I am covering the African Cup of Nations at Worldcupblog and have a little word association game to describe the opening game, Ivory Coast-Burkina Faso 0-0 draw.
Monthly Archives: January 2010
Togo Tragedy & Recidivist Discourse of Fear
The Togo tragedy was just that – a tragedy. That it preceded a moment of optimism, the coming World Cup in South Africa, merely augmented the emotional impact of such a disastrous set of circumstances. While mainstream media batted its eyelids, the soccer blogosphere did it’s job – highlighting all angles of the awful situation for interested readers.
At times such as these, we get sucked out of our magical computer box and the land of soccer and placed on a level plane. The ball, the blog, these daily staples disintegrate as human solidarity in the face of suffering grabs our hearts. But in the face of such strong emotions, individuals with agendas latch onto our emotional frailty. Some persons cannot see an angry mob, torches alit, without resisting the urge to point a finger and burn an effigy. Experience shatters reason, and assumptions of basic human dignity get swept under the rug in the rush of expedient, hollow, and unfulfillable catharsis attempts. Continue reading “Togo Tragedy & Recidivist Discourse of Fear” »
Gonzalo Higuain, the Next…Gonzalo Higuain
Every star player’s career starts as a collection of trite similes. If fortune smiles upon this young man, he will play for a top club and be compared to the ghosts of European Cups past. But then, one day, his performances will cast away the fog of history like the sun rising over the mornings’ mist. Gonzalo Higuain, I extend sincere congratulations because, sob sob, you really really remind me of Gonzalo Higuain.
A few others concur in my assessment…. Continue reading “Gonzalo Higuain, the Next…Gonzalo Higuain” »
New Year, New Content Thievery, Part 2
Hello, fellow Americans. Have you ever heard of “Teletext”? Me neither. Think Atari graphics meets the ESPN gamecast, but twice as slow and cool.
Sadly, this technology is going the way of the dodo due to your love of Apple. No, not the guy sitting next to you. YOU. This is YOUR fault. And what will happen when this priceless technology leaves the Earth, when we must grapple with three dimension viewing of sports?
To examine this issue in depth, I suggest following a link sent to me from Bedorrarci, the executive editor at Futfanatico.org (my site’s nonprofit branch). Here’s the link.
Now is Not the Time for Satirists….
So, my tongue & cheek series on the African World Cup has taken a grisly turn – the horrific incident in Togo. I am still in a state of shock, sadness, and solidarity: my prayers are with the Togo players, their families, friends, and loved ones.
However, while some have asked my thoughts, I defer to the brilliant and analytically sounder bloggers at Justfootball and Pitchinvasion. Now is not the time for a FF laugh, but neither should we overreact. The risk in these times is to let fear, ignorance, anger, and hate lead to negative discursive cycles.
I trust these bloggers, and so should you.
I’m gonna wait a week and see how I feel in about a week.
Rooney As Sole Striker Is Like Walking…
“Up The Hill Backwards” by David Bowie
The Ivory Coast CAN Key Matchup
I have provided an in depth analysis of the greatest obstacle to the mighty Elephants’ trample towards African glory. Read here.
The Dirt on Dirty Donovan's Dirtyness
Yes, the picture of the former US president reading a book upside down has made a special return appearance. No, I am not starting a “every Tuesday” Spanglish refresher lesson. Most of you failed the final quiz, I realized I was an abject failure as a teacher, and…I missed writing these.
Plus, inspiration came in the way of an amusing Landon Donovan commercial in which the Toffees man took a break between German and English loan spells to shoot a lottery commercial. Continue reading “The Dirt on Dirty Donovan's Dirtyness” »
This Loco American Sport of Soccer – Part 1
Ahem, European readers. Just as I click “all read” when you began to dabble about cricket, rugby, or the Scottish national team, I now give you fair warning – this is a rambling and incoherent essay on North American football culture. And by North America, I mean the United States of America. Well, maybe a few potshots at Canada. And a lustful eye down south to Mexico. But still…click “all read” and move along. As for the rest of you, fasten your seatbelt.
I begin with an observation – MLS and soccer in the US has grown from widely disregarded Milwaukee’s Best to counterculture status like a well respected regional microbrewery. The TV deal, the squabbles over the CBA, the split in the second division, these are the symptoms of adolescence. Congratulations, US soccer, you are about to hit puberty. Continue reading “This Loco American Sport of Soccer – Part 1” »
New Year, New Content Stealery – Part One
For those of you aficionados of cinema, Eusebio at Uno o Dos Toques has attempted valiantly to answer a very basic question: why do football movies inevitably suck? Eusebio looks at films from all walks of sport, and also has a few fantastic Spanish language films listed from the Di Stefano era. My favorite, Las Ibericas, is amazing for both subtly and goofily mocking machista culture. This is in stark contrast to the real world incident in Naquera, Spain, which my sources indicate sadly is true. Continue reading “New Year, New Content Stealery – Part One” »