Coming this Sunday: Dispatches From Scallywags #4!

That’s right, folks. Arsenal v. Chelsea. Titanic Premiership showdown. Two storied clubs fighting for the top of the table. Two storied Canadian soccer bloggers trying not to fight each other. It must be time for a new edition of Dispatches From Scallywags.

The clash between the Gunners and Blues will be live on The Score at 11 a.m., so while you’re relaxing and tuning in, why not also fire up your laptop and head over here for our live blog of the action? And by “the action”, I mean a running commentary on my two fellow bloggers, Jamie and Grant, losing their minds as their respective teams do battle. As the name would suggest, the fun emanates from Scallywags, one of Toronto’s foremost soccer pubs, where things often get a bit heated during big games.

And as a special bonus for our fourth edition, we’ve got a few special guests. Yes, Jamie and Grant will both be dragging bringing along the special ladies in their lives, who I’m sure would love nothing more than to spend their Sunday morning cooped up in a pub with a bunch of footie weirdos. While the action unfolds on the pitch, will there also be explosive action at a booth in midtown Toronto?

Who knows? But you’ll have to follow to find out. So head back over here for 10:45 on Sunday and follow us live. Leave some comments on the live blog or, if you’re in the area, drop into Scallys and say hello. It should be a hoot.

Dispatches From Scallywags #3: The Reckoning (Arsenal v. Chelsea)

Alright, if you haven’t seen them yet, take a mental stroll through DFS #1 and #2 to give you a general idea of what we’re doing here: the three of us (the “some Canadian guys” in this website’s title) take in an important Premiership matchup from one of Toronto’s best soccer-friendly pubs and do a “live” blog, featuring the atmosphere, the highs, lows, funny descriptions of people losing their minds, and some puerile humour thrown in for no good reason.

So far, Grant’s win-loss record (via Chelsea) is 0-2, and Jamie’s (via Arsenal) is 1-0. But that’s definitely going to change, as we’ve got Arsenal v. Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final. Win, or go home. Well, actually, I guess they’re both already at home, more or less. But whatever, it’s a big deal.

Sadly, we don’t have any fancy auto-update technology, so you’ll have to feverishly click “refresh” on your own… that’s assuming I can actually catch a wifi signal from the bar. So if your furious refreshes do nothing, you know I’ve been unsuccessful.

Alright, let’s get this nonsense started!

Dispatches From Scallywags #2: Chelsea v. Manchester United (a.k.a. The Lucky Kit)

(Updated 2:17 p.m.) In case you missed the first edition of Dispatches From Scallywags, this is a “live” blog we do straight from one of Toronto’s best soccer pubs, showcasing the highs and lows of a big-time Premiership matchup (as well as the oft-ridiculous reactions of this site’s authors and any other wingnuts in attendance). Today’s showdown features Grant’s beloved Chelsea paying a visit to Old Trafford and its tenants, Manchester United.

But there’s a special ingredient to this week’s mix: the anticipated genesis of a lucky kit. Over the holiday season, Grant received an unexpected gift in the form of an “old-style” Chelsea jersey (“old” as in, when they were sponsored by Emirates). Today’s match represents the first time Grant is utilizing the kit for its intended purpose: being worn in a bar while a Chelsea match is broadcast on television from across an ocean. A win for Chelsea today, and we may have all witnessed the birth of a legend. A loss and, well, back to the drawing board.

Dispatches From Scallywags #1: Arsenal v. Chelsea, 11/30/08

There’s a certain serenity about watching an important match as a neutral: you can appreciate all the drama, creativity and excitement of the game, without enduring the heart palpitations and bowel-clenching inherent in watching your own team compete. Even better is watching such an affair with two of your friends, each of whom has a sworn allegiance to one of the competing sides. It’s in this spirit that we, the three authors of this site, bring you Dispatches From Scallywags, edition number one: a (sort of) live blog detailing the highs and lows of a big game, enjoyed at one of Toronto’s premier soccer pubs.