Let's Get Them Drugged!

We have all heard of this situation. A life changing game is about to start. The stage is set for a spectacular performance. One team is willing to risk it all. This is the case of two Peruvian teams, Hijos de Acosvinchos and Sport Ancash, the home team. Hijos de Acosvinchos were obliged to win, as it would guarantee them a spot in the first division football league in their country. Going to the first league would not only better the players, but also help them sustain themselves, as teams that are ranked lower get paid much more. The point is that after the game, four players became ill and one had passed out during the match. The players then put it all together and recalled that the water offered to them by the home team tasted bitter. Coincidence? No. After further analysis and testings, it was proved that the home team put barbituates in the water of the opposing team to prevent them from putting on a decent game. They lost 3 0 and, for now, are stuck in the second division. For further reading, follow this link.

Milan vs. Real Madrid

On one side we have Real Madrid, the richest football team in the world, followed by their arch rivals, Barcelona. This team is home to some of the world's best individual players, but lately they have been out of sync. They played A.C Milan, one of the European giants, coming from Italy. Led by Ronaldinho, they have a great all around team, from goalie to forwards. These two faced off yesterday, in a game that looked difficult to predict. Real Madrid, being the best team in the world, over the history of football, aren't playing at their peak. They recently hired a new coach from Inter, and he is the famous Jose Mourinho, a Portuguese legend. He had the chance to work with excellent players, and he seems to be doing a good job. Real Madrid won 2-0, hopefully ending their bad streak. If all goes well, Real Madrid could possibly win the European Champions League, one of the most prestigious leagues in the world, of which this game pertained to.

Brazil 2014

As many people already know, the next World Cup will be taking place in Brazil. The leading champions of the World Cup will be the host team, having already 5 titles to their name. It is evident through the five gleaming stars that circulate over the top half of the emblem, in the chest of the shirt. Brazil has always had a good lineup, and this year many were skeptical of their progressing far due to a lack of experience. This is not as the whole team, but individual players. Most of the starting team were all young players, and although probably a tiny bit better physically, a few years makes a big difference. Many players are still naïve in their early 20s. What does this signify for the next World Cup? Basically, other teams better watch out because they will have all the talent, the right age, and the advantage of home team. My guess on the 2014 World Cup Champion – Brazil!

How Mining relates to Soccer

One would have to live in a mine to not have heard of the tragic, yet happy story of the miners in Chile. Picture yourself living in hazardous conditions, with only the necessary amount of food, no entertainment, no sanitary bathrooms, and just a dirt floor to sleep on. Now multiply that by 69 days, and then sum up the fact that they were hundreds, if not thousands of meters underground, in a dark mine. Luckily, the world held its breath as the 33 miners were succesfully rescued. One of the miners had actually played in the Chile national soccer team, but lost his chances of keeping the job and ended up poor, working in a mine. At his release, he juggled a soccer ball in a jubilant manner, connecting to the thousands of soccer fans around the world that were watching the news. Furthermore, the miners are now being invited by countless teams for different affairs. Real Madrid sent the 33 men a signed shirt each, and also invited them to visit their camp grounds in Spain. Manchester United, an English Premier team, is also planning a similar reception. It doesn't end there. Boca Juniors coach Claudio Borghi shared to the public that he would love to share some tea with them, and the famous Diego Maradona also commented, saying that they were proof that miracles exists. For a copy of the article, visit this link.

Watch the Ankles!

Today, I’ll share with you guys another personal story, that obviously relates to my football life. As a kid, I had my first severe ankle sprain on my left ankle, for which I couldn’t play for about a month and a half. Later on, I twisted my ankle several times before I, once again, sprained my ankle. This time, it was the right. Time goes on, though, and injuries heal. However, I began to tape my ankles up before each game and each training sessions. Soon after, the injuries stopped. Once I was about 14 years old, I gradually ceased to do this, and I sprained my ankle three times, and tore my ligaments completely another time, all in less than a year and a half. This goes out to remind everybody who plays, not only soccer, but participates in regular exercise, that safety comes first. With injuries, one cannot put 100% on the field, if they can even WALK on the field. Here are some videos showing stretching exercises, for those who want to watch! Video 1 Video 2

Times of Stress

Here I am, biting my nails, anxious as to what I’ll do next. It’s not from an abundance of homework or from being tired. My cleats just broke and I need to buy new ones. Sure, it sounds simple, but to me this is like choosing an orphan. It’s a big deal. I narrowed down my options to two brands, Nike and Adidas. Better yet, I narrowed down my choices to two models- The Adizeros and Vapors (Pictures on the right). Two completely different cleats, but sharing many characteristics. Both are meant to be lightweight, but the Adizeros take the featherweight title, averaging about 5.8 oz, while the Vapors are about 7.8 - 8 oz. However, I have been wearing the Vapors for a while, and really like the boot. To make matters even worse, Vapors have been coming out with new colors that I find ridiculous, a raspberry pink and cactus green. Nasty. I’m not sure what I’ll get yet, but I’ll surely have fun choosing.