This is not the sort of morning that I'd relish watching a soccer game ... but two of my intrepid housemates (applesrisp in hand) will be heading to Lewiston momentarily to watch the Bobcats tangle with the Panthers. Would be so nice if Bates could defeat Middlebury ... and while it's probably in the unlikely category, what I love about sports is that "it could happen.

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At least, that's what Wendy Parker would have you believe. Besides her article on Pitch Invasion, she's slagged me off on her twitter account, soccer news aggregator site, and even her Atlanta Soccer News site. The basic premise is the same, but it seems Wendy got increasingly worked up as she plotted, wrote, and then basked in the afterglow of the article that was largely written in response to me. Click to continue reading...

Did I call it or what? ;>)

Sky Blue FC played with passion all through that first half last night (we're talking WPS playoff soccer, in case you were wondering) and beat the Athletica to move into the Final on the strength of defender Keeley Dowling's goal off an assist from Yael Averbuch.

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No actually, I have not been off-line because I am in mourning for the Breakers although I AM quite bummed that they didn't make the play-offs (AND that their season ended with a terrible bit of officiating).

What happened was that we lost our internet this morning. Turns out it was a modem problem and Fairpoint was actually helpful in getting it resolved.

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Damn it's chilly (again) this morning. Bracing. We've got a nice big stack of big old birch logs to start sawing up and splitting, compliments of ChristopherCornblog (and yours truly who stripped and trucked the last load up the hill). And man am I sore now! It felt good but the lesson is that you can't sit at a computer for 6 years and then chop and saw and lift and carry .

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I've been reading what I can find about the coaching mess at Sky Blue FC ... and finding little of actual substance on the subject. Overall, the management does itself no favors by dissing Kelly Lindsey in their public comments. They come off looking very small, indeed. Yet, at the same time, her behavior (abruptly quitting her job with only a couple of games left in the season) is puzzling and awfully dramatic and abrupt.

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Okay -- so we've gone from monsoon season to beautiful, crisp, fall weather in the span of a week or so. I hate to be a whiner, but let's just say that I'm still hoping for a smidgeon of summer before Fantasy Football season gets underway! And no -- I really am not complaining. Today ChristopherCornblog is going to be taking down some ice-storm-damaged trees .

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With Sky Blue FC rolling over FC Gold Pride on Wednesday, the playoff picture for the Breakers has come into clearer focus. (By Saturday night it will be crystal clear.)

One thing that's sure is they need to beat the Sol. Aside from that, here's how it plays out (thanks to this illuminating post from Ryan Wood):

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Here are the Breakers' playoff scenerios ... and some preview info and factoids.

The Breakers have allowed fewer shots on goal than any other team at 4.58 per game...Boston has now been outscored in the 1st half by a margin of 13-6...Amy Rodriguez has seen only 15 minutes of action over the Breakers' last four matches.

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The Sol didn't have to win Sunday, having already wrapped up the WPS regular season title, but the best way to prepare for the Aug. 22 title game at Home Depot Center is probably not succumbing to a 3-1 defeat in Chicago that now means LA hasn't won in their last three games.

The Sol has one more chance for a victory at their final regular season game in Boston Sunday against the Breakers.

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What's up with Sky Blue FC, anyway? The sudden resignation of Kelly Lindsey as coach ... along with her assistant ... just seems weird on the face of it. Weird and mean-spirited, as the players are still in the running for a play-off spot, with two games remaining in the regular season.

Lindsey, who took over with the team in last place, guided Sky Blue to a 5-3-3 record and into playoff contention.

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As Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation approaches crunch time, some GOPers are lining up in opposition. In an op ed in USA Today Jeff Sessions has written "I don't believe that Judge Sotomayor has the deep-rooted convictions necessary to resist the siren call of judicial activism." Say what? My only comment would be to echo Senator Sessions in explaining why I wouldn't vote for him or others of his ilk .

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With the Los Angeles Sol already in the Women's Professional Soccer League final as regular season champions, two teams are no longer in contention. Chicago Red Stats and FC Gold Pride are officially eliminated from the playoff race after the weekend results. Sky Blue FC 0 - Boston 0 The Breakers finally got a point off of Sky Blue after losing their three previous meetings. Click to continue reading...

... but it's a grey, rainy morning here in NH. Cool, too. So much for mowing the grass today!

At least the weather was decent for last night's Breakers' game. I didn't go, but it looks like the B's worked hard and pressured Sky Blue (especially in the first half) ... but couldn't put the ball in the net.

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In case you haven't seen this yet on You Tube, this almost made me want to get married ... ;>)

And thanks, Alison, for the quote -- and Boltgirl and Alice, for sharing your opinions. (Lack of Phillies' love is noting new in my little world ... but, as any Cubs fan knows very well, too, we carry on in spite of any/everything!

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Is it better to post nothing when I'm in a rush or something, even if brief?

Is it better to mention that the Phillies are back on track and Palin's popularity is dropping as she exits? Or should I just be silent?

Is it good to ask Mo what's up with the Rays' falling prey to a perfect game?

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So it's a big day here in Canterbury as Willie turns 10 and continues to have pretty good energy and quality of life on his daily dose of steroids. We are so glad you're still here with us, Willie!

And it was a big day in Rochester yesterday, as Abby scored her 100th goal in front of a nice, big hometown crowd.

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Finally. All the talk, all the blather, all the hype - that's over and done with. At last, at long long last, we can talk about on-field action again.
Weird day in WPS yesterday. Just when I thought teams were starting to gel, something like this happens. The joy of parity - fifth place New Jersey strolls into Cambridge, punches the Breakers in the snoot, then botch a 3-1 lead at home. Click to continue reading...

The Breakers won last night scoring in the first half and hanging on for the 1-0 victory over the Red Stars (and sole possession of third place). The goal was a beautiful one-touch effort by Angela Hucles after a perfect feed from Lil. The win is significant for any number of reasons not the least of which is that it was accomplished without the services of Kelly Smith and Alex Scott.

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With four playoff slots and less than four weeks left in the regular season, teams are starting to feel the pressure. In Boston, Sky Blue got the away win to push them into a tie with the Breakers in third. A big win for Chicago puts them fourth, but fifth in the playoff hunt. Sky Blue FC 2 - Boston 1 Home field wasn't enough for Boston on Sunday, who ended up ruining Jenni Branam's. Click to continue reading...

... witten wiff apologies to Baba Wawa ...

So I've not got a lot of time this morning, but wanted to share some soccer bits ... like an article about the trials, triumphs and tribulatiopns of the WPS from the NY Times.

Selling Americans on professional soccer has been tough.

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Yes, the sunis actually out and mot a cloud to be seen. HOORAY!

And yes, the Breakers lost 1-0 to FC Sky Blue yesterday on the strength of a Heather O'Reilly corner kick that bent into the Breakers' net in the 6th minute. Sounds like there were other good chances for both teams, but that early score held through the end of the match.

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Who'd a thunk? I woke up at about 4:30 this morning to the sound of teeming rain -- and wondered how our young plants are keeping themselves from sliding down the hill. Really. As the light returns, I see that everything looks pretty much intact out there -- albeit waterlogged.

Not so intact are the egos of the Red Sox this morning, I'm thinking, as they blew a 10-1 lead and lost to the Orioles.

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Christine Latham got the Breakers' game-winner in the 38th minute and Freedom goalkeeper Erin McLeod kept it 1-0 against a strong Amy Rodriguez attempt in the 52nd. Washington was unable to get a goal of their own with Allison Lipsher picking up the shutout for Boston. "We played very poorly in the first half and gave Boston too many chances," Freedom coach Jim Gabarra said. Click to continue reading...

Yesterday was the 37th anniversary of Title IX ... 37 years. I like that the milestone coincides with the 10th anniversary of the 1999 Women's World Cup. Alice (thanks!) sent me a link to "License to Thrive" a documentary chronicling the passage and impact of Title IX. We're hoping it'll come to Red River .

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Catching up on the news of the week, and feeling kinda naive (or something). Why the hell is Tom Daschle stepping into the Health Care debate, getting all mushy and placating about the publilc option, and offering up a plan of his own? Wasn't he kinda kicked out of the game? Is he mad at Obama .

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ChristopherCornblog is heading to the lake today, for what looks like it could be a rainy visit there with HollyCornblog and CharlieHopbrew. I do hope it's relaxing and fun, nonetheless and maybe the sun will peek through a few times. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

I'm back at work for day two and still catching up with e-mails and such.

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Yup the clouds are rolling in this Thursday morning and it looks like we're in for a string of rainy days (again). I'm grateful for the sun we had and looking forward to more as we head toward the Summer Solstice!

On the socer front, the Breakers and FC Gold Pride played to a 1-1 draw in Cambridge .

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Getting back on track after a great weekend ... and I must admit that sleeping in was a big temptation this grey Monday. But the day beckons and time stands still for no one. Yup.

So I see the Phillies avoided a sweep losig two but coming back onSunday and chasing my absolute least favorite of the Red Sox .

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So, the news of the world, in no particular order, includes the fact that the Phillies lost to the Red Sox in 13 innings, on the strength of a single by Jacoby Ellsbury. (BJ and Paula R are happy!) Two more games to go folks.

We've got another round of WPS previews, as well as a nice profile of the Breakers' break out defensive star, Sue Weber.

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 Los Angeles Sol vs. Saint Louis Athletica

The Los Angeles Sol defeated the Saint Louis Athletica 2-0 on a chilly and cloudy Saturday afternoon at The Home Depot Center.

With the victory, the Sol improves its record to 6-1-2 and remains atop the WPS standings, while the Athletica drops to 2-3-2Â and is tied for fifth position in the seven-team circuit.

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Thanks for your comment on yesterday's post, Alice. I haven't checked out the video Bill Moyers aired - Torturing Democracy - yet, but plan to. Meanwhile, for a never ending stream of despicable and delusional Dickishess there is always the Dick Cheney page on the Huffington Post. I glance at it occasionally in the hope that something bad will have happened to him.

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Read Naomi Wolf's thorough and absolutely horrific article about the sexual perversity perpetrated by the Bushies in Iraq and elsewhere. I do not understand why Obama is rationalizing and temporizing about releasing the photos and really going after these sadomasochistic pricks.

The activities of these dudes so speaks to the fruits of the kind of self-righteousness and repression that is so often the hallmark of Bible thumping fundamentalism.

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OK, so where was I?Oh yeah, I was at Breakers Media Day, getting acquainted with the players and coaches, saying hello to some of my peers, and eating free food. It's a perk. That, and the free media guides, which are supposedly quite the collector's item after only thirty seven years or something, which reminds me, is about the same amount of time that's passed since I've last posted. Click to continue reading...

Well, there is big news on the WPS front with the firing of Ian Sawyers as the FC sky blue coach. Should be interesting to watch Sunday's game as FC sky blue versus the Breakers is the match being televised on Fox soccer Channel at 6 PM.

I think I remember that Mr. Sawyers has had a reputation as a hothead.

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