Bolton - From 100 Yards Out

It's not often you see a top level goalkeeper score; in fact it's only happened four other times in Premier League history. But that's what happened in a weird, windy contest today at Goodison Park, Everton's home. Unfortunately, Tim Howard's feat (foot?) was quickly forgotten as Bolton netted two goals after Everton went up 1-0, and the last place Wanderers took the contest 2-1. The loss spoiled American star Landon Donovan's return to the EPL and Everton.

Today's game was "watched" via a shoddy ESPN gamecast, some twitter updates, and a couple of texts with my Charlotte based Everton companion Durk. A year ago in March I was in DC for a fantasy baseball draft, and on the eve of the draft, we all went out to a tap room bar (which is very cool in of itself). By around midnight, Durk and I ended up somehow chatting about sports, then soccer, and then the Premier League. What happened next was part destiny and part pure drunken man love. We both realized we were Everton fans and went nuts. I can't really explain how random this is, but imagine two guys, one from way north in England, the other from the southern coast, who know each other through another friend, meeting at a pub, and late at night finding out they are both fans of the San Diego Padres. Not just fans mind you, but so obsessed and knowledgeable about the team that they argue about who bats where in the lineup, who should be the left handed relief specialist, and can recite every player on the roster. That's what Durk and I found in DC. Almost a year and approximately 1,000 texts later, he is the first person I contact when the Toffees play (and pretty much the only, but who's counting?). We share hope, for a goal scorer, happiness about Donovan coming back, and complete and utter frustration on a day like today.

And I absolutely love it. Thanks Durk, I'm glad we had those beers.