Brendan Dunlop

This week on The Hardcore Footy Show (March 16)

Brendan Dunlop — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:56:00 GMT

We definitely won't be short on topics this week on The Hardcore Footy Show. Champions League play last week ended the dreams of a few big clubs, making their league matches even more important.

With the MLS season "hoping" to kick off next Thursday, we'll talk to ESPN columnist Ives Galarcep to see where negotiations stand and how close the league and union are to a new deal.

Last week Kristian Jack asked for your all-time "Kick In The Face XI." Pick 11 soccer figures you would love to blast in the face with your right foot, and email us soccer@hardcoresportsradio.com

Kick it on The Hardcore Footy Show with James Sharman, KJ and yours truly, Monday at 12pm EST.

Olympic de-tox oday on The Hardcore Footy Show

Brendan Dunlop — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:48:00 GMT

There's no better way to speed up your Olympics de-tox, than to kick it on The Hardcore Footy Show today with The Brits and yours truly.

With tons of action on the weekend including Bridge's snub at the Bridge, Rafa vs Big Sam, Real Madrid's scoring expo and Villa losing a title, there will be plenty to talk about today.

With Portsmouth heading into administration, we want to get the South Coast perspective so we'll talk to a guy that gives it for a living. Howard Frost, sports editor for The Portsmouth News and host of their Pompey Talk podcast will join us in the second half.

We want to hear from you, email us soccer@hardcoresportsradio.com

Catch The Hardcore Footy Show, TODAY at 12pm EST.

Shaka Hislop TODAY on The Hardcore Footy Show

Brendan Dunlop — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 07:24:00 GMT

How did the weekend treat you Footy Show faithful? While most of you in Hardcore Country North are probably still trying to figure out how the hell Team USA beat our beloved hockey team last night, take a break from the sadness and share a laugh on The Hardcore Footy Show.

The weekend in the Prem was big both at the top and bottom of the table, and the title races in Spain and Italy are tighter than the defending Champs would like. We'll also take a look back and last week's Champions League matches and preview this week's upcoming tilts with ESPN's Shaka Hislop. If you have questions for the former Trinidad & Tobago keeper, hit us up soccer@hardcoresportsradio.com

As I mentioned on the show last week, I want to hear from different corners of Hardcore Country so tell us so give us a call 1-888-9HARDCORE or email us and who knows, maybe I'll send you a James Sharman autographed post it note along with that calendar. Are you sharing your lunch break with us, or the drive in to work?

Kick it on The Hardcore Footy Show with James Sharman, Kristian Jack and yours truly, TODAY @ 12pm EST. And if you miss it live, download the show on iTunes.

Pizzo's Points - Feb 18th (DUNLOP's Digits edition)

Brendan Dunlop — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:48:00 GMT

I'm not the arts & craftsman that Rob Pizzo is, so I do apologize in advance.

Champions League Wednesday Preview

Brendan Dunlop — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:15:00 GMT

After my predictions yesterday you're probably less likely to read what I have to say today, but either way we'll see some great soccer.

FC Porto v Arsenal
Today @ 2:45pm EST (TV: (CAN) CityTV, (US) FSC)
You may not have seen him play before, but if you know anything about Arsene Wenger, you know that when he says he's afraid of a player, that guy must be good. And trust me, Hulk is damn good. With Lisandro Lopez and Lucho Gonzalez heading to Ligue 1 last summer, the offensive load has fallen on the 23 year-old Brazilian. You can argue that is the reason Porto are not on pace for their fifth straight Sagres Liga crown, since he's only managed two goals in 12 games. But Hulk's three Champions League goals prove that he can deliver against top level opponents, and let's call a spade a spade here, we cannot say that about Arsenal this season.

While Wenger's side have played some beautiful football this year, they have struggled mightily against the Top 4. I may be making a bit of a stretch (and I'm sure a ton of you will call me on it) but to make a Premier League comparison for Hulk, he plays a lot like Didier Drogba and we know how much trouble he has caused the Gunners recently. Considering the injuries Arsenal face, Sol Campbell could be anchoring that back line, and without Andrei Arshavin, where will goals come from? One of the few positives for Arsenal is that English teams are the only ones that have been able to win at The Dragao lately, with Chelsea earning 3pts in the group stage and Man Utd ousting Porto at this stage last year, but the Gunners were shut out there 2-0 last October. This season in the Prem, Arsenal has simply looked awful against good teams and I think that is the form we will see today. PICK: Porto (+150)

Bayern Munich v Fiorentina
Today @ 2:45pm EST (TV: (CAN) Setanta, (US) FSC replay @ 5pm EST)
When these two were drawn against each other, I think Fiorentina fans had reason to be hopeful. I'm not going to say that now. If La Viola are to have any chance, they'll have to stop Bayern from scoring and nobody has been able to do that lately. Louis Van Gaal's side have bagged 20 goals since the winter break, and ride a 12 game winning streak that includes their last two CL group matches. Fiorentina have not had the same luck. Losers of three in a row (albeit it to good teams; Inter, Roma and Sampdoria) and five of their last six Serie A games, today's trip to Munich could get ugly.

These two met in the group stage last season and Jurgen Klinsmann's side pulled out a 3-0 win, one of their few successes early on last year. We may very well see that same scoreline. La Viola will be without defender Alessandro Gamberini for the next three months thanks to shoulder surgery, and Adrian Mutu may have played his last game for Fiorentina after that failed drug test. To make matters worse, Franck Ribery is back for Bayern and as a betting man, I say he scores today. Bayern roll! PICK: Bayern (-200)

Catch a new edition of The Hardcore Footy Show, Monday at 12pm EST with James Sharman, Kristian Jack and yours truly.

Champions League Quarter-finals Preview

Brendan Dunlop — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:43:00 GMT

It feels like it's been forever since the UEFA Champions League widdled its way down to 16 teams. Today the wait for all the "woot woot"ing you can handle is finally over. With four of the eight fixtures being played this week, it gives us a far better chance as fans to see each game.

AC Milan v Manchester United
Today, 2:45pm EST
While there will be far more attention on Old Trafford for the second leg, writers have been eating up (and making up) the storylines for weeks as David Beckham prepares to face the club that made him a star. We can only wonder what kind of effect playing his former club for the first time will have on the 34 year-old, but as James Sharman loves to tell us all the time, he's a professional and will be as composed as anyone. Edwin Van Der Sar has urged his defense to be all over his countryman Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, likley because the 39 year-old knows he has reaction time has drastically dipped over the last few years. But he does have a point, Huntelaar finally appears to be nearing the potential so many predicted when he made his high profile move to Real Madrid last year. He has earned a couple of starts and scored 3 goals in the Serie A since the Christmas break, and should start today in place of the injured Marco Borriello, completing a nice trio up front with Alex Pato and Ronaldinho. This will be their fifth meeting in five seasons, and Milan have had the far better hand winning three of the four and both clashes at the San Siro. We said it yesterday on the podcast, a few weeks ago it looked like Milan really had it in them to give United a run for their money, but after their slump since losing to Inter I have a strong feeling that Leonardo's side will be happy to play to a draw at home and roll the dice on their trip to Manchester. PICK: Draw (+210)

Lyon v Real Madrid
Today, 2:45pm EST
Sticking with the theme of 'star returns to face his old club.' While Karim Benzema certainly did not leave behind the legend that DB32 did, the Frenchman hasn't enjoyed the green pastures he expected when he left Lyon in the summer. One of the main reasons Flo Perez spent all that money in the summer (besides the fact that he's clinically insane) was Real's failure to get past this stage of the tournament five years running. And while Los Blancos certainly look better on paper, they've had some rough trips to Eastern France in the past. Drawing the 7-time French champions in the group stage in 2005/2006 and 2006/2007, Real dropped both away games and could only manage draws at the Bernebeu. But if Manuel Pellegrini can take one positive into his preparation, it's the fact that his side look far better in their domestic league than OL. Lyon sit fourth in Ligue 1, 8pts back of defending Champions Bordeaux. Lyon manager Claude Puel took the opportunity to rest star striker Lisandro Lopez on Saturday, so expect the Argentina man to come out firing. And pay attention to Jeremy Toulalan the youngster is highly rated and could have a big role with France in South Africa if he finishes strong this season. But Puel will need a lot of luck to go with that talent though if the home side are too pull off the upset. I just don't see it happening. PICK: Real (+110)

If you missed The Hardcore Footy Show, check out the podcasts or download them on iTunes. We break down the weekend's stories, Travis Payne keeps us up to date and I blank Sharman with another stunning win in your girlfriend's favourite quiz show, "You Don't Know Jack."

Close out the winter transfer season on THFS

Brendan Dunlop — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT

There are several reasons why our show is in the prime slot of noon hour. Its the end of half the day, and the beginning of the half of the day you're more likely awake for. It's also a morning show for our west coast friends, and a drive time show for our Euro pals. But more importantly, today our show begins with the close of the January transfer window.

Kristian Jack has returned to Hardcore Country, just in time to avoid the annoying Tiger Woods-type press that the John Terry sexcapade will get in his motherland. With the African Nations Cup wrapping up yesterday, we'll talk to Paul Rhys from Al-Jazeera Sport. He was in Angola for the whole tournament and as long as he makes his morning flight back home to Qatar, he'll join us in the second half

Kick it on The Hardcore Footy Show today at 12pm EST! And hit us up, soccer@hardcoresportsradio.com

Check out my weekend re-cap for The Weekend Wrap heard every Monday from 1-7am EST on HSR with The D-Man Damian Rickards (Please visit the site to view this media)

African Nations Cup hits quarter-finals

Brendan Dunlop — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:56:00 GMT

The group stage is in the books at the African Nations Cup, and with the quarters kicking off on Sunday, I took a short look at what's gone down.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Bundie's back baby on The Hardcore Footy Show

Brendan Dunlop — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 06:25:00 GMT

The Bundesliga returned this weekend and the Top 10 may have opened up a bit to some realistic parity, but still just five points separate the Top 5 teams. We'll talk a little Bundesliga with Raphael Honigstein from The Guardian.

There was a ton of other action on the continent with Ronaldinho somehow turning back the clock to 2003 leading AC Milan to another win and third place in the table. Real Madrid may have realized their un-Real expectations suffering a loss at the hands of the Bangin' Basques, and I'll take another look around the globe with Planet Footy.

What did you think of the weekend? Hit us up, soccer@hardcoresportsradio.com or give us a call 1-888-9HARDCORE

Kristian Jack has gone back to the motherland, so Footy Show producer Thomas Dobby steps up to host Hardcore Country's best quiz show, "You Don't Know Jack".

Kick it with James Sharman and yours truly on The Hardcore Footy Show TODAY at 12pm EST.

WORLD EXTREME CAGEFIGHTING on The Score

Brendan Dunlop — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 07:17:00 GMT

By TheScore.com
Jan. 9, 2010

In The Score's debut broadcast of World Extreme Cagefighting, Ben Henderson defeated Jamie Varner by way of a third-round submission to become the undisputed lightweight WEC champion. Check out the rest of the results right here.

Ben Henderson def. Jamie Varner by submission (Henderson becomes undisputed lightweight champion)

Urijah Faber def. Raphael Assuncao by submission

Mike Brown def. Anthony Morrison by submission

Kamal Shalorus def. Dave Jansen by unanimous decision

Deividas Taurosevicius def. Mackens Semerzier by unanimous decision

Charlie Valencia def. Akitoshi Tamura by split decision

Wagnney Fabiano def. Clint Godfrey by unamimous decision

Mark Hominick def. Bryan Caraway by submission

Eddie Wineland def. George Roop by unamimous decision

Will Campuzano def. Coty Wheeler by unamimous decision

Tragedy and transfers today on THFS

Brendan Dunlop — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 07:14:00 GMT

I wish that we could just talk about the exciting start to the African Nations Cup which saw Mali claw back from a 4-0 deficit to draw host nation Angola. But unfortunately we can't talk about the tourney without talking about tragedy on Friday that left three members of Togo's national team dead.

Publisher/editor Austyn Akpataku from My Soccer Magazine will join us in studio to talk about the tournament and terrorism in sport. We'll recap the weekend that was on the pitch and all two Premier League games, plus some transfer news and notes.

What was your reaction to Friday's news? Should they pull the plug on the hole tournament? Hit us up soccer@hardcoresportsradio.com or give us a call 1-888-9HARDCORE

Kick it on The Hardcore Footy Show, with James Sharman, Kristian Jack and yours truly, TODAY at 12pm EST

Hear my weekend recap report for The Hardcore Weekend Wrap with the D-Man Damian Rickards, which airs Monday mornings from 1-7am EST on HSR. (Please visit the site to view this media)

African Nations Cup tragedy...should it go on?

Brendan Dunlop — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 01:47:00 GMT

For all the excitement leading up to tomorrow's kickoff at the African Nations Cup, tragedy looks to derail the tournament. Yesterday Togo's team bus was ambushed by machine gun rebels as they crossed the border into tournament host Angola from Congo. Initial reports listed three deaths including assistant coach Abalo Amelete, a team spokesperson and the bus driver, but reports today say there were 4 deaths and goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale is in serious condition after being injured in the attack. Togo announced they have withdrawn from the tournament and James Sharman looks at whether the the 27th edition of the African Nations Cup should even kick off after all this.

Written by: James Sharman

Three men are dead. That's the important point to remember when debating whether the African Cup of Nations should begin, or whether it should be cancelled. Three men, with families, and all integral to the Togolese National Football Team. From that perspective, the answer is easy; cancel the tournament, send the players back to their clubs, and try and figure out just how this could have occurred at a FIFA sanctioned tournament.

Of course these things are never quite that simple are they.

The CAF are asking why the Togo team was travelling by road and not by air? Apparently there are no rules of appropriateness in when you can actually begin pointing the finger, and dishing out blame. Apparently 24 hours is good enough, the bodies are barely warm after all, so let's get the blame game started shall we? Sickening.

Arsene Wenger has said that the tournament should not be cancelled, because you are then rewarding the people responsible. I understand his point, and certainly backing down from terrorists should never be the answer, however professional athletes should not be used as pawns in a show of strength at a tournament that has brutally proven that it cannot guarantee the safety of its participants. It is one thing to refuse to bow to a terrorist threat, but once that threat becomes a tragic incident, it needs to be revisited.

There were seven matches scheduled for the Cabinda region of Angola. Try imagining yourself on a team bus travelling from your hotel to the stadium. This is not what these players and staff signed up for. Is the game really that important? I don't think so. FIFA need to get involved, and investigate just why such a volatile area was ever to host matches, and they need to look themselves closely in the mirror as well, after all, they agreed to it.

As for this nonsense that we now need to reconsider the World Cup, please let us move on. I don't want to single out Phil Brown, who suggested it now raises concerns about South Africa 2010, but this is ludicrous. South Africa may have its problems, but if I remember my High School Geography lessons correctly, there is a fair distance between South Africa and Angola. In fact, they are different countries entirely! That's right, Africa is not actually a single country.

Togo's National Team are soon, if not already, on their way home, and no-one can blame them for that, they have witnessed horrors that I cannot even begin to imagine. If the Ivory Coast and Ghana soon follow suit, who could possibly blame them?

What this does hilight is the general ignorance we in the Western world have regarding the realities of the Third World. Up until Friday, I wasn't even aware that Cabinda existed. Sad, but true.

Hear James Sharman on The Hardcore Footy Show every Monday at 12pm EST with Kristian Jack and yours truly.

The African Nations Cup, Hardcore Footy Show style

Brendan Dunlop — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:40:00 GMT

With the 27th African Nations Cup kicking off in Angola this weekend, I took a brief look at our last chance to see top flight international football before the World Cup next June. Have a listen,

(Please visit the site to view this media)

And for more ANC talk, tune into The Hardcore Footy Show with James Sharman, Kristian Jack and yours truly Monday at 12pm EST.

Kick off 2010 with The Hardcore Footy Show

Brendan Dunlop — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 06:06:00 GMT

Happy New Year Hardcore Country! As promised The Hardcore Footy Show kicks off the new decade today at 12pm EST.

We'll recap the FA Cup weekend that was and talk Serie A with John Molinaro from CBCsports.ca

Travis Payne will hit us with his daily dose of garbage, James will have another twat to call about and KJ will put James and I under the game show lights again with another installment of your girlfriend's favorite quiz "You Don't Know Jack."

Plus you know there will be some hilarious stories from the holidays, most of which will somehow involve food and drinking. How was your holiday? What are you most excited about for 2010? Did you download us on iTunes yet? Hit us up, soccer@hardcoresportsradio.com or call the show 1-888-9HARDCORE

Catch The Hardcore Footy Show LIVE at 12pm EST, and if you miss it download all the shows on iTunes or check out our show page.

BIG BASEBALL SIGNING: Mets ink Bay

Brendan Dunlop — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:37:00 GMT

There are few gems in the 2009 MLB free agency pool. You can now take Jason Bay out of that. The New York Mets have signed one of the most coveted outfielders of the decade.

Jason Bay has signed a 4 year $66 million, with an option on a fifth year, to call Citi Field his new home.

Good move for the Mets? Will it make them better? At 31 years-old is Jason Bay worth that much cash?