Showing posts with label Soccer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Soccer. Show all posts

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Hope Solo may warrant a suspension


Why Hope Solo should be suspended from Team USA - immediately
Hope Solo should not be playing right now for the U.S. Women's National soccer team.

Earlier this year, the star keeper was arrested for allegedly attacking her sister and 17-year-old nephew. The police report said Solo was "intoxicated and upset," and she allegedly called her nephew "too fat" to be an athlete. Also according to the report, the boy had blood on his shirt, and his mother (Solo's sister) was visibly injured.
At the heels of the Ray Rice fiasco, courtesy of the NFL, Korinne Jackman posted the article above and noted:
Nope...we need to send a message.

If domestic violence is wrong, then it's always wrong, no matter who commits the crime, what they look like, or which sport they play.

This Hope shouldn't float...
Julia Denett commented:
What happened to innocent until proven guilty? We know there were injuries. We see the allegations. But we weren't there. I know sports figures are thought of as role models, but so are everyday Joes, going to work, raising their families, paying their bills. It'd be a downright dangerous situation if we all got suspended from our jobs or entirely dismissed based on allegation. 
Then, I chimed in:

You're right. Maybe Solo could be placed on something like the Exempt List that the NFL created, until due process plays itself out for her case. She won't play, but she'd be paid. Also, I don't know the specific legalities of innocent until proven guilty. But at some point allegations are more than just allegations. If there is clear evidence and if there is a confession from the accused, then I think these are indications of guilt. The Ray Rice case is such a mess, but with him there was video proof of his assault and he admitted to his actions. While nowhere this complicated, the Solo case may be similar depending on what evidence and confession the authorities have. My point is, maybe the allegations against her are more than allegations and, if this is the case, then her case may warrant an outright suspension.
 
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Monday, July 7, 2014

Stellar Goalkeeping, Anemic Scoring


(image credit)

In four matches - against Ghana, Portugal, Germany and Belgium - Team USA was 1-2-1.  They managed to advance from the Group of Death, and play a thrilling tournament despite what was a mediocre-at-best record.  Losing Jozy Altidore in the very first match apparently took their scoring punch, and their paltry five goals were not going to take them anywhere beyond the knockout stage.

NBC Sports posted the above photo after a great goalkeeping and defensive effort against Belgium - You celebrate a hero not only in victory ‪#‎WorldCup‬ ‪#‎USMNT‬:

Team USA had such difficulty possessing the ball, and preventing Belgian scoring chances, that Tim Howard and his defenders had to play the match of their lives. For 90+ minutes they were up to the task. But if Team USA had just scored earlier in extra time, that is, an equalizer to make it 1-1, I doubt Belgium would've scored a 2nd goal. Then I would bet on Tim Howard for the win in the penalty shootout. Personally I was hoping the story on Jozy Altidore's readiness was true; he could've come in as a substitute to add a scoring punch late in the match.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

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Monday, June 30, 2014

World Cup 2014 Is All Good


Clint Dempsey scores 30" into Team USA opening World Cup match against their nemesis Ghana
John Brooks scores the game-winning goal against Ghana with a header in the 86'

After thrilling NHL and NBA playoffs, things came to a bit of a thud for me on June 15th, when the Spurs finished off the Heat in five games.  The Kings dispatched with the Rangers, just two nights before, also in five games.  The World Cup was on tap, but I didn't expect to get into it.  I loved watching it in 2006, when I was with my consulting team in Dhahran in 2006, and with my pals in Dubai in 2010.  But here who?

I happened to be doing an errand for this opening match for USA vs Ghana, and was listening to it on the radio when I heard Clint Dempsey's astoundingly quick goal.  I reached home, and USA was still up 1-0.  But Ghana scored the equalizer, then John Brooks ensured the win with his prophetic goal in the waning minutes.  Apparently he dreamed that he'd score in the 88', and told teammates a couple of days before.  Here he comes in a substitute, and makes the dream an exciting yet eerie reality.  

USA have since played an awesome match against Cristiano Ronald & Co. of Portugal, and had a 2-1 victory snatched from their hands in stunning fashion in the last 30".  They advanced to the knockout stage, after a 1-0 loss to Germany, where their tired legs clearly slowed down their play and sent their passes errant.  

Like a lot of American sports fans, I thought that soccer was too much like watching athletes in molasses: too slow and not enough scoring.  But just as I felt in 2006 and 2010, I have come to see how fast and skilled these players are.  How scoring takes such patience and finesse, and how difficult it can be to defend and save strikes.  How awesome these athletes can thread the needle with their passes, when it looks to me on TV that there is such little room between defenders.  How there is such awkward grace to blocking, passing and scoring with a header.  

I am learning the language of striker, midfielder,  fullback and goalkeeper.  Of stoppage time and extra time (not overtime).  Of Group of Death and knockout stage.  Of cross and offside.  Of penalty shootout and penalties.

It's all good.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

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Thursday, June 26, 2014

USA Hangs Tough vs Germany, Advances












Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

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Sunday, June 22, 2014

Portugal Stuns USA with Late Equalizer




































Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

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Monday, June 16, 2014

Who said USA not Ghana win?


I was running errands late in the afternoon, and listened to the World Cup on the radio.  On tap was USA vs Ghana, and literally within moments the Americans scored.  In the first minute.  Waddle and Silvy on ESPN 1000 Chicago remarked that USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann said his team ought not even get off the bus, because they had no chance against Ghana.  If I heard that correctly, then it was an awesome joke, given the happy outcome of the match.

























Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

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Friday, June 13, 2014

Séan Garnier Freestyles a Pickup Soccer Match



I found this video posted on Google+, and it was about an abuelo (grandfather) who wanders into a pickup soccer match.  It is totally awesome, and is my way of celebrating the advent of another FIFA World Cup.  I was in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia for the 2006 Cup (Germany), and in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 2010 (South Africa).  Now I am back home in Chicago, and looking forward to another thrilling international tournament (Brazil).

Of course I was curious about who this dude was:
Most people can kick a football - some can do a kick-up or two - but Arnaud “Séan” Garnier possess the skills to make a football dance. The freestyle football star hails from Sens in France, and began his football career like most – on the pitch. Unfortunately, a string of injuries eventually forced Séan to abandon his dream of a career as a professional footballer. But all was not lost – he began to study as a football instructor in Paris, and in 2006 discovered a new passion that combined break dancing and football; the urban art of freestyle football. Séan quickly found his groove, developing his own style and unique set of skills. Within two years, he went from demoing on the streets of Paris to the world stage, and in 2008 was crowned World Champion at the inaugural Red Bull Street Style World Finals in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the spiritual home of freestyle.
Reference: Séan Garnier.

I was also curious about what Tiendas Coppel, the YouTube channel, was:
In an ad for Coppel, a Mexican credit card company, Garnier disguises himself as an old man -- in a suitably ill-fashioned track suit -- and then wanders onto a pick-up match among young players. With some coaxing, he makes his way onto the pitch. At first, he feigns old age, moves slowly and gives up the ball easily. But shortly after that, the game is afoot.
There's already plenty of debate online whether the whole thing was staged. There are several signs pointing to yes -- the camera angles, the attractiveness of the fans in the stands, the said defender who gets nutmegged five times -- but even if it was staged, the ad provides a fun stage to show off Sean Garnier's impossible skills. Believe or don't believe, you'll still enjoy.
Reference: Freestyle Soccer Legend Shocks Pick-up Match.

Writer Winston Page is absolutely right: Staged or not, this video was super-awesome.  I love the filming and editing, and I love the players' and fans' reactions.  I am happy for Garnier for nailing this commercial gig with Coppel, and I'm sure it was big for me and also well-deserved for his years of effort.  May future endorsements come along.


Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

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Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Adriana Lima Smolders for Kia and FIFA


In my country [Brazil], this is fùtbol.
Sure, Adriana Lima can barge in on my football practice any time, and even kick a soccer ball right into my gut.  I may not be able to breathe, but it's only oxygen.

Fùtbol.
Sure, Adriana Lima can drape herself all over me, grab the remote and change the channel, then ruin my hairstyle.  Except I don't have hair (bummer).

Fùtbol.
I don't know how much Adriana Lima made just for walking in, saying one word, and blowing a kiss.  But, no problem, whatever she asks for, I will pay it, for my next ad campaign.

Speaking of ads, this is a campaign for the new Kia Sorrento, ahead of the FIFA World Cup, beginning tomorrow, Thursday, June 12th.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

 Ron Villejo, PhD

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