Congratulations to Arsenal this evening to become the FIRST English side ever to beat AC Milan in the San Siro Stadium

AC Milan 0 - 2 Arsenal

srnity: I would think that a U.S. Senator would spend his time on more important issues then Spygate,similar to the Congress wasting time on baseballs steroid issues... they need to check out their own backyards ....a couple of years @ millions of dollars spent and the only thing they found out was from a squealing clubhouse attendant and a trainer that was scared with jail time and blew some players in ... the same thing will happen with Spygate and the NFL slapping a little fine on a team .... while soldiers are dying in IRAQ, they all should be ashamed of themselves for getting involved in this....

PHOENIX - By now, the words have been uttered so many times they qualify as the Patriots mantra:
That's in the past.
Unfortunately, the past informs the present, and never more so than today, Super Bowl XLII. To recap: On Friday, a U.S. senator called on NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to explain why he had the infamous Spygate tapes destroyed. The New York Times quoted a former assistant on the Patriots video staff, who may very well have incriminating information on the team going back to the last century. On Saturday, the eve of America's great secular Sabbath, the high holy day of corporate culture, the Boston Herald reported that a Patriots cameraman illicitly taped the Rams' practice walkthrough before the 2002 Super Bowl, a game the Pats won with a last-second field goal.
This is bad news for the NFL. It's very bad news for the Patriots and their coach. But it's about the worst thing that could happen to the New York Giants, as the Patriots are at their best when people accuse them of the worst.
New England issued a categorical denial of the Herald story: "Absolutely false. Any suggestion to the contrary is untrue."
The NFL said that it had investigated the allegation "months ago" but found "no evidence of it on the tapes or in the notes produced by the Patriots, and the Patriots told us it was not true."
What? The NFL refutes allegations from 2002 based on tapes and notes from 2006 and 2007? How? And why is the league so satisfied taking the Patriots at their word? Football commissioners have always liked to lecture on the integrity of the game. Well, where was the integrity of the investigation?
Shoddy work makes for shoddy outcomes. The Herald's story ensures the season that began with Spygate will end with Spygate. It will be a while — if ever — before anyone can really figure out what this all means. But Goodell owes football fans nothing short of a full, transparent inquiry into the video practices of not just the Patriots, but the entire league. If he can't do it, be sure that publicity seeking politicians on Capitol Hill will be glad to do it for him.
No one's eager to dig up all this stuff, of course. But let's hear no more of that all in the past routine.
Tell the 2001 Rams and their fans that it's all in the past.

In the meantime, New England's dynasty will be subject to question, and Bill Belichick's legacy as coach the subject of doubt. Maybe that's not fair, but it's the way it is. Perception is its own reality, especially in a sport that holds the "integrity of the game" as sacrosanct.

Curiously enough, Spygate was the best thing that happened to the Patriots. It gave them an identity. It gave them motivation. It made them good and angry. But over the past couple months, this team seems to have become less angry, and not coincidentally, less dominant.

Suddenly, they again have reason to be merciless. There's the perfect season, of course. The Patriots play for an historic distinction. But they also play to defend the honor, such as it is, of their coach. (You might not like him, but apparently they do). The players will be defending their own honor, too. The Patriots understand that the only way to quell the cry of "Cheaters!" is to crush the Giants, to inflict a beating that will render the point spread a laughably optimistic number.

I thought the Giants had a chance. Even with Plaxico Burress hobbled, I thought they could get within a field goal. But as they say, that's in the past.

Puckish: The Patriots are the clear favorites, but Giants fans have plenty of reasons to stay positive. If Manning does not turn the ball over and the running game can help the Giants' offense score touchdowns in the red zone, then this could come down to a final field goal. However, if the two-week layoff causes the Giants to lose some momentum while helping the Patriots get their record-setting offense back on track, then this one could be over by halftime.

Stephen Oh, an NFL analyst for AccuScore, is a contributor to ESPN.com.

*** Never say never - 25% chance here

HA HA HA - we stuffed the English 26-19

Come on all you pats haters.... put your money where your mouth/heart is?

I have a free membership for anyone who cares to take the bet?

Well, again in the FA Cup dreams almost came true.

Non-League Havant & Waterlooville, took on the might of Premiership side Liverpool. Twice they took the lead against them, but sadly went out 5-2 in the end, what a performance though

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7211323.stm

srnity: Counting them Green Bay chickens before they hatched, eh? Yeah, I know they had home field advantage and all that other stuff. Plus I'm a fan of theirs from way back when and was happy when Dallas lost just so the Conference Championship game would be held in Green Bay, but Favre just didn't get it done in the second half. Had the Giants had a little more luck, the score wouldn'tve been as close as it was and it wouldn't have gone to overtime where again Favre lagged. Oh well, Green Bay was a lot better this year than I had hope they would be. I'm rooting for the Patriots to go undefeated. I have been since just before they beat the Colts in a battle of the last two remaining undefeated teams. :)
I'm not a Giants fan nor am I against them as I am against certain other teams, but they must have a good team to win the games they've been winning on the road. And they had a good chance to beat the Patriot on the last game of the season that had the Patriots have the first undefeated regular season since Miami did it in '72. Now the Patriots are 18 and 0, What a great season. I think the Super Bowl might be good game. Seems like the last few of them have been pretty good games, unlike some of those stinkers we went through a few years ago.

Puckish: Congrats on The Patriots AFC Championship Title - - - SuperBowl Bound Babee (vs Green Bay, of course)

Puckish: Nahhhhhhh, The Cowboys will always hold that place in my heart

srnity: Give it up, hating on the Patriots!

Packers, Packers, Packers, Packers....... ....... sorry all you NY Giants fans, better luck next season And wouldn't it be "something" if The Chargers could (by some miracle of football) pull this one off? AFC, NFC - may the best teams win

awesome: Words cannot describe the mentality required to hatch that idea.It's one thing to feel for a team mate who made a terrible mistake,quite another to gleefully play the martyr card.

Jim Dandy: to top it off, it was in another losing effort from a bunch of losers : Atlanta (3-11-0).... I wouldn't be surprised to hear Vick being found hanging in his jail cell or someone drowning him in a toilet bowl ...what a poor excuse for a human being he is and I doubt his homeboys even visit him in prison,but most likely they're due to end up in there themselves with their outlook on it...shame on the whole Atlanta Falcon organization for not fining them or suspending them also...

Wars are raging on,people are dying of disease and poverty,and these clowns choose this guy to pay tribute to.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8TK2PS00&show_article=1

awesome: I just spent about an hour going over the player accounts in the 400 page report(http://files.mlb.com/mitchrpt.pdf)

They are pretty matter of fact,Dave Justice comes across badly,he names players,but then later when he is incriminated he refuses to talk,classy guy

Jim Dandy: yes I agree, the ones that bought their dope and used checks or money orders have no chance of proving innocence..it shows how really dumb they were...I just don't like the accusations from a fellow teamate ( ie: Larry Bigbie on his way to Japan Baseball after getting busted and ratting out 2 teamates) that he just talked to someone about using and they said they did and then this commission puts that players name on a list with some real scumbags... 2 examples of being done wrongly are Jack Cust and Brian Roberts in my opinion....

awesome: They do have hard evidence in a certain number of cases(cheque reciepts etc)I agree that it is difficult for players on the list to prove innocence,but it is extemely rare for atheletes to admit usage anyway,no matter how red handed they are caught,deny,deny,deny.....

Jim Dandy: the players should "union" up and some of those players now have legitimate claims(being put on that list being accused on 3rd party hearsay)...the Owners , GM's and Commissioner are really not taking the heat they deserve for this scar on baseball.... they loved the attendance upswing during the Sosa-McGwire hr chase and closed their eyes to all the drug usage....shame on Bud Selig,he never wants to take any blame for what has gone on during his watch....the report was crap...$12-15 million for 2 years of poor investigation from a former batboy turned roid pusher being plea bargained down and pressured by the Feds to name a few players... they'll just increase prices of tickets to pay for it.....I'd suspend Selig, he's just a puppet for the owners..and a pretty shabby one..

Walter Montego: I trust you've seen or heard some of the fallout since the 2 pm press confrence.When I originally posted the partial list it was one of the few that hadn't been pulled from circulation.My thoughts at this point are that the players will union and lawyer up,and MLB will do virtually nothing other than to mock shock and dissapointment.

Jim Dandy: That's quite the list. When is the official one coming out? Later today? Why's Troy Glaus on it twice? Jose Canseco and Sammy Sosa are no surprise for me, but some of these guys are. Scott Shoenweiss? I suppose even a pitcher might get caught up in the fever of it, eh?
Who's Maurice Vaughn? Is it Mo? As is Mo Vaughn, or is it someone else?
Does this list come with when the steroids were used? When were steroids made against the rules? Other drugs too? Is this list an accusation, or is it admitted use, or is it they got caught? Or just what kind of list is it?
What will the powers that be do about it?

The List:

Brady Anderson, Manny Alexander, Rick Ankiel, Jeff Bagwell, Barry Bonds, Aaron Boone, Rafaeil Bettancourt, Bret Boone, Milton Bradley, David Bell, Dante Bichette, Albert Belle, Paul Byrd, Wil Cordero, Ken Caminiti, Mike Cameron, Ramon Castro, Jose and Ozzie Canseco, Roger Clemens, Paxton Crawford, Wilson Delgado, Lenny Dykstra, Johnny Damon, Carl Everett, Kyle Farnsoworth, Ryan Franklin, Troy Glaus, Rich Garces, Jason Grimsley, Troy Glaus, Juan Gonzalez, Eric Gagne, Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Giambi, Jeremy Giambi, Jose Guillen, Jay Gibbons, Juan Gonzalez, Clay Hensley, Jerry Hairston, Felix Heredia, Jr., Darren Holmes, Wally Joyner, Darryl Kile, Matt Lawton, Raul Mondesi, Mark McGwire, Guillermo Mota, Robert Machado, Damian Moss, Abraham Nunez, Trot Nixon, Jose Offerman, Andy Pettitte, Mark Pior, Neifi Perez, Rafael Palmiero, Albert Pujols, Brian Roberts, Juan Rincon, John Rocker, Pudge Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, Scott Schoenweiis, David Segui, Alex Sanchez, Gary Sheffield, Miguel Tejada, Julian Tavarez,Fernando Tatis, Maurice Vaughn, Jason Varitek, Ismael Valdez, Matt Williams and Kerry Wood.

I did ,but there was only 12 rounds and i got lucky picking the 10 th...

awesome: I thought you picked the round too?picking Mayweather wasn't that tough

thanks..I had a 1/12 chance to be correct...wish I could pick a football game correctly....

awesome: not sure how my congrats post of your picking the correct round Mayweather won got deleted,but it did,that's a head shaker

Summer Flame:

cheers..............

awesome: Oh we will be back. We Brits never stay down for long

I guess the Brit fans gave up on the thought of commenting on sporting events after Croatia nailed them shut...

Jim Dandy: it's not your normal father/son relationship :

http://msn.foxsports.com/boxing/story/7535746

awesome: I know nothing of Hatton,but I did see the last Oscar De La Hoya/Mayweather fight.Mayweathers dad is quite a character.

Mayweather-Hatton prediction : Floyd in 10 !!!!!

awesome: The Leafs should be playing The Wings and Hawks at least once a year,the schedule (as is) ruined our rivalry with the Wings.There is talk of going to an 84 game schedule to help balance things out.On one hand,I already think they should cut 10 games from the current 82 game schedule,but on the other hand,I'm aware that isn't going to happen,and if 84 gets the Wings,Hawks,and a few western teams in town,I'm all for it.

Jim Dandy:

that's good to hear...there's no reason in an 80 game schedule they shouldn't play every team at least once home/ away...I can understand forming regional rivalries, but they went overboard...it can't be a travel issue...basketball pulls it off ...

awesome: They agreed to balance the schedule a little more at the recent GM meetings,I'm tired of playing the SENS 8 times a year and not seeing the western conference

rednaz23:
that's cool ..I just scored 2 tickets for the Buffalo Sabres -San Jose Sharks next Saturday...the NHL schedule is way off base... this is the first time the Sabres will be here in 3 years !!!...I'm way up in the rafters but just being at a hockey game is a joy...I actually like being up a few levels to see how the plays move down ice......

Just found some tickets and ordered them... right on the rail on the upper deck. The good thing is they are in the perfect spot for the side our team will shoot at twice... so I am pretty excited! Under $200 total. My bro better be happy with his Christmas present. ;-)

Puckish: They are expensive... but I am looking at tickets either there or lower level up about 15 rows. (Since I won't ever get right on the ice which has good views...) I don't want to be in that lower group of rows where you can't see anything near side. So up 15 rows or so I think will let me see most of the game pretty well. :-) What do you think?

I am looking at the Wild-Flames game in Minnesota. It should be a good game since they have been battling all year, and have identical records... plus they hate each other! The downside is the tickets cost more than most other games, but for good reason!

rednaz23: Club seating is general some of the best available as far a comfort and amenities, but it really varies on the view location, but my guess is that you would not be complaining one bit!

Has anyone ever been to a hockey game and know if the club seats would be good seats to watch a game?

awesome: He has a shot,his mobility adds a new dimension to the offense

Jim Dandy: true, but this is the guy that had a great senior year at Cal and was projected to be the #1 pick overall , but mysteriously dropped way down ...it was the year the 49' ers made the mistake of selecting Alex Smith #1...I think Rodgers has all the tools and Green Bay will be rewarded with an excellent QB when Favre is done...

awesome: He didn't look out of place,but many a quarterback has come into a game and looked good short term.I doubt the Cowboys preped for Rodgers.Give a defense a full week of prep time and you may see a very different result.

Jim Dandy:

he completed too many passes and didn't stumble and fumble 2 or 3 times to resemble J.P.Loseman... I see about 15 teams that Rodgers could actually be the starter for....

rednaz23: I thought he resembled J.P. Losman,but not Gene Wilder

Puckish: They always seem to make it a close game though... even the Cowboys game was close in the end with the Packers passing toned down to Rodgers level of play... Not quite the same as Favre! The NFL might be happy about the Pack; it gives them a good story in the NFC, a team (w/ a healthy Favre) to rival the Cowboys, and they always make the game fairly close... just what the NFL wants so it can rack up the advertising bucks!

By the way, does anyone else think Rodgers looks like Willy Wonka from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!?

rednaz23: I have to agree with you... I have been saying that green bay is over rated all year, and the games you highlighted are very good examples, there are so many games that they won, where I ended up shaking my head wondering how it happened!

Walter Montego: Maybe their broadcast contracts with direct TV etc prohibit over the free airwaves broadcasts?

One other note, this NFL channel isnt just about showing Thursday night games... they replay highlighted games and do analysis etc, 24 hours per day, I watch it very often throughout the week

awesome: That explains it. May I sum up for you?

Money!

I'm still confused. Why not broadcast it over the air? OK, the cable giants don't show it, but I still have an antenna. Surely enough people would watch some of the games for them to make money selling advertisement time for commercials.

Why was tonight's game not on regular over the air broadcast television?

November 27, 2007 -- Cable industry observers and the Federal Communications Commission will be looking to this Thursday's Dallas Cowboys-Green Bay Packers game - the most significant matchup yet to air exclusively on NFL Network - to gauge consumer demand for the channel.

NFL Network execs are hoping the game will spark enough TV fan outrage in markets where it's unavailable - almost everywhere except Dallas and Green Bay and many markets controlled by Cablevision, Comcast and Time Warner Cable - to compel the industry giants to renew talks about carrying the channel.

Currently, NFL Network can be viewed on satellite via DirecTV and the Dish Network, smaller cable companies, and on some telecom systems like Verizon FiOS.

"There is going to be great demand for that game, and very clearly there's going to be a tremendous customer reaction," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in a conference call last week.

The game, which features two storied franchises with identical 10-1 records, could determine crucial home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

"We want the customers to know that the game is not going to be available to them, and they should express themselves to the cable operators, or if they feel like they want to get it, change their service," Goodell said.

Cable operators have been saying publicly and privately there isn't enough demand for NFL Network to carry it on a basic tier. That would increase costs for all subscribers at a time when they've been shedding them at an unexpectedly rapid pace.

"It was the network and the league that made the decision about how games are packaged and where they are made available," said a Time Warner Cable spokesman.

"We have not seen any kind of significant outpouring of complaints or disconnects related to the lack of the NFL Network. If anything, our customers appreciate us holding the line on standard-tier pricing."

The FCC is scheduled to vote today on a number of issues, including the possibility of using binding arbitration to settle disputes between cable operators and channels like the NFL Network.

But even if this issue is taken up and passed, it will still be too late to have any impact on this year's NFL season or the remaining seven games on the network's slate.