Tag: sports

When There is Nothing to Play For

Play to win anyhow. Peter King writes about a meaningless game from fifteen years ago.

Fifteen years ago this week, on Dec. 29, 2007, the 15-0 New England Patriots traveled to New Jersey to try to finish an undefeated season against the New York Giants, who, in a playoff sense, had nothing to play for. They were locked in as the fifth seed in the NFC playoffs, due to play at Tampa Bay in the first round of the playoffs, win or lose in Week 17.

It’s one of the best regular-season games I’ve covered as a football writer, which is paradoxical. Why was a game with two teams locked into their playoff positions so good? The Patriots had clinched home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs entering that night, yet played like it was a playoff game because of the potential for an undefeated season. The Giants, after beating Buffalo the previous weekend, also had nothing to play for.

Tom Coughlin doesn’t play meaningless games, however. I’m glad to see the Giants’ coach that day has written a book now, A Giant Win (written with Greg Hanlon, Grand Central Publishing) to commemorate that championship season for the franchise—with special attention paid to the Saturday night game on the final weekend of that regular season.

Coughlin on the game, and on his decision to play his full team against the Patriots:

“As soon as we won the previous week, you know how this goes because it’s scripted somewhere for the writers. ‘OK, coach, you gonna play your starters against New England?’ It started right away. I listened to that a little bit. I thought to myself, ‘We are the New York Giants. We are the flagship team of the National Football League. We are red, white and blue. I am not going to allow that future historians would look back upon this game, where the Giants would play the Patriots, the Patriots having a chance to have an undefeated season, and the New York Giants do not put their best foot forward. We are going to play our starters. We are going to play to win.’

“When I told our team that on Monday, they rallied. They wanted to play against the 15-0 New England Patriots. If you remember, we’re leading in the fourth quarter. We got the lead. It’s one of those games where, they beat us, but when we walked off, we knew we could play with them.”

In the eyes of many, it was a 35-38 Giants’ victory over New England. Coaches hate moral victories, but this was one for the Giants. It was also memorable for New England, of course, finishing a perfect 16-0 regular season by beating back a gallant bid for a big upset by a heavy underdog. I remember Tom Brady and Randy Moss in the New England locker room post-game. They couldn’t stop smiling. Brady was downright giddy.

He wouldn’t be giddy five weeks later, but that’s another story. When I spoke to Coughlin recently about the game, it was a pre-dawn memory the next day that stood out.

“I gotta tell you one more story because this is what will be most meaningful,” he said. “It was a great performance. I’m really proud of my team. That’s a team that’s 16-0, we know we can play with them. All that stuff. Next morning at 5 o’clock I come into my office and I see the red light’s on the phone. A voicemail. I pick up the phone and it’s John Madden. He’s saying, ‘Tom, I just wanted to call. Because I want you to know that is the greatest thing that’s happened to the NFL in the last 10 years.’ He said, ‘This is the National Football League—we don’t NOT play our players. We owe a responsibility to our fans to perform every day. That’s what you did. I’m just so proud to be a part of that. I’m so proud of what you’ve accomplished and what your team has accomplished.’ He said, ‘I’m very emotional right now. But I want you to know how I felt.’ I played it for my team in our next team meeting. It was moving. Very moving.”

The two teams met in the Super Bowl. The Giants beat the previously 18-0 Patriots, 17-14.

This historical anecdote is a useful reminder that excellence has its roots in effort. And success isn’t just luck combined with talent, it’s also a consequence of positive philosophy.

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2-2 (4-2)

Argentina have won the World Cup. Congratulations to the Albiceleste and their fans. It’s good to see a national team that actually represents its nation win, instead of the team that represents the state that successfully imports the best Africans. And while it was a fun and exciting tournament, one is left with one conclusion.

Too many penalties. So many penalties.

The game really should not be designed to encourage teams to build their offense around playing for fouls in the box.

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Death at the World Cup

We don’t know it was the vaxx… but it was the vaxx. Grant Wahl, the dean of American soccer journalism, is dead at 48.

Grant Wahl, a former Sports Illustrated senior writer, died Friday in Qatar while covering the 2022 World Cup. He was 48. Wahl is survived by his wife, Dr. Céline Gounder, and two dogs, Zizou (named after French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane) and Coco, who readers came to know over the years through Wahl’s coverage of the sport.

In a joint statement, SI’s co-editors in chief, Ryan Hunt and Stephen Cannella, said: “We’re shocked and devastated at the news of Grant’s passing. We were proud to call him a colleague and friend for two decades—no writer in the history of SI has been more passionate about the sport he loved and the stories he wanted to tell. Our hearts go out to Céline and his family, as well as everyone who loved his work. He will always be part of the SI family.”

Wahl spent 24 years at SI, joining in November 1996. Two years in, as a budding reporter, he volunteered to cover a growing game that few around SI’s offices cared about: soccer. He covered the World Cup in France that summer and quickly worked his way up to a senior writer for the publication in 2000. Eventually he would become one of the most respected soccer authorities in the world.

He was an excellent sportswriter, and he died with his boots on:

American sports journalist Grant Wahl, who died unexpected while covering the World Cup in Qatar, was in good spirits and joking with colleagues just minutes before his sudden death, an eyewitness said. Wahl, 48, died after he “fell ill” at the Lusail Stadium in the final minutes of the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal game between the Netherlands and Argentina Friday, a Qatari spokesperson said.

His SI colleague John Wertheim remembers him. RIP.

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Goodbye Brazil

And this is why no Brazilian has ever considered Neymar to be anywhere near Pele’s level despite setting the all-time scoring record for the Selecao. Nice goal in extra time, to be sure, but scoring just one goal in 120 minutes is a very bad idea against a team as good at taking penalties as Croatia.

FIFA’s dream final of Portugal (Ronaldo) vs Argentine (Messi) is still possible.

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The Ultimate Troll

“It truly has been a second home to me.”
–Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, on Soldier Field, after the Packers beat Chicago 28-19

You really have to keep in mind the context here. Because, with yesterday’s victory, the Green Bay Packers finally surpassed the Chicago Bears for the most NFL wins by a franchise. Both teams entered the game with 786 wins; the Packers now have 787. The New York Giants are in third place at 713. This is the first time the Bears haven’t led the NFL in all-time wins since 1921, when they were known as the Decatur Staleys.

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Banzai!

  1. Japan
  2. Spain
  3. Germany
  4. Costa Rica

Needless to say, I did NOT see that coming! I still think Spain is the obvious favorite; that was Spain’s B team that lost 2-1 to a very spirited Japan team that absolutely merited both the game and the group. Japan has been the most entertaining team of the tournament so far. And it’s both unexpected and extremely satisfying to see that the Gerfrican team, which looked like a joint German-Ghanaian effort, is going home without even reaching the knockout stage.

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Go Woke and Choke

Wales is the latest World Cup team to lose after making a public display of their dedication to the rainbow agenda.

ITEM: Gareth Bale’s side wore rainbow shirts during their-warmup ahead of the crucial game. Captain Bale led the way as all 26 players wore a white top with multi-coloured stripes running down each shoulder pre-match. Following the warm-up, the players returned down the tunnel and later re-emerged wearing Adidas jackets with rainbow flashes amid an ongoing row with FIFA over political statements and its ban on the LGBTQ ‘OneLove armband.

So brave. Much wow!

ITEM: Disaster for Wales at the World Cup after Welsh goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey was sent off for clash with Iranian. Wales have suffered a gut-wrenching 2-0 defeat in their crucial match with Iran
Wayne Hennessey was sent off and Iran struck the post before two late goals.

The soccer gods are clearly not amused by teams that put politics and globalist propaganda ahead of sports.

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Saudi Arabia 2, Argentina 1

Saudi Arabia Stuns Messi, Argentina With Comeback Win at World Cup. Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari scored just five minutes apart to overcome an early Lionel Messi goal in a massive World Cup upset.

The craziest thing is that the Saudis actually merited the win. Their French coach gambled on a very risky defensive strategy and it paid off.

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Clown World Fails in Qatar

The Gay Rainbow brigade is afraid to stand up for their fake human rights at the World Cup:

Qatar’s conservative regime has been clamping down on pro-LGBT football fans with rainbow bucket hats, T-shirts and flags as Harry Redknapp had his say and declared today: ‘I just want to get on and enjoy the football. If you feel that strongly don’t play or don’t go’.

The farcical row over Harry Kane and other captains facing a ban from the pitch for wearing a rainbow armband has spilled over to the stadiums of Doha.

Last night former Wales captain Laura McAllister was among female football fans who were ‘told to take off their rainbow bucket hats’ at the Qatari stadium ahead of the Dragons’ first match. Men, however, were allowed to keep them on.

US football reporter Grant Wahl was stopped by security at the same match and ordered to take off his rainbow T-shirt. He refused and the Qatari officials questioned him before they eventually backed down. One security guard told him that they were protecting him from fans inside who might’ve attacked him for wearing the shirt.

FIFA has made it clear that rainbows on clothing and flags is not prohibited in stadiums – but have acted to prevent protests on the pitch. Organisers of the Qatar World Cup and Qatari cultural groups have also urged visitors to respect their customs and religious rules. These including no drinking or swearing in public, wearing modest clothes and no public displays of affection. LGBT people are criminalised and they have also faced discrimination and violence.

Harry Kane did not wear his ‘One Love’ armband during England’s game against Iran because of the threat of a yellow card after orders from the FA. The England captain had previously said he was determined to put it on, and was accused of ‘bottling it’.

On the sidelines former England footballer Alex Scott, now a BBC broadcaster, wore the armband during a live broadcast.

Veteran football manager Harry Redknapp told LBC today that he backed Kane’s pro LGBT stance, but suggested he believes it will make no difference in Qatar.

He said: ‘I agree with Harry Kane. But we’ve gone to their country – If you feel that strongly don’t play or don’t go. I don’t know whether wearing the armband will change anything in that country. It’s their country and that’s how they want to run it. I just want to get on and enjoy the football. But a yellow card for wearing an armband is ridiculous’.

Qatar, like Russia, China, and the rest of the free world, has learned from the failure and subjugation of the former West to Clown World. If you give the clowns an inch, they will take a marathon’s worth of miles. Isn’t it interesting how “it’s just a rainbow” and “it’s just a t-shirt” and “it’s just an armband” suddenly become an outrageous authoritarian denial of so-called “human rights” as soon as they are banned?

If it’s just a t-shirt, then what’s the problem with banning it? If it’s just an armband, why are you vowing to accept any punishment in order to wear it?

As always, they speak with forked tongues. It’s not as if FIFA or the clown media would ever permit a team to wear a swastika armband, even if it was a Hindu team from India. It’s just too bad Qatar hasn’t banned the ridiculous prematch submission to St. George Floyd as well.

Clown World is literally built on lies, chief among them being that the political is personal until it is made mandatory.

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The World Cup is Fake and Gay

Everything in Clown World is fake and gay, so it should be no surprise that even the biggest sporting events are too:

Allegations of ‘fake fans’ at the World Cup in Qatar are growing as videos emerge of identikit fans wearing shirts from different countries, after FIFA president Gianni Infantino claimed the suggestions were ‘pure racism’ in a rambling speech ahead of the tournament kicking off tomorrow.

Videos shared online show large groups of men, mostly of Indian origin, wearing the colours of national teams including England, Germany and Argentina, leading to speculation they had been ‘hired’ by Qatar to build atmosphere for the competition.

The groups of fans are kitted out in football kits and near-identical banners reading ‘England fans Qatar’ and ‘Germany fans Qatar’ along with drums and instruments not usually associated with supporters from those countries.

One video shows a presenter asking different groups of fans who will win the World Cup.

Each crowd responds with the name of their team – in English rather than the language native to each country. Most of the banners held by the fans are also written in English. 

It appears the technology to show seemingly full stands of digital fans has not yet been developed yet. Of course, it’s only a matter of time before they start faking the players as well as the fans; think about how much more money the Clown World corpocrats could make if they didn’t have to actually pay the players anything. This is but a harbinger of the fake gay world that the globalists want to construct.

Isn’t it amusing how “racist” has become the catch-all response to criticisms of Clown World, no matter how nonsensical? It demonstrates how futile it is to imagine that intellectual engagement with these inverted irrealists is even possible, let alone likely to be successful.

UPDATE: Eight UEFA nations, including Germany, Denmark, Wales and Holland, announced they would wear One Love armbands as a sign of their commitment to gay rights.

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