Rejoice and Be Merry, International Break is O-vah!

Yes, I have no fucks to give about this year’s Flacco Eight.  What a wretched, boring, vanilla-ass torneo.  But the big leagues in Europe and Sudamerica are back, by God.  So let us enjoy some proper Lesser Footy.

Perhaps you wish to sleep in.  The Premiership has you covered, starting with an eminently skippable Man City thrashing of doomed Fulham (8:30, NBCSN).  Sorry, Litre.  May Mighty Whitey yo-yo right back up.

The 11:00 window (damned disparate Daylight Saving Times) beings you a fairly interesting United v. Moose Hornets tilt (NBCSN), and a “why was this deemed fit for broadcast” Soton v. Brighton fixture (CNBC).  Ah, the time of the season when NBC Sports starts a funereal watch on the sides fighting for survival.  The comfortably mid-table folks (HAI there, Everton!) are deemed likely on coast.  At 30 and 33 points respectively, Saints v. Albion could be a “classic 6-pointer.”

I’d still prefer 7th position Wolves against 17th place Burnley, in a “poison chalice” battle.  Burnley drank from the 7th place Europa goblet this season, and they couldn’t handle it.  Come 2019-2020, it could be Wolves’ turn in the barrel.  Should they hold off Watford, anyway.  Only 1 point separates 7th and 8th, but Wolves are rolling.  This is on NBC Gold, along with Foxes/Cherries, and Palace hosting Huddersfield.  I like Huddersfield for a possible “dead cat bounce” upset, as one can get over 8-to-1 moneyline.

Spotlight dance (1:30) is only NBCSN this week, where Hippo will record Everton visiting Fronk’s Hammers.  Parenting duty sadly calls.  Plus, I am expecting to be pissed off by this one.  Loser can almost forget about a top half finish. Given how both sides’ seasons have gone?  Expect a draw.

Sunday Funday doubleheader is where it’s at, though.  Chelsea take on Cardiff (9:00, NBCSN) in another sleeper match.  Sarri’s misfits have been awful away from there home base (in Fulham, naturally).  Cardiff may be in the last relegation slot on 28 points – but they very much have a chance to claw to safety.  But they have to win their home fixures – even against Top 6 opposition.

Finally, Tottenham meet Liverpool’s asswipes (11:30, NBCSN), with a real chance to give Man City some breathing space in the title chase.  Yes, I will be praying hard here.  Just a draw would do, really.  And with just 4 points separating 3rd from 6th position – Spurs have to chase every point they can.  This promises to be an absolute cracker of a match.

Elsewhere on the continent, our Young Boys host St. Gallen (10:00, Sunday).  You line up Young Boys in front of a Saint?  Sparks.  Will.  FLY.  Hippo’s beloved Swedish Allsvekan and Superettan kick off, promising sweet #HAILGAMBLOR action.  When in doubt, flip to a Bundesliga match.  Borussia Dortmund v. Wolfsburg (10:30 Sat, somewhere in the FS-verse) looks particularly promising.

Down South, Tigres/Murrika (9:00p Sat) and Monterrey/Cruz Azul (11:00p) make for a great late night doubleheader.  Presume both will be on Univision.

ENJOY!!

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King Hippo
Reclusive, vulgar Broncos fan. Also a proud fookin' Evertonian. Likely dropped on my head repeatedly as a small child. [Insert George Carlin quote followed by thoughtful nod.]
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Fronkenshteen

[door flies open]

HAI GUYS! My errands are done and I’m ready to cook, get drunk, and watch some basket hoops blowing dope smoke out my goddamn ears!
Say! Who wants to hear a good prison joke? Stop me if you’ve heard it. Ok. *shoots cuffs* There’s a guy doing double life in state penitentiary, and he beats off like a goddamn chimPANzee wasted on speed-covered jelly doughnuts—
/is hit with just a fucking WAVE of rocks, produce, and beer cans
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Horatio Cornblower

I am fucking crying over here.

Mostly because all of my rocks missed.

yeah right

Following the same agenda over here.

I’m cooking a cast iron seared New York strip steak with pan sauce and a baked potato later but right now it’s beer and baseball.

Horatio Cornblower

I don’t really mind when the Yankees lose the odd game every now and again, but could they do a little better than 12-7 (2018 head-to-head record) against that AAA team Baltimore is running out there this season?

Senor Weaselo

That’s a bold strategy, Boonie.

yeah right

Hey everybody! I just found Brick Meathook at my local Ralphs grocery store.

You NEVER see somebody you know in public in LA.

We were in the produce section. Buying produce!

SonOfSpam

Were you both caressing the cucumbers? Or did you do that after you left the store?

scotchnaut

Probably met at the eggplant section. smgdh…

Wakezilla

It was a good harvest for carrots, eh?

yeah right

Actually I did buy onions, carrots and celery and if you can figure out why then you know what will be featured on Sunday Gravy in two weeks.

/ all out of eggplant recipes

Brick Meathook

And it was in the super-deluxe El Segundo Ralphs, not the lousy old Westchester Ralphs.

theeWeeBabySeamus

So, Orioles won today and are .500

WHO WANT TO BUY SOME TICKETS DAMMIT???????

Horatio Cornblower

THE ORIOLES WIN THE PENNANT!! THE ORIOLES WIN THE PENNANT!!!

theeWeeBabySeamus

Orioles are 1-1.
Can we go straight to the playoffs now?

SonOfSpam

Wild card game against the 1-1 Angels?

litre_cola

Right where you want em.

theeWeeBabySeamus

Wanna know what’s fun? When your brother, who is serving double life for murder, sends you a letter asking you to subscribe for him to “prisonlivingmagazine.com”.
The subscription apparently includes “Free Photos of girls or men”.
smgdh.

Yeah, that’s fun. Also ain’t gonna happen.

theeWeeBabySeamus

I did call the company publishing this piece of shit magazine, and asked if the photos of girls or men were pornographic in nature, and if the girls or guys even knew their photos were being distributed to incarcerated inmates.

I don’t expect a return call. But I’ll keep calling. Trust me.

ballsofsteelandfury

You love to pick pointless fights, don’t you?

theeWeeBabySeamus

Hey, it’s my goddamned money. You telling me I should subscribe to this for my jailbird murdering brother? Really??????

I am taking care of his kids. I’m buying one a house as we speak. I’m paying rent for the other two.

I get letters from his prison butt buddies regularly asking me to forward them to him after they’ve been transferred. My mother cries about this stuff daily.

And I’m supposed to buy a subscription for this piece of shit publication so he can jerk off?

I’m only venting to you guys because I trust you. And you might want to back the fuck off now.

SonOfSpam

I think Balls was referring to picking a fight with the magazine site. I doubt anyone thinks you actually should get this subscription. But I WOULD like you to buy me a house, and I promise not to ask for mail-forwarding service.

theeWeeBabySeamus

I didn’t pick a fight. I left a message asking if the photos were pornographic in nature and if the individuals in the aforementioned photos even knew they were being distributed to incarcerated individuals?

I was respectful in my asking.

I’m getting sick of being called out when I know damned well I handled the situation properly. Especially when I get called out by persons who should know me and know me well enough to know I can handle this shit.

Balls, you know me better than that.

SonOfSpam

Fair enough…at the risk of continuing to stick my ass where it doesn’t belong, I read his comment more as “Hey man, your time is too valuable to spend butting your head against the wall with these shithole subscription people” as opposed to “You’re stupid for trying to do this” but again, I’m kind of an optimist and just want peace and love and well-lubed sex amongst my imaginary web friends.

ballsofsteelandfury

Exactly!

theeWeeBabySeamus

You asked what does it gain me? I’m not trying to gain for me….we passed that point a long time ago. But if they are distributing pornographic photos, to incarcerated people, photos of peopel who may not know they are being distributed in that way….

Yeah, I’m gonna take up that fight.
Sorry for having a conscience.

scotchnaut

Angry Baby is Angry.

ballsofsteelandfury

That’s not the fight i’m referring to. I’m saying, yeah don’t get the subscription, but why take the extra step to call the publisher?

What does that gain you?

theeWeeBabySeamus

Balls, you’re my brother. I’ll always love you.
But you’ve been very hard on me (phrasing) lately.
I understand why. And I do appreciate the effort.

But please, do not presume to know what I’ve been going through without actually talking to me any further.

And yes, I’m going to stand up to people who objectify other people. That’s just how it is.

Horatio Cornblower

Get him a subscription to The Economist and tell him you must have misunderstood his request.

SonOfSpam

So stupid. The photos that come with the subscription aren’t even that great.

Wakezilla

Tell him to call his right hand Palmela Handersson and his left hand, Jim Palmer if he needs some self loving.

scotchnaut

Just started distributing some micro beers. Ransack The Universe’s West Coast IPA is one tasty monkey, btw…

Senor Weaselo

tWBS mentioned the moneyline was at -400, so naturally O’s lead 3-1.

theeWeeBabySeamus

Woo Hoo!!!!
(no I didn’t bet…I don’t bet hockey or baseball)

Senor Weaselo

“You can’t predict baseball, Suzyn” counter +1

SonOfSpam

So I have ESPN on in the background, where Baylor just beat someone in the women’s tournament. The announcers were recapping the apparently dominant victory, and one said to the other, “I just think they’ve never seen a combination like Brown and Cox.”

Had to pull up the box score to make sure I heard that right. Yep.

scotchnaut

This is a thing I found that I like-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFD1nky4QTI

scotchnaut

Speaking of snuff films, I just watched “Zoo”. Well, that’s over and done with. [washes hands, washes hands again, washes hands again, washes hands again, washes hands again]

SonOfSpam

I need more info. Is this a show or a movie? Is there nudity? Or at least hot bestiality action?

scotchnaut

As far as the game of Clue is concerned, Kenneth Pinyan’s death was committed by Mr. Horse, with his dong, in the the stable.

SonOfSpam

Oh. OH. That. Guh.

Fronkenshteen

West Ham playing like pigshit. I wouldn’t want to be a shop window in East London tonight.

Horatio Cornblower

We’re in the 3rd inning.

The Orioles have pulled their starting pitcher.

Fronkenshteen

Why? It’s 0-0. Injury?

Horatio Cornblower

I learned after that they’re doing that thing Tampa Bay started last year, where the “opener” throws a couple of innings and then they go to the bullpen.

Second O’s pitcher has been decent. Got screwed by some bad calls by the ump, who is not having a good day behind the plate.

Fronkenshteen

An MLB umpire with a flawed strike zone? You surprise me.

SonOfSpam

Without context, the Banner Quote kinda makes me seem creepy.

Horatio Cornblower

Yep. It’s definitely the banner quote being out of context doing that.

SonOfSpam

Whew, thanks. Just wanted to ensure there was no other reason.

Also, the top dresser drawer in your bedroom is sticking a little.

Horatio Cornblower

Oh thanks, I’ve been meaning to fi…wait a minute.

litre_cola

At least he cleaned up from the last time he was in your closet.

Wakezilla

“seem”

BrettFavresColonoscopy

I don’t wish to sleep in, I did sleep in. Just woke up and that slumber was glorious.

Wakezilla

Mia Khalifa’s team is already down 1-0 in the first few minutes. But that’s not a big deal as she’s used to a premature start and coming from behind.

Fronkenshteen

Ffs West Ham…

Horatio Cornblower

Saw this chart on Twitter. Accurate?

-UNC hates Duke
-Duke hates UNC
-NC State hates UNC
-UNC thinks NC State is beneath them (but ends up focusing more time trashing NC State… thus proving rivalry)
-NC State and Duke dislike each other but agree on hatred for UNC

theeWeeBabySeamus

Yep, pretty spot on.

Horatio Cornblower

Speaking of snuff films, Yankees-Orioles is about to start.

Wakezilla

I find Burnley to be such an amusing club because they seem to get all the right bounces and calls since January. And their consistently inconsistent play is just wild. Are they going to get dominated like they did against New Castle or Liverpool, or are they going to pimp slap their opponentsaround like they did against Hot Sperms or today against Cubserhampton?

Wakezilla

United never was–or even deserving to– keep the clean sheet today.

yeah right

Christ Cherries you could have at least fucking shown up.

Horatio Cornblower

“Christ Cherries you could have at least fucking shown up.”

Polynesian Shaman, disappointed that no virgins have come to help him stop the volcano from erupting.

Fronkenshteen

Come on moosebees. Smash this fucking thing home.

Wakezilla

Zidane with insane tampering comments about Pogba yesterday. Well, fuck that frog.

The only reason Madrid and Barcelona are so successful in continental Europe is because they have a weak as shit domestic league where they only have to try for like 4 games.

ballsofsteelandfury

Actually, I’d make the opposite argument. PSG has the weakest league, yet they’re already out.

In my opinion, you want a Goldilocks League. Not too tough, yet not too easy either. La Liga is Just Right!

Wakezilla

La Liga isn’t the weakest, but it’s still diluted. Barce or Madrid can play their B squad and still mop the floor with most of the teams, which gives them an advantage because they can monitor resting their stars for big matches.

PSG is definitely in the weakest league.

I’d argue that currently, the Bundesliga is the Goldilocks league. Even the bad teams can give you some fits if you aren’t careful.

ballsofsteelandfury

I’d say that, top to bottom, the Bundesliga is the most competitive league.

There are only six teams that are good in the Premier League and the gap is too big between the good and the bad. Compare that to La Liga, where there are three good teams, but the gap is not as wide. I’d disagree with your B-team assessment. Maybe against Huesca…

Put it this way: a mid-table side in La Liga will beat a mid-table side in the Premier League any day of the week.

Wakezilla

Rashford actually scored and it was a beautiful?! Did he finally take the concrete out of his boots?

That was the first good thing the Devil’s have done all match

litre_cola

I like the majority of United players, I like their manager. Their supporters however (excl Wakey) are fucking smug assholes. I enjoy watching the team play but hate the joy it gives those mugs.

Wakezilla

Yeah, United fans are annoying.

Rikki-Tikki-Deadly

That’s My Raiders! have brought in a washed up movie star to help shore up ratings!

Wakezilla

Good ol’ Canadian boy.

Col. Duke LaCross

Ferrari a full second clear of everyone else and the only cars in the 1:28’s in Q1! Can’t wait to see how they screw this up!

scotchnaut

Off to my “walk, jog, walk, pant heavily, jog, walk, stagger, jog, walk to finish” routine. Hopefully, no bears see me struggle.

theeWeeBabySeamus

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Rikki-Tikki-Deadly

[walks to liquor store and holds it up for $50 and a 375mL of Old Crow]

[jogs away until he realizes nobody is chasing him]

[walks to red light district]

[hires hooker and pants heavily as he does his thing]

[can’t finish so tries to jog away without paying]

[doesn’t think hooker is chasing him so resumes walking]

[is hit in the back of the head by a bottle that the hooker has thrown at him and staggers away, thinking that he’s just encountered the hooker equivalent of Josh Allen]

[jogs a little more to avoid any additional throws]

[resumes walking and finishes for some reason I guess he’s into walking]

– scotchnaut

ballsofsteelandfury

I’m assuming “doing his thing” is killing the hooker like a hobo since you’re referring to them as hookers and not call girls.

litre_cola

When did you move to Kings Cross in Sydney?

/a lot of bears you see.

scotchnaut

Bookie Book Time:

The Roman Empire and the Silk Routes-almost too dense with history. “Transoxiana”?, “King Phraates the IV”?, “Apsaros”?-who are these people/places? Hard to keep track. Interesting though

Death by Tea-just, just…Fuck you!, goodreads.com. Never going to that site ever again.

Smaller and Smaller Circles-if you want to get in on the bottom floor of the Filipino police procedural genre then this is for you. This is a first novel that doesn’t read like one at all.

scotchnaut

What era is in your wheelhouse?

yeah right

I’ve mentioned reading Ron Rash the past few weeks, One Foot in Eden was excellent by the way.
Continuing the Southern Noir with Larry Brown who was a former firefighter in Oxford Mississippi. His essay “On Fire” is a great insight into the life but now I’m reading his works of fiction. “Dirty Work” has thus far been amazing.
“Joe” is up next.

Horatio Cornblower

I’m reading ‘The Butchering Art” by Lindsay Fitzharris, about Joseph Lister cleaning up Victorian-era surgery by doing things like not recycling gangrenous bandages.

Someone just vivisected a dog and the description was graphic enough for me to want to grab a hammer, travel back in time, and do some damage to the time-line.

scotchnaut

The Man City win was the equivalent of a big brother telling a younger one,
“Stop hitting yourself. Stop hitting yourself. Stop hitting yourself.”

/”Mom!”

Beerguyrob

So, a Manning family dinner?

Horatio Cornblower

/Turns on Premier League
//Sees they’re showing Man City vs. Fulham
///Googles “is it illegal to watch snuff films?”

litre_cola

Because I cannot handle the anger right now, I am watching coloUrs and trucks with Decilitre. More entertaining than Fulhams shitshow.

litre_cola

I am wearing my Puebla jersey in protest. Thanks Balls!

litre_cola

When you are up to early for footy you curse your spawn.

theeWeeBabySeamus

/never spawned
//still cursing because taking care of others’ spawn

litre_cola

And again

theeWeeBabySeamus

The Orioles and Yankees play later today. The ML on the game is Yanks -404 at the moment.
For those of you who don’t follow betting lines in baseball, it is rare for the ML on the favorite to even get to -200.
In other words….
The Orioles suck bad. Really bad.

theeWeeBabySeamus

I dunno why, but I still love the Kruger/Everton banner pic.
It’s like he’s looking around thinking….

WHAT DA FUQ DAD??????