Procrastinating in New York

11 PM Wednesday. Supposed to be writing a memo for work. Instead...thought I would give you, my reader(s), the latest.

Surprise Pick. The Fox Soccer Channel guy thinks that Olympique Lyon are going to win the Champions League this year. Love Arsenal, love Barça -- but man wouldn't it be cool to have a non-big-money club win for once (and a French one at that!). I also love that one of their best players is named Fred.

Ronaldo vs. Messi. Pele thinks Messi will be the best player in the world by 2010 -- when he's what? 22? I don't know about that -- I like Messi, and he will probably be the best someday, but Ronaldinho will still be around in 2010, as will Thierry Henry, who I am convinced is actually getting better with age. Plus he'll have some serious competition from Cristiano Ronaldo, on whose back Man Utd are currently standing (love that photo of him -- praying during the last minutes of the Euro 2004 final). I don't like Wayne Rooney, at all, so we won't consider him here.

Et tu, Eto'o? (Sorry. Couldn't resist.) Following Hargreaves and Cisse before him, Samuel Eto'o today tore his meniscus in the 65th minute of the Champions League game against Werder Bremen. Apparently the meniscus is somewhere in the knee, in this case the right one -- Eto'o tore the cartilage. Ouch. Get well soon -- we like you.

Glee. After Juve, the team I hate the most? AC Milan (not you, Kaka -- we love you): besides being Italian, it's owned by Berlusconi, who is in my top 10 of most-hated non-dictator world leaders. Anyhoo, despite the fact that the club has some of the best players and certainly some of the world's highest (football) salaries, little Lille held it to a 0-0 draw. Nice.

Drogba Hat Trick. Chelsea 3-1 Levski Sofia. All Drogba, all the time (although Ballack did have a beautiful shot too). I've liked this guy since I saw him at a press conference during the World Cup, and some reporter asked him about their chances. "Il faut rêver," he said. We must dream. Yes indeed.

Skinny Scores -- Twice. Peter Crouch (who I always want to call Barty Crouch -- remember, from Harry Potter) had a damn good night -- two goals, and the second one was a doozy. I wonder if they will now make him a jersey that comes all the way down to his wrists.

That's it. Must go write memo.