Arsenal Is For Anybody

Notice the Yankee caps.

Today, Arsenal Football Club took a 1-0 lead over Paris Saint-Germain after 6 minutes of the UEFA Champions League Final in Budapest, Hungary, and couldn't hold it. All the money that PSG got from their owners, the oil-rich slavedriving royal family of the Middle Eastern nation of Qatar, and the assistance from referee Daniel Siebert, and the game ended 1-1 after extra time. PSG then won on penalty kicks, 4-3.

At the end, I felt like I did when the Yankees lost Game 7 of the 2001 World Series: Drained, too tired to feel anything more than disappointed. It took longer for the steroid use of the opposition to be revealed in that case. In this case, as with Arsenal's defeat to FC Barcelona in the CL Final 20 years earlier, the dirty play and the favoring thereof was obvious while the game was in progress.

It was the biggest game in Arsenal's history, and they lost it -- through little fault of their own, but they did lose it.

And I, for one, have never been prouder to be an Arsenal fan.

It is true that, as late as the morning of March 22, Arsenal were still eligible for all 4 trophies for which they were eligible. That day, they lost the League Cup Final to Manchester City. On April 4, they lost to Southampton in the Quarterfinal of the FA Cup. On April 19, they lost to Manchester City, which took their Premier League destiny out of their hands. They were still in the Semifinal of the Champions League, but it was looking like they would go 0-for-4 in trophies.

But they beat Atlético Madrid in the CL Semifinal, and advanced to the Final to play PSG, the defending Champions, who had eliminated Arsenal in the previous season's Semifinal. And Man City faltered, losing League games. Arsenal won their last 5 Premier League games. On May 19, Man City lost to Bournemouth, meaning they could no longer finish ahead of Arsenal. Arsenal were the Premier League Champions, for the 1st time in 22 years. It was their 1st trophy in 6 years, since the 2020 FA Cup.

Upon the final whistle of City's defeat, thousands of people descended upon the Emirates Stadium in North London. Wherever Arsenal fans gather, they gathered: In Manhattan, in Montreal, in Mombassa, in Mumbai, in Melbourne. All of England's "big clubs" have fans from all over the world, but most of them don't celebrate diversity like Arsenal do. Even the new Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, is an Arsenal fan, and has seen games at one of the Arsenal bars in Brooklyn. (But he's also a Mets fan, so take his Gooner status with a grain of salt.)

Today, I saw the match in the space that used to be the home of the NYC Arsenal Supporters, on East 14th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues in Manhattan's East Village, before it began filling up and became a victim of its own success, leading to O'Hanlon's, a block away on 14th between 1st and 2nd, becoming the new headquarters. From 2011 to 2019, this space was known as the Blind Pig, named for an alternate term for a speakeasy, one of the secret bars that sprang up all over America during Prohibition, 1920 to 1933.

In 2019 -- before COVID -- the Blind Pig had to close, due to a rent increase. Coyote Ugly, the bar made famous in the 2000 film of the same title, moved around the corner from 2nd Avenue into the former Blind Pig space. Obviously, the decor is different, but the space is still recognizable. As with both the Blind Pig and Coyote Ugly's former location, the bartenders are still, as the English would say, "fit as fook." And they were willing to take in spillover customers who couldn't get into O'Hanlon's.

When it was over, the consensus was that we were disappointed in the result, and angry at the officials, but the Premier League title was no consolation prize, it was still something to celebrate. (Indeed, Arsenal will have its trophy parade in London tomorrow.)

As with my fellow fans of the Yankees and the New Jersey Devils, I have "found my people." And the hope for more trophies over the next few years, under manager Mikel Arteta, is strong.

We are The Arsenal: We are for anybody willing to join us, and we fear nobody.

West Coast Done, Bring On The Scum

So Derek Jeter leads off the game with a home run off Hisashi Iwakuma, his 8th of the year.  Funny, he doesn't look like a guy who didn't deserve to be re-signed. And Iwakuma didn't exactly pitch like a pitcher the Yankees have never seen before.

The Mariners scored 2 in the bottom of the 1st, and that's the way it stayed until the top of the 8th, as Ivan Nova, Clay Rapada and David Phelps didn't let it get any worse than 2-1 Seattle.

To start the 8th, Mariner reliever Josh Kinney hit Jeter with a pitch. So, tell me, umpires, how many times are you going to let Yankee batters (particularly those with Hall of Fame numbers already) get hit in a single series? It's not like the Yankees are playing the Red Sox, who clearly have received an edict from the Commissioner's office that they can get away with anything. (That comes this weekend.) (rolleyes)

Mariners manager Eric Wedge pulled Kinney for Lucas Luetge, and Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira hit back-to-back singles to load the bases with nobody out. After a Curtis Granderson popup, Joe Girardi sent Jayson Nix up to pinch-hit for Raul Ibanez. Wedge pulled Luetge for Shawn Kelley. Nix doubled to left to clear the bases and give the Yankees the lead.

Eric Chavez was intentionally walked to set up the double play. Andruw Jones struck out. But Russell Martin singled to left to provide the final score.

Yankees 5, Mariners 2. WP: Phelps (2-3). SV: Rafael Soriano (26). LP: Luetge (1-1).

So the Yankees take 2 out of 3 in Seattle, salvaging 2 out of 7 on this Pacific Coast roadtrip.

Today is a travel day, and then... The Scum come to town. Pitching machups: 

Friday night, 7:05: Phil Hughes vs. Aaron Cook.

Saturday afternoon, 4:05 (Fox Game of the Week): CC Sabathia vs. Jon (Mo) Lester.

Sunday night, 8:05 (ESPN Game of the Week): Hiroki Kuroda vs. a Sox pitcher to be determined.

Bring 'em on.

*

Last night, the Major League Soccer All-Star Game was played at PPL Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, the home of the Philadelphia Union. The All-Stars played Chelsea, the Champions of Europe... the 6th team in England, the 3rd team in London. The Chavs played French club Paris Saint-Germain in the 1st soccer game in the new Yankee Stadium on Saturday, and drew 1-1.

Not surprising that "Fat Frank" Lampard scored "in Philly," America's foremost food city. Fancy a cheesesteak, Frank? But Eddie Johnson of the Seattle Sounders scored in injury time to give the All-Stars a 3-2 win.

Champions in Europe, chumps in North America.

In fact, there's a lot of that going around: Most of the English teams touring North America haven't been doing well. Liverpool played Italian club AS Roma at Fenway Park last night, and looked horrible. Roma won, 2-1, the winning goal coming from American star Michael Bradley.

*

Hours until the next Yankees-Red Sox series begins: 33, tomorrow night, at Yankee Stadium II.

Hours until the 2012 Olympics begin in London: 34. NBC will broadcast the Opening Ceremonies tomorrow night, although I'm not sure when they're actually taking place; so, for us, 8:00 tomorrow night is the official start. Nevertheless, the soccer tournaments are already underway, with the U.S. women, including my fellow East Brunswick High School graduate Heather O'Reilly, coming from 2-0 down to defeat France last night, 4-2. The U.S. men didn't qualify.

Days until the Red Bulls play again: 2, on Saturday night, away to the Montreal Impact. They beat the Philadelphia Union last Saturday, 2-0, with Kenny Cooper scoring both goals, both of them on Thierry Henry assists.

Days until the Red Bulls play Tottenham at Red Bull Arena: 5, next Tuesday night. I won't call this preseason match a "friendly," because it's The Scum.  t least I won't have to watch Harry Redknapp twitching in shorts, like I did when they visited for the 2010 New York Football Challenge.

Days until AC Milan play Real Madrid at Yankee Stadium: 13, on Wednesday night, August 8.  I really would like to see this one, but will so many Italian-Americans in the Tri-State Area, and probably more of them being fans of Milan than of any other Italian club, this may be tough to get a ticket for. But then, the Chelsea-PSG match only got around 38,000, so I may have a chance.

Days until the U.S. National Soccer Team plays again: 20, on Wednesday night, August 15, against arch-rival Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, a house of horrors for the Stars & Stripes, as we have never won there. And as long as Jurgen Klinsmann is still the manager, I don't expect that to change, because he cannot pick a lineup! Sack him, Sunil Gulati!

Days until Arsenal play another competitive match (not counting preseason friendlies, which are already underway): 23, on Saturday, August 18, home to Sunderland, a.k.a. the Dirty Monkey Mackems. A little over 3 weeks. I had been under the impression that it would be the preceding Saturday.

Days until the Red Bulls next play a "derby": 34, going down to Washington to face D.C. United on Wednesday night, August 29. They travel to Foxboro to face the New England Revolution on Saturday, September 22, and to Chester to face the Union on Saturday, October 27.

Days until Rutgers plays football again: 37, on Saturday September 1, at the Superdome in New Orleans against Tulane University. Not exactly a rivalry game, although Tulane was founded by a Princeton man. And thus, in 5 weeks, will begin the Kyle Flood Era. Good luck... 

Days until East Brunswick High School plays football again: 43, on Friday, September 7, home to South Brunswick. Just 6 weeks. I'm glad it's a home game: It's always good to open the season at home, and South Brunswick is particularly tough to get to: Despite the distance, it's not close to public transportation. But that's the only thing I have against them: Though they are neighbors, they are not rivals.

Days until the Devils play again: 78, opening the season on Friday night, October 12, away to the Washington Capitals. Just 11 weeks. The home opener is the next night, against the Boston Bruins.

Days until the Devils play another local rival: 83, on Wednesday night, October 17, the 3rd game of the season, the 2nd home game, at the Prudential Center, against the Rangers, the 1st meeting between the teams since Adam Henrique put The Scum in their place. The 1st meeting with the Philadelphia Flyers will be on Thursday night, November 1. I'd say the game will be at the Wells Fargo Center in Philly, but that's dependent on the arena's name not being changed... again. The 1st meeting with the New York Islanders will be on Saturday night, November 17, at the Nassau Coliseum. Barring a big change, there will be only 3 seasons left at the Coliseum -- and possibly only 18 more Devils-Islanders games, unless the Isles build a new arena, move to the Barclays Center, or somehow make the Playoffs in the next 3 seasons.

Days until the 1st Nets game in Brooklyn: 95, on Thursday, November 1, against the now actually crosstown Knicks. A little over 3 months. 

Days until the 2012 President election: 100, on Tuesday, November 6. That's right, just 100 days. Register to vote... and on November 6, vote! 

Days until the next North London Derby: 112, on Saturday, November 17, at the Emirates Stadium. The return fixture will be on Saturday, March 2, 2013, at White Hart Lane.

Days until the next East Brunswick-Old Bridge Thanksgiving clash: 119. Under 4 months. Come on you Boys in Green! Beat those Purple Bastards!

Days until Alex Rodriguez collects his 3,000th career hit: 400 (estimated around September 1, 2013). This is taking his current injury into account. A little over a year.

Days until Super Bowl XLVIII at the Meadowlands: 556 (February 2, 2014). Less than 19 months. 

Days until Alex Rodriguez hits his 700th career home run: 680 (estimated). 

Days until Alex Rodriguez hits his 756th career home run to surpass all-time leader Hank Aaron: 1,520 (estimated). 

Days until Alex Rodriguez hits his 763rd career home run to become as close to a "real" all-time leader as we are likely to have: 1,540 (estimated -- estimating 28 home runs a year, and he might get it early in the 2017 season, at age 41).

Yanks Split 1st 2 with O's, Thome vs. Reggie, Red Bulls vs. Arsenal

Yesterday was a productive day for me. Had a little fun with the nieces, got what I needed at Ye Olde Woodbridge Centre, got my daily allotment of grease at Five Guys, and the Yankees won.

The Yankees didn't win? Well, the other 3 things remain true.

"Five Guys" did not, this time, describe the pitchers the Yankees used against the Baltimore Orioles, in a game delayed nearly 2 hours by rain. They used only 2. Unfortunately, one of them was Bad A.J. A.J. Burnett allowed home runs by Mark Reynolds and Derrek Lee, and Mark Teixeira's 29th homer wasn't enough. Orioles 4, Yankees 2.

WP: Jeremy Guthrie (5-14). Seriously, how do you lose, at home, to a guy with a record of 4-14? LP: Burnett (8-9). SV: Kevin Gregg (17).

Today, an earlier rainout forced a doubleheader. The first game is already in the books.

Bartolo Colon (8-6) started for the Yankees, and was fine in the first 3 innings, but ran into trouble in the 4th. Joe Girardi took no chances, and took him out after 5. Cory Wade pitched 3 innings and was mostly fine.

The Yankees pounded Chris Tillman (2-4), including Nick Swisher's home run in the 4th (his 13th, part of a 3-for-4 day for him). The Yankees led 8-3 going into the 9th.

And that's when Girardi, rather than leave Wade in, brought in...

Oh no...

Boone Logan.

Logan allowed a hit, got 2 outs, then allowed another hit. 1st and 3rd, 2 out, Vladimir Guerrero and his 444 career home runs at the plate. True, Vlad seems to be in serious decline (no more steroids, perhaps?), but I didn't trust him -- or Logan. And Logan went to a full count on him.

If Vlad had gotten out, that would have brought the tying run to the on-deck circle, and it would have become a save situation for a new pitcher. Mariano Rivera began to warm up.

Logan struck Guerrero out. Ballgame over. Yankees 8, Orioles 3. Not much thanks to Logan.

The nightcap is scheduled for 7:05. Ivan Nova and Zach Britton are the opposing starters. Britton has pitched against the Yankees before, most recently on May 18, a good outing for him, although the Yankees won that game in 15 innings.

I uncovered an interesting fact today: In addition to having 596 career home runs -- and, as far as I know, totally clean -- Jim Thome has struck out 2,444 times. Only one player has ever fanned more: Reggie Jackson.

Thome is about to turn 41. He is considerably slowed down. He may only play one more season.

Does he have 154 more strikeouts in him, so he can take this record away from my guy? Don't take this the wrong way, Jim, but I hope so.

Jeter hits 3018 DONE
Rivera saves 585 16
A-Rod homers 626 137
A-Rod hits 2762 238

*

The Red Bulls beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the first game of the Emirates Cup in London, on a goal by Joel Lindpere. Then Arsenal choked away a 2-0 lead against Boca Juniors and escaped with a draw.

Unless Arsenal can beat the Red Bulls tomorrow, an American team will win the Emirates Cup -- Arsenal's own preseason tournament. Think what the English media will say about that!

Bob Bradley was fired as manager of the U.S. national soccer team. No replacement yet named. I hope they hire a better one than the Devils hired.