V-U-V-U-Z-E-L-A...they didn't qualify for the 2010 World Cup

Before the game begins, you can hear them buzzing. They are not insects, although many part-time soccer viewers consider the plastic bugles to be annoying pests. They are the latest craze in South Africa, adopted by its countrymen, and scorned by the world audience. It is called a "vuvuzela".

I have no trouble listening to them, keep in mind players have no choice but to listen to the monotone reverberation echo throughout the stadium for at least two hours on game day. I can adjust the volume setting on my television, and I can solve the 'problem'. On the other hand, the longest anyone will hear the vuvuzela is one month, and then never again.

There are other camps in the 2010 FIFA World Cup who do not have a problem with the musical instrument (as of June 16th, 2010): Germany, Brazil, South Korea, Argentina, Holland and Ghana to name a few. As for those countries in the World, who are not so fond of the vuvuzela, their tale is ridden with excuses and moments a Monday morning Quarterback would love to have back. It wasn't because of stifling defense, team execution, displicine, well-researched gameplan, or the spin of the ball...it was the vuvuzela.

Forgiveness

Remember your greatest mistake, your most embarrassing moment, or a moment in time you wish to erase or redo. Picture it happening in your mind again, and then again. Now, picture your family, friends, indifferent strangers, enemies, and millions of other people all over the world watching that same mistake you made.

Now picture this...

At the moment, there is anger because Armando Galarraga did not get what he "earned" through 8 2/3 innings of solid pitching. He "deserved" or "earned" the rewards that come from hard work, second effort, and loyalty to a cause. However, as is in life, most people on this planet do not get those things as rewards for their hard work or loyalty. Should baseball be the exception?

There are facebook groups dedicated to the ridicule of the man, who accidentally and apologetically, took the rewards away from Galarraga. The insults and the photos are an unfair smearing of a man that devoted his life and his energy to the game; some, if not all of what is said on Facebook and other websites by 'bloggers' and 'pundits', is too embarrassing and shameful for words.

I remember when my Dad umpired games here in Canada; he umpired a host of baseball and softball games in his community throughout the 80s and 90s, and he still has the gear and rulebooks in the garage of his house in Mississauga. He told me of a textbook tag at second base he ruled safe, when the world and everyone in it knew the runner was out. He lost his passion to umpire afterward, because the memory of that one moment took the fun away from umpiring. When I remember that story, I think of how I would act in that position. How would I react? What would I do?

Galarraga reacted like any of us would at that moment, but unlike any of us he accepted it with the grace and calm that only he could. After all, name another pitcher on the verge of perfection who had the rug snatched from underneath his feet? Neither could I. Perhaps there is a lesson all of us could learn from this experience. Not about instant replay, coach's challenges, base sensors, or electronic strike zones, because those regulate, not terminate, our frustrations with life.

Baseball hinges on the foul lines of fairness and controversy, the wrong call, the irate managers, and the umpteen million dollar a year third baseman from the Yankees my friend Ana hates so much. However, we still love the game, and we go for the unfairness, controversy, irate managers, and overpaid all-stars on THAT team. What is more, life is about unfairness, too, and yet we still wake up everyday and live each day for different reasons. Do we "deserve" perfection, the right call, sneakers, public transportation, and televisions preloaded with five hundred channels? Do we "deserve" a roof over our heads, food, water, or life? If so, for whom, over whom, or by whose authority?
Now picture this...

What Armando Galarraga and umpire Jim Joyce taught us is even when our intentions were good, we will fail. If each of us lives with the desire to see the best for everyone, then what would our planet, our cities, our neighbourhoods, and our lives resemble? What if we spent less time thinking about what we "deserve" and more time figuring out how to "bless" each other with what we have? If we had the capacity to forgive or be forgiven, what would our lives look like?

Probably, we would all be safe at home.

Hey readers!

I got a new job last week, and while I'm getting settled to the new surroundings THE FRANCHISE will be on a hiatus. Don't worry; I hope to post new things very soon.

He's wearing Pink; they don't have a prayer

The FA Cup final was on last week; Chelsea played Portsmouth in the big match. David James, the beleaguered goalkeeper for Pompey, wore pink as did the rest of the team. Naturally, Chelsea won the game 1-0, but it would not be right to throw David James under the bus. Nevertheless, you would like a goalkeeper to steal a game from the heavy favourites in any match much less a cup final. It takes me back to 1973...



Reportedly, I was born in 1982, but I was around...even for the invention of water.

THE "RIGHT NOW" MOMENT: Based on a true story

Plante versus McNeil, Dryden versus whatshisname, Roy versus Penney: The list of classic goaltending decisions by one hockey franchise goes on and on. The heavyweight battle between Halak and Price, for the vaunted starting role of backstop for hockey's most prestigious franchise, swayed back and forth for at least three years, before being decided in Anaheim of all places.

After Game 4 of the 2010 Eastern Conference Semi-Final between Les Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Penguins, which ended with the Habs winning 3-2 and Halak showered with praise, I scoped out the NHL website to find the EXACT moment when everything changed for Jaroslav Halak, the Montreal Canadiens, and my friend and longtime Habs fan Michael Smith. My search began with Halak's profile page; clicking on Game Log, I scrolled down the list of regular season games featuring Halak. You almost miss it, but once you see it you know it is there (Data credit to NHL.com)!


I clicked on that particular night, read the box score, and then searched YouTube for the game.

It was after the Olympic break; Jaroslav Halak sown the first seeds of upstart greatness in the 2010 Winter Olympics carrying his home nation Slovakia to the semi-finals of the men's hockey tournament, and almost upsetting Team Canada. Back with his team, Halak was riding the bench as he often did as a competitor for the starting job as goaltender for Montreal. Other NHL teams had starting goaltenders: Pittsburgh has Fleury, New Jersey has Brodeur, Detroit has no one but Howard, and San Jose has Nabokov. Similar to the NFL and quarterbacks if you are on an NHL team with two goaltenders, then you don't have a starting goaltender!

On March 7, 2010, everything changed.

In today's culture, every person looks for, what Darrell Green calls, the "right now" moment. The fable of "rags to riches" usually begins in anonymity following a crisis. Wally Pipp had a headache, Drew Bledsoe had a collapsed lung, Lester Pearson retired as Prime Minister of Canada, and a bike went missing in Louisville, Kentucky. Whether it is known or not at that "right now" moment is unclear, however what a person does with that "right now" shapes the lives of everyone around and beyond. Ask Lou Gehrig, ask Tom Brady, ask Pierre Trudeau, and then ask Muhammad Ali. There were no excuses, no reasons to run and hide, and no avoiding the issue; for Jaroslav Halak the "right now" moment came, and he never looked back.

It remains to be seen if the Halak story reaches acclaimed status, but for "right now" he is doing alright ;)

(Special thanks to NHL.com, Wikipedia, and YouTube)

Liverpool 0, Chelsea 2

Liverpool 0, Chelsea 2

I didn't want to read the post-game report; it is immaterial to me what happened during the game, who scored, when they scored, how many saves the goalkeepers made or decided to make, or when the losers threw in the towel. According to Barclaycard Premiership Table, Chelsea sat a point above Manchester United in the race for first place before this match. Chelsea would play at Liverpool's "Anfield Road" stadium, which is the home of Manchester United's longest standing rival, Liverpool F.C. If Liverpool wins, then Manchester United would move to first place thanks to their victory in their league match over Sunderland, and the Chelsea loss. If Liverpool lost, Chelsea would remain in first place and the result of the Man United-Sunderland match would be immaterial because the Blues would be in control of their destiny.

Liverpool 0, Chelsea 2

Perhaps the worst thing anyone can say is that an opponent "gave up", "quit", or pulled a "Liston" on purpose. For the sake of what is right, for the sake of the game, you must win. Liverpool's season went down the tubes long before: Ousted from the Champions League, denied at home to Atletico Madrid in the Europa League Semi-Final, bounced from League title contention after many early defeats, bounced from both domestic cup competitions. However, when Liverpool saddled up against Manchester United, the Reds ALWAYS came to play and play hard.

Liverpool 0, Chelsea 2

I did not read the post-game report or see the highlights, yet what if Liverpool played their best against Chelsea? What if they gave 110% and were outdone by Chelsea? In a sport beset by betting scandals, rigged matches, crooked referees, and monitored by an ivory tower establishment willing to turn a blind eye and worship the "beautiful game" as it once was, who would notice? Who would care?

Liverpool 0, Chelsea 2

I did not watch the game because I knew how it would end. Somewhere in the history of sport pride, spite, money, fear, health, something else or a combination of all those got in the way of defining what sport is about. Sport became another form of entertainment to be watched or ignored on our television screens. There is no such thing as sport, because no one knows or remembers what sport really is. In the end, Liverpool still hates Manchester United, Chelsea hold their fate in their hands, Manchester United will finish in second, and all anyone will remember about this season is one thing:

Liverpool 0, Chelsea 2

Never a Fan

Dear Fabio Capello;

England's "number 1" goalkeeper just got his club team, Portsmouth Football Club, relegated from the Premier League. He was the starting goalkeeper for the worst team in the Premier League this season. Do something before it's too late; bench David James.How do you justify being a starting goalkeeper for a relegated club? The bill of goods on the Premiership's oldest player is long...

1) David James' quitter in the 1996 FA Cup Final, Liverpool v Manchester Utd: United corner, punches ball away while decking Liverpool teammate, sits on 'hired help' while Cantona fires rebound into open net, United win 1-0.
2) David James' quitters in EURO 2004, England v France: England leading 1-0 in injury time, David James quits on French star Zidane's free kick to tie game, then upends Thierry Henry in the penalty area to send "Zizou" to the spot to put France ahead.
3) "Wait a second, is David James wearing PINK?!" - Phil Wood watching Pompey on television
4) David James quits on stool, Portsmouth v Arsenal (A): After conceding the third of three goals to Arsenal in the first half of this season's early Premier League tilt at the Emirates Stadium, David James is seen waving towards his coaches after pulling the old Liston shoulder injury trick.
5) David James quits on Pompey: Midway through the season, and propping up the Premier League table in last place, David James requests a transfer to another 'safe' Premier League club.

Fabio, England's second World Cup and your legacy hang in the balance.