Relegation weekend

This past weekend was one of the most dramatic in English football, because it involved the dropping of three teams from the Barclays Premier League.  These three teams will find themselves in the second tier of English football, away from the stars, cash and television exposure.  It is a massive massive cash loss for these teams.  They will find themselves having to sell players in order to make payroll or because those players don't want to play in lower division football.  It's an extremely difficult position for the fans, the players, the managers and the teams themselves.  It is something that as an American sports fan I have little experience.  I have never seen any of my favorite American teams drop to a second level.  But watching highlights of this weekends games, Ian Holloway summed it up when he said it was "devastating" to be dropped to the English Championship. 

Football is such a beautiful game.  From the passes to the goals to the saves and the movement.  There is always something going on for 45 minutes.  But the ball can drop anywhere.  It can bounce anywhere.  And it does.  It isn't always predictable.  For one season I took my shot at predicting Sunderland's matches.  It's completely difficult.  You watch it on television and you think you can do better than the "experts" on tv.  Maybe sometimes you do, maybe sometimes you don't, but you have to stick by your choice right or wrong.  What makes this game so beautiful is also what makes it break Ollie's heart.  It can all go so wrong so quick.  It take a magical run of form to be champions.  It takes only a little snow to bring down an avalanche.  As fans, we ride that roller coaster through the ups and downs.  While Sunderland did not drop, I feel for the fans of the clubs that have dropped, Blackpool, West Ham and Birmingham.  You could see the pain on their faces, and I only hope that next season is better for them.  As for the Cats, a 3-0 win at West Ham was a welcome end to the season.  After a brutal run of form, it's good to end on a high note.  This year, to end at 10th after the drama Sunderland has been through, it's a victory as far as I am concerned.