Phil Woosnam, the man who set the foundation for David Beckham and others in the United States, died last week at 80. Born in Wales in 1932, he had a teaching career before turning professional at 26, playing for Manchester City. He later went on to play for West Ham United and Aston Villa, among other clubs, ending his playing career with the Atlanta Chiefs. He served as head coach of the U.S. National Men’s Team in 1968 and then, from 1969 to 1983, as commissioner of the North American Soccer League. During Woosnam’s tenure with the NASL, soccer greats such as Pelé, Bobby Moore, Johan Cruyff, and Franz Beckenbauer came to play in the U.S. He was also instrumental in helping the U.S. win the bid for the 1994 World Cup.

From ESPN:

Leading statistician and best-selling author Nate Silver will join ESPN later this year, bringing his unique brand of creativity, journalism and statistical analysis through his award winning website, FiveThirtyEight.com. The site’s new incarnation will allow Silver to return to his sports roots while expanding his approach to numerous disciplines, including economics, culture, science and technology, and other topics. FiveThirtyEight will also continue to provide data-driven coverage of politics, including forecasts of the 2014 and 2016 elections. The site will extend ESPN’s leadership in using data and analytics in its cross-platform storytelling.

Silver will serve as the editor-in-chief of the site and will build a team of journalists, editors, analysts and contributors in the coming months. Much like Grantland, which ESPN launched in 2011, the site will retain an independent brand sensibility and editorial point-of-view, while interfacing with other websites in the ESPN and Disney families. The site will return to its original URL, www.FiveThirtyEight.com.

The full press release here. 

Via The Telegraph: WWE embarrassed as wrestling match outcomes leaked online

What’s more embarrassing is that some Americans didn’t know this already. 

During English soccer club Arsenal’s tour in Vietnam, one fan ran alongside the team bus and also hitched a ride on a moped for five miles, for which the super-fan was rewarded by being welcomed onto the team bus where he posed for pictures with the team and the manager. If there’s a Fan of the Year Award, it should go to him.

Golden Beach is known in Florida for its really, really rich residents and speed traps. Now people in Golden Beach can get a ticket from a really, really rich cop: Shaquille O’Neal.

Here’s a post I wrote on Golden Beach and its police department when President Obama was in town for a fundraiser. I wonder if Shaq will draw get-the-police-cars-washed duty as the newest member of the force?

Thirty-five drivers. Eighteen races. Three classes. It can only be the British Lawn Mower Racing Association Championship. For safety reasons, all blades were removed. Guess that’s what some of us dream about when mowing our lawns each weekend.

In a friendly match against German soccer club FC Schalke, Martin Hinteregger of Austrian club FC Red Bull Salzburg scores from deep in his own half. His team went on to win 3–1.

War-weary Iraqis have reason to celebrate: Iraq’s under-20 soccer team advanced to the semifinals of the Under-20 World Cup in Turkey, where they will face Uruguay. The Young Lions of Mesopotamia defeated England, Chile, and Egypt in the group stage, Paraguay in the round of 16, and South Korea in the quarterfinals. Favorites Spain and Portugal have been elimiated.

For a country that still suffers from sectarian violence, this is extraordinary. “We built this team to be like a family,” coach Hakeem Shakir, the coach explains. If the Young Lions of Mesopotamia win tonight, they will face either France or Ghana in the final on Saturday. Their country deserves a fairytale ending.

Horrible: A Brazilian soccer referee was beheaded by spectators after he fatally stabbed a player.

Referee Octavio da Silva had apparently stabbed player Josenir dos Santos during an argument at a game in the Brazilian town of Pio XII. Spectators then stormed the field, attacked and stoned the referee, decapitated him, then planted his severed head on a stick.

Teams of robots compete in RoboCup, soccer’s world championship for robots, in the Netherlands. Organizers aim to develop a team of robots that can compete against — and beat — a human team by 2050.

Amazing: A goalkeeper in a Bosnian amateur soccer league played the whole game with a bullet in his head. He had no idea he had been accidentally hit by a stray bullet from someone dangerously celebrating a wedding.

From Serena Williams’s website:

 ”What happened in Steubenville was a real shock for me. I was deeply saddened. For someone to be raped, and at only sixteen, is such a horrible tragedy! For both families involved — that of the rape victim and of the accused. I am currently reaching out to the girl’s family to let her know that I am deeply sorry for what was written in the Rolling Stone article. What was written — what I supposedly said — is insensitive and hurtful, and I by no means would say or insinuate that she was at all to blame.

“I have fought all of my career for women’s equality, women’s equal rights, respect in their fields — anything I could do to support women I have done. My prayers and support always goes out to the rape victim. In this case, most especially, to an innocent sixteen year old child.”

Why is it a “tragedy” for those found guilty of rape?  

And I’m glad she’s reaching out to the girl’s family for what she “supposedly said.”

Jimmy Davies, manager of Liverpool County Premier League side, Waterloo Dock, will step down after 50 years in the position. As manager of the amateur team, he even washed the team’s uniforms. He won’t sit back, though, saying he’ll return to watch his team and “haunt them like a spectre from the touchline.”

Sir Alex Ferguson, who recently retired after almost 27 years as manager of Manchester United, has nothing on him (in terms of longevity, at any rate).

As Manchester City and Wigan prepare to face each other later today in the 2013 FA Cup final, here are some great images from the first FA Cup final, in 1923, at the original Wembley Stadium (officially, at the time, Empire Stadium), where Bolton Wanderers defeated West Ham United, 2–0. With 250,000 showing up for a match for which 100,000 were expected, fans climbed into the stadium and crowded onto the field. They were cleared by a mounted police officer whose gray horse, Billie, appeared white in black-and-white photos of the event, which came to be known as the White Horse Final.

David Moyes has been appointed the new manager of Manchester United, beginning July 1st, on a six-year contract. The 50-year-old Glaswegian has been long admired by Sir Alex Ferguson, who originally approached Moyes back in 1998 to be his assistant manager. Moyes instead went on to manage Preston North End, which was then struggling in Division Two, guiding them to the Division Two title and promotion to Division One. After four years, he moved to Everton, where he brought stability and has achieved some success within the club’s limited budget.

Although never winning a Premier League title, Moyes has kept Everton in the top ten for most of his eleven years there. Ferguson himself played a vital role in the selection of his successor, summing up his admiration for Moyes, “When we discussed the candidates that we felt had the right attributes we unanimously agreed on David Moyes. David is a man of great integrity with a strong work ethic. . . . There is no question he has all the qualities we expect of a manager at this club.”

Moyes, who was the bookies ‘favorite, will finish out the current season with Everton.

The 17-year-old who punched and killed soccer referee Ricardo Portillo has been charged with “homicide by assault” and the prosecutor will seek to try the teenager as an adult.

The maximum sentence for an adult is five years and “can be less for juveniles.” 

Not long enough if you ask me.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will retire at the end of the season. “It is the right time,” the Scot said. The decision marks the end of an era in British soccer. No other manager has been as successful, Ferguson having won a total of 49 trophies, beginning with his time at St. Mirren and then Aberdeen in the old Scottish First Division. Coming to Manchester United in November 1986, he stated that his aim was to “knock Liverpool off their perch.” His retirement comes two and a half weeks after Manchester United sealed their 20th domestic league title, his 13th Premier League trophy with the club. His other trophies include three UEFA Cup Winner’s Cups, five FA Cups, two Champions League trophies, in addition to other league and intercontinental honours.

The 71-year-old has always stated that his health will determine when he retires. The club announced last weekend that he is scheduled to undergo hip-replacement surgery this summer.

“The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about and one that I have not taken lightly. . . . It was important to me to leave an organisation in the strongest possible shape and I believe I have done so. The quality of this league winning squad, and the balance of ages within it, bodes well for continued success at the highest level whilst the structure of the youth set-up will ensure that the long-term future of the club remains a bright one.”

He will remain at Manchester United, taking on a director’s role and be a club amabassador, and will certainly have a say in who his successor will be. His advice for the next manager will be appreciated, as he has said that Man U’s previous legendary manager, Sir Matt Busby, was invaluable to him. A few names being thrown around are Everton’s David Moyes, Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho, Borsussia Dortmund’s Jurgen Klopp, and Malaga’s Manuel Pellegrini.

Via the Los Angeles Times:

A recreational league soccer referee died Saturday night, a week after being punched in the head for issuing a yellow card to a teenage player.

On Friday, the draws for UEFA’s Champions League semifinals pitted Bayern Munich against Barcelona, and Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund. Come May 25th, London’s Wembley Stadium will host either an all-German final, or another El Clásico. For supporters of other traditional powerhouses such as Manchester United, Juventus, or AC Milan, or last year’s champions, Chelsea, although their teams were knocked out earlier in the competition, the upcoming semifinals (and even the prospect of what should be a thrilling final) will offer spectacular soccer.

Bayern Munich, who already sealed their 23rd Bundesliga title on April 6th, will look to get past Barcelona. After losing in the final last year to Chelsea at the Allianz Arena, their home ground, they are looking to claim their first Champions League trophy since 2001, making them five-times Champions of Europe. Should they accomplish this, it will be the successful ending to manager Jupp Heynckes’ two-year reign. Watching with interest will be incoming manager Pep Guardiola, former Barcelona manager – his recent past vs. his immediate future. For Guardiola, Bayern Munich has always been “the business”. Bayern Munich will hope to win their 8th Double this year.

Although Barcelona have not sealed the La Liga title, it is already a given that the Spanish title is theirs, making it their 22nd; their 13 point lead over second placed Real Madrid, their historic rivals, and possible 2013 Champions League finals opponents difficult to overcome. Barcelona are also hoping to become five-times champions of Europe, having last won the competition in 2011 at Wembley Stadium against Manchester United. Winning the Champions League would also be of special meaning to the Catalan team, which they would undoubtedly dedicate to manager Tito Vilanova, whose recent battle with parotid gland cancer had him being treated in a New York City hospital for six weeks. He returned to his position in late March.

For Real Madrid, since they have ceded the La Liga title to Barcelona, becoming European champions is the prize they are aiming for. Should they get past Borussia Dortmund and triumph at Wembley, this will be their first European trophy since 2002, and their long-awaited tenth. Real Madrid are alone in winning the competition nine times so far. For José Mourinho, winning with Real Madrid will make him the first manager to win the European Champions with three different clubs. He first won the competition with Porto in 2004, then with Inter Milan in 2010, after which he immediately took over at Real Madrid.

His time at Real Madrid has not gone as smoothly as was expected. There has been friction between him and the Spanish press, criticizing him most recently over his dropping of club and Spain captain, goalkeeper Iker Casillas. The club’s hierarchy have been reported to be unhappy with his lack of success in knocking Barcelona off their perch and a section of madridistas (the club’s supporters) have been showing their discontent with him. Recently, he challenged them to take out their criticism upon him as he proposed to appear before them on the field prior to a game so they can jeer him. Winning the Champions League title would be the ending he would relish to silence his critics and leave the club on a high note.

Although he has been silent on his immediate future plans, it is known he desires to return to managing in the English Premier League. It is known that he longs to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United when the latter retires, of which the latter has not given any indication of doing. With the lack of a permanent manager at Chelsea, it is speculated that he may return to manage the London club, where is loved by the players and the fans, but from which he was fired in 2007 by billionaire-owner Roman Abramovich.

But first he and Real Madrid must get past Borussia Dortmund, this year’s outsider favorites. This will not be the first time in year’s competition these two sides are meeting. In the group stage, they faced each other, with Borussia Dortmund edging the Spanish club to finish top of their group. Having emphasized European success this year, Borussia Dortmund are looking to claim only their second Champions League title, winning it back in 1997. Dortmund have surprised many this year with their performances on the European stage, especially Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, who has been linked in the media with interest from many top clubs. Jürgen Klopp’s managerial talent has also brought him into the attention of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who seeks a repeat of last year’s success over Bayern Munich. As usual, the German manager has refused to speak about his future, repeating his commitment to Borussia Dortmund.

Against Real Madrid, the German club must nullify Cristiano Ronaldo, this year’s competition’s leading goal scorer, with 11 goals to his credit, three ahead of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi. One way for Klopp’s men to accomplish this is by clamping down on Mesut Özil, Real Madrid’s attacking midfielder whose relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo is pertinent to the Spanish club’s success.

Should the Wembley final be an El Clásico, it will be the third time Barcelona and Real Madrid will meet in competition in four months, with Real Madrid coming out on top on the last two occasions. For José Mourinho, it will be sweetest success if his team defeats Barcelona in the final, where he was assistant coach to the late Bobby Robson and his successor, Luis van Gaal. It was during this time that Pep Guardiola played at Barcelona. An all-German clash pitting Bayern Munich against Borussia Dortmund will be another game in the historic Bavarian rivalry between these two clubs. For Dortmund, having lost this year’s Bundesliga title to Bayern Munich, winning the Champions League final in a Bavarian derby would be the ultimate statement.

Finally, after years of debate and controversial goals, the Premier League has decided to use goal-line technology in the 2013–14 season, becoming the first major European soccer league to do so. Hawk-Eye, owned by Sony, which won the contract with the Premier League, is already used in cricket and tennis.

Hawk-Eye instantly sends a signal — within a second of the ball’s crossing the line — to the referee’s watch, letting him know if a goal has in fact been scored. That information comes into play if the goal is disputed and is useful paritcularly in cases where the ball has been cleared out by the goalkeeper or a defender.

Premier League executive Richard Scudamore, a proponent of the technology, welcomed the decision, saying:

Football is fundamentally a simple game; whichever side scores [the] most goals wins. So, when one is scored, or indeed not scored, and we have the ability through technology to definitively know whether the ball crossed the line, we should absolutely use it. Principally it is about getting it right. Fans, players, and managers exhort, strain, and stress respectively for their teams to score or prevent goals [from] being scored, so we as administrators should do all that we can to ensure the correct decisions are being made.

This has huge financial implications for all of the Premier clubs, especially those whose survival in the league is threatened and for which millions in revenue would be lost if they ended up on the losing side because of ghost goals.