the ramblings of a Web Geek
Sports
Good-bye, World Cup
Jul 10th
Well, the 2006 FIFA World Cup has come and gone. This year I have followed the tournament closer than ever.
It definitely was not any fun watching the U.S. get trounced. This was supposed to be the year that they played better and went deep into the tournament, but they failed to even make it out of the first round. It’s really not terribly surprising when you realize how much apathy there is regarding soccer in the US. When I go to a sports store and there is literally one small section of World Cup gear, that’s kind of sad. Understandable I suppose, but you would think that the world’s largest sporting even would get better treatment than that. But I digress…
I was definitely pulling for Brazil, mostly because I recognize many of their players and I know what a great level of talent they have, but even they didn’t perform they way I thought they would. France beat them pretty handily in the quarterfinals, and that was that.
For political reasons, I’m not a huge fan of France. I’m sure they’re great people and all, but it’s not my favorite country. However, I was pulling for them in the final yesterday, mostly due to Zinedine Zidane, one of the world’s greatest players, who was retiring after the game. I didn’t see much of the game, but I did get to see Zidane pull a really bone-headed move. In the second over time period, with not much time left until penalty kicks, something must have happened, because Zidane did a 180 and threw a vicious head butt into one of Italy’s players. The main ref didn’t see the play, but the sideline ref did, and Zidane received the red card – automatic dismissal from the match. Had Zidane made it to penalty kicks, we might have seen a different end result, but the world will never know.
It’s a little sad to know that this international event won’t be around for another 4 years, but now that I know some more players, hopefully I’ll be able to catch some of the Euro club games while I wait for 2010 in South Africa.
Penalty Kicks
Jul 1st
I just finished watching Portugal defeat England on penalty kicks. We really have nothing like penalty kicks (I guess except for a shootout in hockey) like them in American sports, at least that I can think of.
There is an incredible amount of pressure on players in the World Cup. Although we Americans might not realize it, soccer is THE most popular sport in the entire world. These players carry the hopes and dreams of the fans in their respective countries on their shoulders.
I feel bad that a game has to end in penalty kicks. The players have played their hearts out for 2 hours. That’s right – 2 hours! And they have to settle for 5 kicks to determine the fate of the match. What a way to lose, but on the other hand I imagine it would be a pretty exhilirating way to win a match.
I always laugh when people say soccer isn’t a real sport, or is a sissy sport. Please. Soccer matches are 90 minutes. You won’t find a regulation game that long, save for baseball, in all of the major American sports (NBA, MLB, NHL, NFL, etc.) Plus there is constant movement. No starting and stopping all the time, like football. And here’s the kicker. You only get 3 subs, that’s right 3, for the entire game. When they’re used up, then you’re out. It’s pretty insane when you think about in the context of American sports. Shaq gets tired – rest him a couple minutes. Your running back just makes a long run – rest him for a few plays. Line changes in hockey. There is no such thing in soccer.
I wish there was an easier way to watch the matches of this year’s World Cup, but at least I’m catching the match between France and Brazil at the moment, and the championship match will be next Sunday, so that’s a definite plus. Until then….GGGGGOOOOOAAAALLLLL!
Big Ben
Jun 13th
Yesterday Ben Roethlisberger was involved in a pretty nasty crash while riding his motorcycle without a helmet. A lot of people in the sports media have been giving him a hard time for not wearing a helmet. Well here is my take on that.
1.) Should he have worn a helmet? Probably, but under PA law he doesn’t have to. It’s much safer obviously, but it’s not required. Since there was no clause against it in his contract, he’s safe there too. It would be wise to wear a helmet at all times. That’s my position.
2.) As I mentioned, it’s not against the law in PA to not wear a helmet while riding. You can debated whether or not that is a good law, but the fact remains it’s the law. Instead of griping on Ben about being stupid for not wearing a helmet, how about griping about all the other players in the league that break countless drug laws, laws against physical abuse, etc. etc. Cut the guy some slack here.
3.) What about the woman who HIT Ben while she was driving. Why not throw some heat her way? I feel bad for her, since it does seem she truly feels bad about the whole situation, but like it or not, she was in the wrong. Apparently she made a turn and smacked right into him. Had she not, this wouldn’t even be a story at all.
One reporter said that Ben was a bad role model because he would encourage kids to not wear helmets. If I was a parent, and that was the worst thing a sports star could encourage my kid to do, I could deal with that. Go after the guys who are the real problems, who never get punished well enough for all the different rules they break.
Did Ben make a mistake? Probably. It would be safer to ride with a helmet, he could have been injured far worse, etc. etc. But cut the guy a break and focus on the real problems in sports and society in general for that matter, and you just might start to see a difference.