8:00 PM CSN Baltimore has video of Marcus Smith, a U.S. soldier who dressed as a minor league umpire to surprise his children at a Bowie Baysox game with a home visit from Afghanistan.
7:45 PM A Japanese Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was swept out to sea during last year's tsunami washed up on a shore in British Columbia last month. The bike's owner asked that the motorcycle be displayed at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee as a memorial to the tsunami victims.
7:30 PM Buffalo Bills receiver David Clowneytweeted the results of his HIV test which came back negative. And to the critics of his decision to share his results, Clowney added: "Some people are Ridiculously stupid ... And can't see the bigger picture about things that are important in this world."
BLIMEY! CROATIA KICKS ENGLAND OUT OF 2008 EURO CUP: Despite the best efforts of Israel and airport security, England has done the remarkable and failed to qualify for the Euro 2008 Cup.
The hopes of the English nation that had risen with the Israelis’ dramatic upset of Russia last Saturday, came crashing down on Thursday with a 3-2 home loss to Croatia.The English only had to manage at least a tie with Croatia in order to qualify for next year’s European Championship.
Instead, the team will miss out on their first major soccer tournament since the 1994 World Cup. And England coach Steve McClaren will likely be sent permanently off the pitch.
The Brits need a tie at home against Croatia to qualify. Thanks to pitiful previous play, England would have no chance to make Euro 2008 if it wasn’t for Israel upsetting Russia earlier this week. Manager Steve McClaren has made a myriad of moves for the match, including benching David Beckham (so they really do want to win, huh).
AT A CORNER BRITISH BOOZER: “JESUS, THAT WAS CLOSE!” Biggest upsets in Jewish history:
1) Abraham lives to 175.
2) Moses parts Red Sea.
3) David slays Goliath.
4) Israel 2, Russia 1.The win by Israel was the biggest sports story in the world last weekend (sorry, Charlie), because it (probably) saves England from the colossal embarrassment of missing the European soccer championships next summer.
Now the Lions need only a tie against Croatia to go through to the Euro tourney (the Croatians are playing very inspired soccer at the moment, having lost to Macedonia 2-0 in their most recent match).
GERMAN SOCCER TEAM CALLS ENGLISH TIX SALES KAPUT: As quoted in a classic “Simpsons” episode, “We Germans are not a warlike people.” That’s why one Deutchland soccer team canceled some ticket sales to English fans:
YAHOO SPORTS reports that Nuremburg voided the sale of 1,500 tickets bought by Everton supporters for Thursday’s UEFA Cup match. The problem with the seats is that they’re situated in the home club’s section.Such a setup had the UEFA and the team worried about English hooligans starting fights and causing trouble with their German hosts.
After discussing with police, Nuremberg decided to cancel the sales. The UEFA added that no sales were finalized, and no money was taken from the cockney consumers.The club claimed that a “bug” in their online selling system allowed Everton fans to buy tickets that were allocated for Nuremburg folks.
First the Rockies, then the Olympics, and now this. When will it ever end?
UK SPORTS MINISTER INCENSED AT HIGH SOCCER SALARIES: England’s sports minister isn’t happy with the high salaries of the country’s soccer stars:
REUTERS reports that minister Gerry Sutcliffe has called some of the players’ wages “obscene”, and has concerns with high-profile clubs like Manchester United & Chelsea spending such large amounts of money.Don’t tell him about the New York Yankees.
Sutcliffe is fearful that the increased pay and, as a result, increased ticket prices, will keep the average fan away from the game. He notes Man U’s 13% season-ticket sales increase:
“That’s taking the game away from the ordinary grass-roots fans. We don’t want to be in a position where people are alienated.”
So, higher prices would halt appearances of die-hard hooligans at the stadium, the types of fans that would beat you senseless if you happen to wear the wrong color scarf? And the problem is…?
Besides, if you try regulating spending and capping team profits, you know what that’s called?
SOCCER PLAYER’S PAYSLIP SLIPS ONTO INTERNET FORUMS: An English soccer club is wondering how a player’s payslip somehow slipped onto the Internet:
The BBC cashes in on news that Liverpool striker John Arne Riise had his paycheck displayed on numerous website forums. And team doesn’t know how it got there.Online visitors were treated to the statement that said Riise took home almost £140,000 - or $280,000 - in monthly wages. It even detailed a £65 deduction for meals.
The pay stub also featured other personal info on Riise, including his home address and insurance policy numbers.
So that’s how socialized health care works - everyone just bills their treatments to the nearest pro midfielder.
No, not the South Texas NBA squad, but London’s perennially underachieving Tottenham Hotspur of England’s Premier League (soccer).
Nash: “I would love to own Spurs but I don’t have a spare £300 million in my back pocket so it’s not going to happen. I am a lifelong fan of the club and it’s obviously extremely profitable and well run.”
Nash, whose father is from Tottenham, has that half-right. Tottenham, despite mediocre on-pitch results, does make a mint from some of the EPL’s loyalist fans.
BRIT IN THE BUFF WOWS WEMBLEY WITH SUDDEN SHOW: With their 8th straight loss, the Miami Dolphins are in the middle of an ugly streak. So, it’s bad enough the team had to endure another one in London:
POPJOCKS lets it all hang out, as video evidence confirms a British bloke in the buff bouncing around at midfield during Sunday’s NFL international extravaganza.Wearing nothing but a hat and a strategically-placed football, the buffoon in the birthday suit managed to entertain the Wembley crowd for a few seconds. However, security soon scampered off the silly sans-clothing spectator.
It’s hard to tell what was more stomach-churning to watch - this guy’s on-field aerobics, or the rest of the game.
WORLD CUP CONTINENTAL ROTATION KNOCKED OFF AXIS: The World Cup may not be heading back to South Africa or South Carolina anytime soon:
The DAILY TELEGRAPH (UK) reports that FIFA has decided to end its world championship rotation policy.Previously, soccer’s governing body had a system where the World Cup host site would rotate between the six continental confederations (sorry, Antarctica).
The next tourney up for grabs is in 2018. According to the old policy, a country in North America or the Caribbean would be the one rolling out the welcome mats.
However, the policy change means that non-Northwestern Hemisphere nations can now officially bid to host the contest, without having to wait until the next continental go-around.That clears the way for England to make a serious run for the 2018 tourney, along with other European nations who just recently saw the World Cup come to Germany in 2006.
Besides, American interest in the Cup already peaked after Brandi Chastain showed off her own cups.
FINS LB LEARNS HE CAN LEAVE HIS PHRASEBOOKS @ HOME: A Dolphins player worried about the team’s trip to London can put his fears to rest - they do speak English there:
The PALM BEACH POST translates news that LB Channing Crowder confessed he didn’t know what to expect when the ‘Fins took off for across the pond: “I swear to God. I don’t know what nothing is.”
The only London that Crowder knows anything about plays with the Redskins:
“I know London Fletcher. We did a football camp together. So I know him. That’s the closest thing I know to London. He’s black, so I’m sure he’s not from London. I’m sure that’s a coincidental name.”
But if the NFL decides to schedule an upcoming game in Rome, Channing is ready:
