You Can Smell it All The Way From Naples

Oooh, Oooh That Smell (Cue Lynyrd Skynyrd music)

Yes, it's Italian soccer time again. You look at all the ways that different countries try to ruin the Beautiful Game and no one tops the Itals. Brazil's inept management, Colombia's violence, England's inept formations (please, will someone teach Peter Crouch how to shoot a jump shot), America's, well America's lack of talent. Not one of these countries has been able to run a professional league that is little more than a cesspool of corruption like Serie A.

And just when the legal authorities look like they want to really do something about the corruption, they decide they were just kidding. Give the big teams a little slap on the wrist and a hug for everyone and on to the season. Unbelievable. I always fast forward past the Serie A highlights on FSW, because Italian soccer bores me to tears, but it's worth mentioning because the Itals have won the World Cup and because this kind of corruption can spread. If FIFA cares about the game, they should act, because the Italians have shown that they can't guard their own henhouse. Of course, as they say, if my grandmother had cajones, she'd be my grandfather...

On to Footie That Really Matters...
I'm still on Cloud 9 about the championship my daughter's team won over the weekend. Don't ask me about it, though. I rattle on worse than a new father talking about his newborn...

I see Arsenal has a new kit. Brought back Fly Emirates as a sponsor. I guess I've got to get me a new strip. Can't be seen in last year's fashion now, can I?

Real Madrid is coming to Seattle to play against DC United. Can't pass that one up. How many times do you get the chance here in the states to boo Becks up close and personal?

Started to watch the weekend's match between US and Ireland with little princess. Caught the first 15 minutes and in which, the US ladies looked competently dominant. I'll have to watch the entire game here this week (don't tell me the score). It was nice to see University of Washington grads Hope Solo (in goal) and Tina Frimpong on the field. Frimpong was a striker in college, but they have her playing central back. She did get to push up early on one play and really infused the offense, beat the defender around the corner with a really nifty dribble and pushed the ball back to the top of the box for a great opportunity. I'd love to see Frimpong at striker...she was one of the fastest players i've ever seen on a run, but the US team is loaded. It's good to see her on the pitch with the Nationals.