Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Gattuso's Family


Here is the most adorable picture. This is Gattuso, his daughter, and his wife. She is Scottish.
Here is a link to the Dolce and Gabbana AC Milan Family Book. It is VERY adorable. (Please ignore traitors- aka Gilardino). http://www.milanfamilybook.com/ Don't feel too bad for the guys at the end who appear without their families. They are not (all) lonely, because I know that at least a few of them are married. "Why," you ask, "do Kaka' and Pato not make appearances?" The answer- Kaka' has strict rules about which Dolce and Gabbana shoots he can appear in because of his contract with Armani or someone. Pato hadn't even been signed when these photos were taken.
Other notes:
Boriello has broken up with the girlfriend in the picture. She was cheating on him.
Maldini's wife is from Venezuala. She is an ex- model.
Please notice that the Maldini's picture is on a couch that resembles a throne.
Seedorf's wife (not pictured) is Brazilian.
Kalac is tall.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Random Pictures


Barack Obama... America's president to be. YAY!



This is the Spanish national football (soccer) team after winning Euro-2008. They lifted their ancient coach, Aragones, and bounced him up and down! Hehe!



This is AC Milan's owner, Silvio Berlusconi holding one of Milan's many trophies!



This picture is from this weekend's game, Arsenal v. Liverpool. This is just weird.



Best for last. This is from this weekend's game, Milan v. Udinese. Kaka' in one goal's celebration ran over to the injured Gattuso. He looks like he is wearing a towel as a scarf. They are so awesome!!!



P.S. Christmas is in 3 days. This will be Luca's first Christmas. (For those of you who don't know, Luca is Kaka's son, duh!)

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Riding on sleds in Seattle



Snow has been falling, and we at Ape Canyon News Service know what to do with it.

Merry Christmas from Athens


Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Famous Quotes #1


Mr. Smithers: I'm afraid Robert Goulet hasn't arrived yet, sir.
Mr. Burns: Very well, begin the thawing of Jim Nabors.







Saturday, December 13, 2008

Different Doctor Who Theme Song(s)

Let's see... I was playing T.V. theme songs on my saxophone, and I as I was playing the theme from St. Elsewhere, I began to miss Doctor Who. I decided to go on YouTube and add the "good version" (from 2005-2007 roughly) to my Youtube favorites. However, when I searched "Doctor Who Theme" there were so many versions I just couldn't get the right one! So now, I am going to put up as many versions of the Doctor Who theme as I can find... (on youtube). Enjoy! And P.S. Which do you think is best? You can read more here. And if you must see my "source," I started my search here.


The good one, 2005-2007, Murray Gold-




The dumb new one 2008/2009-



This is a very, very old incarnation of the theme. Eric Winstone and his orchestra...
The 1963-1969 version:



1980-1985- Peter Howell



This one is from the "Jon Pertwee" era (1970ish): I don't like it.



1966-1969 (I can't really see much of a difference between this one and the Eric Winstone and orchestra, but this is Geoff Love and his orchestra:



From 1972



Not quite sure when this is from, called Doctor Who "Theme Orbital"



Dominic Glynn:



The Timelords/ KLF- Doctorin' the Tardis (It's not really the theme... more of a cross between that one sports song- Nah Nah Nah, HEY, Nah Nah Nah Nah, Nah Nah Nah HEY... and doctor who theme...)

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Giuseppe Mascara- striker for Calcio Catania


It has been said that Chelsea's Frank Lampard is the football player who most resembles a rodent. With his beady eyes, pointy nose, and large, protruding ears, it is true that Lampard reminds many fans of a large, blue-shirted mouse. However, there may be another player, Catania's Giuseppe Mascara , who looks even more like one. In addition to the beady eyes, pointy nose, and large, protruding ears that Lampard has, Mascara has truly jagged, rat-like teeth. Playing in Sicily for one of Serie A's less well-known teams, Mascara has not attracted the attention that comes from playing in London for one of the world's greatest teams. However, Mascara has had an outstanding season so far this year, and some believe that he may even be called up to the Italian national team.
As for his resemblance to a mouse, you can judge for yourself in the photograph below. Notice, however, that Mascara's shirt is light blue and red, not the deep, royal blue of Chelsea.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Best sports books, movies, and television programs of all time - reader input needed!

Ape Canyon News Service is pleased to announce that at the end of December 2008 we will be publishing our own list of the greatest sports-related books, movies, and television shows of all time. (Actually, it will be three separate lists.) If any of our readers would like to suggest works to be considered for our list, please leave us a message in the comments section of this posting. Be sure to clearly indicated the title, author, and whether the work is a book, movie, or television show. We look forward to your comments.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Young Carlo


This, is what Carlo Ancelotti, AC Milan's coach, used to look like... back when he was a player!


Thursday, November 27, 2008

A Soccer (football) Taxonomy- for now

I think that the title explains it all. If you do not know what a taxonomy is, then read on.

AC Milan- Il Club Piu Titolato al Mondo
Brazil- the proud winners of five World Cups (could also stand for Brazilians)
Cockiness (as in Cristiano Ronaldo.... which could also stand for "C")
DeBoldrby- Old Firm, Derby Della Madonnina, Superclasico... take your pick
England- worth mentioning in any football taxonomy...
Fourth Official (could also stand for... gasp... "fifth official!")
Goal.com- my favorite, and only, source for anything soccer
Hugs
I
January (and December actually)- that stupid month that revives rumors you thought were dead... scary times
Kaka'- simply the best there is





L
MLS- (Major League Soccer)-like the pasture for old horses... but for footballers
Nicknames- The Toon Army, La Grande Inter, Seleçao, Rossoneri, or the Blues...
Obsessiveness- nobody could describe it like Nick Hornby in Fever Pitch... just read it
Penalty Kick- free goals... or, at the end of a game, torture
Q
Ronaldinho (could also stand for Robinho, Rivaldo, Reginaldo, or Ronaldo!)
Soccer- what we call football to confuse the rest of the world (could also stand for Shevchenko, who was confused by our use of the word soccer)







Transfer Deadline (that wonderful time when Kaka' rumors cease)
UEFA (or, if I wanted to push it, UEFA cup/ UEFA Champions League)
Van (as in van Bronkhorst, van der Vaart, van der Sar, van Persie, van Basten and van Nistelrooy)
WAGs- (Wives and Girlfriends, normally of the England national team)... Posh, Cheryl, and Colleen
X
Yellow Card






Zenit St. Petersburg (could also stand for Zambrotta, Gianluca)

The greatest NFL game ever

Back in January 1982, my family and the Comfort family were busy driving one Saturday night from Colorado back to Missouri after a ski vacation in Breckenridge, Colorado. As we drove through Kansas that evening, we listened on the radio to what was surely the greatest NFL football game of all time and perhaps the greatest football game of any kind ever played. While I did get to see various highlights of the game, I never was able to see the whole thing, until recently when I purchased a DVD on-line of the entire game. I can now safely say that it was, without a doubt, the greatest ever. Here's just a few reasons why:
1. There were almost too many lead changes or ties in the game to count (I have it at seven), including Miami coming back from being down 24-0 in the first quarter.
2. The hook and lateral play (aka hook and ladder) play at the end of the first half pulled off by Miami's Don Strock, Duriel Harris, and Tony Nathan. If you haven't see this play, you're either fourteen years old, or you've been living in a cave on the far side of a mountain with your eyes closed and your fingers in your ears for the last 26+ years.





Warning: The above video is long and the play doesn't come until about the fourth minute, so be patient. For another take on the play, see below:







3. Between them, QBs Dan Fouts and Don Strock threw the ball for something like 85 times and over 750 yards.


4. San Diego tight end Kellen Winslow set an AFC playoff record for receptions in a single game- 13 caught for 166 yards. He also blocked a potential game-winning kick at the end of regulation, all while suffering from an injured shoulder and serious exhaustion. At the end of the game, he had to be carried off by his teammates.



5. The game featured three missed game-winning field goals, two by Miami's Uwe von Schamann and one by San Diego's Rolf Benirschke.


6. In the first quarter, San Diego's Wes Chandler returned a punt 56 yards for a touchdown. On the ensuing kickoff, Miami failed to field the ball and San Diego recovered the live ball.


7. The announcers were Don Crique and John Brodie, the beer commercials were by Schlitz, Budweiser, Stroh's, Miller, and Colt 45. 7-11's advertising slogan was, "Freedom's Waiting For You," (Freedom from Hassle and Delay, to be specific). The RCA SelectaVision Video Disc player was offered for "less than $500" and America's Driving Machinewas the 1982 Dodge Aries K Wagon, because, "On a night like this, you don't need a car, you need a driving machine."


8. The game also included Don Coryell, Don Shula, Jimmy Cefalo, the Orange Bowl, a wire that was hanging down from the stands that had to be cut down, thus delaying the game at a crucial point, and, one of my childhood favorites, Chuck Muncie.

Match Report: Bordeaux 1 - Chelsea 1 (Champions League Group A)


Chelsea could have guaranteed themselves a spot in the Champions League Round of 16 with a win at Bordeaux yesterday; however, they only managed an ill-deserved tie, so they will have to beat CFR Cluj at home next month in order to advance. Bordeaux played the much stronger game, especially midfielder Yoann Gourcuff (on loan from Milan). Goals were by Nicolas Anelka for Chelsea on a fluky break-away and by Alou Diarra on a header from a corner by Gourcuff which Chelsea didn't bother to defend. Late in the match, Chelsea's Frank Lampard (below) received his second yellow card and was, therefore, kicked out of the match. Of all contemporary football players, Frank Lampard (with his beady eyes, pointy nose, and large ears) is the one who most strongly resembles a rodent.



Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Blues beat Predators


The St. Louis Blues don't usually win in Nashville- going into last night's game, they had won only once in their last twelve tries there. Last night was different, though, former Predators goalie Chris Mason blocked 47 shots through regulation and overtime and shut out Nashville. However, the Blues couldn't score, either, so it came down to the mind-bogglingly stupid penalty shootout format that the NHL currently uses (because, like Donovan McNabb, they don't like ties, apparently). The Blues scored twice, Mason stopped both shots he faced, and the St. Louis was the winner - officially the NHL lists that as a 1-0 victory (I'm not sure why). Let's go, Blues!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

No goals today


(Above- Nicky Butt, #22 for Newcastle, holds off Chelsea's Deco)

Today's results in the English Premier League:
Liverpool 0 - Fulham 0
Chelsea 0 - Newcastle 0
Aston Villa 0 - Manchester United 0
Manchester City 3 - Arsenal 0

So the top five in the Premiership tables scored a grand total of zero goals today. (And, yes, I did spend three-plus hours of my life watching. But, honestly, it was entertaining seeing Newcastle play defense for 90-plus minutes at Stamford Bridge while the petulant Chelsea fans got annoyed with their team. And it was also exciting to watch Man Utd. held without a goal.)

Friday, November 21, 2008

Donovan McNabb didn't know

Last Sunday, after Philadelphia tied the horrific Cincinnati Bengals 13-13, Eagles QB Donovan McNabb admitted he didn't know that regular season NFL games could end in a tie.




But the confusion didn't stop there, because McNabb then went on to get mixed up about the NFL playoff rules:

"In college, there are multiple overtimes, and in high school and Pop Warner. I never knew in the professional ranks it would end that way. I hate to see what would happen in the Super Bowl and the playoffs." (McNabb, quoted by the Associated Press)

I am sure that by now someone has pointed out to McNabb that post-season games are played to their completion, no matter how long it takes.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

What I have been listening to lately #17: This team will not make it to the Super Bowl

This year's Super Bowl - a prediction

This year's Super Bowl will be between the New York Giants and the Indianapolis Colts. The Giants are clearly the best team in the NFC (9-1 at this point), and the Colts have overcome their slow start with recent wins over the Patriots and the Steelers.
The NFL bosses will be very happy with this Super Bowl match-up, since it will mean a media frenzy surrounding the fact that the Manning brothers will be facing each other in the game. In addition, it will be a rematch of the 1958 NFL Championship game which is often said to be the greatest football game ever played and the one that put the NFL on the map.



Friday, November 14, 2008

Famous facts that are not true #1

Many people erroneously believe that Danny White (above), former quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys and current head coach of the Arena Football League's Utah Blaze, is the son of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Byron "Whizzer" White (see below). These people are wrong. Danny White is the son of a different "Whizzer" White, in this case Wilford (sorry, we couldn't find a picture).







Here are some of the major differences between the two men:


Byron "Whizzer" White attended the University of Colorado and then had a short career playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates (football) and Detroit Lions. Wilford "Whizzer" White played at Arizona State University and then briefly for the Chicago Bears. Byron "Whizzer" White later went on to become a Supreme Court Justice. Wilford "Whizzer" White went on to father a child who had the misfortune to have to become Roger Staubach's replacement.



Sparky



Roger Staubach

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament Championship Match


Here are five important things about this afternoon's Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament Championship Match:
1. Iowa beat Ohio State in overtime to win the Big Ten title and gain an automatic invitation to the NCAA tournament.
2. Sometimes field hockey is more entertaining to watch than football.
3. If they made the sticks longer, the players wouldn't have to bend over so much.
4. Ohio State's freshman goalie Ally Tunitis looked just like the abominable snowman (or snowwoman) in her enormous pads, enormous light grey jersey, and white helmet.
5. On the penalty corners, the defending players have to start the play crammed into their own goal before rushing out once the play starts. When Ohio State did this, it looked like four field hockey players running out of the abominable snowman's cave being chased by the abominable snowman.
(Below): The victorious Hawkeyes and others

President Obama knows what's wrong with America

On the evening before the presidential election, Monday Night Football viewers were given one last chance to hear from the candidates. Chris Berman asked each candidate a number of questions, but the most important one was what one thing each would change about sports in the United States. John McCain boldly spoke out against steroid use by athletes; Barack Obama chose to take on a different issue:

Sunday, November 2, 2008

What I have been reading lately #10


Clay Travis, who used to have a blog on Sportsline.com and who now blogs for Deadspin.com, spent each Saturday of the 2006 NCAA football season travelling to all 12 stadiums in the SEC to watch a game. While he was doing this, he wrote a column on Sportsline and then, after he was done, he put it all together in a book. Then I read the book, which I enjoyed.

Milan v. Napoli

Today Milan hosted Napoli. Before the game, the table looked like this:

Udinese 21
Inter 21
Napoli 20
Milan 19

Well, well, well... this game gave me a SEVERE headache. But anyway... the final score: Milan 1 Napoli 0000000000! An OWN GOAL at the end of the game...!!! And Kaka's PK was saved, and Pato missed a header, and Kaka' had a ball hit the inside of the post!!!! And there was a red card (for a Napoli player). And Fabio Cannavaro's brother, Paolo, plays for Napoli....!!! And Ronaldinho had a nasty gash on his leg............. And it was sooooo stressful, but sooooo cool!

I know this isn't a good report of the game... but OMG! forgive me.

Oh yeah, and the table now looks like this:

Milan 22
Udinese 21
Inter 21
Napoli 19
Lazio 19
Juventus 18
Genoa 17
Fiorentina 17

oh and ROMA with SEVEN points, ONE place from a RELEGATION spot....

BUT MILAN IS IN FIRST!
Pleeeeeeaaaasseee let the table look like this at the end of the year....

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Saturday, November 1, 2008

No time for school - there's football on Saturday


We're only a few hours from kickoff for this year's Georgia - Florida NCAA football game, but yesterday students in the Clarke County, Georgia schools got an unexpected day off when the school district cancelled school because so many teachers had called in sick so they could go down to Florida for the big game.

On the other hand, maybe the school cancellation wasn't that unexpected, because it is on the Clarke County School's schedule, and they have also cancelled school Monday and Tuesday, as well, for something called Fall Holiday.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Rodent Alert!!

Another email I received at work:



A Pest Control gentleman is coming to place traps on the north side of the building PLEASE INSTRUCT YOUR STUDENTS NOT TO KICK OR TOUCH THESE BECAUSE OF THE POISON INSIDE TO KILL THE RODENTS!!! THANK YOU.

Note from Andy-- The best part about this is that my school is simultaneously having an underground hornet's nest removed, yet there was no email sent about that. The underground hornet's nest was discovered by four or five kindergarten boys who were poking an interesting hole in the ground with sticks and later had to be treated for stings in the nurse's office.

Friday, October 17, 2008

What I have been reading lately #9




I learned several things from this book - semi-pro football as not actually professional in any sense. The players aren't paid - they're just adult amateurs not affiliated with any university. Also, at least in upstate New York, the semi-pro season takes place during the summer, rather than the fall.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

My Study Abroad Blog... Already!

Well, I might be going on a study abroad next year, and so I have started a blog, just to keep everyone updated with my application process!!!

http://zadriistudyabroad.vox.com/

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Things my Father and Theo Walcott have in Common

Theo Walcott



My dad (Andy)



  • They both failed their driving test the first time
  • They are both national favorites (of different nations), due to their "charm and boyish good looks."
  • They both root for sports teams because it was the team their dad rooted for
  • Their favorite sports teams both wear red and white
  • They have both shouted so loud, they assume they "woke the entire village."
  • They are both more afraid of their boss than their dad

(Note from Andy: For those of you who don't know, both Theo Walcott and I are mid-fielders for Arsenal -- he just gets a lot more playing time than I do.)

Brazil v. Venezuala

This is Kaka's goal in the 6th minute in today's World Cup qualifier. The final score was Brazil 4-0 Veneuzuala.

Kaka' ought to do this more often.

What I've Been Listening to Lately

Random: My Favorite Soccer Players

I have decided to, once and for all, make a list of my top favorite soccer players. I have made an even harder decision, by putting this list IN ORDER. Don't ask me how I made these tough decisions... I don't know myself...

  1. Alexandre Pato- This is an easy one. Maybe the only easy one.
  2. Kaka'- Maybe this one was easy too.
  3. Theo Walcott- the only native English speaker. Unfortunately, I hate his team. (Arsenal)
  4. Bastian Schweinsteiger- love his name!
  5. Andriy Schevchenko- I liked him more before... when he wasn't Pato's competition.
  6. Roman Pavlyuchenko- I like him more when he DIDN'T play for Tottenham!
  7. Paolo Maldini- what's not to like?
  8. Gennaro Gattuso- His eyes are like.... CRAZY!
  9. Iker Casillas- he's just so GOOD!
  10. Fernando Torres- What's not to like? (But this time I know there are things to dislike).
  11. Marco Boriello- I like him A LOT more, now that he plays for Milan (because before I kind of DESPISED him).

That will do for now.

Monday, October 6, 2008

What I have been reading lately #8


Sparky Lyle wrote The Bronx Zoo in 1978, his last year with the New York Yankees. 1978 was not the year Chris Chambliss hit the home run to win the ALCS against the Kansas City Royals and then barely made it around the bases to score. That was 1976. 1978 also was not the year Lyle won the Cy Young Award and Reggie Jackson hit three home runs on three straight pitches in Game 6 of the World Series against the LA Dodgers. That was 1977. 1978 was the year that the Yankees came back late in the season to catch the collapsing Boston Red Sox and then beat them in a one game playoff. I remember that game well: I was in 5th grade and my History teacher, Mr. Philbrick (who was from Maine), let us listen to the game in class. I heard Bucky Dent's home run in the car on the way home (or maybe it was Reggie Jackson's less-well-remembered HR that I heard), and I saw Yaz pop out to Nettles to end the game at home on the tiny black-and-white television set in the kitchen. It's amazing how times have changed - back then I was devastated by the Red Sox loss but turned around and rooted for the Yankees to beat the squeaky-clean Dodgers in the World Series. Now I can't stand either the Red Sox or the Yankees.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Best day of the baseball season

This year it took longer than most, but, once again, the Chicago Cubs will not be winning the World Series. Let's all give thanks to those Los Angeles Dodgers! (I never thought I'd be rooting for Joe Torre again.)





The last time the Cubs won the World Series, there were no favorite television shows, because the television had not yet been invented, and the President was Theodore Roosevelt. In the election that fall, Republican William Howard Taft defeated the Democrat William Jennings Bryan.


27th President of the United States,
William Howard Taft

Saturday, September 27, 2008

What in the world is this thing?

I missed it, but my daughter saw it going into half-time of the Arsenal - Hull City game today.

Oh yeah, and Hull came back to beat Arsenal 2-1. Meanwhile, after the game, Arsenal skipper Arsene Wenger was so upset that he referred to Hull as "West Brom".

Hull City's Daniel Cousin celebrates his go-ahead goal
"Hockey ought to be sternly forbidden, as it is not only annoying but dangerous." Halifax Morning Sun, quoted in Michael McKinley's Hockey - A People's History