Tuesdays With Messi and A Soccer Lesson

Joe Knows Greatness

SI sportswriter Joe Posniak writes a very interesting post on his blog about the genius of Messi.  Despite describing himself as a non-soccer person, he makes some very interesting observations about soccer.

"I measure soccer against the sports I have grown up loving, and it seems to me that that soccer — a bit like baseball — is defined by failure. Most corner kicks don’t find a teammate’s head. Most crosses into the box are too long or too short or turned away. Most shots are not aimed for the upper right-hand corner. Most runs end up being stuffed a long way from the goal. Most goals are the result of a staggering blunder — either by the defenders or the goalkeeper or the linesman who missed offside or awarded a shaky penalty kick or gave a free kick in a dangerous place. One somewhat cynical soccer commentator told me that what I need to understand is that every single goal, even the most brilliant of them, is the result of an error somewhere along the way. I suppose there are pitching coaches who would say the same thing about home runs."

He goes on to say this about Messi...

"Messi simply does things — little things and big things — that other players here cannot do. He gets a ball in traffic, is surrounded by two or three defenders, and he somehow keeps the ball close even as they jostle him and kick at the ball. He takes long and hard passes up around his eyes and somehow makes the ball drop softly to his feet, like Keanu Reeves making the bullets fall in “The Matrix.” He cuts in and out of traffic — Barry Sanders only with a soccer ball moving with him — sprints through openings that seem only theoretical, races around and between defenders who really are running even if it only looks like they are standing still. He really does seem to make the ball disappear and reappear, like it’s a Vegas act."

It's interesting to me that a guy who doesn't really follow soccer that closely, can recognize the greatness of Messi so easily. 


Tuesday's Soccer Lesson:  Dive Like C. Ronaldo

Here's a funny little video of a coach teaching his players the "Cristiano Ronaldo".  Enjoy!

The Cristiano Ronaldo

UAH Alumni, Haiti Rebuilds, Dives, and Ugly 1860 Unis

UAH Alumni Game Still OnDespite the departure of the former head coach, UAH will go on with its Alumni match on March 27th. Interested players should contact interim head coach, Joe Nemzer.


Haitian Football Federation President Vows To Rebuild

The Haitian Football Federation Headquarters were destroyed in the earthquake. Photo via Getty Images.

During the earthquake that devastated the country the Haitian Football Federation's offices were destroyed along with over 30 Federation employees. Dr. Yves Jean-Bart survived and now vows to reconstruct the offices and the remainder of the soccer infrastructure in the country. He said this about the Haitian love for soccer.

"There is not one Haitian that has not touched a soccer ball. Football is part of the everyday life of Haiti, even with the scary living conditions in Port-au-Prince, even with the fields being occupied, they still play soccer. It is the only entertainment reserved for everybody. At the federation we had the great idea of distributing in the temporary shelters the few soccer balls we were able to recover and it was an explosion of joy. I think it is necessary and mandatory, to help with the psychological recovery of a major part of the population, to free the fields and allow the people to release some stress."

As you know, I am collecting soccer equipment to help bring their beloved game back to them. Please make your way down to Pete's Soccer Shop to donate your new or used shoes, balls, or any other equipment. Thanks, again.


Is It Always A Dive?
Studs Up is a comic strip about soccer. Today's strip is a funny look at diving.


1860, Was Denken Sie?

Yuck!

Let me be clear. Bayern Munich is my team, but ever since I visited Bavaria in college, I've had a soft spot for 1860 Munich. I love the classy look of their light blue kits with the lion crest. But they may have taken the prize for ugliest uniform ever with their shirt to celebrate their 150th year shown above. Yes, you are seeing that right. It's a collage of blue tinted historic photos on a soccer jersey with gold trim.

Oh, that's not so bad.

Well, maybe the powers that be anticipated this reaction because they made the shirt reversible and reveals a shirt that's not quite as revolting. Ahh, that's better.

Things for Thursday

Picking the Right Coach

With RCU's recent coaching change, this article from former Chicago Fire General Manager Peter Wilt for Pitch Invasion was a timely read. It's a very interesting look into the types of things organizations consider when sorting through candidates to run their team.

Oh no Jens...

Insert adult diaper joke here!

First, he pees on the field, during a game. Now, he stomps on an opposing player, costing his team precious points in the Bundesliga. What is going on with VfB Stuttgart's enigmatic goalkeeper Jens Lehmann? My favorite soccer writer, Raphael Honigstein, breaks it down and drops another great quote on us.

The Stuttgart keeper had already endured a busy week that included public criticism of the board – and peeing on an advertising board in the Champions League win over Unirea. "He handled it quite expertly," was the sporting director Horst Heldt's verdict. Bild, however, wondered why the referee hadn't shown the keeper a yellow card. (No pun intended, we presume).

Here's hoping the former Arsenal netminder can keep his head together for a few more weeks. He is just too entertaining a figure for him to retire now.

More On Diving

Here's another quality article from the Guardian. This one is on the hypocrisy of the English player who claims to abhor flopping, only to look like they are on iceskates once they enter the penalty area. BTW, the same can be said about American players. I've heard that players from the US are too "honest" to dive, but those people have never watched Chris Rolfe or Taylor Twellman hit the deck. It happens in MLS, too.

Funny Diving Video

Tuesday Tidbits

RCU in the Media

Local Media tries to get a good shot of the RCU Press Conference

Here's a photo of the press contingent present at RCU presser last week and another article on the event.

Diving: It's getting bad

This is getting ridiculous.

Another Long Distance Goal

Hondoran Maynor Figueroa hits a bomb from a quickly taken free kick. Nice goal!

Today's History Lesson

In an effort to get to know the USA World Cup opponent Algeria better, here's a quick lesson about the growth of soccer in Algeria.

FSC To Go HD In January

According to EPL Talk, Fox Soccer Channel has confirmed that they are starting their HD broadcasting next month. When they do go HD, you'll have to verify that your carrier is also going to provide the HD channel. To do this, FSC has created a Channel Finder tool. Unfortunately, there is no provider info available for my zip yet, but I hope this changes in January.