"Socker" in the US and Death of Pigskin?

Minneapolis Tribune - Dec. 19, 1909

This brief article makes some bold predictions on the fate of pigskin football in the state of Virginia, following the tragic passing of a college player there.  Several others states were considering legislation that would've banned throwball as well.  Not to take anything away from the present state of the beautiful game in places like Virginia and North Carolina, but doesn't it boggle the mind to think what might have been?

Anti-Revolutionary Wear!

This design has been around for a bit, but I'm just now getting around to it.  Or at least, I'm just getting around to admitting that I (sometimes/maybe/often) have this problem...

I hear you naysayers...soccer shouldn't concern me as an "opiate of the masses"!  You'll bemoan the dozens and dozens of amateur/professional soccer clubs founded by employers looking to keep workers occupied or more pointedly, away from radical thoughts or activities.  Shoot, even I enjoy sharing this tidbit about the foundation of Thames Ironworks F.C. - later to become West Ham United - when I'm talking to people about the club I support.

"Hills, who had been involved in a bitter industrial dispute with his employees that year, thought that the formation of a football club might help improve the mood of his workforce. On 29th June, 1895, Hills announced in his newspaper, the Thames Ironworks Gazette, that he intended to establish a football club. The information appeared under the headline: "The importance of co-operation between workers and management". He referred to the dispute that had just taken place and insisted he wanted to "wipe away the bitterness left by the recent strike". Hills added: "Thank God this midsummer madness is passed and gone; inequities and anomalies have been done away with and now, under the Good Fellowship system and Profit Sharing Scheme, every worker knows that his individual and social rights are absolutely secured.""

Forget about your grievances you shipbuilding mob - kick around a ball and get cozy with Chairman Hills!  After all, he swears your social rights are now "absolutely secured!"  Look at these workers from the first Thames Ironworks club below - do they look fooled?

Would You Hire a Fascist?

Apparently yes, if you're Swindon Town F.C. in England's League Two.  Sure, I don't have (or desire) the ability to hire and fire people, and I have zero experience in the operations of a professional football club. These facts alone would lead many to rubbish my opinion on Swindon Town's decision to hire Paolo Di Canio as their next manager.  If that's you, you're always free to stop reading here and I bid thee addio!

Now, I've disclosed previously that I'm a supporter of West Ham United - a club where to this day Di Canio receives a hero's welcome.  Speaking strictly of footballing skills, many fans of the Claret and Blue would argue that the Hammers haven't had a player with such ability in and around the box since Di Canio's departure.  Shoot, I still consider his wonder-volley against Wimbledon in March of 2000 as the best goal I've ever seen.  Fantastico!

Taking a look at the entire package though, this parcel has arrived in Wiltshire marked 'EXTREME LIABILITY'.  Maybe this decision makes sense given Swindon Town's consistent financial woes, or considering they've cycled through no less than 10 managers (including caretakers) since 2005 - what's another punt on a retired footballer with no managerial experience?  But let's not also forget that this crate comes stamped with the big black, ugly letters of 'FASCIST'!

The Original Vikings Football Team in Minnesota

And no, there was no Norm Van Brocklin to be found coaching this Vikings football team.  And we're not talking about the early-60s and a son of a Pentecostal Methodist minister scrambling his way around opponents.

Let me introduce the Vikings, one of Minneapolis' first association football teams.

Outrage at the Bernabéu (but not of the sort you're hearing about)!

Haven't seen any figures yet on the viewing numbers for yesterday's Champions League match between Real Madrid and Bacelona, but one can assume millions and millions around the world tuned in to what turned out to be an outrageous first leg tie.