Sorry for the lengthy absence. I’ll have some additional points for discussion tomorrow on several football (i.e. soccer) issues tomorrow, but right now have at it regarding what may be the most legendary rivalry in sports.
Both teams are coming off disappointing mid-week Champions League semifinals. Will Barça keep its recent run against Real Madrid going or will the Merengues emerge victorious at the Nou Camp?
Violet
I don’t watch much soccer outside of the World Cup, but in the past month or so I’ve seen headlines of two young soccer players on European teams having heart attacks. The first was a player from somewhere in West Africa (I think) who played on a European team and had a heart attack on the pitch and was in intensive care in the hospital. The second was in the last week or so and this player died on the pitch.
Most fit young men don’t die of heart attacks. Is there a drug problem or something else going on in professional soccer? Or is it just coincidence?
Randinho
I think it’s just coincidence.
Raven
My friend from Hungary thinks the players are being pushed too hard with multiple commitments.
Raven
Looks like ESPN # 3 online is the option for this game.
Randinho
ESPN Deportes also has it as does Gol TV if you have either one.
Raven
Damn how to they get all those folks to color coordinate?
Randinho
I’m going to guess a note on the seat along with a card.
dollared
Tough call here. If I were Guardiola, I’d put my 1A squad out here and save Xavi and Iniesta for Tuesday. They aren’t gonna catch Madrid.
Randinho
@dollared: If Barça wins today they’re only a point behind.
Raven
@Randinho: Ah, you must be right, they are down now!
Randinho
That was ugly.
SST
ESPN bought rights to broadcast La Liga games so that on the day of El Clasico, they can show… Jon Gruden’s QB camp.
Or World’s Strongest Man on ESPN2.
Special.
cathyx
@Raven: Except that damned goalie. What’s up with him? Dare to be different.
Amir Khalid
@Violet:
Bolton Wanderers midielder Fabrice Muamba, the first player you mentioned, is out of hospital and looks to make a full recovery. There is hope he might even resume playing football before the year is out. Udinese midfielder Piermario Morosini appears to be one of the unfortunate cases that slipped through one of the most rigorous prevention programs in sports: in Italy, all registered participants in sports undergo heart screenings twice a year. A friend of Morosini’s (and fellow footballer) said that if that still couldn’t catch Morosini’s case, then nothing could have.
Amir Khalid
@Violet:
Further to my reply:
Cardiac arrest in fit young athletes — both Muamba and Morosini were in their twenties — is not common, but also not unheard of and not unique to football. In the 30 years since Italy introduced that heart screening program for athletes, they’ve cut down the occurrence by some 90%.
Raven
@cathyx: I meant the crowd.
Randinho
That was also rather ugly.
Raven
@Randinho: Which?
Randinho
Okay, that wasn’t ugly, but I still can’t stand Cristiano Ronaldo.
Randinho
@Raven: The goal for Barça and the first goal for Real.
Raven
@Randinho: That should make you happy!
Raven
@Randinho: What a pussy!
Randinho
No, I pull for Barça.
Raven
“Just a reach around”!
Raven
@Randinho: I meant Christian writhing!
Tripad
Given the economic state of Spain and most of the clubs, I’d wager a talent exodus from La Liga is on the horizon.
Wyrm1
@SST:
ESPN doesn’t have the over the air rights to the game in the US, Gol TV does, but is allowed to show it streaming. I am sure they would be showing it on ESPN2 if they could.
Violet
@Amir Khalid:
Thanks for the info. Sorry I’m so late back to the thread–I got called away. I know young folks can have heart problems that go undetected but it seemed kind of coincidental that two happened so close to each other. I’m glad the first guy is getting better.
dollared
Well, it’s all moot. How long has it been since Barca lost two matches in a row? Tuesday will be very, very interesting.
D-boy
I must say that this was the first soccer game i watched in its entirety and I enjoyed it completely. I suppose the massive amounts of beer and pizza I consumed watching it had no impact on my enjoyment of it either
Chet
OT, but the Chisox’ Phil Humber pitched the 21st perfect game in modern major-league history vs. Seattle today.
(Well the 21st according to the record book. The 22nd, says this Tiger fan.)
dollared
Yeah, but against the Mariners? Hardly an achievement, says this Mariners fan :-)