The Soccer Thread (Version 10)

I watched yesterday's Dortmund-Schalke match. It was weird, especially goal celebrations. As much as I tried to give myself stakes by saying I was rooting for Schalke, it just wasn't that simple. Didn't help that Dortmund ran them off the field, either. I think I'll deal with the no-fan thing a little better when Watford is involved since I'm already so invested in that club.

 

It is so weird being able to hear everything players and coaches are shouting but it is cool to see live soccer again.

Although NBCSN just replayed the 2012 Premier League final day and that was exciting.

 

Good line on a soccer podcast — the Bayern match did have one spectator, Manuel Neuer.

 

In fairness, where else were you going to get a bunch of life-like mannequins to fill the stadium?

South Korean football team apologizes for filling stands with 'sex dolls' - CNN

 

Union brought a better effort than Bremen.

 

Fox needed to bring in Raftery for an “Union. Double order!!”

 

Prem back June 17.

 

Once they beat Dortmund, it was a formality, but the Bundesliga is 15 minutes from being clinched for Bayern.

 

Praise be to Tebow, the Premiere league is back this morning. I enjoyed watching Bundesliga, but the commentators on Fox kind of suck.

 

How did the EPL figure out the cash? Maybe they can give the NBA and MLB some pointers.

 

Their TV money as a percentage of overall revenue is very high given the rights fees in different countries. They needed to come back to keep all of that cash. Plus there is no huge travel required and no playoffs (much less the 2 month long NBA schedule). And no one player is as important to their team as a Lebron or Giannis, so a positive test or two won’t massively turn the competitive balance.