:::Note- If you haven’t already, please stop sending me mail of any kind since I won’t be here when it arrives. Thanks for your support:::
How did North Korea make it into the World Cup? Most repressed people in that hermit-state can only eat every other day. Maybe the government gives their soccer players the Kim Jong-Il treatment – spending what little money they have to shower them in luxury. Or, maybe they do what Iraq used to do to “motivate” its athletes – torture and kill them if they don’t play well. I would be very interested to see what kind of equipment and training facilities the North Korean soccer team has access to, especially in light of the trade embargos they’re saddled with, not to mention the gross disparity between the resources it takes to field a world-class sports team and the resources most North Koreans are forced live with. There is no foreign media (TV, internet, etc.) allowed in North Korea and 90% of the people don’t have TVs (the 10% who do had to buy them on the black market) so how will their citizens be able to watch the games? In any event, I predict that North Korea will be outscored 12-0 in its 3 World Cup games and that they will earn 3 red cards, since the bad teams almost always play dirty in these tournaments.
Thinking about that reminds me of the time I was given a yellow card in high school soccer. My senior year I was a field player. I think I was playing striker or outside midfield when the other team was awarded a direct kick maybe 30 yards away from our goal, near the corner of our box. Trying to do what our coach had instructed, I (as the forward-most player on that side of the field) rushed back to the site of the kick to direct my team’s wall positioning. The thinking was that directing this from the site of the kick would obstruct and delay the other team from kicking, giving us more time to get into position. Unfortunately, in my rush to get back to the spot of the kick, I accidentally kicked the ball after the ref had placed it, earning me a yellow card and much laughter from my teammates.
Some of my other favorite things to do as a field player were taking outlandish dives and trying to draw calls. Whenever I was challenged or lost control of the ball, since I’m not a great dribbler, I would dive or fall, shouting and pretending that the other team had fouled me. I would often try to land my face in the grass and get grass or dirt in my mouth to reinforce the severity of the fake foul. It worked pretty often and I earned my team lots of calls. I still do this in indoor soccer whenever I play in the field.
Do any other soccer players have stories they’d like to share?
June 11th, 2010 - 04:11
Robert, thank you for finally removing the pornography. Initially, your blog was pure and wholesome. Over the past 5 months, your site slowly turned to smut. Thank you for finally returning to your roots.
June 11th, 2010 - 08:57
North Korea is my sleeper pick. I have no idea how they made it though. I’m sure they’ll go 0-3. What sucks is that the US plays England tomorrow, which could be the biggest game in US soccer history, and I have to be at Roger’s wedding during it. But Roger is worth it
I’ve played a lot of soccer, but have no stories for you. I tend to forget games as soon as I play the next one. I can’t wait for indoor soccer this winter though. You better play Rob.
I did do the 2 free world cup fantasy games that ESPN provides. I forget who I picked to win it all, but probably a non-favorite like Argentina or something.
June 11th, 2010 - 12:43
Poland all the way.
June 11th, 2010 - 17:27
I got Spain.
In light of the World Cup, I can take a trip down soccer memory lane. Malone chooses not to remember things.
Malone and I were on an indoor soccer team that lost every game. Malone scored probably about 70% of our goals, I scored about 28%, and I think one other kid may have scored a goal so I’ll give him 2%. Malone didn’t play any defense though.
I believe Malone missed a PK in the travel state soccer tournament and his team lost. I can’t remember if it was the last PK or not, but it was a big kick. I had a good view from the sideline as I was on the younger team (remember my birthday is about a week away from Malone’s) and we had lost minutes before. I can’t remember if it was the Quarter-finals or the Semi’s but we lost in injury time. I played like 3 minutes in that game.
Also, Kohanski and I were on the same soccer team at like the age of 6. I don’t remember much more. I don’t think Kohanski played ever again after that.
June 12th, 2010 - 03:38
I am still upset that you trapped me in the conex. Please let me out. I think I am in Kuwait. It is very hot. I hear SFC Wolski outside. I think he is snoring.
June 12th, 2010 - 07:35
Ahhh youth soccer, I was never an especially skilled player, but as a kid I did have a particular knack for getting my foot in front of the ball just as the offensive player was about to take their next dribble. I was sturdier that most, so I think I averaged about one knockdown per game doing that.
June 12th, 2010 - 10:54
Hello zyph, Thomas is spending the weekend here on Murphy Road because his parents are in Vermont. We are watching the World Cup match between Argentina and Nigeria and discussing the different teams. Thomas thinks Italy will win and I think Spain will win. I also think Argentina has a shot with all the scoring chances they have been getting, and having the best player in the world. Cosmo got his shots yesterday and seems to be doing great. Well Tom and I are hungry, sooo here we come Nonni!!!!!! Bye bro.
June 12th, 2010 - 12:57
I was wondering where Cosmo is going to live when you get home Rob, he seems to have become community property?
June 12th, 2010 - 16:45
Oh yea Rob, Adrian Beltre is a highly entertaining player to watch. Its probably exaggerated because he is hitting so well, but he has an unorthodox style and I think he’s the almost on the Manny level with just how fun he is to watch.
Also, Daniel Nava just hit a grand slam (as i was typing this) on the first MLB pitch he ever saw, so maybe he’s good.
June 12th, 2010 - 16:50
Well roger is officially married. I am writing from the car on the way to tkae pictures. Rob I’m dissappointed you didn’t fulfill your keeper team’s name.
Apparently the US tied England which is good for them. I’m glad to see the British goalie screwed up.
Perrotti did recall some good soccer memories. I hated taking PK’s so I probably did miss one. Anywho, if anything exciting happens at the reception I will be sure to post it here.
June 12th, 2010 - 18:00
Hello Robert, Glad we can’t sent any mail it means you are closer to coming home!
Itch & Thomas went fishing for a while, after they got fed of course. Let’s see the special pepperoni, then dip, then the fish Itch caught last week at Coventry Lake. Oh & before they left Thomas helped me bake a cake. Rainy day today so they did wait until it stopped.
You Take Care & Stay Safe.
See you Soon!!
Love You Lots, NONNIE