Total Futbol

Boxing Day gift for ManU

Happy Boxing Day! The day-after Christmas holiday traditionally was for wealthy families to offer gifts to their servants, but like holidays in the United States, it has turned into a national bank holiday during which people sit around and eat and watch sports on TV.

Update from the EPL's Boxing Day lineup: Manchester United beat Wigan 5-0 to move up to a first-place tie with Manchester City at 45 points. Dimitar Berbatov had a hat trick. City tied West Brom 0-0. Meanwhile, American Clint Dempsey scored again for Fulham in a 1-1 tie with Chelsea. Fulham was coming off a 5-0 drubbing by ManU.

El Pibe and Jorge Campos yuk it up!

Look who I found at Books & Books in Coral Gables!! Carlos "El Pibe'' Valderrama and Jorge Campos, he of the colorful goalkeeper jerseys, hosted a chit-chat to promote the Feb. 29 friendly between Colombia and Mexico at Sun Life Stadium. Speaking of friendly, they couldn't have been chattier. Very funny guys, good friends for many years, and super honest. El Pibe went on and on about how the Colombian federation, by continuing to change coaches, is hurting a talented national team. He worries they won't make the World Cup (they haven't since 1998 and that bothers him greatly). Campos sang the praises of Chicharito. Both also reminisced about their MLS days and are impressed with how far the league has come.

"When we played, there were 8 teams and we played each other every month,'' Campos joked.

Read more about their conversation in Sunday's Miami Herald.

Vote: Who will win El Clasico?

El Clasico! 24 hours away!

If you are a true soccer fan, you will be in front of a TV somewhere at 4 p.m. Saturday for El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Messi vs. Ronaldo. If you can't be in front of a TV, then record it and watch later! The mega-match will be broadcast live on GOL-TV and ESPNDeportes.

Of course, the most important match of the day for me will be my daughter's U-12 game. But El Clasico comes a close second :)

Share your thoughts on the game. Who's going to win, and why?