Weekly winners win great prizes and there are two monthly grand prizes up for grabs for you die hard fans!

Manchester United Poker Contest

Play today and win great prizes, by simply playing in the Manchester United Poker Contest, the Betfair Premier Cup!

The poker contest is underway, but there are still 5 more weeks to enter and win fantastic prizes as well as two grand prizes. Prizes include a signed Manchester United shirt and a VIP trip to Manchester in England to see Manchester United play Sunderland at Old Trafford, with VIP box seats and a VIP meal with 5 star hospitality.

Manchester United are the current defending English Premier League champions and are top of the English Premier League ahead of their city rivals. Owning a signed jersey is like owning a piece of history and that ‘s exactly what you can win in this poker contest!

Also up for grabs is a chance to see Manchester United play against Sunderland, at Man Utd’s home ground. The lucky winners will experience VIP hospitality, a pre-game meal and seats for two in a premium/superstar VIP box. You’ll be sitting amongst 75,000 other screaming, passionate, die hard Manchester United fans. Three points for this win will go a long way to helping Manchester United defend their premier league glory!

Also up for grabs in the contest are weekly prizes, including:

1. First prize – the choice of an iPad or a Samsung laptop
2. Second Prize – the choice of a PS3 or Beats by Dre headphones
3. Third prize – a Reebok sports bag

So far, the prizes have been easy to win and not a lot of people are entering so there are great opportunities to be had. All you have to do is play a simple and fun game of poker! Play today in the Manchester United Poker Contest!

Well done Celtic and a great tribute to the late Phil O’Donnell and Tommy Burns, two very exceptional ex-Celts.

RIP Tommy Burns – “Legend is a word that is used quite a lot these days but he was. He was a great player with Celtic first and foremost.”

I think that a better solution would be a community type site. The only problem is that the Montreal Canadiens Community doesn’t really sound very enticing, then again, neither does the Montreal Canadiens Hockey Blog :)

Anyway, these are just ramblings. I  think I have enough problems keeping my own blog ;)

Back to the Habs/Isles game. End of the second and 2-0 to MTL!

From a usability point of view it’s simple, you click the team you want to win and you enter the spread amount. You can then leave an optional comment or reply to what others think. Everyone is graded weekly and overall so you can start anytime. Right now the FanYard cover NFL, NBA and college football (NCAAF) and basketball (NCAAB).

It’s turning out to be quite a cool little social network of sports fans. I’m on there as iheartbaseball, go check it out.

Tim Mason rules! He managed to get this hat for me directly from New Era. He sent me an elaborate fake email saying how New Era can’t get us the hat. Then he told me a few minutes later that he was tinkering on my linux machine in work.

Here’s the start of the MSN conversation:

Tim says: where did u go for lunch…??
Tim says: got some bad news for you by the way….
Tim says: will forward u the email…
Carlo says: phat
Carlo says: bad news about a certain new era hat?
Tim says: read the email
Carlo says: sent it yet?
Tim says: sorry buddy….
Tim says: i tried
Carlo says: thats fucking bullshit man.
Carlo says: i appreciate your help. balls.
Tim says: i can call the US rep and see what i can do
Carlo says: i can get it shipped to a US address then sent up here.
Carlo says: my uncle lives in SF.
Tim says: that might work…
Carlo says: So all the Montreal Canadiens hats are in the US?
Carlo says: and… NOT in Canada?
Tim says: yeah they don’t make that style anymore
Tim says: on the yanks where them they said
Carlo says: holy shit
Tim says: lots in USA… not pop in canada for hockey… just baseball and football
Carlo says: yeah, the other hats are wack, if I can’t get that one then its all good. thanks for trying, i know you busted one trying to get it.

He then sent this fake email…

Tim,

I apologize for this but we won’t be able to get the New Era cap to you as we can not access it. Not too mention that there are issues with the border crossing.

Once again I apologize and hopefully we will be able to introduce a new Montreal hat in the future.

NEW ERA FITS!!!

Here’s the rest of the MSN conversation after reading the email:

Tim says: let me ask u a question
Tim says: i was fuckin around on the back computer
Tim says: the server one that you use…
Carlo says: yeah, did you log in?
Tim says: yeah but it ate my disc….. i put a dvd in there….can’t get it out
Tim says: can u try for me….
Carlo says: weird. i will go fetch.
Carlo says: one sec.
Carlo says: you have a log in for that comp?
Tim says: tmason…. username mase
Tim says: but u might have to shut it off and back on again…
Carlo says: where’d you get the username from?
Tim says: but try and open the disc player
Tim says: kirk
Carlo says: ok.
Carlo says: trying now…

So I go to the computer and try to get the DVD out of the player and there’s a box on the computer and I thought “Who the F&%K left a box on my server”. So I pick it up and there’s something inside AND my names on it, then I realised I’d been baited for it and went completly NUTS because I knew what was inside it!

Long story short is that Tim Mason rules and he got me this hat from New Era via Alabama :D The end!

UFC 68 is on March 3rd, the day before my birthday (I’ll be in Whistler snowboarding, oh well), I want to see Rich Franklin step up, and “get back on the UFC horse” and kick Jason MacDonald‘s ass. Not easily done. The main event is Tim Sylvia and Randy Couture, with Couture coming out of retirement to take on “The Maine-iac” and hopefully give us something worth paying for!

Also on the card is Matt Hughes, probably one of the best fighters ever, 40 wins and 5 losses. His loss to Georges St. Pierre in his last fight dropped him down a little into obscurity but he’ll be back especially if he gets a win over Chris Lytle, finalist of The Ultimate Fighter 4.

PS. I love the one on the left.

The best line from the rep in Canada was “Actually we don’t sell that hat to Canada because there isn’t a market for it” to which I replied, “What? There isn’t a market for the Montreal Canadiens hat IN CANADA?!” Obviously someone was smokin’ crack that day.

If anyone knows where I can get my grubby mitts on this hat I would be stoked. More Montreal Canadiens must haves are the Canadiens Legends: Montreal’s Hockey Heroes and The Montreal Canadiens Hockey Team.

[google 2961151606339153922 Consolidated: Is what it is]

I am a Giants fan and a monster Bonds fan. My Baseball name in the fantasy ball leagues is always Giant bonds Monster so I don’t know if you can read through the bias on this one.

Selig has insisted that the MLB would celebrate Bonds’ potential record breaking feat in the same way it would do any other major milestone. Last year, Selig gave San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman a call when he became the career saves leader. maybe he’s just a hardass or has a heart of stone. We’ve all seen Barry cry, he’s a big softie so we gotta make sure we’re all at AT&T Park to cheer him on :) Has anyone read Love Me, Hate Me: Barry Bonds and the Making of an Antihero?

Now I will get back to watching Ghostbusters II. Thanks and good day.

“Ok Ken, move away from him and look for the takedown…”
[Tito body slams him]

“…all right Kenny, that didn’t work, now this round…let him take you down, then slip into the side mount and lock in you heel hook”
[Tito takes him down, lands a full guard, and pounds him into the matt]

“All right, Big guy, we’re not out of this yet…this time let him hit you four or five times, pretend to fall down, and when he jumps on top to finish you, stab him in the eye with this half broken beer bottle”
[Tito hits ken twice so hard that Shamrock actually craps his pants, slips on it…and falls backward through the cage and lands on Franks lap, dead]

Courtesy of Damon Holowchak, the house of smack. UFC card for that night.

Saturday, 29 July 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Celtic v Kilmarnock, 12:30

Sunday, 06 August 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Hearts v Celtic, 14:00

Saturday, 12 August 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Celtic v St Mirren, 15:00

Sunday, 20 August 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Inverness CT v Celtic, 14:00

Saturday, 26 August 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Celtic v Hibernian, 15:00

Saturday, 09 September 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Aberdeen v Celtic, 15:00

Saturday, 16 September 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Celtic v Dunfermline, 15:00

Saturday, 23 September 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Celtic v Rangers, 15:00

Sunday, 01 October 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Falkirk v Celtic, 14:00

Saturday, 14 October 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Dundee Utd v Celtic, 15:00

Saturday, 21 October 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Celtic v Motherwell, 15:00

Saturday, 28 October 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Kilmarnock v Celtic, 15:00

Saturday, 04 November 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Celtic v Hearts, 15:00

Sunday, 12 November 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
St Mirren v Celtic, 14:00

Saturday, 18 November 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Celtic v Inverness CT, 15:00

Sunday, 26 November 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Hibernian v Celtic, 14:00

Saturday, 02 December 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Celtic v Aberdeen, 15:00

Sunday, 10 December 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Dunfermline v Celtic, 14:00

Saturday, 16 December 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Rangers v Celtic, 15:00

Saturday, 23 December 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Celtic v Falkirk, 15:00

Tuesday, 26 December 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Celtic v Dundee Utd, 15:00

Saturday, 30 December 2006
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Motherwell v Celtic, 15:00

Monday, 01 January 2007
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Celtic v Kilmarnock, 15:00

Sunday, 14 January 2007
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Hearts v Celtic, 14:00

Saturday, 20 January 2007
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Celtic v St Mirren, 15:00

Sunday, 28 January 2007
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Inverness CT v Celtic, 14:00

Saturday, 10 February 2007
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Celtic v Hibernian, 15:00

Saturday, 17 February 2007
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Aberdeen v Celtic, 15:00

Saturday, 03 March 2007
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Celtic v Dunfermline, 15:00

Saturday, 10 March 2007
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Celtic v Rangers, 15:00

Saturday, 17 March 2007
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Falkirk v Celtic, 15:00

Saturday, 31 March 2007
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Dundee Utd v Celtic, 15:00

Saturday, 07 April 2007
Bank of Scotland – Scottish Premier League
Celtic v Motherwell, 15:00

UFC 61 Bitter Rivals should not be, do what you have to do to see this, send the wife out for the night and get the guys around with an enormous supply of cold beer for this one. This is going to be one of the biggest televised UFC events, I am expecting records pay-per-view buys for this one.

Ortiz and Shamrock have been “coaching” on the Spike TV’s “Ultimate Fighter” and to say they hate each other is an understatement. The “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” is a renowned submission fighter and Shamrock may only be the “World’s Most Dangerous Man” in name, but his shoot fighting style of fighting will provide an interesting fight for sure that will be nothing short of exciting.

It Shamrock can keep Ortiz out then he has a chance. They last fought in 2002 and Ortiz won with a TKO. Odds on the site are +600 for Shamrock (-400 for Ortiz) and at that price I may bet on him, as it’s not as cut ‘n dry as the 42 year old Shamrock may serve Ortiz a solid boot in the nether region (if that was allowed, we would see that). The fight may not last long , when you buy the fight package don’t be too surprised if this fight doesn’t last long. Luckily there are 7 other fights in the package.

The main event is the Tim Sylvia Vs. Andrei Arlovski bout. Arlovski (the “Pit Bull”) definitely has a score to settle after losing his first UFC fight by KO’d (outpunched) to Tim Sylvia way back in March. Arlovski has a record of 9-4-0 which may not sound impressive but he has lost to some quality opposition (Pedro “The Rock” Rizzo, Ricco “Suave” Rodriguez and that Russia kickboxing tank Datzik way back in 1999).

Arlovski’s style is sambo/kickboxing and has a may display a weakness against wrestlers and grapplers, Sylvia is from the “Miletech” fighting style (Pat Miletechs MMA) and will display a lot of the good aspects of different martial arts – this is going to be a great fight. Sylvia had his arm snapped (two broken bones) by Frank Mir in June 2004 but that wont have affected the 6’8 “Maine-iac” as he’s since won 5 fights including his last matchup against Arlovski with a knockout punch just under 3 minutes into the fight.

For me, the other fight to watch is the Hermes Franca Vs. Joe Jordan bout. It would have been great to see Franca fight Roger Huerta who in my opinion is a better opponent, but saying this Jordan has 19 wins under his belt and is undefeated this year in 5 fights.

The complete fight listing and odds at the time of writing this is as follows:

• Tito Ortiz (“Huntington Beach Bad Boy”) Vs. Ken Shamrock (“The World’s Most Dangerous Man”)
  
• Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia Vs. Andrei “Pit Bull” Arlovski
• Dan Christison (“The Sandman”) Vs. Frank Mir
  
• Josh Burkman (“The People’s Warrior”) Vs. Josh “The Dentist” Neer
• Yves Edwards Vs. Joe “Daddy” Stevenson
• * Drew “The Master” Fickett Vs. Kurt “Batman” Pellegrino
• * Jeff Monson Vs. Anthony “The Hippo” Perosh
• * Gilbert “El Peligroso” Aldana Vs. Cheick Kongo
  
• * Hermes Franca Vs. Joe Jordan

* These may not be televised as the are the opening fights.

I also have Jason Schmidt and Noah Lowry in my pool but neither started.

Dirk Nowitzki just fowled Dwyane Wade so he gets to take two free foul shots and go 5 points clear with just under 18 seconds to go. He nailed em both. Mavs call their final timeout. Sport is weird. I haven’t been following the NBA finals. Looks like Shaq, Dwyane Wade and Pat Riley have won themselves Miami Heat’s first champonship. Well done guys, Shaq promised this and looky here!

Back to baseball, Barry Bonds is now on the receiving end Lackey. I want Bonds to hit a homer but not off one of Lackey’s lightning pitches! 3 balls one strike… Come on Barry! Ah no, caught at first base. Moises Alou up.

10 seconds left in the basketball game. 3 point game, Wade with two free throws. Nails one, 4 point game… Misses second. Three point game 9 seconds. Must shoot a three point over but no, it hits the rim, it’s no good. Miami Heat have won their first championship in the history of it’s franchise.

WTG Miami, back to the baseball game :)

The looming corruption charges and match “fixing” accusations surrounding one of the top teams in the Italian Series A are (finally) being put on the backburner. The main focus, these days, is Italy’s preparation for the looming 2006 World Cup campaign in Germany. Marcelo Lippi continues to strongly defend his statement “It has nothing to do with the Azurri.” Hopefully this domestic scandal won’t percolate any further.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, the first choice pick of Juventus (who is the main focus of the aforementioned domestic scandal), has arguably the safest hands in the world, between the goal posts. Italy needs his skill during the World Cup. Yet, there is no guarantee that he will escape any FIFA punishment, who knows?

Lippi has always said, “nobody is guaranteed a place on the team.” Alessandro Del Piero and Christian Vieri, claim its good news for Lippi that the magnificent playmaker Francesco Totti has arrived back from injury just in time for the campaign.

Lippi’s not afraid to try out new players, he’s an excellent risk manager. En route to Germany, he tried out Giorgio Chiellini, Cristian Zaccardo, Manuele Blasi, Andrea Barzagli, Daniele De Rossi, Mauro Esposito, Luca Toni, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Alberto Gilardino – nine new players who scored 8 of the 15 goals that won them their place in World Cup 2006.

With only one narrow defeat to Slovenia (1-0 on Oct 9, 2004), Italy overcame all other opponents to comfortably sail into a qualifying place for Germany with seven wins, two draws and that one shallow (almost forgettable) defeat. All this has allowed Italy to place at the top of their group, ahead of Norway, Slovenia and Scotland.

As far as expectations go, every Italian expects Marcelo Lippi to lead Italy to their fourth World Cup.

In Germany, Italy will be entering into the competition for the 16th time. I saw my first World Cup in 1982 (when Alyssa was born!) – back then (at 5 years old) I imagined that I was Paolo Rossi. I was the kid scoring a famous hat trick with the equally famous celebration against Brazil.

It’s worth noting that Italy won their first World Cup title way back in 1934 against Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic). In this World Cup, the Czechs are now their opponents in their group. Italy is notorious for starting off slow. I believe they are responsible for the rise in Italy’s health problems every four years. All of a sudden food becomes indigestible, migraines and headaches become chronic problems and stress related pharmaceuticals sell at all time highs.

Italy Group E Fixtures

• Italy v Ghana (Jun 12, Hanover)
• Italy v USA (Jun 17, Kaiserslautern)
• Czech Rep v Italy (Jun 22, Hamburg)

First post in a while but it makes me happy to announce that Celtic have signed the wee wim Derek Riordan from Hibs! He’s under contract with hibs until October 2006 and will not be eligible to play until the start of January 2007.

I can’t wait to see him smash the back of the net for us :)

Incidentally, I played golf today with Stammler (Gangbang) and there was a canadian kid wearing a R*ngers shirt. Little hun, I wanted to slap him silly. Anyway, he didn’t know what it was like to be in the presence of a true opposing supporter so this one time I let it go. Bad idea to be wearing Glasgow R*angers shirts anywhere near me. NOTE TO YOUR SELF.

As well as this our favourite hockey team back in the East lose 4-3 to the New Jersey Devils after being 3-0 up!!! Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals makes sure the Habs stay in the playoffs with a win over 2004 Stanley Cup champions Tampa Bay Lightning.

Habs play the Carolina Hurricanes on saturday night (April 22) at my house, bring beers!

Well done to Cristobal Huet for the Molson player of the month award, but unlucky for those four goals against the smokin’ red hot Devils last night.