

Asia
J-League Hot Potato
By: chris |This goal would be absolutely fantastic at any point during a game. 95th minute down one? Nigh unbelievable.
Ball’s sent hurtling through the air by Kashiwa Reysol’s goal keeper from his box in one last ditch attempt to salvage a point and the next time it hits the ground…..it’s in the opposition’s net. Two players [...]
Samuel Eto’o Isn’t Really Moving to Uzbekistan. Is He?
By: Daryl |Some transfer rumours are so bizarre they make you dizzy, and they don’t come much dizzier than Samuel Eto’o to Uzbekistan side Kuruvchi. But that’s what’s in the news today. Let’s all take a second to let that sink in…
…
..Kuruvchi’s sporting director Bahtier Babayev claimed that:
“Eto’o will arrive in Tashkent on Thursday and he will [...]
The Offside Euro 2008 Champion: Charles Snyder
By: Dave Martinez |Over three weeks of tournament action and only one country stood tall: Sweden. Ibrahimovich proved to be unstoppable in the virtual world, earning glory for his country where the real world left a bit to be desired. Standing in the finals against a tough Croatian squad, they dispatched their opponents 2-1 for [...]
Two Teams Dropped from Indonesian League
By: Ian Rose |(Spotted over at Jakarta Casual)
Promotion / relegation is a great system. It ensures that the quality of a league stays strong by removing the worst each season and giving a chance to new blood. It also gives hope to lower-division fans that one day, their beloved side might just make the big time. [...]
Daily Dose 5.12.08
By: Laurie |Some news to read as you use a corpse head to smoke marijuana:
Because 2000 naked people are the obvious way to promote a footy tournament (Euro 2008 at WCB)
An England fan’s ode to the Polish National Team (Poland Euro 2008)
Photo Gallery: How the Premier League was won and lost (The Guardian)
When reality TV and [...]
J League Update: Antlers continue to tumble
By: Ian Rose |At my old high school, our symbol was the Buck, leading not only to a ridiculous mascot that looked more like a moose, but also to a principal’s office filled (creepily) with trophy deer heads. Over in the J League, no stranger itself to ridiculous mascots, the Kashima Antlers continue to fall down the [...]
Japanese Footballer Still Fighting “Garlic Ban”
By: Daryl |Japan is arguably the wackiest corner of the football world right now. Don’t believe me? Did you not read about the J-League underwear thief?
And if you need more Japanese wackiness, then how about the case of Kazuki Ganaha? The Kawasaki Frontale striker is currently waiting on the Court of Arbitration for Sport to clear his [...]
The Case of the Mysterious J-League Underwear Thief
By: Daryl |An unnamed J-League footballer was arrested this week for breaking into a 21 year old woman’s apartment and stealing her panties. The 26-year-old Kashiwa Reysol player also stole her phone and some other stuff. But let’s focus on the panties.
Apparently this took place in 2001 (on September 11th as it happens) while the then 19-year-old [...]
Weekend Recap: Burning Up
By: Laurie |How did those weekend games we talked about on Friday come out?
Saturday
Chelsea 2-1 Manchester United
Chelsea’s Michael Ballack put away a penalty in the 86th minute, and suddenly we have a title race. Manchester United could have essentiall (if not numerically) locked it up with a win here. Instead, Chelsea and ManU are now [...]
Weekend Watch: Keeping in Step
By: Laurie |A quick look at some of the games going on around the world this weekend:
J League Update: Mon the Gas Men
By: Ian Rose |Another weekend is in the books for the best league in the world (in terms of mascots and light shows), the J League. It was a mostly cagey matchday, with Kashima, Urawa, and Osaka all managing only draws. Two exceptions to the luke warmth that was week seven in Japan were our [...]
J League Update: Kashima battles the Red Diamonds (and loses)
By: Ian Rose |First Flaming Lips reference on the front page of the Offside? Until proven wrong, I’m claiming it.
It’s been a crazy weekend in the J League, with the first signs of vulnerability for defending champs Kashima Antlers, continued success for our favorite dancing Killer Whale at Grampus, and more trouble at JEF Chiba. All [...]
J League Update: This ain’t your Grandpa’s Grampus
By: Ian Rose |We’ve made a pretty big deal here on the Offside (and rightfully so) about the MLS entering its thirteenth season, and thus, becoming a teenager. But if Americans are excited about their little league growing up so fast, think how the Japanese feel … theirs can drive.
The 16th season of the J League is [...]
In Some Champions Leagues You Have to Actually Win Things
By: Daryl |The competition we call the Champions League isn’t actually the Champions League. Even if it thinks it is. It’s just the UEFA Champions League. There’s also, among others, the AFC Champions League, which is the premier competition for all Asian clubs. And the first matchday of the 2008 competition was today.
The AFC Champions League was [...]
Kung Fu Fighting, Japan vs. China Style
By: Laurie |http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVL45uWO-R0
After yesterday’s kung fu goal, I thought I’d carry the theme into today with some Kung Fu fighting, this time in the Japan vs. China game in the East Asian Championship.
I’m not normally a huge fan of video recaps of teams I’m not familiar with, but I thought this one was both fun [...]




