Observations from the Weekend

1. During one of the Saturday morning games on Setanta (can’t recall which one), toward the end of the game the commentator awarded the FullTiltPoker.COM man of the match.  Given Danieldinho’s other endeavors, I figured he might know something about this.  To my understanding, that’s taboo in the USA, but Setanta lost (nearly) all of their contracts for BPL games except in the USA.  Was it an error in broadcasting the Irish feed, or have the rules become lax, or does no one care about a tiny rugby channel in the 600′s on satellite?  And who actually gets in trouble?

2. Obviously, I’m thrilled with the Derby result, all the more because of the (very) late stab in the back of Craig Bellamy.  And though I acknowledge that the clock said 95:28 when justice was served Owen scored, well beyond the advertised 4 minutes, I have always heard/read/known that the officials add one minute per goal scored and 30 seconds per substitute during the stoppage time.  While I’m certain that this is not a published rule or policy, it’s been around for a while to eliminate guesswork and make things somewhat uniform.  If this is in fact the case, why the crying?  And more to the point, well done SAF for inserting Carrick just to buy 30 more seconds.  Wily, old man.

3. I wouldn’t allow Ben Foster to guard a cup of warm piss.  Take away his two howlers, and we’re not counting into the 6th minute of stoppage.  Utd would be better to hang a wallbanger of Peter Schmeichel from the crossbar.