Soccer, Sports and Politics - Part Deux

There are more similarities between pro wrestling and soccer than we’d like to admit.

I watched a ton of MLS over the weekend. All of the gamesmanship got to me…and it would be so simple to fix. Federations should tell referees to use the common sense God gave them and stop acting like pro wrestling refs whenever a player gets in the way of a quick free kick, or knocks the ball away to slow down a throw in. We all know what is happening. And I guarantee you that if you polled 1000 soccer fans, at least 999 of the would say they don’t like that crap. Simply tell refs to enforce the rules.

FIFA is adopting MLS’ rule on how quickly substituted players have to leave the pitch. As an illustration of the effect of the rule, they showed Luis Suarez moving like he could barely walk when substituted. He got sanctioned for it. The next week he ran off the field like a defender’s shoulder had been braised for him and was waiting for him in the locker room, with a side dish of fava beans.

MY point with the Suarez anecdote is, if you enforce the rules, players will figure it out immediately. There would be maybe 2 weeks of weirdness and then all the bullshit would disappear.

 

The margin of victory in the men’s Los Angeles Marathon was .01 seconds.

Imagine running 26 miles and 385 yards and losing in a photo finish.

 

Good news Bolivia or Suriname, because of the war Iraq likely won't be able to attend the World Cup playoff game at the end of the month, given the players, coaches and staff aren't able to fly out of the region. The only question that remains is who will be able to bribe FIFA with the most money: Iraq to have them delay the playoff or Bolivia and Suriname to make sure they don't delay it?

 

Now you're thinking like a FIFAnista!

 

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By the way
talking about kung fu:

 

Shoulda shaved the sides. That's what Isaac Hayes did, and it became a trademark.

Whole lot of brothers would have done better to shave it than wear a conk like Verdine White (Earth, Wind, Fire) or a George Jefferson like his brother Maurice

 

U.S. President Trump: Iran should skip World Cup 'for their safety' - ESPN

 

Give that man the inaugural FIFA Concern for the Safety of Others prize!

 

I said it elsewhere but If Iran CAN'T play in the World Cup then it's the host's fault. If they CHOOSE not to play in the World Cup, then they can be fined and banned by FIFA. This is Trump telling them that, technically, they can play. They just can't bring players, staff, or fans.

 

He's now a lock for the UFC Punch 'Em in the Face Award

Saw a clip of Rogan wondering how safe it'll be to have a UFC fight on the White House front lawn now that we're at war with Iran. Another one of those "why are these topics even being discussed?" that a person who woke up from a long-term coma wouldn't ever comprehend.

 

oh man, that just made my morning!!!

 

It would be awesome if Iran said they still intend to play, then force the US to explicitly deny them access. Even better if they keep "trying" to play until the last minute so FIFA can't find a replacement team on time and have to run their dumb 48 team extravaganza with only 47 teams

Super long shot on those things happening, I know, but thinking about it gives warm and fuzzy feelings

 

No, this is exactly what Iran should do. Otherwise they'll get banned from FIFA tournaments in the future.

Why are they playing games in the USA in the first place? Some idiot told me that they've been an imminent threat to the USA for the last 50 years. They obviously should have had their games scheduled in Mexico or Canada. It's such an obvious no-brainer that it makes one wonder if FIFA really is the paragon of efficiency and fairness that they claim to be.

 

47 years.

Mexico & Iran have been at war with the US for a long time plus their flags have the same colors. So they should've been grouped with Mexico to start with.

Now we just need an Iranian rapper to do the halftime show at the WC final to really cheese off Trumpists.

 

Not to mention when assigning games to stadiums, FIFA chose to put Egypt vs Iran in Seattle on Pride Day when it was made clear there would be a lot of activities going on around the stadium for it. They could have put Belgium vs New Zealand there instead and Egypt vs Iran in Vancouver.