Entries from March 2004 ↓

A moment thirty-three years in the making

.The Philadelphia eye-sore known as Veterans Stadium is no more. The decrepit landmark to the idiocy of the early 1970s was imploded this morning to make room for parking. The Vet had outlived it’s usefulness many years ago, but it was only within the last few years that the city decided to stop alienating it’s sports franchises and help do something about it.

The new Eagles stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, is a monument to how stadiums should be built. The seats are comfortable, the bathrooms plenty, and the sightlines are phenomenal.

As for the new Phillies stadium, Citizens Bank Park? Well, it looks nice from the outside. The first game doesn’t take place for another two weeks, so the verdict is still out. However, from the artists depictions, it looks as if it too will be a fans paradise.

Anything is an improvement over the Vet, but I must salute both the Eagles and the Phillies, as well as the city of Philadelphia, on two new beautiful facilities. After going to the Vet for thirty three years, the long-suffering Philadelphia fans deserve them.

First half strikes by Robert Pires and Dennis Bergkamp were enough to keep Arsenal undefeated as they got past a determined Bolton side 2-1 at Highbury this afternoon.

Robert Pires opened the scoring about 16 minutes in with a masterful curling strike.

Eight minutes later, Dennis Bergkamp was at the end of a beautiful series of passes, the last by Thierry Henry, which allowed the non-flying Dutchman to volley the ball home with ease.

Bolton made things interesting just before the break when former Real Madrid man Ivan Campo scored after Arsenal failed to successfully clear a corner.

The second half was particulary tense. Bolton were a determined side, and for the first fifteen minutes or so, it looked as if they were going to be rewarded for their efforts. However, Arsenal were up to the task, defending well, and eventually, the balance of power shifted back to the Gunners.

Freddie Ljungberg came on to replace Gilberto, and the impact was immediate. Arsenal’s attacking play increased, and perhaps on another day, penalty kicks could have been rewarded to the Gunners on two seperate occassions.

However, it remained a moot point, as Arsenal hung on for the win. By remaining undefeated, Arsenal equal the mark of 29 matches from the start of the season shared by the 1973-74 Leeds and 1987-88 Liverpool sides. The Gunners’ chance to break the record comes at home next Sunday against the ManUre scum. The match kicks off at 10 AM ET on Sunday, and will be shown on PPV throughout the US.

There is also the little matter of the Champions League 1/4 Final cum London-derby against Chelski. The first match is away at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday afternoon. The match is being shown live by ESPN2 here in the US. Coverage begins at 2:30 PM ET.

Manila restaurant straight outta Python…

.Diner serves Spam, Spam, Spam
Thu Mar 18, 7:32 AM ET

MANILA (Reuters) - Spamburgers, Spam nuggets, Spam Spaghetti, Caesar salad with Spam, Spam and eggs: the menu at the Spamjam restaurant in Manila could be straight out of the Monty Python sketch.

“I’m a Spam lover,” said Philip Abadilla, who opened the world’s first Spam restuarant in December. “It’s always on my mind.”

While the canned luncheon meat will forever be ridiculed by fans of the British comedians, it is a much loved staple in the Philippines.

Filipinos eat 2.75 million pounds (1.25 million kg) of the stuff every year, and woe betide anyone arriving from the United States who doesn’t bring a few cans for their relatives.

“It appeals to my taste buds,” said Aris Yambao, a 28-year-old advertising executive on his second visit to the red, yellow and blue restaurant in one of Manila’s enormous shopping malls.

Yambao was one of just eight people in the half-full diner on Thursday lunchtime, but Abadilla said he gets up to 300 customers a day and is in negotiations to open two further branches.

First produced in 1937 by Hormel Foods of the United States, Spam became an institution during World War II.

It gave its name to junk e-mail because of the singing Vikings in the Monty Python sketch, who kept drowning out a waitress offering dishes such as spam, egg, spam, spam, bacon and spam.

Hormel, whose Philippine venture helped Abadilla set up Spamjam, is hoping to take the restaurant to other countries.

For people who don’t like Spam, such as the female customer played by Graham Chapman in the sketch, the menu also offers hot dogs.

To which the Spam-loving waitress played by Terry Jones would have said: “Urgghh!”

Here’s to all of you, wherever you may be. Raise a pint of the black stuff, and be thankful for all that you can see.

From US Soccer.comInspired Haiti Squad Surprises U.S. MNT with 1-1 Draw on Saturday at Orange Bowl in Miami 3/13/04 10:05 PM

MIAMI, Fla. (March 13, 2004) � The U.S. Men�s National Team pulled out a 1-1 draw with an inspired and spirited Haiti National Team this evening in an international friendly at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Fla. Danny Califf rescued the United States with his first international goal in the 94th minute after Haiti�s Alexander Boucicot put Haiti ahead in the 69th minute. Behind a boisterous pro-Haitian crowd, the Haitians were whistled for 32 fouls on the night.

With the draw, the USA�s all-time record against Haiti now stands at 5-6-4. The U.S. has yet to obtain its first victory in 2004, with their record after three games at 0-2-1.

�I thought Haiti was the better team tonight. They simply outfought us and played better,� said U.S. Manager Bruce Arena. �I applaud our group that played the final 15 minutes for fighting back and getting an equalizer.�

�There�s no excuses. We were technically poor and our fitness was poor. We are fortunate that we have until June (for World Cup qualifying) to get our act together. Human nature likes to find a comfort zone, and we have guys in a comfort zone. All the credit goes to Haiti. The Haitian team brought a commitment to the game and outfought us.�

Haiti had the majority of chances on the night and was able to apply consistent pressure on the U.S. defense. During the first half of the match both teams had opportunities on goal, but neither could find the back of the net as they went into the locker rooms deadlocked at 0-0.

The U.S. had the first good look at goal only two minutes into the contest, Landon Donovan getting on the end of a through ball from Tony Sanneh, only to see his shot from the top of the penalty area easily snagged by Fenelon Gabard. A few minutes later, Bobby Convey�s free kick from about 25 yards out was pegged for the lower right corner, but Gabard again came up with the save.

Haiti began to get more comfortable and began exposing holes in the U.S. midfield toward the end of the first half. They nearly grabbed the lead in the 38th minute on a header from captain Bruny Pierre-Richard off a corner, but the goal was negated after referee Peter Prendergast whistled forward Jean Phillipe Peguero for a foul on Eddie Pope.

It was the USA�s turn to be denied the lead moments before halftime. John Wolyniec, making his first-ever start for the U.S., got on the end of a cross and headed it towards the center of the box. Cory Gibbs rose over his mark and beat Gabard to the far left post, only to see Wasdon Coriolan head the ball of the goal line.

The U.S. made two changes at half, swapping goalkeeper Kevin Hartman for Walker, while Chris Albright replaced Sanneh. Sanneh returned to the U.S. lineup for the first time since the 2002 World Cup, a back injury sidelining the defender from competitive action since Dec. 7, 2002.

Haiti put on the pressure from the moment of the second half whistle, earning three corner kicks before the hour mark. Mones Chery found himself free for two consecutive scoring chances, the best a blistering shot headed for the lower left corner that Hartman was forced to parry away.

The Haitians were first on the scoreboard in the 69th minute, midfielder Alexander Boucicot beating U.S. �keeper Kevin Hartman from 16 yards out to the lower left corner after Coriolan had slipped a pass from midfield through the U.S. defense.

Searching for the tying goal, the U.S. made three substitutions just before the 75th minute mark. Almost immediately, the American attack began to pick up the pace, forward Jovan Kirovski using one of his first touches of the game to fire a wicked blast that Gabard gamely pushed away for a corner. On the ensuing corner kick, Ante Razov�s glancing header forcing the busy Haitian �keeper into a quick reaction save.

The U.S. was able to salvage the tie in the 94th minute when a free kick into the crowded box slipped through to the left post. Carlos Bocanegra pushed the ball across goalmouth to a wide-open Califf, who chested it into the net. Califf, who replaced Eddie Pope in the 75th minute, now has 12 international appearances for the U.S.

�I take some pride in that it helped the team tie the game. It is an exciting feeling,� said Califf.

The U.S. next travels to face Poland on March 31 in Plock, Poland. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2. Fans can also follow the match live via ussoccer.com�s MatchTracker, presented by Philips Electronics.

The U.S. begins CONCACAF World Cup qualifying June 13 against the winner of the home-and-away series between Grenada and Guyana, with their first match scheduled to be played in the United States. After Poland, the U.S. has game dates set for April 28 and May 26 at sites and against opponents still to be finalized. Following the MNT World Cup qualifiers on June 13 and June 20 against either Grenada or Guyana, the U.S. will meet Poland in a domestic friendly on July 11. Should the U.S. advance through their preliminary qualifying round, the six-game, four-team semifinal round competition will begin on the road on August 18.

Thierry Henry once again provided the talking points as Arsenal moved ever closer to the Premiership crown with a 2-0 win at Blackburn this morning.

0 - 2

The biggest talking point wasn’t the goal he did score - a beautiful 57th minute free kick - but rather, it was a goal that was disallowed.

Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel was attempting to take a goal kick, and as he dropped the ball from his hands to his foot, Henry poked his foot in, got the ball away from Friedel, and slotted the ball home. The goal was disallowed by Referee Alan Wiley, as he deemed it as a result of interference by Henry, indicating that he believed that TiTi knocked the ball out of Friedel’s hands.

Replays proved otherwise, but it all became academic after Va-Va-Voom produced a beautiful curling free-kick that eluded the wall and the diving Friedel.

Robert Pires sealed the deal in the 87th minute. Gilberto shot’s from the right of the penalty area was saved by Friedel, only for the ball to hit the post, and bounce back in front of goal. Pires was the quickest to react, and he made no mistake, smashing the ball into the lower left corner.