| England's McClaren given boot
England has the wealthiest soccer league in the world, with matches screened across the globe and business tycoons from the United States, Russia and Asia lining up to own the clubs. So why can't England put 11 Englishmen on the field to succeed on the international level? Steve McClaren became the latest coach to pay the price Thursday, getting fired after England's 3-2 loss Wednesday at home to Croatia meant the team failed to qualify for the 2008 European Championship. While the likes of World Cup champion Italy, Germany, Spain, France, the Netherlands and Portugal will be out to try to take the title away from Greece, England's stars — including David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen — will have to watch the games on TV. The Football Association now has plenty of time to search for a coach who can lift the nation credited with establishing the modern game to the same level.
Singer '09: Headaches the norm for NFLers
I was sitting on the couch watching football this past Turkey Day when my four-year-old cousin stumbled into the room. After tumbling onto the couch and staring at the screen for a while, she uttered the following words:
"Why do they play? They run and then" - she clapped her hands as a tackle was made on the screen - "they die."
Those are awfully philosophical thoughts coming from someone who still wears diapers, I thought. She should eat some more turkey. But instead, I decided I'd try to explain my thinking to her.
"Well, they get a lot of money to play. And some of them enjoy it," I said, looking at her to gauge her approval.
She scrunched her nose and shook her head in that spastic way little kids do. "I don't like it," she said.
FYI: Advance planning urged for Cowboys fans Thursday
Q: Where around Lufkin can I go to watch the Cowboys-Packers game on Thursday night? I'm asking what places with TVs might have the proper hookup or feed to carry the game. And short of that, is there any radio station around here that I can pick up at night that will be carrying the game? Help! A: We feel your pain, along with hundreds of other Cowboys fans who don't have the NFL Package from DirecTV so they can access the NFL Network, this year's new innovation of the National Football League that brings new meaning to the phrase "pay per view." We polled about 20 restaurants around town that have televisions in their customer service areas. Of those, the ones that responded in the affirmative to having access to the NFL Network package with the likelihood of having it tuned to the Cowboys-Packers game included Applebee's, Chili's and Logan's.
Prince Albert goes green with a difference
From the department of obvious statements comes this declaration: Saskatchewan football fans are cut from a different cloth. The entire province - Prince Albert included - has caught Rider fever. In the gas stations, stores and shopping malls, the fate of Canada's favourite football team is the first topic on everyone's tongue. It's been an emotional, communal and - to some degree - commercial experience. On Friday, just about everybody in Saskatchewan still capable of summoning a measurable pulse wore green clothes of some nature. Rider hoodies, Rider jackets, Rider T-shirts and Rider jerseys dominated the clothing choices amongst Prince Albert citizens Friday. Our intrepid staff didn't bother to investigate beyond the visible, but chances are that a few folks donned green-hued undergarments.
California partners with Brownsville for soccer team
California is now partnered with Brownsville in a co-op varsity soccer team. However, the California School Board voted Nov. 15 to allow California to form its own soccer team next year. The co-op was originally formed because California didn't have enough players to form a complete team, which requires about 22 players. Terri Doman, a California School Board member for four years, said when the co-op began, it was with the understanding that when California had enough players to form a team, it would move back to California and play for its own school. The next step California needs to take in order to form its own team is to secure the approval of the WPIAL. Since WPIAL already approved the co-op team for another two years, California needed to send a letter stating that it has formed its own team.
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