One World Futbol

As I was looking for soccer news in order to do my last blogger update, I found an organization called One World Futbol, which really caught my attention. Basically, it is a program for kids all accross Africa. How it works, you buy a soccer ball, they give one to an organization around there. Why do they need soccer balls? Well, what do some of these kids do all day? They have nothing, don't enjoy anything, and find it almost impossible to have fun. When compared to the plastic bag balls some of these kids make, these cheap, yet useful balls can mean the world to these kids. Enough to keep them busy and enough to make them happy. In many of the world's poorest places, soccer is almost a religion. With no education, it's the only way these kids can possibly get somewhere in life. It is one of their few ways that they can climb out of the hole of poverty and step into a more advanced world. So, when I think about someone giving a ball to one of these kids, I think of it as much more than a ball. For a video this organization has made, follow this link. This other link is a video of Zambian kids playing with what little they have.

The Golden Messi

Sporting his gold Adidas "Adizeros", it seems appropriate that he should use this color. A few days ago, Messi was elected the player of the year for 2010 by FIFA. Again. Just last year, he had won it as well. Being the best player of the year when you are 22, and later again when you are 23 must mean something. His youth does not make him an inexperienced player, having been in a couple youth World Cups, two official World Cups, Olympics and other international tournaments as well as the biggest club tournaments in the world. Messi is everything in the soccer world. He is so good that he was chosen over Iniesta, one of the other two candidates for the prize. The reason I say this is because Iniesta is an amazing player, never letting people down. He scored in the last minute 2 years ago versus Chelsea in the playoffs of the Champions League. Even better, he scored this year in the FINAL OF THE WORLD CUP versus Holland, literally, in the last moments of the game. He won the World Cup for Spain. All three candidates were from the same team, Barcelona. This shows the level of that team, but also the skill Messi possesses.

Soccer Culture!

It is always a beautiful thing to experience other people's cultures. It seems like soccer is part of the culture of any country, either a big part or a small part. Different countries play differently. Brazilians are often depicted as happy, fun people, and they play that way. The term "Joga Bonito" is portuguese for "Play Beautiful." This is how many of them play. From Ronaldinho's turns and jukes to Robinho's quick, repetitive sicssors, many of them literally do play beautiful. On the other hand, the England and German teams sports a much more organized and structured style. For example, when Argentina faced off versus Germany in the quarter finals of the World Cup, the German coach revealed that he had studied every Argentinian player. Every habit they have, every move they made- he knew it. The Argentinian team was just focusing on doing their thing, using their talent, and winning. Germany won 4 - 0, a score for the record books. Here are videos of different players from Germany and Brazil, two teams that play very different. Can you see the difference in their play?

Brazil Team Nike Ad
Germany Simple Goals

Overpaid Athletes

Like in every professional sport, there are some players that earn more than one could ever imagine. One star often makes more than a neighboring team's whole salary! Is it necessary to get paid 20, 30, even 50 million dollars? It sounds crazy, and I think it is. Take into consideration some of the world's most famous players. Cristiano Ronaldo. Lionel Messi. Carlos Tevez. Frank Ribery. It seems these players have enough money to run a small country. These player's salary topple over millions of millions, reaching 40 million dollars. However, I am not against it. People underestimate the time they put into this. Watching what they eat. Training multiple times per day. Taking care of themselves. Meanwhile, paparazzi swarm around them even as they go to buy groceries. All the pressure of making a single mistake and getting criticized by the world is always with them. A colombian player, Andres Escobar, scored an own goal in the 1994 World Cup. He was later shot in his arrival home. Thousands, no millions of people watch their every move. Not all players are paid well, however. Many professional teams in Africa and Eastern Europe have players that work part time in other jobs. Soccer is actually one of the least paid sports. It is the most popular sport in the world, and only a select few get paid like this. If it was easy, wouldn't you do it too?