Henry Header and USA Got SPANKED!!
If there are fewer dove in South Texas today, I unfortunately had nothing to do with it. Not because I’m a bad shot (which I am) but because I never made it out hunting. The recent rain (and rain all day Sunday) made for poor hunting conditions, which coupled with the fact I don’t have my own hunting lease or ranch meant I stayed at home. Oh well, maybe a mid-week hunt will pop up and I can bag some.
On to more important things (sports and drinking). Friday night I got blitzed (in-laws were in town) and the Arsenal got their first league home win on Saturday over Sheffield United and the infamous Neil Warnock (see Friday’s The Fiver from the Guardian). Sheffield played physical and defended well in the first half, but the Gunners seemed to be trying too hard and the match was scoreless at the half. Henry wasn’t playing too well but as they say, Arsene knows, and he was left on the pitch to become the driving force in the second half. Henry lobbed in a cross into the 6 yard box the 63rd minute, which Cesc got a toe, that in turn set up Gallas for his first Gunner goal. Six minutes later Henry gathered the ball deep on the left and made a patented run around a defender to deliver a cross inside the box. Unfortunately for Jagielka (who had been playing a great game at CB) he lifted his leg and deflected the ball into the back of the net. Henry got the third goal by heading (yes, I said heading!!!) in a cross delivered by Eboue (yes, I said Eboue). See all the highlights here as you’re not likely to see Eboue deliver that good of a cross for awhile nor Henry nodding one in. It is a good 3 points and the first league win at The Grove will do wonders for the confidence of the team. Tomorrow the Gunners host FC Porto for Champions League match.
Plymouth also got their first home league win of the season by defeating Norwich 3-1 at Home Park. Plymouth went up on an own goal by Doherty. In the 47th minute Seip headed home a corner kick for Argyle followed by a 74th minute shot from Norris to go up 3-0. Earnshaw got a late consolation goal for Norwich in the 90th minute. Holloway was happy to get that first home win under his belt.
"We can move on now. It's always there that you haven't won at home and now we have. I thought we thoroughly deserved it and was delighted."
The mood wasn’t so upbeat at the Norwich office as Delia Smith and husband Michael Wynn Jones (who are joint majority shareholders) released a statement voicing their displeasure at the club’s poor performance in the 3-1 defeat. They also stated “We wish to apologize particularly to the 776 loyal supporters who undertook the long and arduous journey to Plymouth.” (Graeme, everyone seems to think Plymouth is a long and arduous journey!!!) Who knew the Argyle could cause so much trouble!!!
Finally, yesterday Europe completed another total domination of Team USA and won by 18 ½ to 9 ½ yet again to retain the Ryder Cup. It is becoming an embarrassment that the US can’t put together a win. Europe won every aspect of tournament (fourball, alternating shot, and individual play) to complete the rout. The US is supposed to have some of the best players in the world (Woods, Mickelson, Furyk, Toms, etc.) but can’t even get enough points to scare the Europeans. I think the big difference between the two squads is that the Europeans actually give a damn about the tournament, work well together, and feed off each other. Look at Sergio Garcia. He has never won a major but he played like he was on a par with Woods all week. He lost his singles match on Sunday, but was 4-0 at the Cup until then. He played well, but most importantly he fired up his playing partners and teammates. Monty did the same, as he has done for years. The other talisman to the European side was Darren Clarke of Northern Island who has always been a cornerstone to the team. He recently lost his wife to breast cancer and hadn’t played (except for last week) since the British Open in July, but Ian Woosnam made him a Captain’s pick and the pick paid off. He played great and gave the side a purpose. When he sank the putt to win his match yesterday he finally let the emotions come forth and he wept in the arms of Woosnam. If you had a dry eye, you aren’t human. I don’t think that the US will ever be able to compete against the Europeans unless they get some focus and desire to win the cup for their country.
Whew, that is enough for today. Mas mañana.
Adios.
On to more important things (sports and drinking). Friday night I got blitzed (in-laws were in town) and the Arsenal got their first league home win on Saturday over Sheffield United and the infamous Neil Warnock (see Friday’s The Fiver from the Guardian). Sheffield played physical and defended well in the first half, but the Gunners seemed to be trying too hard and the match was scoreless at the half. Henry wasn’t playing too well but as they say, Arsene knows, and he was left on the pitch to become the driving force in the second half. Henry lobbed in a cross into the 6 yard box the 63rd minute, which Cesc got a toe, that in turn set up Gallas for his first Gunner goal. Six minutes later Henry gathered the ball deep on the left and made a patented run around a defender to deliver a cross inside the box. Unfortunately for Jagielka (who had been playing a great game at CB) he lifted his leg and deflected the ball into the back of the net. Henry got the third goal by heading (yes, I said heading!!!) in a cross delivered by Eboue (yes, I said Eboue). See all the highlights here as you’re not likely to see Eboue deliver that good of a cross for awhile nor Henry nodding one in. It is a good 3 points and the first league win at The Grove will do wonders for the confidence of the team. Tomorrow the Gunners host FC Porto for Champions League match.
Plymouth also got their first home league win of the season by defeating Norwich 3-1 at Home Park. Plymouth went up on an own goal by Doherty. In the 47th minute Seip headed home a corner kick for Argyle followed by a 74th minute shot from Norris to go up 3-0. Earnshaw got a late consolation goal for Norwich in the 90th minute. Holloway was happy to get that first home win under his belt.
"We can move on now. It's always there that you haven't won at home and now we have. I thought we thoroughly deserved it and was delighted."
The mood wasn’t so upbeat at the Norwich office as Delia Smith and husband Michael Wynn Jones (who are joint majority shareholders) released a statement voicing their displeasure at the club’s poor performance in the 3-1 defeat. They also stated “We wish to apologize particularly to the 776 loyal supporters who undertook the long and arduous journey to Plymouth.” (Graeme, everyone seems to think Plymouth is a long and arduous journey!!!) Who knew the Argyle could cause so much trouble!!!
Finally, yesterday Europe completed another total domination of Team USA and won by 18 ½ to 9 ½ yet again to retain the Ryder Cup. It is becoming an embarrassment that the US can’t put together a win. Europe won every aspect of tournament (fourball, alternating shot, and individual play) to complete the rout. The US is supposed to have some of the best players in the world (Woods, Mickelson, Furyk, Toms, etc.) but can’t even get enough points to scare the Europeans. I think the big difference between the two squads is that the Europeans actually give a damn about the tournament, work well together, and feed off each other. Look at Sergio Garcia. He has never won a major but he played like he was on a par with Woods all week. He lost his singles match on Sunday, but was 4-0 at the Cup until then. He played well, but most importantly he fired up his playing partners and teammates. Monty did the same, as he has done for years. The other talisman to the European side was Darren Clarke of Northern Island who has always been a cornerstone to the team. He recently lost his wife to breast cancer and hadn’t played (except for last week) since the British Open in July, but Ian Woosnam made him a Captain’s pick and the pick paid off. He played great and gave the side a purpose. When he sank the putt to win his match yesterday he finally let the emotions come forth and he wept in the arms of Woosnam. If you had a dry eye, you aren’t human. I don’t think that the US will ever be able to compete against the Europeans unless they get some focus and desire to win the cup for their country.
Whew, that is enough for today. Mas mañana.
Adios.
posted by Cameron at 11:57 AM
2 Comments:
Reps to you for mentioning Darren Clarke. No consolation for losing your wife but so proud of how he played and the support he got from the team.
Puts some professional sportsmen's gripes into perspective.
I've always been a fan of Clarke, even before I learned he likes to drink loads of Guinness and smoke cigars (one of my favorite pastimes). When I heard he was a Captain's pick for this year's Ryder Cup, I knew Europe had the title sewn up. They have some great players and Paul Casey's whooping up on everyone at the Match Play Tourney a few weeks ago helped, but Clarke is the heart and soul of the team (he lead them in '04).
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