Ian Hawkey has an interesting piece today in the Johannesburg Times.
In it, he suggests that Argentina is a legitimate threat to win South Africa 2010. Not because of Diego Maradona, but in spite of him.
Hawkey suggests Argentina has so many elite scorers (only Brazil seems as gifted) ... that it will be hard to screw this up. Unless the back falls apart, and it could.
Among the names Diego can put on his lineup card:
--Lionel Messi. Perhaps the best player in the world, and a guy who appears to be in from, with five goals in his last two matches with Barcelona. Yikes. He leads the Spanish League in goals with 22.
--Then there is Gonzalo Higuain, who scored three goals of his own last Sunday and now has 19 goals.
--And Diego Milito of Inter Milan, second in Seria A scoring.
--And Carlos Tevez, who has 16 goals for Manchester City, a total exceeded by only three men in the Premiership.
--And Lucas Barrios, fourth in scoring in the Bundesliga.
He also mentions 21-year-old Sergio Aguero of Atletico Madrid (the father of Diego's grandchild), Javier Saviola of Benfica and Lyon forward Lisandro Lopez.
Most teams in the World Cup would be happy to have one of those guys. Ecstatic to have two of them.
Hawkey, like this writer, is less than enthralled with Coach Diego, describing him as "a former cocaine addict, tax evader and all-around rascal."
But Hawkey suggests Diego may have such trouble settling on who will play for him because, especially in the attack, he is "spoiled for choice" -- as the Brits say.
Certainly seems that way. How to get all those guys on the field?
A problem about 28 teams World Cup teams would love to have.
Read more!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Fifa: No Worries about Next Meal
Sport? Or business?
With Fifa, sometimes it's hard to tell.
Soccer's world governing body announced a profit of $196 million for 2009, on revenue of $1.06 billion.
So if you've been worried about where Sepp Blatter's next four-star meal was coming from ... don't.
It strikes me that $196 million profit on revenues of $1.06 billion ... is nearly 20 percent profit. If one of the big oil companies reported a profit of 20 percent, people would go crazy.
So, why isn't Fifa pouring some of that money back into the sport? Maybe see if the group can get along on, oh, 10 percent profit for a year.
What could it do with the other $100 million from this year? Maybe buy soccer balls and distribute them in all those Third World countries where we read stories about guys kicking around a wad of paper. While they play barefoot.
Maybe open an academy in Africa and another in Central America. Perhaps infuse a little money into India, the last Black Hole on the soccer map. Where 1 billion people don't play soccer and don't care. Like, way, way more than Americans don't care.
What will Fifa do with the $196 million profit? Probably throw some lavish parties in Joburg. Give Sepp a raise. Buy him a gold-plated desk.
The rest ... they'll probably just waste. Read more!
With Fifa, sometimes it's hard to tell.
Soccer's world governing body announced a profit of $196 million for 2009, on revenue of $1.06 billion.
So if you've been worried about where Sepp Blatter's next four-star meal was coming from ... don't.
It strikes me that $196 million profit on revenues of $1.06 billion ... is nearly 20 percent profit. If one of the big oil companies reported a profit of 20 percent, people would go crazy.
So, why isn't Fifa pouring some of that money back into the sport? Maybe see if the group can get along on, oh, 10 percent profit for a year.
What could it do with the other $100 million from this year? Maybe buy soccer balls and distribute them in all those Third World countries where we read stories about guys kicking around a wad of paper. While they play barefoot.
Maybe open an academy in Africa and another in Central America. Perhaps infuse a little money into India, the last Black Hole on the soccer map. Where 1 billion people don't play soccer and don't care. Like, way, way more than Americans don't care.
What will Fifa do with the $196 million profit? Probably throw some lavish parties in Joburg. Give Sepp a raise. Buy him a gold-plated desk.
The rest ... they'll probably just waste. Read more!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Fifa Slaps Down 'Unofficial National Carrier'
Fifa can be a little, oh, fascistic when it comes to defending its marketing rights.
The budget air-carrier Kulula has received a cease-and-desist letter from Fifa's Thought Police in regards to an advertising campaign, the Johannesburg Star reports.
Kulula's ads had identified it as the "Unofficial National Carrier of You-Know-What."
Apparently, using words which might make you think of South Africa 2010 makes Fifa angry. The campaign might seem clever to you or me, but to Fifa it is "ambush marketing."
The airline fired back at Boss Fifa in a tweet:
"Oh dear, letter from Fifa's lawyers says we broke their trademark of the use of 'South Africa' and think our non-WC ad was about soccer ...
"Even the use of our national flag was an issue. It's absolutely outrageous. We've signed over our country, its symbols and our economy to one Sepp Blatter. Nasty."
Sepp is Fifa's President for Life. (Or he behaves as if he is, anyway.) He and his drones are beyond zealous (maniacal?) in protecting the advertising exclusivity of its official partners because Fifa likes the money the partners kick into the kitty, and want to charge at least as much at Brazil 2014.
"They said we cannot depict the Cape Town stadium, we can't use soccer balls, or the word 'South Africa', and the depiction of the national flag is not allowed," said the Kulula marketing manager Nadine Damen.
"We can't make any reference to the World Cup. They also told us we cannot use the vuvuzela, which, in our view, is representative of the people of South Africa and their love of football."
The vuvuzela is the annoying plastic horn that has become the symbol, almost, of South African soccer fans. Didn't think you could own the intellectual rights to the big brother of a kazoo? In Fifa's world, apparently you can. Read more!
The budget air-carrier Kulula has received a cease-and-desist letter from Fifa's Thought Police in regards to an advertising campaign, the Johannesburg Star reports.
Kulula's ads had identified it as the "Unofficial National Carrier of You-Know-What."
Apparently, using words which might make you think of South Africa 2010 makes Fifa angry. The campaign might seem clever to you or me, but to Fifa it is "ambush marketing."
The airline fired back at Boss Fifa in a tweet:
"Oh dear, letter from Fifa's lawyers says we broke their trademark of the use of 'South Africa' and think our non-WC ad was about soccer ...
"Even the use of our national flag was an issue. It's absolutely outrageous. We've signed over our country, its symbols and our economy to one Sepp Blatter. Nasty."
Sepp is Fifa's President for Life. (Or he behaves as if he is, anyway.) He and his drones are beyond zealous (maniacal?) in protecting the advertising exclusivity of its official partners because Fifa likes the money the partners kick into the kitty, and want to charge at least as much at Brazil 2014.
"They said we cannot depict the Cape Town stadium, we can't use soccer balls, or the word 'South Africa', and the depiction of the national flag is not allowed," said the Kulula marketing manager Nadine Damen.
"We can't make any reference to the World Cup. They also told us we cannot use the vuvuzela, which, in our view, is representative of the people of South Africa and their love of football."
The vuvuzela is the annoying plastic horn that has become the symbol, almost, of South African soccer fans. Didn't think you could own the intellectual rights to the big brother of a kazoo? In Fifa's world, apparently you can. Read more!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Becks Inspires Poet Laureate
This is almost camp, really. The poet laureate of Britain, Carol Ann Duffy, has written a poem about David Beckham and his ruptured Achilles tendon. No, really. The poet laureate. Of Britain. Has done a poem about Becks.
I'm not sure it will knock Alfred Lord Tennyson out of the British canon, but I bet it's the first time Britain's poet laureate has been moved to versify about a footballer.
And if they have, I doubt thoroughly that they released it first in, yes, the Daily Mirror, one of England's scandal sheets.
Anyway, here it is. Entitled, "Achilles (for David Beckham)" Read it and weep.
Myth's river — where his mother dipped him, fished him; a slippery golden boy flowed on, his name on its lips.
Without him, it was prophesied, they would not take Troy.
Women hid him, concealed him in girls' sarongs; days of sweetmeats, spices, silver songs ...
But when Odysseus came, with an athlete's build, a sword and a shield, he followed him to the battlefield, the crowd's roar,
And it was sport, not war, his charmed foot on the ball...
But then his heel, his heel, his heel ...
All-righty then!
Clearly, this is about the original Achilles. The inspiration, of course. The "not take Troy" part ... I suppose Troy is the World Cup. The bit about "concealed him in girls' sarongs" is about Becks' famous southeast Asian period when, yes, he did wear a sarong ... and the bit about "Spice" ... well, that's wife Victoria, one of the Spice Girls ... But who Odysseus was in this poem, "with an athlete's build" ... well, feel free to enlighten us on that one.
So, when is a Portuguese poet going to get busy on Cristiano Ronaldo? Read more!
I'm not sure it will knock Alfred Lord Tennyson out of the British canon, but I bet it's the first time Britain's poet laureate has been moved to versify about a footballer.
And if they have, I doubt thoroughly that they released it first in, yes, the Daily Mirror, one of England's scandal sheets.
Anyway, here it is. Entitled, "Achilles (for David Beckham)" Read it and weep.
Myth's river — where his mother dipped him, fished him; a slippery golden boy flowed on, his name on its lips.
Without him, it was prophesied, they would not take Troy.
Women hid him, concealed him in girls' sarongs; days of sweetmeats, spices, silver songs ...
But when Odysseus came, with an athlete's build, a sword and a shield, he followed him to the battlefield, the crowd's roar,
And it was sport, not war, his charmed foot on the ball...
But then his heel, his heel, his heel ...
All-righty then!
Clearly, this is about the original Achilles. The inspiration, of course. The "not take Troy" part ... I suppose Troy is the World Cup. The bit about "concealed him in girls' sarongs" is about Becks' famous southeast Asian period when, yes, he did wear a sarong ... and the bit about "Spice" ... well, that's wife Victoria, one of the Spice Girls ... But who Odysseus was in this poem, "with an athlete's build" ... well, feel free to enlighten us on that one.
So, when is a Portuguese poet going to get busy on Cristiano Ronaldo? Read more!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
All the President's Wives
I know. I said I would leave South African politics behind. But so much is going on!
We've got Steven Pienaar saying he doesn't think England is all that hot, which is interesting because he plays for Everton in the Premier League -- and also is South Africa's best player. He likes Argentina, Brazil, Germany or Italy. Becks is devastated he can't play in the World Cup, but he may still have a role as a good-will ambassador. Beefy midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, who wants to play for Ghana in SA12010, hasn't been cleared by Fifa yet and may not make it; he was born in Germany and played for German youth teams in international competition, which used to mean you were stuck but that process is becoming, oh, elastic. And that's most of the pressing soccer news.
And now back to the soap opera that is the South African government.
The New York Times has noticed.
NYT correspondent Barry Bearak writes that the nation always has wondered how its leaders live so lavishly on modest salaries. And "lifestyle audits" are turning up big numbers. One of those being examined is the infamous Julius Malema. And Jacob Zuma, of course. Bearak notes which sort of BMW the humble public servants prefer.
We also have this piece in the Johannesburg Times about how the government gives president Jacob Zuma's wives more than $2 million a year (once we convert the total from Rand) to ... just do what they do. It wouldn't be so expensive if the country weren't supporting three Zuma wives. And some of his children, too.
Have we mentioned lately ... it's a mess down there?
Well, it is. What these guys do year in and year out would get a guy chucked out of office in most of the First World ... but everyone is just truckin' along, in SA. Read more!
We've got Steven Pienaar saying he doesn't think England is all that hot, which is interesting because he plays for Everton in the Premier League -- and also is South Africa's best player. He likes Argentina, Brazil, Germany or Italy. Becks is devastated he can't play in the World Cup, but he may still have a role as a good-will ambassador. Beefy midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, who wants to play for Ghana in SA12010, hasn't been cleared by Fifa yet and may not make it; he was born in Germany and played for German youth teams in international competition, which used to mean you were stuck but that process is becoming, oh, elastic. And that's most of the pressing soccer news.
And now back to the soap opera that is the South African government.
The New York Times has noticed.
NYT correspondent Barry Bearak writes that the nation always has wondered how its leaders live so lavishly on modest salaries. And "lifestyle audits" are turning up big numbers. One of those being examined is the infamous Julius Malema. And Jacob Zuma, of course. Bearak notes which sort of BMW the humble public servants prefer.
We also have this piece in the Johannesburg Times about how the government gives president Jacob Zuma's wives more than $2 million a year (once we convert the total from Rand) to ... just do what they do. It wouldn't be so expensive if the country weren't supporting three Zuma wives. And some of his children, too.
Have we mentioned lately ... it's a mess down there?
Well, it is. What these guys do year in and year out would get a guy chucked out of office in most of the First World ... but everyone is just truckin' along, in SA. Read more!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
More Nutty Political News
Julius Malema. Remember the name.
It seems as if any ridiculous news story about South Africa right now that isn't about Jacob Zuma and his various families ... is about Julius Malema, leader of the African National Congress Youth League.
We will get back to the pitch quite soon, but in the meantime, let's get back up to date on the antics -- and, surprisingly, the trouble -- pertaining to Julius Malema.
The latest:
Malema has been fined by a judge for suggesting that a woman who accused Zuma of rape (the president was acquited) "had a nice" time. In this story, a columnist for the Johannesburg Times hammers Young Julius pretty hard, suggesting he merely represents a way of thinking that is common among men in the country.
And that isn't the only court problem one of the ANC's rising stars has. He is still at risk of censure or fine (prison: I don't think so) for singing that old resistance favorite "kill the Boer" at a rally at a university in Johannesburg.
Unfortunately, for Young Julius, over the weekend one white farmer was shot and killed, two others were shot but survived, but the wife of one of them was shot and killed.
Meanwhile, AfriForum Youth have lodged a complaint of hate speech ... as has the Freedom Front Plus party.
In this story, an opposition leader suggests that Malema is creating an atmosphere where "reckless thoughts and actions flourish" and he is an "accessory to the wiping out of farmers in South Africa."
The Freedom Front Plus party is preparing a report to send to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Which could lead to Malema being charged at an international court.
Anyway, that's what is going on in South Africa with less than three months until kickoff. We assume that if chief World Cup organizer Danny Jordaan had his way, Julius Malema would be under a gag order until the last group of SA2010 visitors is safely out of South African airspace, come mid-July. Read more!
It seems as if any ridiculous news story about South Africa right now that isn't about Jacob Zuma and his various families ... is about Julius Malema, leader of the African National Congress Youth League.
We will get back to the pitch quite soon, but in the meantime, let's get back up to date on the antics -- and, surprisingly, the trouble -- pertaining to Julius Malema.
The latest:
Malema has been fined by a judge for suggesting that a woman who accused Zuma of rape (the president was acquited) "had a nice" time. In this story, a columnist for the Johannesburg Times hammers Young Julius pretty hard, suggesting he merely represents a way of thinking that is common among men in the country.
And that isn't the only court problem one of the ANC's rising stars has. He is still at risk of censure or fine (prison: I don't think so) for singing that old resistance favorite "kill the Boer" at a rally at a university in Johannesburg.
Unfortunately, for Young Julius, over the weekend one white farmer was shot and killed, two others were shot but survived, but the wife of one of them was shot and killed.
Meanwhile, AfriForum Youth have lodged a complaint of hate speech ... as has the Freedom Front Plus party.
In this story, an opposition leader suggests that Malema is creating an atmosphere where "reckless thoughts and actions flourish" and he is an "accessory to the wiping out of farmers in South Africa."
The Freedom Front Plus party is preparing a report to send to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Which could lead to Malema being charged at an international court.
Anyway, that's what is going on in South Africa with less than three months until kickoff. We assume that if chief World Cup organizer Danny Jordaan had his way, Julius Malema would be under a gag order until the last group of SA2010 visitors is safely out of South African airspace, come mid-July. Read more!
Monday, March 15, 2010
A World Cup without Becks
We vowed to try to keep you up to date on the injury situation as South Africa 2010 comes into view. And here is a guy who won't be playing. Not that he's a great player. But he is a great showman, and will be missed ...
As every soccer fan in the world has heard by now, David Beckham suffered an Achilles tendon rupture during a match with AC Milan last night.
That means that the one of the best-known players in the world won't be at South Africa 2010, an event he seemed primed to take over by force of personality during the draw back in December.
No one would suggest he is one of the planet's great players. Even when he was in his prime he had severe limitations.
But his star power ... that will be missed.
Where do we go from here?
--Good thing it was his left Achilles. Some snarky critics suggest Becks' left leg exists only to keep him from falling over. All that "bending" he did? ... Right leg.
--We have an opening for Aging Icon of 2010. Michael Ballack has been playing like he's 35, so maybe he could contend. If Carlos Dunga calls in Ronaldinho, the Brazilian wheeze/whiz could be in there. And is anyone quite sure that Roger Milla is done playing for Cameroon? Gary Lineker? Eric Wynalda?
--Becks is going to be out a minimum of three months, the medical people say. But that must be only because he will spend his convalescence at Lourdes. Last time I checked, a blown Achilles is more like a one-year injury. And with a year off, he will be nearly 36. At which point his relevance for any team (English national, AC Milan, even the L.A. Galaxy) seems minimal.
--Beckham's career with England is presumably over. Unless the side feels a need for a one-dimensional right wing during qualifying for the 2012 Euro Cup. He won't get the all-time record for England appearances, but he is No. 1 among outfield players with 115 caps.
--Back in Los Angeles, Galaxy lawyers are going over that five-year, trillion-dollar contract (or whatever it is), looking for a way to void it a couple years early. Though it's not as if Beckham was playing more than a couple of months for the American club, anyway.
--The World Cup did get a bit duller. Beckham is one of those handful of players who generates an opinion from everyone. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Kaka ... take it away. If you can.
If this is it for Becks, we have to concede that he may be the all-time one-trick sports pony. He parlayed one amazing skill -- an ability to strike a soccer ball at rest and put it almost anywhere he wanted up to, oh, 30 yards -- and became a global personality. A global brand. That takes perseverance, a famous wife and a really capable PR crew.
We can take comfort in the fact that Becks presumably can still sell cologne and watches and maybe even soccer camps, even with a bum leg. Hurry back Becks.
Read more!
As every soccer fan in the world has heard by now, David Beckham suffered an Achilles tendon rupture during a match with AC Milan last night.
That means that the one of the best-known players in the world won't be at South Africa 2010, an event he seemed primed to take over by force of personality during the draw back in December.
No one would suggest he is one of the planet's great players. Even when he was in his prime he had severe limitations.
But his star power ... that will be missed.
Where do we go from here?
--Good thing it was his left Achilles. Some snarky critics suggest Becks' left leg exists only to keep him from falling over. All that "bending" he did? ... Right leg.
--We have an opening for Aging Icon of 2010. Michael Ballack has been playing like he's 35, so maybe he could contend. If Carlos Dunga calls in Ronaldinho, the Brazilian wheeze/whiz could be in there. And is anyone quite sure that Roger Milla is done playing for Cameroon? Gary Lineker? Eric Wynalda?
--Becks is going to be out a minimum of three months, the medical people say. But that must be only because he will spend his convalescence at Lourdes. Last time I checked, a blown Achilles is more like a one-year injury. And with a year off, he will be nearly 36. At which point his relevance for any team (English national, AC Milan, even the L.A. Galaxy) seems minimal.
--Beckham's career with England is presumably over. Unless the side feels a need for a one-dimensional right wing during qualifying for the 2012 Euro Cup. He won't get the all-time record for England appearances, but he is No. 1 among outfield players with 115 caps.
--Back in Los Angeles, Galaxy lawyers are going over that five-year, trillion-dollar contract (or whatever it is), looking for a way to void it a couple years early. Though it's not as if Beckham was playing more than a couple of months for the American club, anyway.
--The World Cup did get a bit duller. Beckham is one of those handful of players who generates an opinion from everyone. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Kaka ... take it away. If you can.
If this is it for Becks, we have to concede that he may be the all-time one-trick sports pony. He parlayed one amazing skill -- an ability to strike a soccer ball at rest and put it almost anywhere he wanted up to, oh, 30 yards -- and became a global personality. A global brand. That takes perseverance, a famous wife and a really capable PR crew.
We can take comfort in the fact that Becks presumably can still sell cologne and watches and maybe even soccer camps, even with a bum leg. Hurry back Becks.
Read more!
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