Category — MGINTA

ThroughBall.com antagonist/Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho and Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo are having a cute little tiff in the Portuguese press.

Mourinho, per the norm, is bitching about not getting calls and Ronaldo, who should probably just keep his mouth shut until United wins the treble (despite the Antichrist), said that Jose “doesn’t know how to admit his own failures.”

Future U.S. National Team coach and the pride of Mozambique, Carlos Queiroz, even chimes in on this one, saying, “Mourinho has his own style, he always tries to divert everyone’s attention to the points which are convenient for him.” Well said, Carlos; good luck with the Nats.

Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo are like Rosie O’Donnell and Donald Trump, only talented.

The reigning back-to-back most valuable player in the NBA, Steve Nash, is a footie fool. Last August, Nash made headlines when he worked out with the New York Red Bulls and, in the past couple weeks, two stories about Nash caught my eye:

1) Nash, a South-African born Canadian, whose father was born in Tottenham (repeat that without looking), is interested in purchasing a stake in Tottenham Hotspur, saying, “If someone were to come in to buy Spurs, I would like to be involved.”

2) The fantastic DCenters relayed an exchange between the incredulous Tony Kornheiser and Nash (I call Tony incredulous not because he was necessarily incredulous about soccer but because he is always incredulous; that’s his shtick) on ESPN’s Pardon The Interruption. Kornheiser asked Nash if he “seriously” thought Beckham would have an effect on soccer in the U.S.

Nash responded, “You guys will be dying to have him on PTI…But I really think this sport is on its way in this country regardless. I think the talent is growing, I think they’ve always had the grassroots, and the professional league is building soccer-only stadiums…Obviously, I’m a fan and a bit biased, but I think it’s really on its way.”

When Nash retires, U.S. Soccer would do well to take him on as a domestic goodwill ambassador; he’s got a great combination of a love for the game, a likable manner and cross-sport appeal.

“…should be plenty to allow Ferguson to flesh out his squad enough to challenge on all fronts.”

This report states that Manchester United (and Tampa Bay Buccaneers) owner, Malcom Glazer, is looking to buy the L.A. Galaxy in a bid to affiliate to two organizations.

According to the report, Beckham is key to the deal that would “ensure the success of the move and allow him to take his soccer career in a new direction. Beckham’s lucrative playing contract with Real Madrid expires at the end of this year.”

Remember what I said when Randy Lerner made a bid to buy Aston Villa:

It might not seem like it on the surface, but this is great for American soccer. Lerner is the second American billionaire to show this kind of interest in soccer. It is only a matter of time before these investors realize that there is a fertile market in the U.S. just waiting to be exploited.

Glazer is a shrewd businessman and if this report is true, he’s looking to make my prophecy a reality. The star power of David Beckham and—to a lesser and mostly undeserved extent—Landon Donovan, could be a potent combination that has the potential to propel the game in this country.

The latest rumblings about the sale of Aston Villa have the owner of the Cleveland Browns, Randy Lerner, taking over the Premiership side.

It might not seem like it on the surface, but this is great for American soccer. Lerner is the second American billionaire to show this kind of interest in soccer. It is only a matter of time before these investors realize that there is a fertile market in the U.S. just waiting to be exploited.

It will be interesting to see how Villa fans react. Will it be a calm, measured response or will this be Malcom Glazer redux?

This post serves as the first in a new category, appropriately named “Malcolm Glazer is not the Antichrist,” or MGINTA, for short. I have decided to officially carry mantle of Glazer-support amid the still-raging storms of Glazer-hate.

If you are not aware, Malcolm Glazer is an American who took control of Manchester United. This move was met with vitriol and extremism so full of digusting, reactionary hatred and bigotry that my decision to jump into the fray is not one I take lightly.

In support of my new cause, allow me to submit Sir Bobby Charlton’s opinion that “everyone said the club was going to be in turmoil, but it hasn’t been the case as they (the Glazers) have just got on with their business, and they have not been a hindrance at all.”

Sir Manchester United Bobby Charlton, you may know, is one of the greatest, most beloved players Manchester—England, for that matter—has ever seen. It’s hard to believe that he would have anything but the best interest of the club or country in mind.