I am not a huge Soccer fan by any stretch of the imagination. I respect the sport because it is the most popular sport in the world and it does have a certain element of gracefulness and beauty when it is played at the highest level. What turns me off the most about the game is the diving the players do. These players are supposed to be world class athletes and the World Cup is their biggest stage. To see these players barely get hit and go down like they've been shot by a firing squad, roll around in what looks like severe pain, then get up moments later like nothing happened is a disgrace and embarrassment to the sport, in my opinion. I have a hard time respecting any athlete that does that. If you get slid into, or knocked down, get back up and keep playing. I have not seen too many instances in this World Cup where a player has gotten severely injured. In the United States-Ghana game today, a few Ghana players went down and stayed down, especially in Extra Time, to milk the clock. These guys were not hurt at all. The referee did very little to speed up the game or call any of the players for diving.
If Soccer is going to get me to be a regular fan, these athletes are going to have to act like men and suck it up out there on the pitch. They need to stop acting like they are out there looking for an Academy Award nomination instead of playing for the sports most prestigious trophy, the World Cup. I admit though, I could be missing something, maybe it's my ignorance of the sport that doesn't give me the understanding as to why they dive like that. Regardless if that's the case or not, for these athletes to earn my respect and my interest in their sport, they are going to have to act like athletes and not actors. Soccer can be a very beautiful and graceful sport to watch, but there is nothing graceful about grown men falling in fake agony trying to get calls. That, in my opinion, is something Soccer officials need to take care of before the next World Cup.
Soccer Dives
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010...One Crazy Day!
Today is one of those crazy days that doesn't happen too often. The USA Soccer team scores in stoppage time to avoid elimination...Two Men's Tennis players at Wimbledon played an epic 10 hour match over two days (that is still not over with yet)...Stephen Strasburg has another big game but loses on a bad call at the plate...A Hall of Fame Football player is indicted on rape charges...And to top it all off, a tremor felt in part of Michigan. This is definitely a crazy day...
USA Soccer's Dramatic Win
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - Team USA went into the last game of group play needing a win to get into the elimination round of the World Cup. If they lost, they were done, but if they played to a draw, they needed a few different scenarios to happen in order to advance. USA took on Algeria as England played Slovenia at the same time. England went up on Slovenia 1-0 in the 22nd minute of the game. At this point the US needed a win to advance, as a draw would not be enough. The US had several scoring chances against Algeria. In the 21st minute, Clint Dempsey, appeared to knock in a goal, however, the referee ruled him off-sides, nullifying the goal. Replays showed that the call was probably wrong. After a few more great scoring opportunities throughout the match, it appeared that the US was going to get another tough draw. Then, miraculously, in the 91st minute, almost a minute into stoppage time, USA soccer's best player, Landon Donovan, took a rebound off the goalkeeper and put the ball home from 7 feet away to give the US an improbable 1-0 lead and win. This was the first time the US has won their group in the World Cup since 1930. What a great day for USA Soccer and its' fans.
Epic Wimbledon Match That Won't End
WIMBLEDON, ENGLAND - Tennis has been played at Wimbledon since 1877. It has never seen a match like the one between American John Isner and France's Nicolas Mahut. They started their match on Tuesday night but was called after 4 sets and 2 hours, 54 minutes, due to darkness. They resumed play on Wednesday in the 5th Set. Over 7 hours, and 118 games later, the match was called again due to darkness. They have played 163 games total, so far, in all 5 sets, which is a record. Their almost 10 total hours of play, is about 3 1/2 hours more than the previous record that was set at the 2004 French Open. Compare this match to the length of the Major League Baseball game that was played on May 9, 1982. It was played between the Milwaukee Brewers & Chicago White Sox and went 25 innings, taking a mere 8 hours, 6 minutes (with the White Sox winning the game). Isner & Mahut will resume their match on Thursday. How much longer will it go? Stay tuned...
Strasburg Takes Tough Loss
WASHINGTON, DC - Washington Nationals rookie phenom, Stephen Strasburg, took the mound for his fourth Major League start against the Kansas City Royals earlier today. Strasburg impressed everyone again, going 6 innings, allowing 9 hits and 1 run while striking out 9 and walking none. His 9 strike outs gave him a total of 41 in his first four starts which breaks the previous record set by Cleveland's Herb Score (40 Ks) in 1955. The Royals scored their run on an RBI single by Jose Guillen in the 5th inning. The Nationals had an opportunity to score in the 6th inning. Roger Bernadina tried to score on an Adam Dunn single to right, but was thrown out by Jose Guillen. Replays clearly showed Bernadina's foot touching the plate before catcher Jason Kendall tagged him, but Home Plate Umpire Hunter Wendelstedt called him out. Despite Strasburg taking his first loss of his career, he still is showing that he can pitch in the big leagues, and pitch well. He has lived up to all the hype so far, but the true test will be when teams face him for a second time. We'll have to wait and see if he can stay dominant...
Hall of Fame Football Player Indicted
ROCKFORD COUNTY, NY - NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor was indicted today on third-degree rape charges, patronizing a prostitute, among others. Taylor has had problems with the law before, mostly having to do with drugs. Over the past few years, he seemed to have gotten his life back on track appearing on ABC's Dancing With the Stars and was an endorser for NutriSystem. Taylor is a 10-Time Pro Bowler as well as an NFL MVP and three time Defensive Player of the Year. He was arrested on May 6th at the Holiday Inn in Ramapo, NY. He scheduled to be in court again on July 13.
Minor Earthquake in Midwest
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a 5.0 Earthquake hit the Ontario-Quebec border region on Wednesday afternoon. The shaking could be felt in portions of Michigan, with reports in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Saginaw, and numerous other areas in the state. Obviously this isn't sports related, but this just caps off what was one crazy day!
USA Soccer's Dramatic Win
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - Team USA went into the last game of group play needing a win to get into the elimination round of the World Cup. If they lost, they were done, but if they played to a draw, they needed a few different scenarios to happen in order to advance. USA took on Algeria as England played Slovenia at the same time. England went up on Slovenia 1-0 in the 22nd minute of the game. At this point the US needed a win to advance, as a draw would not be enough. The US had several scoring chances against Algeria. In the 21st minute, Clint Dempsey, appeared to knock in a goal, however, the referee ruled him off-sides, nullifying the goal. Replays showed that the call was probably wrong. After a few more great scoring opportunities throughout the match, it appeared that the US was going to get another tough draw. Then, miraculously, in the 91st minute, almost a minute into stoppage time, USA soccer's best player, Landon Donovan, took a rebound off the goalkeeper and put the ball home from 7 feet away to give the US an improbable 1-0 lead and win. This was the first time the US has won their group in the World Cup since 1930. What a great day for USA Soccer and its' fans.
Epic Wimbledon Match That Won't End
WIMBLEDON, ENGLAND - Tennis has been played at Wimbledon since 1877. It has never seen a match like the one between American John Isner and France's Nicolas Mahut. They started their match on Tuesday night but was called after 4 sets and 2 hours, 54 minutes, due to darkness. They resumed play on Wednesday in the 5th Set. Over 7 hours, and 118 games later, the match was called again due to darkness. They have played 163 games total, so far, in all 5 sets, which is a record. Their almost 10 total hours of play, is about 3 1/2 hours more than the previous record that was set at the 2004 French Open. Compare this match to the length of the Major League Baseball game that was played on May 9, 1982. It was played between the Milwaukee Brewers & Chicago White Sox and went 25 innings, taking a mere 8 hours, 6 minutes (with the White Sox winning the game). Isner & Mahut will resume their match on Thursday. How much longer will it go? Stay tuned...
Strasburg Takes Tough Loss
WASHINGTON, DC - Washington Nationals rookie phenom, Stephen Strasburg, took the mound for his fourth Major League start against the Kansas City Royals earlier today. Strasburg impressed everyone again, going 6 innings, allowing 9 hits and 1 run while striking out 9 and walking none. His 9 strike outs gave him a total of 41 in his first four starts which breaks the previous record set by Cleveland's Herb Score (40 Ks) in 1955. The Royals scored their run on an RBI single by Jose Guillen in the 5th inning. The Nationals had an opportunity to score in the 6th inning. Roger Bernadina tried to score on an Adam Dunn single to right, but was thrown out by Jose Guillen. Replays clearly showed Bernadina's foot touching the plate before catcher Jason Kendall tagged him, but Home Plate Umpire Hunter Wendelstedt called him out. Despite Strasburg taking his first loss of his career, he still is showing that he can pitch in the big leagues, and pitch well. He has lived up to all the hype so far, but the true test will be when teams face him for a second time. We'll have to wait and see if he can stay dominant...
Hall of Fame Football Player Indicted
ROCKFORD COUNTY, NY - NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor was indicted today on third-degree rape charges, patronizing a prostitute, among others. Taylor has had problems with the law before, mostly having to do with drugs. Over the past few years, he seemed to have gotten his life back on track appearing on ABC's Dancing With the Stars and was an endorser for NutriSystem. Taylor is a 10-Time Pro Bowler as well as an NFL MVP and three time Defensive Player of the Year. He was arrested on May 6th at the Holiday Inn in Ramapo, NY. He scheduled to be in court again on July 13.
Minor Earthquake in Midwest
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a 5.0 Earthquake hit the Ontario-Quebec border region on Wednesday afternoon. The shaking could be felt in portions of Michigan, with reports in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Saginaw, and numerous other areas in the state. Obviously this isn't sports related, but this just caps off what was one crazy day!
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