Missing the party
February 25, 2008
Martin Hughes is a self-confessed football fanatic from London, who enjoys following the fortunes of Arsenal and England (most of the time at least). Martin also has a keen appreciation for both the lighter side of the beautiful game and the human theatre that football often creates.
Steven Gerrard leaves the pitch at Wembley shortly after defeat to Croatia denies England a place at Euro 2008.
Being of an early 1980s vintage, you could say I have been relatively spoilt by England’s consistent qualification for major summer tournaments if not, ordinarily, by their performances upon getting there. In fact, during my lifetime England have failed but twice to reach a World Cup or European Championship finals, Euro ‘84 and the 1994 World Cup. At a mere 12 years old and an easily distracted lad to boot when the latter of those two tournaments kicked off, my overriding and most vivid memory of USA 94 will forever be that infamous missed penalty. Not Roberto Baggio’s interstellar effort in the final for Italy mind you, but the one taken by Diana Ross during the opening ceremony.
As an impressionable and flighty youth, yet to have fully affirmed my passion for the beautiful game, England’s non-participation rendered that tournament a non-event, in terms of the football at least. Besides that woeful, oft-repeated moment for the former Supreme at Soldier Field, my memories extend only to watching curiously as Diego Maradona’s crazed visage gurned at the camera and then later, hearing the murmurs of interest about Brazil’s victory in the final on a school coach in the Lake District, whilst trying hard to avoid the projectile vomit of the sickly lad sitting across the aisle from me. Compare that with the magical enthusiasm for football that Italia 90 generated in me. Despite being widely considered as perhaps the worst international tournament in history (with a pitiful goals per game average of 2.2) I was captivated by the generally dour football on display. Read more
Planet orange convinced! Are you?
February 24, 2008
Phoenix 88 - Celtics 72 (Friday Frebruary 22, 2008)
Shaq is on his way to prove himself -and everyone else. As a media entertainer, Shaq has gone publicly stating he wants a ring with his new team. Can he do it? We’ll have to wait and see. But it is definite he really wants it. As we have seen in the first two games he has played with his new team, we can all agree that energy and motivation is not something that is missing. We have seen Shaq doing things he has done in the past on his way to a championship. Diving for loose balls, a 14-rebound night (and many more to come), and even sitting on the bench and teaching the younger teammates a psychological lesson to stay focused on the game (Amare Stodoumaire) when things got physical with Kevin Garnett. Read more
One of a kind. Guga is retiring.
February 24, 2008
Guga is retiring! This will be Gustavo “Guga” Kuerten’s last year of his professional tennis career. He plans to end it with the most interesting, and difficult tournaments of all - yes, the Roland Garros (plans on playing in the Beijing Olympics too). Oh, and the one that made him famous when he won it for the first time back in 1997, and back to back in 2000-2001.
Think back to 1997. Do you remember that time? I do. I remember the crazy hair, fluorescent clothes, and the wicked backhand! I remember he made it through the qualifying draw, and when he started winning rounds in the main draw, everyone was asking: Who’s this unknown-crazy-looking guy with an unbelievable backhand? And, how is a qualifier beating all the top-seeded players? Well, that’s what most people were wondering. But, it didn’t matter Guga was unknown, that his hair was all over the place, that he was wearing bright-yellow shirts when tennis was and is considered to be “the white sport”. Why didn’t it matter? Because everyone just enjoyed watching him play. Not only did everyone like him for his ability to unleash cross-court backhand winners, or for grinding 40+ rally points - but for his personality off the court. He is a people’s person. It seems that he’s always smiling, happy, even when thing aren’t going his way. Read more
Shaq’s showtime
February 12, 2008
Shaq is the man. Even with less than a month away from turning 36! He has done everything that a big-man could do. Won championships (four), rookie of the year (with the magic), 
14 all-star appearances (two MVPs), three finals MVPs, etc, etc ,etc. Ok, that’s the past. Many are talking about how the Suns gave up “too much” in trading Shawn Marion for The Diesel, and how the Suns are going to regret making this trade. But think about it, yes, Shawn Marion is one of the best all-around players in the league and he’s six years younger than Shaq, but there’s more than versatility and age in running a successful team.
First, let me say that both the Heat and the Suns gained from this trade. How? Well, if you are the manager of the Heat, and your team is having the worst season in NBA history, what would you do? Look for an all-around player that will get you wins, and espcially in the future. Marion fits just perfect in the Heat, and with guys like Wade, Davis, and Cook, this team will actually have a future. But Read more
When you’re an ace…you’re an ace no matter what!
February 7, 2008
As much as I’m a big Johan Santana fan, I’m trying to be as fair as possible here.
First. What happened to the amazing regular-season Josh Beckett had? Backed up by an even better post-season, Josh Beckett could be seated a little bit closer to Johan Santana.
Second. What happened to the Cy Young C.C. won? Again, he had an amazing regular season, and will keep getting better.
Santana had created such strong presence in the game, that even after his worse season in the past 4 years - five, if we include 2003, in which he wasn’t a full-time starter- Peter Gammons calls him the “best pitcher on the planet.” Read more
For the love of the game
February 2, 2008
While many baseball players look forward for their time off after the long season is over in the fall, many of them do things that couldn’t do during the season. Some of these things are to enjoy their time off, being with their families, taking vacations around the world or just relax. Who wouldn’t like to do these things when possible? But some continue to play ball. 
That’s right. Some players look forward for the off-season so they can go back to their home countries and be the major-league superstars they already are. Most of these players are from the Latin American countries where baseball is the passion of many. During the winter months of December, January and February, there’s a baseball league going on 
in countries like Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Puerto Rico where the weather is not less than perfect for baseball – around 80 degrees.
