European thoughts

The draws are out and now its prediction time for Europe's two biggest club tournaments.

The Big Ears Cup: The Champions League: all ties are played over two legs

• Celtic v Barcelona: Barca 3-1
  
• Lyon v Manchester United: United 2-1
  
• Schalke 04 v FC Porto: Porto 2-2 advance on away goals
• Liverpool v Internazionale: Liverpool 1-0
• AS Roma v Real Madrid: Roma 2-1
• Arsenal v AC Milan: Arsenal 1-0
• Olympiakos v Chelsea: Chelsea 3-0
• Fenerbahçe v Sevilla: Sevilla 2-0
  

Now for the second chance cup: The UEFA Cup: all ties are played over two legs.

• Aberdeen v Bayern Munich: Munich 4-0
• AEK Athens v Getafe: Getafe 1-0
• Bolton v Atletico Madrid: Atletico 4-0
• Zenit St Petersberg v Villarreal: Zenit St. Petersberg 1-0
• Galatasaray v Bayer Leverkusen: Galatasaray 2-0
• Anderlecht v Bordeaux: Bordeaux 2-1
• SK Brann v Everton: Everton 4-0
• FC Zurich v Hamburg: Hamburg 4-0
• Rangers v Panathinaikos: Rangers 2-0
• PSV Eindhoven v Helsingborgs: PSV 2-0
• Slavia Prague v Tottenham: Spurs 4-0
• Rosenborg v Fiorentina: Fiorentna 3-0
• Sporting v Basle: Sporting 2-2 on away goals
• Werder Bremen v Braga: Werder Bremen 3-0
• Benfica v Nurnberg: Benfica 1-0
• Marseille v Spartak Moscow: Marseille 2-1

Anyone have any thoughts?

Please shut up Harry!!!!!

Who died and elected Harry Redknapp leader of English managers. Ever since the FA named the Italian with the black glasses as leader of the national team, Harry has not shut up.

"It is a great time to take the team over because we can't go any lower. We have reached our all-time low - the only way is up," Redknapp sounded off to Sky Sports about the hiring of Fabio Capello.

We all know you wanted the job Harry, but this just in you are not good enough to get it. Just go back to a couple of years ago, we all can remember watching Harry on the touchline at St. Marys as his team Southampton was regulated. Add to that, Harry being arrested as part of bungs scandal in November.

So do you think that the FA wants to hire someone that has been relegated from the Premiership and is connected to a bung scandal, I think not.

The Future is going to be ok

So this Hurricane's season did not go as plan, no bowl game and a disastrous loss in the final game at the Orange Bowl, but the off season has been better then the actual season was. A couple of days ago, the top ranked high school linebacker Arthur Brown committed to the U. Brown is one of the specials players that can change be a program maker.

Arthur's commitment to the U could have an impact on future recruiting. With Arthur on board, it gives the Canes the inside shot at his brother, junior running back Bryce Brown. For months recruiting people have said that the Brown bothers would be a package deal. Now with Arthur headed to the U, there is even talk that Bryce Brown might be head to South Florida to play is final season of scholastic football.

With signing day two months way, the U currently have the fifth ranked class in all of the land. With the Brown on board and the Northwestern High School boys (above) on their way, its only a manner of time before The U is back up there at the top.

Is this Sunday really Grand Slam Sunday?

Last week, the Premier League had what Sky called "Grand Slam Sunday," but all over Europe this Sunday is really "Grand Slam Sunday."

Just one look at the schedule from leagues all over Europe and you will see why it should be called "Grand Slam Sunday."

• Spain: The Clasico: Real Madrid v Barcelona, 1 p.m. on Gol TV.
• Italy: Milan Derby: AC Milan v Inter Milan, 9 a.m. on FSC
• EPL: Manchester United v Everton, 7 a.m. on FSC and Chelski v Blackburn, 11 a.m. on FSC.

In many ways this Sunday's game will feature better action then last Sunday games and that includes the EPL. For some reason I think the United v Everton and Chelski v Blackburn will be better games then the two that were held last Sunday.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

While college football fans continue to debate which of the 30 some bowl games will produced the best match up. There is little debate in which bowls have the best looking logos and which have the worst.

The worst:

Papajohns.com Bowl: nothing says quality bowl game like a pizza web site.

The Gator Bowl: The logo has nothing to do with Gator, but it has a lot to do with cameras.

Pioneer Pure Vision Las Vegas Bowl: It looks like something that the Ultimate Warrior used to have painted on his face.

Emerald Bowl: Is it me or does it look like the football is crushing the Golden Gate Bridge .

The Best:

The Rose Bowl: I might not always agree with their team choices but their logos is simply the best.

Orange Bowl: While the location of the game has changed, the logo is still simple, classic, and who does not like a smiling orange with a crown.

Holiday Bowl: This bowl is always a good game and the logo might be one of the reasons why.

A death walk of Coaches

In one rotation of the coaching carousel the SEC has again turned into a death march.

Just look at the SEC West:

• Alabama: Nick Saban
• Arkansas: Bob Petrino
• Ole Miss: Houston Nutt
• Mississippi State: Sylvester Croom
• LSU: Les Miles
• Auburn: Tommy Tuberville

That is just one division, look at the SEC East:

• Florida: Urban Meyer
• Georgia: Mark Richt
• South Carolina: Steven Spurrier
• Kentucky: Rich Brooks
• Tennesssee: Phillip Fulmer
• Vanderbilt: Bobby Johnson

When you look at the list of coaches on paper, it might just blow your mind.

The Eastern Division has three different coaches that have won National Championships, while the west has one coach with one and another playing for one this year. The stats continue, all of these coaches have been to bowl games, expect Bobby Johnson of Vandy, who many think might be one of the best overall coaches in the country.

So when people talk about the strength of a conference just look at the people strolling the sidelines and no conference does it like the SEC.

Thoughts on Super Sunday

Today might be one of the best days of the soccer season, it started early in the morning with Club World Cup final between AC Milan and Boca Juniors and ends with the EPL's Grand Slam games. Here are some of my thoughts on the day that was.

FIFA Club World Cup Final:

Milan 4, Boca Juniors 2:

• Has Clarence Seedorf found the fountain of youth, cause during the final of the World Club Cup, besides Kaka he was the best player on the field.
• Can someone please tell officials at FSC to fire Christopher Sullivan he drives me crazy all of the time.
• How much better would the final have been if Juan Roman Riquelme was on the field for Boca.

Grand Slam Sunday in the EPL (Manchester United v. Liverpool and Chelsea v. Arsenal)

Manchester United 1, Liverpool 0

• This comes as a shock to all but Rafa is using the same lineup against United that he used in the midweek, I guess the Carling Cup means nothing to him anymore.
• According to the BBC, Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks and his family have been out on the pitch at Anfield having a photo taken for their Christmas card this year. I have no idea if this is joke or not.
• With not having Setanta, I listened to the Liverpool v United game on the radio, through a betting Web site, I think that I need some help.
• At least the British announcers make it interesting.
• After dropping three more points, six dropped in their last two league games, Rafa can now get back to Champions League soccer. And still Liverpool have not won a league title since the outlaw of the back pass.
• Rafa days are numbered now.

Arsenal 1, Chelski 0

• The history of last years Carling Cup Final is remembered, tackles flying in all over the place.
• John Terry is become the Donovan McNabb of the English Premier League, after leaving the game with another injury.
• I guess the title race is a two team race right now.
• I'm sure the FA is going to look into the incident at the end with Cesc and Ashley Cole and the both teams might be a little trouble for a combined 10 yellow cards.