Here's guessing that Julio Cesar does not have a commercial tie with the Adidas brand.
Brazil's elite goalkeeper (and how often have those words been written in the history of soccer?) hates the new ball to be used at South Africa 2010, by Fifa fiat.
How much he not like it?
Well, he said it looks like something "from a grocery store." He also called the ball "horrible" and "terrible." And suggested it was created to make life hard for those poor hard-working men in the nets, the goalkeepers.
Hmm.
Normally, almost nothing a Brazilian goalkeeper might say could be disregarded because Brazil's goalkeepers generally were second-rate and nondescript.
Julio Cesar, however, is different: He just backstopped Inter Milan to the Champions League championship. So he has some credibility.
If you would like to see a semi-scholarly (and Adidas-friendly) review of the ball, check here.
Apparently, the hope at Adidas was to create a ball that was ... oh, perfect. "True" in flight, with a higher ratio of kicking surface because of fewer seams ...
Here is a mugshot of the ball. On amazon.com which, of course, is attempting to sell you one.
And $122 ... on sale?!? No thanks.
I believe I would be quite happy with a soccer ball from, say ... the grocery store Julio Cesar shops at.
Anyway, look for more complaints about the new ball. Athletes never like new equipment. Particularly when they think it makes their jobs more difficult.
Read more!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Maybe This 'Soccer' Thing Is Catching On ...
The U.S. national soccer team had a "farewell and good luck" session with President Barack Obama today at the White House.
So maybe this "soccer" thing is catching on in the States, where "football" is a game played with a pointed ball and by very large men in helmets.
The significance?
That has never happened before, as far as my research indicates.
Bill Clinton was in the stands at Chicago in 1994 for the opening match, but it didn't involve the host nation -- it was Germany vs. Ecuador, as I recall.
In 2002, President George W. Bush called the U.S. team ahead of its second-round match with Mexico (a victory). In 2006, he called ahead of the opening match against the Czechs (a defeat).
And before Clinton, U.S. presidents couldn't be expected to know the national soccer team from any other 23 young guys rounded up off the streets. Soccer was an inconsequential sport. Didn't matter.
Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated recaps some history of U.S. presidents and the World Cup, and it isn't a lengthy retelling. (Betcha $100 that President Herbert Hoover not only didn't know about the U.S. team at the 1930 World Cup ... he didn't know the World Cup existed.)
Obama reportedly told the players, "We're going to be proud of what you do in South Africa. And you will have somebody in the Oval Office watching ESPN to make sure things are going OK."
Rumors are that Obama will travel to South Africa if the Americans get out of Group C play.
OK, it wasn't a complete triumph ... Obama appears to have been doing a "meet the athletes" relay. Before chatting up the soccer lads, he congratulated the Duke University men's basketball team that won a national championship.
But, yeah. This soccer thing ... it may be at a tipping point. A bit of success this time around ...
American proponents of the game called soccer "the sports of the future" for so many years that critics responded by tweaking that statement with this: "Soccer is the sport of the future ... and always will be."
Actually, the future may finally be here, for the U.S. game. Read more!
So maybe this "soccer" thing is catching on in the States, where "football" is a game played with a pointed ball and by very large men in helmets.
The significance?
That has never happened before, as far as my research indicates.
Bill Clinton was in the stands at Chicago in 1994 for the opening match, but it didn't involve the host nation -- it was Germany vs. Ecuador, as I recall.
In 2002, President George W. Bush called the U.S. team ahead of its second-round match with Mexico (a victory). In 2006, he called ahead of the opening match against the Czechs (a defeat).
And before Clinton, U.S. presidents couldn't be expected to know the national soccer team from any other 23 young guys rounded up off the streets. Soccer was an inconsequential sport. Didn't matter.
Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated recaps some history of U.S. presidents and the World Cup, and it isn't a lengthy retelling. (Betcha $100 that President Herbert Hoover not only didn't know about the U.S. team at the 1930 World Cup ... he didn't know the World Cup existed.)
Obama reportedly told the players, "We're going to be proud of what you do in South Africa. And you will have somebody in the Oval Office watching ESPN to make sure things are going OK."
Rumors are that Obama will travel to South Africa if the Americans get out of Group C play.
OK, it wasn't a complete triumph ... Obama appears to have been doing a "meet the athletes" relay. Before chatting up the soccer lads, he congratulated the Duke University men's basketball team that won a national championship.
But, yeah. This soccer thing ... it may be at a tipping point. A bit of success this time around ...
American proponents of the game called soccer "the sports of the future" for so many years that critics responded by tweaking that statement with this: "Soccer is the sport of the future ... and always will be."
Actually, the future may finally be here, for the U.S. game. Read more!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Ox Sacrifice: Not Something You See Every Quadrennium
We stipulated long ago that South Africa 2010 would be like no other World Cup. For hundreds of reasons.
And here is one of them: The sacrifice of an ox at Soccer City to bless the country's World Cup stadiums, two weeks ahead of kickoff.
I am pretty sure Germany didn't sacrifice any large domestic animals at the 2006 World Cup ... and neither did Uruguay at the first World Cup, in 1930.
This is a South Africa thing.
According to the Johannesburg Times story linked above, a 70-year-old warrior of the Xhosa tribe did the honors, dispatching the beast with a spear thrust between the horns.
(Brings to mind the final thrust of a bullfight, actually. Maybe Spain did kill a bull or two, before the 1982 World Cup? But Italy won that one. Hmmm.)
The Times was told that the elderly warrior is "an expert in doing this" who was "brought all the way from the rural Eastern Cape" for the gig.
The story uses a couple of local-local words that I, at least, don't recognize, so I did some research.
A sangoma apparently is a "traditional healer" and sometimes simply referred to as a shaman.
Meanwhile, an inyanga seems to be more of a Zulu tribal concept, and according to the link is more into homeopathy than divination. And the inyanga apparently "learns from the living while the sangoma learns from the dead."
Hmm.
Doesn't hurt to have some around, presumably.
The ceremony included a blessing of "everything related to the World Cup." Does that extend to the author of this blog? Maybe not.
Let's see how South Africa 2010 turns out. Four years from now, Brazil may want to refer back to today's ox-slaughter/blessing-giving. Read more!
And here is one of them: The sacrifice of an ox at Soccer City to bless the country's World Cup stadiums, two weeks ahead of kickoff.
I am pretty sure Germany didn't sacrifice any large domestic animals at the 2006 World Cup ... and neither did Uruguay at the first World Cup, in 1930.
This is a South Africa thing.
According to the Johannesburg Times story linked above, a 70-year-old warrior of the Xhosa tribe did the honors, dispatching the beast with a spear thrust between the horns.
(Brings to mind the final thrust of a bullfight, actually. Maybe Spain did kill a bull or two, before the 1982 World Cup? But Italy won that one. Hmmm.)
The Times was told that the elderly warrior is "an expert in doing this" who was "brought all the way from the rural Eastern Cape" for the gig.
The story uses a couple of local-local words that I, at least, don't recognize, so I did some research.
A sangoma apparently is a "traditional healer" and sometimes simply referred to as a shaman.
Meanwhile, an inyanga seems to be more of a Zulu tribal concept, and according to the link is more into homeopathy than divination. And the inyanga apparently "learns from the living while the sangoma learns from the dead."
Hmm.
Doesn't hurt to have some around, presumably.
The ceremony included a blessing of "everything related to the World Cup." Does that extend to the author of this blog? Maybe not.
Let's see how South Africa 2010 turns out. Four years from now, Brazil may want to refer back to today's ox-slaughter/blessing-giving. Read more!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Hey, Wait! Mexico Is Pretty Good
As a North American soccer fan, I can't help but smile at this.
A European journalist sees Mexico play and comes away saying, "Hey, those guys are pretty good."
Even after England defeated Mexico 3-1 at Wembley on Monday.
Such is the case of this story in the Johannesburg Times, where the individual supplying the copy for the newspaper decided, "Hmm, South African could be in trouble in that World Cup opener against Mexico 17 days from now."
Twas ever thus.
Euros tend to think the United States is decent is soccer, and it is. More or less. Wins a few, loses a few.
But Mexico seems to surprise the Euros -- and apparently the Africans, too -- every four years.
What about "five straight times in the second round" do people not get? (Leaving out the 1990 World Cup, when Mexico was banned for having used an overaged player.)
Quarterfinals in 1986, round of 16 in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006.
El Tri, as Mexico is known (because Mexico's flag has three colors), is a serious opponent. They turn out cohesive, quick and technically advanced teams. They are expected to advance, and they expect if of themselves.
If you followed the link (above) to the game story, you will note that two of England's goals came in the air, in front of the net. And yes, size and playing in the air are the two biggest issues Mexico has. And they may not be issues at all against South Africa, also not a tall team.
The optimists in South Africa figured they would beat Mexico (how good can they be?) in the opener, then sneak past Uruguay and get into the second round out of Group A.
Then they say El Tri play.
The author of the Times story also points out how challenging Mexico's schedule in the run-up to South Africa 2010 is. After England at Wembley, they now get Netherlands in Freiburg, Gambia in Bayreuth and Italy in Brussels, giving them four matches in 11 days, three of them against top-eight-ranked teams in the world.
That's a Mexico thing, too: Play the best. And certainly coach Javier Aguirre is living it. When you play Italy and England and the Dutch, how easy will the Bafana Bafana Bafana seem?
Just makes me smile. This eternal surprise: "Hey, these Mexico dudes are pretty good."
Eventually, people other than gringos and ticos will remember this. Read more!
A European journalist sees Mexico play and comes away saying, "Hey, those guys are pretty good."
Even after England defeated Mexico 3-1 at Wembley on Monday.
Such is the case of this story in the Johannesburg Times, where the individual supplying the copy for the newspaper decided, "Hmm, South African could be in trouble in that World Cup opener against Mexico 17 days from now."
Twas ever thus.
Euros tend to think the United States is decent is soccer, and it is. More or less. Wins a few, loses a few.
But Mexico seems to surprise the Euros -- and apparently the Africans, too -- every four years.
What about "five straight times in the second round" do people not get? (Leaving out the 1990 World Cup, when Mexico was banned for having used an overaged player.)
Quarterfinals in 1986, round of 16 in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006.
El Tri, as Mexico is known (because Mexico's flag has three colors), is a serious opponent. They turn out cohesive, quick and technically advanced teams. They are expected to advance, and they expect if of themselves.
If you followed the link (above) to the game story, you will note that two of England's goals came in the air, in front of the net. And yes, size and playing in the air are the two biggest issues Mexico has. And they may not be issues at all against South Africa, also not a tall team.
The optimists in South Africa figured they would beat Mexico (how good can they be?) in the opener, then sneak past Uruguay and get into the second round out of Group A.
Then they say El Tri play.
The author of the Times story also points out how challenging Mexico's schedule in the run-up to South Africa 2010 is. After England at Wembley, they now get Netherlands in Freiburg, Gambia in Bayreuth and Italy in Brussels, giving them four matches in 11 days, three of them against top-eight-ranked teams in the world.
That's a Mexico thing, too: Play the best. And certainly coach Javier Aguirre is living it. When you play Italy and England and the Dutch, how easy will the Bafana Bafana Bafana seem?
Just makes me smile. This eternal surprise: "Hey, these Mexico dudes are pretty good."
Eventually, people other than gringos and ticos will remember this. Read more!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Fill 'Er Up, and Where's the Museum?
These ideas always sound so inspired.
Hey, let's give a crash course on being a tourist guide to the guys who work at gas stations!
Which is what the city of Johannesburg is planning here in these final two weeks and change before South Africa 2010.
From the story linked above:
Employees at Sasol garages will be sent on a training course, and be able to provide helpful information on places of interest like Nelson Mandela’s former home in Soweto, or Constitution Hill in downtown Johannesburg, which celebrates South Africa’s new democracy.
"We are delighted to offer this industry-first, value-add service to our customers, both local and foreign, to ensure that they get the most out of their experience of the city of Johannesburg," Sasol Oil managing director Maurice Radebe said.
The Joburg Tourism company said the two-day training program will include different modules on tourism awareness, cultural diversity and a tour of all the tourist attractions in the city.
As we noted, a nice thought. But how practical is it?
Take if from a guy who pumped gas as a kid ... I knew where Broadway and Pine was ... but I probably couldn't tell you where civic luminaries in my town lived, back when I was a teenager checking oil and washing windows.
Maybe South Africa's pump jockeys know more about their hometown, and it's cultural epicenters ... but I'm not sure I would ask a guy at the BP where the nearest good Italian restaurant is. Or where Nelson Mandela lived, in Soweto.
More than anything this seems to be a sign of the country's enthusiasm (finally) for the event. To look at South Africa media these past few weeks is to get a sense of a country that is close to being "All World Cup all the time!"
As someone who has been watching South African media for the past year, I can say this: "It's about time people there got excited." Read more!
Hey, let's give a crash course on being a tourist guide to the guys who work at gas stations!
Which is what the city of Johannesburg is planning here in these final two weeks and change before South Africa 2010.
From the story linked above:
Employees at Sasol garages will be sent on a training course, and be able to provide helpful information on places of interest like Nelson Mandela’s former home in Soweto, or Constitution Hill in downtown Johannesburg, which celebrates South Africa’s new democracy.
"We are delighted to offer this industry-first, value-add service to our customers, both local and foreign, to ensure that they get the most out of their experience of the city of Johannesburg," Sasol Oil managing director Maurice Radebe said.
The Joburg Tourism company said the two-day training program will include different modules on tourism awareness, cultural diversity and a tour of all the tourist attractions in the city.
As we noted, a nice thought. But how practical is it?
Take if from a guy who pumped gas as a kid ... I knew where Broadway and Pine was ... but I probably couldn't tell you where civic luminaries in my town lived, back when I was a teenager checking oil and washing windows.
Maybe South Africa's pump jockeys know more about their hometown, and it's cultural epicenters ... but I'm not sure I would ask a guy at the BP where the nearest good Italian restaurant is. Or where Nelson Mandela lived, in Soweto.
More than anything this seems to be a sign of the country's enthusiasm (finally) for the event. To look at South Africa media these past few weeks is to get a sense of a country that is close to being "All World Cup all the time!"
As someone who has been watching South African media for the past year, I can say this: "It's about time people there got excited." Read more!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
El Jefe Loco and the Deluxe Loo
Mixing some Spanish and English-English there. And even I am weary of noting the antics/foibles/madness of Diego Maradona, but this cannot go unremarked.
Our friend, David Lassen, passed along the Daily Mail version of this ... but we have returned to the original source, the Johannesburg Times, for this breaking story:
The Times reports that El Jefe Loco demands and is getting world-class toilets for the World Cup.
One might think El Jefe would have other preoccupations about now.
But no. Having the best bathroom in South Africa is a bigger priority for El Jefe Loco than, oh, anything. Like breaking down film of practice of studying opponents or dreaming up his latest utterly random lineup.
He now has the best bathroom fixtures in the world, including a bidet with a bunch of gadgets (as you can see in the Daily Mail story) ... so that when El Jefe retires to his office he can think deep thoughts while in the lap of luxury.
All paid for by Argentina's football association. Of course.
So, let's review. In recent weeks, El Jefe Loco has ... been bitten on the face while "kissing goodnight" his own dog, requiring a trip to the emergency room at a hospital and stitches ... has run over the leg of a video cameraman and rebuked him for getting his limb in the way of his wheels, shouting "asshole!" at him ... and now made such a stink about his bathrooms in his hotel suite that he is making even more news about something that has nothing to do with Argentina soccer.
That he is considered the biggest joke in the coaching fraternity goes without saying. But it is worse than that.
He is mad, I tell you. Daft. Barking. Muy loco.
And we have yet to see how he will manage it, but I am convinced he will make so many horrific decisions with the Argentina team that what might be the best club in the world, on paper, will not make the final, let alone win it. Read more!
Our friend, David Lassen, passed along the Daily Mail version of this ... but we have returned to the original source, the Johannesburg Times, for this breaking story:
The Times reports that El Jefe Loco demands and is getting world-class toilets for the World Cup.
One might think El Jefe would have other preoccupations about now.
But no. Having the best bathroom in South Africa is a bigger priority for El Jefe Loco than, oh, anything. Like breaking down film of practice of studying opponents or dreaming up his latest utterly random lineup.
He now has the best bathroom fixtures in the world, including a bidet with a bunch of gadgets (as you can see in the Daily Mail story) ... so that when El Jefe retires to his office he can think deep thoughts while in the lap of luxury.
All paid for by Argentina's football association. Of course.
So, let's review. In recent weeks, El Jefe Loco has ... been bitten on the face while "kissing goodnight" his own dog, requiring a trip to the emergency room at a hospital and stitches ... has run over the leg of a video cameraman and rebuked him for getting his limb in the way of his wheels, shouting "asshole!" at him ... and now made such a stink about his bathrooms in his hotel suite that he is making even more news about something that has nothing to do with Argentina soccer.
That he is considered the biggest joke in the coaching fraternity goes without saying. But it is worse than that.
He is mad, I tell you. Daft. Barking. Muy loco.
And we have yet to see how he will manage it, but I am convinced he will make so many horrific decisions with the Argentina team that what might be the best club in the world, on paper, will not make the final, let alone win it. Read more!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
The Professional Sepp/Fifa Basher
The Johannesburg Sunday Times has a story on Andrew Jennings, professional Fifa critic.
Sometimes an outsider has to wonder if Jennings has gone around the bend a bit, so uninterrupted and strident are his condemnations of Fifa and its president, Sepp Blatter.
The gist of his message?
That Fifa is out to shake down every country foolish enough to host the World Cup. And that South Africa's turn is almost done now.
Some highlights:
--On Sepp Blatter: "Well, it's not for nothing that he has been booed at the last two World Cups. Your country is being exploited. The profits of the World Cup won't trickle down - they won't go to anyone except Fifa."
--On Jack Warner, Fifa honcho from Trinidad: "He is a horrible, horrible thief."
--On the purveyor of tours, Match Hospitality: "It is too late, people decided last year that they weren't coming. Transport and hospitality got the shaft; these come before violence as a deterring factor. People just can't afford it. Not even the American wholesaler could sell the overpriced hospitality packages. For Match it's just greed, greed, greed."
--On tickets being nearly sold out: "Well, your municipalities are buying tickets. They tell you there are no empty seats because we have to believe there is a scarcity value; there has been a political move to cover up the scandal. Blatter is dishing out tickets to the unemployed -- you are going to get screwed."
--On what South Africa can expect when the event is over: "South Africa bent over and let Fifa have their way. Officials and the government have sold South Africa down the river: 'Bye Africa, bye suckers!' "
Jennings claims he is the only reporter in the world who is banned from Fifa press conferences. Don't know if it's true, but we can see why that might be. Read more!
Sometimes an outsider has to wonder if Jennings has gone around the bend a bit, so uninterrupted and strident are his condemnations of Fifa and its president, Sepp Blatter.
The gist of his message?
That Fifa is out to shake down every country foolish enough to host the World Cup. And that South Africa's turn is almost done now.
Some highlights:
--On Sepp Blatter: "Well, it's not for nothing that he has been booed at the last two World Cups. Your country is being exploited. The profits of the World Cup won't trickle down - they won't go to anyone except Fifa."
--On Jack Warner, Fifa honcho from Trinidad: "He is a horrible, horrible thief."
--On the purveyor of tours, Match Hospitality: "It is too late, people decided last year that they weren't coming. Transport and hospitality got the shaft; these come before violence as a deterring factor. People just can't afford it. Not even the American wholesaler could sell the overpriced hospitality packages. For Match it's just greed, greed, greed."
--On tickets being nearly sold out: "Well, your municipalities are buying tickets. They tell you there are no empty seats because we have to believe there is a scarcity value; there has been a political move to cover up the scandal. Blatter is dishing out tickets to the unemployed -- you are going to get screwed."
--On what South Africa can expect when the event is over: "South Africa bent over and let Fifa have their way. Officials and the government have sold South Africa down the river: 'Bye Africa, bye suckers!' "
Jennings claims he is the only reporter in the world who is banned from Fifa press conferences. Don't know if it's true, but we can see why that might be. Read more!
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