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(via email from Jakob)

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A Phoenix Rises...

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Now!

A reader writes ...

"Hi, did you abandon this site :( ?"

Well, let's call it a semi-permanent hiatus, until DishNetwork and GolTV come to their senses.

Day 37. Still no sign of land.

Well, channel 407 has dropped off Dish completely, it's the night before La Liga starts, and the GolTV website doesn't foresee any compromise in the near future. I'm not feeling hopeful about this.

Can anyone out there do my job for me this weekend? Hit the comments...

Mensaje Importante

I still got nothing. Anyone still out there?

Like a xylophone hammer all over your consciousness

First, Brian at The Run of Play, one of my favourite blogs, featured Ray Hudson as the subject of his Tuesday Portrait, er, last week (hey, it's summer, gimme a break).

Second, Dish Network has dropped GolTV. Guess where I get my GolTV? Yup. Dish blame "GolTV’s decision to impose unreasonable contract terms". The Gaffer has a source who says that Dish want to lower the fee they are paying GolTV per subscriber. I'm hoping one side or the other will blink (preferably Dish, but I suspect they have the stronger bargaining position) before the European seasons start. If not, I'm in big trouble; for some reason, Mrs Hudsonland isn't going to give up her Dish.

Off-season Housekeeping

I think Ray mentioned a couple of times in recent broadcasts that he would be heading back to Britain for the summer - hope you enjoy the break, Ray, and come back refreshed and ready for next season. Until then we have Euro2008 and endless transfer speculation to keep us occupied. And some MLS if we get really desperate.

This is as good a time as any to thank the 23,000 or so visitors the blog has had over the last year, especially the 273 who appear to read this about as often as I update it. I was getting a little tired (and lazy) towards the end of this season, so thanks for sticking with me.

Adam at This Is American Soccer did a good interview with Ray recently which you fine people can read at this link here. He also has another interesting interview with the GolTV COO here.

In my non-Ray Hudson-centric life, I've been playing with Twitter for a few months and have found it to be an interesting tool in many ways, so I've set up a Hudsonland account which you should be able to see at the top of the sidebar to the right. I think I'll use it to micro-blog things which wouldn't otherwise warrant a blog post, such as far-fetched excuses for taking two weeks to get around to watch matches.

Other than that, I have no plans for major changes around here in the off-season, primarily because I can't be arsed to think about it. Hey, give me a break, it's too hot.

Y'all enjoy your summer.

Roma vs Internazionale, May 24th

That is an absolutely Caberet goal and Mexes is Liza Minnelli.
Ray Hudson, half-time

Real Madrid vs Levante, May 18th

Look at the height that he gets on it to get it over the wall, and the accuracy. The curvaceousness is better than Dolly Parton...
Ray Hudson, 9:41 2nd

Wolfsburg vs Bayern Munich, May 4th

Ray Hudson likes beer.