Tag: world cup

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Soccer

June 30 in Sports History: Brazil wins 5th World Cup title

In 2002: Brazil won its record fifth World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Germany in Yokohama, Japan. Ronaldo beat German keeper Oliver Kahn for both Brazilian goals. They were the first team to go undefeated and untied on the way to the championship since 1970. The 25-year-old Ronaldo would net eight goals during the World Cup (and just recently became the all-time leading scorer). (Planet World Cup)

In 1962: Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches his first of four career no-hitters with a 5-0 victory over the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium. Koufax struck out 13 and walked five batters. He also accomplished the rare feat of striking out the side on only nine pitches in the first inning. Koufax would go on to pitch no-hitters in four consecutive years from 1962-1965. The Dodgers always struggled offensively in those years; so when teammate Don Drysdale was told about of Koufax’s gem, his immediate reaction was to ask, “Did he get the win?” (baseball-almanac.com)

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Soccer

Odd and Ends (06.29.06): Ref who gave 3 yellow cards before tossing playing quits



Now was it 2 or 3
yellows = red?

Remember the ref that gave three yellow cards to a player in the same match before tossing him? He’s decided to call it quits from international competition. He had considered quitting entirely but decided that he would keep making mistakes in the English Premiere League. We wish this would happen more often in the NBA and the NFL — we’d certainly get rid of some of the worst refs in sports. Sadly, the NBA and the NFL retains refs like Michael Vick does herpes. They’re with you until someone dies.

In other news…

[Sign OnSanDiego]: Adidas has sold 15 million World Cup balls since debut at about $120 a pop.

[SI]: Another example of a kid making us look bad — a 12-year-old gets two hole-in-ones in one round.

[Wages of Wins Journal]: It was Isiah Thomas’ fault, not Larry Brown’s

[Beerleaguer]: Why, and how, Phillies GM Pat Gillick will hand in his resignation after one season.

[There’s your Karma]: When did Andy Roddick pose for a gay magazine?

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Soccer

June 29 in Sports History: US Soccer team shocks England

In 1950: On the day the United States decided to enter into the Korean conflict, an unheralded team made up of dishwashers, mailmen and hearse drivers pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history. The United States soccer team defeated mighty England, 1-0 in a World Cup match in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Having been outscored 45-2 in matches leading up to the Cup and following a 3-1 loss to Spain in their first match in group play, the Americans scored on a header by Joe Gaetjens (the dishwasher) in the 37th minute for a 1-0 lead. The British, 3 to 1 favorites to win the cup and the undisputed best team in the world (and resting their best player), could not beat goalkeeper Frank Borghi (the hearse driver) and the 500 to 1 shot United States pulled the shocker in front of a grand total of one American media member (a St. Louis sports writer who was vacationing in Brazil). The United States could not carry the momentum into the next match and bowed out of the World Cup with a 5-2 loss to Chile three days later. They would not win another match until 1994. A book called The Game of Their Lives and a movie of the same name tells the entire story of one of sports most shocking upsets.

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Soccer

Odds and Ends (06.28.06) – Betting on the World Cup is better than sex



Not better than gambling

England’s Loughborough University is studying the effects of placing a bet on a soccer match on fans’ heart rates.


The heart rates that we have recorded throughout the first stage of the study are in line with those experienced by an individual reaching sexual climax, and in some cases greater than that. When you combine supporting your team with backing them financially, the level of excitement gets even greater.

We learned a long time ago never to place a bet on our team. Maybe that’s why we still prefer sex… although betting on football is a close second.

In other news…

[NBA.com]: NBA introduces new game ball that provides better grip.

[CBS News]: Budweiser paid $40M for the beer rights to the WC. Germans refuse to drink the piss.

[EurWeb]: Michael Strahan isn’t gay… or has a great beard.

[SignOnSanDiego]: An actual uplifting baseball story. (via Rangersfans.com)

[MetsBlog]: Sox Fans Forgive Buckner

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Soccer

Odds and Ends: Ronaldo ties all time World Cup goal lead

It wasn’t against the most stellar of defenses but Ronaldo is back! Criticized the entire tournament for being fat and ineffective, Ronaldo notched his first two goals today to jump ahead of Pele and tie Gerd Muller atop the all time Total Goals list with 14. Ronaldo scored in the 46th and 81st minute against Japan. Perhaps his model girlfriend gave him a pep talk…

In other news…

[Pravda]: Nostradamus predicts Spain as the winner of World Cup 2006

[Yahoo]: Four clubs indicted in Italian soccer scandal, opening way for possible demotion

[USA Today]: Former Red Sox starter admits steroid use

[MSNBC]: Ozzie Guillen fined for homosexual slur, suspended for beanball

[Royales with cheese]: Dayton “Thug Life” Moore

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Soccer

Gee, why would anyone be offended by Jesus Christ-pose and blood paint

It’s not exactly the “hand of God” but the “pose of Rooney” is drawing a lot of criticism in England from politicians and religious leaders. Nike, which usually has inventive and celebrated commercials, really took a misstep on this one. Or several missteps as Rev Rod Thomas of Church of England evangelical group Reform contends.


It’s quite a disturbing image and because the paint is wet, it really looks like blood.

It’s offensive on several different levels.

It therefore brings to mind the crucifixion to many people, and why Nike would want to do that, I haven’t a clue, unless it is simply as a publicity stunt.

The trivialisation of Christ’s suffering is highly offensive to Christians and to God. This will cause real hurt to people.

The other aspect of it is the aggression contained in it, bound up with the flag of St George, which you might see as a throwback to the Crusades, which is hardly going to go down well with Muslim countries. It’s offensive on several different levels.

Nike has issued a statement that the pose has nothing to do with the crucifixion at all and issued the standard ‘apologize to anyone who might have been offended’ non-apology.

Links:

[Daily Mail UK]: Nike attacked over Rooney ‘warrior’ picture
[Sports marketing Bulletin]: Rooney’s bloody red cross for Nike causes uproar

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Soccer

June 22 in Sports History: The Hand of God

In 1986: Diego Maradona of Argentina scored the most controversial goal in World Cup history. Playing against England in the quarterfinals in Mexico City, Maradona knocked an errant back pass into the net for a 1-0 Argentina lead. It was obvious to everybody: The 115,000 in attendance, English goalie Peter Shilton and even Maradona himself that the ball was punched into the net. Only referee Ben Naceur missed the illegal handball. Maradona scored again (this one with his feet, and it was voted the Goal of the Century) to lead Argentina to a 2-1 victory and eventually the World Cup title. Maradona didn’t even try to cover up the fact the goal was bogus afterward, saying that it was the “Hand of God” that guided Argentina.

In 1994: Host United States won its first World Cup soccer game since 1950 with a shocking, 2-1 upset of heavily favored Colombia before 93,000 at the Rose Bowl. Andres Escobar of Colombia scored an own goal into his team’s net for what proved to be the game-winner. The United States also got a goal from Ernie Stewart and held off a late rally to send the huge crowd into a frenzy of U.S.A! U.S.A! chants. The Americans would advance past the first round for the first time since 1934. It would turn tragic 10 days later, however. Outside a night club in Colombia, Escobar was murdered by an unknown assailant.

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Soccer

Gratuitous World Cup hottie pic of the day

Poor Ronaldo. After being the hero in the 2002 World Cup, he’s been the whipping boy for the Brazilian’s lack of magic this year even though they’ve won both their matches. His weight has been questioned by everyone from former Brazil stars to the Brazilian president.

We’d feel sorrier for Ronaldo except for a few things. He is overweight, he did look terrible in both matches, and finally, he goes home to model Raica Oliveira.

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Soccer

The best of World Cup photo galleries



joga bonita

The World Cup is full of crazy players and crazier fans. But let’s not forget about the hot fans and the even hotter “footie wives”. Here are the best photo galleries from around the web, starting with the hotties, of course.

[Sun UK]: Footballer Wives and Girlfriends

[SI]: Soccer Wives and Girlfriends

[Fox Sports]: Babes of the World Cup

[BBC]: World Cup around the World

[Fifaworldcup.com]: Fan of the Match gallery

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Soccer

Croatian fan runs on to the field during match with Brazil

During the Brazil-Croatia match yesterday, a fan wearing a Croatian jersey and blue jeans jumped over a 2 foot moat, eluded security and ran on to the field…sorry, pitch. The man was charged with trespassing and for bodily harm because he hit a steward. He will also be banned from future World Cup matches and fined $1,200.

A Croatian forward calmly escorted him off the field to waiting security. The saving grace is that he was fully clothed and we weren’t subjected to an ugly naked man with a casino domain written on his ass.

They should award a point to the team that hits a fan who runs on the field in the head with the ball and extra points for knocking him out. That would increase ratings at least 1000%.

Two flares also went off in the Croatian section of the stadium even though security had confiscated 823 flares from spectators. There was no way the Croatians were going to beat Brazil who haven’t lost an opening game match since the dawn of time, so the fans decided to have a little extra fun.

Links:
[Boston Herald]: Fan on field exposes flaws in security net