Last Tuesday Reiner Calmund flew to Brazil to check the health progress of Lucio and to assure him that he's a very important player, whose return is crucial for the team (injured until about April). He came back with a new contract until 2007 - without any options and also valid in case of relegation. I guess that's what you call character if a world champion is willing to play 2.Bundesliga despite of other lucrative offers from top teams.
very surprised to see that, though I'm sure BL will get plenty of calls if they get relegated. How big are the financial ramifications of relegation?
So huge they basically threw the CL games in order to have 1st team ready for Bundie league games. I think the number I heard is $30 Million, but that could just be what Bayern gets for cheating the rest of the league.
Badambam! The act's really coming along Panic! Anyway, Lucio: yeah, what a man! Although he has the visage of a character from an Asterix book, he's really important for this team. Great to see a guy showing faith in his club in today's cynical times. Now if Nowotny's ACL would just un-tear itself, we'd be all set.
I spare no opportunity to mock the dreaded womanizing adulterous schmucks from Munich. I just hope the Bundesliga gets some chongas and fine Bayern for all their sins - the player poaching (Lauth now, Deisler, Ballack, ZE Roberto before), the TV deal, and I am sure there are more examples.
There certainly would be a massive cut. Bayer has a 100 M budget right now, such a team never relegated (and I'm pretty sure that they won't this time). Many sponsors assured to continue supporting the club, so that they'll have a record budget for a 2.Bundesliga anyway, but I don't know exact numbers.
Great. Lucio showed that he plays for Bayer cause he really likes bayer. Respect. It's not always the money that counts.
[[[[[[[[I spare no opportunity to mock the dreaded womanizing adulterous schmucks from Munich. I just hope the Bundesliga gets some chongas and fine Bayern for all their sins - the player poaching (Lauth now, Deisler, Ballack, ZE Roberto before), the TV deal, and I am sure there are more examples.]]]]]]]] A bit of a disconnect here. Lucio didn't sign with Bayern Munich; he signed with Bayer Leverkusen. Good for Leverkusen, by the way, but I'd be a little concerned about his desire to sign on the dotted line given his injury (a foot? I don't remember). Perhaps he's concerned that it's a potential career-threatening kind of thing, so he signed to ensure his financial future (Bayer no doubt has insurance, so Bayer was willing to take the gamble as well).
Wolfie, I know he signed for Bayer, I was taking a shot at Bayern as I despise them, even more than I loathe Man United. I find that bayern oftens abuses the rules of the Bundesliga yet gets away unpunished. I'm sure Bayern has approached Lucio, but he has shown the moral fortitude to remain with Bayer.
panic, my bad. Bayern does get away with murder (although I suppose success breeds "success"). Better than a fine is a substantial points reduction (not this season, but next), or even better yet--bar them from Europe for a year (olaf, could the DFB do that?). Oh, and I thought Lauth re-upped with TSV for a few years? And as for the womanizing adulterous schmucks comment, I had no idea what you were talking about, but just read about Ollie Kahn's misadventures. Take a look at Bild (www.bild.de), which has multiple photos of his new squeeze (kind of skanky looking if you ask me; quite the contrast to his wife, who is very elegant looking--of course, perhaps that's the point; the wench looks like your typical college party girl, while the wife looks like a well-heeled socialite).
No worries Wolf, Skanky!!! Reminds me of Courtney Love. Fine them, give the money to Kaiserslautern first, then split the rest. As for Lauth, I think Deisler had a long term deal as well. They'll poach him and have already started "If he wants to improve, make money, national team - he has to play for Bayern"