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Friday, July 2, 2010
Random World Cup thoughts
Plenty of entertaining soccer has been played during the 2010 World Cup, but in a 90-minute match, one's mind tends to wander. Here are a few thoughts that have been rattling around in my head the past few weeks:
While watching a game between countries that do not speak the same language, I often wonder what languages are spoken on the pitch. For example, I watched Friday’s quarterfinal game between Brazil and The Netherlands (The Netherlands pulled off the minor upset, 2-1), and there was plenty of talking going on.
The Dutch speak Dutch. The Brazilians speak Portuguese. I’m not terribly familiar with either tongue, but I can’t imagine there are many similarities. Furthermore, the referee was Japanese. So when a Dutch or Brazilian player complains about a call, or lack thereof, in which language do they do it?
Certainly many of the players, and referees, must be multilingual. But it’s still impressive that Japanese, Dutch and Brazilians all can communicate with each other.
As much as I love the World Cup, there are a few things that tend to drive me nuts about the games … and oddly enough, vuvuzelas are not on the list.
It seems refs have been cracking down on flopping in this World Cup, handing out yellow cards to players who hit the ground too easily. But there still are way too many players who take some contact and go down like a ton of bricks, grabbing a knee or an ankle or something. Then, as soon as they get the call, they’re back on their feet, apparently happy and healthy.
Maybe the more annoying aspect of flopping, though, is that guys put on a performance to get the call, when if they’d just get up and get back in the play, they’d have a good chance to maintain possession of the ball, and possibly take a shot on goal.
Speaking of shots on goal, in most matches, there aren’t nearly enough of them. I’m not saying that because I’m a typical American idiot who wants more scoring. I’m fine with 1-0 or 2-1 games. But there are so many times when guys have a perfectly good opening to take a shot, but they dribble the ball for a little while longer, looking for an absolutely perfect opportunity. Inevitably, the defense collapses on him and either blocks the shot or steals the ball.
Why not take a shot? We saw in the U.S.-England game what can happen if you force the goalkeeper to make a save. Keepers will make mistakes, albeit rarely. Put the ball on net and hope for the best, instead of letting the goalie off the hook by holding the ball too long.
All in all, the World Cup again has been a lot of fun to watch, and even though the U.S. is out, I’m looking forward to the rest of the tournament and the impending championship by my pre-tournament pick, Germany.
While watching a game between countries that do not speak the same language, I often wonder what languages are spoken on the pitch. For example, I watched Friday’s quarterfinal game between Brazil and The Netherlands (The Netherlands pulled off the minor upset, 2-1), and there was plenty of talking going on.
The Dutch speak Dutch. The Brazilians speak Portuguese. I’m not terribly familiar with either tongue, but I can’t imagine there are many similarities. Furthermore, the referee was Japanese. So when a Dutch or Brazilian player complains about a call, or lack thereof, in which language do they do it?
Certainly many of the players, and referees, must be multilingual. But it’s still impressive that Japanese, Dutch and Brazilians all can communicate with each other.
As much as I love the World Cup, there are a few things that tend to drive me nuts about the games … and oddly enough, vuvuzelas are not on the list.
It seems refs have been cracking down on flopping in this World Cup, handing out yellow cards to players who hit the ground too easily. But there still are way too many players who take some contact and go down like a ton of bricks, grabbing a knee or an ankle or something. Then, as soon as they get the call, they’re back on their feet, apparently happy and healthy.
Maybe the more annoying aspect of flopping, though, is that guys put on a performance to get the call, when if they’d just get up and get back in the play, they’d have a good chance to maintain possession of the ball, and possibly take a shot on goal.
Speaking of shots on goal, in most matches, there aren’t nearly enough of them. I’m not saying that because I’m a typical American idiot who wants more scoring. I’m fine with 1-0 or 2-1 games. But there are so many times when guys have a perfectly good opening to take a shot, but they dribble the ball for a little while longer, looking for an absolutely perfect opportunity. Inevitably, the defense collapses on him and either blocks the shot or steals the ball.
Why not take a shot? We saw in the U.S.-England game what can happen if you force the goalkeeper to make a save. Keepers will make mistakes, albeit rarely. Put the ball on net and hope for the best, instead of letting the goalie off the hook by holding the ball too long.
All in all, the World Cup again has been a lot of fun to watch, and even though the U.S. is out, I’m looking forward to the rest of the tournament and the impending championship by my pre-tournament pick, Germany.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The first cut is the deepest
When I got into this business 10 years ago, I quickly realized that youth sports parents are the most delusional people in the world. And not a year goes by when that theory isn't re-enforced.
I once was accused of "defaming" someone's daughter because another girl broke her school swim record and I reported it. And while some parents understand the fact that their son or daughter isn't going pro, some refuse to let that idea go.
A story was recently published about two parents - Vito Valela and David Longo - who have sons in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, and they have filed a lawsuit because the players - Christopher Valela and Daniel Longo - were cut from the team. The defendants in the case are the league, the team and the coaches, each of whom is being sued for $25,000 apiece.
The claims in the lawsuit are laughable.
"Their direct actions have caused irreparable psychological damage to Daniel Longo’s self esteem as an impressionable teenager and demoralized Daniel as an athlete and team hockey player with his peers,” the Longo statement of claim reads. “The conduct by all defendants destroyed the dignity of my son, whom in good conscience gave his team nothing but his best efforts.”
Valela’s statement of claim states: “When Christopher was advised of his termination by my wife and I, he vowed never to play the game he loved since childhood. And, moreover, his misguided group of defendants demoralized my wife and I, whom had gone well beyond the call of duty as parents in support of the Toronto Avalanche hockey team for two seasons.”
If a player isn't giving his or her best efforts, perhaps they shouldn't be playing. And just because the parents ran the snack shack for two seasons doesn't exactly mean their son is cut out for top-level hockey in Canada. Both players competed in the GTHL the prior season and assumed they would a roster spot this year.
Christopher has signed with Hillcrest Summits, the statement reads.
“Thank the good Lord that my son had the courage and strength to compose himself in his demoralized state,” reads the statement of claim.
Yes, thank the good Lord. I'm sure he had a lot to do with this.
Look, cuts are made and it's a part of life. God forbid they actually work hard and earn something. And a note to all of you parents out there, when your son or daughter is cut from a team, it's not always the fault of someone else.
I once was accused of "defaming" someone's daughter because another girl broke her school swim record and I reported it. And while some parents understand the fact that their son or daughter isn't going pro, some refuse to let that idea go.
A story was recently published about two parents - Vito Valela and David Longo - who have sons in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, and they have filed a lawsuit because the players - Christopher Valela and Daniel Longo - were cut from the team. The defendants in the case are the league, the team and the coaches, each of whom is being sued for $25,000 apiece.
The claims in the lawsuit are laughable.
"Their direct actions have caused irreparable psychological damage to Daniel Longo’s self esteem as an impressionable teenager and demoralized Daniel as an athlete and team hockey player with his peers,” the Longo statement of claim reads. “The conduct by all defendants destroyed the dignity of my son, whom in good conscience gave his team nothing but his best efforts.”
Valela’s statement of claim states: “When Christopher was advised of his termination by my wife and I, he vowed never to play the game he loved since childhood. And, moreover, his misguided group of defendants demoralized my wife and I, whom had gone well beyond the call of duty as parents in support of the Toronto Avalanche hockey team for two seasons.”
If a player isn't giving his or her best efforts, perhaps they shouldn't be playing. And just because the parents ran the snack shack for two seasons doesn't exactly mean their son is cut out for top-level hockey in Canada. Both players competed in the GTHL the prior season and assumed they would a roster spot this year.
Christopher has signed with Hillcrest Summits, the statement reads.
“Thank the good Lord that my son had the courage and strength to compose himself in his demoralized state,” reads the statement of claim.
Yes, thank the good Lord. I'm sure he had a lot to do with this.
Look, cuts are made and it's a part of life. God forbid they actually work hard and earn something. And a note to all of you parents out there, when your son or daughter is cut from a team, it's not always the fault of someone else.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Play on
Those are the two greatest words one can hear from a soccer referee. Loosely translated, they mean, "Quit your whining and get up."
Fouls are part of soccer. Players are aggressive and physical on both sides of the ball. There's contact, and inevitably, players will take theatrical dives that give Paul Pierce and Manu Ginobli some new ideas to try out next NBA season.
But it seems that, as the World Cup progresses, fewer and fewer fouls are called. Contact comes without a whistle or yellow card. Players push and shove and jostle for position, and if one or both of them goes down, as long as they're playing the ball, they play on.
This style of officiating is a welcome change to the everything-is-a-foul school of thought. Obviously any action that endangers another player can't be tolerated. But the ticky-tack foul calls seem to have lessened now that the knockout rounds are underway.
So the refs are getting that part of the game right. If only they could consistently make the right call when a goal is scored.
Fouls are part of soccer. Players are aggressive and physical on both sides of the ball. There's contact, and inevitably, players will take theatrical dives that give Paul Pierce and Manu Ginobli some new ideas to try out next NBA season.
But it seems that, as the World Cup progresses, fewer and fewer fouls are called. Contact comes without a whistle or yellow card. Players push and shove and jostle for position, and if one or both of them goes down, as long as they're playing the ball, they play on.
This style of officiating is a welcome change to the everything-is-a-foul school of thought. Obviously any action that endangers another player can't be tolerated. But the ticky-tack foul calls seem to have lessened now that the knockout rounds are underway.
So the refs are getting that part of the game right. If only they could consistently make the right call when a goal is scored.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Westmoreland on the road back
On Friday, I had a chance to catch up with former Portsmouth High School and Boston Red Sox farmhand Ryan Westmoreland, who underwent surgery to remove a cavernous malformation from his brain stem on March 16. Check out Monday's edition of The Daily News to read the story.
Once a week, Westmoreland, who was named the team's top prospect before the surgery, goes down to Cardines Field to get back to baseball. He throws, runs the bases and takes groundballs. These were things he couldn't do three weeks ago.
I wasn't sure what to expect to see, but considering the circumstances, I was blown away by how far he's come in three months. He's throwing motion is spot on, and while he has trouble sprinting up the line, he's certainly getting there. These are things that will get better with time.
Like I said to Ryan's father, Ron Westmoreland, I wouldn't be completely stunned should he make it back to professional baseball. And nobody is rooting for him more than this writer.
Once a week, Westmoreland, who was named the team's top prospect before the surgery, goes down to Cardines Field to get back to baseball. He throws, runs the bases and takes groundballs. These were things he couldn't do three weeks ago.
I wasn't sure what to expect to see, but considering the circumstances, I was blown away by how far he's come in three months. He's throwing motion is spot on, and while he has trouble sprinting up the line, he's certainly getting there. These are things that will get better with time.
Like I said to Ryan's father, Ron Westmoreland, I wouldn't be completely stunned should he make it back to professional baseball. And nobody is rooting for him more than this writer.
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