http://cellar.org/pictures/manufan.jpg

The guy on the left, circled, is not on Manchester United Football Club, but he made it into this team picture in a prank that he planned for about two years.

Oddly, only one person realized that they had an extra team member - the tall player just right of middle.

The prank is even more bizarre if you realize that Man U is not just any soccer team. They are roughly speaking the best league team in the world, or at least in the country that invented the game. They dominate the English league so thoroughly that soccer fans are fiercely divided on whether to appreciate their quality (and root for them in overseas matches) or hate them for being too dominant. Or, more likely, hate their fans like Philly football fans hate Dallas fans.

Man U's importance in the world of sport is virtually unknown to Americans. But Rupert Murdoch offered $1 Billion to buy the team in 1998. Perspective: the Philadelphia Eagles were bought for $175 Million.

But Man U could be even bigger. They have signed a marketing agreement with the NY Yankees and will tour the US in 2003. They are exploring internet markets and the far east.

They're not that tough. I used DC United and Chelsea to beat them on FIFA 2000 for PlayStation. ;-)

Seriously though, they do kick ass...it's a shame that Americans are just not quite up to speed on soccer. And I believe it is only because we are inundated with too many sports.