Happy birthdays to Ambrosini and Bonera

Above: Massimo Ambrosini (May 29)

Below: Daniele Bonera (May 31)

Great moments in World Cup history #8

World Cup 2006: Maxi Rodriguez scores for Argentina against Mexico in extra time.

Great moments in World Cup history #7

Here are four different views of the same goal-- Fabio Grosso's against Germany deep into extra time of the 2006 semifinals. All four are worth watching. This is basically the goal that convinced me to root for Italy in the final against France.

English version

American Version

Italian version

Official FIFA movie version

Great moments in World Cup history #6

Portugal defeated England on penalties in the quarterfinals of the 2006 World Cup.

A random, but interesting, red card

It seems like the Portuguese often get involved in things like this.

The NBA finals are set-- it's Lakers vs. Celtics

Here are a few random images and videos from the Lakers-Suns series. (Above-- Ron Artest sinks the game winning shot in Game 5)

Above and below: Fellow Slovenians Goran Dragic (#2) and Sasha Vujacic (#18) right before and after Dragic was fouled. (See video below)

Also: Dragic scores on a nice lay-up earlier in the series--

Below: Kobe Bryant right after making a crucial shot at the end of Game 6.

And, finally, Big Baby Davis of the Boston Celtics gets knocked out by Dwight Howard

What I have been listening to lately #56

Nas & Damien Marley--As We Enter

I watched an entire season of soccer for this?

Inter Milan won this year's Coppa Italia (goal by Milito). They won the Scudetto on the final day (goal by Milito). Then they won the Champions League final (2-0, goals by Milito-- when I wrote that Milito was a player to watch out for, I didn't mean latter that same day). The only remaining question was how quickly Jose Mourinho would announce that he is leaving Inter Milan. The only bright spot for AC Milan fans is that Inter's win means that that Serie A will still have four Champions League slots instead of three (at least for the next couple of years). I am not sure why anyone would want to watch the highlights, but here they are.

Let the transfer (and other) rumors begin

The following items are from goal.com/en-india:

Saturday 22 May 2010

• 1:55 PM
  Transfer Zone Milan Target Massimiliano Allegri In Talks With Silvio Berlusconi - Report

Friday 21 May 2010

• 3:10 PM
  Transfer Zone Milan Are Not For Sale - Fininvest
• 2:30 PM
  Transfer Zone Ronaldinho Is Staying At Milan - Agent
• 1:45 PM
  Transfer Zone Former Italy Coach Roberto Donadoni Refutes Milan Link
• 1:41 PM
  Transfer Zone Klaas-Jan Huntelaar Keen To Stay At Milan - Agent
• 1:38 PM
  Transfer Zone Alexandre Pato Pledges Future To Milan
• 7:31 AM
  Serie A AC Milan’s Massimo Ambrosini: I Am Sad To See Leonardo Go

Thursday 20 May 2010

• 11:31 PM
  Serie A Silvio Berlusconi: I Won’t Just Sell AC Milan To Anybody
• 9:56 PM
  Serie A Calciopoli Watch: Former Milan Man Leonardo Meani Questions 2006 Phone Tap Investigations
• 8:46 PM
  Serie A I Dream Of Playing For Milan - Velez Sarsfield Defender Nicolas Otamendi
• 3:55 PM
  Calcio Debate Calcio Debate: Who Will Be Milan's Next Coach?
• 3:32 PM
  Transfer Zone Roma Consider AC Milan's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar As Flamengo's Adriano Remains An Option
• 2:58 AM
  Transfer Zone Luciano Moggi Insists Barcelona Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic Would Be 'Ideal' For AC Milan

Wednesday 19 May 2010

• 4:47 PM
  Transfer Zone Former Italy Coach Roberto Donadoni In Milan Link - Report
• 2:45 PM
  Transfer Zone Report: Filippo Inzaghi New Milan Deal Imminent
• 12:58 PM
  Transfer Zone AC Milan Set To Launch Half-Price Bid For Manchester City Forward Robinho - Report
• 12:54 PM
  Transfer Zone Silvio Berlusconi Promises ‘Big Signing’ At Milan And Drops Filippo Galli Hint

Tuesday 18 May 2010

• 10:50 PM
  Serie A Silvio Berlusconi Will Not Sell AC Milan - Adriano Galliani
• 5:25 PM
  Transfer Zone EXCLUSIVE: Almeria Goalkeeper Diego Alves Pleased By Juventus & Milan Interest
• 4:30 PM
  Transfer Zone Silvio Berlusconi: I May Sell Milan
• 3:58 PM
  Transfer Zone Ronaldinho Offered A Two-Year Extension With Milan - Agent
• 2:38 PM
  Serie A Goal.com Special: Serie A Worst Team Of The Season 2009-10
• 12:53 PM
  Serie A Silvio Berlusconi Slams ‘Ungrateful’ AC Milan Fans

Monday 17 May 2010

• 8:44 PM
  Transfer Zone Adriano Galliani: Ronaldinho Is Staying At Milan
• 7:52 PM
  Transfer Zone Milan Have Not Made An Approach For Empoli Striker Eder
• 3:23 PM
  Transfer Zone Filippo Galli Ready To Take Milan Job
• 2:47 PM
  Transfer Zone Ronaldinho: I Don't Know If I Will Stay At Milan
• 2:40 PM
  Editorials Scudetto Spotlight: How Inter Won The 2009/10 Scudetto
• 1:10 PM
  Transfer Zone AC Milan Deny Sale Rumours

Sunday 16 May 2010

• 4:15 PM
  Serie A I Hope Inter Lose The Scudetto & Champions League - Milan’s Luca Antonini
• 3:53 PM
  Serie A Milan Are The Most Successful Team In The World – Adriano Galliani Tells ‘Ungrateful’ Fans
• 8:00 AM
  Transfer Zone With Jose Mourinho Likely To Leave For Real Madrid In The Summer Inter Milan Will Join The Race For Liverpool Boss Rafael Benitez - Report
• 4:45 AM
  Serie A AC Milan’s Ronaldinho: I Want My Friend Leonardo To Be Happy
• 4:12 AM
  Serie A Coach Leonardo Thanks Milan For A Wonderful 13 Years
• 2:13 AM
  Serie A Milan 3-0 Juventus: Ronaldinho Brace Demolishes The Bianconeri

Saturday 15 May 2010

• 2:00 PM
  Transfer Zone Milan Consider Italy Coach Marcello Lippi As Leonardo Replacement - Report
• 1:06 PM
  Transfer Zone Juventus Striker David Trezeguet Unlikely To Join Milan - Agent

Friday 14 May 2010

• 7:00 PM
  Transfer Zone Leonardo Confirms He Will Leave Milan - OFFICIAL
• 4:53 PM
  Transfer Zone Milan Sponsors Like Idea Of Roma Coach Claudio Ranieri At San Siro
• 3:24 PM
  Transfer Zone Fedele Confalonieri Confident That Silvio Berlusconi Will Get The Best Man For Milan Job
• 2:46 PM
  Transfer Zone David Trezeguet To Milan, Klaas - Jan Huntelaar To Juventus - Report
• 2:19 PM
  Transfer Zone Adriano Galliani Drops Filippo Galli Hint For Milan Job
• 2:12 PM
  Serie A Pick Your Milan Team To Play Juventus
• 2:10 PM
  Serie A Pick Your Juventus Team To Play Milan
• 2:00 PM
  Serie A Serie A Preview: Milan - Juventus
• 1:00 AM
  Serie A Marco Borriello Focused On AC Milan And Italy – Agent

Thursday 13 May 2010

• 8:47 PM
  Serie A David Beckham Visits Milan Team In Training - Report
• 8:26 PM
  Transfer Zone Amantino Mancini's Agent Doesn't Know If His Client Will Stay At Milan Or Join Inter
• 2:50 PM
  Serie A Juventus Striker Vincenzo Iaquinta Warms Up For Milan Clash

Wednesday 12 May 2010

• 9:11 PM
  Serie A Alberto Zaccheroni: Milan - Juventus Not As Important As Previous Seasons
• 6:10 PM
  Transfer Zone Milan Defender Luca Antonini Will Not Head To The Premier League - Agent

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Champions League history: The 1994 Final

The match was played in Athens on May 18, 1994. Milan beat Barcelona 4-0.

My new favorite Japanese soccer team

I think the reasons should be obvious.

World Cup Preview: Players to watch out for

Above: Diego Milito (Argentina/Inter Milan)

Above: Wesley Sneijder (Holland/Inter Milan)

Above: Antonio Di Natale (Italy/Udinese)

Above: Nadir Belhadj (Algeria/Portsmouth)

A series of official announcements from AC Milan

A.C. MILAN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

5/21/2010

MILAN - A.C. Milan announces that the footballer Filippo Inzaghi has extended his contract until June 30, 2011.

INZAGHI: "The rapport with Milan is special"

5/21/2010

MILAN - Pippo Inzaghi commented to Milan Channel about his contract renewal with Milan: "I'm happy, because my intent was that of ending the career with this shirt. In these days I thought that trying to beat Gerd Muller's record with another shirt would not be fair. The rapport with Milan is special, I'm happy because once again the club proved all of its affect for what I did, I'm doin and will continue to do. I'm happy to be well and I have important objectives."

INZAGHI: "I'm after Muller, Van Basten and Baggio..."

5/21/2010

MILAN - Pippo Inzaghi again: "I'm happy of being fine and of being able to still give my contriution. Everyone knows that I have precise objectives to reach. First of all that of being useful for Milan, helping the team to win and then beating two records. That of Gerd Muller in the European cups (69 goals against 68, Inzaghi is one goal away from the German), which has lasted for 35 years, to which I really want to beat, and that of Marco Van Basten... I'm three goals away from him in the Rossoneri's shirt, reaching it or equalling it would be fantastic also because everyone knows what he did and who he is. I'm after Van Basten for the goals with Milan and Baggio for the career goals (Baggio has a total of 318 goals). Going together for the 10th consecutive year is a nice satisfaction. Everyone remembers the wins we have obtained together, I have already received a lot from this club and I have great motivations."

FA Cup aftermath: Michael Ballack will miss the World Cup

Above: Michael Ballack lies injured on the ground and Kevin-Prince Boateng receives a yellow card.

Germany's Michael Ballack will miss this summer's World Cup due to an injury he received playing for Chelsea in last weekend's FA Cup. The injury came on a reckless tackle by Portsmouth's Kevin-Prince Boateng. Boateng, who was born in Germany, will be playing for Ghana in this year's tournament. Ghana and Germany will meet each other on June 23. Boateng will now be remembered for more than just missing a penalty that could have given Portsmouth the lead.

AC Milan extends Oguchi Onyewu's contract

OGUCHI ONYEWU: A WORTHY GESTURE

5/17/2010

MILAN - USA international Oguchi Onyewu, who is coming off a season of rehabilitation following a long injury which has forced him to stay off the pitch for the whole season, but is now ready to face the World Cup with his national team, made a very significant gesture from a human and professional point of view today. Assisted by his lawyer, Jean Louis Dupont, Onyewu asked for, and received, a one-year contract extension from Milan, from 30 June 2012 to 30 June 2013. During this extra year, Oguchi Onyewu, by his choice, much appreciated by the Rossoneri club, has asked not to receive any kind of salary. This is an exemplary gesture which deserves sincere congratulations.

My third favorite Milan goal of the season

Clarence Seedorf's winner against Chievo Verona. This goal pulled Milan to within one point of first place and represents the high water mark for the season.

A favorite Champions League moment from 2009-2010

From the group stage-- 10/20/09 Barcelona 1 - Rubin Kazan 2

Here's a different view-

AC Milan 2009-2010 Season Statistical Highlights

Here are the statistical leaders for AC Milan during the 2009-2010 Serie A season:

Most games played: Ronaldinho (36)

Most games started: Ronaldinho (34)

Most minutes played: Andrea Pirlo (2952)

Most minutes played without scoring a goal (goalies excluded): Andrea Pirlo (2952)*

Most goals scored: Marco Borriello (14)

Most yellow cards: Massimo Ambrosini & Mathieu Flamini (10)

Most red cards: Massimo Ambrosini & Mathieu Flamini (2)

Fewest minutes played (of players who appeared at all): Rodney Strasser (7)

*Pirlo's amazing goal against Real Madrid came in the Champions League.

Below: Gennaro Gattuso received eight yellow cards this season. Here is a picture of the last one.

Still my favorite goal of the year

Andrea Pirlo scores to make it 1-1 against Real Madrid in the Champions League

To see my second favorite goal of the year (Inzaghi's game winner in Milan's 2-1 victory over Olympique de Marseille), click here.

Serie A update: Massimo Moratti celebrates his birthday

Italian oil tycoon Massimo Moratti (pictured above) celebrated his 65th birthday today by traveling to Siena to watch the team he owns (Inter Milan) play against 19th place AC Siena. Inter needed either a win or a Roma tie/loss in order to win their fifth straight Serie A title. At one point in the second half, however, Roma were winning and Inter were still stuck in a goalless draw.

Luckily for Mr. Moratti, Diego Milito finally scored for Inter (see photo below) and Inter went on to win 1-0.

Below: Zanetti and Milito (right) celebrate the game's only goal

Above: Inter celebrate

Below: Inter coach Jose Mourinho waves his commemorative t-shirt. Up next for Inter-- the Champions League final against Bayern Munich

Some people might say, "Happy birthday, Massimo Moratti!" Those sorts of people might also enjoy watching the highlights below. Others wouldn't.

Match report: Milan 3 - Juventus 0

• Goals scored: Antonini 14', Ronaldinho 29', 67'
• What happened: Antonini scored the first goal of his AC Milan career. Ronaldinho scored two goals. The Juventus fans set off numerous explosions and sang derogatory songs and had to be warned over the public address system that play would be halted if they did not stop.
• Aggregate score of the two Milan-Juventus matches this season: 6-0 (Milan)
• Reasons why fans of both teams were unhappy: Juventus finished in seventh place and had a truly terrible season (for them). Milan did about as well as can be expected and finished in third. Milan fans are upset that the team has not spent more money to bring in top quality players in recent years and also that first year coach Leonardo (pictured above congratulating Antonini on his goal and pictured below being bid farewell by his team) is being forced out by Silvio Berlusconi. The fans repeatedly sang songs in honor of Leonardo until he acknowledged them with a wave.

Below: Milan fans with an enormous set of banners. The internet translates the bottom one as "President failed AWOL".

• Milan personnel who officially said goodbye at today's match: Leonardo and Favalli
• Milan personnel who may have played their last match for the team today: Dida, Inzaghi, Ronaldinho, and about a dozen others
• What this match teaches us: Milan's Serie A 2009-2010 season is over. This means that my daughter will soon be home from her (almost) year in Brazil.

Below are highlights:

Below you can watch the Milan players and staff force Leonardo to come out on the pitch for one last goodbye: