Sunday, January 26, 2014
The Beautiful Game: My Story (Part 1) | Written By Laxmi
How I got into football is pretty unconventional. I didn't grow up with the sport like the most of you. No one in my family supported any clubs or teams. Also, I was never a part of any football team. Even when I think about how I fell in love with this sport, I find it incredibly weird. Never in my life would I have ever thought I would love something as much as football. Four years ago is when I discovered this amazing sport. These four years have been the best because I've learned so much. Along the way, I have even met some incredible people. Believe it or not, football has taught me a lot.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was what sucked me in. Now when most people talk about how they first fell in love with football, they tend to say it was love at first sight. That wasn’t me at all. It was actually the opposite. At first, I had the "typical American mindset" towards the sport. I wasn't being ignorant, I just didn't have much of an interest in sports. I had the notion that football, along with many other sports, was boring and it was a guy's sport.
My journey started back in 2010. It was my junior year in high school and I was ecstatic that summer was right around the corner. One morning I was walking to my locker and I overheard a couple of students talking about something called "The World Cup". Unfortunately, I didn't understand what they were talking about so I didn't pay much attention to them. By the time lunchtime came around, my friends and I saw a large crowd of students swarming the TV screens set up in my cafeteria. Usually the news would be playing, but that day something else was. I remember looking at one of my best friends and wondering why everyone was crowded around those TVs. After looking up, I realized it had to do with football. During the entire week, students were glued to those old TVs. At first, I really didn't understand what all the hype was about. I just thought people were watching it as a fad. I now realize that I was being ignorant because I automatically wrote off this sport without even giving it a chance.
A very distinct memory that I will never forget was in my Spanish class. My classmates were constantly pestering my Spanish teacher to put on a World Cup game. Since my class rarely behaved, she said we could watch the game only on one condition: if we behaved and finished all of our work. That day everyone was on their best behavior and she let us watch it. This was the first match I have ever watched. I looked up at the screen and saw men with yellow jerseys on one side and red jerseys on the other. After giving it a chance, I didn't think it was that bad. I wasn't in love with it yet, however, it wasn't what I expected. There was a lot of excitement in the classroom. So many people were screaming and talking about certain individual players. The only thing that I knew was that the opposing team had to get the ball into the other team's net. I had no knowledge about any of the teams or the rules. Although the players in red were up one goal, I was cheering for the guys in yellow. Something about them made me admire them. To this day, I still don't know what it was but I'm glad I watched that game. Class ended and the score read "Brazil 2 - 1 North Korea".
The day of Goral's prom was another distinct memory of mine. While I helped Goral get ready, my older sister and her friend, Keisha, sat in my living room watching a World Cup game. After Goral left, I decided to join them. I remember sitting there and Keisha telling me how some guy named Ronaldo was hot. She went on and on about his abs and how every girl in school loved him. I looked at the screen and laughed. Because of her 'bandwagoner attitude', I was not invested in the game. I automatically left the room because I did not want to be associated with someone who watched the World Cup for all the wrong reasons.
To be honest, what really got me into the World Cup was the United States Men's National Team. I was curious to know how the US was doing in this competition. After watching a couple of their games, I was hooked. That summer, I watched so many matches with my family. My sisters and I woke up early every morning just so we weren't able to miss any of the World Cup fixtures. In the afternoons, my grandparents would join us to watch it too. What I loved so much about the World Cup was that it evoked so many different emotions. Some days we were happy, other days we were sad. This competition was far greater than some reality TV show or scripted sitcom. The World Cup was real. No scripts, just raw emotions, passions, and desires.
Written by: Laxmi Patel
Follow me on Twitter: @OfficialLaxmi
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was what sucked me in. Now when most people talk about how they first fell in love with football, they tend to say it was love at first sight. That wasn’t me at all. It was actually the opposite. At first, I had the "typical American mindset" towards the sport. I wasn't being ignorant, I just didn't have much of an interest in sports. I had the notion that football, along with many other sports, was boring and it was a guy's sport.
My journey started back in 2010. It was my junior year in high school and I was ecstatic that summer was right around the corner. One morning I was walking to my locker and I overheard a couple of students talking about something called "The World Cup". Unfortunately, I didn't understand what they were talking about so I didn't pay much attention to them. By the time lunchtime came around, my friends and I saw a large crowd of students swarming the TV screens set up in my cafeteria. Usually the news would be playing, but that day something else was. I remember looking at one of my best friends and wondering why everyone was crowded around those TVs. After looking up, I realized it had to do with football. During the entire week, students were glued to those old TVs. At first, I really didn't understand what all the hype was about. I just thought people were watching it as a fad. I now realize that I was being ignorant because I automatically wrote off this sport without even giving it a chance.
A very distinct memory that I will never forget was in my Spanish class. My classmates were constantly pestering my Spanish teacher to put on a World Cup game. Since my class rarely behaved, she said we could watch the game only on one condition: if we behaved and finished all of our work. That day everyone was on their best behavior and she let us watch it. This was the first match I have ever watched. I looked up at the screen and saw men with yellow jerseys on one side and red jerseys on the other. After giving it a chance, I didn't think it was that bad. I wasn't in love with it yet, however, it wasn't what I expected. There was a lot of excitement in the classroom. So many people were screaming and talking about certain individual players. The only thing that I knew was that the opposing team had to get the ball into the other team's net. I had no knowledge about any of the teams or the rules. Although the players in red were up one goal, I was cheering for the guys in yellow. Something about them made me admire them. To this day, I still don't know what it was but I'm glad I watched that game. Class ended and the score read "Brazil 2 - 1 North Korea".
The day of Goral's prom was another distinct memory of mine. While I helped Goral get ready, my older sister and her friend, Keisha, sat in my living room watching a World Cup game. After Goral left, I decided to join them. I remember sitting there and Keisha telling me how some guy named Ronaldo was hot. She went on and on about his abs and how every girl in school loved him. I looked at the screen and laughed. Because of her 'bandwagoner attitude', I was not invested in the game. I automatically left the room because I did not want to be associated with someone who watched the World Cup for all the wrong reasons.
To be honest, what really got me into the World Cup was the United States Men's National Team. I was curious to know how the US was doing in this competition. After watching a couple of their games, I was hooked. That summer, I watched so many matches with my family. My sisters and I woke up early every morning just so we weren't able to miss any of the World Cup fixtures. In the afternoons, my grandparents would join us to watch it too. What I loved so much about the World Cup was that it evoked so many different emotions. Some days we were happy, other days we were sad. This competition was far greater than some reality TV show or scripted sitcom. The World Cup was real. No scripts, just raw emotions, passions, and desires.
Written by: Laxmi Patel
Follow me on Twitter: @OfficialLaxmi
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Juan Mata's Emotional Departure From Chelsea FC
Goral and Laxmi discuss their thoughts on the transfer of Juan Mata.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
The Lewandowski Saga: Who Is To Blame?
In 2010, a fresh-faced Robert Lewandowski couldn’t contain his excitement upon joining Borussia Dortmund.
Three years later, the tone of his words dramatically changed.
Lewandowski to Bayern Munich was always anticipated and the news does not come as a surprise. However, the official confirmation made the inevitable a reality. The man got his wish.
A decision that cannot be changed anymore not only affects Lewandowski, but also the two clubs involved. The announcement of the move has stirred a heated debate - pinches of opinion mixed with heavy doses of the blame game. Should one individual entity be carrying all the blame?
People will be quick to point fingers at Lewandowski. After all, it was his decision to leave and it looks like he took the easy way out. Mario Götze was the first to jump ship, so Lewandowski’s choice left a bitter after-taste. It was clearly void of any emotional attachments. Is there any reason why he didn’t choose another club outside of Germany? He wanted to take the next step in his career. There is no stronger team than Bayern at the moment who guarantees a winning combination of fame, fortune, and titles. Perhaps, there is also the attraction of wanting to work with Pep Guardiola. If Bayern’s interest in Lewandowski didn’t present itself, he may have stayed with Dortmund instead of moving abroad. Of course this is an assumption, but it shows how highly he thinks of Bayern Munich compared to other clubs. At the end of the day, he is a professional footballer doing his job. The life of a footballer is to maximize the window of opportunity for his playing career. Though he has taken the forbidden path, he chose what made him happy. No one compelled him to do so otherwise. Ultimately, it is only Robert Lewandowski who can answer this question regarding his present circumstances. “The past is a ghost, the future a dream. All we ever have is now.” - Bill Cosby
As if the Bavarian giants weren’t envied enough, they got even more flack. Landing the signature of Europe’s hottest prospect added one more jewel to their Crown of Domination. Some choice words to describe Bayern Munich on social media were “greedy” or “evil.” They snatched away the prized possession from the fingertips of their toughest rival. Once again. From a moral standpoint, it’s disrespectful to other clubs in the league if they continuously tempt their top talent. This gives critics the ammunition to say the Bundesliga is a boring, one-league team. In the long run, this could potentially end up hurting Bayern. If there are no direct challengers for the league title, Bayern can’t play to their full potential . The quality of the team’s playing abilities may drop. As a result, this affects their presence in European competitions. However, all of these points stray away from one essential question. How would you react if your club was in the same position? Would you turn away one of the best strikers in the game today if he was waiting at your club’s doorstep? Bayern didn’t spend a single cent for the initial acquisition of Lewandowski. Technically, getting a player for free does not mean “buying out” competition. Any club would be foolish not to take up this deal considering it’s a steal. Any person saying they would send Lewandowski back home isn’t being truthful either. Football is still the beautiful game, but modern times have evolved it into a business. Bayern are doing exactly what a good business should be doing by implementing cost efficiency and smart planning. For the 2012-13 season, Bayern’s record-breaking turnover in 113 years reinforced their impressive financial stability (link here). If this is considered to be “evil”, then all businesses are evil. Football is a unique business because it utilizes both emotional investment and strategy. The best strategy is the foundation for success, which Bayern are thriving on. “The best revenge is massive success.” - Frank Sinatra
“Either we get offered a huge amount of money fairly soon or Robert will stay with us until 2014 and score another 20 goals for us,” declared Hans-Joachim Watzke, Dortmund’s CEO. If Lewandowski was determined to join Bayern, then Dortmund were relentless to keep him a little longer. Was it Die Borussen’s mistake not to sell Lewandowski last summer when they had the chance? They could have sold him to a foreign club instead of seeing out his contract. Or so they say. Lewandowski’s strong desire to join Bayern Munich was very clear from the beginning. Whether Chelsea, Real Madrid, or Manchester City made an enticing offer wouldn’t have mattered. His eyes were on Bayern and only Bayern. If Lewandowski and his agent didn’t want to talk to other clubs, there was nothing Dortmund could do about it. So why exactly would Dortmund keep an unhappy striker? It was a risk to keep him, but it would have been an even bigger risk to let him go. Despite the number 9 publicly admitting his dismay, he hasn’t let it affect his performance. He still remains BVB’s biggest asset and will try to push the club to Champions League glory. Allowing another forward to take Lewandowski’s role could potentially disrupt team chemistry. Dortmund preparing for Lewandowski’s departure gives them ample time to scout a suitable replacement. In that case, UCL revenue will be all the more important.
The key to maximizing revenue is also maintaining a strong brand. As long as Robert Lewandowski wears the badge, he represents BVB’s brand. The more attention the club gets, the more its image will attract new players. The decision to not sell Lewandowski during Winterpause could have been connected to Mario Götze’s exit. Consecutively losing two, big names players is not something Dortmund wants to make a habit of. They want more quality players to come through their doors than leave. After all, one cannot put a price on nurturing young talent. “Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” - Joshua J. Marine
The Lewandowski saga is over, but it presented gray areas. It’s easy to put the blame on others, but not everything can be looked through one angle. If Lewandowski had a reason to leave, then Bayern had a reason to recruit. Only time will tell if this will have a lasting effect on Dortmund. One thing that won’t ever change? The excitement and entertainment Bundesliga brings every season.
Written by: Goral Patel
Follow me on Twitter: @goralpatel
“I don’t care in which position I play. My primary goal is to win a place in the team. I am 21 and willing to learn a lot. I will play where the coach plays me and where I can help the team the most.”
Three years later, the tone of his words dramatically changed.
“We are acting normally, and Borussia’s management is not. That they keep me is not fair.”
Lewandowski to Bayern Munich was always anticipated and the news does not come as a surprise. However, the official confirmation made the inevitable a reality. The man got his wish.
~
A decision that cannot be changed anymore not only affects Lewandowski, but also the two clubs involved. The announcement of the move has stirred a heated debate - pinches of opinion mixed with heavy doses of the blame game. Should one individual entity be carrying all the blame?
People will be quick to point fingers at Lewandowski. After all, it was his decision to leave and it looks like he took the easy way out. Mario Götze was the first to jump ship, so Lewandowski’s choice left a bitter after-taste. It was clearly void of any emotional attachments. Is there any reason why he didn’t choose another club outside of Germany? He wanted to take the next step in his career. There is no stronger team than Bayern at the moment who guarantees a winning combination of fame, fortune, and titles. Perhaps, there is also the attraction of wanting to work with Pep Guardiola. If Bayern’s interest in Lewandowski didn’t present itself, he may have stayed with Dortmund instead of moving abroad. Of course this is an assumption, but it shows how highly he thinks of Bayern Munich compared to other clubs. At the end of the day, he is a professional footballer doing his job. The life of a footballer is to maximize the window of opportunity for his playing career. Though he has taken the forbidden path, he chose what made him happy. No one compelled him to do so otherwise. Ultimately, it is only Robert Lewandowski who can answer this question regarding his present circumstances. “The past is a ghost, the future a dream. All we ever have is now.” - Bill Cosby
~
As if the Bavarian giants weren’t envied enough, they got even more flack. Landing the signature of Europe’s hottest prospect added one more jewel to their Crown of Domination. Some choice words to describe Bayern Munich on social media were “greedy” or “evil.” They snatched away the prized possession from the fingertips of their toughest rival. Once again. From a moral standpoint, it’s disrespectful to other clubs in the league if they continuously tempt their top talent. This gives critics the ammunition to say the Bundesliga is a boring, one-league team. In the long run, this could potentially end up hurting Bayern. If there are no direct challengers for the league title, Bayern can’t play to their full potential . The quality of the team’s playing abilities may drop. As a result, this affects their presence in European competitions. However, all of these points stray away from one essential question. How would you react if your club was in the same position? Would you turn away one of the best strikers in the game today if he was waiting at your club’s doorstep? Bayern didn’t spend a single cent for the initial acquisition of Lewandowski. Technically, getting a player for free does not mean “buying out” competition. Any club would be foolish not to take up this deal considering it’s a steal. Any person saying they would send Lewandowski back home isn’t being truthful either. Football is still the beautiful game, but modern times have evolved it into a business. Bayern are doing exactly what a good business should be doing by implementing cost efficiency and smart planning. For the 2012-13 season, Bayern’s record-breaking turnover in 113 years reinforced their impressive financial stability (link here). If this is considered to be “evil”, then all businesses are evil. Football is a unique business because it utilizes both emotional investment and strategy. The best strategy is the foundation for success, which Bayern are thriving on. “The best revenge is massive success.” - Frank Sinatra
~
“Either we get offered a huge amount of money fairly soon or Robert will stay with us until 2014 and score another 20 goals for us,” declared Hans-Joachim Watzke, Dortmund’s CEO. If Lewandowski was determined to join Bayern, then Dortmund were relentless to keep him a little longer. Was it Die Borussen’s mistake not to sell Lewandowski last summer when they had the chance? They could have sold him to a foreign club instead of seeing out his contract. Or so they say. Lewandowski’s strong desire to join Bayern Munich was very clear from the beginning. Whether Chelsea, Real Madrid, or Manchester City made an enticing offer wouldn’t have mattered. His eyes were on Bayern and only Bayern. If Lewandowski and his agent didn’t want to talk to other clubs, there was nothing Dortmund could do about it. So why exactly would Dortmund keep an unhappy striker? It was a risk to keep him, but it would have been an even bigger risk to let him go. Despite the number 9 publicly admitting his dismay, he hasn’t let it affect his performance. He still remains BVB’s biggest asset and will try to push the club to Champions League glory. Allowing another forward to take Lewandowski’s role could potentially disrupt team chemistry. Dortmund preparing for Lewandowski’s departure gives them ample time to scout a suitable replacement. In that case, UCL revenue will be all the more important.
The key to maximizing revenue is also maintaining a strong brand. As long as Robert Lewandowski wears the badge, he represents BVB’s brand. The more attention the club gets, the more its image will attract new players. The decision to not sell Lewandowski during Winterpause could have been connected to Mario Götze’s exit. Consecutively losing two, big names players is not something Dortmund wants to make a habit of. They want more quality players to come through their doors than leave. After all, one cannot put a price on nurturing young talent. “Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” - Joshua J. Marine
~
The Lewandowski saga is over, but it presented gray areas. It’s easy to put the blame on others, but not everything can be looked through one angle. If Lewandowski had a reason to leave, then Bayern had a reason to recruit. Only time will tell if this will have a lasting effect on Dortmund. One thing that won’t ever change? The excitement and entertainment Bundesliga brings every season.
Written by: Goral Patel
Follow me on Twitter: @goralpatel