Sucker Punched

Consider today a day of mourning.  It was announced some time this afternoon, that after being unable to reach a mutual agreement with the Argentina Football Association, Diego Maradona would no longer continue as the national coach.  Having just been converted into a soccer fan one month ago, due in large part to who many consider a god-like athlete, this news has come as a complete shock.  In an act of retaliation against AFA president, Julio Grondona, I will be participating in a boycott of all things Argentine.  How much of my life can possibly be affected by this one South American country?  Here' s just a glimpse of a few things Argentina will not be receiving R-E-S-P-E-C-T on.


1.  Buenos Aires and Copa America 2011
Buenos Aires was next on my travel hit list.  Conveniently it was to be the main host of the Copa America in Summer 2011, making a perfect reason to vacation there.  It's unfortunate that as of today the Greek Isles began to look even better.

2.  Empanadas
Always a fan of Hispanic gourmet delicacies, Argentina's prideful contribution to these menus will not be my order anytime soon.  Let me tell you, this is harder on me than it is on my lovehandles.

3.  Evita 
The showtune that is.  It's going to take more self-control than I may be prepared for not to belt out "Don't Cry for me Argentina!"

4.  Ponchos
I really felt they were going to be making a fashion comeback in the near future.  If they do, I shall be rescinding my support.

It should be noted that I will continue to wear both my double brass knuckles, and tri silver knuckles.  It's called paying homage.

World Mourning

It seems there's a day just as horrible as December 26th.  It's the day after the World Cup.  Having only just officially declared myself a soccer fan in the past month, this void is a strange new, and rather sad feeling.  Soccer became a new and welcome roommate for me playing at a near constant for a full month.  It woke up with me at 6:00 A.M., was a fun lunch buddy, and always provided great gossip.  Then suddenly, just when we were having fun, it packed up and left.  It's never been quite my thing to be a fair-weathered friend though.  So soccer and I will be sure to keep in touch through the European Leagues, such as the EPL, and I'm even willing to give the MLS a shot.  Until next month when the sport is back in full force though, I will probably be reveling in some of my favorite moments and finds from the 2010 World Cup and starting my savings account for the 2014 Cup in Brazil (Rio, anyone?).

My Favorite Discoveries of the 2010 FIFA World Cup

5.  The Vuvuzela  
What started out as a sound horrifically reminiscent of the summer of the secadas, eventually came to be known as just "go time."  An instrument treasured by Africans, I can't wait to see what Brazil introduces the world to.

4.  The Swag
Fashion and accessories are not two things I like to be shown up by.  Yet I found myself completely embarrassed with my lack of national colors worn during the matches.  Starting next month when I travel to France, the hunt begins for the best swag around.

3.  Cristiano Ronaldo
Where to begin?  He was a complete joy to watch whenever and where ever the camera found him. Then he dropped a bombshell onto all of his fans that still remains an unsolved mystery.  We want answers, Cristiano.  Answers, and more goals like these:

2.  Iker Casillas

I did not join Spain's side until the Final, but boy am I glad that I did.  Since there was not a lot of goal scoring, the focus of the final became the goal tending, and the best man won.  Not to mention he has chivalry to boot.

1.  Maradona
What's there to say to say that I haven't already said?  He and his Argentina team made the World Cup a complete joy to watch.



Post Script:  This post is dedicated to Erin Smith, who is the person actually responsible for introducing me to the Beautiful Game.

Man, Myth, Maradona

Looking back, it was the sport of soccer that first determined it.  The fact that I wasn't ever going to be cool that is.  Everyone played soccer.  It was the cool sport to play.  Who were you and what did you do if you didn't play?  Well you were me, and in the mean time planned and named outfits, competitively read (against your own scorecard), and contrived the next great neighborhood profit maker.  Bottom line:  I found the sport both frightening and nauseating.  It was nature's choice not to bless me with neither hand-eye coordination nor endurance.  In turn, I chose to surrender to the fact that I would never be one of the cool kids on the block.  It was a harsh lesson to learn at such a young age.  One that would cause me to hold a negative opinion on the sport for years to come.  In fact, it would be 13 years to be exact.

Leave it to the strange, offbeat, and somewhat obnoxious component of the World Cup to get me hooked on the sport.  It may have been Lukas Podolski and Cristiano Ronaldo who grasped my attention, but it was Argentinian legend and national coach, Diego Maradona, who got me engrossed.  Always drawn to those characters of high charismatic powers, I found his full-fisted gold rings, outlandish remarks, and sideline sideshows impossible not to root for.  I'm still in mourning over Argentina's 4-0 loss to Germany Saturday.  However, thanks to the wonderful world of the web, I've been able to relive some of his finer World Cup moments  with articles such as this one, and clips like the one below.  As for my future as a soccer fan, I'm officially in.  I want the Soccer Network, the swag, and the unanswered questions from Cristiano Ronaldo and Landon Donovan about their off-the-field escapades.  So for whoever thought soccer could never make it in the U.S., let me just say this: If it could happen to me, a former daisy picking reserve mid-fielder, it could most certainly happen to the rest of you.

Summer Hits

Blackhawks shirt from Strange Cargo in Chicago.

This is one of the best times of the year in the sporting world.  The NBA and NHL finals take place, favorite championships such as Wimbledon and golf's U.S. Open are approaching, and baseball is starting to heat up.  While I'm not quite the statistician I used to be in my younger years, I still revel in this kind of competition.  Just this week a few stories from the wide world of sport have managed to push their way just below the BP headlines, into the footers of major publications.

Here are a few quips to catch yourself up on for the next time you find yourself amidst an old men's club:

• The Big 12, home conference to my alma mater, is in a realignment limbo.
• But he's just a kid!  Stephen Strasburg struck out a whopping 14 batters in his record breaking major league debut for the Washington Nationals.
• The Hawwwwwwks win it!  After 48 years, the Chicago Blackhawks have themselves another Stanley Cup championship to their franchise.  If only their game winning overtime goal wasn't so anti-climatic.
• Never having a hometown NBA team, I've always felt a tad lost in my attempts to follow the league.  The only natural thing for me to do was to take on my Dad's favorite team, the Boston Celtics.  I suppose then I'm upset that they're down 2-1 in the championship series to the L.A. Lakers.
• I can get down with almost any event that lasts for two weeks (i.e. Wimbledon, the Olympics).  The 2010 FIFA World Cup should be no different once I figure out what country has the best looking roster this year.  Opening ceremonies commence tomorrow.

Post Script:  I wanted to comment on how great this year's Stanley Cup finals matchup was for the NHL.  It had all the makings for a renewed energy in the game:  two major market teams, a seventh seeder [the Philadelphia Flyers], and die hard fans with storied traditions.  I very much hope this spirit will carry through to the 2010/2011 season and catch up with the rest of the NHL.

More Than

What do I love more than...

• Taking half a day on Monday
• A sea of red flooding Downtown
• Clear skies and with a high of 83*
• Macho nachos

• The Budweiser clydesdales taking a stadium gallop
• Legends like Stan the Man and Louuuuuuuu still taking the field
• Yelling "Beer Man!"
• A Pujols home run

• The Cap Dance
• An ol' fashion Ernie Hays seventh inning stretch
• A Cards 5-0 win
• Another successful Opening Day, capped off with family at Pietros

...few things I treasure more.

Days Like This

The best kind of Bulldogs are these little cuties, Junebug and Gracie.

I have a lot of days.  Some shape up well for organizing.  Others are too delicious not to eat the whole fridge.  Of course there are those that include hours of browsing and downloading new song for my library as well.  Yesterday was made for the wonderful world of sports.  These kind of days play out a bit weird.  They include much unfounded intensity, a sudden rush of knowledge on statistics, and a desire for bad things to happen to seemingly good people.  For all of this, I must give my gratitude to MLB's Opening Day for bringing energy to a Monday.  What a start too.  The Cards' won thanks to Albert's two home runs (making him on pace to reach 324) and Yadi's first career grand slams.  Most of us in St. Louis were more relieved on this Monday though to see Rams quarterback, Marc Bulger released from the roster.  This sudden change along with the new ownership is allowing me to see rays of what may be hope.  While my bracket this year saw no signs of that "hope" thing, I have to admit it was enjoyable to see the underdog Butler take on the underdog of the number one seeds, Duke.  How rare to see a game be so close during its entirety too.  Unfortunately it was realized how quickly my post-grad lifestyle has caught up with me when I found Butler's head coach the most attractive on the court.  The days of lust over Mike Dunleavy, Jr. just don't seem as long ago as they really were.  The days of oohing and aahing over a Speakers Series lineup though?  That's called my Tuesday.

Go Mad

Well here it is, folks. I tossed the idea around of not doing a bracket this year, but when push came to shove I realized that's not a fun route to go down. After day one the standard NCAA Tournament emotions ran wild. One of my championship game teams was in a tight overtime game. Seriously, 'Nova? I didn't need it the day after St. Patrick's Day. The games I deemed "to close to call" are all out. My upsets proved upsetting. Round one never seems to end soon enough. Tomorrow is another day though, and my alma mater is tipping off at 1:35. It's a mad mad mad world, and it's just the beginning.

What's In a Name

I suppose it wouldn't be completely untrue if someone were to say I sometimes make pre-conceived judgments about others. Often times it's just flat out hard not to though. Take for instance such people as "Snooki" and "The Situation" from MTV's Jersey Shore. I have never been formally introduced to the two of them. Yet it would be hard to convince me that either one of them have been properly educated in traditional English grammar or the risks of excessive artificial tanning and performance enhancement supplements.

The same situation usually applies to athletes for me. A devout sports fan since the age of five, I tend to have a love 'em or hate 'em philosophy right off the bat for many of the big name players. Just one man on the roster can determine if I'll be a loyal follower or public enemy number one for a team. Unfortunately for Colt McCoy of the Texas Longhorns it was a "hate 'em" scenario from the get-go. I'll be honest, it was mostly due in part to his name. However, once in awhile, my snap judgments can prove me wrong.

Thursday night's BCS Championship game of Alabama vs. Texas was a rare occasion of which I simply just watched the game. It made no difference in my mind who won or lost since both teams were from the South [an utterly confusing region of the country to me]. After the last 56 minutes ended though, and the confetti started blowing I wished I had rooted a little more for those Longhorns. After the game ABC's Lisa Salters interviewed McCoy. Few words were initially spoken by the Texas quarterback, but it is one one of the most profound and heartbreaking interviews I've ever seen an athlete give. So maybe not every athlete who has an unlikable name or swagger is like a Tom Brady or Chipper Jones. As previously stated though, unfortunately it just takes one to ruin it for the rest of the bunch.

Winning in the Minne

Minnesota has always been a favorite state of mine. My annual July vacation to Maddens Lodge in the Brainerd Lakes area, is something I still count down the days to at 23 years old. Two of my dear roommates and friends from my college days also hail from the this lovely state Up North. Now, never a state to disappoint, Minnesota has once again provided me with a wealth of entertainment this week, but from an unlikely arena. The Twin Cities have never been known for much of a sports town, but both Monday and Tuesday night they played host to two of the biggest and most exciting games of the month.



Monday night the big green machine, Green Bay Packers came to town to battle their former quarterback, Brett Favre, and his Minnesota Vikings. The game proved to have all the energy and makings of a Super Bowl matchup. It also proved to a lot of critics that good vintage is always in style. The game was classic Favre, who outplayed Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, 14 years Favre's junior. Tuesday night I once again found myself clamoring for my remote and glued to my couch watching the one-game playoff between the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins for the American League Central Division title. Two teams could not have been more evenly matched, as the game lasted 12 innings until the Twins' Alexi Casilla hit a single and brought in Carlos Gomez to win the game. You know it's good baseball, and even better fan energy when as sad of a baseball stadium as the Metrodome is, can look rocking. So maybe, just maybe Minnesota can start putting in its bid for that oh-so elusive reputation of a "sports town." Oh, and if they decide to keep Brett Favre around those parts for good, we here in St. Louis will gladly take Tarvaris Jackson to free up the Vikes roster.



*Photos courtesy of The New York Times

Baseball in the Snow

Opening Day for baseball season signifies a number of things to fans and botanical enthusiasts alike. It's a sign that lighting bugs will soon become hostage to old jelly jars, a good hour of your night will become victim to the ice cream stand down the street, and dinners will soon take residence outside on the patio. Of course we think all of these things are to occur in part to one big underlying assumption: warm and beautiful weather. After today's Opening Day at Busch Stadium, St. Louisans may have to be a bit more patient in carrying out their summer traditions. Fortunately this is a virtue residents of this city have acquired thanks to the Rams.

Snow came to the St. Louis area starting Opening Day Eve (April 5), which created even more problems than normal for the city that all but shuts down when flurries float around in the air. For instance, do you call in to work and school for a snow day, or just play hookie (a beloved annual tradition by many) as planned? Probably the biggest ordeal of the day for many was the wardrobe though. For many dugout dudes and dudettes baseball means as little clothes as possible, no matter your gender or figure. The winter weather mix threw a wrench in the plans for many who had to trade their mid-riff jerseys and body paint in for skin tight long-sleeve shirts and summer league softball jerseys. Absolutely no coats though. For the thin blooded people, such as myself, wardrobe was an issue too. However, the question was not how little of clothes I can get by with, but rather, how many layers can I fit under my seven pound coat? The answer was typically, somewhere around four. With that many layers you could just about be insulated enough to an early June, late afternoon temperature. You also could barely move. Most of the time St. Louis fans are on their feet for every strike thrown or ball hit. At today's game by the time you could finally waddle up from your seat two batters had already come and gone.

The thing is though, in St. Louis Opening Day is Opening Day. It really doesn't matter if the sky is completely gray and snow is falling, the stands and surrounding streets will still be packed. It doesn't stop the Budweiser clydesdales from leading the parade of players and staff, nor does it keep Stan the Man from [assisting in] throwing out the first pitch. So you may not have been able to say it was gorgeous outside, but with snow being a rare site during a game at the Stadium, maybe it still was a beautiful day for baseball.