Stopping a PK is quite a Feat - USA Today Military Conflict could Postpone Tournament - N.Y. Times Ralston Broadens his Game - Boston Herald United Plays a Delay Game - Washington Post Sheppard seeking Greener Pastures - South Africa Star No Carribbean Cruise for U.S. - Chicago Tribune Threat of War alters Soccer Plans for Some - Dallas Morning News Galaxy trounces FC Lyn of Norway - L.A. Times Llamosa says Contract flap No Big Deal - Boston Globe Veteran English Midfielder getting a Tryout - Columbus Dispatch Wizards give mixed Reviews about South Africa Trip - K.C. Star
No doubt saving a PK is hard. I think they should have a flying volley shot on goal as one of the Top 10 as well. Because to me, that is the absolute hardest thing to do in sports - at least do it well. I try to describe it to my brother-in-law, a baseball fan, like this. Ken Griffey, Jr. is asked to stand in the outfield with a bat. Someone hits a ball out to him on the fly on a rope. He now has to use that bat to hit the ball back into second base with great accuracy. I don't even bother adding in the goalie.
it's a series, they've just done the 9th (or second one)... there might be a list there of what the ten are... i didn't look around check that story for some links to it on the sides...
I swear to my God that if hitting a fcuking baseball is higher on the list than stopping a pk, I will bring my own personal, and very hellacious, retribution to the sports editors at USA Today, or more fittingly, The McPaper.
Who said anything about scaring them ??? It would only bring out my mischevious side, nothing worse. Mischief can be hellacious, right?
Yeah, because they hate us! And by god, hitting a 100 mph 3.5" diameter baseball with a narrow cylindrical stick into a specified region of area without putting it into one of 9 smart moving targets on the fly in order to reach a distance 90 ft away from standstill before anyone can get the ball there is the easiest thing to do in history! Easier than falling out of bed, even!
Re: Re: 2/19/03: U i don't even really like baseball that much, especially since i would be a tigers fan. But i would have to agree, I think hitting a baseball could be the hardest thing to do in sports.
i dunno, i originally thought that too... but then all he means is that he would rather his players lose the ball trying to beat someone on the offensive side, rather than pass the ball back, have it intercepted and turned into a quick counter attack at least that's what i took it as
Here's my favorite: "When goalkeeper Tony Meola was asked about the trip, he simply muttered, 'The safari was good.' " I guess Gansler forgot to tell Tony that he was only supposed to "look" at the animals -- not BBQ them.
I've had this discussion before and I think people routinely underestimate how hard soccer is. When I say "passing is difficult" or setting up a free kick is difficult, people think it's just kicking a ball. Which it is, in a way, but on free kicks, you're aiming for such a tiny spot, with enough force that the keeper won't see it. How often do professionals fail miserably? I'd be willing to bet that a good free kick specialist converts far less than 1 in 3....
"Tony 'Lunchbox' Meola then attempted to stuff a emu in his pants to take as a snack on the long coach class flight"
Poor fat tony.. Maybe he was thinking that if he was still kicker for the Jets he wouldn't have to go on trips to South Africa and then mutter about it..
yes, but you are comparing an at bat to a free kick... not hitting a pitch into play and safely touching base the average at bat is several pitches... meaning that the ability to hit a thrown ball into play and safely touch base is far less that 1 in 3
well, i can see how you can read it that way. but i consider Nicol more of a long ball, get in the cross kind of guy, and having him urge players to take defenders on 1 v. 1 seems antithetical to at least some of that system. maybe i've read him wrong. if he's really looking for players to beat people off the dribble, he must really be pining for an attacking mid who can break down a defense.
You see the pros send the ball into the stands countless times a game when attempting a shot on goal and, over here, the announcers always say "you really expect a player of that caliber to do better". Well, no, the fact is you don't. The norm is that player can't control the ball that's whipped in at 40-50 miles an hour from the flank. The fact is, professional players usually miss. So after Thomas Radzinki's eight miss in as many shots, you'd think the announcers would realize it. Our sport IS hard. just because anyone can kick a ball doesn't mean lofting a cross field pass that curls into the stride of an on-rushing player at just the right speed is easy...
Could we change the title to: Jones goes an entire article without saying anything stupid? Equally newsworthy...
Re: Re: 2/19/03: U lol his title was positive and it stayed positive... i think he got mike tyson's meds on accident
That's not really relevant. It's not like the skill of hitting a ball with a bat exists outside of the rules. It would be a different strategy altogether if you only had one pitch to hit, but that's not the case. But even if we take that idea all the way, let's say scoring a goal is like getting an rbi and a good player will get 100 rbis in 500 at bats, with 3 strikes in each at bat. So that would be a 1 in 15 success rate. OK-- so how many players do you think score on 1 in 15 free kicks?