Light as a Feather

            Everyone has heard of Adidas. After all, they are one of the leading companies in the sports business, accompanied mainly by Nike. The two giants seem to always battle one another, pushing each other over the limit and advancing quicker than any other brand names out there. In the soccer world, Nike has been ruling the cleat merchandise with their Vapor lineup. These cleats were especially designed to adapt to one’s feet and to offer the lightest shoe out there. During the World Cup, I would estimate that 60 percent of the participants were wearing Nike’s latest series, called the Elite Series. They were all designed to be lighter than its counterparts. However, Adidas stepped up their game and released the Adizeros, a model that is infesting the soccer world like a growing bacteria, appearing on many famous players feet. So, how will the battle turn out? For a video showing the making of these cleats, follow this link.

From the Field, to the Couch

          Most kids who live off the beautiful game of football don’t die as they enter their home. In other words, the game is still present in their house. More specifically, I’m referring to in video games. Call it childish, or goofy, or whatever you want, but football video games are enjoyed by thousands of kids, teenagers, and adults alike. The newest football game, FIFA 2011 came out on September 28^th in the United States. On the cover are three famous footballers, Landon Donovan, Kaka, and Carlos Vela. In the game, one controls the players as if with divine power, being both the manager and eleven players at the same time! Newly introduced this year, one can be a goalkeeper, both in practice or in matches. Whether you like it or not, this game is taking over the video game realm. Even those who don’t play video games could enjoy this simple game. For example, I never play video games, but when it comes down to FIFA, I’m always game…

World's Most Valuable Ankle

The game started out normal. It was Barcelona, considered to be the best team in the world by many fans of the sport, versus Atletico de Madrid. Barcelona had lost their three previous league visits to Atletico's home 2-1, 4-3 and 4-2. However, they were able earn their three points for a win thanks to goals by Pique and the unmistakable Messi. The 2-1 lead did not come easy though. Messi, the one and only Messi, sprained his ankle towards the end of the game. The foul committed against him led to a straight red for the antagonist of the play, leaving Atletico de Madrid with only 10 players to end the game. It is expected that Messi, after showing injury to the ligaments of his right ankle, will miss the next two games. Many don't realize the importance of this injury, because they don't realize just how priceless he is. For a video of the event click here.

A Risky Profession?

There is a great quantity of individuals who plan to achieve a higher rank in the realm of soccer. What most of these youngsters don't recognize is the great risks one must be exposed to in order to even get the chance to showcase themselves to make it professional. Wether at the pitch in a World Cup Final, a lazy Sunday pick up game, or  even at a daily practice, the slightest glitch could swiftly and irreversibly end one's career. That is where the power of the mind comes in. A broken leg could keep you from jogging, but your knowledge is always your safety net. It would be very unlikely for an average person to suffer an injury in which he or she loses their memory, their education. The soccer system in the US helps players out by making college a stepping stone into the bigger leagues. Without this, many players would dive directly into the world of professional soccer and slip out, with no chance of getting a normal job. Here is a video of a nasty soccer injury, for those brave enough to watch!

Jabulani- Celebration?

As the home team, South Africa, marched onto the field on June 11^th, alongside the hopeful Mexico team, the crowd went berserk. The first game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup was just seconds away. It was about to send a wave of football mania all across the world. However, no one would have guessed that outside factors would affect the game as much as they did. Two details, the referees and the new ball, played a tremendous and unexpected role in this international competition. The refs made simple human errors, but is it possible that the new ball had some faulty engineering? Adidas recently came out with this ball, called the Jabulani, Which in South Africa means happiness and celebration. What was special about the ball is it doesn’t have traditional hexagonal stitching. Adidas introduced a new type of covering, where separate, odd-shaped plates are placed on the outside of the ball. This innovative engineering makes it so that the ball, when pumped, is as close to a perfect sphere as possible, when compared to the small grooves and bumps of the original stitching. Was the design too ahead of its time though? Hundreds of players and coaches alike complained that the ball, when struck, moved erratically through the air. This made it almost impossible for players to follow its trajectory successfully. In fact, the ball was blamed for a few goals in the world cup. So, was the new ball a protagonist or antagonist in this competition? For a video that shows just how the ball is made, click this link.

Just a Friendly

As an avid blogger in the field of soccer, I not only write about the latest news and great events, but also about my own experiences. This past weekend, September 11^th, I participated in a game that was rather odd for my taste. It wasn’t against our rivals and it wasn’t against a very competitive team. It was against the Canadian National Paralytic Team. Many of the members of the squad, for example, run with a limp of have defects in their arms as well as their hands. The goalie had a glass eye, and I couldn’t even begin to imagine how difficult his job must be. It is actually very sad for some players. Three of the starters used to be high-level soccer players, playing in college and preparing to be pro. One of them got in a horrible helicopter accident, and after being expected to die, awoke from a long coma to find himself how he was. However, they were all happy as can be and they thanked us eternally for coming out and playing against them. I also felt great after the game, because I felt as though I contributed greatly to their program In the end, we were all friends. For pictures of the team, follow this link.

A Battle Between Giants

September 7th was a day to remember. Two of soccer's most prestigious international teams, Spain and Argentina, dueled for 90 grueling minutes occupying the stadium "El Monumental," in Argentina. Argentina, as the host of the anticipated game, had a vigorous start, attacking from left and right. Messi, ranked as the best player in the world, scored the first goal as he raced down the left flank, to cut in and lob the ball over the goalie's head. Soon after, Higuain scored once again for the host team. But the scoring didn't cease there- Spain's goalie committed a cardinal sin as he miscontroled a simple pass, allowing the Manchester City forward, Tevez, to pass it in the net. One of Spain's underdogs, Llorente, against the misfortune, scored the lone goal for his country in the 84th minute. When it seemed like the game was over, Aguero scored for Argentina at the dying minutes to widen the gap between the two teams, leaving it at 4-1.

For a video of all highlights and goals click this link.

Boca Juniors

In a small, Italian town of Argentina called La Boca, plays one of the most followed clubs in the world, Boca Juniors. Technically, they may not match up to the standards of many other European teams, but what is special about this club is its supporting fanatics. They often crowd "La Bombonera," the home stadium, holding banners that cover the whole face of the stands. In fact, the team is so famous for its fans that the fans took on the nickname, "The twelfth player."
Die-hard fans of the team carry the team name to their grave, and they never fail to miss out on the games. Seating only about 45,000 people, the stadium which Boca Juniors calls home is not very big. However, it is not about quantity, but quality. The crowd chants and sings at every moment of the game, bringing drums and other instruments to synchronize the crowd. To see a video of the fans chanting at a home game, click this link.