwwww...I hope Patrice has had his Troll shots.

Scholesy bangin' one home!

The lads seemed to appreciate it!

And so did Yoda!

Gary doing what Gary does best...winding up the opposition fans and reminding them that there is only one badge worth kissin' in Manchester!

PG-13 ALERT!

Obviously he thought Scholesy had his badge on his face...

Another highlight of my day:  Spurs 2-1 C-Scum.  Not only did their loss bolster the title chances of United (and Arsenal...can't leave out the Gunners), but I also correctly guessed the exact score of this match on I Know The Score (Premleague.com), which gave me 30 points!  Woo hoo!  Now my dearest United are only 1 point adrift of the C-Club, instead of 4.  This makes the draw at Blackburn all the more painful, as a win there would have put us atop the table by 2 points. 
And now for the downs of footy:
My sweet Frenchmen are foundering.  Although MC Header scored from a Gourcuff cross in the 25th minute to put les Girondins ahead of their most-hated rivals, Lyon, it wasn't enough.  A very rough game to watch, and especially since the backup keeper was in goal for Bordeaux.  Rame has done well throughout the season, but today he was crap.  He let in two goals (and almost a third) due to...well...I don't even know what.  The Girondins kept going ahead, and the second goal was a beauty by Jaroslav Plasil! 

The match ended in a melee, with three players being sent off.  Reveiller for Lyon hacked down Tremoulinas on the touchline and was given a straight red.  Off you go.  But then (as the idiot cameras panned back), something else happened and the Lyon players cleared the bench and came on to the field.  Somewhere in the midst of this, Tremoulinas and Jussie for Bordeaux were also sent off.  Pjanic (who became my hero when he scored against RM to send them packing in the CL) was acting like an arse and should have been sent off as well.  For his behavior, Chalme smacked him to the ground but the ref didn't see it, so instead of playing two men down, we only played one man down.  It didn't matter as there was only a minute and a half to play...but the unfortunateness of the sendings off mirrors the decline in Bordeaux' play since January.  Sitting atop the table then with a 10-point spread and a game in hand, the Marine et Blanc have managed to bottle it down the stretch.  I think their CL success was their undoing...too many games to play and also their backed-up Ligue 1 play (weather and CL matches).  I'm happy for Marouane, and even happier that his goal was assisted by his compatriot Gourcuff.  It won't be many more matches before these two are separated, as Marouane is rumored to be leaving for Arsenal.  Sniff.  He confirmed in a post-match interview last week that he only has five weeks left in Bordeaux and that it is "practically sure" that he will be leaving.  Sniff.

Oui, mon chere, your 16th goal of the season WAS choice!

Many no-calls against Marouane...tsk tsk

Now Now, boys!  WWF in the LFP.

FINALLY!!

It seems like I've waited an eternity for tomorrow.  No, I'm not talking about the Manchester derby, although I will get to that in a mo.
I'm talking about the start of the USL-2 season.  A staunch supporter of the Charlotte Eagles, and my favorite player Chris Lemons, I am ready for my side to take home the gold this season.
Their first opponents are the Charleston Battery.  If you don't know anything about Charleston then you would probably think they made a serious grammatical error in their nickname.  You're assuming it should be "batteries."  But as Charleston was a port city which needed armaments to defend itself from the British, it would be called a "battery."  Maybe they're hoping they can "batter" the Eagles.....hahaha....keep hoping, fools!
For Lemons the game will feature a familiar face.  Former Eagle, Amaury Nunes, now plays for the Battery, having transferred this year.  He could have faced former RailHawk teammate, Frankie Sanfilippo, but he has since moved from the Battery to the Rochester Rhinos.
Lemons, who suffered a pre-season hammie strain, will not play tomorrow to allow his injury to fully heal.  The Eagles will miss their captain and his calm presence, but coming back too soon (a la Wayne Rooney) could cause further damage and more games missed.
I will have my fingers crossed that my team feel the spirit and soar above the Battery.

Kickoff is 7pm EDT. 

Haha...see ya, suckahs!

Tomorrow is the much-anticipated Manchester derby, pitting United (the only REAL team in Manchester) and the other side across the city...

United have put themselves into a real spot trying to secure their fourth-straight EPL championship.  Two matches against C-Scum this year, in which the Blues won by dodgy means (figures...cheats) might prove to be the difference at the end.  A lackluster performance last week against a spirited Blackburn has left the Reds 4 points adrift.

The first derby this year proved to be a barnburner, with Michael Owen securing a fantastic injury time winner.  Can the Reds keep their title hopes alive with a win at Middle Eastlands?  Stay tuned.

A quote from Sir Alex about tomorrow's derby:

"It is the first time in my 23 years at United that City has a chance of actually achieving something."

hehe

Uh Oh...Someone's in Trouble!

Cristiano Ronaldo issued the following statement:


"It came to my attention that the program" Save me "in Spanish television Telecinco, were references to alleged parties held at my house, on a Friday, the eve of the game with Barcelona, which reportedly lasted until five in the morning and another on Saturday night itself, interspersed with various comments intolerably uncivil to my dignity and my professionalism.
I categorically refute such accusations, which are completely false and delusional: there isn't in them strictly one iota of truth. With a game the next day, it is more than obvious that I spent the night of Friday to rest and, on Saturday night, my spirit was anything but festive.
Considering the gravity of the charges, I have instructed my lawyers to, without any contemplation, use all legal means to restore the truth of the matter and ensure that those responsible are punished to the fullest extent legally provided.

Madrid, April 14, 2010

Cristiano Ronaldo

Adios, La Liga...No Trofeos Para Los Blancos

Another el Clasico...another el boring-o match.  I'm not sure why people think La Liga is the tops in the world...I certainly don't.  The Troll didn't play that well, although he scored.  And Ronny wasn't in top form either.  He seemed to be monumentally frustrated by the lack of organization on his team...not sure why he should be surprised by that at this point...they've been disorganized from day one.
0-2
No goals for Madrid, and ironically their goal tally is the number of trophies they will win this season despite spending over 200 million GBP on players.
AS.com or Marca.com seemed to blame it on the number 10.  Not the Troll's number, but the day.  They've lost to Alcorcon (a high school team from California...haha, kidding), Lyon, and now Barca on the 10th of the month.  This sounds about as plausible as the wizard putting spells on Ronny at the beginning of the season.  Give me a break!!!!  Stop making excuses, buying players for exhorbitant prices, touting yourselves as the World's Best Team, whitewashing your losses while celebrating the 4-0 wins over pathetic teams, and learn how to play football!!!!  You'll win more matches doing that.
Lo siento, amigos...the PR smokescreens don't fool anyone.  You've become the Notre Dame of Spanish football.  Everything you've accomplished is in the past, and the future doesn't seem all that bright. 
Not even Touchdown Jesus can help you out of this one.

Fotos para mis lectores...

El duelo de las estrellas, or as I call it, "Ronny vs Troll"

Gol!  Ronny looks to the swiss cheese defense for answers...

The Troll does a "squirm-by" in front of the tanned one

"I'm playing with a bunch of losers"

"Wake me when it's over..."

Over.

Bienvenidos, Chicharito!!!

Okay...this kid is adorable.  Just saw the video on manutd.com of his first interview at Old Trafford. 
Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, 21, will be joining the Reds July 1 if he doesn't have a problem getting a work permit.
He has been playing since 2006 for Chivas de Guadalajara in Mexico.  His father was a star in Mexico as well.  His nickname means "little pea," because of his green eyes...ohhhhh look out Manchester girls!

Does this kid have the chops to knock it around in the EPL?  He is slight...5'9", but it hasn't stopped him from scoring goals in the Mexican league...21 goals in 28 appearances.

I can't wait to hear what his song will be...what rhymes with Chicharito?

Okay...I'm going to call him "Sweet Pea"

GG Man United!

A Day Late and a Goal Short; Derailment of the RailChickens

I have always been a passionate person.  A dancer, singer, athlete, photographer, artist...I've always put the best effort into everything I've done.  "Anything worth doing is worth doing well," always creeps into my mind when faced with the chance of doing something half-baked.  Sports has been a huge part of my life.  With two older brothers it was inevitable that the smell of pigskin, and the reverberating ring of a ref's whistle would permeate my existence.  When I encounter adversity, or see the struggles of others, my words of wisdom almost always include a sports analogy.  So how will I salve my conscience today?  With words from my father, a lifelong baseball player and fan:

     "It's always better to go down swinging."  

These words would calm me after striking out.  My father taught me that on a 3-2 pitch you grip the bat, lean on your back leg and swing with all of your might.  If you connect and the ball sails, run like the wind.  If you hear the thump in the mitt, know that it's alright to have given your all and failed.

If I were standing in Manchester United's locker room at Old Trafford, or in the same room at the Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux, that is what I would tell the boys.

United seemed to be on their way to another semi-final after scoring in fantastic fashion in the 3rd, 7th, and 41st minutes.  This put them up 4-2 on aggregate, with an all-important away goal garnered in last week's 2-1 defeat in Munich.  But a costly goal in injury time just before the half put the agg at 4-3.  That gave Munich an away goal as well...one more and they would not only be even, but have two away goals to United's one.  Sports is a wicked woman.
After the half, a well-meaning and hard-charging young Rafael da Silva tackled the over-rated Franck Ribery...second yellow...adios.  With ten men, United played with their backs to the wall, never giving up.  Bayern's resident bitter, big-mouthed Arjen Robben, who's had a huge chip on his shoulder since being "adiosed" with the dishes by the busboys at Chez Bernabeu last summer, scored in the 74th minute, tying the agg at 4-4, with Bayern having the edge.  From then on BM played keep away, which is much easier to do when you're playing with an extra man.
Sir Alex was resolute about United's play and didn't mince words in his post-match interview:

"Bayern would never have got through [had it not been for the red card]," Sir Alex said.

"With 11 men, we would have had no problem. Rafael's a young boy, a bit inexperienced, but they got him sent off. The Bayern players went towards the referee. They’re like that."
Bayern also risked the wrath of Sir Alex by giving Wayne Rooney a stern test of his ankle injury, following the striker's surprise inclusion in United's starting line-up.
"We expected that and the referee’s got to handle that," added the boss. "But that wasn’t the key issue. I think the key issue was losing the goal just before half-time and then the young boy being sent off."
"I don't think the best team has won the tie, I think we played better tonight than they did.

"I don’t think anything’s been missing in our campaign, and I don’t think we were fatigued tonight. With them having the extra man, they made the ball work. We defended very well and it’s taken an exceptional goal to finish the tie. It was a tremendous hit by [Arjen] Robben.
"I think we’ve done well. Our performance tonight was excellent, it was a great performance. We were very unlucky tonight, very, very unlucky."

Just like my father, Sir Alex always puts my mind at ease.  I couldn't have summed up the match better myself.

Bordeaux.  Zut Alors!  MC Header himself, Marouane Chamakh, scored a brilliant goal before the half that put the Bordelaise on the road to recovering their 3-1 deficit suffered at the hands of their arch-rivals and Ligue 1 nemeses, Lyon.  All they needed was one more goal...they played harder than they've played all year.  They won 1-0, and lost 3-2 on agg.
So in one day, both of my teams crashed out of the Champions League...both abundantly outplayed the opposition but were a goal short.  I'm proud of both because they didn't lose from bad play, they went down swinging, and as my father would say, "you can't ask any more from a person than that!"

My shoulders are slumping right now as I listen to Bebo Norman's "Great Light of the World."  Oh how I need the Light to fill up my soul.
To help us all recover...a few photos:

Wazza is the epitome of the "Never Say Die" attitude at United

25 yard rocket unleashed by Darren Gibson, United 1-0

And 4 minutes later, a quintessential Ronny backheel by Nani, United 2-0

Followed by a quintessential Nani backflip (look at Wazza and Valencia's faces!)

Rafael (center) played brilliantly as all the Reds did tonight...but...

The BM Poopheads got him sent off...

Keep your head up, Rafael, you play for United!  We still love you!

 Et maintenant, quelques photos Chamcuff...

Cris (on ground) seems to be saying, "$%^&&@!!"

This is from the first leg...

 

"Chère Susanne, s'il vous plaît vous asseoir, vous êtes une distraction douce pour nous!"

Marouane and Wendel...raisin' the roof at the Chaban-Delmas!

The caption below this photo said, "Will there be more magic moments like this at the Chaban-Delmas?"  sniff...Chamcuff 4 life!

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the wing-clippin' given to the Carolina RailHawks by the Charlotte Eagles last night.  The USL-2 Eagles smacked down their USL-1 counterparts 3-1 at Carolina, despite the absence of their star midfielder and captain, Chris Lemons (CRL7).  Hampered by a hammie strain suffered in their last win, the Wichita native is itching to take the pitch for the Eagles' USL-2 opener April 17th against the Charleston Battery.  

CRL7

And...my recovery is complete.  My teams are still in the Prem League and Ligue 1 title battles, and my Eagles are looking to top their silver medal in the USL-2 championship last year!

Glory Glory, Allez, Squawwwwk!