On the Eve of the new Season...

[godsshoeshine]

wrong thread, but i thought there was a good chance they wouldnt even make it to the sweet 16

[walkonby]

wrong thread, but i thought there was a good chance they wouldnt even make it to the sweet 16

yes i know about the thread . . . i was waiting for van to yell.  and now kansas falls.  i will cry now.

[godsshoeshine]

smackie, you are slipping:
http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2009/03/fox-soccer-channel-beats-out-espn-for-rights-to-uefa-champions-league-starting-next-season.html
didnt see that one coming

[vansmack]

Sorry, today is a state holiday in CA so I took a few days off for a long weekend.  I've been talking to my brother in law about this for two days now.

This is horrible for the game, no doubt about it.  A lot of people who don't follow soccer still watch a champions league game or two, but no casual fan will get FSC (if it's even offered) simply for the champions league.  Given it's limited availability, not yet HD ready, and the horrible announcers, this is just awful.

I did hear a few things, all rumors though:  The final will be on FX in HD if FSC is not HD by ther final, and the FSN's will also broadcast Champions League games giving more available matches on at the same time.

Granted, this doesn't affect me, as DirecTV gives me a ton of FSNs, but, let's just start a list of major metropolitan areas that do not currently have FSN's: San Francisco (Comcast Sports Net), Boston (NESN), New York (YES/SNY), Chicago (CSN), Philapelphia (CSN), Baltimore/Washington DC (MASN), San Diego (Cox Sports).  And that's just off the top of my head.  If you have a shitty cable co you're fucked. 

I didn't even mention how I'm no longer able to watch the CL games at work on ESPN360 (presumably).  This just sucks all around.

[vansmack]

wrong thread, but i thought there was a good chance they wouldnt even make it to the sweet 16

I picked Nova over Duke.  It was a no brainer.

[godsshoeshine]

i had it too. i actually had nova in the final four with unc. other side killed me though

fsn plays nice with the comcast sports net, though. i think we get best damn sport show and that crap on csn dc

[vansmack]

fsn plays nice with the comcast sports net, though. i think we get best damn sport show and that crap on csn dc

They play nice for filler programming, but do you get any EPL games on CSN?  I know they play them on FSNs.

[godsshoeshine]

thats a good question, i am not sure. i swear i've seen them listed, but like you i dont really pay attention with setanta and fsc

[godsshoeshine]

according to this: http://areyouwatchingthis.com/tv/programs/SH005212620000-English-Premier-League-Soccer/14276944
it looks like msg and some of the csn's carry the prem matches

[walkonby]

UNC BABY!!!!! . . . . . .

[brennser]

shearer in at newcastle

[godsshoeshine]

as i told smackie last night at least if we go down it wont be boring

[brennser]

Ireland 1 - Italy 1

would have taken this is a heartbeat prior to game but considering Italy had 10 men for 88 minutes can't help but wonder if we couldn;t have pulled off a shocker here

[vansmack]

shearer in at newcastle

I was convinced this was an April Fools joke.

[godsshoeshine]

its not. worried its too late though