World Cup starts today

[GuenterMueller]

I like this idea, Ton.
I don't know where I got this from: In Asia a game similar to soccer was played already 5000 years ago. Do you think that there are still some patents pending?
Guenter

[GregFreeman]

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TCPlomp wrote:

Just saw Forlan score a good goal, still have to decide which physic law made the ball come down in time.

Ton

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That was a bizarre goal huh? We'll just call it law-of-a-back-deflection.

[Darin.K]

Four years is a long time so I had forgotten why I don't watch soccer/football anymore.  I was back from travel so I flipped on the TV this morning to catch some of the action.  About one minute in to watching I see a Nigerian player give a Greek player the business on the sideline.  In what can only be described as a severe violation of conservation of momentum, the Greek player sort of pauses, then starts flailing his arms and flies backwards several feet and writhes on the ground in pain.  The red card comes out, and then the Greek player stops mid-roll on the ground, leaps to his feet, and plays on.  The announcers alluded to some backstory I missed about why the Nigerian player was ticked off, but the red card seemed appropriate and karma won out as Greece prevailed.  I would have loved to see them both booted from the match, just on principle. 

Let's add some hockey and boxing to the rulebook.  Hockey does penalize diving, but they also have the penalty box.  Instead of a match penalty, the yellow and red cards should lead to a player being sent off for a given period of time, maybe 10 minutes or so.   As for boxing, if an "injured" player is down for more than a few seconds, he should be required to be subbed or off of the field for a few minutes.  On the ground clutching your knee, better go grab some ice for a few minutes you are clearly in no shape to play.

My two-year-old can switch from tantrum to laughing in an instant, and I expect it at her age.  Seeing "grown" men go from writhing in pain to  running around the pitch is not so sporting.

Next rant:  When did this become standard goalie equipment?  They should go commando IMO.

[TCPlomp]

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Darin.K wrote:

Let's add some hockey and boxing to the rulebook. 

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That won't happen. Ever. Period.

Here's why ( I am telling this from what I can remember reading but in serious and reliable sources), when the FIFA was established they made a deal with the British  Football Associations (IFAB). They were allowed to use the FA rules (the so called Laws of the game) if the brittish had a strong vote on changes in the Rules of the Game.

Ton

Message Edited by TCPlomp on 17-06-2010 08:41 PM

[Dennis_Knutson]

Have any of you soccer fans seen this?

[RayFarmer]

I have an easier solution , it's called the mute button. The commentary is just as annoying as the vuvzelas so the picture is all that is needed.

[GuenterMueller]

Same with me, Ray.

Mute the TV, turn on some music.

Excellent entertainment. I enjoy selecting the suitable music for what's going on in the match.

Guenter

[TCPlomp]

A lot of people always turn of the TV-sound and turn on the radio in the Netherlands.

Radio comments are much more detail since they need to be more visual.

It's like looking at good commented LabVIEW code.

Ton

[GuenterMueller]

Well, Ton. Can you recommend which channel to listen to?  I haven't tried any German channel for the WM.

[TCPlomp]

Guten Tag,

verstehen sie auch Niederlandisch?

sorry Guenther but I wouldn't know a good germand radio station.

Very popular is Jack van Gelder on the radio. There is a classic video of his comments when Dennis Bergkamp made an absolutly brilliant goal against Argentina in 1998 in the quarter final (link), count the number of times that he yells 'Dennis Bergkamp'

Ton