Alex Morgan stopped by the ESPN campus to promote her new book this week. Along the way, she did some interviews and owned a former NFL player.
Hugh Douglas, who used to be pretty good at hitting people with helmets but now mostly hits the buffet table, decided to stand in net against Morgan. And that’s pretty much as far as he got. He never saw the first two shots, and was only able to make a save when Morgan sent an easy chip his way.
Pretty much what we expected. Nothing to see here.
Dude, who has it better than nine-year-old Sam Morgan right now? Audrey Gibson, maybe? James Bond? It’s a pretty short list.
Ever since Morgan charmed America with her football exploits, America has basically waved it’s magic wand and sent her to Fantasy Camp … permanently. First, there were television appearances; then Abby Wambach reached out and let her hang out with the USWNT, then she appeared on a Wheaties Box. And, now, Morgan has been invited to the Super Bowl as reported by a little news organization called ESPN.
“I think it’s going to be really cool, plus I get to sit next to the NFL commissioner maybe,” Gordon said.
Apparently, Gordon previously met NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during a trip to New York (of course she has). In other news, she’ll be joining President Obama tomorrow morning to talk fiscal cliff negotiations.
[ESPN]
ESPN has released its year-end athlete rankings, and according to the worldwide sports leader Lionel Messi answers to no one … except, uh, LeBron.
Messi ranked No. 2 in a power list of 20 athletes, falling just short of Mr. James. In this instance, I don’t have an issue with the order, mainly because Bron did capture an NBA title last summer. Now, had Messi added a Champions League trophy to go with those 91 goals I think we have a different discussion.
Cristiano Ronaldo also made the ranking at No. 5, just ahead of human fish Michael Phelps.
In chapter 735 of let’s ask Messi about Ronaldo, and then ask Ronaldo about Messi and see if we can’t stir up something about Messi not liking Ronaldo or Ronaldo not like Messi … Ronaldo was asked about Messi.
The Real Madrid male model told the press that Messi was a “great player” but that he doesn’t have a professional relationship with him the way he does with other players:
“I’m not a friend of him because we don’t share the same dressing room and do not go out for dinner, but I respect him as a professional. It’s always the same (with comparisons). It’s not just now, it’s the last five years. I cannot change that. I don’t work for the press. They love doing that.”
Yeah, bud, we do. We’re doing it now, in fact.
[ESPN]
Lionel Messi recently shared his voting plans for the Ballon D’Or Award, given to soccer’s top performer. Surprise, surprise: he will not be voting for his bestie Ronaldo.
In one of the weirdest award rules ever, Messi actually gets to vote along with fellow international captains for an honor that could ultimately go to him.
“Last year, I voted for Xavi, Iniesta and Aguero, in that order,” he said. “I reckon this year it will be the same … Xavi and Iniesta will be there for sure and I am thinking between [Gonzalo] Higuain, [Angel] Di Maria or Aguero.”
Messi then went on to name 150 players, including two U12 strikers, whom he would consider voting for.
Ronaldo never came up.
[ESPN]
NBC Sports is taking over the soccer television market, and given the quality of the telecasts, that’s not such a bad thing.
It was announced that they secured a three-year $250 million deal for the rights to the Premier League beginning next season.
They will show every match from the world’s most popular soccer league, taking coverage away from Fox and ESPN.
“The Barclays Premier League is the pre-eminent soccer league in the world, and is on the cusp of exponential popularity growth here in the U.S.,” NBC Sports Group chairman Mark Lazarus said Sunday.
NBC Sports picked up MLS last year and also provided strong soccer coverage of the London Olympics.
Next stop, college soccer? A blog can dream.
I know what you’re thinking: man it’s Friday, I’m going out tonight!
I mean, besides that. You’re assuming that Jozy Altidore’s launch of his official website has something to do with him being left off the World Cup qualifier roster. Well, that’s just malarkey (Joe Biden voice).
This website launch was planned long before Jurgen went and lost his marbles, and it’s actually a solid effort. The slide show photos atop the homepage are a little much for me, but that aside Jozy gives us plenty of himself on his site.
We’ve got photos, video, info about his kids foundation, columns about him being left off the US roster, we … wait, what was that? Oh yeah, the issue is addressed. Click on the news tab and you’ll find the opinions of everyone from ESPN, to SI (though no 91st Minute – we’re working on getting placement as we speak).
So give it a visit, and enjoy. It’s the closest you’ll get to seeing Jozy in a US Soccer uniform for a while.
Alright, there is just so much wrong with this video that I really don’t know where to begin. First, Snoop lines up for the shot as if he is about to C-Walk around Kevin Negandhi from ESPN. 
Then he walks to his spot as if he is about to kick off to Devin Hester. Somewhere out there Ronaldo is shaking his head in disbelief. Instead of just kicking a guaranteed goal down the middle, Snoop decides to go for the top left corner on national TV. Snoop warns everybody that he’s got ‘trick shots’. His trick shot consisted of a ballerina-esque turn after the ball hit the post. His second attempt was not much better than his first. Final score: Empty goal 2, Snoop 0. SMH.
This is a must-see ESPN story about a young lady who is fulfilling her dream of playing college soccer despite the loss of her left leg.
McMahon was the victim of a freak accident that took her limb back in 2009, but through a couple years of hard work she triumphantly returned to the field. This is goosebump good.
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