CBC-Sports

It ain't over until it's over

March 2, 2009 12:27 PM | Posted by   John Molinaro  

One of my biggest pet peeves is the habit that some of my colleagues in the media have of writing a certain team off prematurely, or declaring a title race over with a significant number of games still left in the season.

Two cases in point: the Premiership and La Liga.

To here the British media tell it, Liverpool might as well give up on their chase of league leaders Manchester United following a 2-0 loss to lowly Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Liverpool's shocking defeat to Gareth Southgate's boys means the Reds now trail Man U (who have a game in hand) by seven points. Steven Gerrard and company hadn't even slumped off the pitch at the Riverside, and already the critics were declaring the title race a formality and handing the crown to United.

This bugs me to no end.

I'm not stupid. I realize United's seven-point lead (and it could be as much as 10 points if the Red devils win their game in hand) over Liverpool and Chelsea looks insurmountable, but to declare the race over with 11 games left in the season is the height of ridiculousness. Eleven games translates into a swing of 33 points, and provides more than enough opportunity for the Reds or the Blues to catch United.

Teams sometimes crumble under the pressure, much like Newcastle United did in 1996 when they led by 12 points before United stormed back to win the crown.

Who's to say the same won't happen this year? United might lose its way and find it hard to balance its responsibilities as it progresses through the FA Cup and Champions League. Or it may suffer a rash of injury problems.

My point is that you never know how things will play out, and that Man U are not a lock to repeat as champions.

Will it be tough for Liverpool and Chelsea to catch Man U? Of course. But is it impossible? No.

The same goes for Real Madrid.

Just a few short weeks ago, los blancos trailed FC Barcelona by as many 12 points and Spanish reporters were already hailing the blaugrana as the champions of Spain.

But after losing two straight and earning one of a possible nine points, Barcelona now sits on a slim four-point lead over Real Madrid with 13 games left in the season, and the teams still have to meet at the Bernabeu.

The Carling Cup

A quick word about Manchester United's shootout victory over Spurs in Sunday's Carling Cup final: who cares?

Honestly, I can't understand how anybody can get excited about this Mickey Mouse competition. It makes the Coppa Italia, FA Cup and Copa del Rey look like the Champions League by comparison, which takes considerable doing.

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