11/21/24
June 21, 2010
Is there a Nike Commercial Curse?: Every major soccer player featured on Nike's terrific Write the Future ad is having a terrible World Cup. Except for Ronaldinho. Who didn't even make the squad. "So far, not one of its stars has played anything like the beautiful game," writes the son of New York Times soccer blogger Jeff Z. Klein.
I just read this then tuned in to the dying embers of Portugal vs North Korea just in time to see Ronaldo score.
posted by JJ at 09:20 AM on June 21, 2010
I'm blaming Jabulani.
posted by Spitztengle at 10:12 AM on June 21, 2010
Drogba has a broken arm...
Cannavaro isn't doing that bad, his olympic diving team is. I KNEW that some greasy Italian was going to dive as SOON as NZ scored...I KNEW IT!!
Rooney is either out of shape, hates the coach, hasn't had an opportunity to dive in the box or all 3...
Ronaldinho isn't in the squad?!?
Ronaldo has only played one game and had the ONLY chance Portugal had to score...
posted by StarFucker at 10:24 AM on June 21, 2010
And i hate that ball, too... I think it definitely has something to do with the terrible first round of games, anyway...hope it doesn't continue.
Why can't they just use a regular ol' leather ball?!
posted by StarFucker at 10:26 AM on June 21, 2010
Regarding Rooney, I agree with Alan Hansen on the BBC. He's one of three things:
1) Injured, in which case, rest him against Slovenia for as much fo the game as you can and hope he recovers in time for the first knock-out game,
2) Unhappy, in which case, cheer him up. Let him use his Blackberry, or Tweet, or ship out his wife and kid, or tuck him in at night and read him a story - whatever it takes to get him happy again, or
3) He's burnt out from a long season, in which case, you're stuffed, because there's no way to fix that with anything other than a long rest.
posted by JJ at 11:56 AM on June 21, 2010
Ronaldo looked FANTASTIC today against an overmatched North Korean team.
The first half was a bore, but the second half Portugal kept the pressure on, and while Ronaldo only scored one time himself he made play after play after play to set up his teammates and run up the score. If there were more seven goal games like this Americans might yet come around to appreciating the sport!
So much for the article being accurate, but that's what happens when you write something like that when the tourney is still in the first round.
posted by MW12 at 12:37 PM on June 21, 2010
Landon had that atom blast from 5 yards goal on Friday and he and Howard played decently against England--they're in the ad too.
posted by billsaysthis at 06:08 PM on June 21, 2010
But Ronaldo sure woke up today.
Villa was on the road to great today but the missed PK messed him up the remaining minutes.
posted by billsaysthis at 06:08 PM on June 21, 2010
Donovan and Howard are in it, but they don't get the succeed/fail scenarios of the main athletes.
Ronaldo's circus goal today went a long way towards disputing talk of a curse.
If there were more seven goal games like this Americans might yet come around to appreciating the sport!
I think I have to disagree with you there. I'd rather see a match that's contested all the way to the end than a massive rout.
posted by rcade at 06:18 PM on June 21, 2010
I think I have to disagree with you there. I'd rather see a match that's contested all the way to the end than a massive rout.
First, I said "seven goal games" but I didn't say they had to be made by the same team.
Second, I think it's safe to categorize you as "not the average sports fan."
I may be wrong by my personal opinion is people in the States don't appreciate soccer because they want more scoring. They also want SportsCenter highlights and Please God fewer tie games. But again, that's just my opinion.
posted by MW12 at 06:51 PM on June 21, 2010
they want more scoring.
Indeed. This is why cricket is the #1 sport in America.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 07:15 PM on June 21, 2010
And handball, lacrosse, etc.
posted by yerfatma at 07:35 PM on June 21, 2010
Second, I think it's safe to categorize you as "not the average sports fan."
I'm a late convert to soccer. I watched the 2008 World Cup because so many people on SportsFilter were into it, but I didn't know much about the sport until I started following the Premiership 2-3 years ago. I'm only just starting to know enough to be a snob.
posted by rcade at 08:28 PM on June 21, 2010
I watched the 2008 World Cup
Damn you rich people with your access to hidden sports events. Some day I too will have an invisible cell phone.
posted by yerfatma at 09:39 PM on June 21, 2010
You missed that one? England won.
posted by rcade at 09:45 PM on June 21, 2010
They also want SportsCenter highlights
"Our number nine play, we go to soccer, and POW! with the head..." [shows nondescript header]
The Bristol jocks want five-second highlights, and they're shit at picking them. The people over in the Deportes studio don't seem to have that problem.
posted by etagloh at 10:29 PM on June 21, 2010
You missed that one? England won.
Now we know you're making it up.
I think the apparent US reaction to the disallowed goal against Slovenia has shown that what the average US sportsfan wants from soccer is something to feel aggrieved about. I don't know that I speak for the rest of the world, but most of the people I've ever talked about it with want the USA to be a core part of the global soccer scene, and not just banging on the door. The sport as a whole would be richer for having a national team in it that was driven by that largely unshakable self-belief.
posted by JJ at 08:00 AM on June 22, 2010
I think the apparent US reaction to the disallowed goal against Slovenia has shown that what the average US sportsfan wants from soccer is something to feel aggrieved about.
This is disappointing, but you are right. There's nothing like an injustice (real or perceived) to get people up in arms. That's certainly evident around here; just look back at the imperfect game or the discussions of reffing in the NBA playoffs. I get it. I understand the reaction, but I wish it wasn't so pervasive.
I don't know how many people (many of whom are not soccer fans but know that I am), when discussing the match last Friday, the first thing they said was, "So how about that disallowed goal?" I of course had to acknowledge it, but was more interested in talking about the significant comeback that we had made, the keen substitutions made in the second half, Donovan's outstanding goal, and the fact that even though we have done ok with it we need to stop playing from behind (and that we need to find some answers on defense). Again, I understand the outrage, but if that is the only way you can get interested (and if that has to dominate the coverage), then there is still a lot of work to do.
posted by bender at 08:58 AM on June 22, 2010
One thing that I noted about Donovan's goal is that if the Slovenian goalie hadn't moved out of the way he might have actually saved it. Granted it would've hit him straight in the face and hurt like hell, but this is the World Cup.
I suppose it is hard to overcome instincts.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 10:04 AM on June 22, 2010
most of the people I've ever talked about it with want the USA to be a core part of the global soccer scene, and not just banging on the door.
I want the U.S. to join the league of soccer nations whose fans expect a World Cup victory and are utterly devastated beyond all consolation when it doesn't happen.
posted by rcade at 11:04 AM on June 22, 2010
The mood in the US right now is extremely anti-authority, which I think is substantially contributing to the no-goal reaction. Lengthy and politically-oriented analysis behind my statement (warning: no sports content)
+1 for rcade's expectations desire.
posted by billsaysthis at 04:34 PM on June 22, 2010
One thing that I noted about Donovan's goal is that if the Slovenian goalie hadn't moved out of the way he might have actually saved it. Granted it would've hit him straight in the face and hurt like hell, but this is the World Cup.
As a keeper, I've been in that situation. You desperately want to stay in the line of fire, but your instincts simply override your reason. The only way a keeper would be able to stand still and block the shot is if they had NEVER been hit in the face by a soccer ball before, so they might hold out for a split second longer.
I equate it to being hit by a paintball at point-blank range. If you've never been hit, you'll be very likely to charge around the war zone without worry. Once you've been tagged (especially on bare skin), your immediate thought is "DO NOT LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN!".
posted by grum@work at 05:30 PM on June 22, 2010
Damnit, I mean to ask something like this last night. Occurred to me when I heard some pundits talking about how poorly Cannavaro was playing.