The Hull City Project: Free Fallin'

They might miss the drop. Bolton awaits, though.

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Hull City fans -- depressed.

"I don't know what the Hull City Project is." If that sounds like you, click here.

I was forewarned. Get attached to a football team like Hull City, a team with an empty trophy case -- a team just looking to stay up, minnows swimming with sharks -- and you will find yourself enveloped in something American sports fans could never comprehend. And you'll see why most Americans would never want to comprehend it.

Hull City, my team. The team I want to become America's team.

Here's what I've gotten into. Hull City, the Cinderella story of the English Premier League, playing in England's top flight for the first time in their 105-year history. The team that shocked the EPL from September-December, is in free fall. Were the season to end today, their stay in the EPL would be over. They'd be going back down to the second-level, the Coca Cola Championship, next season. And many hardened Hull fans would say, "probably forever." Since my trip to Hull in December, it's all gone terribly wrong. That said, this is why I got into it. To see if Hull City could stay up.

Two games left: away this Saturday at Bolton, home on May 24th against the greatest team known to man, Manchester United. Daunting to say the least, but not impossible. A win in one of those two matches would probably push them to safety because, truth be told, the team they're chasing, Newcastle United, has been pathetic this year. And the teams that is behind Hull, Middlesbrough, is worse.

Newcastle has Fulham and American Clint Dempsey at home this weekend and travels to Aston Villa for its finale. On the positive side for the Geordies, both Fulham and Villa have little to play for. On the negative side, well, Newcastle -- not accustomed to relegation battles -- are in a state of chaos. A loss this weekend and they'll crumble.

Middlesbrough has Villa at home this weekend and is away at West Ham United the following week. Boro lost 3-1 at Newcastle last week in what many believe was their last, best chance to stay up. Frankly, Boro don't deserve to stay up.

They stink.

So, maybe it's the Hull fan in me writing, but here's what I'm predicting for my boys, the Amber and Black of Hull City. Two draws -- the finale being a bloody, nil-nil stalemate with with Man United. That will be a game that we Hull supporters will talk about.

Forever.

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