Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania
By: Isaiah |
215 Comments
This is a post about my recent trip to Tanzania. Enjoy.
The wind picks up slightly, pushing a thin breeze through the truck. I lift my head a little, so that I can see the roof, so that my neck and my chin get some of the new air. Sweat is beading just above my collar, which is shoved against my neck to protect me from the sun. This is how Africa feels when you watch the Discovery Channel, the heat waves simmering on the open plains as the silhouettes of animals pass across the unfocused background. There are a few stray clouds in the sky, but they provide no shade; the only protection from the sun is our roof, which is popped up to allow us to stand.
When I stand up, I can see out across the great “endless plain” that is the Serengeti, a kopje sitting in the distance the only source of shade visible. The rest is grassland, khaki-colored against a baby blue sky that stretches to unimaginable distances before finally meeting the earth. There is the unmistakable feeling that I can see the earth curving, even as I know that’s not possible. The grass here is too short to sway much in the breeze – there is no water here, nothing to sustain life, to keep the heat down, to protect animals from the sun. But there is also no cover for predators, so the gazelles I’m looking at, some laying down, others gently grazing, are safe for a few minutes. I send my eyes over the landscape quickly, trying not to squint against the sun; relax, I tell myself, your eyes will see recognize anything different.
In the distance, a dark shape appears in the grass, it’s far, but I can see it. It’s the right size, it has to be, yes, it’s a predator that the gazelles haven’t seen. I grabbed my binoculars from around my neck and bring them to my eyes. I scan quickly as I focus, looking for the same shape, looking for my cheetah that I know is out there. I see it then, I spin the focus, heart surging, bringing a termite mound into sharp relief.
“Dammit,” I say quietly.
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Category: Team News
Hey, whoa, real footy, a.k.a. Confederations Cup gets decided today
By: Kevin | 512 Comments
So, a funny thing happened on the way to the Spain Invitational. La Furia Roja lost to a scrappy United States side, courtesy of a most excellent assist from one Sergio Ramos, and some matador defense.
Which means they’re playing for third place. Some say they dumped the match to keep from having to lug around this ugly-ass trophy. Hmmm.
And then we have the final, that same scrappy United States side, vs Brazil who, just when they were looking lively and on the verge of jogaing some bonito, uglied about against South Africa until getting bailed out by a Dani Alves free kick (that didn’t look like it deflected off anything, says my rippin’ good high-def ESPN feed).
What will happen? Most of the free world predicted a poleaxing by Spain, and the 2-0 scoreline was rather surprising, for a side that had, frankly, stank out the tournament. Yet here they are in the final, a time during which anything can happen.
So go ahead and comment, why don’t ya?
We got us some more Yaya
By: Kevin | 260 Comments
Pond Scum Seluk, agent of our man crush object, says that a deal has been done, and The Yaya will zoom down from Planet Man to sign the deal, probably on Friday.
Whether it is simply a big, fat raise or a raise and and extension, depends on where you look. EMD says raise. Sport says raise and one-year extension, to 2012.
As far as money, I can’t find dollar amounts yet, but Sport says his dosh will almost double.
Spain vs USA comments thread, a.k.a. “No booze, no whores. What will happen?”
By: Kevin | 138 Comments
So fresh off of what many consider to be their best performance ever, or at least under that dimwitted gimlet named Bradley, Team USA is facing off against the side whose name is already engraved on the Confederations Cup trophy, Spain.
But since Spain was expecting to make it through to their final, this being their invitational tournament and all, they didn’t celebrate with liquor and wenches.
Not that anybody is saying Egypt did. No, no. The journos are backtracking on that one.
Meanwhile, we have the first match of the semifinals, and it’s either going to be a humdinger, or a shellacking. I predict a shellacking, unless the US side stacks up two lines of five, joins hands in the box and sings “We shall neeeever yield!”
But even then Torres would probably get in behind them and score 42 goals.
Or not.
Anyhow, comment away.
Category: Team NewsBarca’s defense is actually excellent, a.k.a. “What we all know, far more eloquently stated.”
By: Kevin | 24 Comments
Hey, who knew that these two were a pair of our essential defenders? Except for us, that is.
Aside from the pieces that Sid Lowe does, this has been one of the most excellent pieces of footy writing I have come across in quite a while. It appeared on the site of The Guardian a couple of weeks ago, and of all the articles I have read that try to sum up what happened this season, this one does it best of all.
Our Barca hearts swell with pride (thanks, Tajh!)
By: Kevin | 7 Comments
There isn’t a whole lot to say about this one, except enjoy!
Kevin’s Quote of the Day (with apologies to Pep)
By: Kevin | 48 Comments
I don’t often do this, but you so rarely run across a quote from a player that absolutely cracks you up. Deportivo left back and Barca target Filipe, talking to El Mundo Deportivo, said of the opportunity to join the Blaugrana ranks:
I’ve played against them and I know what it’s like to run after the ball without getting near it.
Category: Team NewsL’Affaire Eto’o (the latest), a.k.a. “Please baby, please, baby baby baby please!”
By: Kevin | 112 Comments
What does this man want? Money? Fame? A ticket to Milan? To spit in the face of the club that has brought him so much fame and glory? To be understood and lavished with wads of cash? Love?
Good question.
This guy is news, because he is the key to so many things. If he stays, we have to figure out new attacking options. If he goes, we have to figure out what striker to buy. In the “keep or sell” world, reactions are still strongly in favor of keeping him. And we can add a new name to the “keep” side of the ledger, sort of:
Just over a month away, a.k.a. “That time already?”
By: Kevin | 7 Comments
Ahhh! Remember those glorious scenes. Pre-season begins for our lads on July 24, as they will be spanning the globe to bring the joys of midfield control to the masses. Here’s the schedule, so that you can plan your trips:
July 24, pre-season training tourney against Tottenham (at Wembley Stadium)
July 26, more of the same against Al-Ahly (also at Wembley)
Aug. 1, we go to America to play the Los Angeles Galaxy (bet Beckham’s home for that one, to take place in the Rose Bowl)
Brazil V Italy comments post, a.k.a. “The mother of them all….not, because Spain isn’t playing.”
By: Kevin | 75 Comments
Hey, this is a big match or something, right? Good vs evil, football vs defensive football, turncoat Americans vs those Samba Boys, all kinds of good stuff. I still contend that these two sides are battling to see who gets poleaxed by La Furia Roja, but that’s just me.
Reality is we have two programs in semi-crisis, Italy because it’s turning over new faces and new tactics. Actually, roiling might be a better term after the loss to Egypt. And Dunga has the Beauty Boys playing like stevedores, except when they play the U.S., a sure tonic for most international footy programs.
So comment away right here, but please, please don’t forget the excellent, and I do mean excellent discussion going on just below this post. We’re going to solve Barca’s bus-breaking problems, then figure out how to grow hair, solve the world’s waste problems and colonize Mars.
Because that’s how we roll.
Category: Team News
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