as it turns out fans can’t quite get away with saying anything they please while trying to ‘cheer’ on their idols. england just released news that arrests have been made in relation with discriminatory (racists) chants made in a soccer stadium. this is an older problem, reports of these sort of racist remarks have come out of numerous european countries (including italy, spain and england). it’s not the first time and it happens at international level not just national…and it’s definitely not the last. it’s great to see police is finally stepping in and trying to punish those who look to tarnish sports with racist remarks.
Archive of posts tagged sport
another day, another match…
final group match day in this year’s champions league; which brought with it a visit to londra and a meeting with mighty chelsea for romania’s 2008 champions. this time however i was at home and tsn decided to televise the game live. what a treat! yes, i did watch it (how could i not). chelsea did impose themselves with a score of 2 – 1; however, the romanian outsiders can still keep their heads high, after all from two meetings with mighty chelsea they managed to grab 1 point. it’s a start, something to built upon…but only time will tell.
during it though, i found myself engulfed in a conversation about hockey and level of professionalism found in north america compared with romania. it’s not as this is a surprise, but it does hold some value. cfr started their first run in europe’s finest competition with a thrilling win in roma on matchday 1; followed by a draw in cluj on matchday 2. two games down, 4 points out of a total of 6. romania was living and hoping, and for once it wasn’t due to steaua (another rant for another time). come to think of it, one of the promotional shows put on for manufacturers in analysis brought an unexpected conversation. while being talked to by a salesman i mention romania. (keep in mind, this was the day after cfr drew chelsea in cluj) at which point he starts talking about the soccer game the day before. and how surprised he was that not only did cfr beat roma a couple of weeks earlier, but they drew chelsea. at least someone outside of romania was aware of this!
anyhow, cfr did have a great start to the competition and left an impression. teams will likely not take them lightly next time around. but what happened? two meetings with bordeaux and a chilling visit from roma and cfr was shown the door. a lack of professionalism and experience took its toll on the young team from ardeal. nothing was to prepare them for the pressure that was to follow after the chelsea draw. their noses were held high (how typical); their comments were unjustified and there was no lack of foolishness. their approach to the next few games is probably the biggest reason as to why they did not manage to continue their great start. certainly they were a surprise at first, but their lack of professionalism on how to approach a game and not overestimate their worth quickly brought them down to earth. a competition that taught them a few things about how to behave on and off the field. being able to deliver when the pressure is on you is probably what defines a professional.
in today’s game they had some great spells, nice passing and caused some worries for the chelsea defense. they also had moments of weakness, not due to talent but rather their weak mentally. they were caught watching chelsea’s stars and instead of playing the game were more or less mesmerized by those stars. they had the chance to pull a great result, but their mistakes ended up in net. without taking anything away from cfr’s players, they should have, could have and must have done more. the pressure was on them, they could not deliver. a young talented team, with the hopes of many on their shoulders. we’ll have to wait and see what next year brings. however, the lessons learned this year should pay dividends. until then, they do deserve to keep their heads high as they did leave a good impression for an outsider.
once a pest…
it’s unbelievable…at least that is my first reaction to reading the decision of bettman (who’s bettman…see wikipedia link, i think they’re a bit more diplomatic that i can ever be) in regards to comments made by a hockey pest in a league of his own. yes, i’m referring to avery. the same on-ice pest that even teammates have a hard time liking. this guy plays his role almost to perfection. don’t get me wrong, i don’t always agree with his tactics…but as far as professional sports go we know that yapping, swearing and instigating things with words are all part of the game…actually they are encouraged by coaches. why? well get the other guys off their game.
well super-pest himself found himself in hot water yet again…however this time it’s about a comment made off the ice which got him susspended indefinetly. the comment was essentially calling his ex-girlfriend ‘sloppy seconds’, while the canadian actress is currently dating the calgary flames poster boy, dion phaneuf. while i agree that professional players should behave with professionalism (…shocking) and should show at least some decency in their comments…the outcome of this is sad. getting suspended for trying to instigate and get an opposite player off his game, and suspended indefinitely? c’mon, isn’t this taking it too far? i’m willing to bed that phaneuf has heard worse on the ice while plastering the opposition into the boards. i’m sure dany heatly has heard worse once he returned on the ice after his driving killing his best friend and teamate some years ago. i’m certain the mothers, sisters, wifes, girlfriends, etc…are used to instigate and intimiate the opposition. yes, arguably that happens on the ice and not in front of the cameras. but, shouldn’t you want a bit of controversy to help the game? make it more instersting.
that shouldn’t get carried away, afterall we all remember the amazing way world cup 2006 ended. nobody cares who won…everyone talks about how well zidane can throw his head around. by all means that was an amazing hit. however, things should definitely not be allowed to transpire to that. however, the nhl has always looked favorably onto fights…they want the hits…they raise bulls to hit, fight and throw their weight around. they raise them to instigate and put on a show. yet, when one of the biggest soap-opera actors of the nhl makes such a statment the nhl (bettman) decides to suspend him? c’mon, get real, it’s a comment. while i may agree that the pest should not play against calgary because that may lead to quite a large brawl…but other than that, seriously? i’m sure phaneuf will get his shot at avery at some point, and the nhl and the two teams involve should try to limit the ‘revenge’ factor of phaneuf’s answer, but suspending avery indefinitely?
it’s a comment, funny one i might add, but the only message send by bettman with his latest round of stupidity is that they will try to control what the players say. they will try to control them and make them appear as innocent puppies in public. have you ever heard the comments after a hockey game? they sounds as if they were taped and replayed. regardless of the team or the player. they always go something like “we played well, don’t take credit away from them, our goalie was awesome, i’m just happy to get a chance to play with such great players”. once in a while, one dares be different (maybe a bit to acidic) and he gets punished. at least give the players the opportunity to show they can think on their own…and stop sounding like broken radio players when they give an interview.
[edit december 6th] – the pest ended up with a six game suspension. something that was supposed to set a strict precedent for the future. this is the first time such a lengthy suspension was handed for something that occurred off the ice. good job to the nhl and it’s commissioner…keep this up and keep up the censoring of your innocent puppies…
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