At the end of Tuesday’s session as Real Madrid began preparations for the Champions League final, a group of players gathered at one end of Valdebebas training ground and took turns rattling off shots, cheering the best and laughing at the worst. Standing in their way, also rotating, were three goalkeepers but Thibaut Courtois was not among them and maybe it was better that way. This is the man Carlo Ancelotti told to ease off in training for the good of the team, joking: “I say to him: ‘You have to give our forwards more confidence because you always save every shot they take.’”
After Real Madrid’s first Champions League match this season, Courtois said: “It’s good for them to see that it’s not easy to score against me.”…
Never go back. Don’t do it. Never, ever, ever go back. On the other hand, well, you could just go back. Particularly when the business of going away is panning out quite as badly as this. Here’s a good new way to mark the chill passing of time as the lights come on at four and the rain drills against your window.
It is now two and half years since Jadon Sancho moved to Manchester United. United have had three managers in that time. Sancho has earned £40m. And yet he still barely seems to have pulled on the shirt, or got past his moody online announcement clip. This timeline has simply stalled. Wait. Can we restart this thing?
Ratcliffe plans to stand by Ten Hag as he starts Manchester United deep diveRead more
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Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi anchors the 2024 MLS All-Star team announced Monday. The 30-man roster will represent MLS against the best of Mexico's Liga MX on July 24 in Columbus, Ohio. The roster includes 12 players voted on by the fans, media and players, plus 16 players chosen by All-Star coach Wilfried Nancy of the Columbus Crew, and two players selected by MLS Commissioner Don Garber. Messi, 37, entered the league's record books earlier this season by reaching 25 goal contributions (12 goals, 13 assists) in just 12 games. Joining Messi are three Miami teammates: defender Jordi Alba, midfielder Sergio Busquets and striker Luis Suarez. The complete MLS All-Star roster (alphabetical order by position): Forwards: Cristian Arango (Real Salt Lake), Christian Benteke (D…
This is the first of Nike’s eight-year, $1 billion apparel deal with the NBA. Which massive corporation is responsible for making the league’s jerseys is usually of very little concern to anyone, but Nike has caught everyone’s attention in a bad way by making jerseys that won’t stop ripping. Through the first few weeks of the season, several NBA players have had their jerseys not just torn but completely ripped apart during game action. Look at these crap-ass jerseys: Today, Nike finally got around to addressing the fact that their new jerseys seem to be about as durable as wet paper, telling ESPN that they have plans to fix things: “They are lighter and deliver great mobility and sweat wicking characteristics, and the feedback from players has been overwhelmingly positive.…
Some people are fans of the Houston Texans. But many, many more people are NOT fans of the Houston Texans. This 2019 Deadspin NFL team preview is for those in the latter group. Read all the previews so far here. Your team: Houston Texans. Your 2018 record: 11-5. AFC South champions. This came after an 0-3 start in which the Texans blew a game against the eventual Super Bowl champs because their head coach was too stupid to call a timeout to encourage an official review of a phony Gronk catch, and then too pigheaded to accept blame for his mistake afterward. The Texans also lost a game to Blaine Gabbert during that stretch. Amazing how Blaine Gabbert keeps lingering on the periphery of seemingly every team’s history. Somehow he’ll start nine games for Houston this season. The T…
It doesn’t get any easier for a defense than third and 33. Play as conservative as possible, keep everyone in front of you, and there’s no way the offense should be able to gain all they need. Apparently, that was too much to ask for the 1-6 New York Giants as they faced Los Angeles today. The Rams were looking at a first-down marker that couldn’t even fit on the TV camera. And yet, a screen pass from Jared Goff turned L.A. wideout Robert Woods into a hot knife, and the Giants’ defense just melted. …
There may be a regional foodstuff somewhere in America that's worse than "Cincinnati chili." But we've yet to find it. More than a few Ohioans took umbrage with our take on their "abominable garbage-gravy." But what's important to keep in mind is that these are people who actually enjoy eating the stuff. They're monsters. Do you think "Horrifying Diarrhea Sludge" is worthy of the immortality that is the Deadspin Hall of Fame? Vote below. Just do it by 11:59 p.m. (EST), and remember to bear in mind that 75 percent in the "Yes" category is what's needed for induction. Other nominees: Vodka Samm Rocket Frog Drunk Papa John Manti Te'o's dead girlfriend Buttfumble "Go fuck yourself" …
Some people are fans of the Buffalo Bills. But many, many more people are NOT fans of the Buffalo Bills. This 2012 Deadspin NFL team preview is for those in the latter group. Screengrab from the movie Buffalo '66. Read the other Why Your Team Sucks 2012 previews here. 1. Buddy Nix's Olde Tyme Football Country Store. Pity the Bills. They're like Green Bay, only with none of the success or the charm. They play in one of the shittiest stadiums in the NFL, located on top of a fucking glacier in the middle of No Man's Land. If you're from Buffalo, you're essentially from nowhere. You talk like a Midwesterner ("Hi, I'm fraaam Baaaffalow"), and yet you're located in the Northeast. You take pride in the Goo Goo Dolls, which no reasonable person …
Got an image you'd like to see in here first thing in the morning? Send it to [email protected]. Subject: Morning crap. I'm not sure what team's jersey this is but does it really matter? This man worships only one hero, and unlike his son's idol, Paul Kariya, it comes in a very tall can. And now below please witness one of my favorite photos of the past year, which I think serves as the perfect metaphor for the dawning of 2009. Our problems may seem insurmountable, our challenges daunting. But it's our cockeyed optimism that makes us great. Damn it, we're gonna try. Easy on the 40-ouncers and the red witches tonight, people. Seacrest out. Respecting Alcohol Through Personalized Hockey Jerseys [Joe Sports Fan] …