Stats and Sensibility: Decrying a Dearth of Soccer Statistics

Soccer season is starting all across Europe, while here in the United States we’re in the MLS stretch run before the playoff field crystallizes. As you could probably deduce for yourself by the column’s title, I’m a big fan of statistics. Give me something to break down and I’ll be able to manipulate the data in different ways, enough iterations and trial-and-error to amuse myself for hours. So after getting to watch the opening... Read More

UEFA Champions League running rant – Barcelona v. Real Madrid/First Leg

Welcome to the replay of our inaugural running rant of UEFA Champions League play here at Sports Nickel! Read More  Read More

The Jekyll and Hyde of FIFA Sanctions

Plays like Nigel De Jong's karate kick of Xabi Alonso earned fines for both World Cup finalists... It already seems like this year’s FIFA World Cup in South Africa is a thing of the distant past even though just three weeks have passed since Spain claimed their first title over the Netherlands. In the contest, referee Howard Webb was forced to reach for his pocket an absurd (and World Cup record-breaking) fourteen times.  Spain received... Read More