Conference 7.286::sports_91

    There's quite a pissing contest going on over in BALZAC::FOOTBALL,
    between ManU and Liverpool supporters. I s'pose it's better than on the
    terraces. I dont know too much about the Red Devils, but they probably
    should go through to the next round of the CWC, since Montpellier is
    pretty far down in the French League. 
    
    Now EVERTON are the *real* team worth supporting.... :-)
    
    Tom

�    Now EVERTON are the *real* team worth supporting.... :-)
    
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA(tm)!!!!

HeeHeeHeeHeeHeeheeHeeHeeHeeHee!


Haw Haw Haw....



Go 'Reds!

;^)

    Go ahed, laugh all you want, Chainsaw, but we'll see who's laughing
    next week! Liverpool got lucky last week when the ref didn't call a
    flagrant butchering trip by McMahon in the box, and escaped with a 0-0
    draw. Last night it was cracker of a game, apparently. It was a see-saw
    battle,back and forth, with the 'pool going up 3-2 at the 87th minute.
    Many of the "loyal reds" left at this point, figuring on beating the
    traffic. Everton tied it in th e89th minute. In Extra time, Barnes
    scored for the reds, but Cottee scored the tying goal at the 116th
    minute. Thr replay is next Wednesday at Goodison Park. It will be the 
    4th game between the two sides in this past month (1 league game, 3
    FA Cup ties). Merseyside derbies are ALWAYS good games. Remember the
    '89 FA Cup final?
    
    Tom

The 89 FA Cup final was one of the BEST games I've ever seen.

And we did see it live here too!


We've had lousy coverage of the English league this season, and
response is poor to the football file....Are the Reds still atop
the table?

'Saw

    Yeah, I think they are a point up on Arsenal, with ManU, Spurs and 
    Crystal Palace in the chase.
    
Tom

    COGITO::HILL
    
    Also Leeds Utd are in the hunt though hopefully out of the Rumbelows
    cup on sunday.
    
    I can see it being a 1-1 draw..
    
    Lets hope UTD can at least manage a draw against Strachans army
    
    
    
    
    Any one else..... Are the major cup games shown in the US
    
    This summer I was disgraced at the limited coverage of the world cup, I
    had to resort to calling my parents from the US just to find out the
    scores. In the end I first saw the World cup this November.
    
    Was it shown on the cable network.....?
    
    

    sorry me again.
    any comments about the likely success of Uniteds new winger Lee
    Sharpe????
    
    I think he's good but slightly over rated. though has the potential..

All I can tell you is that English League coverage here is limited
to that hour long highlights show that I used to catch on SUPER
channel.

They show it on Sports Channel of America, various times.  It's usually
about a week to two weeks behind real time.


As for Cup games, ESPN carried the FA Cup final in 1989, Liverpool
against Everton.  I've not seen one since.

'Saw

    I agree that TV coverage of Italia 90 was disgraceful. A Spanish
    language cable channel, Univision/SIN showed all the games, and the TNT
    cable channel showed some, but no free TV network picked up any of the
    games. Naturally, money was involved, but the pure short-sightedness of
    it allwas what really got me. (BTW Univision attracted a sizeable
    audience of fans who don't speak Spanish. It helps to know a few words
    but one was universal: "GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLL!!" )
    
    This would have been an excellent chance to promote the game here. The 
    USA team was competing for the first time in God only knows how long. 
    Even though they weren't the most attractive games, these should have 
    been of free TV. Since the US team has a long way to go, they could
    have promoted the great opposition. Show WHY Brazil is regarded as the
    most entertaining team, or show the differences in styles of play
    between different countries. They also could have done a lot with 
    highlight clips, showcasing some of the "players to watch" like Gullit, 
    Gazza, Careca, Maradonna, Klinsmann, Francescoli, etc. This could have 
    been the hook to interest the casual border-line fan, who is necessary 
    to make soccer work in this country. Hard core fans would watch no matter 
    what, so they even could do brief explanations of rules, like offside. 
    
    No, since TNT paid good money for the exclusive English language
    rights, they could do it their way. FIFA (or USSF) had no choice but to
    accept this, since no network experessed any interest in televising the
    games. To make matters worse, the same scenario is looming for the 1994
    Cup. All the world's TV will get the feeds from whatever US network
    that broadcasts the games, so to ensure good quality production, it's
    really important that a network step up and take the responsibility. 
    
    Hell, they piss enough money away with all those horribly stupid
    sit-coms that are in their "entertainment" division, so who cares if
    they dont get huge ratings for WC '94.
    
    Tom 
    

    I'm glad that people across the "pond" are showing a large interest in
    my favourite sport
    As I mentioned, I was there (U.S.), this summer, and was so pleased to
    see just how enthusiastic the kids, all under 16 were to play soccer,
    they all seemed to know who the worlds best players are, and  were
    generally keen to see progress.
    
    I hope that the world cup is not a flop, I think that they will need to
    start the hype in the very near future, to generate a high level of
    enthusiasm, and interest
    
    Wish them the best of luck from me...

    re:- a few back
    
    Lee Sharpe is fast left side winger. He has been involved in most of
    Utd's build ups, and is not scared to take on the opposition.
    He has won two awards this year apart from the ECWC medal, Young Eagle
    of the Year and the PFA's Young Player of the Year. I can see him
    establishing very well with Utd over the next few years, just hope he
    doesn't 'burn out'.
    Only thing against him, but not him personally, but against the team,
    is that they seem to rely to much on him. They are always pushing it
    out to the left for him to chase, and a few teams have figured this
    out.
    
    Should be interesting next season.
    
    Working about a mile from Old Trafford has its advantages.
    
    regards
    Mac