First paddle of the season …. Definitely late to the party this year.

Today, in (sadly) rejected ledes .... my opener for our local story on FIFA being probed over its ticket practices. I knew it was a bridge too far, but couldn't help myself 😅

Our report from @mediabyhenry.bsky.social: FIFA is under investigation for World Cup ticket pricing by N.Y. and N.J. attorneys general www.inquirer.com/news/nation-... via @phillysport.bsky.social @inquirer.com

Clearly *a lot* of moving parts in and around a potential Whitecaps/BC Place deal, but whatever is on the table is becoming clearer to the parties in question. Got Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrow on the phone tonight to at least tell me today's meeting with Whitecaps, MLS, govt & more was very good.

Dare I test out the new urinals in the players’ locker-room at #BCPlace for the #FIFAWorldCup?? 💦

Local FIFA stans: “Ooooo the first batch of the limited edition host city jerseys for the #FIFAWorldCup have dropped. Can’t wait to get Vancouver’s when it drops!” *checks price, sees $515 price tag, slowly turns shrinks and transforms into a corncob

Revenue. It's always about revenue. Can the Whitecaps build up enough new streams to fend off, as Axel Schuster calls it, option Z? theprovince.com/sports/socce...

Also! Foot traffic to the games … you have to go all the way to the Concordia property - the lots lining Dalse Creek between Main Street and the stadium to get into games. If you’re in the West End - or even staying in Robson by Terry Fox plaza - you gotta walk all the way around. #FIFAVancouver

I see no lies here

Just listening to this #FIFAVancouver presser. Couple things surprise me: - no bike valet/scooter parking at the stadium. Foot traffic only. - and bags that don’t meet the criteria- “know before you go!” - can be stored in lockers … for $20 😳

Palestinian Football Association chief Jibril Rajoub: "Gianni has the right to try to bridge gaps. He has the right to try to bring people together, but I think maybe he understands, but he does not know the deep suffering of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian sport family."

Headline: Iran is in, but spirit of unity shattered at #FIFACongress after Israel-Palestine showdown theprovince.com/news/iran-co...

'It did not work' is an understatement. 😂

Taking in the FIFA Congress at the VCC today. News so far … vote to confirm the #FIFAWorldCup is taking place in Vancouver … vote 195-3😅 Let’s thread this b**tch! 1/x

An actual newspaper reader in the wild! 😅 Thanks JT!

Whitecaps to the Vegas? Yeah, sure, maybe. But let's talk pressure points. theprovince.com/sports/socce...

There are now 10 toilets in Space International Space Station: 4 Crew Dragon Docked at ISS: 1 Soyuz Docked at ISS: 1 Tiangong Space Station: 2 Shenzhou Docked at TSS: 1 Artemis II on way around Moon: 1 This will be the first time a toilet has left low earth orbit!

I decided to model Montreal’s new kit

Vindication for Afroman! God I need some lemon pound cake right about now www.billboard.com/pro/afroman-... -

Today’s niche skeet: There’s nothing more fun than playing What Do You Meme with two autistic pre-teens who don’t understand facial expressions, what makes social situations awkward, or pop-culture references more than two weeks old

Asked Axel about building a temporary stadium or buying BC Place for beyond 2026. The club has lots of plans but none seem feasible or possible in the timescale. Axel said he's a lot more concerned about the situation and none of interested buyers will even buy 1% right now. #VWFC

My son’s jumpshot can only be described as the basketball equivalent of Elaine dancing 😭

Whitecaps: Tristan Blackmon is going nowhere, and four more training camp things theprovince.com/sports/socce...

Few games have as consistent of a "yeah, that game ruled" hit rate than MLS Cup, especially considering expectations. Another worthy installment tonight.

'A dream come true': Vancouver fans react to FIFA 2026 World Cup draw theprovince.com/news/vancouv...

wow who was he up against

This painful #FIFAWorldCupDraw got me feeling like

This is the most horrific trophy I’ve ever seen. It looks like a cursed object found in a desert crypt.

LOL, we’re giving a peace prize to someone in the process of literally committing war crimes. Kinda perfect.

That’s it, chat - I’m officially cooked. Even this satirical use of slang can’t help me laugh this one off. I was, and I can’t believe it, just asked if I QUALIFY FOR THE SENIORS’ DISCOUNT Put me in my grave now. I’m apparently old.

This is what Bounga said ahead of the #LAFC-#VWFC game after last night: “I don’t think there’s any rivalry in a geographic sense. They are a good team, it’s true that we often play them, but they’re not a rival more than any other team.” Time to update my old story😁 theprovince.com/sports/socce...

Excellent #worldcup primer from @jjadams.bsky.social theprovince.com/sports/2026-...

The worst part is he called a double pass on a 3rd-and-1 inside the red zone

Another Deep State operative escapes the mustard-covered fingers of Amarican justice.

There have been once homeless Olympians, Olympians turned homeless, but never has a formerly homeless athlete become an Olympic gold medallist and two-time world champ. This is the story of Canadian hammer throw queen Camryn Rogers (of Steveston) and her mom, Shari. vancouversun.com/news/camryn-...

Oi vey. This is what has him worked up?

My dad and stepmom, Audrey, are back in the news, for their COVID marriage that's still going strong... It "blew up" when I tweeted their wedding pic a few years back, getting over 1M engagements. The 15 minutes of fame is back! 😅 www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/sa...

I log on to my burner twitter account to find out some info on this White Rock sex assault, and the RCMP's mentions are full of Ostrich farm flu truthers attacking the cops. Nothing to do with the SA. What in the actual hell

Credit to FIFA for one thing. I can go into their re-selling platform right now & buy a ticket for the final. That was never an option for me in 2014 or 2022. There's one ticket available at Cat 4 for C$2840. Cat 1, 2 and 3 also show one ticket available. Cat 1 is $9240.

Big Vic (FIFA VP & pride of East Van) Victor Montagliani pushes back at Trump’s threat of moving World Cup games. “With all due respect to current world leaders, football is bigger than them and football will survive their regime and their government and their slogans” ca.yahoo.com/sports/news/...

Looks like the #BCLions will be playing out of the Apple Bowl in Kelowna for a couple games while the #FIFAWorldCup boots them out of BC Place next summer. Watched many an Okanagan Sun game there; journos beware the low — and concrete — ceiling in the press box. Ask me how I know

What I reported a year ago is now official. #CanPL side Pacific FC are up for sale. SixFive will look to retain Vancouver FC. More details below.

This was a crazy story. A guy with charges for YEARS still able to harass and intimidate an entire town, and it nearly has turned deadly. vancouversun.com/news/tiny-bc...

VA is a cfl team’s dream come true. #cfl

Spotted: Richmond's Pat Metcalfe playing for Norway's Fredrikstad vs. Marc Guehi and Crystal Palace in Europa Conference League play in London on Thursday. Palace won 1-0, 2nd leg is Thursday. He's a long way from Thunderbird Stadium. #VWFC #UBC #EuropaLeague

Yeah so the Whitecaps' ownership search has shifted. My chat with co-owner Jeff Mallett: theprovince.com/sports/socce...

Sources 🚨! Thomas Müller deal with the Vancouver Whitecaps is now ready to be signed by all parties. But don't expect an official announcement this week. The earliest announcement would be Monday morning, August 4. Either way, no problems between all parties. Müller will join #VWFC.

Why did Thomas Müller pick the Vancouver Whitecaps? The answer might surprise you. I provide some insight for Gegenpressing. #VWFC youtu.be/ESQZaLV43jE?...

It’s happening! Cincy finally ready to play ball with #VWFC for his discovery rights.