Friday, July 02, 2010

BAN THE SOCCER FLOPPER and STEPHAN A. SMITH IS FOR THE BIRDS!!!


THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL - AND NO WHINING OR FAKING IN OUR OTHER SPORTS HERE!!!

Now that the USA has been eliminated, and my passion for the sport of soccer can go on another four year hiatus, I want to review some of my likes and dislikes of soccer.

DISLIKES: SOCCER FLOPPER

One of the enduring memories of the last match with Ghana was the sight of a Ghana defender writhing on the ground in agony after he fell unassisted to the ground late in the match. This was a blatant ploy to run out the clock as it took time for the referees to determine that he was in such agony that he required a makeshift stretcher to carry him off.

I maintain that here in the States, if that happened say in the NFL, it would be perfectly acceptable to me--and would actually written into the rules--that if ANY player were to perform that sort of planned fakery in order to win a game an opposing player would be allowed to come over and kick the player square in the nuts to give him something to actually be carried off the field for. NO HARM, NO FOUL = NO INJURY, NO STRETCHER.

If you delay the game like that and get carried off the field in a golf cart or a stretcher something better be wrong with your A$$. Sorry, but that's just how we roll here in the colonies.

I'm glad to see the USA coach agrees with me.




LIKES:

No commercial interruptions.

Enough said. A 90 minute game and at worst I only lose 90 minutes of my life that I'll never get back? How cool is that? I don't know how they'll market the game for US TV but that's not my problem. I mean, if NASCAR can cut away for commercials, so can soccer, right? It's not like the cars stop on the track when they cut away. I just worry that they'll cut away during the fake injury tom-foolery and I'll miss some real action.


Brazilian Soccer Fan

Enough said. Always a treat. Viva Brazil. Gratuitous perhaps, but true.

Brazilian Soccer Fan

See more funny pictures and videos at Fugly.



Brazilian Soccer Shirts

These are COOL!! I have one. I'm just glad my name doesn't translate into KAKA or something. Do you think he knows that, in English. his name sounds like what the l'il babies doo? I guess he does by now.

http://www.minimalsworld.net/BrazilName/brazilian.shtml


This article goes into how the Brazilian tradition may have started.

http://www.slate.com/id/2143404

Pele is easier on the tongue than Edison Arantes do Nascimento.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pel%C3%A9

PELE WAS TRULY A MAGICIAN WITH BALL - THE BABE RUTH OF SOCCER?

Maybe on the world stage, yes. While he gave soccer in the USA a real shot in the arm, he certainly didn't have the long-lasting effect on the sport in a foreign land that the Bambino had, let's say in Japan.




PELE DEBUTS WITH THE COSMOS.

Some of these highlights look cheesy by today's standards. Almost like watching Superstars or American Gladiators. God, do I feel old!!



MORE COSMOS HIGHLIGHTS



AND THE DRAMA OF PELE'S LAST GAME WITH THE COSMOS

Jim McKay closes with a near-weepy "Pele's number 10 will never be worn by another Cosmos player". True that, Jimbo. Unfortunately, not for the reasons envisioned. This was when soccer was going to be the sport of the 70's in America. He did do MUCH, MUCH more for the sport here in the States than David Beckham ever has.

Pele was THE MAN.

LOVE, LOVE LOVE, Indeed.

Classy man. This sport--really every sport--desperately needs more PELE's



----
STEPHAN A. SMITH IS FOR THE BIRDS!!!


From the guy who was once quoted thusly.....

...“And when you look at the internet business, what’s dangerous about it is that people who are clearly unqualified get to disseminate their piece to the masses. I respect the journalism industry, and the fact of the matter is ...someone with no training should not be allowed to have any kind of format whatsoever to disseminate to the masses to the level which they can. They are not trained. Not experts. More important are the level of ethics and integrity that comes along with the quote-unqoute profession hasn’t been firmly established and entrenched in the minds of those who’ve been given that license…”

....comes the following pearls of metaphorical buffoonery:


Stephan A., in defending his reporting of the LeBron-Bosh-Wade dream team development, told local Chi-town radio jocks that if his sources were in error that he would, and I quote,

"Have crow on my face"

Now Stephan......I am certainly no expert in the journalism industry....which requires apparently massive amounts of formal training....but not even I--a somewhat pathetic blogger-- would ever mix the metaphors "eat crow" or "have egg on my face" in such an unprofessionally comedic way. Maybe it's your formal training...or your expertise in linguistics......that allows you to pull it off and produce such profound, bastardized metaphors. Maybe it's the ethics.....or the integrity.......

OR MAYBE IT'S THE CHEEZE DOODLES....

No comments:

Giants Top Minor League Prospects

  • 1. Joey Bart 6-2, 215 C Power arm and a power bat, playing a premium defensive position. Good catch and throw skills.
  • 2. Heliot Ramos 6-2, 185 OF Potential high-ceiling player the Giants have been looking for. Great bat speed, early returns were impressive.
  • 3. Chris Shaw 6-3. 230 1B Lefty power bat, limited defensively to 1B, Matt Adams comp?
  • 4. Tyler Beede 6-4, 215 RHP from Vanderbilt projects as top of the rotation starter when he works out his command/control issues. When he misses, he misses by a bunch.
  • 5. Stephen Duggar 6-1, 170 CF Another toolsy, under-achieving OF in the Gary Brown mold, hoping for better results.
  • 6. Sandro Fabian 6-0, 180 OF Dominican signee from 2014, shows some pop in his bat. Below average arm and lack of speed should push him towards LF.
  • 7. Aramis Garcia 6-2, 220 C from Florida INTL projects as a good bat behind the dish with enough defensive skill to play there long-term
  • 8. Heath Quinn 6-2, 190 OF Strong hitter, makes contact with improving approach at the plate. Returns from hamate bone injury.
  • 9. Garrett Williams 6-1, 205 LHP Former Oklahoma standout, Giants prototype, low-ceiling, high-floor prospect.
  • 10. Shaun Anderson 6-4, 225 RHP Large frame, 3.36 K/BB rate. Can start or relieve
  • 11. Jacob Gonzalez 6-3, 190 3B Good pedigree, impressive bat for HS prospect.
  • 12. Seth Corry 6-2 195 LHP Highly regard HS pick. Was mentioned as possible chip in high profile trades.
  • 13. C.J. Hinojosa 5-10, 175 SS Scrappy IF prospect in the mold of Kelby Tomlinson, just gets it done.
  • 14. Garett Cave 6-4, 200 RHP He misses a lot of bats and at times, the plate. 13 K/9 an 5 B/9. Wild thing.

2019 MLB Draft - Top HS Draft Prospects

  • 1. Bobby Witt, Jr. 6-1,185 SS Colleyville Heritage HS (TX) Oklahoma commit. Outstanding defensive SS who can hit. 6.4 speed in 60 yd. Touched 97 on mound. Son of former major leaguer. Five tool potential.
  • 2. Riley Greene 6-2, 190 OF Haggerty HS (FL) Florida commit.Best HS hitting prospect. LH bat with good eye, plate discipline and developing power.
  • 3. C.J. Abrams 6-2, 180 SS Blessed Trinity HS (GA) High-ceiling athlete. 70 speed with plus arm. Hitting needs to develop as he matures. Alabama commit.
  • 4. Reece Hinds 6-4, 210 SS Niceville HS (FL) Power bat, committed to LSU. Plus arm, solid enough bat to move to 3B down the road. 98MPH arm.
  • 5. Daniel Espino 6-3, 200 RHP Georgia Premier Academy (GA) LSU commit. Touches 98 on FB with wipe out SL.

2019 MLB Draft - Top College Draft Prospects

  • 1. Adley Rutschman C Oregon State Plus defender with great arm. Excellent receiver plus a switch hitter with some pop in the bat.
  • 2. Shea Langliers C Baylor Excelent throw and catch skills with good pop time. Quick bat, uses all fields approach with some pop.
  • 3. Zack Thompson 6-2 LHP Kentucky Missed time with an elbow issue. FB up to 95 with plenty of secondary stuff.
  • 4. Matt Wallner 6-5 OF Southern Miss Run producing bat plus mid to upper 90's FB closer. Power bat from the left side, athletic for size.
  • 5. Nick Lodolo LHP TCU Tall LHP, 95MPH FB and solid breaking stuff.