games! games! games!
New Territory for Global Game
little boys playing the beautiful game in Cuba
SAN JOSÉ DE LAS LAJAS, Cuba - Ronald Hernandez Vega did not come to see a game played with the hands.
There was baseball Monday morning, one and a half innings to complete a rainout in Cuba’s national league. Hernandez Vega did not care. He sat outside the provincial stadium in languid daylight, wearing the jersey not of Yasiel Puig but of Lionel Messi.
Baseball is the sport of Cuba’s revolution, but soccer is the sport of the arriving world.
“I like soccer better than baseball,” Hernandez Vega, 16, said as he headed to a nearby field for practice. “It’s a strong sport, the movement, the energy.”
Baseball seems perfectly suited to this retro island, where the sporting attitudes, like many of the cars, are from the 1950s. But baseball can be static, as inert as radon. Soccer is nonstop, frenetically creative, its passion building from its penury, the rarity of a goal bringing theatrical release to its players and screaming ecstasy to its announcers.flimsy article but still interesting
Chatter from the sidelines
- Luis Suárez finding it easy with Messi and Neymar he talks about his play with Neymar and Messi, how his football boots hurt the first time he got into them after four months off, the differences between the PL and La Liga
Marca's best XI of the season in La Liga. What say you?- BOOM! Liverpool's Balotelli has contacted Inter to check a possible loan with option to buy, according to tomorrow Gazzetta news here
- Inter continues to pursue Chelsea’s Salah but face competition: the situation January transfer window target, you think?
- "Mourinho: I love my players, something I missed for a while" I see you trolling... But to be fair, the Chelsea players seem to get on, and there seems to be no set hierarchy. I think Mourinho is upset that the players get on too well at turns. I remember him being angry when Droga asked Hazard if he could take a penalty kick, and Hazard wasn't even fussed and told him to go ahead
- Bale vs Neymar, battle of the two stars
both came to La Liga the same time to Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively and these are their fortunes so far. The article is here - San Lorenzo coach: "Ronaldo whined and they didn't even touch him" that's Ronaldo for you though.
- Bale isn't going anywhere seriously, we know this. He's still struggling with Spanish after being there for a year and getting private tuition? SMH.
- Rooney says Manchester United is coming for the title race more
Pictures
All was calm, all was red and white...
Giroud's headbutt, what was he thinking? Earned a three match suspension. My partner wondered if Giroud wanted to spend New Year's not on the field
Starting XI for Rosicky! For the first time in forever, there'll be music, there'll be fun-
With Giroud off the pitch for three matches, might Poldi get a look in? Tune in for First Team Minutes: The Saga Continues
Tottenham hotspur are on a tear. Especially this Kane lad. I see you, Kane!
Ericsson is no slouch himself.
Even the yellow kit isn't that bad. The stripes on its sides make it work
That being said, Leicester Foxes were unlucky. Three attempts at goal, and they were juuust short
Yesterday was Lloris' birthday! He got a bloody nose and his team got a win. Ahhh
Stay at Spurs, Kane. Please
Manchester City played yesterday in sleet and snow
LOL, yeah it was juuuuust like that
Cold, wet, slippery - and that was just the ball
At the moment, Manchester City is a team without a striker, but Silva (class) has stepped up to plug the hole as it were
Milner throws his shirt to the fans at the end of the game. City won 3-1
Season's Greetings!
I won't get into it, but Liverpool sucked. The end. If Burnley were a better side, we'd have been punished.
Brad Jones is out with a thigh injury. For the best though, because Jones is terrible
Migs was filled righteous fury to prove the naysayers wrong
Philip Coutinho. Him, Sterling and Lallana were bright spots but still a dim team. Moving on!
Chelsea on the other hand, were just good. They came prepared to play, knew their scripts
West Ham - they didn't turn up for this match, tbh. It was sad, I expected them to bring it to Chelsea, because they're now in the top four (or flirting with said top four).
I was rooting for you, Carl Jenkinson and co. You have position, or getting near to it, so you need to have swagger
The only exciting moment of the match. Boo
Costa scored
Manchester United. Falcao assisted for two goals. He turns away from the camera, knowing that his job is done
That was a pretty sweet assist there, buddy
van Persie's face is odd to me. Sometimes, it looks like a melted candle
de Gea throws his hands up in triumph. Manchester United have won their last 50 matches on Boxing Day
Crying. Because of the injuries van Gaal's players have linked with
Sir Alex Ferguson turned out for the festivities
Moyes spent his Christmas break from La Liga... at a football game.
Southampton won.
Alderweireld did his job and how!
Bojan won the match for Stoke City (against Everton) on a penalty, and that's about it for the game, tbh. Even the highlights were a snooze
OP: Sorry, my internet is guttering. When it stabilises, I'll try and add to this post.