Friday, October 20, 2006

Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona battle of Spain, and other sports to watch this weekend



One of my favorite things to do on the weekend is to watch sports. This month of October has been a great month for me, with the beginning of the NHL season, NFL getting into full swing, the MLB Playoffs and world series. Even some great NASCAR races, but the grand-daddy sporting event of the weekend will be in Soccer. Yep, rivals Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are going to play for the first of 2 times this season. This game will be played at the 80,000 seat Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. This is for sure the hottest ticket in Spain this weekend. This could possibly be one of the most famous rivalries in all of sports. Yep all of sports here, we are talking about a rivalry between cities. If you have ever been to Spain and met someone from Madrid, they say their city is the best, and the same for people from Barcelona. Barcelona is the capitol of Catalonia, a region that would like to separate from Spain and be their own country. This rivarly has gone on as long as both teams have been around(over 100 years), its about a lot more than who wins or loses the game, its national identity at sake here. The game will be watched everywhere in the World as the roster on both teams includes players from Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Iceland, Italy, England. I will be watching it live on Sunday Oct 22nd, 3pm here in the USA on Gol TV, channel 614 on DirecTV.

Should be an interesting game, will this be when Ronaldinho who hasn't been spectacular this season at all finally break out. Who can forgot his last performance in Madrid in 2005, when he scored 2 goals and was CHEERED!! by the away fans. Other questions include what role does David Beckham have with Real Madrid?? Is this the end of his career? No longer on the English national team, and not even starting for real Madrid, will we see Beckham in the MLS next season? The season is still early, only 6 games having been played. Barcelona has not lost yet, and Madrid would love to be their first defeat of the season and it might give Madrid the spark they need to move up in the standings from 5th place. I know GOL TV is not on every cable system, but if you get it, this should be a fun game to watch.

Also on TV this weekend and worth watching The World Series Game 1 & Game 2. on FOX at 8pm Saturday and Sunday nights. While the matchup of St. Louis vs Detroit is not going to win any ratings battle for most watched World Series, in fact it might be least watched, what a story it would be in Detroit Tigers could win the World Series after losing 119 games only 3 years ago..

NASCAR, Subway 500 from Martinsville, Virgina. Sunday Oct 22nd, 12:30pm NBC. What watching NASCAR on a Sunday? Well this weeks slate of NFL games doesnt have any compelling matchups until the Monday night game Giants vs Cowboys. This NASCAR race is on a tiny track, .5 mile oval, so there will be PLENTY of bumping, passing, spin-outs and even a few accidents. But don't worry with average speeds of only 90mph, these guys will hit the wall, go into the pits, fix the car and get back out there.

College Football... While I honestly don't get into the college game, it rules the airwaves on Saturday. Plus if Ohio State ranked 1, and Michigan ranked 2, both can run their remaining schedules and finish undefeated it will be an EPIC battle on November 18th at Ohio State when the 2 teams would meet in the last game of the season for both the Big 10 Title, National Championship shot and total midwest bragging rights. Ohio State vs Michigan is one of the biggest and best rivalries in college sports.

The NFL is usually king of the TV airwaves on a fall weekend, but even NBC does not want to go up against the World Series so no "Football Night in America" this week. Whatever is on, there is a good chance I'll be on my couch with remote in hand watching some sports this weekend! Enjoy

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