Gotta start studying

The old Everton logo
Courtesy of wikia.com 

This English Premier League soccer ... I mean, football ... season is starting a lot sooner than I thought.

Everton (a.k.a. my favorite EPL team) begins its preseason next weekend with a friendly against a team from Vienna. It has four additional friendlies before traveling to Norwich for the EPL opener on Aug. 17.

Basically, this gives me a little over a week to familiarize myself with the players on Everton -- not to mention the chants and customs associated with rooting for the club.

Gulp.

What have I gotten myself into here? I thought I'd have more time to learn all of this stuff. But then, I got sidetracked by such American diversions as Major League Baseball, the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup finals -- not to mention Aaron Hernandez's arrest on murder and weapons charges, Tim Tebow signing with the Patriots and Alex Rodriguez's return to baseball (hitless in two minor league games).

OK, looks like I need a crash course. Let's see if YouTube has any videos featuring Everton fans ...

Well, that wasn't exactly helpful. Or proper, for that matter. Let's try this again.

That's more like it. And what a catchy tune, too. Good thing I picked Everton -- "the team that plays beautiful football."

Well, I only have nine more days to familiarize myself with Everton before the first friendly. If you need me, I'll be in the film room watching last year's highlights.