Tag: sports

Ender came home from soccer practice the other day with mixed news. On the plus side, he was the youngest player to make the team at the elite level for which he is now eligible. Most of the players from his last year’s team are now out of the sport or transferring to lesser clubs. On the downside, he reported that he’d lost his first fight, although besides being slightly wild-eyed he didn’t look any the worse for wear to me.

I don’t tend to get worked up over the occasional fracas since there is a definite “boys will be boys” attitude here, but I was furious when he told me the details, as he was jumped before practice by a bigger kid two years older, who kicked him in the face from behind while Ender was passing the ball back-and-forth with a teammate. A second kid, also older, then grabbed him around the neck when he whirled around and tried to hold him back for the first kid to punch. Ender took a few shots to the face and got a bloody nose out of it, but in the process he managed to bloody the first kid’s nose by kicking him in the face, and messed up the second kid’s leg by raking his shin and kicking his knee with his heel.

The kid with whom Ender had been passing the ball tried to intervene, but was flattened for his trouble, until finally the star of the team, who is more than a bit of an athletic specimen, jumped in and punched the two kids off Ender to break things up. The strange thing is that the two kids are new to the club and Ender didn’t know either of them. So, my suspicion is that they were trying to assert themselves by picking on the youngest kid, who unfortunately carries himself with misleading body language that tends to lead aggressors to believe he is an easier target than is in fact the case. Alternatively, there are some girls who have made it eminently clear that they like him, and I’m wondering if that might have something to do with it.

Anyhow, as I pointed out, it was much more of a draw than a loss, because the second kid’s knee was too badly hurt to permit him to practice, so he went home, and then after practice, the first kid challenged Ender in front of the others, then, when Ender indicated his willingness to reopen hostilities on equal terms, backed down. Besides being fairly tough after three years of judo, Ender is now as tall as I am, and while he doesn’t have much mass to him yet, the kid is ripped. However, he doesn’t have much in the way of strike training yet, which is an oversight I intend to rectify.

Ender was vastly amused, however, by my initial reaction, as well as the reaction of the two Dragons I told about it, as we were uniformly focused on the tactical situation. Besides ambuscades and kicking high, the kid apparently likes to grab the neck with his left, pull his victim forward, and then throw punches with his right hand. So, we went over obliquing and arm bars, as well as the catch, lift, and twist routine for dealing with kickers. If the kid does manage to close, rather than trying to pull away, move in, cover up with one elbow, and work the ribs until he pulls away, then switch to elbows and knees. It’s with some difficulty that I’m going to leave matters up to Ender at his request rather than complain to the club, but if the kid is dumb enough to attack Ender again, I very much doubt he’s coming out of it without a broken arm and possibly a few broken ribs.

One of the hard things as a father is learning when you can step in and take care of a problem for your son and when you have to step back and let him take care of his own business. As much as I’d love to put the fear of me into the little bastard (as in The Dark Knight and “SWEAR TO ME”) and I have no doubt that I could, I have to step back here.

Now, I think turning the other cheek is important. I have even done it on occasion, once when I was perfectly within my rights to break the other individual’s jaw. And Ender has been very good about making peace with past assailants; he’s quite friendly now with the oversized kid who caused him trouble last season. But there is a time for peace and there is a time for war. This would appear to be one of the latter.

On a happier note, Ender is beginning his professional refereeing career this weekend, and I’ll have the opportunity to be there since my team will be one of the two sides playing. I have already explained to him that it is bad form, and more than a little unwise, to blow the offsides whistle on any attacking player who has the power to decide the referee’s bedtime.

I know that my time on the soccer field is growing shorter. I’m the second-oldest man on the veteran’s team, and the other guy is only a few months older. I think both of us have survived because we have the benefit of relatively fresh knees, I missed 10 years of playing after high school, plus three years more years after an old groin injury flared up, while he didn’t play for nearly 20 years before getting back into the sport.

The fall season started tonight, and it was my best first practice I’ve ever had. Knowing that we’d be getting some new guys who are 14 years younger, I figured I’d better get myself in prime shape if I wanted to hang onto my starting spot. So, I barely missed a workout this summer, added a leg day to the schedule, and made sure to run at least once a week on the treadmill. By last week, I was able to do a 40-minute run with a constant elevation that burned over a thousand calories and still have something left.

When I went to the field, I discovered that the coaches decided we’d have a scrimmage between the vets and the first team. We had more vets, and since my Dutch friend and I were already wearing blue, we were sent to play with the first team. And damn, they were GOOD on the ball. I actually got the first shot, which I put wide, and I managed to keep up with their tiki-taka on the rare occasions they passed it to me instead of pushing it forward, pulling it back, spinning around, and going between two vets. For the most part, I was a spectator, which was fine with me. I was just happy that my occasional passes hit the target.

But my real teammates have been doing this for a LONG time. They dealt with all the flashy ball skills by using their heavier weight to knock the kids around and taking advantage of the young guys typical failure to stay back on defense. They actually scored the first three goals, so I switched back to defense and that helped shut them down. I know how our guys play, I’m faster than most of them, and our rapid counterattacks eventually tired them out. After 90 minutes, they’d only scored twice more and we’d scored seven or eight.

At one point, I brought the ball up from the back and somehow managed to beat four guys in succession before passing off, but the best part was when I saw one young midfielder less than half my age bending over and holding his knees. I laughed at him as I jogged back into position; he looked at me in disbelief and shook his head. Now, don’t get me wrong, I can’t play seriously at their level; their intensity, quickness, and energy is considerably more than I can match. They are in constant motion whereas I have to play a position game and choose my bursts. But it’s rather nice to know that they can’t blow me off the field yet.

It may not be the Brazil v Spain clash of the titans most were anticipating at the start of the tournament, but it’s a very interesting matchup nonetheless. Germany has clearly demonstrated it has the best team in the World Cup, while Argentina has, not quite so clearly, demonstrated that it has, if not the best, one of the best individual players in the tournament.

The case for Germany: Argentina is exhausted. Messi is exhausted. Two of their best players, di Maria and Mascheranno, are less than 100 percent. Several teams, including Holland, have demonstrated that Messi can be kept in check by an aggressive midfield. Germany is well-rested, confident, and injury-free. Lowe has shown that he can select the right rosters and make the right tactical substitutions during the game.

The case for Argentina. Messi. It’s a quasi-home game. And as far as the narrative goes, it would make the final an all-time epic if Messi was somehow able to lead Argentina over the heavily favored Germans; Argentina is 2.5-to-1 underdog.

Conclusion: There is no way Germany doesn’t win. It won’t go to penalties. It won’t go to extra time. I expect Germany to come out strong and to attempt to crush the Argentine spirit early. Holland tried to play conservative and outlast the Albiceleste, and it didn’t work out well for them. Die Mannschaft won’t make the same mistake. Germany 3-0.

GERMANY 0 ARGENTINA 0 Argentina has done very well to take the game to extra time. They have Germany right where they want them, in fact, if Higuina could simply put his shots on goal, they would have already won. Messi, too, has missed one very good opportunity. Argentina’s lack of finishing has been dreadful; it seems that more than half their shots have gone wide. But in Kadir’s absence, Germany has been playing too conservatively, Ozil has been a nonentity again, and I have no idea what Lowe was thinking by playing the 36-year old Klose for 85 minutes instead of taking him out 10 minutes after halftime.

I don’t care about basketball, much less the NBA. But in a world of superpaid sports stars chasing championships and money and lower state income taxes, it’s almost mindblowing for a bona fide superstar in his prime to defy all the experts and announce that he’s going to return to Cleveland because it’s the place he calls home:

Before anyone ever cared where I would play basketball, I was a kid from Northeast Ohio. It’s where I walked. It’s where I ran. It’s where I cried. It’s where I bled. It holds a special place in my heart. People there have seen me grow up. I sometimes feel like I’m their son. Their passion can be overwhelming. But it drives me. I want to give them hope when I can. I want to inspire them when I can. My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball. I didn’t realize that four years ago. I do now.

Remember when I was sitting up there at the Boys & Girls Club in 2010? I was thinking, This is really tough. I could feel it. I was leaving something I had spent a long time creating. If I had to do it all over again, I’d obviously do things differently, but I’d still have left. Miami, for me, has been almost like college for other kids. These past four years helped raise me into who I am. I became a better player and a better man. I learned from a franchise that had been where I wanted to go. I will always think of Miami as my second home. Without the experiences I had there, I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing today.

I went to Miami because of D-Wade and CB. We made sacrifices to keep UD. I loved becoming a big bro to Rio. I believed we could do something magical if we came together. And that’s exactly what we did! The hardest thing to leave is what I built with those guys. I’ve talked to some of them and will talk to others. Nothing will ever change what we accomplished. We are brothers for life.  I also want to thank Micky Arison and Pat Riley for giving me an amazing four years.

I’m doing this essay because I want an opportunity to explain myself uninterrupted. I don’t want anyone thinking: He and Erik Spoelstra didn’t get along. … He and Riles didn’t get along. … The Heat couldn’t put the right team together. That’s absolutely not true.

I’m not having a press conference or a party. After this, it’s time to get to work.

When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission. I was seeking championships, and we won two. But Miami already knew that feeling. Our city hasn’t had that feeling in a long, long, long time. My goal is still to win as many titles as possible, no question. But what’s most important for me is bringing one trophy back to Northeast Ohio.

I always believed that I’d return to Cleveland and finish my career there. I just didn’t know when. After the season, free agency wasn’t even a thought. But I have two boys and my wife, Savannah, is pregnant with a girl. I started thinking about what it would be like to raise my family in my hometown. I looked at other teams, but I wasn’t going to leave Miami for anywhere except Cleveland. The more time passed, the more it felt right. This is what makes me happy.

To make the move I needed the support of my wife and my mom, who can be very tough. The letter from Dan Gilbert, the booing of the Cleveland fans, the jerseys being burned — seeing all that was hard for them. My emotions were more mixed. It was easy to say, “OK, I don’t want to deal with these people ever again.” But then you think about the other side. What if I were a kid who looked up to an athlete, and that athlete made me want to do better in my own life, and then he left? How would I react? I’ve met with Dan, face-to-face, man-to-man. We’ve talked it out. Everybody makes mistakes. I’ve made mistakes as well. Who am I to hold a grudge?

I’m not promising a championship. I know how hard that is to deliver. We’re not ready right now. No way. Of course, I want to win next year, but I’m realistic. It will be a long process, much longer than it was in 2010. My patience will get tested. I know that. I’m going into a situation with a young team and a new coach. I will be the old head. But I get a thrill out of bringing a group together and helping them reach a place they didn’t know they could go. I see myself as a mentor now and I’m excited to lead some of these talented young guys. I think I can help Kyrie Irving become one of the best point guards in our league. I think I can help elevate Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters. And I can’t wait to reunite with Anderson Varejao, one of my favorite teammates.

But this is not about the roster or the organization. I feel my calling here goes above basketball. I have a responsibility to lead, in more ways than one, and I take that very seriously. My presence can make a difference in Miami, but I think it can mean more where I’m from. I want kids in Northeast Ohio, like the hundreds of Akron third-graders I sponsor through my foundation, to realize that there’s no better place to grow up. Maybe some of them will come home after college and start a family or open a business. That would make me smile. Our community, which has struggled so much, needs all the talent it can get.

In Northeast Ohio, nothing is given. Everything is earned. You work for what you have.

I’m ready to accept the challenge. I’m coming home.

It’s remarkable to see how James declines to hold a grudge against Dan Gilbert after the Cavaliers owner published a bitter, nasty open letter to him after he left Cleveland for Miami. This is the statement, and action, of a man who embraces responsibility and leadership. I won’t be surprised if there are more than a few people outside Northeast Ohio hoping that one day, LeBron James is able to present that one trophy to the place, and the people, he obviously loves.

After last night’s Brazilian meltdown, I can’t imagine either of these teams are feeling great about their chances against the Teutonic steamroller. But someone has to play the role of the sacrificial lamb, and after all, it is an honor to simply be nominated as a World Cup finalist.

Holland is the glaringly obvious choice, in light of the fact that Argentina will be missing Di Maria, its second most-effective player of this World Cup. But Argentina has the second coming of the little magician on its side in the grand tradition of Diego Maradona, so it is simply not possible to count out la Albiceleste.

The Oranje have no Dennis Bergkamp to save them now from the magic of Messi. Look for Argentina to uphold the tattered honor of CONMEBOL!

EXTRA TIME: Neither team can manage to get past the back four and everyone is afraid to shoot in the box.

This is exactly the matchup I would have expected at the beginning of the tournament. But it looks very different than the one I was expecting; I assumed Brazil would blow away Germany at home without too much trouble. Now everyone is assuming that Germany will overpower a Seleção missing both its best player and its captain.

But I’m not so sure. Hulk hasn’t been scoring, but he hasn’t been off by much and I really don’t like Germany’s tall, but slow defenders playing a high offsides trap against him. And if Neuer comes out of the box 20 times to cover for them like he did in one game earlier in the tournament, he likely won’t finish the game. I doubt it will escape Scolari’s attention that France never attacked that high line with central through balls.

Also, Germany has really not been very impressive aside from its first-game demolition of Portugal, which looks considerably less significant after the USA all but beat them. So, I’m going to go against the grain and anticipate that the Seleção  will ride the crowd, and the referee’s favor, to an upset of Germany.

UPDATE: ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? Four goals in six minutes. It’s 5-0 and Germany is absolutely humiliating Brazil. Brazil looks like a little kid’s team with no idea how to play defense.

GERMANY 7 BRAZIL 1 And it wasn’t that close. I think we have our answer now about which German team is the real one. It’s the one that destroyed Portugal, not the one that toyed with Ghana, France, and the USA. I’ve played on two teams that beat badly overmatched teams 13-0 (and scored nine of the 26 goals in those games myself), and neither of those victories were as comprehensively destructive as this World Cup semifinal.

Also, between the pass, the first touch, and the finish, I think Schurlle’s goal had to be the goal of the tournament… so far.

Everyone has to appreciate what Costa Rica has done in this tournament. They were amazing in the group stage and no one expected them to make it this far, let alone win the Group and make it past the first knock-out game. That being said, there is no way they can hang with the Oranje tonight. No way. It’s been a phenomenal run for Costa Rica, and between them, Mexico, and the USA, any discussion of the possibility of removing a slot from CONCACAF has been silenced. But it ends here.

Argentina v Belgium is an interesting question. Belgium has the better team, but Argentina has Messi. Is that enough? I don’t think so. Belgium also has one of the best central defenders in the world in Kompany; that’s not enough to cancel out Messi, but it should be enough to slow him down. And while Messi has been brilliant at times, he simply hasn’t taken control of the games the way some were expecting.

ARGENTINA 1 BELGIUM 0. A goal that is both lucky and well-struck in the eighth minute is the only one; a deflection bounces to Higuaín, who immediately buries a nice volley. Like France yesterday, Belgium never seemed to get in gear. Messi has the opportunity to put the game away in injury time, but can’t beat the keeper on a one-on-one. He’s very good, but he’s no Maradona.

And Brazil v Colombia. Two big games. While I really like the way the French have been playing, the Germans regularly raise their game and I expect them to be able to hold off the very good French attack UNLESS they play the same high offsides-trap that they featured against the USA. That’s simply not going to work when France can throw three fast strikers against it, particularly given a French midfield that actually believes in providing its attackers with through balls.

I’m expecting the big upset in the later game. Brazil has not impressed me, not even a little bit. Fred has shown nothing, Hulk is a brute who tries hard and bears absolutely no resemblance to the Romarios and Ronaldos of World Cups past, and Neymar is clearly struggling with the weight of having to carry the nation’s expectations very nearly on his own. Colombia isn’t afraid of anyone and they are playing very well as a team. I think they’ll win and they won’t even need extra time or penalties to do it.

Germany 1 France 0. Frankly, a rather boring game. Germany scored early on a set piece, France never seemed to feel much sense of urgency, and I didn’t see a single through ball attacking Germany’s high defensive line. France had a chance or two, but nothing too crucial, and neither team seemed to have much in the way of energy. Rather disappointing from the same French team that crushed a good Swiss team 5-3.

FIRST HALF: Brazil 1 Colombia 0. This is the best Brazil has looked all tournament. The goal was a bit lucky, since Thiago Silva caught the Colombian defender sleeping on the far post, but Brazil has had most of the good chances. Colombia has a 4-on-2 that is so inept they don’t even manage to get a shot off. At this point, Brazil looks capable of winning by three.