African Soccerscapes by Peter Alegi “This is an African World Cup, this is a world-class event. There is no contradiction between being African and being world class.” – Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 Local Organizing Committee The lines above came from the final paragraph of African Soccerscapes: How a Continent Changed the World’s Game by Peter Alegi. The author, like many others, chose to finish with a poignant ending. This shares the enormous expectations for the 2010 World Cup in
Bloody Confused by Chuck Culpepper Sometimes you just need a change. This was certainly the case for American sportswriter Chuck Culpepper, who was sick and tired of covering the usual sport suspects: MLB, NFL, NBA, and even the Kentucky Derby. Super Bowls no longer brought him the joy they once had; everything here in the States had lost its luster. So an intense curiosity was born, a curiosity for English football. Culpepper dropped everything and went to England to see one of
Shocking news came out of Chicago as the Fire waived their projected starting goalkeeper Jon Busch. Busch, widely regarded as one of the best in the business, is known for his work on and off the field. Busch was always seen as a classy individual and became a fan favorite at every stop. Jon is still loved by Crew fans even though he has been gone for several years. This is quite a shock to all involved.We last saw him at the
I don’t mean to be dramatic, but the future of the beautiful game in America is in jeopardy. Officials from the league office and the players union have not been able to come to a new agreement. Extended deadlines have come and went and even a federal mediator has stepped in. A prolonged strike/lockout/work stoppage would be simply devastating to a league that is finally gaining the respect and admiration of casual fans and the mainstream media. Even a delayed start
Simply put Football Manager 2010 is one of the finest games I have ever played. It is described as a football management simulation game, but it is much more. It gives the user an opportunity to try their hand at managing a professional soccer club on and off the pitch. Every aspect of the beautiful game is covered with stunning detail. You can manage the club’s schedule, coaching staff, strategy, and of course the players. The game has tons of depth and an
It has been good news and bad news the past two weeks in Major League Soccer. Concerns about the CBA have put a big question mark on the 2010 season. Any chance of a player strike or a lockoutgt by the ownership during a World Cup year could be crippling to the growth of soccer in America. Do you remember how long it took the sport to recover after the collapse of the NASL? The staff at International Soccer Network
There was quite the sense of disappointment as we discovered that Mark Blades and Hunter Gilstrap were not making the final cut in Chicago and Toronto respectively. Blades, a St. Ignatius grad, is still being courted by several other MLS clubs despite the early setback. Gilstrap, a former keeper with the City Stars, is searching for options after his trial with Toronto FC ended without a contract. Both have the talent to play professionally, while Blades looks to be the best bet
Farred approaches the content with the eye of a scholar and the pen of a wordsmith. The text has a natural flow that is not impeded by an intense vocabulary and loads of information. The subject matter varies greatly from Argentine dictators to racism in football to the rule of apartheid in South Africa. It is as much about history and sociology as it is about football. Farred recalls the greatest players and the greatest moments in Liverpool’s storied history as
The Global Game is a fascinating text that reminds us about what makes the beautiful game beautiful. It features a diverse selection of authors and a variety of genres of literature. The ecclectic yet scholarly approach to the game is refreshing and thought provoking. The stories presented throughout the book range from inspiring to shocking. Some of our favorites include “Art Works Football Club” by Lawrence Cann and “Klapzuba’s Eleven” by Eduard Bass.