http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14056-2003Oct24.html A very good article from William Gildea.
Gildea is one of my favorite sportswriters/columnists in America - maybe top 3. Damn good work here, as always. RS
Sign him up... He has balls and will give plenty of people here stuff to whine about. --Sounds a bit OVER qualified to me....
that's one of the best articles i've read in a long time...hilarious stuff about Hristo's voicemail message....and "Professor Dema Kovalenko"
Interesting he picked 'Tino as an example of who Hristo may have been too hard on..... Are we in the playoffs yet, can we just start this game already .......... oh, wait, maybe I should be closer to RFK when I say that ;-)
Fantastic article! His playing days are indeed numbered, but if I had to pick a guy to be on my side in a bar fight, Hristo is that man.
Tremendous article. Finally a human face put on one of the legends of the game. It lets us see what passion for the game really is and gives an idea of why he does some of the things that excite and at times frustrate the fans.
We are so lucky to have a paper that respects soccer like the Post. I hope Hristo is back next year, but only as a coach. Well it would be good for him to keep in shape incase he is needed, but I hope we fully embrace a youth movement next season.
Trash. Why doesnt the article mention him breaking that kids ankle at American University. Stoitchkov is twice his age. Totally uncalled for play in a meaningless game. Also, the fake dive last week versus the Crew to get the PK. No class. Hothead. Hes a punk.
Front page of the sports section in the choice spot directly in the middle and underneath the masthead... Well balanced article with enough info for a reader to make up their mind as to whether this is a monster or a genius.
I believe it does mention that. But why actually read the article befoe commenting on it? Maybe they can make a Cliff's Notes for you next time.
Great article. Stupid post - a good fifth of the article was about the incident. Even Llerena admits it was an unfortunate accident. I'd rather have someone like Stoitchkov on my side than some leaf-eater with lots of class and table manners. If a team ever needed someone to push them it's this one.
Can you believe that this soccer icon is playing/coaching for only 50k? We are very fortunate to have him. If only he could instill his competitive fire in every DCU player on the pitch. I know he goes over the top perhaps to often, but I have never seen anyone with more focused attention on putting the ball in the #*#%** net!
Payne was right on. I was at the game, and I think Hristo would have injured one of his teammates just to get in the game! He was treating it like a WC final. When he did get in he volleyed in a long cross from, I believe, Namoff, for the win. Just before the play he took Namoff aside and, in view of what happened a few minutes later, he must have outlined the play to him. It was a classic finish.
For what it's worth, my wife and I are friends with a friend of Stoitchkov. According to him, the incident with the kid's leg being broke weighed on Hristo heavily. He didn't talk about it much, but to say he felt bad is an understatement. I realize that doesn't help the kid out as far as his leg, but I thought it was worth countering that the guy did not take the incident lightly.
Take it easy on the guy, it was a long article and his lips got tired from reading the first 2 paragraphs. Hristo is a treasure and Gildea paid him the respect he deserves. While he may be 9 years on the other side of his best playing days, United is lucky to have him
that was very good article for such a volitile player. Well balanced... the great thing is that Gildea was able to convey Hristo's intensity and passion in the article. Great job.