Athletic Events 2012-2017
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Among the two most famous keepers in the history of
Italian football, the revered Gigi Buffon, retired from
International Football in the most infamous event in
the History of the Beautiful Sport. Unfortunately, one
who witnessed the last three games of the Azzurri could
have no illusions but that a team that played a whole
class below Spain and stood as miserable equals to
Albania, FYROM and Israel would have slim chances
to qualify against Sweden. But of course, for the fans,
who justifiably proclaimed ``No Italia, No Party in
Russia", hope died last, at last, last night in San Siro.
The irony is that, had Italy qualified, Ventura would
have been considered as successful and Italy would
have presented a similar humiliating mess in Russia.
Now that the change is not needed for furthering a
goal, he will be sacked... At least steady hands may
lead the team through the first stages of the next goal.
Δεδομένης της δυναμικότητας των παικτών, και
αφαιρουμένης της τραγικής εμφάνισης και του
καταστροφικού αποτελέσματος στο Ζάγκρεμπ,
απέναντι όμως σε μία από τις καλύτερες ομάδες
που έχει αντιμετωπίσει η Εθνική, οι εμφανίσεις
της Εθνικής μέχρι τώρα, υπό την καθοδήγηση
του Σκίμπε, δεν ήταν άσχημες. Θα ήταν ατυχές,
πιστεύω, να διώξουν τον προπονητή με αιτία την
αποτυχία να πάει η Εθνική στο Μουντιάλ. Κατά
τη γνώμη μου, μετά το επόμενο παιχνίδι, θα
πρέπει ομοσπονδία και προπονητικό τίμ να
καθήσουν να συζητήσουν και να θέσουν τον
επόμενο στόχο και να συγκεντρωθούμε εκεί,
χωρίς αναταράξεις και διαξιφισμούς, που
έχουμε πάρει μια γεύση (ή μάλλον πολλές
γεύσεις) και στο παρελθόν για το πού μπορεί
δυστυχώς να οδηγήσουν.
Owoooooo!! What a performance by the Vecchia Signora
and by Pipita; Mesmerizing and Overpowering... 
Neymar, by demanding scandalous and unreasonable
conditions in his contract with PSG, is challenging his
own Humanity, his own Grace and stretching his own
Luck. And, if the Ancient Greeks knew anything about
these things, his Grace and his Luck will come back
to bite him unless he corrects himself, becomes
reasonable and starts to behave like a professional,
like any other professional, regardless of caliber.
Μπράβο στο Γιάννη! Πολύ καλή εμφάνιση χθες στο
San Siro. Ελπίζω να βελτιωθεί κι άλλο και να μπορέσει
να βοηθήσει πολύ και την Εθνική στο μέλλον.
BRAVO, HERTHA!! I echo your sentiments
and strongly commend you on your activism. Only
a United and Universal Response will make an
Open-minded, Tolerant and Responsible World
possible for All People and for All our Children
and All our Children's Children.
Μπράβο, Λευτέρη!
Συλλυπητήρια στην οικογένεια του Γιάννη.
Germans also make bad decisions. Bayern just announced
the firing of the ``Guru of the Pitch" Carlo Ancelotti. The
positive side is that Carlo will be, hopefully, available to
take the reigns of the Squadra Azzurra, which has shown
a very disappointing face lately and whose current coach
is not up to the standards required for success in the
upcoming very important International Competitions.
Κι άλλη επιτυχία για τη Μαρία. Μπράβο, Μαρία!!
Η Κατερίνα είναι η Ελλάδα όχι μόνο γιατί γεννήθηκε στην,
ζεί στην, και αγωνίζεται για την Ελλάδα, αλλά και γιατί
πάνω και από τον πληθυσμό των εν Ελλάδι Ελλήνων είναι
ο πληθυσμός των ομογενών και των μεταναστών Ελλήνων,
και έτσι, ακόμα και να μήν έμενε στην Ελλάδα, θα
εκπροσωπούσε και όλους εμάς που είμαστε αδιαμφισβήτητα
Έλληνες. Όσο για ήθος, αγωνιστικότητα, πείσμα, δουλειά
και επιτυχίες, αν όλοι οι Έλληνες ήμασταν σαν κι εκείνη,
δε θα προσπαθούσαμε τώρα να διασώσουμε υπολείμματα
και να βγούμε από μνημόνια αλλά θα ήμασταν παγκόσμια
υπερδύναμη... Ας προσέχουμε λοιπόν, όπως είπε και ο
ΣΕΓΑΣ...
Μπράβο, Λευτέρη!
Let's be careful on the defensive side, effective in the
mid-field and clinical up front and we can do it. That
would be an uplifting and very significant win against
the Catalan Giants.
Μπράβο, παιδιά! Πάλι μας κάνατε περήφανους.
Ας προσέξουμε τώρα και λίγο παραπάνω, μήπως
τα καταφέρουμε να μπούμε και στα ημιτελικά.
Μπράβο, κορίτσια!
Παιδιά, προσοχή μη χάσουμε! Θα είναι το πιο μεγάλο
κρίμα στη σύγχρονη ιστορία να μην προσέξουμε και
να έχει τόσο άδοξο τέλος το ταξίδι μας τόσο σύντομα...
Η Μαρία δεν τα κατάφερε, αλλά αγωνίστηκε με
όρεξη και πάθος απέναντι σε μία από τις καλύτερες
τενίστριες όλων των εποχών. Μπράβο, Μαρία!
Μπράβο, Μαρία!
I understand Gigi's point, but I disagree with his
opinion in a strong and emphatic way. I think that
VARs should be used wherever and whenever the
human referees and their assistants are unsure
about what has transpired to ensure the Absolute
Fairness and to enforce Meticulous Justice in the
refereeing decisions during a game. Since, however,
I see Gigi's point, I should add that what happened
in the Genoa - Juventus game was unsettling, but it
was not because of the frequency with which VAR
was used, but because of the way it was used.
The referee has to request assistance in almost
real time and to get a response from the help
room in a few seconds' time. He does not have
to run to the side to converse with assistants
in the video booth every time. In that game,
it seemed that to use one aspect of the technology
(the video), the authorities threw away the other
aspect (wireless communication) by forcing the
referee to use a buggy every time to travel to
the sidelines to carry manually the messages.
That was a messy situation and one that should
be carefully thought about, analyzed and corrected
so that even the last, well-meaning no doubt,
dissenters of the use of this extremely useful
tool, are swayed to the side that has the moral
and the practical advantage.
Κρίμα, Γιάννη! Καλή Επιτυχία στην Εθνική και
στα υπόλοιπα παιδιά, περαστικά σου και θα σε
περιμένουμε με ανυπομονησία να σε δούμε δυνατό
στο NBA και να ενισχύσεις και πάλι την εθνική.
Sometimes people engaged in sports make mistakes
and sometimes those mistakes, despite their gravity,
may be partially forgiven, especially when the
individuals involved are younger and they do show
an understanding of the mistake and a willingness
to learn and correct their behavior and exhibit a
heightened sense of responsibility in the future.
Examples have been the behavior of Schweinsteiger
at the end of the 2014 World Cup and the behavior
of the United States swimmer Lochte in Brazil.
But, when the person involved is an incorrigible,
unrepentant, racist, aggressive 70 year old bully in
an official position, who has been around and should
already have known much better and should have
endorsed and embraced a responsibility to lead
by example the younger sportsmen and sports
women, then there are no excuses and it would
be a terrible development indeed for both tennis
and the World Sports in general if this new
Appeals Panel gave such an individual a break.
Μπράβο, Κατερίνα! Αντε και για τα 5+!!
I could not agree more with Maradona on this issue.
My problem is that, because of all those issues outlined
in this interview, and given that his deception of the
referees, his unfair play vis-a-vis his opponents and
his abrasive character and remorselessness were
intense, repetitive and intentional, I radically disagree
with his inclusion in the elite of World football and I
would rather he'd been considered an example to
deride and avoid, an example of the behaviors and
shenanigans that the VARs are actually meant to
protect the game, the fans, the players and the
referees against. So YES! ALL FOR VARS to, among
other things, protect us and the sport against the stench
and intentional deceitfulness of modern Maradonas
and would-be Maradonas.
Μπράβο, παιδιά!!
With a convincing 2-0 victory against Costa Rica and a team
that looks well-tuned and organized, unlike the one that we
have witnessed under the direction of Klinsmann, and after
the surprising defeat of Mexico, the stage has been set for
tomorrow's final between our Stars and Stripes and the very
athletic, stubborn and defensively solid Reggae Boyz.
GREECE: U20 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS 2017!!
Μπράβο, παιδιά!!
Μπράβο, Γιάννη!!
Κατερίνα, άντε να σε δούμε να χτυπήσεις τα 5.00 για να
μπεις σιγά-σιγά στο μονοπάτι για το 5.07!!
Μπράβο, Μαρία!!
Ooowoo! Another mesmerizing evening from Jogi
Löw and the Panzers... Chile will find itself in dire
straits on Sunday in the final of the Confederaciones.
Obviously, this discussion is completely pointless right now.
If the ATP ever decided to hold mixed tournaments in the
singles category, then this discussion would make sense and,
then, perhaps, some integrated rankings, based on actual
performance and results, may start to emerge. And let's
also be cognizant of the fact that players will then prepare
differently and make adjustments on their strategies.
FIFA has absolutely no credibility remaining to be entrusted
with thoroughly and impartially investigating the reports
concerning doping allegations by the Russian footballers
for two reasons:
1. If these reports are accurate, then the doping, the swaps
of the samples and the concealment of the illicit activities
were happening under its watch and, if they were possible
then, we have no confidence in trusting that they will not
be somehow covered and pushed aside now.
2. With so many scandals involving financial improprieties,
corruption, and money changing hands and with Russia
having, potentially through such activities, been granted
the organization of the 2018 World Cup, it would not be
very far-fetched to presume that FIFA has put itself in
a position of collusion and possibly under threat of
blackmail from the Russian side for revelations etc.
These two reasons make FIFA a completely discredited
party for investigating the allegations and, because of this,
more generally, an untrustworthy and discredited organization
that cannot and should not be entrusted with managing and
directing the World's most beautiful and most exciting sport.
Μπράβο, κορίτσια!! Καλή Τύχη και σήμερα με τη Γαλλία!
In the best four teams in European Basketball, the Women's
Greek National Side is giving another major ``battle"
today against France. Among the best four is already a
remarkable achievement. Bringing a medal home, especially
the most sparkling one, would be something almost beyond
hope and imagination. GOOD LUCK and FOCUS!!
If the most extravagantly compensated refuse to pay their
share of the social burden, then why should the rest of us
do so? Pierre Moscovici was right to insist that top paid
footballers should be held liable for gimmicks and ghost
companies that help them conceal earnings and stash
them away in ``safe havens" so that they pay less or no
taxes at all on them in the States where the salaries are
generated. My view: When people, be ir Ronaldos or
Messis or whoever else, refuse to accept responsibility
and pay up what they owe, they should be banned from
ever playing again. That is JUSTICE; not letting them
get away with millions and then admire them for visiting
orphans and for opening foundations that purport to
contribute a fraction of the loot to charitable causes...
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
What a surprising performance by New Zealand against Mexico
in the Confederations Cup in Russia. But despite the team playing
surprisingly well for an Oceanic team, lacking both reputation and
tradition, they had a player that marred the match. He injured
one, put one in, lost a couple that just required a little skill and,
in general, his demeanor and style was more akin to a rugby than
to a football player. New Zealand would have been much cleaner
and much better off without him and they should ponder seriously
transferring him to their rugby National Team next time around...
One last thing: I doubt the referee had any clue on how the Video
Assistant Referee is supposed to be used...
Μπράβο, Θανάση!
Μπράβο, κορίτσια! Among the top 8 in Euro 2017.
Video Assistant Referees are a great addition to football
and so far they have performed remarkably well in the
Confederations Cup in Russia. It is surprising that such
a useful application of technology, whose only effect is
to ensure absolute fairness and reliability and that has
been applied successfully for a long time on this side
of the Atlantic in a variety of sports, has been resisted
so recklessly and its implementation delayed for so long
in this, the most exciting and the most beautiful sport
on the planet. Let us hope that VARs will eventually
take on more and more responsibilities so that the task
of refereeing the game becomes easier and faultless.
Only one reluctant remark: Can FIFA change the
sign of the human referee showing that VAR has been
used from this awkward ``big TV" sign to something
simpler and easier? Why not put, e.g., something like:
In
Cardiff, an
unrecognizable,
disastrous
Juve...
The defense,
without
concentration,
was blown to
the four
corners, as if
by a wind...
The midfield
and attack
totally
disconnected
and
nonexistent...
The team failing
to stand even
up to the
minimum
demanded at
that level...
And all this
while Real did
not perform
astoundingly;
nor did it
play
impressive football.
Just enough to
tame a lame,
pathetic and
impotent
opponent.
How sad and
disappointing...
What a let
down for a
finish to a
remarkable
season...
SIAMO QUI PER
VINCERE!
FORZA JUVE!!
CAMPIONE
D'ITALIA
2016-2017!!
JUVENTUS
Il sesto
scudetto
consecutivo!
Και τους
Αγγλους έπιασε
κορόϊδα ο
Μαρινάκης.
Αλλά αυτοί
είναι πιο
αφερέγγυοι και
από τους
Έλληνες γιατί
ξέρουν ότι
είναι
κατάδικος της
Ελληνικής
δικαιοσύνης
και δεν έχουν
καμιά
απολύτως
δικαιολογία
για το γιατί
εγκρίνουν
την ανάμιξη
ενός τέτοιου
ατόμου στα
δικά τους
αθλητικά
δρώμενα. Αλλά
βεβαίως υπέρ
πάντων
αξιών τα
φλουριά,
ιδιαιτέρως εις
Αγγλοσαξονίαν..
I do not
understand at
all the
reasoning
behind the
obligation of
judges to be
``humble" and
servile,
when they are
appointed by
an
organization
whose
officials are
arrogant,
extravagant
and very
talkative.
Such
statements are
UEFA's
gimmicks in
trying to
deflect
attention from
the obvious
fact that,
regardless
of whether the
two outgoing
judges were
not as
successful as
one would have
wished, the
UEFA
``judgeships",
as they stand
today, are
nothing
but
independent
and serving
the
organization
in good faith
and
selflessly...
As I am
watching
the last
stages of the
main UEFA
competitions,
I am
celebrating
European
Football but I
am
lamenting the
fact that it
is governed by
an abject,
discredited
and thoroughly
corrupt outfit
that,
after the
shake up of
recent years,
should not
have been
allowed by the
associations
to continue
to plunder
football in
its existing
form...
``Andiamo
a Cardiff per
fare la
partita piu
bella!"
Juve did
its duty and
advanced to
the final.
However,
its iron-clad
defense showed
signs of
weakness and
those must be
patched before
the final
because a
team of the
caliber of
Real does not
forgive.
I hope that
Max and Gigi
are able to
organize the
defense
faultlessly,
because the
issue is not
talent
and skill,
which are more
abundant in
Juve than in
any other team
on Earth, but
concentration,
focus
and
organization,
that appeared
to falter at
moments
during the
second leg
against
Monaco.
FIFA has never
had any other
serious
interests than
items
that bring in
cash (in large
amounts) and,
more
specifically,
cash that
fattens the
pockets of the
top tier, the
arch-gangsters
of the outfit.
So I am not
surprised at
all that
Muntari is
charging that
FIFA is not
serious at all
about tackling
racism,
since this is
an ethical and
educational
issue and not
something
that smells of
profit. It is,
in fact, an
issue that
would require
some care and,
most likely,
incur an
expense in
enforcement
and education.
FIFA is not at
all about
those...
Μπράβο στους
Προέδρους των
ΠΑΕ ΑΕΚ και
ΠΑΟΚ για
το κοινό
ανακοινωθέν!
Ελπίζω και
εύχομαι τα
λόγια και οι
ευχές τους να
πιάσουν τόπο
και να
ευοδοθούν.
The loud,
clear,
unequivocal
response came
promptly,
with:
3 admirable,
marvelous
saves by Gigi;
2 surgical
crosses by
Dani Alves;
2 clinical
finishes by
Pipita;
1 masterful,
mesmerizing
game by Dani,
Paulo and
Claudio;
and a seminal,
memorable
performance by
Gigi's Five
Nights
made out of
Steel in
Character,
Determination
and Execution.
Nothing's
gonna stop us
now!! 
1. Gigi Buffon
15 Andrea
Barzagli 19.
Leonardo
Bonucci 3.
Giorgio
Chiellini 12.
Alex Sandro
23. Dani Alves
5. Miralem
Pjanic 8.
Claudio
Marchisio
21. Paulo
Dybala 17.
Mario
Mandzukic
9. Gonazalo
Higuain
9. Gonzalo
Higuain - 7.
Juan Quadrado
(77')
8. Claudio
Marchisio -
28. Tomas
Rincon (81')
5. Miralem
Pjanic - 18.
Mario Lemina
(88')
We are
prepared!
Nothing's
gonna stop us
now!!
``And
we can build
this thing
together
Stand this
stormy weather
Nothing's
gonna stop us
now!"
Μπράβο,
παιδιά! Όλα
για όλα στην
Πόλη, τώρα!
O Ronaldo
έριξε τρεις
προειδοποιητικές
μπαλωθιές
στην
καλύτερη άμυνα
του κόσμου με
ξεκάθαρο
νόημα: Η Μεγάλη
και Σεβαστή
Κυρία ``θα
ιδρώσει αλλά
θα το
σηκώσει!!".
Παιδιά, δώστε
τα όλα στα
επόμενα δύο
παιχνίδια να
έχουμε τη χαρά
να δούμε και
μία Ελληνική
ομάδα
στο Final
Four!
Μπράβο,
Λευτέρη!!
``Una
Vittoria Netta
e
Inequivocabile."
``Un
passagio, in
vista di
Cardiff."
1.
Gianluigi
Buffon
23. Dani Alves
19. Leonardo
Bonucci 3.
Giorgio
Chiellini 12.
Alex Sandro
5. Miralem
Pjanic 6. Sami
Khedira
7. Juan
Quadrado 21.
Paulo Dybala
17. Mario
Mandzukic
9. Gonzalo
Iguain
Paulo Dybala -
15. Andrea
Barzagli (75')
Juan Quadrado
- 18. Mario
Lemina (84')
Gonzalo Iguain
- 22. Kwadwo
Asamoah (88')
Pity, such a
great shame
and pity!
Having a
referee
determine
which team
advances in
the Champions'
League. And
even
more troubling
that the
whistle always
seems to favor
the same
few known
unknowns,
those clubs
from certain
States that
have the
pockets to
spend enormous
amounts on
players
and on who
knows what
else... This
really
warrants a
thorough and
detailed
investigation.
Enough
is enough.
Καλή Τύχη!!
Ούριο άνεμο
στα πανιά σας
για να
γυρίσει η
κούπα στην
Ελλάδα!
I like the
Chinese and I
appreciate
their
willingness to
invest in the
World's most
fascinating
sport, even if
their
motives are
primarily
profit driven.
On the other
hand,
I consider the
``local
connection"
extremely
important
in
establishing
ties with the
community and
in maintaining
a genuine
interest to
contribute to
the atmosphere
and
the betterment
of ones
hometown or
home city. So
I do
feel
uncomfortable
and disquieted
when I see
both
teams of an
affluent City,
like Milano,
being sold off
to foreign,
and especially
overseas,
interests. I
think
that Italian
businessmen
and Italian
investors from
the
north-west,
after having
seeing the
developments
in French and
English
football,
should have
made a
more
substantial
and concerted
effort to keep
the
Milano
legendary
giants into
Italian hands.
With Gigi
in great form
and the team
absolutely in
sync
and very well
attuned,
La Vecchia
Signora did
not allow
much room to
Barca. And
what is even
better and
more
savory is that
the World
knows that
Juve
defensively is
the best team
on Earth. With
Chiellini,
Bonucci,
Barzagli,
Dani
Alves and
Alex
Sandro, it
is very
difficult for
any
opponent to
dream. This is
JUVE; this is
not ParisSG.
Forza
Juve!! Siamo
Siempre Piů
Allegri!
When Greeks
hear of
Marinakis'
attempts to
buy Nottingham
Forest and the
cold shoulder
he's given by
the FA, we
realize
why the Greek
Superleague is
so far behind
other European
Championships.
In Greece,
even easily
enforceable
Court
decisions
banning guilty
parties from
involvement in
sports,
and in
particular in
football, are
not abided by,
whereas in
England, as in
Italy, rules
are stricter,
albeit not
ideal.
The ``great
upset" was
accompanied by
a disturbingly
erroneous
and biased, if
not
fraudulent,
refereeing
contribution...
In Sports,
especially
Olympic
Sports, if one
wants to
seriously
do away with
unfair
competition as
related to
illegal
substances
and to combat
the sham and
the ridicule
caused by
those intent
on using
enhancers to
cheat both the
public and
their
opponents,
there are only
two possible
ways:
1. If caught,
to be banned
for life from
competing.
Only
then, will
cheaters think
twice before
engaging in
the
forbidden
behavior. A
short ban of a
year or two
does
nothing to
deter the
behavior and emboldens the
culprits to
behave in
questionable
ways.
2. Allow
everyone to
use whatever
drugs they
want.
Then, the
public will
know that we
are not
watching
only physical,
mental and
psychological
effort on the
part of the
competitors
and their
coaching
staff, but
also the
marvel of
modern drug
and supplement
engineering
and the
competition of
medical teams
supporting the
players. At
least this
will level the
playing field
(as much as
this is
possible given
the
widely varying
resources that
various
national
sport
associations
can afford).
An
unfortunate,
hasty and
questionable
decision in my
view.
Sacking a true
maestro of
calcio
guarantees a
return to flat
mediocrity for
many years to
come.
Αν διαβάσουμε
σωστά, αυτά
που δήλωσε ο
Βασιλακόπουλος
και αυτά που
αιτήθηκε ότι
δήλωσε στη
δευτερολογία
του,
μετά τη θύελλα
που ξέσπασε,
δεν είναι
ταυτόσημα.
Παρά
ταύτα, αφού τα
της πρώτης
δηλώσεως είναι
μάλλον μή
αληθή και αφού
ο ίδιος τα
διόρθωσε, ας
δεχτούμε ότι
ομίλησε
εσφαλμένα και
δεν είπε αυτό
ακριβώς που
εννοούσε
διότι, φυσικά,
δεν είναι
αλήθεια ότι οι
δηλώσεις
του
παρερμηνεύθηκαν
αφού είναι
καταγραμμένες
και
δεν πρόκειται
περί
παρερμηνείας.
Pistons, Tom
and the NBA
League, in
these
extremely
uncertain and
difficult
times for some
of our
brothers
and sisters in
the U.S. and
in the World
Community,
with refugees
reportedly
stopped at
U.S. airports,
with
one faith
``given
priority" over
other faiths
and with
fear of
banishment
because of
your ethnic
origin, your
religion
and/or the
color of your
skin, the
Pistons Team
and the League
must take
initiative and
actively and
vocally oppose
this tsunami
of
divisiveness,
of hatred,
of misanthropy
and of bigotry.
Wear something
to
show your
stance and
open placards
on the stands
of our Palace
declaring our
Unity and
Fraternity
with
all Nations
and our
Solidarity and
Compassion
with
all refugees
and all
persecuted,
whatever their
faith,
color or
National
origin.
BRAVO,
Borussia!!
Juve, how
beautiful you
are!
Μπράβο, Μαρία!
Μπράβο και
στις 4 ομάδες
των ημιτελικών
του Ελληνικού
Κυπέλλου
Μπάσκετ!!
Πρώτα απ' όλα
και ο Άρης και
ο
Ολυμπιακός
τίμησαν την
Φιλοξενία με
την άψογη
υποδοχή
των αντιπάλων
τους,
στέλνοντας
μήνυμα ότι τα
μεμονωμένα
(δυστυχώς και
πάλι)
περιστατικά
βίας δεν
αντανακλούν τη
θέληση των
ισχυρότερων
ΚΑΕ της χώρας.
Δεύτερον, και
τα δύο
παιχνίδια ήταν
δυνατά και
τίμησαν το
Ελληνικό
Μπάσκετ. Και
τρίτον, η
ανακοίνωση του
Παναθηναϊκού
είναι
ευγενέστατη
και
ευπρόσδεκτη αν
μέσω της
μπόχας
που μαστίζει
τον Ελληνικό
αθλητισμό, και
ειδικά το
Ποδόσφαιρο. Η
ΚΑΕ ΠΑΟ
ευχαρίστησε
τον επίσημο
Ολυμπιακό για
τη φιλοξενία
και πρότεινε
να διεξαχθεί
ο τελικός στη
Βόρεια Ελλάδα
για να
απολαύσουν κι
εκεί οι
φίλαθλοι μετά
από κάμποσα
χρόνια έναν
τελικό
Κυπέλλου
Ελλάδας. Θα
συμπλήρωνα,
έχοντας και
κάποια
έμπνευση από
συζήτηση στο
ραδιόφωνο του
ΣΚΑΙ, να
γίνει ο
τελικός στο
``Νίκος
Γκάλης" και να
ξεκινήσει
έτσι μία
παράδοση να
διεξάγεται ο
τελικός στο
γήπεδο
της θεωρητικά
ασθενέστερης
από τις δύο
φιναλίστ ΚΑΕ
με βάση κάποια
προαποφασισμένα
κριτήρια, αν
αυτό
δεν είναι
ξεκάθαρο. ΜΠΡΑΒΟ ΣΤΙΣ ΚΑΕ!! Ολοι μαζί,
με ηρεμία,
ομοψυχία,
αδελφοσύνη και
ευ αγωνίζεσθαι
για την
ποιοτική
αναβάθμιση του
Ελληνικού
Μπάσκετ
και για την
προβολή του
στον Ευρωπαϊκό
και Διεθνή
χώρο
For a
bucketful of
dollars more,
Infantino
looks set to
transform the
World Cup from
the greatest
footballing
event on the
face of the
Planet to
another
run-of-the-mill
competition
where whoever
sees the
Heineken,
Samsung,
etc, neon
lights
flashing above
the entrance
would push
and enter, and
millions of
stupefied and
disbelieving
fans will be
sitting around
watching
semi-worthy
and/or
totally
incompetent
teams playing
tight defenses
against
giants hoping
for a day's
good luck and
miracles...
SHAME
on FIFA
for giving in
again to
monetary
rewards with
total
disregard for
the quality of
the
beautiful game
and total lack
of respect for
football
fans and
footballing
nations. IMPLODE FIFA NOW
and TAKE THE
WORLD CUP AND
MAKE IT A
TRUE
ASSOCIATIONS'
COMPETITION
instead
of a Swiss
Oligarchs'
cash cow.
Ο ΠΑΟΚ
πρέπει να
αντισταθεί
στον πειρασμό
να πουλήσει
τον Rodrigues.
Αν μπορέσει
και τον
κρατήσει για
ακόμα μία
με δύο
περιόδους,
τότε και θα
ωφεληθεί από
το ταλέντο και
την
αποτελεσματικότητα
του παίκτη,
αλλά και θα
επιβραβευτεί
πολλάκις για
την υπομονή
του με ακόμα
μεγαλύτερες
προσφορές
από αυτά που
προσφέρει την
παρούσα στιγμή
η Galatasaray.
Αν πουλήσει
τον παίκτη
τώρα, είμαι
σίγουρος ότι ο
Σαββίδης
θα τραβάει τα
μαλλιά του
αγωνιστικά και
θα το
μετανοιώσει
πικρά
οικονομικά
εντός
δύο-τριών
χρόνων...
Sooner or
later one
would have to
tell the
tale...
The Greatest
of All News:
The PISTONS are moving
back into the
DETROIT
DOWNTOWN!!!
Παρά τη
διαφθορά και
τη βρωμιά και
τη δυσωδία που
οδήγησαν στην
αναδοχή από τη
Ρωσία του
Παγκοσμίου
Κυπέλλου του
2018, ο ``Γκολτζής"
είναι
πραγματικά
πολύ σένιος,
μια πολύ
καλοσχεδιασμένη
μασκότ...
Μπράβο,
Γιάννη! Άξιος!
ΑΕΚ, δείξε
εμπιστοσύνη
στον Morais,
ακόμα κι αν
έχει κι
εκείνος ατυχή
αποτελέσματα
στην αρχή της
συνεργασίας.
Είναι, όπως
γνωρίζετε κι
εσείς, πολύ
καλός
προπονητής, κι
αν του δώσετε
ευκαιρία
μακρού χρόνου
και επενδύσετε
αρκετά από
οικονομική
άποψη στην
ομάδα, η ΑΕΚ
θα κάνει
τελικά
πρωταθλητισμό.
ΧΡΕΙΑΖΕΤΑΙ
ΟΜΩΣ
ΥΠΟΜΟΝΗ ΚΑΙ
ΕΠΙΜΟΝΗ. Μην
ακούσουμε
να απολύετε
τον άνθρωπο
πάλι αύριο ή
μεθαύριο...
As they say
``dogs that
bark, don't
bite". The
only
problem is
that those
dogs are not
paid to
bark...
Ωραίες οι
εμφανίσεις της
ΑΕΚ για τη νέα
περίοδο 16-17.
Όμως οι
Ενωσίτες
πρέπει πάση
θυσία να
ασκήσουν πίεση
στη διοίκηση
να
ξανασχεδιαστεί
εκ νέου η
μασκότ της
ομάδας από
κάποιον οίκο
με εμπειρία
στο
αντικέιμενο,
με γούστο και
με
εγκαρδιότητα.
Η μασκότ έχει
τον πρώτιστο
ρόλο να
χαροποιεί και
να συγκινεί
τους νεαρούς
φίλους της
ομάδας και να
τους προκαλεί
αγάπη και
αφοσίωση όπως
ένα αγαπημένο
παιχνίδι ή ένα
αγαπημένο
κατοικίδιο
ζώο.
Αυτό το
δικέφαλο
έκτρωμα που
σχεδίασαν δεν
πληρεί
ούτε κατ'
ελάχιστον
αυτές, ή
οποιεσδήποτε
άλλες λογικές
προδιαγραφές
θα μπορούσε
κανείς να
φανταστεί, και
πρέπει
να αποσυρθεί
το συντομότερο
δυνατό και να
επανασχεδιαστεί
εκ του
μηδενός.
Άννα, όλοι
ξέρουμε οτι η
Ελληνική
πολιτεία δε
συνδράμει
στις
προσπάθειες
των Ελλήνων
αθλητών και
αθλητριών,
και όλοι
θεωρούμε το
γεγονός
καταδικαστέο,
απαράδεκτο
και
αξιοθρήνητο,
παρά την
κατανόηση, επί
του παρόντος,
των άθλιων
συνθηκών στις
οποίες
βρίσκονται
γενικά
η οργάνωση και
τα οικονομικά
της χώρας μας.
Όμως από
το σημείο αυτό
στο να
προκαλεί
κανείς
περαιτέρω
αναστάτωση με
συνεχή
κλαψούρα για
ποταπά
πράγματα,
όπως συνεχείς
μικροδιαφωνίες
για το ποιός
κάλεσε ποιόν,
ποιόν εκτιμά
και ποιόν δεν
εκτιμά ο
Προεδρος της
Δημοκρατίας,
εάν μία
προσκληση
δόθηκε ή όχι
κι αν μια
ημερομηνια
ελήφθη υπόψιν
ή οχι,
υποβαθμίζει
και
εξεφτελίζει τα
πραγματικά
μέγιστα
προβληματα του
Ελληνικού
αθλητισμού και
δεν είναι προς
τιμήν κανενός.
Με το χρυσό
μετάλλιο που
κέρδισες και
με την άνοδό
σου
αυτή στην
κορυφή του
κόσμου στο
άθλημα που
υπηρετείς,
μπορείς να
συνεισφέρεις
θετικά στην
προβολή και
στην
όσο το δυνατόν
καλύτερη
μεταχείρηση,
δεδομένων των
δύσκολων
συνθηκών, του
αθλητισμού
στην Ελλάδα,
ώστε να
χρωστάμε όλοι
και σ'εσένα
και στα άλλα
παιδιά,
Ολυμπιονίκες
και μη, του
Ρίου, την
ανάπτυξη του
αθλητισμού,
του αθλητικού
πνεύματος, του
καθαρού
συναγωνισμού
και του
πρωταθλητισμού
στην Ελλάδα
με το βλέμμα
στο Τόκυο και
πέρα από το
Τόκυο.
One cannot use
blatant double
standards in
dishing out
suspensions in
World's
football. When
Luis ``the
rabid
dog" Suarez
was given a
few matches
suspension for
biting
several
opponents (not
for just
saying
something, but
for
BITING, for
Goodness sake)
and when Jose
``the loose
tongue"
Mourinho has
never been
suspended,
although
he
continuously
attacks team
mates and
opponents
alike
uncontrollably
in various
impolite ways,
it is sad
and
inexplicable
to dish out a
six
(seriously,
six???) month
suspension
from National
duty to Hope
Solo for
saying
that an
opponent's
players were a
``bunch of
cowards",
which, I am
sure, was a
statement made
in a heated
moment under a
lot of
self-disappointment
and stress.
SHAME
ON THE U.S.
SOCCER
AUTHORITIES
for
such an
unbalanced and
disproportionate
punishment.
Τελικά για
πολλούς λόγους
δεν πάει καλά
το Ελληνικό
ποδόσφαιρο,
ένας από τους
οποίους είναι
και ότι
εκλέγουμε
ηλίθιους,
βλάκες,
αναίσθητους
και μαλ**ες
παράγοντες.
Για όνομα του
Θεού και της
Παναγίας, που
πάνε και τους
ξεθάβουνε, από
ποιούς
υπονόμους
ψαρέβουνε οι
ομάδες
τέτοια αφόρητη
βρώμα και
δυσωδία... πού
καταφέρνουνε
να πετύχουνε
τέτοια
ανεγκεφαλιά
και τέτοια
φαιδρότητα.
Μνήσθητί μου,
Κύριε... Να
τους πάρεις
και να τους
σηκώσεις, να
τους
εξαφανίσεις
και να τους
καταχώσεις.
Μπράβο, Κατερίνα!!
Μπράβο, Στέφανε!
NBA stood for
Equality,
Fairness and
Respect for
all
Citizens once
more and all
fans applaud
this decision,
which has been
characterized
as
``difficult",
even
though it
should not
have been,
since it is
the only
one that the
Governing Body
of a sport who
is so
diverse and
inclusive in
both its
player and its
fan
body could
have possibly
reached. NBA
has been
making the
Right
decisions and
stood for the
Right
Causes for a
while, albeit,
admittedly,
with delay
and hesitation
occasionally,
and the
fans have come
to expect
nothing less
from the
administrators
and
the players of
one of the
most beautiful
and most
fascinating
sports.
If I were the
FA, I would
seek a coach
that resembles
in thinking
and tactical
orientation
Fernando
Santos
and not Jurgen
Klinsmann.
Santos has a
proven
record of
taking teams
with moderate
talent and
ability and
leading them
to the top
with or
without
big egos and
with or
without
pseudo-big
stars. On
the other
hand,
Klinsmann has
not succeeded
in
achieving
convincing
improvements
to the U.S.
National Side,
admittedly,
though, with
limited
skill and
talent
available. On
the other
hand,
preceding U.S.
coaches had
attained a
higher level
of performance
with equally
scarce
resources.
With all due
respect to a
great career
and memorable
performances
and
contributions
to the
beautiful
sport,
Dirk's latest
decision to
extend his
contract until
his
40th year in a
league that is
so competitive
and so
demanding even
for a 20-30
year old, and
even
though there
have been
clear signs
that he is
heavier
and rapidly
declining in
agility,
ability and
power, is
another
manifestation
of the
``staying
beyond one's
welcome"
phenomenon
that plagues
many a
profession
and many a
sport
nowadays. When
people realize
that
they can no
longer perform
at the same
level and in
the
same roles as
previously
held, they
should be
encouraged,
enabled and
empowered to
contribute
through other
posts by
assuming
alternative
roles, rather
than damaging
their
reputation and
encumbering
all those
around them.
Μπράβο, Μαρία!
ITALIA opens on June the 13th against
Belgium at
the
Stade de Lyon
for the Euro
2016! Forza Azzurri!
Our United
States is
opening
against
Colombia
tonight
at the Santa
Clara Levi's
Stadium for
the Copa
America!
A page
for the U.S.A.
In Stratego,
to beat a
Colonel you
need a General
or a Marshal.
In Vatican-ego
(NCAA
Finals) to
beat an Arcidiacono,
you need
a Cardinale or
a Papa; a Paige
is clearly not
enough...
BRAVO
TO ALL KIDS
FOR AN
UNFORGETTABLE
NIGHT!
Juve did not
stand at the
end, but the
Juventini
fought a noble
battle
at the Allianz
and held up
high Juve's
Honor and
Juve's
Reputation
against rather
unfavorable
odds. What
matters is
that it was
the
most exciting
game of the
season and
that the team
almost made
it.
Juve-Bayern
2-2
The Pistons
Season
2015-2016
is on
Valentine's All-Star break.
Serie A has
now a table
beautiful
enough to be
kissed!!!
An appropriate
Valentine's
say Special!!
| 1 |
Juventus |
57 |
25 |
18 |
3 |
4 |
46 |
15 |
31 |
| 2 |
Napoli |
56 |
25 |
17 |
5 |
3 |
53 |
20 |
33 |
| 3 |
Roma |
47 |
25 |
13 |
8 |
4 |
47 |
27 |
20 |
| 4 |
Fiorentina |
46 |
24 |
14 |
4 |
6 |
42 |
23 |
19 |
| 5 |
Inter |
45 |
24 |
13 |
6 |
5 |
30 |
20 |
10 |
| 6 |
Milan |
43 |
25 |
12 |
7 |
6 |
36 |
26 |
10 |
| 7 |
Lazio |
36 |
25 |
10 |
6 |
9 |
34 |
34 |
0 |
| 8 |
Sassuolo |
35 |
25 |
8 |
11 |
6 |
29 |
29 |
0 |
| 9 |
Empoli |
34 |
25 |
9 |
7 |
9 |
30 |
34 |
-4 |
| 10 |
Chievo |
31 |
25 |
8 |
7 |
10 |
30 |
33 |
-3 |
| 11 |
Bologna |
30 |
24 |
9 |
3 |
12 |
28 |
31 |
-3 |
| 12 |
Torino |
28 |
24 |
7 |
7 |
10 |
30 |
32 |
-2 |
| 13 |
Atalanta |
28 |
24 |
7 |
7 |
10 |
23 |
27 |
-4 |
| 14 |
Udinese |
27 |
24 |
7 |
6 |
11 |
21 |
37 |
-16 |
| 15 |
Palermo |
26 |
24 |
7 |
5 |
12 |
26 |
39 |
-13 |
| 16 |
Genoa |
25 |
25 |
6 |
7 |
12 |
24 |
29 |
-5 |
| 17 |
Sampdoria |
24 |
24 |
6 |
6 |
12 |
36 |
43 |
-7 |
| 18 |
Frosinone |
22 |
25 |
6 |
4 |
15 |
26 |
51 |
-25 |
| 19 |
Carpi |
19 |
25 |
4 |
7 |
14 |
23 |
43 |
-20 |
| 20 |
Verona |
15 |
25 |
1 |
12 |
12 |
21 |
42 |
-21 |
Juve
won against
City last
evening in
Champions
League.
Μπράβο,
Γιάννη!
Σε είδα χθες
το βράδι
ζωντανά με
τους
Cavs και σε
χάρηκα.
Παρ'όλο που
είμαι με τους
Pistons,
εύχομαι κάθε
επιτυχία.
Lord Coe is
right. But
Lord Coe is
wrong if he
believes that,
in so far as
money is
involved in
sport in such
humongous
amounts, there
is any chance
at redemption
at all. The
reason
why FIFA, UEFA
and IAAF stink
is because
human nature
compels
people, when
involved in
actions with
unreasonably
high financial
stakes, to
ignore or
otherwise
justify
breaking
the rules and
tramping fair
play to
gluttonously
devour the
despicably
oily and
undeservedly
sweet pie
offered.
Pistons
Season 2015
has opened at
the Philips
Arena in
Atlanta.
With a brand
new team and
few returning
players, it
would be
rather unfair
to expect
miracles this
season. But it
would be
nice and
rewarding for
the Pistons'
fans, that
have waited
patiently
through not
very few
turmoils, for
the Team to
make
it this year
into the
playoffs. We
will ask for
something more
in the coming
seasons, but
first
stability and
peace must
prevail
so that the
new Team may
mold into a
coherent and
competitive
whole.
It is very
embarrassing
that there is
even the
slightest
whining
or
condemnation
by the Greek
Press and the
Greek
basketball
fans of our
National Team
for finishing
fifth in the Eurobasket
2015,
before the end
of the
tournament.
First, the
Team's record
was 7-1 and
its only
defeat was by
the
likely
European
Champions and,
probably, the
best team in
the
tournament.
Second, the
fifth position
among 24 teams
does not seem
a
trivial
accomplishment
or worthy of
derision and
complaints.
Third, judging
objectively
and not from a
nationalist
and
biased point
of view, the
Team ranked,
in value,
right around
the position
in which it
finished.
Spain, France,
Serbia, Italy
and, possibly,
Lithuania,
were, almost
from the
beginning,
teams that one
knew would
have very good
chances of
winning
the
tournament.
It is high
time we
appreciate the
effort of our
Players when
it is clearly
and
wholeheartedly
invested in
good faith,
and
stop judging
their
performance
and their
dedication
based
entirely on
the final
outcome. After
all, as
countrymen of
the
Olympians,
should we not
be the first
to laud the
effort, the
spirit and
ambiance of a
tough, but
fair,
competition
above
and beyond the
final ranking
attained?
WE ALL
STRONGLY SUPPORT
A RADICAL FIFA
REFORM!
Abramovich
likes having
an a** as a
coach, but
does not like
having to deal
with an a**'s
behavior. What
a
contradiction...
Άξιοι! Μπράβο
παιδιά!
Regardless of
the truth or
falsity of
these
allegations,
we have lost
faith into
these
Organizations
that are
governed by
few in secrecy
pretending to
serve the
many who are
expecting
Openness and
Transparency,
but always
remaining
wanting and
receiving the
rough
end of the
stick.
Άξιοι! Μπράβο,
παιδιά!
It would not
be to the
least
surprising if
it was soon
revealed
that the
Mexican
matches at the
2015 Gold Cup
have been
fixed by
thuggish
Mexican
financial and
other
interests.
The referees
at the games
against Costa
Rica and
against
Panama either
were
completely
incompetent
and,
therefore,
unfit for that
level of
competition
and chosen
only because
of other
considerations,
or were biased
in some
fashion,
most likely,
through
bribing, to
taint the
games heavily
towards a
Mexican win.
Since the
matches were
played
on U.S. soil
and our
legislation
forbids game
manipulation,
would the
Justice
Department
have the
appetite and
resources to
run another
investigation
in parallel
with
decontaminating
Blatter's FIFA
sewers?
This is a
ridiculous
joke; FIFA
investigating
itself for
corrupt
practices. If
it had not
been for the
relentless
pursuit by the
U.S.
Department of
Justice and
their
praiseworthy,
significant
and highly
efficient
work, we would
not have had
anything
resembling the
revelations
and the
uncovering of
the bribing,
money-laundering
and
tax-evasion
that Blatter
and his
cronies
and associates
are
undoubtedly
ultimately
responsible
for.
Blatter,
remove your
sorry a** from
the Chair and
let some
one untainted
and fresh to
allow Justice,
and not
internal
reviews and
other
gimmicks,
unconvincing
to all, to
cleanse
FIFA from the
vomit that you
have
splattered all
over...
A shameful
and
disgraceful
evening for
football:
Mexico had
at least five
excellent
chances and
the clinical
incompetence
of its
strikers in
finishing
touches will
remain in
history. But
no worries!
They were
aided and
abetted
shamelessly by
a sharpshooter
incompetent
Guatemalan
referee who
shot
Costa Rica
dead on the
spot canceling
their noble
resistance
for an entire
120 mins of
regulation and
overtime.
Shame
on CONCACAF,
shame on
Mexico and
shame on the
Guatemalan.
Shame on all
those that
take their
responsibilities
lightly and by
their lack of
seriousness
and focus are
ridiculing
and debasing
the World's
most beautiful
sport.
Congratulations
to the Players
of Haiti for a
passionate
game
last night at
the Gillette
Stadium. The
U.S. men's
team, on the
other hand,
despite
winning,
showed, in the
first half,
signs of
disorganization
and lack of
psychological
strength and
discipline.
Another
negative sign
is an apparent
reluctance
on the part of
Jũrgen to take
responsibility
for the poor
performance
and his
signalling
that he was
willing to
place
blame on
particular
individuals
rather than
reconsider his
entire playing
philosophy and
his deficient
strategy.
High Honors to
Jill Ellis for
an
unparallelled
tactical
preparation,
outstanding
orchestration
and a
near-perfect
implementation
of
the game plan.
Hard to single
out any
particular
players when
a harmonious
WHOLE makes
such an
outstanding
concerted
effort. But
the central
defensive trio
of Becky, Hope
and Julie
was key in the
entire
knock-out
phase; when
your back line
is
vulnerable, no
matter how
powerful your
front-line,
you are
bound to
subject your
team to
perilous
vulnerabilities.
So kudos
to the trio
for an almost
clinical work.
Finally, what
a spotless
footballing
instinct and
an astounding
technical
mastery in
execution by
Carli ``Pele
and Paolo
Rossi" Lloyd,
that gem of
the 2015
U.S.A. Team
and of the
2015 Canadian
World Cup.
I feel sorry
for Laura
Bassett, but
it felt like
divine
punishment
for the English
``heroes"
that equalized
employing
unfair play
by a dramatic
dive when, at
that point in
the match, the
score
should have
been 1 up for
the Japanese
girls, had it
not been
for the
incompetence
of the referee
and the
lineswoman in
charge of the
Japanese area.
The BBC,
understandably,
states
that much, but
not in the
form of an
injuriously
open admission...
In these days
most attention
and praise is
paid to flashy
goalies
or to
dexterous and
impressive
strikers and,
most often,
highly
effective and
talented
players in
defensive
positions,
that may,
nevertheless,
make decisive
contributions
to their
team's
success,
tend to be
underestimated
or ignored. In
yesterday's
performance
against China,
the United
States may not
have had a
Saint on her
side, but it
had a
player that
combined the
characteristics
of an
excellent
stopper and a
penetrating
center-half
in Julie
Johnston.
Always in her
position at
the back,
letting
nothing
pass, and,
when needed,
going upfield,
moderating the
game and
delivering
through balls,
her game
reminded me,
with a
prophetic
scent,
I hope, of the
men's
Greatest,
Claudio
Gentile and
Marco
Tardelli,
during their
best days.
LET's GO
for the THIRD,
GIRLS!!
A game
back from the
old:
At the
Olympiastadion
in Berlin, La
Vecchia
Signora,
lifted,
rejuvenated
and full of
skill and
talent, is
facing
the Catalan
Giants to earn
a third top
European spot:
Congratulations,
Girls!!
Μπορεί το
κέντρο να μη
λεγόταν
``Νεράϊδες"
αλλά τη βραδιά
του Ολυμπιακού
Πάρτυ είχε
όντως γεμίσει
με Νεράϊδες...
Before
Monaco-Juventus:
The
Italian
Justice System
needs a
complete
overhaul.
There
either had
been
substantial
and unshakable
grounds
supporting
the
accusations
for game
fixing against
Juventus or
not. A
positive
answer would
make the
recent
exoneration of
the
culprits
unjustifiable
and shameful
both in the
eyes of proper
delivery of
Justice and in
the eyes of
Transparency
and Fairness
of the Game
itself. A
negative
answer, on the
other hand,
would
make one
suspicious
about the real
motives behind
such a severe
sentence
without
substantial
backing
evidence of
wrongdoing.
In such a
case, the
motives behind
that decision
should be
investigated
and the people
that had been
pushing for
that
decision and
had been in
control of the
witch hunt
should be
held
accountable
and brought to
Justice. In
the case of
Juve
and the
seriousness of
both the
allegations
and the
punishment
imposed, there
can be no
middle ground.
Any third way
goes
to show the
lack of
credit-worthiness
and the lack
of any
objective
criteria in
the delivery
of Italian
(in)Justice...
Tom
is and should
be patient.
He should have
been patient
last season
with Coach
Cheeks and, in
my opinion,
the team
would have
already been
in better
shape. But, it
is always
better late
than never. A
team, with
some
significant
changes
needs time to
be built up.
The problem is
that many
execs
are not
patient enough
to allow that
time and,
instead,
destroy peace
and harmony
half-way to
the top.
In
more detail:
Last year, we
had Greg and
Andre and Kyle
and Josh more
effective and
more
coordinated.
This year a
lot more
weight has
been put on
Brandon and
Kentavious
and, also, as
was natural,
to the new
kids,
especially
D.J.
and Caron.
This has had
the positive
effect of improving
a little the
periphery
defense
capabilities,
but, on the
other,
much
of the warmth
and enthusiasm
exhumed by the
tall
duo and by
Kyle and Josh
last year has
been toned
down
and a certain
pessimism has
settled in
composure.
Even though I
love
basketball as
a sport, I am
going to make
a
binding
personal
pledge: If
the NBA
Commissioner's
moves
to legalize
large scale
betting and
non-transparent
involvement
of big
financial
interests,
lying outside
the sport,
into the sport
materialize,
irrespective
of how strict
and how
restrictive
the
rules and
regulations
and the
oversight
might appear
to be, I
will stop
following the
NBA and
watching its
games, and
will be
calling on
other fans to
do the same.
History and
the sporting
record shows
that, when
huge financial
and other
outside
transactions
start
influencing a
sport, the
cleanliness,
the openness
and the
sportsmanship
are adversely
affected with
mathematical
accuracy.
Moreover,
apart from
financial
gains and
other personal
benefits for
the gamblers,
the NBA owners
and the
bureaucratic
elites and
other leaches
surrounding
the game,
there will be
no other
positive
outcomes.
TOM, if asked
for input, VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE legalizing
back room
interests at
the expense of
transparency
and the
quality
of the Game
and send a
clear message
to Silver that
clouding
the
Game with
shady
practices for
personal
profit and
claims of
increased
revenues
through
unworthy and
questionable
practices
are
UNACCEPTABLE.
A huge embrace
to Rochelle
Riley! TOM,
BRING THE
PISTONS
BACK TO
DETROIT where
they belong!!
Either the
Riverside of
our Greatest
City or the
area around
the other
sports venues
would
be an
excellent
choice and it
is better to
plan now that
the property
values are
still
relatively
affordable,
before the
revitalization
and
resurrection
of our
Greatest City
makes the
project's cost
rather
prohibitive.
It is a
different
thing to
disagree with
the adoption
of a specific
rule or
regulation and
a different
thing to
proclaim the
absurd
statement that
there is no
racism in
football.
Football is a
reflection of
society and,
in many
countries, the
worst aspects
of society are
accentuated in
football, and,
as a
consequence,
racism and
sexism and
discrimination
are widespread
in football.
Perhaps, it
would be
unreasonable
from a
high-up, that
only
participates
as ``The One",
to be asked to
discern such
``lower"
characteristics
and features
of the game as
it exists
today...
The truth is
that nobody is
more culpable
for the
continuous
discussions
about the
future of Iker
Casillas than
Iker himself.
For some
reason, this
excellent
keeper failed
to realize
that time
had come and
has long
overstayed his
prime, as
was obvious
in his, not
only
disappointing,
but rather
tragic
performances
in Brasil. He
is not the
only
wold-class
keeper that
failed to
realize his
limitations,
nor is he a
unique example
among
professionals,
sportsmen or
otherwise.
But, to avoid
pointless
discussions
and, given the
fact that he
is financially
secure and
robust, he
should retire
before his
playing
condition
becomes
a ridicule and
he should
clarify his
plans on
whether he
intends
to stay
involved in
the game in
some other
capacity or to
change
a life course
altogether.
In FIFA
officials are
competing to
get elected to
the top spot
not to improve
the ethical
standards and
the quality of
the
game, but,
rather, to
jostle and
fight, like
teenagers, for
the
most expensive
gifts, the
most
profitable
grafts and the
most
luxurious
watches.
When are the
National
Associations
going
to realize, at
last, that
they have to
sever any and
all ties with
this needless,
despicable
oligarchy and
to start
getting
together
and organizing
international
events on
their own, by
targeted
cooperation
and
special-purpose
and
time-constrained
appointments?
The Premier
League has to
realize that its financial power to
negotiate
ultra-lucrative
TV and other
deals derives
from the
fans that,
at any moment,
if they get
pissed off
enough, have
the power to
bankrupt the
League by
boycotting its
games.
Therefore, I
would highly
recommend that
they stop
antagonizing
the fans by
adding their
voices to the
already
unacceptably
high
restrictions
and attempts
to control the
use of the
internet by
governments
and other
corporate
interests.
Your product
is worthless
without the
consumers.
It turns out,
instead of
Marco
Tardelli,
another ex
Juventino,
Claudio
Ranieri, was
hired at the
helm
of the Greek
National Side.
Good Luck!
I really wish
Juve had gone
with Kappa,
Lotto,
Fila
Italia or
Diadora
rather than
being pliable
and amenable
to being
bought and
sold by
Adidas,
Nike
or Puma...
In sports
vesting, like
in all else,
pluralism is
healthy and
desirable,
oligopolies a
sign of
domination and
corruption.
A World
Champion
should be a
World Champion
on
and off the
pitch. It does
no honor to
the Mannschaft
to have in its
ranks a player
who, while in
celebratory
mood, showed
utter
disrespect to
a member of
the press.
Imagine if he
had been on
the losing
side...
In
our United States, we enjoyed coverage of the
2014 World Cup from the Stadia in Brasil in large
part due to the casting of ESPN and its various
platforms. The Greatest Sports Channel in the
country should carry the Greatest Championship
on the planet; ESPN, get back
the exclusive U.S.
rights for Serie
A!
Moreover, in the effort to make
the sport as popular in our U.S. as it is elsewhere,
the Greatest Sports Channel in the country ought
to do the best it can: Show
the best Serie A game
of each weekend in prime time, at least on ESPN2!
Vamos a Brasil!!!
Unfortunately, the
Great Di Stéfano is with us no more...
in.gr
has reported that the Great Alfredo
Di Stéfano
has been taken to hospital in Madrid and is being
in intensive care in critical condition.
Η μαλ**ία στο Ελληνικό ποδόσφαιρο δίνει και παίρνει...
Ο Santos δούλεψε με μεράκι και πάθος για 4 χρόνια και
πήγε την εθνική στη Βραζιλία, όπως όλοι θέλαμε, και
στα παιχνίδια της μπορεί να μην απέδωσε όπως ελπίζαμε,
αλλά ούτε όμως απογοήτευσε παντελώς, όπως ίσως κάποιοι
φοβόμαστε (αλλά δεν πήραμε σκύλο)... Και πήγαν τώρα να
δημιουργήσουν θέμα με τον άνθρωπο για το αν ήρθε ή αν
έφυγε μισή ώρα νωρίτερα απ' ότι έπρεπε για να επιστρέψει
ο Χριστιανός στο σπίτι του... Τί να πει κανείς... Όργια...
Uruguay's
President is simply not right on this issue. We are
not debating on whether to give someone a second chance,
nor on whether the infringement was harsh enough or not
as to warrant a third chance. Here, we should not be debating
about granting someone, who is clearly incorrigible, a fourth
chance and counting for the same unbecoming and dis-
respectful behavior. Repeated offenses, with no sign of any
kind of understanding of culpability or of remorse, should
be punished with a ban for life; not a
four-month slap on
the wrist...
By the way, what he
said about the bosses was absolutely
right, but for other reasons, unrelated to Suarez'
penalty.
The
sweetheart lost his balance and fell, and due to his long
acquired habits did not try to restabilize himself by tending
his hands on his opponents body, but rather by extending his
jaws and teeth into his opponents shoulder... Suárez take
responsibility for your actions, go **** yourself and leave
us all alone to enjoy the game played by, with and for people
willing to show respect and sportsmanship, not by
perverts...
Honestly, whoever
thinks that, after coming back from his
ban, Suárez is not going to bite another opponent for the
fourth time and counting, they are deluding themselves.
And the question is whether FIFA has the guts to take the
absolute ethical and legal responsibility for somebody's
injured shoulder or, perhaps the next time around, cut
finger or amputated ear, when this rabid beast bites again...
Tom
Gores supports Commissioner Adam Silver in loudly,
decisively and unequivocally condemning racism and all
other forms of discrimination in the NBA family and,
needless to say, the City of Detroit, our entire State and
all Piston's fans stand united as one, fully and accurately
represented by our own team's owner's statement.
ONLY WAY TO GO, TOM!
As a side remark, imagine how different football would
have been in Europe as regards racism and violence, had
the idling, aging and despicable FIFA and UEFA
administrators taken similarly decisive and unequivocal
measures against owners and high-ups when teams and
others around them engaged in harassment of people on
discriminatory grounds. WHAT A PITY they
are not,
it seems based on evidence, as determined and proactive
as the NBA Commissioner.
It has been reported that the Great
Marco Tardelli is going
to take over Fernando
Santos' position at the helm of the
Greek
National Side. I am attaching a short video to recall
greatness and celebrate his appointment on the squad.
The Great Eusebio is with us no more...
Detroit Pistons 2013
develops into a remarkable season.
Joe Dumars, after several mediocre attempts at putting together
a roster that would provide real Piston power, has, at last,
made
it to assemble a formidable team.
If, by divine inspiration, he
leaves this team alone in terms of buying, selling, transferring
etc.
and in terms of coaching, Coach Cheeks and the kids are going
to bring back to Detroit a couple of fresh Championships in the
next few years: Just savor the quality of a guard line with
Chauncey and Brandon and Rodney and a forward line with
Kyle and Josh and an exquisite center with Andre and Greg,
without even intending to underplay the role of the remaining
eight kids by paying tribute to the ones that come first to
mind.
Vamos a Brasil!!!
Via București to Destination
Brasil!
A mundial without a**holes will be a mundial much more
worth watching. A**holes of the sport go home!
Congratulations,
Joachim! We are expecting much more
of the superb Champion spirit, and many more great
performances from the panzers in the coming years.
The truth is that Messi
is not an individual anymore, but has
become a corporation. And as such, he has become as greedy
as any other corporation. The main issue at stake, as
far as
his finances and his behavior are concerned, is not whether
he has acted according to the letter of the law; it is
whether,
cognizant of his own enormous fortune and the fact that he
is prospering in a country where the majority, perhaps, of
the youth have a hard time earning the bare necessities, he
has the courage and the audacity to be more generous and
offer something more than merely required by law by, for
example, not exploiting all the loopholes and the foreign
tax havens, even when those are permitted by law...
Πολύ όμορφος νέος
λογότυπος για τον Δικέφαλο του Βορρά...
It is sad to have to watch one's favorite star not know when
to
stop and to be exploited towards the end of his career
Beckham
style...
The last friendlies before the 2012
Euro in Poland
and Ukraine are here!!! Tune in and
stay tuned... only 100 days to go for the two most revered European
Champions!
