RATE IT! United Turkish Delight

Turkish Airlines have taken flight as one of the latest sponsors of Manchester United. Here's their new commercial featuring the team in some in-flight hi-jinx.


With the latest news about Wayne Rooney wanting to leave the team, was it a bit of foreshadowing that he's the player who kicks the ball in the unwise direction of United legend, Sir Bobby Charlton? Whoops!

RATE IT! We Are Truly United

Mondays are always tough at the best of times but after my little adventure of late last week, it's proving more tricky an usual.


As per my hype from weeks past, my beloved football team, Manchester United finally visited my country -- my city! -- for a pre-season friendly vs. Scotland's finest team, Celtic.


The match itself was a total pinch me moment. To have my team running out in front of me on the Rogers Centre's newly laid grass pitch, was a dream come true. It felt both glorious and odd to be sat there watching my idols. So much fun and yet weird to have them... well, HERE!


Not only was the game a special memory to behold for years and years, but I also had the pleasure of meeting several United legends, Paddy Crerand and Bryan Robson, and the ultimate....team manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, during the past few days. Such lovely people. So friendly, just as I had hoped. Sometimes when you meet such people they end up being a disappointment or worse, rude. Couldn't be further from the truth with this lot. Class act to a man. Wonderful ambassadors for their sport and team. 


United beat Celtic 3-1 to start their pre-season tour of North America on the right foot. Their next stop is in Philadelphia this coming Wednesday. If you're in the vicinity, I whole-heartedly suggest that you take in the match and see some of the best football players in the game today. As for me, I'll just keep reliving my time with the team and anxiously await the start of the 2010-11 English Premiership season this August. 

RATE IT! Only One More Sleep...

...until Manchester United arrive on MY side of the pond... in MY city! Okay, yes...they've been in North America (Chicago, specifically) since Monday...but it's a different level of excitement when they're in your neck of the woods. 

A huge deal to have one of the world's most famous football teams here in our own backyard. I have waited for this day for eons which is fitting as AON is their new kit sponsor. 


Bad joke but at least I tried! 

HATE IT! Vuvuzela iPhone Horror

Watching the World Cup? If you're like me & have your TV perpetually tuned to all the footy action in South Africa, you're probably experiencing a little buzzing in the ears.


Yep, the annoying Vuvuzelas, South Africa's noisemaker of choice. England fans may prefer a good ol' dirty chant on the terraces, but their World Cup hosts like to toot their own horn again, and again... and *sigh* again.


Watching the matches with the sound turned down is one big bummer. Wearing earplugs, even worse! So if the best way to jostle back into the spirit of the tourney is to join them at their own game, well now you CAN! iTunes has an app for that - the Vuvuzela app. It's free, it can be customized to feature your team's kit colour and just like the real deal, it's noisy. 


Full disclosure -- I did download the Vuvuzela app to my iPhone before the England-US match last Saturday, but have since been forbidden by friends and family to use it especially in public. Can't say that I blame them!

RATE IT! World Cup Kickoff

Don't bother to call, text or send out a search party. 


I'm *ahem* out of the office - til July 11 or until England get knocked out (please...for the love of Wayne Rooney & Joe Cole, no!).


At times like this, it really pays to be a freelancer - so to speak!


The World Cup, the largest, coolest sporting event on the planet kicks off today in South Africa. Time to wave the flag & catch footy fever. Face painting? No thanks, but honesty it's your call.


GO ENGLAND!

RATE IT! Jazz Hands World Cup Style

The World Cup is only 8 days away! If you haven't sorted out your goal scoring celebration yet, take a peek at this latest WC video starring Manchester United/England striker, Wayne Rooney and 'Gavin & Stacey's' James Corden. 


Show offs!

RATE IT! Nike's Write the Future

The biggest sporting event on the planet is set to kick off in just a few weeks -- the World Cup! Here's a little taster from the brilliant folks at Nike...Write the Future.


Not only are all the football stars cool to see (Rooney! Ronaldo!) but check out the non-sporty types in it as well. Choice!


GO ENGLAND!!

RATE IT! World Cup Accessories

Only one more month to go! The 2010 World Cup tourney kicks off in South Africa ONE MONTH from today!




Yes, the most watched sporting event on the planet -- sorry, Super Bowl & Olympics -- will soon be in full swing. Don't be surprised if between June 11 - July 11 if many of your co-workers suddenly vanish from the office. Better start to create your excuses for missing work now, peeps. The more creative, the better. 

As for me, I work for myself and my boss is a huge football fan so I've got nothing to worry about on that score. I'll be camped out at the nearby pub with my Rooney kit and Brit hubby in tow cheering unabashedly for England. I would also LOVE to have any of these funny accessories available now from Accessorize in the UK. Head bopper complete with sparkles, or England toilet paper, anyone? 

RATE IT! Manchester United on Tour

It's all happening!


As speculated a few weeks back in the media and now confirmed, Manchester United ARE touring North America in July after the World Cup wraps on July 11:


Toronto - July 16
Philadelphia - July 21
Kansas City - July 25
Houston - July 28
Guadalajara, Mexico - July 30


United's website has announced that most of their players who are not participating in the World Cup -- Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Dimitar Berbatov, John O'Shea, Darren Fletcher, Edwin van der Sar, Michael Owen & others -- will be HERE! 


Details for ticket on-sales TBA. CANNOT. WAIT.

RATE IT! Vanity Fair Loves the World Cup

I am not alone!

See, even Vanity Fair magazine can't keep its excitement for the upcoming World Cup on the down low. 


For a magazine that typically sees itself as refined & full of journalistic worth (Lindsey Lohan cover shoots aside), am I the only one who was surprised to see the world's football elite showing their patriotic pride (and more) while stripped down to their skivvies on the VH June cover? 



I'm very surprised. Very pleased too that goes without saying, but surprised nonetheless. I may have to make the exception and actually purchase Vanity Fair for this issue.


Finally! A highly-publicized American magazine clued in to what the rest of the world has known for *ages*...no, not how fine Cristiano Ronaldo is in his pants -- BUT what a big deal the World Cup of football is. Bigger than the Super Bowl, the Olympics... every sporting event on the PLANET! Kudos to Vanity Fair. Shame Owen Hargreaves wasn't available to support Canada in this photo shoot. 


The 2010 World Cup begins June 11 and runs through to July 11 in South Africa. June 11 cannot arrive fast enough in this household. 

RATE IT!/HATE IT! Beardy Becks

All hail the international return of David Beckham!

Mr. Posh, named Man of the Match yesterday versus Belarus, helped lead the England national footy team to a 3-0 victory in World Cup qualifiers. Becks had a huge impact - just like old times, eh? - but in this instance, he was a sub and STILL delivered the goods. Yay, David!

But what's with the creepy Geography teacher beard?

Appearances *may* be deceiving but it looks like Becks is putting his soccer prowess first...and his looks, second. Is it any surprise that Posh wasn't to be seen at the match? She's probably horrified.

I'd take a freaky beardy Becks with full-on footy skills than the overly manscaped sub-par player of a few months back, any day!

(photo: PA via the Daily Mail)

RATE IT! Champions League/Zoey of the Week

UEFA's Champions League racks up again today... my whole day is being scheduled around the Manchester United/Wolfsburg clash. Ah, the joys of working for yourself! Footie in the afternoon.

With Zoey, my Schipperke puppy, playing a permanent starring role in the *new* animated Lose That Girl header, I'm starting a new post category: Zoey of the Week. Since she loves her tiny soccer/footie ball, it's fitting that she appear today ready and kitted out in her United attire, as you do.

RATE IT! United for Derby

Derby day in Manchester -- and the good guys -- *my guys* -- WON!

Love my team, love Sir Alex Ferguson's celebration (and G-Nev's too!), and love new recruit, Michael Owen - a true Red Devil if there ever was one! Scoring the winner at just the right time with seconds remaining. Super subbing at its finest.

Tevez, on the other hand, money doesn't buy you happiness or success. Red was more your colour than blue but hey.... you had your chance.

(photos: Reuters {Sir Alex}, Getty {M. Owen})

RATE IT! World Cup Qualifiers

With summer ending and fall peeking around the corner, the drive to qualify for the 2010 World Cup is heating up.

England hope to clinch their berth in next summer's tourney in South Africa today when they meet Croatia this afternoon/evening. Croatia has proved tricky for the boys so here's hoping Rooney, Lampard, Becks and the gang are firing on all cylinders...and don't forget to finish!

ENG-ER-LAND!

(photo: Reuters)

RATE IT! Manchester United Pledge

The English Premiership season is BACK! 

United don't return to action until tomorrow but here's a teaser... oh, yes please!

Thanks to Fourth for the 'heads up'!

HATE IT/RATE IT! Cristiano On My Turf

The world's best footie player is in my backyard - so to speak. 

It's with mixed emotions that I "welcome" the former United star --- former member of MY TEAM -- to Toronto. I'm really thrilled that my hometown is making me proud, going all Cristiano ga-ga in the wake of his jetting over here. Toronto is footie mad to be sure, and it's about time such international talent set foot on BMO field (shame the natural grass will be torn up afterwards -- they should keep it but try telling the City of Toronto who owns the grounds why it makes sense). Fans are quite happy to see the other Real Madrid giants of the sport -- especially Kaka --- here too but Cris, as always is getting all the copy and headlines. And probably the girls.

Still find it weird to see him in Real's kit. 

(photo: Reuters)

RATE IT! Maynards Soccer Ad

It's impossible for me NOT to adore this new candy ad from Maynards.

A trip on the Toronto subway (the TTC) turns into a candy-soccer fest. 

Candy & soccer -- two of my favourite things married together in a cute commercial -- and in my own city to boot.

HATE IT! Cristiano is Leaving Us

You know how some news is just too hard to take...

I'm still trying to get my head around the fact that Manchester United's star winger, Cristiano Ronaldo IS truly REALLY - it's no joke this time - LEAVING the club for the glam footballer realm of Real Madrid. Geez, just what that club needs, another massive ego. I think they might need a larger dressing room.

United fans have known it was going to happen *sometime*.... the timing was never sure, but the rumours have always been constant, the signs of Cris' want to depart for more sunny climes ever present. Just check out that sneer in the photo to the right. If I was his teammate, John O'Shea, sat beside him, I'd want to smack that look of disgust off his overly tanned visage. United gave Cristiano the worldwide platform to show his talent, to win overflowing armfuls of silverware --- no, no, NO Cris! Looking annoyed while at United is just not allowed. And thus, it is truly time for him to go...

It was fun while it lasted. And I have to offer a big heartfelt thanks for all that Cris did while a Red Devil. Now he can do step-overs into the Spanish sunset to his heart's content. Best of luck with Real - although, really I can't see you doing much better than you had done in Manchester, Cris. 

United will survive -- they always do! One player does not make THIS team. 

RATE IT! More Scenes Like This One, Please

May 27th might feel like any other Spring day to many but to Manchester United supporters like myself... it's one of the most important, stressful & exciting days of the year.

The Champions League final - today in Rome. Manchester United (bless!) v. Barcelona. The best in Europe going head-to-head. 

Hoping, wishing, turning inside out in anticipation.... for more scenes like this one. Over to you, Ronaldo & Rooney!

(photo: google)

RATE IT! Manchester United Wins --Again (part 18)

HURRAH! Manchester United win the EPL for the *third* time straight! Champions of England once again! It doesn't matter how many times they win the league, it still feels fresh & like the first time. United have now won as many league championships as rivals Liverpool.

Nothing much will get accomplished today as a result! Should make today a public holiday -- at least for Red Devil supporters, it already is!

(photos: AP, Reuters)