Gooooolllllll!!!!!

Not only did Clint Mathis AND Brian McBride score this week overseas. . . AGAIN, but even Brad Friedel got into the act! Brad lived every 'keeper's dream by sidefooting a last-minute goal against Charlton to level the score at 2.

The fact that Charlton turned right around and beat Friedel for the winner less than a minute into injury time notwithstanding, that's gotta be the coolest thing I've seen this season.

America RULES!

FEAR US!

John Charles, R.I.P.

From The Sunday Express (UK). Notice especially the last line. An amazing life, and amazing legacy.

Sporting, political and personal tributes from across the world have flooded in for former Welsh football legend John Charles who has died, aged 72.

During his career, Charles played for Wales, Italian giants Juventus, Leeds United, Cardiff City and Roma and was known as "the Gentle Giant".

Earlier this month, part of Charles' right foot was amputated in Milan due to gangrene caused by circulation problems, a month after he underwent heart surgery.

Last weekend, he was flown to Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield. He died there at 4.30am, this Saturday morning.

Wales' first minister Rhodri Morgan led the tributes to the "world legend" and said: "We have lost one of the greatest Welshmen of the 20th century."

The 6ft 2ins, 13 stone legend had iconic status among Italians where he was "almost regarded as a saint" for his powerful, professional and above all gentle manner, never having been booked or sent off throughout his career.

It's not as if Leeds aren't having a horrendous season as is. They are nearly bankrupt, and are hovering over the pit of relegation by a frayed thread. Their fans must be asking, "what else could happen?"

Well, that is the one question you should never ask, isn't it?

With a huge match looming against Manchester United this weekend, Leeds find out a few days before the match that Mark Viduka will be ineligible. Why? Injury? Drugs? Arrest? Abduction by space aliens?

No. Even more unbelievable than the space aliens angle, the Australian Soccer Association invoked a FIFA regulation to punish Viduka for not taking part in the recent Australia v Venezuela friendly. Yes, you read that right. The ASA kept Leeds from using their best player in a league match.

Note the two operative terms there. Venezuela. Friendly.

Viduka's club, you know, the ones who pay his wages, desperately needed a result against ManU (well, let's face it, they desperately need a result, PERIOD). Viduka is still recovering from a minor injury as well. Is it surprising he doesn't want to fly to Caracas in the middle of the week for a friendly?

If you were Mark Viduka, would you ever play for Australia again? If you were a European club, would you be willing to shell out money for Australian players? If you were an Australian, would you be calling for the head of the moron who made this decision?

I'm not sure if the ASA is a government entity, but this level of stupidity suggests it is.

But, as so often happens in these situations, adversity brought strength. Leeds played heroically Saturday, coming from behind in the second half to pull out a 1-1 draw. Which, if you're Leeds, is like a win. You've never seen such spirited play, such heroic defending, such fight. It was good to watch.

So here's to you, Mr. Faceless Australian Soccer Bureaucrat:

Tales Too Strange To Be Fiction

If you thought America was increasingly over-litigious, check out this excerpt from an AP story from Spain:

About 30 fans plan to sue a referee for awarding a last-minute penalty against their team in a Spanish league match.

The fans hold Pedro Tristante Oliva and the Spanish soccer federation responsible for the "penalty mistake" in which Real Madrid was awarded a penalty kick against Valencia. They are asking for one euro per person in damages, or $1.29 each.

"We want the error to be publicly acknowledged and compensation paid as professional negligence has been committed," Andres Sanchis, the lawyer representing the fans, said in the sports daily As on Wednesday.

This is outrageous! What if the plaintiffs prevail in this matter? What if other fans, from other sports, quit yelling "Kill the ref!" and start yelling "Sue the Ref!"

I mean, if you do the math on this, even at $1.29 a mistake, all professional sports will be bankrupt by the time the summer Olympics roll around.

Then what would we have? No professional sports? People playing sports just for the pure enjoyment of it? An Olympics without professionals? No millionaire athletes? No Yankees? No Steinbrenner?

Wait.

I just changed my position on this one.

Never mind.