Good News from The Mail for once

West Ham defender Calum Davenport has been told the surgery to repair artery damage in his left thigh caused by a knife attack last weekend has been a success.

31 + 12 = Class

Prayers out to Jack Collison and family. I have seen many post they are getting jersey's with his name and number in show of support. I will be joining that effort. It would be nice if he can see the support in the stands with a sea of "Collinson's."

Prayers out to Calum Davenport and his Mother. Here is to a speedy recovery.

I have few words for last night. The BBC radio broadcast was unbelievable. The crowd noise was drowning out the announcers who were fabulous themselves. Their voices were full of wonder at the intensity of the crowd and fear at the actions of a segment thereof. With ten minutes to go, one said "If any are here listening with children, get out now!" Of course, almost everything good from last night is for naught as the actions of an irrelevant few have marred West Ham, Millwall, and English football for probably years.

I go to many games each year in the South Carolina-Clemson rivalry. It has been going on longer than West Ham-Millwall. The "feuds" rarely rise to anything other than good natured ribbing. Don't quesion it's intensity as it is as extreme as any other rivialry not involving armies, but most fans realize they have to live with each other every other day of the year.

I know the bozos don't care, but the real WHU and Millwall fans are disgusted by you and will be happy to see you barred from the matches.

I would like to give the Jackie Robinson Award to Carlton Cole for his restraint last night as well. I probably would not have been as classy.

Millwall Milwall you're all really dreadful and your girlfriends are unfulfilled and alienated

When in Mexico

From ESPN Online's Bill Simmons:

The venom starts immediately -- booing and hissing, horn blowing, various "Meh-hee-CO! Meh-hee CO!" chants -- and never really stops. The Mexican fans had no problem drowning out the Star-Spangled Banner with jeers. They tossed drinks and debris at the U.S. bench for most of the second half ... which didn't matter because Azteca's opposing bench has an impenetrable plexiglass roof, but still. During a corner kick in extra time, they showered Landon Donovan with such a staggering amount of debris that he briefly staggered back toward the field in disbelief, shrugging his hands as if to say, "How could anyone act like this?"

I love reading Simmons for his take on the NBA. Sure, it's too Celtic oriented, but it is some of the best writing of the league out there. When I try to explain soccer to my friends, I encourage them to look at the field as a big basketball court and to follow the players without the ball, seeing how they move in anticipation of passes. The defense is viewed as a zone would be in b-ball with the lateral passing intended to create soft spot so the offense can get vertical.

I did this with Buddy Steve, whose Dad was an all-state player in high school in North Carolina in the 1930's. Back then, single digit scores were the norm with a jump ball after every basket. I told him to watch it as you imagine one would one of those old basketball games. Every score is vital which makes every opportunity exciting.

That's right, I've got Buddy Steve watching soccer. It's making its way into the US.

From the Daily Mail Online:

Hammers to lose James Collins to Stoke in £5m deal

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1206933/EXCLUSIVE-Hammers-lose-James-Collins-Stoke-5m-deal.html#ixzz0OPlqODCq

Can I believe anything I read?

A Great Start

Last season, this match probably would have ended up 1-1. Every point is vital, from August to May.

On the heels of a big win, the Daily Mail Online has this headline: City boss Mark Hughes at war with Everton's David Moyes over Joleon Lescott bid, Pompey in 'tap-up' storm and Zola threatens to quit West Ham

Of course, I want to find out what Zola's problem is so I hit the link and it takes me to this link which contains this sentence: Also: Gianfranco Zola is threatening to walk out on West Ham.

That link takes one back to the first headline. Obviously, Mr. Zola is sick and tired of headlines that link back to the same headlines without actual stories.

How do you in London put up with having to read these papers?

One More Day

Vision Quest
written by Darryl Ponicsan, based on the novel by Terry Davis

Louden (Matthew Modine): I was at the hotel, they told me you took the night off. Thought you were sick or something.
Elmo (J.C. Quinn): Of course I took the night off, dummy, isn't this the night you wrestle Shute?
Louden: You took the night off for that?
Elmo: Yeah, shaved, got a haircut and everything.
Louden: You never took the night off to see me wrestle before, they'll dock you for that.
Elmo: Hey kid, money ain't everything.
Louden: It's not that big a deal, I mean it's six lousy minutes on the mat. If that.
Elmo: Ever hear of Pelé?
Louden: Yeah, he's a soccer player.
Elmo: A very famous soccer player. I was in the room here one day. I'm watching the Mexican channel on TV. I don’t know nothing about Pelé. I'm watching what this guy can do with a ball and his feet. The next thing I know he jumps up in the air and flips into a somersault and kicks the ball in, upside down and backwards. I mean, the goddamn goalie never knew what the fuck hit him. And Pelé gets excited and he rips off his jersey and starts running around the stadium waving it around over his head. Everybody's screaming in Spanish. I'm here, sitting alone in my room. I start crying, yeah that's right, I start crying. There's another human being, a species which I happen to belong to, can kick a ball, and LIFT himself and the rest of us sad-ass human beings up to a better place to be, if only for a minute. Let me tell you kid, it was pretty goddamn glorious.It ain't the six minutes... it's what happens in that six minutes.

How will they ever survive?

From eatsleepsport.com

The injury blow means Hughes has just Emmanual Adebayor, Craig Bellamy, Carlos Tevez and Robinho all battling for forward roles when they travel to Blackburn on Saturday in the first game of the new season.

How can Hughes be expected to succeed with such limited options?

Anticipation

Upson on the way out?
Gudjohnsen on the way in?
The Golden Retriever has signed for sure.
Green will get the start for England.
I got the new strip in and I like it.

Come on. Let's get this season started already!