Well, That Might Explain Things

My favorite soccer team in England is Leeds United. They caught my attention back in the 90s with runs deep into the Champions League with a fair lack of big name stars. Unfortunately, the guys they did have cost way the hell too much money and the team sank deep into debt when they didn't recreate their success in Europe. Players were sold off and the team tumbled from the Premier League. The finances were righted and last season it looked like the team was headed in the right direction. The team, propelled by US international Eddie Lewis, finished 5th in the Championship (the second level of English soccer, despite the name) and qualified for the promotion playoffs before falling 3-0 to Watford (also powered by an American, Jay DeMerit) in the final. This season, they were favorites to secure one of the top two spots in the Championship (and the automatic promotion to the Premier League that goes along with them), or return to the playoffs at the very least.

Things, to put it mildly, have not turned out as planned. As I write, Leeds sits in 24th place in the 24-team Championship - dead fucking last - and in serious danger of being relegated to the 1st Division (aka, the 3rd level of English soccer - don't ask).

What could make things go to hell in a hand basket that fast? How about sabotage! OK, it's probably more than that, but according to the BBC, someone in the team leaked the starting lineup to Crystal Palace before the two teams played last weekend (ironically, Leeds actually won the game 2-1). Manager Dennis Wise apparently knows who it is and will leave him out of the side permanently from now on. You know things are bad when your own players are selling you out!