I was reading today how Michael Essien will be out of action for Chelsea for 4-6 weeks after sustaining an injury training with Ghana at the African Nations Cup. Often, clubs are hesitant to let their players go to international competitions because of the fear of injury. Without a top player lining up for the game, it could have an adverse affect on a team's chances to win.
But is it really so wrong for a player to want to play for his country? It would be cool to slip on a jersey with "USA" affixed to the front, and millions in bars and homes watching you play on TV.
Plus, it's a rare thing to play for your homeland. With only 32 countries in the World Cup this summer and roughly 20 players per team, it's a select crowd. I feel badly for soccer players who are put in the uneviable position of having to choose between their competing duties to clubs and national teams.
Soccer is unlike the NBA and MLB in the respect that there are very few times (none whatsoever in the NFL) where the national team comes calling for practices and games for global competition.
The Olympics and world championships for basketball are few and far between, and because much of the NBA is comprised of American players still (77 players in the 2008-2009 season were from abroad), only a small number of teams are affected. And like the NHL when the Olympics and Ice Hockey World Championships and the MLB when the World Baseball Classic happens, often a break in the season ensues or the competition takes place outside the season.
Obviously the competitions are present to showcase a country's best talent on a national stage. Players enjoy representing their country and exhibiting a sense of pride in where they're from.
Lots of kids grow up wanting to play for the popular teams: Yankees, Red Sox, Lakers, Celtics, Red Wings, Penguins and so on. But everyone always dreams of playing for their country in a sport. Can we really fault them for that?
Friday, January 22, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Other should get same treatment as Kiffin in Knoxville
Naming a wastewater treatment facility after a coach branded by fans for his treachery after abandoning ship for the next big gig: Is there something ironically refreshing about that or what?
After a Tennessee attorney has filed paperwork to name a sewage center in rememberance of Kiffin, there are a few other places that should certainly look into giving a run out for names to immortalize coaches who left under similar circumstances:
The Billy Donovan Flip Flop Emporium
Petrino's Hog Heaven BBQ Pit
The 1st Annual Calipari Swap Meet
Ohno's Ice Dancing Rink
The Brett Favre (Un)Retirement Center
Tiger's Hole in One Cadillac Dealership and Cocktail Lounge
Abdominal Bowflex - Rex Ryan Edition
Regeneration: A Place of Healing, with John Daly
Tourret Anonymous: Ozzie Guillen, Chicago Chapter President
Mike Gundy's 40-and-Over Gym
The Plaxico Burress "Legs Only" Shooting Range
Colorado All-Star Women's Kicking Camp with Rick Neuheisel
After a Tennessee attorney has filed paperwork to name a sewage center in rememberance of Kiffin, there are a few other places that should certainly look into giving a run out for names to immortalize coaches who left under similar circumstances:
The Billy Donovan Flip Flop Emporium
Petrino's Hog Heaven BBQ Pit
The 1st Annual Calipari Swap Meet
Ohno's Ice Dancing Rink
The Brett Favre (Un)Retirement Center
Tiger's Hole in One Cadillac Dealership and Cocktail Lounge
Abdominal Bowflex - Rex Ryan Edition
Regeneration: A Place of Healing, with John Daly
Tourret Anonymous: Ozzie Guillen, Chicago Chapter President
Mike Gundy's 40-and-Over Gym
The Plaxico Burress "Legs Only" Shooting Range
Colorado All-Star Women's Kicking Camp with Rick Neuheisel
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Carroll to 'Hawks right move?
Time to get back on the posting trail after the holiday hiatus.
I'll start off by talking about the big Washington news of the day -- Pete Carroll to Seattle.
Let's lead off with the positives. The guy can coach, as evidenced by his stellar record at USC (96-19 in nine seasons), and his plus-.500 record as the head man in the NFL (33-31 in four seasons).
However, let's look at what we know about Carroll:
A player's coach. Carroll, while maintaining his stranglehold over his players as the enthusiastic coach, is also seen as one of the guys. His exuberant delivery . Carroll also appears to be a pretty benevolent guy -- helping with youth football, inviting handicapped children to practice (read: ESPN's 'Outside the Lines' story) and even adding an extra special teams coach to his staff. In all seriousness, players gravitate towards this guy because of his charisma -- something certain to lure impressionable high school stud athletes to campus as a college recruiter.
But pro ball is a different story -- players get drafted, free agents ink contracts with greenbacks and playing time (not coaching philosophy) on their minds, and the well-oiled machine of the NFL grinds on. If it were about being a player's coach, Jim Mora would still be toting a Seattle clipboard. Because he couldn't deliver consistent, week-to-week results, he was jettisoned out of town.
How will personnel issues be decided? Since Carroll was able to plug-and-play with the athletes that rolled in at USC, he will be in a different scenario in the NFL, especially in terms of handing roster moves. It has yet to emerge whether or not Carroll will handle contractual negotiations, have final say on draft choices and be given authority to go after desired free agents. If so, this role will be vastly different than his ability to woo tweens to committ to the sunny So-Cal life. Instead, Carroll will have to flash Paul Allen's money and hope players buy into his 4-3 defense and seemingly big play offensive mindset -- be it Jeremy Bates or Norm Chow that runs the offensive show in Seattle. It has been reported Will Lewis could take on the General Manager role in Seattle should Carroll only have coaching responsibilities.
I'll start off by talking about the big Washington news of the day -- Pete Carroll to Seattle.
Let's lead off with the positives. The guy can coach, as evidenced by his stellar record at USC (96-19 in nine seasons), and his plus-.500 record as the head man in the NFL (33-31 in four seasons).
However, let's look at what we know about Carroll:
A player's coach. Carroll, while maintaining his stranglehold over his players as the enthusiastic coach, is also seen as one of the guys. His exuberant delivery . Carroll also appears to be a pretty benevolent guy -- helping with youth football, inviting handicapped children to practice (read: ESPN's 'Outside the Lines' story) and even adding an extra special teams coach to his staff. In all seriousness, players gravitate towards this guy because of his charisma -- something certain to lure impressionable high school stud athletes to campus as a college recruiter.
But pro ball is a different story -- players get drafted, free agents ink contracts with greenbacks and playing time (not coaching philosophy) on their minds, and the well-oiled machine of the NFL grinds on. If it were about being a player's coach, Jim Mora would still be toting a Seattle clipboard. Because he couldn't deliver consistent, week-to-week results, he was jettisoned out of town.
How will personnel issues be decided? Since Carroll was able to plug-and-play with the athletes that rolled in at USC, he will be in a different scenario in the NFL, especially in terms of handing roster moves. It has yet to emerge whether or not Carroll will handle contractual negotiations, have final say on draft choices and be given authority to go after desired free agents. If so, this role will be vastly different than his ability to woo tweens to committ to the sunny So-Cal life. Instead, Carroll will have to flash Paul Allen's money and hope players buy into his 4-3 defense and seemingly big play offensive mindset -- be it Jeremy Bates or Norm Chow that runs the offensive show in Seattle. It has been reported Will Lewis could take on the General Manager role in Seattle should Carroll only have coaching responsibilities.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Reaffirming "America's Team"
Okay, so I will admit it: I nearly teared up watching the America's Game documentary of the 1992 Dallas Cowboys.
And it appears, to my childish delight, that I am not the only one who holds in their hearts the silver and blue clad team from the heart of Texas.
According to a Harris Interactive poll released in October, the Cowboys were viewed as America's favorite football team amongst those who consider themselves football fans. The Cowboys have been chosen as America's favorite team six times since 1998, and have appeared in the top five every year since 1998.
Say what you will about the likes of Jerry Jones, Wade Phillips, Tony Romo, and the rest of the lot, but the team has been consistently voted the national jewel of the NFL.
And it appears, to my childish delight, that I am not the only one who holds in their hearts the silver and blue clad team from the heart of Texas.
According to a Harris Interactive poll released in October, the Cowboys were viewed as America's favorite football team amongst those who consider themselves football fans. The Cowboys have been chosen as America's favorite team six times since 1998, and have appeared in the top five every year since 1998.
Say what you will about the likes of Jerry Jones, Wade Phillips, Tony Romo, and the rest of the lot, but the team has been consistently voted the national jewel of the NFL.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Instead of Iverson, sign Swift
No, no, not Stromile. The sexy blonde one.
In an interview aired on NBC last night, Taylor Swift sheepishly told NBC anchor Matt Lauer that she knew it took one whole minute for her to sell out a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Baffling. Only a blink of an eye was needed for 18,200 seats to be sold to see "You Belong to Me" and "White Horse."
For a team stuck in neutral at 3-13, the Knicks could sure use something to pull their heads out. How about that 12th (wo)man on the end of the bench wearing nothing underneath the snap-on warmups? Think distraction, like Connie in Mighty Ducks.
In an interview aired on NBC last night, Taylor Swift sheepishly told NBC anchor Matt Lauer that she knew it took one whole minute for her to sell out a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Baffling. Only a blink of an eye was needed for 18,200 seats to be sold to see "You Belong to Me" and "White Horse."
For a team stuck in neutral at 3-13, the Knicks could sure use something to pull their heads out. How about that 12th (wo)man on the end of the bench wearing nothing underneath the snap-on warmups? Think distraction, like Connie in Mighty Ducks.
Dixon to start at QB for Steelers on Sunday
Former University of Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon will get the starting nod against the Baltimore Ravens Sunday for the Pittsburgh Steelers, replacing injured veterans Ben Rothlisberger (concussion) and Charlie Batch (wrist).
Dixon, a second-year Oakland native, has one career pass to his name. Dixon threw for 2,136 yards and ran for 583 while adding a total of 29 touchdowns in his injury-shortened senior season at Oregon.
Dixon, a second-year Oakland native, has one career pass to his name. Dixon threw for 2,136 yards and ran for 583 while adding a total of 29 touchdowns in his injury-shortened senior season at Oregon.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Top Cheating Moments in Soccer History
Following the media feeding frenzy (here and here) surrounding Theirry Henry's apparent handball during France's World Cup qualifying win over Ireland Wednesday, it's time to take a look back in history to some memorable cheating, or at least embellishment, moments in soccer's storied history.
3. Christiano Ronaldo's dive against England...and others - Nonwithstanding his status as one of the most prolific and dangerous players with the ball at his feet or in front of goal, Ronaldo does have a propensity for going down quite easily near any hint of contact. Ronaldo, who can employ the dive in many ways to earn a set piece or a penalty, has used the technique frequently in club and national team matches. While I won't cite a specific example to indict Ronaldo here, the guy does his fair share of cheating.
2. Maradona's "Hand of God" - The gold standard of handballs, Maradona's highly controversial handball helped Argentina to a 2-1 win over England in the quarterfinals of the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Argentina would later go on to win the final. After his seething rant following Argentina sealing their bid to the World Cup finals in South Africa next summer, Maradona has surely immortalized himself as anything but a stand-up guy. His previous cocaine usage won't canonize him with soccer supporters, either.
1. Henry's handball - While Maradona's handball may have come at the highest level of competition for soccer, Henry's handball was in the qualification for that very same World Cup competition. However, the kicker here is that Henry handled the ball not once, but twice. Plus, the incident happened in extra time, with the match almost certainly going to penalties, barring a late (kegal) goal by either side. Additionally, play was stopped for 97 seconds to determine whether or not the ball had been handled. After a pow-wow between match officials, Henry's goal was given the go-ahead. In a match clearly dominated by the Irish, France escaped with the aggregate goal victory and the berth to the World Cup.
3. Christiano Ronaldo's dive against England...and others - Nonwithstanding his status as one of the most prolific and dangerous players with the ball at his feet or in front of goal, Ronaldo does have a propensity for going down quite easily near any hint of contact. Ronaldo, who can employ the dive in many ways to earn a set piece or a penalty, has used the technique frequently in club and national team matches. While I won't cite a specific example to indict Ronaldo here, the guy does his fair share of cheating.
2. Maradona's "Hand of God" - The gold standard of handballs, Maradona's highly controversial handball helped Argentina to a 2-1 win over England in the quarterfinals of the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Argentina would later go on to win the final. After his seething rant following Argentina sealing their bid to the World Cup finals in South Africa next summer, Maradona has surely immortalized himself as anything but a stand-up guy. His previous cocaine usage won't canonize him with soccer supporters, either.
1. Henry's handball - While Maradona's handball may have come at the highest level of competition for soccer, Henry's handball was in the qualification for that very same World Cup competition. However, the kicker here is that Henry handled the ball not once, but twice. Plus, the incident happened in extra time, with the match almost certainly going to penalties, barring a late (kegal) goal by either side. Additionally, play was stopped for 97 seconds to determine whether or not the ball had been handled. After a pow-wow between match officials, Henry's goal was given the go-ahead. In a match clearly dominated by the Irish, France escaped with the aggregate goal victory and the berth to the World Cup.
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