three cathedrals

I was listening to sports radio last night (Dick Fain, KJRAM950) and he was doing a segment about the cynicism surrounding the ‘Sonics issue.’ It got me thinking and I send him this note as an email when I got home…

I grew up in New Haven Connecticut, a city and state that have not a single pro team since we let the Whalers get away and win their title in someone else's hometown. One of the things I love about living here in Seattle for the last 9 years is the atmosphere generated by the 4 pro teams we have.

See, I buy into the analogy that sports are like religion (no intent to offend anyone!), in that they are about faith, hope, redemption, and glory - and also about pain, suffering, and sacrifice! Faith and hope are only real when you hold onto them through pain and suffering; redemption only follows failure; glory is only...well, glorious after sacrifice! These are the reasons we all love sports! Why we love the stories and the history and the movies, and the heroes!

In our case, as fans and citizens of the Seattle area, our sacrifice must be to suck it up and pay for the new stadiums. Because its really not about business models or contracts, taxes, politics or referendums - its about having a team here, in our town, so that we can hold out hope for that one season like the 2001 Mariners that made every person you saw, everywhere in the city, your co-fan and friend. So we can dream each year that this might be the season we have an All-star quarterback and an MVP running back who unite and electrify us like the Hawks did last season! And so we can witness the rare combinations of talent, drive, experience, and class that produce champions like the 2004 Storm!

Stadiums are the cathedrals of our time...I think the saying goes. So yes, let's build one more, for just one more chance to experience all that we hope it will reward us with! Build a stadium, keep the team!

Travel pics

Pictures and descriptions from our trip to Germany are here: http://groups.msn.com/JonathanStuff/germanyworldcup2006.msnw

Best of the Best

Here is my all-star team of the 2006 world cup. I tried to make it entirely passed on the performances and not past history - sometimes even one outstanding game. Noticeably absent are any Italians and US players…hmmm.

Goal
Hislop (Trinadad and Tobago) That incredible game against Sweden was the best by any keeper of the tourney.
Runner up
Ricardo (Portugal) A European quality keeper on a South American quality squad, he was a major reason they finished 4th and the only player who could dive without looking like a cheat.

Defense
Lahm (Germany) This guy just owned the entire left side of the filed in every game Germany played – as a defender, not a midfielder! He routinely defended guys twice his size and wreaked havoc whenever he went forward.
Thuram (France) Big, strong, smart, skillful. One of the worlds best helped shut down Brazil and Portugal, and almost Italy.
Yorke (Trinadad and Tobago) Technically he played defensive midfield, but, far from his striking days at Man Utd., he essentially played a stopper role – and boy did he do it well for three games.
Colochini (Argentina) countries alike Brazil and Argentina aren’t known for producing great defenders, but I thought Colochini was fantastic as a right back. He was smart, had great timing, and was incredibly difficult to beat one-on-one. Plus there was his ability to go forward and help out on attack.
Runners up
Ferdinand (England) Just solid.
Pantsil (Ghana) Who is this guy? He looked great.

Midfield
J. Cole (England) the goal was fantastic, but the over all play was even better and should give England hope for the future.
Zidane (Trinadad and Tobago) Hopefully we will not remember the head butt the way we remember Baggio’s pk miss, because up to that moment Zizu was inspiring. Magical. ‘nuff said.
Riquelme (Argentina) I still think this was the best team, and it was lead by a passing genius in Riquelme. His vision, timing, effort, and skill were magnificent. His play was beautiful, without needing the flash of the two Ronaldinhos.
Ribery (France) A tireless workhorse with incredible speed, balance, and guts. His one drawback was in the red zone where he lacked some creativity – but as a possession, transition, and ball movement player, he was outstanding.
Runners up
Ronaldinho (Brazil) I mean, come on, the guys ridiculously talented!
Cristiano R. (Portugal) Dude, stop diving and you might make the first squad.
Essian (Ghana) If only he hadn’t missed the Brazil game due to double yellows, Ghana could have won that and then some…

Forward
Messi (Argentina) wow. Not sure that he’s the next Maradona, but he certainly looks like the closest thing in a long time for Argentina!
Henry (France) he always looks like he has no space, no room, triple teamed, posted up, about to fall down…and yet somehow he slips through with the ball and creates a chance! And don’t ever let him face you up on the left wing, because his moves and speed down the line look like something out of a road runner cartoon If France didn’t play 5 mids and leave him alone so much, if someone was always waiting for his last minute passes across the middle of the box, they would score like it was basketball!
Runners up
Schweinsteiger (germany) The Germans lost to Italy cause they wouldn’t transistion with speed, and they wouldn’t actually take shots. So what does this sub do in the third-place game? He goes out and hits the ball at goal every chance he gets – and created 3 goals! When you take opportunities, good things happen. Klose who?
Drogba (Ivory Coast) if they didn’t have to face Argentina AND Holland This guy would have had his nation in the quarters.
Torres (Spain) No one with a David Beckham hair cut gets on the first squad, even with 3 goals!

Coach
Lippi (Italy) Of all the Italian teams over the years, with all their superstars and historic moments, this is the one that wins the cup?! There’s no justice. So I guess you have to give the coach the credit for creating a team that could do all they need to and make it work.
Runner up
Klinsman (Germany) Klinsi as they call him was criticized prior to the event by his nation, but created a team that played with passion, creativity, enthusiasm, and skill – all the qualities he showed as a player himself. By the final whistle on the 8th, the whole nation was cheering ‘Klinsi’ and felt like they had won the whole thing. Man, I hope we can him to coach for us!

Knock-out stage

Sorry about not keeping up with game by game analysis…I just got to overwhelmed with them all! And then the trip over, etc. etc.

So here are a few short notes on some the final games.

Germany/Argentina: I was convinced the winner of this would take it all, and given how great a game it was the winner deserved to…but obviously Italy had other plans. Basically Argentina lost it by pulling back. With their ability to pass and control the ball they should have played forward the whole game. Then they ran into a wall named Jens Lehmann.

Italy/Ukraine: Italys best game. Ukraine weren’t bad, just totally outmatched.

Brazil/France: Brazil had no answer for Zidane…would anyone? And while not known for their defending, they had to know better than to let Henry run free on a set piece in front of goal! Amaturish…so long, bu-bye!

England/Portugal: What is it with young Manchester United players getting silly red cards in the world cup and killing their teams’ chances to advance? Though, Portugal were always the better team.

Germany/France: More about this game in my travel write up to come, but for now let me say that I spent the final third of the game shouting for Germany to just RUN a bit. They were sluggish on counter attacks and let 6 Azzuri get back to defend every time while they only moved forward with 3 or 4. Ballack was no help in the end and Klose was defended too well, others needed to make a run forward. Oh, and I still hate Del Piero.

Portugal/France: It absolutely WAS a deserved penalty kick. That’s the value of such a quick agile forward like Henry and why you don’t slide tackle in the box. Portugal’s diving was the low point of the tournament for me.

Germany/Portugal: I try to tell the teams I coach that you only score if you take shots! Kick it towards goal and good things happen…just ask Schweinsteiger of Germany. A substitute at only 21 he was not a big name, but by taking 3 shots in almost as many minutes he created 3 goals and landed himself on the cover of every paper in the Germanic speaking world – every single one! See…you shoot and good things happen.

For finals analysis, see my upcoming travel report!