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In a sporting world where the big boys invariably grab all the glory, there is one competition where the romantic notion of the underdog toppling the giant sometimes becomes reality. Not often, but regularly enough to keep seemingly hopeless dreams alive. The English FA Cup is soccer's oldest knockout competition, and while it is often won by the greatest teams in the Premier League it is also the source of some of the greatest upset results.

WARSAW (Reuters) - Magdalena Sroda, a Polish feminist and academic, was about to deliver a lecture at Warsaw university on "Morality in public life," when around 50 young men wearing balaclavas and plastic animal masks shoved their way into the building. Security guards pushed them from the auditorium and they moved to an adjacent hall, waving fists and shouting a chant from the soccer terraces that compares opponents with Poland's widely despised former Soviet overlords: "Hit the red trash with a hammer, with a sickle!".

The NFL and NFL Referees Association are close to coming to an agreement to end the lockout of the officials, according to multiple reports. ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted that the two sides will work to get the regular officials on the field by this weekend's set of games.

The American POWs sent secret coded messages to Washington with news of a Soviet atrocity: In 1943 they saw rows of corpses in an advanced state of decay in the Katyn forest, on the western edge of Russia, proof that the killers could not have been the Nazis who had only recently occupied the area.

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Maj. Ignacy Skowron, the last known survivor of World War II's Battle of Westerplatte, has died. He was 97. Family friend Zofia Nowak said Monday that Skowron died at his grandson's home in Kielce, in southern Poland on Sunday after suffering circulatory, liver and pancreas problems.

Once a year on August 1st, the people of Warsaw pay hommage to the fallen heroes that fought for freedom in 1944 during the Warsaw Uprising. The biggest rebellion against German Nazi occupation during WWII cost over 200 000 lives and destruction of the capital.

LONDON (AP) -- British rocker Jon Lord, former keyboardist for the band Deep Purple, died Monday. He was 71 years old. A statement on Lord's official website says the Leicester, England-born musician suffered a fatal pulmonary embolism in London after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Matt Cain throws a perfect game against Houston.

BARCELONA, Spain -- Chelsea eliminated defending champion Barcelona and reached the Champions League final with a grueling 2-2 tie Tuesday night, winning the semifinal on 3-2 aggregate despite playing most of the game a man short.

Former New York Cosmos star Giorgio Chinaglia died of complications from a heart attack Sunday. The Italian soccer great was 65. Chinaglia died at his home in Naples, Fla., his son, Anthony, said through family friend Charlie Stillitano, who was Chinaglia's co-host on a Sirius XM radio show.

NYON, Switzerland (AP)—Barcelona and Real Madrid were kept apart in the Champions League quarterfinals and semifinals draw Friday, though the defending champion must first beat AC Milan before the Spanish giants can hope to meet in a potentially stellar final.

Jimmy Castor, a New York funk and soul saxophonist, singer and songwriter whose tune, "It's Just Begun," morphed over 40 years into an anthem for generations of hip-hoppers and mainstream musical acts, died of apparent heart failure in a Las Vegas hospital, family members said Tuesday. He was 71.

The Wujek Mine - Where Nine Miners were massacred by Communist Authorities President Reagan's Christmas Message to the Polish People

Plumes of black smoke rise from an industrial fire at the Magnablend Inc. chemical plant in Waxahachie, Texas. Live Stream from CNN (via WFAA) http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/cvplive/cvpstream4?hpt=hp_t2

For U.S. soccer fans, the scene was tough to watch: Archrival Mexico celebrating a Gold Cup victory on American soil, cheered on by a largely pro-Mexico crowd at the Rose Bowl. A little more than a month later, Bob Bradley has been fired as coach of the U.S. men's soccer team.

Mavs back in the NBA FInals!!!! That means in the same year Dallas has hosted The World Series, The Super Bowl, and now the NBA Finals. This is for Dirk!

Justin Verlander throws a No-No as the Tigers beat the Jays 9-0, he gave up only 1 walk.

Great result for RSL in the First Leg, especially in Monterrey, highly entertaining match. All they have to do in the return leg is tie and not allow Monterrey 2 goals, and they will be CONCACAF Champions League Champions. That would be a huge moment for US Professional Soccer. Return leg is next Wednesday night in Salt Lake.

Tuesday, 5 April 2011 Inter Milan v Schalke Real Madrid v Tottenham Wednesday, 6 April 2011 Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk Chelsea v Man Utd Tuesday, 12 April 2011 Man Utd v Chelsea Shakhtar Donetsk v Barcelona Wednesday, 13 April 2011 Schalke 04 v Inter Milan Tottenham v Real Madrid

The text arrived two days after Halloween, well before Billy Donovan got to the cemetery. “Thinking of you,” it read. For almost a decade, it’s never failed. Every year, on Nov. 2, Arkansas coach John Pelphrey – along with Alabama’s Anthony Grant - have reached out to their former boss at Florida. A phone call, an e-mail, a card or text. Just something to remind Donovan how much they care. And how they can relate. “No staff,” Grant says, “has ever experienced what we experienced. What happened with all of us … I wouldn’t wish that on anybody.”

AC Milan (ITA) - Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) Valencia (ESP) - Schalke (GER) AS Roma (ITA) - Shaktar Donetsk (UKR) Arsenal (ENG) - FC Barcelona (ESP) FC Copenhagen (DEN) - Chelsea (ENG) Lyon (FRA) - Real Madrid (ESP) Marseilles (FRA) - Manchester United (ENG) Inter Milan (ITA) - Bayern Munich (GER) Matches to be played Feb 15-23, 2011

LeBron James(notes) and the Miami Heat were showered with chants of “overrated!” They sure looked that way in their debut as a team formed to win a championship. The old Big Three of the Boston Celtics, playing under the franchise’s 17 title banners, beat the new Big Three of James, Dwyane Wade(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes) 88-80 on Tuesday night. The Heat, though, knew it would take time to jell.

America's Team?!?!? heck they're not even the Metroplex's team now......Go Rangers!

KOLONTAR, Hungary – Hungary's top investigative agency opened a criminal probe into the toxic sludge flood Wednesday while the European Union and environmental groups warned the disaster could spread down the Danube and have long-term consequences for half a dozen nations.

Butler going back home for the Final Four after beating K-State 63-56.

USA USA USA!!!!

Costa Rica 3 USA 1 in World Cup Qualifier in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Figured it would be good for the soccer-following Freepers to have a thread for Euro 2008. (All times EST.) Group play Saturday 6/07 11:50 a.m.- Switzerland vs. Czech Republic A (ESPN Classic) 2:30 p.m.- Portugal vs. Turkey A (ESPN Classic) Sunday 6/08 11:50 a.m.- Austria vs. Croatia B (ESPN2) 2:30 p.m.- Germany vs. Poland B (ESPN2) Monday 6/09 11:50 a.m.- Romania vs. France C (ESPN2) 2:30 p.m.- Netherlands vs. Italy C (ESPN2) Tuesday 6/10 11:50 a.m.- Spain vs. Russia D (ESPN2) 2:30 p.m.- Greece vs. Sweden D (ESPN2) Wednesday 6/11 11:50 a.m.- Czech Republic vs. Portugal A (ESPN2) 2:30 p.m.-...

WARSAW, Poland - Irena Sendler, a Polish social worker who helped save some 2,500 Jewish children from the Nazis by smuggling them out of the Warsaw Ghetto and giving them false identities, has died. She was 98.

I am watching a huge fire and explosions near Reunion Arena hear in Dallas.

Anyone who thinks soccer is boring, missed a great match today. It's always great to beat Mexico at their game.

Cleveland closes out Detroit 98-82 to advance to the NBA Finals against San Antonio.

Mark Buehrle tossed the 16th no-hitter in White Sox history Wednesday night, shutting down the Rangers in a 6-0 victory. The last Sox pitcher to throw a no hitter was Wilson Alvarez in 1991.

And so we meet again!!! Go Gators!!!

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) -- New York Islanders forward Chris Simon was suspended indefinitely by the NHL on Friday for his stick-swinging hit to the face of Rangers center Ryan Hollweg. Simon was given a match penalty for deliberate attempt to injure late in Thursday night's 2-1 loss to the Rangers. The length of the suspension won't be determined until after a disciplinary hearing. That hasn't been scheduled but is expected to take place next week, likely in Toronto.

USA!!!! USA wins on two spectacular second half goals. That now makes us 8-2-1 against Mexico since 2000. Who's Your Daddy, Mexico!!!!

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Rumours are swirling that the Police will reunite for 2007 dates in England and the United States, which would be the rock trio's first since disbanding in 1986. Sources told Billboard.com the reports -- in the British press -- were legitimate, but they would not publicly comment until final details are nearer to completion. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the release of "Roxanne," the single that broke the Police in the United States.

Starke, Florida - Danny Rolling to scheduled to die by lethal injection at 6 pm tonight for the brutal murders of five college students in August 1990. He is said to be “calm and cooperative.” The victims: 18 year old Christa Hoyt of Archer, 18 year old Sonja Larson of Deerfield Beach, 17 year old Christina Powell of Jacksonville, 23 year old Manuel Taboada of Carol City and 23 year old Tracy Inez Paules of Miami. Five college students, five murders in three days. Their brutal and senseless deaths sent Gainesville into sheer panic. Students at the University of Florida...

3-0 over the Bucs, Oswalt pitches 8 shutout innings, suicide watch continues in St Louis.

NBA Finals here we come!!!

NAPLES, Fla. - Manatee deaths jumped by a third in January compared with the same month last year, but exactly what killed half the animals remains unknown, state wildlife officials said. Last month, 48 of the endangered animals are known to have died statewide, 12 more than in January 2005. Half of the deaths were listed as cause unknown because the manatees' bodies were decomposed when they were retrieved, said Ken Arrison, a biologist with the state's Marine Mammal Pathobiology Lab in St. Petersburg. Officials are waiting on lab test to determine if red tide, a toxic algae bloom, was...

DETROIT (AP) -- The disappointing Detroit Lions fired coach Steve Mariucci and some of his assistants on Monday, a team official told The Associated Press.

Northern Ireland score shock 1-0 victory over England By Trevor Huggins BELFAST, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Northern Ireland beat England 1-0 to seriously dent their old rivals chances of winning European Group Six and qualifying directly for the World Cup finals on Wednesday. Striker David Healy scored the winner with a powerful angled drive past England goalkeeper Paul Robinson in the 73rd minute after Steve Davis chipped the ball over a static defence. The win, Northern Ireland's first over England in Belfast since 1927 and only their seventh win over England in 98 meetings, is a huge embarassment for England...

Danny Wuerffel knows he is basically homeless. He has seen pictures of his house in New Orleans. "Water up to the roof," said the former Florida quarterback on Thursday. "We've lost a lot of stuff." But that isn't his biggest concern right now. Safe and sound after escaping Hurricane Katrina, Wuerffel is devoting all of his attention to the people he works with in the ministry that has become his passion. The two breaks in the levee in New Orleans occurred in two bad places for Wuerffel - one near his house and the other near the Desire Street Ministries...

TCU stuns OU 17-10 at Norman.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- The United States won the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the third time, beating Panama 3-1 on penalty kicks following a scoreless tie in Sunday's final. Santino Quaranta, Landon Donovan and Brad Davis converted penalty kicks for the Americans, while goalkeeper Kasey Keller stopped the opening shot from Luis Tejada and allowed just one penalty, to Felipe Baloy. Panama's Jorge Luis Dely Valdes hit the crossbar and Alberto Blanco put the his shot over the bar. Only one of the Americans failed to convert his penalty kick, with Chris Armas sending the ball right to goalkeeper...

Figured I'd start an official College World Series thread. GATORS WIN!!! GATORS WIN!!!!

Happy Pulaski Day to all our Polish-American Freepers.

I just heard reports out of Orlando that Zook is resigning and UF has scheduled a press conference for 3:30 this afternoon. Gator Nation, our long nightmare is almost over.