ESPN, Euro 2008, and Ronaldo

A big shout out to ESPN for committing to show every single game of the UEFA 2008 tournament except the semis and finals, which will be on network (ABC?). Already just two days in, I have been glued to the set watching the Group A matches and Group B ones today (and, of course, looking after my Fantasy team).

Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo played yesterday (and won). The big buzz was whether Ronaldo's playing would be affected by the controversy he created, the kind of which adults haven't seen since about 3rd grade. I want to support him, but Ronaldo, the best player in the world (with little argument) right now, is refusing to take calls from Manchester United Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. Literally, the boss is calling and he won't answer. I wonder what the voicemail message is?

Why you ask? Because Ronaldo is being pursued by another team (shocker), Real Madrid or Spain, except that the player is under contract for a few more years at Old Trafford (ManU's home).

You've got to understand, 'Naldo's salary is ridiculous... Alex Rodriguez ridiculous... and he's at the best club in the world, leading them to 1st place in the best league in the world AND winning the Champions League Trophy (all the best club teams in Europe playing a World Cup-type tournament). At 23 years old, the guy is a God.

So, with all that said, what is his response to Real Madrid's offer? "Yeah, I'd maybe like to go, but don't ask me about it for another month." What a greedy baby. He's freaked out ManU so bad that their chairman told Real they'd let Ronaldo rot on the bench before ManU would sell him.

Again, the two sides won't talk to each other; it's all happening between newspaper articles. Real knew that if they did this publicly it would cause controversy and Ronaldo's ego would get even bigger. They also knew that ManU would freak out and make Ronaldo second guess his stay there because the kid is Spanish and he could be homesick. Real also knows he's young and selfish, so he won't have any loyalty to the club that has made him the most marketable football player in the world right now.

Someone call Cal Ripkin.