The Quest: Choosing an English Premier League Team...Part 3 (eating a bit of crow)

So Here I sit...1 month into what I am now beginning to realize will be no passing fancy, but a full blown love affair with "the beautiful game." Now I've always loved soccer; I played it as a kid, love kicking the ball around with friends, love the World Cup and Euro competitions, but never have followed it on a week-to-week basis and can't believe how much I am enjoying it...to be honest, I'm really disappointed that I picked it up this season when I did because just a month from now everything will be over...but at least the off-season is only about 3 months. So let's review my first month:

Ballparking I have watched the following

About 15 or so EPL Fixtures

8 Champions League Fixtures

2 FA Cup Fixtures

3 (yes...3) Npower Championship Fixtures

1 La Liga Fixture (guess which one)

So...here is where I am....

I still hate Man U

I just do. They annoy me, they are too good (and they are good), and just too many people love them. They are the Yankees and I hate the Yankees.

But....

Ummm....

I have to eat some crow here.

I kicked out 2 teams early just because they were popular, and I regret this, because they are both fantastic and wonderful to watch.

First

They play beautiful football. The way they pass the ball, the way they move, everything is precise and sharp. One knock is the dude who owns the Colorado Avalanche owns them too...and I hate the Avalanche. But watching them play...I love that.

Next...

Chelsea...sweet sweet Chelsea...

I knew I would love you....I tried to resist...but how can I?

Didier Drogba may be my 2nd favorite player in the EPL (first I will tell you later). They dude is a freakin monster, he's so good. Frank Lampard (even though he can't kick a freaking ball against Man U) is a stud. Ramires, Ashley Cole, David Luiz...all awesome to watch with and without the ball. Fernando Torres...well...we'll ignore him for now. But overall, they are awesome. I was disappointed they lost to Man U...but apparently Ramires getting absolutely murdered in the penalty area...is totally legal if your Man U....but that aside...Chelsea....sweet Chelsea...I think I <3 you.

So Arsenal and Chelsea...i'm sorry for the original exclusion based on my weird "rules." I don't know that either will be "my team" but for now...you are back in the running.

Now for the bad news for 3 other teams. I originally had narrowed it down to 4 and 3 of those are now out. To be honest, not for any really good reason, more I just fell for another team in the process. So the 3 teams that will not be getting a rose (although I will still watch your games and generally root for you)

Wolves...just too terrible. Sorry, but it's true.

Everton. I really like this team and enjoy watching them play. Plus they have Timmy Howard, whom I love because he is the heart and soul of Team USA. I will always root for him...so I always want Everton to do well.

Fulham Football Club

I really really really like this team. I love Clint Dempsy. Craven Cottage looks like an awesome place, and when I go to London, I will go see a game there. When I watch their games I will root for them to win, but they just didn't make the cut.

So...which team did I fall for...and why? The 2nd question isn't as easy to answer, sometimes you don't always know why you like a team, you just do. Whether it's they style of play, the players themselves, who knows...in this case it's all of these and more.

So...that being said...let me introduce you to the one who gets the final rose:

Tottenham Hotspur a.k.a. Spurs

I love watching this team. Gareth Bale is my favorite player in the EPL, I worry that he will be moved at some point for a HUGE transfer fee, but I will enjoy him while he lasts (hopefully for a long time!). Peter Crouch looks crazy when he runs, but his presence around the ball is awesome. Van der Vaart is a strait up stud. Luka Modric is raw, but has huge upside. Gomes kinda annoys me...don't really know why, but just being honest here. Harry Redknapp looks like that uncle you have, and I love how he looks completely disinterested in what is going on during the match. I could go on, but I'll leave it there for now. I've watched 7 or 8 spurs games so far and I'm hooked. They HATE Arsenal, so it will make it tough to be a fan of Arsenal long term, but I'm okay with that. They still have a chance to make it to the top 4 (and thus the Champions League) and I'm holding out hope they can make it. But if not, I look forward to many seasons going forward with my Spurs. More to come...but for now I'll leave it at that...

p.s. Queens Park Rangers are my favorite Championship team so far...

The Quest: Choosing an English Premier League Team...Part 2

I have spent what is likely an unhealthy amount of time reading about the EPL lately in my quest to choose a team to call my own. But, first I must send a few teams out to pasture. I have some (probably too many) rather obnoxious sports rules that I ascribe to. One of these prohibits me from jumping onto a team just because they are "popular". The other side of this coin is that if you don't choose a popular team, you will never see them on TV...which makes being a fan of them rather tough...I never said this will be easy. So I have to balance choosing a team that won't make me throw up in my mouth and once I will get to watch on TV once in a while.

For those who don't know there are 20 teams in the EPL. Each team plays every other team twice (once away and once at home) for a total of 38 games. 3 points for a win...1 for a loss. The 3 teams with the lowest points each season are "relegated" to what is essentially the "minor" league (not really...but lets go with this). Likewise 3 teams from the Championship League (the "minor" one are elevated to the premier league. It is not wise to follow a team that is likely to be relegated as a) you will almost never see them on TV (unless they are playing one of the big 4) and b) if relegated you will REALLY never see them on TV.

So with that...the elimination begins...

I will separate these teams into 2 groups...the "I can't" group and the "likely to be relegated" group.

First the "I can't" group. 3 teams here...and I have decided that under no circumstances could I root for either of these teams.

Manchester United Football Club

The best team in the EPL (record wise)...the winningest team in the EPL (record wise)...the most popular team in the EPL (number of fans wise)...

They have the biggest budget, buy the best players and everyone loves them. They have hundreds of thousands of true fans and millions of bandwagoners...no thank you.

I saw somewhere someone say it would be like if a 30-year old British chap decided to get "into" baseball and chose the Yankees. I couldn't do that....and I won't do this...sorry.

Liverpool Football Club

Too popular...don't like their uniforms...plus Tom Hicks owns them (for now) and I had enough of his nonsense being a Texas Rangers fan...

Manchester City Football Club

The Mets of the EPL...Recently bought by a kagillionaire UAE guy who has poured tons of money into the club. They buy tons of overpriced players and still don't win (hence Mets) and are the 2nd team in a city behind the most popular team in that sport (hence Mets). Just can't do it.

Now the "I might want to...but won't let myself...but will secretly enjoy watching them play" group. Two teams here

Chelsea Football Club

Owned by a crazy kabillionare Russian guy. Buys all the good players. But for some reason I find this an endearing trait in Chelsea. Love the way the play...cool kits...great players. But in the end too popular and too bandwagony. But...still will be fun to watch from time to time

Arsenal Football Club

Easily the best choice of the "Big 4" (really big 5 now with Man City). They play beautiful football....great players...are owned by "the people" in a way similar to the Packers...there symbol is a Cannon...nickname is "Gunners"...based in London...The book Fever pitch was wrote about them....really nothing to dislike. And I may love watching them play...but they won't be "my" team...just too popular....(I know...it's dumb)

So there is the first 5 eliminations....what is really just "The Big 4" and Man City....now a few others to chop.

These are the "Too likely to be relegated/never on TV teams"...won't give too many details...just know they are bad and will never really be on TV unless it is to get torched by Chelsea or Man U.

Wigan Athletic

I could only find this small logo...that should tell you something...only in premier league since 2005...likely to head back down this year...

Birmingham City Football Club

Recently promoted....heading back soon...

West Ham United

I think their claim to fame is hooligans...hmmmm

West Bromwich Albion

Nickname is the baggies...and they have a bird on their crest...i like birds...but that's about it

Blackpool Football Club

Barely made it to the Premiership...likely to go back...blackpool doesn't sound fun to visit

Aston Villa Football Club

Have seen everywhere that their fans are the most self-loathing bunch in the EPL...would basically be like being a Cubs fan or Browns fan or etc...no thanks...

Blackburn Rovers Football Club

The only team not named Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal to have won the EPL. But just nothing rings home with me...sorry

Newcastle United

Newcastle Brown Ale used to be their sponser...not anymore...so nope

Stoke City Football Club

The potters...and not the harry kind (oh snap!)...

Sunderland Association Football Club

Brice likes them...

Bolton Wanderers Football Club

I saw someone else say this and I agree....terrible logo

So there you go 16 down....4 to go...who will it be?

Here are the contenders (in alphabetic order)...

Everton Football Club

Fulham Football Club

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club

Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club

So there you have it...4 teams in the running...who will it be...we shall see soon...

The Quest: Choosing an English Premier League Team...Part 1

I love sports. Maybe too much sometimes...but it is what it is. Usually picking a team to like is easy...pick the team you grew up with...or pick the team where you live...done. In rare cases you have to make a choice to follow a team that does not meet one of these criteria (due to not having a team locally....or rooting for local team would cause your soul to shudder...(i.e. rooting for the Yankees)). For reference here are the teams that I thoroughly enjoy following and the reasons for such:

NHL

I grew up in Detroit...my dad taught me to love them...I still love them. I like the Stars and Canucks due to my time in Dallas and Bellingham, WA...but it will always be the Wings.

MLB

Might currently be my favorite team in all of sports. I grew up in Detroit and liked the Tigers as a kid...but never really followed them closely. I liked the Mariners when I lived in Seattle quite a bit, but never really "lived and died" with them. When I moved to Dallas in 2003 I hitched my horse to the Rangers even though they were a) terrible and b) had A-rod. Over the past 7 seasons I have fallen in love with my scrappy rangers. I have watched/listened to/followed online every game for the past 5 years. I read too many blogs, news articles and fan pages to be healthy. The greatest moment of my sports life was on October 22, 2010 (game 6 of the ALCS) when Neftali Feliz threw a ridiculous curveball on a 1-2 count and Alex Rodriguez stood there like a house by the side of the road. The rangers going to the World Series was awesome, I honestly don't even care that they lost...that moment was worth the years of disappointment.

NFL

I hate that I love the cowboys...I do...but I love them nonetheless. They are the Yankees of football...the Lakers of football...except 1 thing...they haven't done crap in the past 15 years. They are the most popular team in the NFL...sell the most merch...have the most bandwagon fans...all things I should dislike...but I fell for them in Dallas and I just can't help it. Sometimes you don't choose who you love. I also would love to see the Lions win a "The Big Game" sometime...but the Cowboys are king here.

NBA

I've never really followed the NBA closely. I sorta liked the Bad Boy Pistons growing up...never really paid attention to the Sonics...liked the Mavs alot when I lived in Dallas (even though all they did was break my poor heart and play terrible when it counted). But when we moved to San Antonio I made the conscious decision to try and back "the only show in town". I watched a few games early in the season and came to the conclusion...Manu is a Stud...Timmy is the Rock...Tony is better than J-Kidd...and all the role players are fun to watch. I have enjoyed this new sports relationship quite a bit...we'll see how it goes!

So that's it...that's where I am right now in my sports life. 4 teams...4 sports...but I want 1 more.

I've been a big fan of soccer my whole life. I played it as a child, love the World Cup and love watching Soccer when it happens to be on. I've always wanted to "get into" international soccer, but have never really had the ability to watch games...or know who to follow. So I have decided to undertake the task of evaluating the landscape...and getting behind a team.

But first, I must decide what league to follow. Soccer (or football) is much different than the major sports here in that there are 4 big leagues...that are all very very good with amazing players. They are as follows:

English Premier League (England)

La Liga (Spain)

Serie A (Italy)

Bundesliga (Germany)

In the end I chose the EPL for a few reasons. One all of their games are televised in English (a big plus for an english speaker). They have the most games on TV...also a plus. La Liga would be second...but the players i hate most are in that league (Kaka...Ronaldo...etc) so not watching teams in that league is a plus. Serie A and Bundesliga are both very good and very interesting, but honestly they just don't have enough games televised for my liking. So EPL it is...

So there we go...now the task at hand is to decide which team will get the honor of having some lame dude in San Antonio, TX added to it's legion of fans.

My next post will eliminate those teams who are not even in consideration for my allegiance for one reason or another...stay tuned.