tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63646956290109160142024-03-14T01:29:43.785-07:00Backwards PassMore cheekiness than you can handleDennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-83253246455284415792011-05-14T09:31:00.000-07:002011-05-14T09:31:44.115-07:00What is it with Manchester City fans?Are they the most delusional of the all soccer fans? The most risk-taking of all sports fans? Or just the most confident?<br />
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Because <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1385562/Football-fanatic-gets-tattoo-celebrate-teams-FA-cup-victory--theyve-lifted-trophy.html">if they win the FA Cup,</a> then of course he'll come out looking like the most most alpha of alpha-bro's, and as one who intelligently predicted the appropriate outcome. But, judging by the fact that he is a City fan, I'm not holding my breath.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/05/10/article-0-0BF980D000000578-337_468x639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/05/10/article-0-0BF980D000000578-337_468x639.jpg" width="467" /></a></div><br />
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Besides, we all remember this guy right?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i54.tinypic.com/263ece8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i54.tinypic.com/263ece8.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br />
Now what's going to be easier, changing the 'Manchester City' to 'Manchester United' or getting the entire thing surgically removed. Because both options will be easier than waiting long enough to change the numbers in the year.Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-47204664652186104692011-05-12T01:10:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:45:07.247-07:00Great Art + Beautiful Art = ?<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cRZMjHzWXQc" width="560"></iframe><div><br />
</div><div>And the fantastic artist has also done El Clasico <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGUtpF2n5aM">here.</a></div>Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-23151677176650234272011-05-10T03:11:00.000-07:002011-05-10T03:11:55.913-07:00Introducing, Pool BallNow you can play soccer <i>and</i> drink your Buds under the table. Heh... c wat I did thar?<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/23149411?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400"></iframe><br />
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But really, I'm expecting all of these in every single sports bar in my city ASAP.Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-27052280041565774582011-05-09T12:23:00.001-07:002011-05-09T12:23:10.073-07:00Yes, this happened in ChinaSay what?<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mGleS6T_pUw" width="425"></iframe>Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-65020440362372398762011-05-06T15:37:00.000-07:002011-05-06T15:38:28.290-07:00Why Asian Football Is So DelicateThis fantastic article was on the front of ESPN Soccernet today. The title, <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story/_/id/915838/liverpool-hoping-for-asian-tonic?cc=5901">"Liverpool hoping for Asian tonic"</a>, is supremely underwhelming, as it attempts to tie in Liverpool's current form, Manchester United and the Big Four, Asian academies, sponsorship, Barcelona's visit, and selling shirts.<br />
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</div><div>To be honest, the opportunities and current situation of Asian football do encompass all those things, and many more. The other day, I was talking to a Kiva volunteer, a Brit who spent time in Thailand. One of the things he told me was that the presence of English soccer was mindblowing, and it was Liverpool (and the rest of the Big Four) who are wildly popular. </div><div><br />
</div><div>At first I would think this has to do with ancient colonialism, and that perhaps in countries like Korea, Thailand, China, and Vietnam, the Premier League is the biggest because there are British nationals watching in British style pubs in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, etc. Of all the international influence, it's the old Union Jack that trumps the American style sports icons of glitz and glamour. In China particularly, you see blown up wall murals of Lebron James in the Nike stores, but walk over to the next section of the store, and it's all Nike soccer. I imagine in Korea and Japan, with other sports like baseball and basketball rapidly growing, it's very similar and soccer still maintains the highest level of popularity and marketability.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Of course, it could be simply that the EPL is always on TV. Whether it's some sort of television rights deal that always has EPL broadcast in Asia, or that La Liga is too stingy and charges too high a price to broadcast games internationally, it is true that you can always catch some sort of game, whether it's Manchester United and Stoke, or Liverpool and Blackpool, there's constant exposure for Asian fans. Which is huge, because even though every country has it's own domestic league (J-League, K-League, Thailand Premier League), all of them in various stages of development, the reality is that most people would rather support and watch the EPL teams that are winning it all in Europe. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The question is why? All obvious indications point to the fact that the EPL is hands down one of the top leagues in the world, and the level of competition between the lowest team in the EPL and the best domestic clubs in Asia is still a huge disparity. Considering that in the past several World Cups, Japan and Korea have been performing better than England's national team, the level of play in Asia is as rapidly growing as is the hunger from fans who desire soccer at that level. The number of names of young 20-something Asian prodigies is at an all time high, and more and more professional teams are taking this into account with successful recruiting specifically from Japan and Korea. </div><div><br />
</div><div>A very curious comparison is with soccer in America. The development of Japan and Korea's domestic leagues started a little bit after MLS was first incarnated, and it is interesting to compare the development and changes of each at different times. While Asian leagues have been putting more investment into infrastructure and improving the state of the game (China's massive corruption), America has been seeking to first bring the public status and perception of the league on par with the NFL and NBA by bringing in massive stars, specifically from England. By most judgements, both Asia and America are about on par in terms of current playing ability, and interestingly, future potential. But the cool part is to examine how different leagues took different approaches. Sure, at a certain point, every league needs several big name signings, such as with Robbie Fowler's move to Australia's A-League, in order to continue the pace of growth and reach a higher level of competition. But the question with MLS, and thus many developing leagues like the A, K, J, and C leagues, is a fundamental one. Will MLS's growth and success be measured when they are finally able to compete with teams like AC Milan, Real Madrid, and Manchester United and prove themselves on the world stage by winning the World Cup? Or will it be successful when soccer is finally accepted as a true American sport. Depending on who you ask, you'll get different answers on which outcome is impossible to achieve.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The question is similar for developing soccer in Asia. When will Asian soccer be considered truly great? When Asian stars fill the rosters for the world's greatest clubs? Or when the domestic leagues have developed into something that their own neighbors and citizens would be willing to root for? This is one of the most important things that people (read: FIFA) need to realize, that the benchmark that we set for these countries has to come from somewhere, whether it's objective success (winning the Cup), or an objective number of tabloid covers on Park Ji-Sung's latest internal scandal/underage prostitute controversy/shooting a teammate in the face. Because while one or another of these scenarios may be impossible in some Asian countries, the fact is that they all have the potential, but not until they realize it. Not until the average Asian (or even American) fan, stuck in some Anglo-cized 'pub' of English tradition, realizes that he is taking money away from his own domestic league by giving Sky Sports or ITV 90 minutes of his attention, that this potential exists only on paper. I am not saying that Liverpool, Barcelona, and Manchester United are sucking the blood and money dry out of each Asian fan they trick into buying shirts and coming out in droves for 'tours' and 'friendlies', but it's something close to that. </div><div><br />
</div><div>A weird analogy that most people will understand is that it's like the elementary school playground when you were younger. Depending on if you were a boy or girl (we'll do boy), there was always that one cool kid who everyone looked up to. And just like everyone else, you followed his every move on the playground with admiration and curiosity. Only little did you realize, that all the time you wasted idolizing the kid, who more often than not was little more than an empty-headed idiot, you could have spent realizing the confidence you had stored somewhere deep inside. Similarly (if you want to do this the other way too), there were the girls who developed 'early', and therefore got all the attention. But at some point, the field evens out, and the good ones, well they most likely were not the ones who were fawned over and spoiled throughout their lives. I'm talking about inner beauty here.</div><div><br />
</div><div>It seems weird to suddenly compare China as a little kid with all this potential inside, and the EPL, Serie A, and La Liga as spoiled kids who have all the money, and likewise, bad behavior, but it makes sense. Because it's the countries like China, Turkey, Indonesia, and the USA, that benefit by having the established teams and leagues show them how it is done, but I think at some point, a game-changer comes along every now and then, and we might just get back to the original meeting of the beautiful game in all it's simple and intended glory.</div>Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-31573217790565201752011-05-03T13:18:00.000-07:002011-05-03T13:18:09.763-07:00KronumIf you liked my last post, then you'll probably like this. Soccer, rugby, basketball, quidditch, and every other sport known to man combined into one. It looks fun.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/N6aL2Q0Crv8" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/etm54u7MA3A" width="640"></iframe>Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-22340261242913322692011-04-26T01:52:00.000-07:002011-04-26T01:52:50.453-07:00We All Come From OnePeteca, Tlatchi, Cuju, Shrovetide, the human history is filled with games that involve a chasing a ball. Whether at one point we all started off kicking it or throwing it, or if it was oval shaped or round, it seems to be unknown to history. Or perhaps instead of branching off from one main descendant, the game spontaneously evolved at multiple points in the world.<br />
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What got me thinking about this was when I stumbled upon something called the Anzac Day Game of Aussie Rules Football. Now, I know two versions of football fairly well, and the insane, fast-paced melee that I was watching through my computer stream was neither.<br />
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As I was watching, I was simultaneously on a message board of ozzies who were chiming in with commentary of the match. One of them posted this video clip of a previous year's climactic ending. It took me a minute to try to piece together what I was watching, but I became curiously intrigued.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aWzZH9DnFfY" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe><br />
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I've only a typical American understanding of rubgy - i.e. I have no clue the rules and regulations. But after reading a few quick <a href="http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2011/03/21/the-beginners-guide-to-aussie-rules-2011-edition/">beginner's guides</a> to Aussie Rules, I was able to keep track with the pace of the game. A few things like foul calls and defensive strategy still elude me, as well as why sometimes players catch the ball in the oval and get a free kick, but in all I could feel the same elements of soccer and football and every other playground sport that involves moving an object towards a goal. It was fast-paced, exciting, but most of all, it looked fun.<br />
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While I don't think I'll be learning to punch a football after watching my first Aussie Rules game, it did lead me to go on a 2-hour internet search through Wiki pages and YouTubes to try and discover the divergent history of these games. I mean, the whole theory that one game evolved association football (soccer), American football, rugby union, rugby league, Gaelic football, Australian football, all kinds of variations of badminton and futsal, street soccer, etc. It seems wild that there is no one concrete source for how this happened.<br />
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To be honest, I've never actually done the proper academic thing and spent time in a library doing research, but I did a bit of internet googling previously searching for the origins of soccer. Which was how I stumbled upon the game of <a href="http://www.footballnetwork.org/dev/historyoffootball/earlierhistory_3.asp">Tlatchtli</a>, the supposed ancient Aztec game of putting a ball through a basketball like hoop, but by using feet and head. From historical accounts, it was a raucous and primitive game of mob strategy, not too unfamiliar when you think about the early forms of rugby (and thus American football) and soccer. Stick massive amounts of people onto a field and give them a ball to chase.<br />
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In fact, that is the exact premise of one of the earliest forms of football as we know it. Shrovetide football can hardly be called a game, but it is the in the traditional sense in that it is played annually on religious holidays, such as Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. Different towns in the UK play different versions, but it is essentially the same. In fact, just watch this insane video below.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pqtd7LOoRVM" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
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So maybe there is some sort of primordial soup of human energy and the joy of games, that no matter where you are in the world, there is a sport that involves a goal, a team, and a ball. And maybe just as we could have all evolved from the same ancient Adam and Eve, we all carry some inherent and innate fabric in our brains that tell us to kick, punch, and chase a ball. But still, I think it doesn't matter where it is played, or whether the ball is an oval or a sphere, or even if the goal is a hoop, net, or a pair of sticks, it's the fact that we all are born knowing how to do this that surprises me the most. Just as we all are born knowing how to smile, laugh, and cry.Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-33674426284537708252011-01-24T18:21:00.000-08:002011-01-24T18:25:48.272-08:00French BeautyAnd I don't just mean<a href="http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/kits/61947/new-300m-nike-france-kit-is-a-bit-italian-laurent-blanc.html"> the new kits</a>, because they are beautiful, or the French girls, because they are too.<br />
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No, this is beauty, elegance, and freedom of the mind.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZlU9hA1HXhE" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="640"></iframe>Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-19600170331360926112010-12-15T14:16:00.001-08:002010-12-15T14:16:38.327-08:00France Germany World CupRecreated!<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/9426271" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/9426271">Refait</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/piedlabiche">Pied La Biche</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-16128894607550568132010-12-13T15:16:00.000-08:002010-12-13T15:18:19.443-08:00Chris Hughton to Save West Ham UnitedThe rumors are everywhere that West Ham are looking at Chris Hughton IF Avram Grant fails.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.football-league.co.uk/javaImages/3e/b3/0,,10794~7123774,00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.football-league.co.uk/javaImages/3e/b3/0,,10794~7123774,00.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I don't get it. Who's waiting, and why? Might as well break out the posters saying "Welcome Chris!"<br />
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The 52 year-old manager who brought Newcastle from Zero to Somewhat Stable If Not For Insane Owner, would be the absolute perfect fit for a club like West Ham, who happen to be floundering in relegation and underachievement. It'd almost be like he never left Tyneside!<br />
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Interestingly enough, Hughton once wore the Claret and Blue as a player. Maybe it's just me, but I feel like I've a knack for these things. I guess we shall see.Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-70691284823639486472010-12-11T00:27:00.000-08:002010-12-11T00:27:18.017-08:00Russell Brand and Soccer?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/fp/Russell+Brand+Snorting+Cocaine+Set+NY+iamdbvUsNNvl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/fp/Russell+Brand+Snorting+Cocaine+Set+NY+iamdbvUsNNvl.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br />
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<a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/3263274/Russell-Brands-role-as-bad-boy-footballer.html">Oh god, bracing for epic.</a>Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-22080499658651498022010-12-10T01:12:00.000-08:002010-12-10T01:12:23.496-08:00Ronaldinho Going to Los Angeles GalaxyOK, not really. It's nowhere near official, but trust me (or your own brain) on this one. <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=851233&sec=transfers&cc=5901">Rumors are flying</a> everywhere, and all signs are pointing towards it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRIsbRRCJEZfY6v72XZYOokt-KASg3TmD0SDYuwh1QYDL1v1ynH_A" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRIsbRRCJEZfY6v72XZYOokt-KASg3TmD0SDYuwh1QYDL1v1ynH_A" /></a></div><br />
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We all know Fat Ronaldinho loves to party. And we all know that Hollywood does nothing but party. LA seems like such a good fit for an aging former-World Footballer of the Year. Plus, it would be another chance to reconnect with David Beckham.<br />
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The only thing is, does LA even want Ronnie? For the money and power that he somehow still commands (you'd be surprised how many Wizards jerseys MJ sold), I'd like to think that MLS doesn't even need Ronaldinho. After a stellar last year building off of true American talent like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvFdLJ56eHA">Edson Buddle</a>, Omar Gonzalez, and Landon Donovan, do they really need a foreigner, making three times the amount the rest of the team does, sitting out half the season, just as Beckham did?Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-11271399106200129502010-11-08T17:57:00.001-08:002010-11-08T17:58:08.414-08:00Remember, remember, the 5th of NovemberLulsy, I wish we could do this everyday. Imagine pranking your friends with a 20 foot exploding effigy.<br />
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<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HpK3MAK4VRU?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HpK3MAK4VRU?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-14474518372065259002010-11-02T11:22:00.000-07:002010-11-02T11:22:34.964-07:00UEFA Matchday!I love every other week! Because we get insane matchups like Gareth Bale vs. Sammy Etoo. <br />
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A refresher of the highlights from last week, a la some quality Showboat.<br />
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<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3jYSNnVbalM?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3jYSNnVbalM?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-45130883319793763942010-10-29T16:02:00.000-07:002010-10-29T16:02:04.989-07:00JeezOne post in the entire month of September plus zero posts for October? Man I've really fallen off. <br />
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Going to get back on this thing... <br />
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In the meantime, you'd have thought the 2018 race would be closer to being decided, with USA pulling out and all, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/oct/29/england-russia-fifa-2018-world-cup">but seriously, what is it that they do at FIFA.</a> I'm starting to think they just sit in a circle, play duck duck goose and jenga, and whoever loses has to choose who hosts the next Cup.Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-28816363453070946942010-09-24T07:51:00.000-07:002010-09-24T08:19:10.834-07:00The Great Divide: EA's FIFA versus Pro Evolution SoccerI've still very much jetlagged as it's the wee hours of the morning and I couldn't sleep. So it's about that time of year that I usually dig up the new videos and trailers of this season's renditions of soccer simulation. Oh the considerations.<br />
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First, I give you EA's FIFA 11.<br />
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<div style="background-color: #353535; color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; width: 500px;"><object data="http://web-static.ea.com/US/portal/media/swf/editorialPod2.swf" height="281" id="flash_ep" name="flash_ep" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://web-static.ea.com/US/portal/media/swf/editorialPod2.swf" /><param name="wmode" value="opaque" /><param name="scale" value="noscale" /><param name="salign" value="tl" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowNetworking" value="all" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="configFile=http://www.ea.com/soccer/videos/f176337793f0b210VgnVCM1000001065140aRCRD&singleVideoEmbedCode=http://www.ea.com/soccer/videos/f176337793f0b210VgnVCM1000001065140aRCRD&playerSize=large&epItemDelay=4500&loopVideo=false&textColor=#ffffff&btnOutColor=#ffffff&btnOverColor=#2d83f7&btnDownColor=#155eca&controlsBGColor=#000000&server=http://www.ea.com&logoImage=http://web-static.ea.com/US/portal/images/site_logos/watermark.png?ver=189_en_US&locale=http://www.ea.com/soccer/services/marquee/config/localization" /></object><span style="margin: 0px 5px 5px;">See more <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6364695629010916014&pli=1#" style="color: white; font-size: 11px;">Game Videos</a> at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/soccer/" style="color: white; font-size: 11px;">EA.com</a>.</span></div><br />
And now, Konami's PES11<br />
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Now I'm not here to hash out the war between FIFA and PES as that's a dead beaten horse that many have already been on about for quite some time. <br />
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But I would like to say that for the past decade+ I've been mindlessly shelling out money every year for EA's new FIFA version, usually about this time of year. It's almost scary how zombified I've become, to the point where I'm starting not to realize just how bland the new FIFA games have become.<br />
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I've been playing the FIFA games way back since it was just a wee little FIFA 96. Back then you had to play it on the computer to get virtual graphics, but back then there was also the legendary indoor mode. But anyways, in those days technology advanced so much that every year seemed to be a huge leap in improvement over the last, whether it was graphics, gameplay, or stadium and shirt packs.<br />
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These days, it feels like each new version of EA's FIFA is a more watered-down version of the last. This year's biggest improvement in FIFA? Something called "<b>personality</b>".<br />
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It seems like EA is trying to continue building on the same gameplay engine they've had for the past 200 years by adding smaller and smaller tweaks, in an attempt to perfect it. Maybe this will be the one tweak that finally makes the game playable. Probably not.<br />
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My only thing is that in my dabbling with demo's of PES in the past, it's just that PES is so much more playable. I know it's the same old FIFA-simulation, PES-arcade yadda yadda, but even with the way that FIFA is developed, a lot of times it just doesn't even properly simulate basic things like, well, playability. And Konami's downfall every year has been that it just has never been able to match up to FIFA's visual beauty.<br />
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The first thing I noticed straight away in the PES trailer was the detail of the players' boots. PES has finally matured into a good looking game. <br />
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It's like Konami gave birth to a daughter who was a late bloomer, one who was smart, quick, funny and agile, but just wasn't much of a looker. While FIFA on the other hand is a lot like the vacant and empty pretty face who always looks better and better every year, but just has something awkward about her internal gears that makes her look funny when she runs.<br />
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Either way, that's a horrible analogy. But I can't help but feel like I've been married to the wrong woman my whole life. And now that PES looks just as good and it plays, this might be the year that my (oh so hard earned) money courts a different maker. Even if I don't end up buying PES, at least this year I thought it about even more.<br />
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In the end, it's all just for one year anyways before we spend another $60 on next year's game. In the meantime, I'll be looking forward to the promising new Football Manager 2011Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-39547558623765459592010-08-25T05:04:00.000-07:002010-08-25T05:04:26.867-07:00Come full circleRandom nonsense, but I believe at this moment I've come full circle. This is one year to when I created this blog to being documenting my thoughts of the world of football. I've since grown and learned a lot, my energy has been tempered by life's activities around me, but my passion for football hasn't changed a bit.<br />
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Tomorrow morning I leave on a 16 hour flight to Taiwan. I spent $9.50 on this month's FourFourTwo with the special on the Special One.<br />
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I can't wait.Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-12995139368865584092010-08-19T14:28:00.000-07:002010-08-19T14:29:45.331-07:00Pro Evolution Soccer 2011<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3-7q3LoGWfI?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3-7q3LoGWfI?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br />
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Is it too realistic when the coders can get Robert Green's trademark moves characterized in video game eternity? Yeah... Back to the drawing board guys.Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-33424798234857306702010-07-28T14:39:00.000-07:002010-07-28T14:39:38.390-07:00Captain... Forlan?Nabbed via another <a href="http://coldtuesdayevenings.blogspot.com/">bloggerfootyblog</a>, but I remember when I was a kid spending my summers in Asia, the equivalent to mid-day cartoons would be Slam Dunk and Captain Tsubasa. I ended up watching way more <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK3yC_ta7Rw">Slam Dunk</a> because it was on more often, but Captain Tsubasa was definitely the more exciting series.<br />
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src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IUhKSX5RQgM&hl=en_US&fs=1"
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I love how big anime has gotten in South America, with classics like Macross being entirely translated and dubbed in Spanish. Of course, it makes complete sense that Captain Tsubasa would be one of the more popular series.<br />
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Anyways, it seems that in Uruguay, someone made a fitting cartoon tribute to Diego Forlan. Awesome.<br />
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<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie"
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src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gf_aMsXC2IY&hl=en_US&fs=1"
type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always"
allowfullscreen="true" width="480"
height="385"></embed></object>Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-11085366787029027772010-07-28T03:16:00.000-07:002010-07-28T14:30:54.236-07:00The RefereeI don't know how you could paint this any better. Check this out.<br />
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<object height="225" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13425028&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13425028&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object>Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-83600833037099138412010-07-19T00:45:00.000-07:002010-07-19T00:45:26.616-07:00How to Mute Vuvuzela Pt.2<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-KHFA6ZuFTE&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-KHFA6ZuFTE&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br />
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A different approach than the <a href="http://backwardspass.blogspot.com/2010/06/how-to-mute-vuvuzelas.html">method I posted before</a>, but nonetheless effective.<br />
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"Quiet dust!"Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-16042901501346699132010-07-07T16:50:00.000-07:002010-07-07T16:50:37.966-07:00Roy Hodgson to Bring Back Liverpool Glory Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01241/roy_hodgson_1241266c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01241/roy_hodgson_1241266c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Roy Hodgson's mission at Fulham went unfinished. His appointment as manager was Fulham onwer Mohammad Al-Fayed's step towards putting Fulham in the top four of modern English football lore, and Fulham nearly achieved it. Each season under Hodgson got better and better at Craven Cottage, with many players coming into his system and leaving more hardened to the English game. Hodgson is a rare breed of English manager, cut in the light of classic English geniuses who've been classically trained abroad only to return to mother England to gain their share of fame.<br />
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Hodgson played non-league in England, but started off managing Swedish teams. In his wild career, he's managed no fewer than 15 teams, including the likes of Malmo, Internazionale, and Switzerland. Some of his experiments resulted in failure. Others, like Inter, were successful in not only turning clubs into sharp institutions with an attitude for winning, but also in winning over the admiration and hearts of supporters. In this way, he emulates the greats, men like Bobby Robson, Terry Venables, and Jimmy Hogan. Other than Harry Redknapp and Steve McClaren, calm and prepared men like Hodgson are a dying breed.<br />
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I've long followed Clint Dempsey's acquisition and rise to EPL success. He started off as a young, unpolished kid who was streaky and talented, and Hodgson has transformed him into a magnificent mix of hard-nosed English physicality with pure American athletic ability and determination. There's no question why <a href="http://blog.seattlepi.com/2010-world-cup/archives/213725.asp">teams like Milan are wanting Dempsey's number.</a> And Dempsey is not the only gem that Hogdson has worked hard to shine. This past season has been a revelation for Bobby Zamora, who had many clamoring for his spot in South Africa. Other's like substitute weapon Erik Nevland have always seemed to be effective when asked by Roy. Whatever it is he does, Roy gets the best out the individual.<br />
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Roy's philosophy is hard nosed and simple. <a href="http://backwardspass.blogspot.com/2010/03/thoughts-before-i-sleep-david-moyes-is.html">It's English at it's most basic.</a> But leave no doubt about the tactical workings behind his owl-y face. He's got the pedigree to go with his tinkerings of all European systems. So, at the very least we can expect Hodgson to change the way Liverpool play. I'm not a big Liverpool supporter by any means, but the way they've played in the past decade has been very Spanish: lone striker, counter-attacking, and bursts of flair. Fulham under Hodgson were exactly opposite this, and when Fulham and Liverpool met, it was a clash of styles but a beautiful sight for sore eyes. So if Hodgson manages to keep players like Gerrard and Kuyt, he immediately has a backbone that he can rely on, much like the Bullard, Davies and Gera that he's called on most recently.<br />
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Liverpool have been spiraling out of control recently, and I think the only one with a less enviable job might just be Laurent Blanc. Finances, image, transfers, and form. It's going to take the classic definition of the complete manager, one who handles everything to spec, to bring Liverpool out of the mess they are in. But, even as many are saying that the "big 4" in England are gone and dead, I'm confident that within a couple of years, Hodgson will have Liverpool back near the top. Maybe then he'll help Liverpool to break their wretched domestic ghost.Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-85555026165974136012010-07-02T23:22:00.000-07:002010-07-06T14:57:27.588-07:00Backwards Pass: FIFA, stands for Fucking Idiots Flailing AimlesslyFIFA pulled out all the stops and went full on rage mode with the <a href="http://sport.stv.tv/fifa-world-cup/countries/nigeria/185107-nigeria-risk-fifa-ban-as-government-disbands-team/">recent announcement of their official stance in handling Nigeria. </a><br />
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Traditionally, FIFA has worked harder to keep politics and soccer separate from eachother than the Southern American states do to keep religion away from the civic sphere. So when Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathon officially disbanded the Nigerian national team from all international competitions after their dismal performance in the finals in South Africa, FIFA responded, albeit slightly delayed, with obvious logic: FIFA has threatened to punish the Nigerian government and football association by... banning the team from all international play. <br />
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Recursive cows from Brazil to Montana just face-hooved. Way to go Sepp, you've shocked and awed once again.Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-41115188613928551832010-07-01T23:05:00.000-07:002010-07-01T23:08:59.026-07:00Playground TacticsI figure that if you've clicked your way here, you must've already seen this clip. Juan Manuel "Matador" Mata lays down the best bit of skill in the entire World Cup. Unfortunately (or not?) it was in training. Against his own teammate Raul Albiol. This is playground bullying at it's finest.<br />
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I spent a good 10 minutes trying this move out. Brace yourselves as this trick becomes the next elastico.Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364695629010916014.post-72667462307785831812010-06-28T00:45:00.000-07:002010-06-28T00:45:38.236-07:00I cried.I cried like a god damn little baby. Like a lost child without it's mother. Yes, I was shit faced hammered on the curb outside a bar, but I let it flow. Every single tear of anguished, unabashed agony. I fuzzily remember people in cars wondering what was going on, why some kid with an American flag draped over his shoulders, was sitting alone on a curb. I think I then got carried off by my girlfriend.<br />
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The USA are done. Out. World Cup dreams finished and gone. Four years of my life are now a part of history, and can now stay that way for good. In a way, it's somewhat of a relief, but it's nevertheless disappointing. Of all teams we had to bow out to, I did not want it to be Ghana. I wanted the heroics. The epic USA - Brazil semifinal battle, the USA - England rematch, the Uruguay - USA dogfight. But no, we went tamely to Ghana. To a team that made us feel cheap, used, and dumb. They basically said "hey, you guys are idiots. instead of wasting everyone's hearts for 120 minutes, all you guys needed to do was just finish one shot. lolz". Dreamland has shattered, and now I'm forced to come back to reality.<br />
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But what hurt so much for me was that this World Cup brought back the feeling of being a fan. Of being a 100% pure and innocent, all or nothing, show up or go home fan. It helped that I was blogging for the first time over at the <a href="http://usa.worldcupblog.com/">USA blog</a>, that it sort of gave me an extra incentive to want every push, to dream of tactical substitutions for sleepless nights, and to hope for the best. But it was pure. And I knew what to expect. Which is why it hurts.<br />
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And in the dying minutes of the game, no matter how many times I had ordered that one extra beer, no matter the fact that I had bruised myself pounding my sides into the table, I had recognized what was happening.With minutes still to play, I saw it, in the defeated shapes of shoulders and slow movement on the screens. We were done. And I was watching the slow torturous death of it. And just as when someone you know moves on or the certain time has come, you take some time to remember their values, the best of times you had, the shared closeness. Memories of qualification, of Charlie Davies, of fans more emotional than me, of my own personal drama that intertwined with the team's path to the tournament. It all came rushing at once, and hit me like Heskey to my chest. It hurt.<br />
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What's the rule? Denial, anger, bargaining, and depression? And last comes acceptance? Saturday mid-day, I had moved swiftly through each stage and on to the next. I don't know if it's just my type, or my family history, but I seemed to linger at depression. Because accepting that there was nothing that the team could have done, that starting Findley and Clark would've yielded the same results as starting Gaetjens and Bahr, was not something I could do easily. Blaming Bob Bradley wasn't going to give us three points. It wouldn't remove the sting of the matter of the fact. Trust me. I wanted dearly to be at acceptance, and to be done with the whole mess and to never have to think about it again. But I was caught, somewhere between the ecstasy of seeing a ghost and the alcohol driven sickness of defeat.<br />
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Everyone, even non-soccer fans and non-Americans, knew what was on the line. Something much bigger than one person's passion for soccer was visible for an entire world to see. To watch other public luminaries join forces and support the cause was like having physical proof that what you want in the world matters. That the progression of simple game of kickball can be so mindbogglingly epic. For me, it meant a niche part of my life was finally so close the precipice of vindication. I could see the shining sun on the other side, where literally the path was brighter and happier. Instead of being turned around, as would've been the case had this World Cup been an utter disaster, we are all of us caught, in limbo, in a perfect act of balance on the peak, with one way back from where we came from, and the other way towards a brighter future for American sport. Seriously, how much worse can it be. For all of us to know, that we neither failed nor succeeded outright, but instead we have to wait further to decide our path. Honestly, I have neither the heart nor the patience to know the answer. Because so much is on the line, and I proudly see that it's not just in personal terms for me.<br />
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The joke for Americans is that in poor countries around the world, children wake up with no food or shelter, little clothing or little schooling, and wander around aimlessly until they find a television in a hut somehow broadcasting a soccer match. However, the child won't be alone, as a small group of hopeless men and women huddle around the TV to warm their bones and souls. Where a win can give a child an incentive to smile, or a draw with political neighbors can create a ceasefire. Where the hopes of a poor nation literally ride the shoulders of 11 men. Yesterday, I was that small child who was searching for hope. In a world where wars exist and oil is spilled uncontrollably, I have yet to learn that life goes on and time does not stop. So living for 90 minutes for something else is the only logical respite I can find. It's unfair that when those 90 minutes are over, I'm forced to suddenly grow twice my age. <br />
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I realize I'm probably doing this all wrong. That acceptance doesn't involve writing off the entire tournament. You're supposed to grow. To be able to look back at the history and improve yourself. But this is hollow. And so underwhelming. I wanted something finite, something I could grasp, something that the world could understand. But the sort of questions I'm left with are ones I can't answer. So with helplessness, I say oh well. It's just a game.Dennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14918798229408466773noreply@blogger.com0