jl's sports shorts

Being the weekend and all, I choose to lay off the social/politcal rants and ponder matters sporting. Also, yesterday I kicked off my new series of rants called “Just As Well It’s Only a Game!” which I’ll post on the last Saturday of each month – my latest target was the GAA.

POMPEY WUZ ROBBED - Once again, it wasn’t pretty, but I’ll take a 2-1 win over Portsmouth any which way but loose since it takes my Spurs out of the bottom three. You see pictured the two men the losing side can point to for the difference in the scoreline. Already 1-0 up after less than a minute, Didier Zokora won us a penalty by falling over just at the right moment when former Spurs player Pedro Mendes went to challenge but never touched him. Jermaine Defoe confidently stuck away the penalty, and although Kanu got one back before half-time, we were able to hold out. It took a phenomenal save from keeper Robinson deep in injury time to seal the three points. With an international break next week, it was just what Spurs needed to get morale back in the camp. Meanwhile, my UCD were on the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline up in Derry, which has them out of the FAI Cup, and virtually ends their season, with Premier Division status all but assured. Pic courtesy of www.bbc.co.uk

VINDICATED – I didn’t get to see the game itself, but from all reports it was the return of the internationals that made the difference in Leinster’s 31-16 win in Galway on Friday evening. Seemingly the home side fought bravely to bring the score to 16-16 but Brian O’Driscoll in particular was able to kick into gear and add two late tries to get his side the valuable bonus point. Meanwhile, Henieken Cup holders Munster proved too good for Ulster. Here’s a question for you – do you think Ulster would have won the celtic league last year if Lenister and Munster weren’t so heavily involved in Europe? One development is good – I have heard from two separate yet not altogether reliable sources that the IRFU have finally seen sense and decided to link Heineken Cup qualification directly to Magners League placing, which actually gives Connacht something to play for. Pic courtesy of www.connachtrugby.ie

PRAGUE-MATIC - My attitude going into watching my Spurs’ UEFA Cup tie with Slavia prague on Thursday night was very simple. I didn’t care how they did it, so long as they got through to the next phase of the tournament. It’s just as well. Our lack of confidence up front continues, and at the back, we showed yet again just how much we need Ledley King back there. Though Michael Dawson thrived as a rookie in the last campaign, it was only because he had King there with him. The one chance robbie did take was a good deal harder than the sitters he missed. It doesn’t bode well for the visit of high-flying Portsmouth today, who ironically have several of our ex-players in their squad and will be very confident of putting one over on their former employers today. Honourable mention from the midweek European Cup action has to both Peter Crouch for his act of contortion, and brave Derry City, whose exploits have meant that the eircom League moves up in the rankings enough so the champions get seeded in the first round for next season. Pic courtesy of www.bbc.co.uk

CHAMPIONS!!! – No need for me to publish the standings each week … in case you didn’t catch my midweek post, My Oakland A’s clinched the American League West title last Tuesday when they beat Seattle and the Angels fell to Texas. Elsewhere in baseball, an unusual thing has happened – two different pennant races have gone all the way down to the 162nd and final game of the regular season. My A’s will be waiting in the playoffs for whoever comes out on top in the AL Central between Detroit and Minnesota, while over in the NL West, the LA Dodgers and San Diego are neck and neck. I am hoping that NASN will cover most of the A’s playoff games, which will begin on Tuesday. I also hope we at least manage to get past the first round this year! Pic of celebrations courtesy of http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com