In onze ode aan de omvangrijke Italiaanse waterpolovedette Elisa Casanova noemden we en passant drie gezette voetballers. We concludeerden ook dat dikke voetballers dunner gezaaid zijn dan dikke waterpolodames. Toen we echter vandaag Ronaldinho's dikke billen voorbij zagen hobbelen, wisten we dat we fout zaten. Hennie Meijer is in goed gezelschap.

Tegelijkertijd vroegen wij ons dit af: hoe kan een profvoetballer die pak 'm beet 8 keer anderhalf uur per week op het veld staat in Godesnaam overgewicht ontwikkelen? Zou Rafael van der Vaart in zijn Ajax-tijd zijn maandsalaris hebben stukgeslagen op de glazen muur van de FEBO? Is de vriendin van Ronaldo misschien een feeder? En zou Patrick Kluivert een pathologische behoefte hebben aan oliebollen, ook in de zomer?

Natuurlijk, van alcohol word je dik (zie Kluivert / Ronaldinho). Maar de gemiddelde amateur-eerste elftaller houdt toch ook wel van een pilsie, en die loopt gedurende het seizoen gewoon de kilootjes ervan af. Neen, er moet meer aan de hand zijn. Een heuse eetstoornis die profvoetballers vanzelf ontwikkelen als ze te succesvol zijn ofzo. Vanwege een speciaal stofje dat vrij komt bij een combinatie van grote inspanning, groot succes en grote media aandacht. Het syndroom van De Volgevreten Vedette?

Dopo Nereida Gallardo, tocca a un'altra fidanzata di Cristiano Ronaldo concedersi senza veli agli obiettivi di Interviù. Letizia Filippi, la nuova fiamma tutta italiana dell'asso portoghese si è messa a nudo per la rivista spagnola. In tutti i sensi.

La modella, classe 1978 di Foligno, ha anche confidato i retroscena dell'amore con Cristiano assicurando: "Ha fatto di tutto per avere il mio numero di cellulare".

Il giocatore del Manchester e Letizia si sono conosciuti a Capri: "Eravamo in un ristorante e mi guardava di continuo. Poi abbiamo parlato a lungo, mi riempiva di complimenti. Non conoscevo le sue intenzioni, non sapevo nulla di lui. Insisteva per avere il mio numero, ma io non cedevo. Alla fine l'ha avuto da un'amica".

Il resto della storia è cosa nota, come è diventa la Filippi ormai protagonista di numerose copertine, pronta a  mostrare il corpo statuario e le sue curve da urlo. L'amore di Ronaldo non c'è che dire: paga.

20 agosto 2008

19.08.2008 17:50

29. Yaz Olimpiyatları yarı finalinde dünya futbolunun iki devi Arjantin ve Brezilya'yı karşı karşıya getiren mücadeleden, Arjantin 3-0'lık galibiyetle ayrıldı. Pekin'de oynanan yarı final mücadelesinde Tangoculara galibiyeti getiren goller 52 ve 58. dakikalarda Aguero ile 76. dakikada kaptan Riquelme'nin penaltı vuruşundan geldi.

Brezilya'da 81. dakikada Rafinha ve 84. dakikada Thiago Neves kırmızı kart görerek takımlarını 9 kişi bıraktılar.

Bu mağlubiyet ile Brezilya bir türlü ulaşamadığı Olimpiyatlar'da altın madalya hedefinden yine uzak kaldı. Arjantin ise 2004'te de kazandığı altın madalyaya bir kez daha çok yaklaştı.

FİNALİN ADI: ARJANTİN - NİJERYA...
Arjantin'in baştan sona üstün götürdüğü mücadelede Messi ve Aguero oynadıkları futbolla yıldızlaştı. Arjantin, 24 Ağustos Pazar günü Ulusal Stadyum'da Olimpiyat finalinde, yarı finalde Belçika'yı mağlup eden Nijerya ile altın madalya için kozlarını paylaşacak. Brezilya ise bronz madalya için Belçika ile 23 Ağustos Cumartesi günü karşı karşıya gelecek.

Maçtan Resimler - Match in Pictures

Before Manchester United played Middlesborough the Sky Sports team were on hand to watch Christiano Ronaldo warm up for his skills and for his free-kicks.

When the whistle blows he will be ready - this is what coaches of young soccer teams must do. Don't waste the time before kick offs with long speeches and boring jogging - get your players doing what you want them to be doing in matches.

Visit Better Soccer Coaching for some good warm up tips.

Watch Ronaldo warm up:

Take a quick walk down Exeter high street on any given afternoon and I’m sure you’d encounter a fair few people showing off their “Adebayor 25” or “Ronaldo 7” shirts in tribute to their unhappy idols.

Why not stop and ask the Man United ‘fans’ wandering through the City centre whether they make the 500-mile round trip to the ‘Theatre Of Dreams’ every fortnight? Or enquire whether they’ve even been to Manchester before? And don’t hold your breath. These are the long-distance lovers to whom the Theatre Of Dreams is just that.

Whether Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool or any other glamorous side, there are those certain type of supporters who have unfortunately grown up with Sky Sports, Soccer Saturday and their side on the box more often than the Only Fools and Horses Christmas Specials! You know the sort of fan, whose idea of driving their team on involves subscribing to the TV channel and subsiqeuntly helping to fund Frank Lampard’s £135,000 a week paycheque.

These type of fans love telling everyone and anyone just how successful “we” are and revelling in the glory whilst expecting congratulations for their long distance lover’s success. Is it really any wonder that armchair supporters get “looked down on and mocked” and give the other fans of their club a bad name? When these people expect their fellow football fans recognition for their team’s performance.  Their team who plays its home games 250 miles away at a stadium they’ve never seen outside their living room, a stadium filled with thousands of fans experiencing a side of fandom they have never encountered.

Sky make it far too easy for these fans to follow their club from their armchair. Why would they want to get soaking wet and out of pocket to go along to watch their local team when they can watch every game their side plays on Football First?

As I’m sure you do, I know many fans like these, supporters who’s match day viewing is not at Southend, Southport or Sunderland but Soccer Saturday and 6-0-6. Lower league clubs throughout Britain are dying (some literally) for the support of these long-distance lovers from Exeter who spend their Saturday afternoons in front of Jeff Stelling. They are missing out on a lot of the unique and awesome experiences of being a football fan. But in many cases these fans don’t admit that their fandom is any different to those of those fans who travel up and down England and Europe week after week. They class themselves as equals to the die-hards who spend their weekends in the service stations of Britain following their club.

Of course any fan that sees their team in action can tell you nothing rivals the match going experience. That watching the match on television is undoubtedly a watered-down version of the real thing.  From the away games to the atmosphere, attending the football match itself is meant to be the crucial part of being a fan. A notion being bypassed by thousands of supporters every week.

Whether you’re one of the Norwegian Grecian’s who flew over for Saturday’s Exeter match, or a fan that walked round the corner to the ground, you all had that shared experience. You were feeling the atmosphere, the drama and the joy of Exeter’s return to the league whilst the armchair fans waited for Football First. Aren’t these long distance lovers jealous that we can experience our local team’s highs and lows every week in the flesh?

As an Exeter City fan I could take a liking to a Premiership side to liven up Match Of The Day. I could play as Arsenal on Football Manager long into the night. But at the end of the day I have a football team that give me a sense of belonging, that I’ve created bonds with and who’s history I feel I have played an active role in.

Those electric atmospheres, the demoralising defeats at some Non League outpost, the 6.30am bus to Carlisle. These are the sorts of experiences that define football supporters. I expect all bloggers can post all night about tales of epic journeys, unforgettable last minute celebrations and those wet, windy and miserable nights. Without any of these are you really a supporter at all? Aren’t you just a follower? Or a consumer? Or an interested party?

You wouldn’t start a relationship with someone living 250 miles away with the intention of never visiting would you?! You might boast about to your friends, they might give you regular updates of their lives but it wouldn’t be a real relationship at all would it?

Taken from my blog at The Times Online

Especial mención para la primera imagen, el ritual que hace Lebron James antes de los partidos, la aparición de Gasol y Cristiano Ronaldo.

1. Chelsea: Questions still remain over there strikeforce, however the midfield depth and a rock solid defence should find them at the top of the pile at the end of the season.

2. Manchester United: Ronaldo staying was massive boost for the club. However the old guard isnt getting any younger and questions still remain over certain fringe players. Fletcher, Park Ji Sung and Anderson all have to give more to the cause this season.

3. Liverpool: They have the depth now and have a talented crop of youngsters coming through. The signing of Robbie Keane was a great peice of business however the farcical nature of the transfer of Gareth Barry will haunt them.

4. Tottenham Hotspurs: The most active in the transfer market this summer, this season is huge for them. If Modric and Dos Santos settle then they can pose a massive threat up front. Bentley and co add depth which they once never had.

5. Arsenal: Losing Hleb and Flamini has turned out to be a bigger problem than once thought. With only one big name signing and a team lacking in experience there might be problems ahead. However if they can remain consistent throughout the whole season then they could mount a challenge.

6. Portsmouth: Redknapps bunch have got a tremendous amount of spirit and buoyed on from their F.A Cup success should see them do well. They have got a great partnership in Crouch and Defoe which can only mean goals.

7. Man City: It was all change at the City Of Manchester Stadium this summer and with Mark Hughes they have a manager who can bring out the best in men. This can only mean good things for a team who seriously struggled for consistency last term

8. Newcastle United: It's a slow building process at St James and KK has gone some way to shoring up the defence. If Owen and Martins remain fit and everybody plays to there potential then Newcastle could have a season to remember.

9. Aston Villa: Although they have kept much of the team which served them well last season, Villa have a massive lack of depth. An unusual lack of activity in the transfer market has added to the fears that  injuries to key players might dampen spirits at Villa Park.

10. Everton: Much of the same applies for Everton that it does for Villa. Moyes has signed some good talent. However the bizarre sale of Andy Johnson and the relatively young squad might pay to hopes of European football this season.

11. Sunderland: Sunderland have strenghtened in most areas this summer. The Spurs trio bring premiership quality and experience and was a huge coup for Keano. Much will depend on the form of their strikers, who were very hit and miss last season.

12. Blackburn Rovers: Ince has a hard job emulating Hughes and he has lost some of the genuine quality that they had last season, however Santa Cruz is a very exciting player and they still have enough about them to have a good season.

13. West Ham United: Much of the same this season as last season for West Ham. An ageing squad coupled with a lack of midfield strength will make sure that West Ham's season will keep Alan Curbishley on tenterhooks

14. Fulham: After last seasons miracle, Fulham are looking much stronger on paper than last season. Hodgson has been here before and he knows what is needed. Fulhma need a season of consolidation and slow improvement.

15. Middlesbrough: A very average squad is frequenting the Riverside Stadium this season and other than the goals Afonso Alves will hopefully produce, there seems to be little to get excited about.

16: West Brom: They have strenghtened in the areas where they needed and have a very shrewd manager in Tony Mowbray . A lack of premiership class in the striker department might see them struggling against the big boys.

17. Wigan Athletic: It could be a very hard season for Wigan. They ran into some good form at the tail end of the last campaign and that turned out to be there saving grace. Could only be saved by the simple fact there are worse teams in the Premiership this season.

18. Bolton Wanderers: This could be the end of the road for Bolton's love affair with the premiership. They havnt done enough in the close season to improve the areas that they needed. A lot will depend on the squads mentality and resolve.

19. Stoke City: There long ball game was effective last season and there consistency was a key factor in there promotion season. However, against the big boys i think they wont have enough quality to carve out the results.

20. Hull City: It's a fairytale for the Tigers, however i dont think they can withstand the pace of the Premiership and i cant see a fairytale ending.

FA Cup: Tottenham Hotspurs

Carling Cup: Blackburn Rovers

Champions League: Inter Milan

Uefa Cup: A.C Milan

¡A disfrutarlo!

Saludos.
Footbalia.

"Nu exista niciun joc care sa acorde atat de mult interes muzicii noi, precum Fifa. Aceasta ultima versiune de FIFA va duce globalizarea muzicala la un nou nivel", spune Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing de la EA Sports.

Track list-ul complet:

Dogs from V-Gas - 1ne
Chromeo - Bonafied Lovin' (Yuksek Remix)
CSS - Jager Yoga
Curumin Magrela - Pop Show
Cut Copy - Lights And Music
Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley - Something For You (One Loaf Of Bread)
Datarock - True Stories
DJ Bitman - Me Gustan
Duffy - Rockferry
Foals - Olympic Airways
Gonzales - Working Together (Boys Noize Remix)
Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor (Soulwax Remix)
Jakobinarina - I'm A Villain
Junkie XL feat. Electrocute - Mad Pursuit
Jupiter One - Platform Moon
Kasabian - Fast Fuse
Ladytron Runaway England Velocifero
Lykke Li - I'm Good I'm Gone
Macaco - Movin'
MGMT - Kids
My Federation - What Gods Are These
Najwajean - Drive Me
Plastilina Mosh - Let U Know
Radiopilot - Fahrrad
Reverend And The Makers - Open Your Window
Sam Sparro - Black&Gold
Señor Flavio - Lo Mejor Del Mundo
Soprano - Victory
The Airborne - Toxic Event
The Black Kids - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You (The Twelves Remix)
The Bloody - Beetroots Butter
The Fratellis - Tell Me A Lie
The Heavy - That Kind Of Man
The Kissaway Trail - 61
The Kooks - Always Where I Need To Be
The Pinker Tones - The Whistling Song
The Script - The End Where I Begin
The Ting Tings - Keep Your Head
The Veronicas - Untouched
The Whip - Muzzle #1
Tom Jones - Feels Like Music (Junkie XL Remix)
Ungdomskulen - Modern Drummer