Random Notes from a Crank

In yet another FAFO moment, the New York Times has a decent article about how the state of Iowa is getting hurt by Moscow Don's dumbass economic policies: "In Trump-Friendly Iowa, the President's Policies Have Hit Hard." 

The Governor's race, a U.S. Senate race, and two competitive House races are up for grabs in the midterm elections. Let's hope the people in my native state come to their senses. 

I doubt they will because the state is comprised of a bunch of old people who believe what they hear on FauxNews. 

Tottenham Hotspur have a hell of a run of games in the coming week and month of November:

• At Newcastle in the League Cup
• Home vs. Chelsea
• Home vs. Copenhagen in the Champions League
• Home vs. Manchester United
• At Arsenal
• At Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League
• Home vs. Fulham

It's going to be a difficult run of games to get points from. Spurs were successful giving Everton its first home defeat in their new stadium though. That was a welcome outcome. 

This week's Existential Comic is a good one. It takes on consciousness and AI: "Philosophy Vs. the Terminator." 

 

I went into the public restroom at work today, and some dude was sitting in one of the stalls listening to videos on his phone that were playing very loudly.

When did that become a thing? 

Musing of the Moment: Super League Dead & Spurs' Next Coach

The botched rollout of and communication about the European Super League is one of the more intriguing sports stories in recent times. They announced it on Sunday, and by Tuesday the league was effectively dead.

I look forward to watching a documentary about how this disaster went down. I might say it could be a great 30 for 30 doc, but ESPN rarely covers soccer football topics unless it's a great goal for their top plays on Sportscenter. 

The foreign owners of the Premier League clubs, some of whom are Americans, obviously don't understand the culture of British football. There were protests outside of Chelsea's grounds, and Klopp had a spicy interview related to how Liverpool was treated when they visited Elland Road. And then Leeds tied the Reds in the game. 

Perhaps this failed attempt will make some changes to qualification criteria for the Champions League since the "big six" of the Premier League were obviously interested in generating more revenue. But some of that plotting might have come from the American owners of Liverpool, Arsenal, and ManU, who might have MLB or the NFL as their template for making money. 

The articles about the Super League on The Athletic have been fantastic. 

In other matters with the team I support, Jose Mourinho got sacked. 

It's highly doubtful the interim coach can get the Spurs to qualify for Champions League, but I hope to see a more progressive style of play in their games. They have way too many offensive weapons to park the bus and continue looking lethargic offensively. I'd like to see plans of what they want to do in regard to attacking. 

As much as I liked Mourinho because of his old school, sometimes caustic mentality, I suspect he lost the dressing room by blaming players. 

There is all kinds of speculation about who Tottenham will hire for its next manager. Just hire someone who puts the joy back into the play of Spurs.