The second edition of the North American SuperLiga, which pits four top MLS clubs against four top Mexican clubs, kicks off on Saturday, and we are reminded once again that this made-for-TV event is made for Spanish-language TV only. Telefutura is once again the only American TV network carrying SuperLiga matches nationally. This is in spite of the fact that three MLS clubs made it through to the knockout stage last season, even though Pachuca won the million-dollar prize.
You would think Fox Soccer Channel might want to jump in on SuperLiga to get people psyched up for the CONCACAF Champions League, which the fledgling network will air starting in August, but it seems they would rather show more Barca TV this summer. We might get English announcers on MLSLive.tv, but possibly not until the knockout stages, as was the case last year.
Energy drinks make America go round. They legally supplant our speed addiction when it's too hot (Coffee in the summer? No thanks) and when we're in public (Crystal meth at work? Meh.) And with, ahem, more potent means no longer available, many athletes are finding themselves involved with the brain and body fuels of today's society.
Kevin Youkilis is one of these athletes. Only his energy drink has the best double-meaning-riddled name of all time: SlumpBuster. Now, SlumpBuster is not specifically tailored to Youkilis, although this particular version is (you can see the regular version on MySpace). But, via Red Sox Monster, the online drink will premiere online Friday.
Jeff Brannon, SlumpBuster CEO, tells us that the drink will be available in the Northeast "later this quarter," but can be found online Friday at iFungo.com, an online baseball equipment shop.
Now, I haven't tried the drink (yet), but as an energy drink connoisseur, I can promise you I will. And here's the thing about awesome marketing coupled with celebrity endorsement: it works well. I'm not saying I would take a SlumpBuster over a Red Bull (again, yet) just because of the awesome name and Yooooouk, one of the most likable players in the league, on the can. But I am saying I'd certainly think about it.
Even though Mike Lowell signed a contract that will pay him more than $12 million, he's still thrifty enough to pick up valuable electronics that others leave lying around. While a fan was following the flight of a foul ball at Fenway last night, Lowell helped himself to the guy's cell phone. Here's video evidence, courtesy of The Joy of Sox.
It's a bit of a long-range camera angle but, thankfully, a hardy soul used his camcorder to capture some irrefutable video evidence. There's another, close-up view after the jump.
It was a night of knockout soccer that saw three games go to extra time, two games go to penalty kicks, and one famous Mexican lose his temper and get sent off. By the time the smoke cleared, the glass slipper still fit for two USL First Division clubs, who had advanced to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals.
Why isn't this competition on TV again?
The Charleston Battery obliterated FC Dallas, 3-1, at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, TX, scoring before an after an hour-long lightning delay in the first half and shutting down all but one meaningless strike in the 93rd minute. Meanwhile, the Seattle Sounders fought the Kansas City Wizards to a 0-0 draw and advanced 6-5 on penalties, thanks in part to a 12-save performance by Sounders goalkeeper Chris Eylander, who also saved two PKs to help Seattle advance.
Meanwhile, USL Second Division club Crystal Palace Baltimore pushed the defending Open Cup champion New England Revolution to penalties, but lost the shootout, 5-3. In Boyds, MD, Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Mark Burch were shown red cards in extra time, while Bryan Namoff scored the winner in the 99th minute to push D.C. United past the Chicago Fire, 2-1.
It was a night of knockout soccer that saw three games go to extra time, two games go to penalty kicks, and one famous Mexican lose his temper and get sent off. By the time the smoke cleared, the glass slipper still fit for two USL First Division clubs, who had advanced to the 
