Italian Broadcaster Tiziano Crudeli Writhes in Existential Agony as Barcelona Overtakes His Beloved AC Milan

If, as devoted Olympiakos fan Agememnon once said, pain and suffering are the tragical source of knowledge, then Italian TV presenter Tiziano Crudeli must be a very wise man indeed.

Here he is, grappling with the fundamental questions of existence, which have rudely confronted him via Lionel Messi’s opening goal, M’Baye Niang’s shot off the post for Milan, and Messi’s second goal, after which Crudeli’s life has been drained of all meaning:

Yet take note of Crudeli in the last segment, his equilibrium remarkably restored, objectively marking Jordi Alba’s series-clinching goal in his notebook.

That’s hard-won wisdom in action.

Back Off Andrea Pirlo and He Will Make You Pay

Backpost reader Ref Baiter calls this “hands down one of the Top 5 strikes I have seen in years.”

It’s Andrea Pirlo’s 40-yard tracer into the upper 90 for AC Milan against Parma on Saturday:

Not too shabby. We would never argue with the RB (we leave that to the referees), but here are five goals from the past year that give Pirlo’s strike a run for the money:

1. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s World Cup semifinal rocket:

2. Danny Rose’s full volley against Arsenal (London derby; Premier League debut; and we agree with the cat):

3. Clint Dempsey’s Europa League far-post chip (put Fulham into the final):

4. Alex’s free kick vs Arsenal on Sunday (Powerful, swerving, unstoppable—like the Ref Baiter after a few pints):

 5. Juan Pablo Angel’s last-second game-winner vs Houston (definition of clutch; and a little love for MLS….):

Those are some golazos. Long may they survive copyright claims.

PS: U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu did not dress for Milan’s 1-0 win over Parma. He has yet to play this season.