Man City Miracle; Arsenal Reprieve

The EPL season is now over, though not decided. That won't happen until Chelsea plays Bayern Munich in the Champions League Final on Saturday. If Chelsea wins, Tottenham go to the European League and, if I understand, Newcastle and Everton as well. If not, Chelsea finishes in a nightmare sixth, must go to the European league and has an FA Cup that will do little to salve the wounds of a year without UCL. It will be a big ask missing four players including Ramires (and his great form of late), Terry, Ivanovic and Miereles -- and potentially also being without Luiz and Cahill. But they have been impressive in big games since Di Matteo took over and might just pull off the miracle.

In any case, yesterday had to be one of the most exciting final days in the history of English football -- even better than when Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-0 to win in on total goals in 1989. Over the course of the simultaneous 10 matches, Arsenal was in 3rd, in 4th (with Tottenham salivating) then back in third after a third mistake by West Brom backup goalkeeper Fulop, Bolton was out then in then out then in then, ultimately, out (they drew 2-2) and QPR was celebrating as they blew an improbable 2-1 road win, realizing they had escaped the bounce. Of course the big story was in the two Manchesters. As the second half of both games began, Manchester United was mired in second and seemed to have no chance of making up the goal difference (after blowing 3 or 4 opportunities and clinging to a 1-0 lead). Then the news arrived at Sunderland that QPR had tied on an inexplicable mistake by Lescott and great finish from Cisse. United fans start murmuring about the possibility and the team seemed as interested in the news as their own game. Then QPR pulled off a miracle, after Joey Barton was sent off in the 55th minute for a stupid elbow of Tevez, and somehow score again. Now United fans are excited and the team realizes as the seconds tick off that they are going to snatch the title. 

Fergie had heard the news of the second goal and literally jumps out of his seat. United fans are celebrating, the players realize what's happening and the 90th minute arrives. They are just controlling the ball and playing for what they think is the last three minutes of an improbable title. And then news of the first Man City goal shows up on a fan's smartphone. The crowd begins to get worried. Back at the Ethiad, a crowd that was reeling at the potential loss after 44 years of waiting come to life as Eden Dzeko heads in for 2-2 in the 92nd minute. QPR takes their time on the ensuing kickoff and the tension is palpable. Then who but Balotteli dives to get a through ball to Aguero who cooly goes around the last defender and rifles the ball past Kelly on the near post. An explosion of celebration and the title that seemed theirs for certain before the New Years slip started. As the United game ends, Fergie walks toward the pitch assuming he is about to pick up United's 20th title only to turn as someone tells him the news. The players quickly realize what has happened and are so crestfallen, they're not sure what to do.

And so City wins the title in the most dramatic fashion possible -- two goals in stoppage time to rescue their season and win the league. Aguero is the star, but Dzeko, Tevez and Balotteli play pivotal roles (even as all of them could be gone next year). For the first time in EPL history, goal difference is the difference and United has to rue all the chances they have blown over the course of the season -- the balls that hit the post, the flubbed open nets, the late concedes, etc. Man City fulfilled their destiny and, unfortunately, showed that money can essentially buy titles (though not of the UCL variety yet). As I celebrated along with the players, I also recognized that fair play needs to get its due in the next few years to end what will become dominance of European football by the rich from the Middle East and Russia. But it was a day to remember and Arsenal, of course, squeaked out a victory.

So on to the Gunners. The season is over. Third place is secured. Another year of Champions League football. No silverware. A late season fade yet again and more goals conceded this year than in the previous four (the goals allowed has been creeping upward for five straight years). We might lose another star and Wenger still seems clueless about spending big to again compete at the top. There are signs things could change, but if they don't, Arsenal is to become the also-ran that many pundits think they already are. Who can argue with them? Wenger seems unwilling to do the things necessary to win -- for example, getting rid of the dead weight, accepting failure on players that don't perform rather than letting them go out week after week, not creating enough competition at key positions to motivate his players, playing a high line when it is pure insanity, rarely changing tactics, refusing to spend for players that are available and lowering standards year after year. Sure we might be better off than Chelsea and Liverpool at the moment (though both won silverware and the Blues could still snag the ultimate prize), but they will spend big again this summer and improve. And Wenger claims he won't, after promising the opposite a few short months ago.

So where do we go from here? The most troubling thing for me yesterday was this quote from Wenger: "I'm proud of the season. The mental solidity, the unity and solidarity inside the club has been tested. We didn't show any weakness and kept united." Hmm ... I would say they showed a lot of weakness, particularly at key moment and in the final run-in. Lest us forget the match yesterday shouldn't have mattered -- we lost to QPR, gave up two early goals to Wigan and lost, let two points slip away at home against Chelsea in the nil-nil draw, drew with Stoke after a poor early defensive error, blew a 3-2 lead against Norwich in the last ten minutes and didn't complete the "almost" comeback against AC Milan that could have really kept us rolling to the end. The team seemed flat for at least half of four or five of our last games and the defense looked terrible -- giving up goal after unnecessary goal. It is clear that a number of things need to happen with this club. Here are a few that I think are at the top of the list:

1. We need to change our defensive tactics and Vermaelen has to be reigned in. I partially blame him for the end of season fall, as he is venturing forward far too often. Yesterday I actually saw him looking to the bench and being pulled back. It's absurd. Kos had a great year, with some hiccups, but discipline in the back must be reestablished. Vertonghen would be a nice solution, but he now seems intent on going to Tottenham, though one wonders if he'll change his mind if Chelsea wins Saturday. We need to replace Jenkinson, who looked terrible yesterday not for the first time (he doesn't understand how to take the inside away or stay in front of the wingers), and get a reliable right back. Gibbs and Santos are fine on the right (to me) though I'm not completely convinced by Gibbs. And we need another center half, if not Vert then someone else. Get rid of Squillaci and hopefully Djourou as well.    
2. Get M'Villa or another defensive midfielder. Song has improved dramatically, but a few key assists seem to have convinced him to play further up the pitch than he should, leaving us exposed at the back. The two West Brom goals were almost as embarrassing as two of our three. 
3. We need competition or a replacement for Ramsey. He has gotten worse as the season has worn on and just isn't doing the job. Why Chamberlain got no time at the end of the season, is beyond me. He could slot into the hole position behind the striker quite nicely and I think thrive from that position. I wonder if Wenger was essentially telling the media and the fans to shut up by not playing him. That sort of attitude needs to be addressed by the board. 
4. We might have to bear Gervinho for one more year, but assuming RVP stays, we need to get someone better on the left. Assuming Walcott stays and continues to improve, one formation would see Podolski on the Left, RVP in the Middle and Walcott on the right. We could, of course, switch to Pod and RVP up front as well. But Gervinho, for all his trickery, is just not getting the job done with either goals or assists; after a bright start. There have been rumors of bringing in Sessignon or Hoillet, but who knows what will happen with those. I also like the idea of Clint Demsey, who could play up front or move back toward midfield. He would be a great signing and could give us three legitimate goal scorers going into next season.
5. We need a creative midfielder to come in. I'm not sure who that should be, but it's clear that we are often lacking the final ball that creates goals. If RVP does go, God forbid, we will be a worse team next year unless we make some big signings (Giroud maybe, though he doesn't seem to want to come).  


Ultimately, after the start we had, we can be happy with third. But I don't think we can be happy with the form (or effort) from the squad in the last two months. After a great run, they went back to careless defending, uninspired play and even some poor goalkeeping. Things need to change if the Gunners are to compete. At the top of the list, is bringing in two or three big names, cutting the fat (Squillaci, Almunia, Bendtner, Chamakh, Park, etc.). Yes Wilshire and Arteta will be back, yes Diaby might actually make it through three games without an injury, yes RVP could return (I'm starting to doubt it) and yes several players got another year of experience. But we need more depth, we need more talent and we need to shore up our defense. If both wingers are coming forward as often as say Sagna and Santos, Vermaelen, Kos and Song have to hold the line. Wenger seems trapped in the past, unwilling to truly change things. Maybe the addition from Bould (fond goodbye to Rice) will shake things up a little, particularly on the defensive end, but Wenger has to realize the rest of Europe has caught up and his advantage is long gone. 


Gunner fans should be happy but not content. Things need to change, but hope springs anew. If Wenger has another season like this, one wonders if we should knock on the door of an unemployed Barcelona fella, who just had a pretty good four years (with one terrible week thrown in to wreck the party). Until next season ...

Good Ole Boy

The hits just keep on coming with good ole Mitt Romney, who apparently is a first-rate prankster. This includes joking with a state trooper who "short sheeted" a hotel room when he was governor by writing him a letter that the staff had been fired. And in his private prep school, he apparently forcefully cut the hair of a kid whose he thought was too long and chided another closeted gay student with, "atta girl" in class: Yahoo News. While President Obama took the audacious step of being the first major national politician to openly support gay marriage, Romney apparently has a history of bullying them. I suppose it is not surprising for a guy who worked on Wall Street, long a bastion for the uber-masculine, uber-competitive A-type personalities who take joy in destroying companies, forcing through mergers that cut jobs and dehumanizing anyone in their way. But is an unempathetic President really what this country needs right now? It will certainly feed the hatred and intolerance that seems to grow with each passing day here and in Europe. But maybe there is actually another third way that could set the sails of the country on a new path.

Cry Beloved Center

Further evidence that we live in an increasingly polarized political climate is not really news at all. But yet another defeat for a centrist Republican further exemplifies the failure of too many Americans to understand or support the central tenet of democracy -- namely compromise. The latest victim of the new conservative common sense was 36-year veteran Indiana Senator Richard Lugar. Lugar was defeated in the primary by Tea Party-sponsored Richard Mourdock (one wonders if his homonymic namesake has had too large an influence on him) who argued that Lugar too often agreed with President Obama: CNN. Lugar was forced out of office for his inability to avoid compromise at any cost, but other moderates are leaving by choice including long-time Maine centrist Olympia Snowe.

Mourdock explained his position, "What I've said is, and what I continue to believe, certainly, is one side or the other must prevail, and I'm hoping this candidacy will help move the Republican Party forward to become a permanent majority." He continued, ""Some people say, well, we do understand it, and by golly, we're going to wait until we have majorities in both houses, the White House, where there's two years, four years, six years, but the country has to keep going in the meanwhile."

That sounds reasonable, unless you actually believe in democracy, where compromise is essential. The balance and separation of powers that the constitution outlined (and justified in more detail in the federalist papers) make it clear that no party or branch of government should yield too much power. And yet the Republican party seems intent on setting up a "permanent majority" that sounds a lot like a fascist state -- where decisions are not debated by signed by collective fiat. Many forget that when Bush was in power he often ignored the Democratic majority in Congress and did as he pleased, arguing that anyone who disagreed with him was simply "playing politics." The results of this general stance are hard to argue with -- unless you actually care about our debt, the income gap, adventurous militarism, secrecy, the constitution or the future of the country. 

For one party to argue that it seeks absolute power over decision-making means that there would be only one idea that dominated American democracy. And that idea is too often anti-democratic beyond the very idea of one idea (which itself is completely antithetical to democracy -- or the will of the people: particularly when less than 50 percent of the country supports it). What do conservative want? To legislate our bedrooms and women's sexuality. To close the borders of America to unwanted immigrants. To create a corporate plutocracy that is accountable to no one, except maybe the politicians they will continue to pay off. They want no oversight of the economy, few social programs to help the poor, elderly, disabled or anyone else who loses in the new, increasingly harsh global economy. Greed would be the key social attribute, Christianity the only morality (beside fealty to the mythical free market) and individualism would trump community except in embrace of all forms of hatred. Science would diminish in importance, as would rationality and really "reason" of any kind. Is this really the country anyone dreams of? Do many really want to reenter the stale, homogenized, sexist and racist 50s they hold up as the nostalgic utopia? Has America completely lost it's mind?

Hope in Europe?

Results over the weekend bring hope that the neoliberal stranglehold on European political and economic life might be loosening. First, was the expected victory of Socialist party leader Francois Hollande over the increasingly racist and xenophobic neoliberal Sarkozy: CNN. While hatred of Sarkozy among the French played a large role in the election, it is also clear that they have grown weary of the worsening economic climate for the average citizen; and maybe the hatred used toward political ends (though Le Pen did garner 20% in the initial election tally). Similar news emerged from Greece, where European Union austerity measures to save a country in a serious debt crisis (which arguably is not all of their own making, but heavily complemented by questionable Morgan Stanley practices) have led to massive unemployment (22% at last check), cuts in wages, pensions and benefits and essentially a shrinking economy. The main center-right party, which marginally won the election (with 18% of the votes in parliament), was unable to establish a coalition government and have now left that task to the leftist Syriza coalition, who have three days to accomplish the feat (CNN). 

While these are only two incidents in a continent that has moved considerably to the right in the past two decades, general discontent with their shift away from social democracy is palpable. This is clearly true in England, where Cameron is instituting his own severe austerity measures with little popular support, and was rebuffed in midterm elections, in Italy, where in local elections the left and protest groups did well and even in Germany, where Merkel was rebuffed in state elections. Spain also appears to be suffering from increasing discontent as the conservative party they elected has done little to stem the tide of economic collapse and crisis. 

In America, the attempt to unseat Scott Walker together with a continue push to keep the Occupy Wall Street fervor alive could be telling indicators of where we are headed as a country, though the push to solidify anti-gay-marriage, anti-immigrant and anti-woman legislation across the country certainly bodes poorly for any notion that we are really moving in a progressive direction. The election this year should tell us whether Americans finally believe that government could do them some good or continue to abide the lie that the market and the noblesse oblige of the wealthy is the only answer to our economic plight. Of course, other factors could play a huge role including the fear and hatred saturated campaign we can expect the Republican party to run, particularly as they have endless corporate cash at their disposals.

The reality of the world today is those economies that are doing best tend to have strong central governments that contribute to economic prosperity and equality of educational outcome. We see this in Sweden, Norway and Finland (three of the few remaining "social democracies" of Europe), in China and South Korea (where the government subsidizes key industries, funds education at high levels and erects barriers to imports) and in the other BRIC countries (Brazil, India and Russia -- where corrupt governments undermine any notion of "free" markets). In a different way, one can make similar arguments about Germany, where labor continues to have considerable decision-making power, there is relative parity in wages across the country and where manufacturing continues to persist (unlike the rest of the West where it has essentially been exported). In any case, the neoliberal argument continues to persuade millions that government is bad and markets good -- even as the reality that surrounds them contradicts this absurdity at every turn. Could the people be waking up from the less-than-noble lie?

With a Little Help from Your Enemies ...

Coming into play today, it looked like Arsenal would fall out of the all-important third spot that meant Champions League football next year no matter what happens with Chelsea in this years final. But Tottenham could only muster a 1-1 draw against an Aston Villa team that teeters on the edge of the drop zone. And in form Newcastle found themselves facing a team that was vying for an unlikely title and lost to Man City 2-0. So Arsenal stays in third and a win over West Brom on the road next week guarantees we will stay there. It has been a rocky campaign of ups and downs but one hopes they show up for this essential last game and finish the job.

A few thoughts going into the season ending Sunday. 

1. Goalkeepers really matter, as was shown most clearly in the FA Cup final, with Reina having a very average game and Cech somehow pulling the ball from the edge of going in and saving the game. I believe the horrible Valdez has cost Barca dearly this year while Casillas has helped Madrid win their first title under Mourinho. The first Norwich goal Saturday should have never gone in while Joe Hart and De Gea have provided an endless number of key saves for the Manchesters, though Hart has been consistent all season while De Gea cost Man United points as he developed into the top keeper he appears to be at the moment. Szczesny has had a decent campaign, but he is prone to a mistake every few games and the one on Saturday could have proven crucial. He has the potential to be a great keeper but needs to work on his discipline and staying focused.

2. If RvP re-signs with the Gunners, we should thank Tottenham for continuing to choke whenever they were given the chance to regrasp a third position that seemed theirs until our comeback victory at the Emirates earlier this year. One of his comments during the Player of the Year awards should give us all pause though, as he referenced Pires in claiming he will "always be a Gunner no matter what happens." One hopes a few more signings, his families contentment in London and another year of UCL will be enough to keep him from going to Man City (who are supposedly offering up 250,000 pounds a week), Barca or Real.

3. Someone has to talk to Vermaelen about going forward too much. I have mentioned it the past two weeks, but when I watched the replay of the three goals, he was nowhere to be found on any of them. Just look at Kompany or Terry as comparison. Yes both occasionally venture forward, and obviously score important goals as did Kompany last week, but they are rarely caught back as often as Vermaelen is. Koscielny has covered for him a lot, as have Sagna and Gibbs when they are healthy, but he really needs to show more discipline and not let the defense get behind him so much. When we score 2 or 3 goals at home, we should not be losing (or even drawing), but have done so a few times this year.

4. Obviously Arteta will be back next year and so, hopefully, will Wilshire. But we clearly need a central midfielder that is creative off the bench and I am completely unconvinced by Ramsey. He has had first team action for most of the year, and has failed to impress over and over again. Maybe the summer break will give him the time to get back to the player he used to be, but he too frequently gives up the ball, has not shown the creative flair of the beginning of the season for far too long, and only occasionally shows the energy we need. And even as he has a nice shot, he is not scoring goals for us. 

5. After looking like a team with a lot more spine, the Gunners have again had a late year flail that makes one wonder if Wenger is not doing enough to motivate his players. We have been out of all the competitions for almost two months and yet have started lethargic on far too many occasions in the past month. Against Wigan, we gave up two early goals. Against Norwich, two early goals. Against Chelsea, we should have been up and running away with it by halftime, but had a really average performance. Something clearly needs to change, and one hopes that the new assistant (Pat Rice is retiring) is someone that can pump the lads up for the big games.

In any case, one week to go in the season, and against the odds the Gunners need a win on the road to sew up an average but somewhat satisfying campaign. If they lose or draw, I hope they fall all the way to fifth and lose RvP. The team needs to show they can win a game against a team they should beat when it matters most. Let's hope they do ... 

Gunners Choke Again

Arsenal looked poised to sew up third place a few weeks ago. Then there was a shock defeat to QPR, a loss to Wigan, draws with a seriously depleted Chelsea side and Stoke. With two games left, however, our destiny was still in our hands. No longer. After pulling back from 2-1 down to take a 3-2 lead less than seven minutes from full time, the Gunners gave one back and now have to root for Man City and Aston Villa. It was an impressive game at times, but our defensive breakdowns could very well have just cost us Champions League football next year.

We started slow and lethargic, as we have in far too many games of late, even as Benayoun put us on the board early with a lovely goal. But defensive lapses soon found us behind. The first was terrible defending, but really has to fall on bizarre goalkeeping by Szczezny, who let it dribble past him on a rather weak shot right at him. The second was a bit of bad luck, as the ball careened off Gibbs foot and over Szczezny, but was set up by the defenders not getting back again. The rest of the first half, we looked average at best, with a particularly poor game for Ramsey yet again not helping things. The second half started brightly, though we missed a number of chances. Then RVP got hot and scored two within a few minutes to give us the lead and one would think the points. But rather than sit back and play on the counter, the team inexplicably let the ball past them and the equalizer followed. Tactically, it was a nightmare and continues what I consider a drop in form from Vermaelen, who seems more interested in playing as a forward then ensuring the defense is solid. Koscielny might have saved a couple and one has to wonder why a penalty wasn't given at the end of the game when the defender careened into RvP from behind, right as he was about to put the ball into an open net. 

But it was one of several clear opportunities that went wanting for RvP and the Gunners. Yes he had a brace and we scored three goals, but we could have easily had six. As he found himself one on one with the Norwich goalkeeper, he sent it right at him and then Chamakh missed a header by a hair that would have given us the points. RvP had another chance and Koscielny could have given us the points with a header, but as the whistle blew twice, the team must have realized they had blown another huge game that was ours for the taking. 

The reality tonight is that after all the good work we put in to get back into third we could easily find ourselves out in the cold, if Newcastle and Tottenham win their final two games, or even if Newcastle doesn't and Chelsea wins the Champions League final, to add to the FA Cup they won 2-1 today (as Liverpool's late charge fell a goal short). One would think if that happens then RVP will leave and it will be harder to sign players like Vertoenghen and M'villa. This loss could, in fact, be the beginning of the end for Wenger and the start of a rebuilding process that could mean a much longer silverware drought. For much of the year, Arsenal impressed me with their will to win and series of late comebacks. But something changed when they didn't quite pull out the comeback against AC Milan and we are again mired in an end of year drop in form. Yes we have had injury after injury, and have learned just how important Arteta is to the club this year, but a team that can't see out the last 10 minutes (with stoppage time) of a game at home that all but guarantees the UCL for next year maybe deserves to find themselves out in the hinterland. Let's hope Bayern Munich keep to the dream script and win the final at home (it should be noted Chelsea will be without four starters including John Terry) and that Newcastle loses at home to Man City tomorrow -- which I would have been rooting for anyway. But it has certainly been a disappointing runin for a team that a few short weeks ago looked like one of the best in the league.

Bush 3.0?

One would think the last thing a candidate running for President would do is remind the country of the failed Bush presidency. Au contraire, mon ami! Apparently, Mitt Romney doesn't just want to re-institute the Bush tax and spending cuts, deregulation and business-friendly policies but seems poised to continue the failed foreign policy of our ex-Monkey in Chief as well. To that end, he is assembling a team of Bush Neocon flunkies, who must be surprised to be getting a call from anyone except the defense industry: Salon. Yes, Richard Grenell is gone after it became clear that he was .... well .... gay. But Michael Chertoff (of Homeland Security and Katrina infamy) is back, Iraq War supporter Eliot Cohen is here, Cofer Black (fired chief of Blackwater, who bribed Iraqi officials) is hanging around and ex-Assistant Secretary of Defense Mary Beth Long, who oversaw Iraq and Afghanistan, is co-chairing one of the 13 working groups currently formulating Romney's foreign policy stances -- though one assumes he will need a whole army of copyeditors as he changes his stance as polls change.

Gingrich has finally quit, so it's Romney or Obama now. One should expect one of the ugliest elections in history, with Romney lying, rewriting history and his record and changing his mind from one microphone to the next. The political ads will be nasty, the rhetoric boiling with covert racism, xenophobia and homophobia and history rewritten to create a tale of a non-citizen, socialist Hitler wannabe President that is to blame for the economic crisis, meager increase in CEO salaries the past three years (only rose 15% in 2011) and, hell, the loss of the Vietnam war as well. Along the way, we will here that Romney is a moderate, I mean conservative, I mean Bush supporter, I mean nothing like Bush, oh, whatever you want me to be. Is that really what we want in a President? Actually, is that really what we want in a human being? We shall see ...

Public Intellectuals for Hire

Corporations have long used intellectuals to help improve their technology, learn the psychology of consumers and consumption, improve their advertising and marketing techniques and, essentially, increase productivity and profits. A more recent trend has been the use of intellectuals in the public arena to legitimate their practices or challenge scientific and ethical claims that can undermine their bottom line. Exxon Mobile funds anti-global-warming research, the tobacco companies once set up an entire institute to tell the public what they knew wasn't true, chemical companies engaged in similar practices and the auto industry attempted to fight Ralph Nader's successful push for increased car safety. More recently, corporations have teamed up with media and publishers to sell the public seemingly "common sense" arguments that support their interests and alter the public debate.

Among the most prominent are Malcolm Gladwell, who uses pseudo-science to celebrate the achievements of corporations and their marketing successes, Thomas Friedman who makes millions providing a one-sided perspective on globalization that elides all the losers and the entire Fox News team, who provide a perspective that is decidedly pro-business and pro-capitalism. Universities have also long fallen prey to the allure of corporate money in their research. the latest example of this trend may be a book from two years ago that is still garnering considerable consternation among those critiquing the food and farming industries, Food Politics: What Everybody Needs to Know by Robert Paarlberg. The book is described by one critic thusly, ""The author is an academic, not a journalist, and his efforts to get the food facts right ring through every page. Paarlberg challenges many of the ideas that are frequently voiced - but rarely questioned - in popular food discourse...Although many of his claims call into question sacrosanct principles in activist and academic circles, there are good reasons to hear Paarlberg out; he backs up his arguments with data, and writes based on decades of experience as a political scientist and policy analyst working in the field." (Amazon).

So what's the problem? Aren't polemics an important part of the public sphere? Certainly. But there are two very valid critiques of the book. First, he has no citations, so you can't actually check his data or facts. This is a serious shortfall and one wonders why a respected academic would suddenly turn away from noting his references and source (de rigeur in academia). The second problem, and what people really "need to know," is that he is a paid consultant for Monsanto, the agricultural giant that will benefit greatly from those who are swayed by the book's central point. This is where the line between corporate interest and individual scholarship becomes most troubling. Again, one can write a book making an argument from one perspective without necessarily doing extensive research. People do it all the time. But when a respected academic writes a book that includes "facts" and "common sense" arguments he is bringing the imprimatur of his experience, the publisher (Oxford Press) and his university to bear. So arguments that in fact support the continuation of the status quo sound like objective critiques of extant research on the topic. 

Thus the public is bamboozled and the critiques of the food industry (who include all the people starving in the third world because of food subsidies in the U.S. and Europe) are left out in the cold. This practice has existed as long as corporations have been around (that is a big part of the job public relations does), but it is troubling to think top academics are essentially on the take, available to offer their respected opinions to the highest bidder. It's like a collective of less charismatic Larry "Lonesome" Rhoads, shucking the public for fun and profits, though with no camera to catch them in the act.    

Romney Retort and More Misinformation

Romney has responded to a recent Obama campaign ad that touted the capture and killing of Osama bin Laden, claiming Romney wouldn't have authorized the raid: Slate. His response, "even Jimmy Carter would have given that order." What a classy guy. Yes, Jimmy Carter had a circumspect, though probably manipulated, record regarding the Iranian hostages that helped Reagan win. And yes, Carter has had the gall to win a Nobel Peace Prize and try to broker peace in Israel. But why beat up the old President who has been a beating post for so long? Romney appears willing to say pretty much anything to win the election -- and many things that could hurt him in the end. One hopes the Obama team pull out the old Huntsman ads and remind voters that Romney changes his mind more often then Charlie Brown.

To boot, after criticizing the President a few months ago for saving the auto industry -- a seemingly terrible idea given how closely contested the Midwest has become -- he now has his version of the external Karl Rove brain, Eric Fehrnstorm claiming that the bailout was all Romney's idea (Crooks & Liars). As usual, the Romney team hopes Americans have historical amnesia, as Romney, in fact, penned a 2008 op ed called "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt" and then reiterated the point in a 2012 piece (see link above for links to articles). And just yesterday, Romney told graduates to be bold and borrow money from their parents. What a great guy ... gee, I hope he wins (dog lover of the year that is).

Arsenal Draw Again

Trips to the Brittania have often been contentious (none more than the Shawcross-Ramsey leg break two years ago) and rarely lucrative. And that trend continued yesterday, as Arsenal did pull back to 1-1 six minutes after giving up an early goal to Peter Crouch, but were unable to get the winner. It was another relatively stale performance and another game we failed to win without Arteta (something we have failed to do all year). RvP did get off the snide and scored a goal in open play, on a lovely cross from Rosicky. But defensive sloppiness early led to the opener, as Sagna failed to get out on the wing to contest the cross from Etherington and Vermaelen was unable to clear the ball in front of the much taller Crouchy. One has to ask why Chamberlain wasn't given the start with Walcott out for the final three games. And many opportunities went wanting in the first half, though Begovic had several fine saves. 

The dropped points were particularly disappointing as Newcastle had been mauled by the surging Wigan 4-0 and we could have thus all but wrapped up third place for the season. Now we probably have to win our final two games to secure third and ensure that we are playing in the champions league next year (given that Chelsea could win the tournament this year if they beat Bayern Munich in the final) and will take the "fourth" spot if they don't grab it themselves). There is a possibility Chelsea will do just that though, and that would mean we are in if we stay in the top four. Our next match is against Norwich at the Emirates, who have little to play for except pride, and then we finish against mid-table West Brom to close out the campaign. We should win both and ensure that third spot, but nothing is guaranteed with a squad that has now lost to QPR and Wigan and drawn with Chelsea and Stoke, while beating Man City and the bottom dwelling Wolves in between. After a nice run of form, one wonders where the confidence and quality have gone, but there do seem to be a lot of tired legs and a general lack of creativity and solid defense (particularly early in contests). 

A few takeaways from the game: 1. We need to have more defensive discipline and to get our fullbacks to come out and contest crosses. This has been a problem too often this year and cost us big today. I think the recent form reaffirms our need for another centre back and maybe fullback. We could cover both by signing Vertonghen. 2. We need more creativity in the middle. We are clearly looking and hopefully a good choice will emerge. Ramsey has improved a little in the past two games, but he just doesn't control the middle or provide the service that Arteta does. 3. I think we also have to think about the wings. Yes we have Walcott and Chamberlain (who might be better employed in the hole behind the striker), and appear to have signed Podolski, but maybe need someone more prolific than Gervinho and Benayoun (who looks set to move on). 4. It was good to see Diaby in again, though he doesn't have the weight of his passes down yet. Healthy, he could be a nice option to give rest to Arteta and any other signings. 5. There is no question that we are building too slowly and allowing teams to get behind us and make it very difficult to score. Chelsea's epic hold with 10 men against Barca points to a similar problem the Catalan team has had a few times this year. 

And one has to mention the week of football beyond the world of Arsenal. Chelsea looked set to be eliminated after John Terry got sent off for a silly foul and Barca scored twice to make it 2-0. And then right before half time, Messi was dispossessed and Frank Lapard sent a beautiful pass toward the wing that was picked up by Ramires, who cooly chipped over the terrible Valdez. Going into the locker room, Barca must have felt deflated but confident they could get the goal that would restore their tie lead. But it never came, after Messi missed an early second half penalty (reaffirming some people's fear that he lacks big game quality -- which is of course ridiculous, given all the silverware he's won with Barca in the past few years). The draw, which saw Chelsea go through on aggregate, together with the 2-1 home loss in El Classico last weekend, appeared to be the final straw in a decision Guardiola might have made long ago -- to walk away from the plumbest job in the world. The announcement came two days later and leaves some questions about the future -- though some summer signings should restore the form that still included three pieces of silverware since last summer. One thing that seems clear to me is that Valdez needs competition for the starting job; and they probably need to fortify the backline and maybe bring in a striker that can provide a "plan b." Real Madrid met a similar fate when they too blew a 2-0 lead that would have seen them through after a foul in the box by Pepe led to a penalty and aggregate tie. Madrid looked likely to score, but as the two teams moved toward extra time, they both seemed to tire and were intent on not giving up the late goal. The extra 30 minutes lacked real quality and it thus came down to penalties -- with Ronaldo (for the first time in his last 25 penalties), Kaka and Ramires all failing to put it in the net. Mourinho must be disappointed, having smelled his third trophy the second Torres put in the goal that ended any Barca hope in stoppage time. Now we have a Bayern Chelsea final that few non-fans of either team will be terribly excited to see -- given the lost opportunity for one last el classico this season. Barca can still garner one last prize for Guardiola as they play the Copa del Rey final later in May. Chelsea's victory was a real achievement but one wonders if they can keep the Dimateo magic going against an in form Bayern Munich who will be playing on home turf to make up for the finals loss to Inter two short years ago. 

In any case, much is still up in the air as the season closes. Who will win the UCL (I guess I will tepidly root for Chelsea, unless the Arsenal form continues to fail to impress)? Who will win the EPL -- though we will know a lot more tomorrow? I think Man City will pull off the win, maybe 2-1 or 3-2, but that is wishful thinking as much as an informed opinion. Though Wolves are out and Blackburn looks soon to follow, who will be the third team relegated this year? I think QPR might be the third to fall (my odds on favorite), though Aston Villa is still not safe, Bolton currently sits in that spot and Wigan is not completely safe yet.  And who will win the FA Cup, though given recent form one would be hard pressed to pick Liverpool over Chelsea. Go Gunners!

Racism in Sports

As racism continues to rise across the Western world it is little surprise that it has found its way into the world of sports -- a space where greater racial equality is often met by both nuanced and overt racial commentary. Just in the last year, we have had the Lin "chink in the armor" controversy, two incidents in the English Premier League (one involving Liverpool's Luis Suarez telling Man U's Patrice Evra that he doesn't talk to Negros (Mirror)and the other ex-England and Chelsea Captain John Terry shouting racial epithets at QPR defender Anton Ferdinand (AFB)) and the rather paltry covering of rookie quarterback Cam Newton, who broke Peyton Manning's rookie record for yards, but got little coverage after many argued he couldn't make it in the NFL (with the usual commentator bias against black quarterbacks continuing to rear its ugly head). Other soccer venues and games have seen ugly racial incidents, including at Tottenham and Arsenal, in Egypt and in Russia, where the racism appears to be quite strong. The latest example comes from the Stanley Cup playoffs, after Joel Ward, one of the few black players in the NHL, scored an overtime goal to send the Capitals past the defending champion Boston Bruins. In the wake of the dramatic win in Game 7, Ward's Twitter page was awash in racist comments from disgruntled Bruins fans (ESPN).

What should we make of these diverse incidents? One thing that is clear is that they are no longer acceptable and players and fans involved are often condemned, fined or suspended. Commentators that make what are perceived as racist comments are often fired, from Howard Cosell to Jimmy the Greek to one of the two involved in the Lin comments. But much nuanced racism continues to persist. For example, the way black athletes are often described in animalistic terms, or as natural talents, while we hear more about white athletes work ethic, intelligence and the like. With fans, the abuse is often much less nuanced from throwing bananas at black athletes in soccer and the NHL to racist chants during soccer matches. Is this just a continuation of racism that never died? Does the composition of the fan base, which includes a lot of working class people, explain the problem? Have we just become more sensitive to the problem in the 24-hour news cycle and given a larger focus on the underlying meaning of language? 

While all of these may be true, I can't help but believe that it results from two trends and a third underlying pathology: 1) the increased immigration across Europe and America that have diversified societies and called national identities into question, 2) the financial crisis that has worsened the situation for many working and middle class men -- with the blame placed squarely on minority, immigrant groups, affirmative action and anything else that cloaks the workings of capitalism today and 3) since we think of sports as a meritocracy, the success of black, asian or other minority athletes, reaffirms the sense of inferiority or threat posed by these groups to the fading white, male power in the world today. Sports becomes a metaphor for the diminishing prospects of the White male in Western society and a firm reminder that tired old racist theories have been largely disproven over time. Just as black male potency and athletic prowess have long been an unspoken national pathology among white men (exemplified in among other TV, movies and novels the classic To Kill a Mocking Bird). While sports are often held up as an example of successfully overcoming racism, it is clear there is residual racism at their very heart. And as the world economic climate continues to be mired in uncertainty and increased inequality and poverty, it appears the sports metaphor will reflect the fading hegemony of the white world.

You're Still Here?

Apparently someone forgot to tell Newt Gingrich that his chances of securing the Republican Presidential nomination are long over: Slate. While he hangs around spending a billionaires money for no apparent reason, Romney ramps up for the fight to come. And not unsurprisingly, he has decided that he is a centrist after all, supporting Obama's pledge to freeze student loan interest rates -- rather than double them as the GOP currently plans on pushing. It seems a smart strategy, as continuing to push an agenda of tax cuts, screwing the poor and middle class and making the situation even worse for the future generation would have little currency in a rational debate. Of course America is far from a rational country and Obama is no shoe in for reelection. 

The move of Romney to the center is the norm for politics but does beg serious questions about our political process. Does it make sense that politicians portray themselves one way in primaries and then switch once they have secured the nomination? Obama can be hailed for not doing this in his 2008 campaign, essentially offering the same message in both his surprise victory over Hillary Clinton and less surprising victory over the creaky, retrograde McCain campaign. But what does this immediate shift tell us about Romney? It seems to reaffirm the worst fears of those who might support him (me obviously excluded from this group). He is an opportunist who will say anything to win, changes his mind from one second to the next, is dishonest in his campaign ads, his rhetoric and his statements of "facts," those things we once relied on to help us make educated decisions. And he seems completely out of touch with the America we live in today. Recently, he has taken to rewriting American history and claiming Obama is to blame for our current economic troubles, eliding the last 30 years of Republican rule and the disaster that was eight years of Bush (forgoing also the costs of the Iraq war). One wonders how long the American people will allow the ruling class to rule over us, particularly in elected positions. A president is supposed to represent the interests of the nation as a whole; can we really trust someone who has shown an interest only in the interests of the few?

The American Dream ... Or is it The American Nightmare?

Two articles today highlight the worsening prospects for American youth, even those with a college degree. First, an analysis done for the Associated Press found that over 50% of those under 25 are either unemployed or underemployed: Slate. That translates to roughly 1.5 million youth who are evenly split between working part-time or not at all. Many are now waitresses, bartenders, clerks or in other relatively menial jobs with little prospects to turn their education into a well-paying job that actually uses the skill and knowledge they acquired in accruing large debts. The situation is particularly bleak for those in the arts and humanities. In the other piece, the Chicago Sun Times (Sun) reports that 1 in 5 men between their mid-20s and mid-30s are back living at home, the highest percentage since the 1960s. As we continue to tout the importance of education, even as its costs rise, one wonders if the American Dream really exists except for those few who get Wall Street jobs or find their way to fame, or maybe more likely infamy. It does make you wonder if Romney has a shot in hell. Fox News remains undaunted however, and is now redacting Obama quotes to drum up news: TPM. Understandable really, given that the GOP has nothing to offer the average American except fewer jobs and increased debt. 

Arsenal Draw; Barca Lose Again

Today's nil-nil tie with Chelsea could have been worse, but the reality is we should have won the game. The Blues made eight changes from the squad that just beat Barca 1-0 on Wednesday, and though they were still tough in the back we had a few big chances. One has to admit at this point something I pointed out last week -- which is that Robin Van Persie is in a bit of a scoring slump at the moment. It seems to me it has followed the missed opportunity in front of goal against AC Milan that would have tied the tie. Since then he has been scuffing chances and missing that cutting edge he had been showing for over a year. He had three clear cut opportunities today and really should have clipped the first in for sure. That came on a free kick from Walcott in the 8th minute, finding RVP on the far post. Rather than nudge it into the net from a yard out, he someone pushed it passed the goal. In the 43rd minute a great pass from Song went wanting as RVP kicked it right to Cech. He wasted a free kick in the 63rd, after his fourth offsides of the day, and then in the 67th has a chance to score his third spectacular volley of the year, but mishits it well wide of the mark. Then he had opps in the 82nd and 86th minute, with the latter looking quite likely if he took two rather than three touches and sent it across goal with his right. Don't get me wrong, he's having a great campaign, but one has to admit he's cost us some points in the run in -- first against QPR, then Wigan and now Chelsea. 

Other takeaways from the game: Ramsey again gave the ball away on several occasions, with two leading to good chances for Chelsea, who was relatively ineffective in the final third. But he looked lively at times and did show some creativity. Walcott went off around the 60th minute, but probably should have been replaced earlier, and is now apparently going to miss the rest of the season with a hamstring problem. This is good news for the Ox, but we shall see how he does in the final three games. As to the defense, they were decent but did give Chelsea some chances, which thank God they didn't take. One takeaway is that Koscielny has been invaluable this season, really improving from last year. A couple of key tackles probably saved the game including one in the box that might have saved the game late. It was also good to see Diaby on the pitch after all his injury problems, but he was definitely rusty and the weight of many of his passes a touch off. Another important note from the game is that we still have not won without Arteta all year. That last day of the summer signing pick up has been invaluable and one hopes we can manage to break that inauspicious record in the last three.

As to the other games today, one can't help but mention El Classico, and Morinho's brilliant strategy, clogging the middle and cutting  off Barca's passing lanes. Barca still could have won the game if Tello had played better and I do have to wonder why he wasn't replace in the second half after wasting chance after chance. But Real played great defense, were strong on the counter and Ronaldo actually showed up in a big game with a lovely goal. I must also say, as I have to fellow Barca fans in the past, that Valdez is a really average goalkeeper who too often comes out when he should just stay put, getting caught in no man's land. It's hard not to blame him for the first goal, though  it was bad luck that Puyol got caught off balance and had to try to block rather than clear. In the other EPL games, Newcastle moved a lot closer to a Champions League spot with a convincing 3-0 victory and Tottenham continued their nightmare, losing yet again, to QPR. It's hard to explain how far they have fallen from outside League contenders to fifth place, but they need to wake up quickly or the team could be dismantled this summer while looking for a new coach (I assume). The point for Chelsea makes their battle for fourth that much harder, but they obviously have their sights set on winning the competition and getting the automatic bid. I don't see it happening, but if they do get a goal at Barca, the pressure will really be on. That, of course, would make it essential that we win our final three, because Newcastle could pull even on points winning their game in hand. Luckily they have to play Chelsea, who really have shored up their defense. In any case, all is still up in the air -- the title (though Man U could get much closer with a win tomorrow against Everton), the Champions League spots and relegation -- with Wolves the only sure bet to be demoted at this point. Go Gunners!

Condi Rice for VP?

Seriously? Apparently, Condoleeza Rice is currently leading the way in polls for the vice presidential slot with Romney: FreeP (according to a CNN/ORC poll). Luckily for Romney, Rice has she has no intentions of joining the ticket -- as she is largely linked to the Bush presidency and its many failures (including her rather unimpressive, prevaricating testimony before the 911 Commission). Others at the top of polls include New Jersey's rotund and vitriolic governor Chris Christie, the anti-immigrant Latino Senator from Florida Mark Rubio and House Budget Chairman, and radical anti-government rhetorist, Paul Ryan. I think all of these choices would be good for Democrats, as each is polarizing to important constituents -- Christie to anyone with a brain and a sense that unions and teachers aren't evil, Rubio ironically to many Latino who see his anti-illegal-immigrant stance as an attack on his entire race and Ryan to anyone who is sane. One hopes one of this mix rises to the cream of the crop. The problem for Romney is most have claimed they have no interest in the slot, maybe sensing that the candidate who seems unable to say what he means or mean what he says will have a hard time beating Obama. It might also be that their own future ambitions would be hurt by signing on with a candidate who seems to embody much of what America is looking to change -- an entitled, East Coast moderate who has a history that seems too closely tied to Wall Street's role in screwing up the U.S. and global economies. But who knows in this insane campaign milieu?

Tough Loss for Gunners

Not a good day at the Emirates for the Gunners who gave up two early goals and lost 2-1 to Wigan; as Fergie predicted. The Emirates has been a relative fortress most of the season, but two goals in the first eight minutes turned out to be too much to overcome, even as they attacked throughout. The game could turn out to be even bigger in the pursuit of third or fourth, as Mikel Arteta sustained an injury before the goals that could see him gone for the season. The club hasn't won without him all season and we must also note the absence of Koscielny playing a huge role, as the two early goals were both the result of rather pathetic defending. 

A few thoughts about the game. The first and second goals, in my mind, can be blamed partially on Vermaelen who is getting involved far too far up field too often. In recent games Kos has covered back with Song to make up for a centre half who pushes forward a little too often for my tastes. And why do so so early in a game that we should dominate? The strategy backfired and cost us the early two goal deficit. While some will argue he got one back later in the first half, the damage was done and we never found the equalizer that seemed likely throughout. Another strategic problem for me was our slow build -- as we lacked the creativity to provide many real chances, even as we dominated possession until the end of the game, when Wigan killed it off. I followed Ramsey throughout, and noticed that almost 90% of his passes were either lateral or backwards. Playing center mid that is sometimes necessary, but he needs to get the ball forward at times and seems unwilling or unable to do so. Sagna had a very unimpressive game on the right, contributing to the second goal, being dominated by Moses most of the game and getting in few good crosses. Walcott also had an off day and Van Persie was barely involved. One also has to wonder why Chamberlain is getting so little time on the pitch and why we took off Benayoun, who seemed the most creative player yesterday.

The loss could be devastating if we don't  take care of a resurgent Chelsea on Saturday, as Newcastle, Tottenham and the Blues are all right back on our tales. As Warren Barton noted last week, the Gunners will never challenge for the title until they can stop losing games they should win. The flat loss at QPR was terrible and this performance even worse in my estimation -- as not playing such a high line might have made the final score 1-0 in our favor. Wigan was hot coming into the game and I just don't understand why we had to push everyone so high up the pitch so early. In any case, the game with Chelsea at the Emirates now looms large and could very well determine our fate. With Van Persie spotted dining with a Man City rep and hanging out in the Barca hotel last night after the loss, one cannot underestimate the importance of a top four finish and good signings early in the summer. Dropping out of the Champions League right now could very well spell doom for the club in the short run as RVP leaves and others are less likely to sign. One hopes the club wakes up and finishes strong before it's too late.

More Controversy in EPL/FA Cup

It gets tired cataloging the terrible state of refereeing week after week, year after year, but two terrible decisions today played a huge role in determining who will play in the FA Cup Final and, maybe, the League champion. A day after I complained about all the calls United has gotten this year, Ashely Young dove again and the ref again gave a ridiculous penalty early that just about killed off the game at Old Trafford. Yes Man United probably would have won anyway, but it is tired to see them get calls in game after game, season after season. They have been handed at least three games this year and though they can complain about the Newcastle decision, too many times the not only get loose calls but get away with clear penalties on the either side (Fulham anyone?). Maybe the league wants them to win or maybe the refs are just too scared of Fergie's ire, but something really needs to be done about it. 

In the second FA Cup final, we saw one of the worst decisions I've ever seen -- though I still think the RVP sending off in the second leg of the UCL tops my list (Barca being another team that always gets calls, though as a prior resident of that lovely city I generally don't complain as much except when the Gunners are involved). Not only did both the linesman and referee Martin Atkinson (one of the consistently worst refs in the game) miss a really obvious "triple" foul by John Terry, who took out two defenders and the goalie right in front of goal, but gave a goal that didn't cross the line. It wasn't even close and the benefit of the doubt should go to the defenders. 

And this appears to be the big problem in football today. If you miss a penalty or don't give the red card, teams might rightfully complain afterwards and have a point. But when you give penalties, red cards and goals that shouldn't count you are directly influencing the outcome of the game. Refs really need to start being more cautious with their decisions and stop playing such pivotal roles in the game. We obviously need goal line technology, which looks to be on the way. And I think Wenger is right that video replay should be instituted, at least for goals, penalty appeals and red cards. Refs will always get decisions wrong, but the old adage that it equals out in the end is just not true. Barca got a soft penalty decision this week, Man United another and Chelsea a "ghost" goal. That just doesn't feel like an accident. Certain teams seem to get the calls on a regular basis -- and it's hard not to notice that they are the biggest teams in Europe. Refs need to start thinking before they act and stop becoming the antiheroes of far too many games. It is hard not to argue that they are diminishing the standing of the sport with each passing game -- with results starting to feel like boxing matches (fixed before they start).  

A Week in the EPL

It's been an odd week in the world of English Football. Right after it looked like Man United had sown up the title, they lose 1-0 to Wigan and Man City wins two in a row, led by the resurgence of long-absent Carlos Tevez. Today was a really impressive 6-1 road win over Norwich City that puts them a mere two points behind their crosstown rival, though United has a home game against Aston Villa tomorrow. That will probably restore the five point lead and their next fixture against Everton should produce another three points -- though Everton has been playing great football of late. Unfortunately, it was not great enough to get to the finals of the FA Cup, with a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Meyerside derby rival Liverpool on a late winner by Andy Carroll. Yes, that's right, for the second game in a row Andy Carroll produced a late winner. Not exactly proof that he was worth the money (far from it), but good to see the young striker start to produce. The same can be said of Torres, though I do wonder if he will ever get back to the dominance he once showed for Liverpool and country (lest us forget he scored the winner in Spain's Euro 2008 final against Germany). Tottenham lost again last week, to  Norwich at home, and looks on the brink of falling out of the top four completely. Their game against Chelsea tomorrow in the other FA Cup Semi could be a real boost to the reeling team, that just doesn't seem to be performing as well since Harry's slotting as the next English National Team Coach -- and our lovely 5-2 come-from-behind victory.

So while Man City has certainly put the pressure on United, the latter will have to drop two points, and lose to City, to give the title away this late. That seems unlikely given the opponents they will face: Aston Villa, Everton, Swansea (you never know) and an away game against Sunderland that may see a home team not nearly as interested as United in winning. But it should be a fun run in with the title still open for the moment, the battle for third and fourth place still wide open and the relegation battle very tight (except for Wolves who look set for demotion). One thing I find troubling about the title race, and not for the first time, is the reality that United should have drawn at Craven Cottage, given the penalty that wasn't called late, should have at least had a game against QPR (how the FA didn't overturn that red card is beyond me) and has had several positive calls this year that saved points. The state of refereeing continues to be pathetic -- Barca also got a rather pathetic penalty call to pull out a 2-1 win that keeps their title hopes alive with the next (and hopefully not last) El Classico of the year next Saturday -- and something really needs to be done. Wenger has called for the use of video replay and one hopes that is in the offing at some point. One also hopes the FA follows through on the hints and at least puts in goal line technology. Whatever the cost, it is worth it -- as England can certainly attest to from the World Cup. On the other hand, Ferguson has again shown that he is probably the greatest coach ever (at least in the EPL) this year and getting Scholes out of retirement was a brilliant stroke as they have won every game he has played. A slip up is not impossible, but unfortunately does seem unlikely.

A win by Arsenal on Monday will go a long way to securing that third spot and though Wigan has been playing really well of late, and Ferguson stoked the fire by claiming they will win, I think a strong effort should garner us the three points. Looking at the remaining games, I think Chelsea might just snatch the fourth spot if Tottenham continues to falter, though the latter has the much easier fixtures. Here are the remaining schedules of the clubs in the hunt:

Arsenal: Wigan (H), Chelsea (H), Stoke (A), Norwich (H) and West Brom (A) -- we could easily win out, but the games agains Chelsea, Stoke and Norwich are no easy task. Luckily we are home for two of them and really should take care of Stoke if we are efficient. Third is certainly not secured yet ...

Chelsea: Arsenal (A), QPR (H), Newcastle (H), Liverpool (A) and Blackburn (H) -- not an easy schedule, and fatigue with the FA Cup and Champions League semi could see them too tired to pull this out. The games against the Gooners and Newcastle obviously loom large and Liverpool does look primed to finish strongly.

Newcastle: Stoke (H), Wigan (A), Chelsea (A), Man City (H) and Everton (A) -- this is the toughest schedule of the bunch and though they have been playing well, I'm not convinced they can squeak out enough points for fourth.

Tottenham: QPR (A), Blackburn (H), Bolton (A), Aston Villa (A) and Fulham (H) -- Tottenham should be able to keep fourth if they can take care of a number of teams fighting off relegation. The problem is their drop in form, tendency to falter late in seasons and a number of key injuries (particularly on the defensive end).

Should be fun to watch! Go Gunners!

Latest Tennesee Decision Sets Clocks Back a Century

In good news for monkeys and gorillas, who are tired of claims that they are in any way related to humans, the Tennessee legislature passed a law yesterday that allows teachers to question the validity of controversial theories like biological evolution, global warming, the chemical origins of life and human cloning: Slate. Even as scientists continue to claim that these are not controversial issues, evangelicals reminded them that the Church has often stood at the forefront of scientific discovery and innovation, from locking up Galileo to excommunicating Spinoza. Questions remain on whether teachers can advocate for eugenics (one hopes so) and allow students to check their Jewish peers for horns.

Sponsors of the bill plan to next take on American history curriculum that teaches that slavery was evil, that America is not chosen by God to rule the world, that the apocalypse is not just around the corner or that we lost the Vietnam War, didn't find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq or that George Bush was not the greatest president who ever lived. They also hope to institute bills that would forever outlaw sex education, as a precursor to outlawing sex. While liberals claim the bill challenges the separation of church and state, conservatives respond that they are Godless elitist heathens who should read less and pray more. One representative who voted against the bill argued, "They seem intent on making what is already one of the stupidest countries in the world, also one that is stuck in the middle ages." A co-sponsor of the bill replied, "God, wouldn't that be great?"

GOP War on Sex Continues (Wisconsin Style)

As Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker prepares for the recall effort against him, he has decided to ramp up his war on women and gays. Among other things, the Governor who took collective bargaining rights away from public service workers has recently done the following:

• Placed a ban on abortion coverage by private health insurers taking part in the Affordable Care  act.
• Signing a bill requiring women seeking abortions to undergo a one-on-one exame with a doctor to determine if anyone is forcing them into the decision
• Signed a bill requiring sex education classes to focus on abstinence and allows teachers to ignore contraception
• Pushing to take hospital visitation rights away from same-sex couples
• And signed a bill repealing Wisconsin's Equal Pay law.

Walker has become a polarizing national figure for his war against workers and unions, but now he has become another beacon for the evangelical right. The question is why? Walker, in fact, believes he is doing God's work -- a God who apparently hates sex, gays, women and, of course, unions and the common man. Many conservatives obviously engage in this ideological war for purely political purposes, but too many believe that sex is evil except when between a husband and wife, in the missionary position, trying to conceive. One wonders if a party can continue to be viable when it seems intent on undermining the basic rights, sexual proclivities and quality of life of so many Americans ...

Socialist NOAA Lies to American Public

In what will surely go down as one of the most politically-motivated reports in American history, NOAA today announced that March 2012 set the record for the warmest in history: CNN. Since records started being kept in 1895, this is the warmest March ever, an incredible six degrees above the average. Conservatives are already lining up experts to explain the report as the latest in the global warming propaganda campaign, attempting to trick the American people into caring about the environment and the ecological future of the country and planet.

GOP spokesperson Richard Protagoras argued, "NOAA is clearly on a campaign to undermine American oil and gas companies and institute a fascist state, where corporations must heed the advice of silly scientists. Researchers funded by Exxon-Mobil have consistently found that global warming is only one theory for increased temperatures. I went skiing several times this year ... and am still wearing a sweater in March,"  he added, sweat pouring from his forehead. "Explain that!" 

A scientist from the Institute for the Excavation of Oil from All Corners of the Globe explained, "We believe there is a deep conspiracy that has used microwave technology to heat up mercury across the country causing false readings of temperatures." He continued, "If global warming was a reality, why do 50 percent of Americans not believe in it?" When pressed that a majority of the public once believed Saddam Hussein planned 911, that the earth was flat, that we had found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, that Pluto was a planet and that cigarettes are good for you, he added, "The occasional mistake by the public doesn't mean they're wrong in this instance." Plans are now underway to sue NOAA and institute an oversight committee of all governmental environmental reports, overseen by the major oil companies. Pluto was unavailable for comment, still sulking after learning of its lost galactic status. 

Closing of the American Political Mind?

From at least as far back as Jay Leno's infamous interviews with the clueless folks on the beaches of Los Angeles, America has had a love affair with the stupidity of others (and ignorance of their own stupidity). Over the past few election cycles, there has been an even larger focus on conservative voters and their ignorance of the world around them. Last month on Bill Mayer's Real Time, Alexandra Pelosi famously offered a short documentary showing the less than toothsome political opinions of a number of Mississippians: You Tube. The latest comes from Slate's David Weigel, reporting on his escapades in the small Nevada town of Virginia City: Slate. 

The Pelosi video caused an outrage among many conservatives, who thought it unfairly portrayed the citizens of the poorest state in American and was simply agitprop for the left. Others have argued that it shows us how bad American politics has gotten. While I am incredibly troubled by the tone of these voters who are racist, sexist, anti-government, pro-gun and terribly misinformed (Obama is a Muslim, non-citizen socialist), I do find something troubling in the relish with which many liberals and progressives take smug pleasure in the ignorance of the electorate. Most troubling of all is what it means for democracy. As the Nevadan Kent argued in the Weigel piece, "If you're a democrat, you're my enemy." This appears to be the position of not only the right but the left as well and essentially closes off the channels for democracy to actually function.

I'm not so naive as to assume there is some halcyon past where everyone got along and debated with the manners of the queen, but there is something truly insidious about the way the two parties and its constituents see each other in contemporary politics. If the other is the enemy, then you slip into orthodoxy and blind allegiance to whatever your party happens to be doing -- whether it is hastening the destruction of the planet, allowing further accumulation of wealth at the top, screwing women or taking money from the very same corporations that are supporting the policies of your purported enemies. The reality is that democracy needs room for debate and compromise. It needs room for respect for the losers (and the winners). And it needs the rehumanization of the other to allow two to stand as equals in the arena of debate. 

Who benefits in a partisan environment where nothing gets done? Well, as a French politician reminded us a few years ago, the status quo and all those who benefit from it. In other words, the corporations and wealthy that have ushered us into the new Gilded Age. Divide and conquer usually progressed along racial lines (even if they were completely arbitrary and constructed by the colonizers as in Rwanda). Now the U.S. has created a new divide, the polarizing line between red and blue states or conservatives and liberals -- a line that many now seem unwilling to cross even if their futures relied on it. Unfortunately, it is increasingly true that they do!!!

P.S. In this environment, we might take The National Review firing a prominent contributor for penning an article on how kids can protect themselves from black people (Slatest) a positive sign.

Huge Win for Arsenal (And Man U)

Arsenal left it until late after missing several opportunities, but Mikel Arteta again showed his value as a late signing by sending a scorcher past an outstretched Joe Hart to win it in the 87th minute 1-0. It was a huge win on a number of levels, vaulting us past Tottenham once again, by two points, restoring the five point lead over a resurgent Chelsea (and a Newcastle team that has won four on the bounce) and essentially putting a final nail in the title hopes of a Man City team that truly looks lost. It might also have been the swan song for Mario Balotelli, whom Manicini said will not play again this year, and for Manicini himself -- who one has to assume will be let go when this disappointing season ends. Thus we have another title for Manchester United to sit through in the near future but, with the way City is playing, it is statistically plausible for Arsenal to get all the way to second (though I'm the first to mention it that I've read).

As to the game, I'm not going to do individual grades today, but will comment on a few performances. Van Persie easily could have had two goals but just missed a header that hit the post in the 62nd minute and was robbed early, when his header was goal bound before Vermaelen got in the way. He also had a penalty appeal ignored. But this is four games without a goal and one wonders if he's hit a little lull, though luckily the rest of the team has stepped up to fill in the void. Walcott had a very average game (though he was robbed halfway through the second half by a fine Hart save, before Vermaelen muddled what was essentially an open net) and again didn't really show up when it counts, though to be fair Clichy played him well on the wing. Arteta was strong and Rosicky had a lot of the ball and was lively, though was missing the final pass into danger. Song was important on the defensive end and in controlling the middle and our back four played well enough to only give City two half chances. Koscielny was strong, though a poor challenge led to his tenth yellow and he will thus miss the next two games. Ramsey and Chamberlain came on late (and Santos earlier) and Ramsey continued to disappoint, missing a great opportunity after settling well moments before the final whistle. Santos looked lively and had an important clearance, though he committed a sloppy foul against Balotelli and got an early yellow. Finally, Benayoun was not that great until a few minutes before he was replaced, when he started distributing well and interweaving a number of one-twos that were menacing. Chamberlain came on very late and didn't really contribute much at all.

As to Man City, it was an uninspired, angry performance by a team that has completely collapsed under the pressure of the title race. Balotteli is probably on his way out, as is Manicini, but no one on the squad besides Kompany and Clichy had a great game. They do not seem to be enjoying their football at all and one assumes news of the Man United win affected their play -- but that doesn't excuse the sudden dearth of goals. As went David Silva, so went Man City and his drop in form is hard to explain (he was out today). It is true that many teams rely too heavily on one player, as Arsenal did earlier in the season, but it is hard to  believe a team that spent as much as City does as well. I do think their loss of the title and lack of silverware this year is good news for the sport -- reminding people that you can't simply buy greatness. The Martin O'Neill led resurgence of Sunderland, in fact, shows that chemistry and good management of players and strategy can be equally (or more) important. Of course, Sir Alex has been showing us what can happen with money and great managing for two decades.  

It is important to note this weekend the rather pathetic performance of the referees once again. In huge games with implications for titles, champions league spots and potential relegation, the refs too often intervened in negative ways. The most obvious example has to be the Man United game where a whisper of a touch and a dive led to an early penalty and red card. The problem was, even if there was a foul, Ashley Young was offsides -- thus mooting the penalty and dismissal. In a game that could decide the title and maybe the fate of QPR, such an early call is really unforgivable. The second was just as important for both teams, as Chelsea's late winner by Mata should have been an equalizer at best -- given one of the most obvious offsides goals I've ever seen -- with Ivanovic far in front of the defensive line of Wigan. And in the game today, the always questionable Martin Atkinson (at least when refereeing one of our games) missed a clear penalty and a red card against Balotelli, who should have been sent off for clearly showing his cleats to Song. 

So with six games left on the schedule, Arsenal looks in a strong position to finish in the top four, though nothing is guaranteed. Next up is a road game against a lost Wolves team that we just have to manage well and should win. Next we return home to face a Wigan team that has been playing much better and who will be fighting for their EPL lives; though we should be able to win that as well. Then we have Chelsea at the Emirates and if we can beat what will probably be a slightly weary team (eight fixtures in the next few weeks), we will have all but guaranteed another year of Champions League football -- which might be enough along with some top signings to keep RVP at Arsenal. The last three games are not walkovers though -- as we will have a tough one at Stoke, come home to face a Norwich team that just toughed out a 2-2 draw with Everton and finally close on the road against West Brom. The key will be keeping our focus, as many years it is games we should win that we drop late to lose titles, Carling Cups and the like. Go Gunners!

P.S. A huge off day for the Gunners today (Monday), as Chelsea could only manage a draw away at Craven Cottage and Tottenham lost to Norwich City at home.  If we win at Wolves on Wednesday, we will hold a five point advantage over Tottenham and Newcastle (who won again 2-0 today) and a seven point lead over Chelsea -- all with only five games left. And unfortunately, today again brought controversy, as Norwich apparently should have had a penalty or two and Chelsea received a penalty in the first half on a very questionable call. One would think after the horrific weekend that refs would be a little careful with penalty calls, but Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham appear to keep getting calls all year (while Arsenal continues to get very few -- though this year it hasn't affected our season as much, so far -- except, most obviously, in the Tottenham game where both of their goals probably should have been disallowed). I just hope we can get through the last six without any of that complacency that sometimes sets in on this squad. 

Some Thoughts on Life ...

I'm generally not that into positive "life" lists, but have read a couple of interesting ones recently on the subject:

Top Five Regrets of the Dying: The Guardian
15 Things You Should Give Up to Be Happy: The Purpose Fairy

On a somewhat related note, an interesting chart from The Economist
on attitudes in various European countries regarding the pursuit of wealth: Daily Chart.

Finally, an interesting article on why city denizens are often "meaner" than their suburban and rural compatriots. One of the interesting findings was that those from Spanish and Portuguese-speaking cities tended to be more helpful and friendly based, among other things, on the idea of simpatico (or the value of helping others). While city life often involves isolating ourselves from neighbors, protecting ourselves from perils, numbing ourselves to the misery of others and busy, hectic lifestyles, it does seem that renewing the social contract would make everyone happier: Salon. Of course, how to do that without some dramatic tragedy is something no one seems to have the answer to.

SCOTUS Decision Boon to Peeping Tom PDs

For those who haven't heard, the Supreme Court ruled this week that anyone arrested and held temporarily can be strip searched: Scotus Blog. In what has become the norm, the decision was 5-4 -- with all the more conservative judges supporting the position. This is good news for officers who are interested in a cute male or female they have arrested (or happen to see in the station), forgoing the arduous task of asking them out, paying for a dinner or three, getting back to the apartment or house and convincing the arrestee to unveil themselves. This is also potentially good news for streakers, mardi gras partygoers, nudists and public exhibitionists who could argue they are simply following the Bush Doctrine of preemptive strikes by saving officers the trouble of getting them to declothe. One assumes Abu Ghraib-inspired photos should follow on a website near you ...

On a More Positive Note ...

While Romney has had a couple of good weeks, pushing past Santorum's surge, there is good news for those fearful of another CEO President: The New Republic. Yes Romney's lead among Republicans has gone up, he is leading in Wisconsin polls and has recently garnered a number of important GOP endorsements. But he has also seen his overall approval rating fall to the lowest of any leading party candidate since 1984. His paltry 34 percent rating is lower than any Obama has had throughout his presidency and maybe provides further proof that voters in America really have grown weary of the GOP's thirty year attack on the government that once helped create the very middle class now in financial free fall. Maybe they're tired of the continued GOP attempt to win on wedge issues like abortion, gay marriage and immigration. Maybe they are tired of cynical candidates and politicians that rarely mean what they say or even say the same thing from one day to the next. Or maybe they just feel that putting the one percent into what continues to be the most powerful office on the planet might not be such a good idea; like a Baywatch reunion show on a nude beach, for example. Let's hope those approval ratings keep falling ...

Corporations Screwing a Youth Near You

The same problems plaguing the U.S. also appear to be present across much of the West, though to varying degrees (with Sweden, Norway and Finland -- the three most socially democratic nations -- suffering less). This article from the Guardian (Youth Unemployment Contract Scheme) highlights one problem that exists in both the U.S. and U.K. economies today: the fact that increased profits have either been hijacked by top executives (see article below on the 93% of new income that went to the top 1% in the U.S. last year) or put into increasingly bulging cash reserves. A key aspect of any capitalist economy is investment, the need for persistent growth. If growth stymies, the economy suffers and begins to atrophy. This is what has been happening for many years, but particularly since the start of this century; and more acutely since 2007 when credit markets dried up. Without investment in technology, productive innovation and expansion (of business, capital and labor), the economy cannot expand. This is particularly true of labor; generally considered a key component of growth. It is true, of course, that much of the production process has moved overseas, but if we continue to allow corporations to shrink the size and purchasing power of the middle (and working) class, who will buy the products being made in China, India and across the Global South? How long is downsizing and outsourcing going to reap benefits at the costs of the citizens of purportedly democratic countries? Have we really amused the population to death enough to stop them from demanding change? The short-sightedness of the current greed culture on Wall Street and in Corporate boardrooms has certainly accrued huge benefits for the few, but it seems unsustainable in the long run. As I have argued before, it appears the only social institution with the power to counteract this creative destruction is governments reasserting their responsibility to serve the common good. Let's hope they some day take up the charge ...