Friday Bullets For Monday

March 19 – 2007Â

God only knows how you started your weekend without the Friday bullet points…though I’ll venture to guess you and the malt liquor persevered.Â

• I’ll be getting into the “video technology” issue later this week, but for now I’ll say this: being awarded a goal where none existed is pretty much the only way my Hammers are going to get a win at this point.  They should probably be more concerned about losing points than earning them, because that’s the likely outcome of their shady Argentine/Iranian dealings. The press is abuzz with the notion that Tevez and Mascherano were “possibly” brought in under 3rd party ownership…to which I would add, “You don’t say!” Bear with a masturbatory moment as I quote myself:Â

The West Ham deal for Tevez/Mascherano will likely prove to be of the same nature as the original MSI-Corinthians deal: if West Ham is sold to Jaroobchian/MSI/whomever, the Argentineans will be treated as assets on the side of MSI, and their value will be discounted from the total offer.  -9/5/06

When the MSI offer fell through the deal became ultra-sticky, and a points deduction is now a real possibility. Let’s hope it comes this year rather than next: they’ll need every possible point in the Championship.

• For the second time in two weeks, I’ve been left prowling youtube for clips of football fan bigotry only to come up empty handed. This time it was a Rangers fan (shocking!) who posted a video of sectarian chanting which enjoyed a relatively short run in theaters before being shelved. One thing I love about these events is the intersection of stupidity formed when these morons film themselves acting like the scum they are, then post it for the world to see.   Bigotry truly looks like the mental defect it is during these moments.Â
• Can we hurry up and demote Italy to 3rd-world footballing status already? If widespread corruption, violence, and fan apathy weren’t enough, we now get word that Italian paparazzi are blackmailing Serie A players with photographs of adulterous behavior. For their part, the players can’t pay quick enough. I’ve never been to the country, and won’t pretend to understand its calcio-cultural intricacies, but from where I sit it looks like a shit-show well on its way to becoming a backwater.
• Yes, Paul Robinson scored the silliest goal you’ll ever see in the Premiership. No, it wasn’t the first time he’s scored. Yes, it reminded me of that equally ridiculous goal scored on Poland this summer. And yes, only bad can come of goalkeepers getting a taste for goal.Â