Tag Archives: football

Is it better to win or to just play well?

24 Sunday Jun 2018

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“Everything I know about morality and the obligations of men, I owe it to football (soccer).” – Albert Camus

I love the World Cup. The fact that it happens only once every 4 years makes it even more special.

It is beautiful to see countries from all over the world, all sorts of history, different cultures and background play with and against each other. I love seeing all the different fans celebrating together as in a big party.

In Brazil soccer is a source of pride.  We have Pele, one of the best players ever. We won the World Cup 5 times.  The most cups ever won by a country.  Coming on our heels are Germany and Italy with 4 each. Italy, shockingly,  is not in the tournament.   Germany, who was in trouble but miraculously scored a goal in the last few second of their second game, are on the way to try to tie us for the number of cups won.

We have the “jogo bonito”. The Jogo bonito means the beautiful game. The phrase was coined to describe Brazil’s style of playing.  A game with beautiful passes and flair. It is samba with a ball and without music.

“Win without boasting. Lose without excuse.” – Albert Payson Terhune

I should say we had, past tense, the jogo bonito has been nowhere in sight for years now.  We, somehow decided to go for another style, more technical.  Jogo bonito is now a thing of the past.  It seems we used to play from the heart, with heart, and now  it is all business,  all egos.  Who scores the most goals, who is the best player

Not only we are not playing a beautiful game anymore, we are, at times, are acting like whiny babies, falling too much, complaining too much. It has been embarrassing at times to watch Brazil play now. I know that Neymar, our top scorer, is heavily marked on the field, but at times I think some of his antics are a little too much.  He loses his temper and becomes like a spoiled child. Sometimes I want to shake him and say: Man up!

“I have no sense of humor about losing” – Rafael Nadal

We have played 2 games so far and we were well below expectations and all the hype going into the tournament. We tied the first game and won the second.  Game 2 was better than game 1, but still nothing impressive.  I hope we continue growing and I hope that we can find that beautiful game again and show the world that we are indeed the team to beat, fair and square.

But more than prove anything to the world, Brazilian players need to prove to themselves, and to give us Brazilians a reason to be proud of our soccer again.

In game and in life what is better, to have a beautifully played game or to just get a win?  You may play beautifully but not live to see another day, so there it that mentally of doing what you need to do to just survive, to just win the game.

“Winning isn’t everything–but wanting to win is.” – Vince Lombardi Jr.

In a perfect world the best team would win.  But life is not always fair. Who is to say who really is the best team?  Life is always a lesson, and in the end I believe all evens out. Everyone wins some, loses some and learns something.

May the best team win, the one with more heart, the one with more passion, the one that wants the most.

“Many people say I’m the best women’s soccer player in the world. I don’t think so. And because of that, someday I just might be.” – Mia Hamm

Love it or hate it: the World Cup is here!!

21 Saturday Jun 2014

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I am in a World Cup mood!  I love love love World Cup!

There was a lot of controversy surrounding the preparations for the World Cup in Brazil. There was too much money spent with not much to show for, unfinished stadiums, airports not ready to deal with the amount of travelers, violent protests, etc, etc. There were even moments when some people doubted it it would actually happen, and if it should happen.  One way or another the World Cup is here, so we may as well enjoy it and make the best of it.

It is a known fact in Brazil that some people think that football and carnival is a way that corrupt politicians distract the Brazilian people from all the problems.  I think that perhaps there is a grain of truth in that, but I am choosing at this time not to discuss how passive we Brazilians tend to be and how easily distracted we are with music and sports.  Right now I am just going to discuss my enjoyment of the World Cup.

When I first heard that Brazil would host the World Cup I was so excited  and ready to attend, but when the time came I decided to watch it from the safety and comfort of my living room. My fear was not as much for violence, but more for the chaos and confusion.  I now question if I have made the right decision after all who knows when there will be another World Cup in Brazil.

I am enjoying all the games, but I have to mention the Opening Ceremony. It was a major disappointment.  This is Brazil, so much was expected, so little was delivered.  We put a major Carnival production every year that is truly majestic.  For the World Cup we had 4 years to prepare and all we came up with was something that looked like it was a high school production. It was embarrassing to watch!!  I couldn’t believe my eyes and kept hoping it would get better – it didn’t!  Why? Why? Why?

Well it turns out the answer is actually just simple four letters: FIFA!!!! FIFA was in charge, FIFA is always in charge when it comes to the World Cup.  FIFA hired 2 foreigners to organize it.  Why would they get someone from outside when we have so many capable and talented people in-house? Who better to produce and stage the ceremony than the host itself?  It was supposed to be our party, but it turns out we are just the host, we are just lending our land to FIFA. It was such a wasted chance to highlight to the world the beauty of Brazil beyond Rio and the Amazon, beyond beaches and dancing girls.

Ceremony is over, so now on to the games.  Brazil started off the tournament with the game against Croatia.  It was lackluster and controversial due to a penalty kick that was called that amounted only to poor acting. We didn’t play well but we won, and I am sad to say that in this case I will take an ugly win over a pretty loss. Our second game (against Mexico) was a nail biter.  It was probably the most exciting scoreless game I ever watched, but Brazil showed it needs to improve or we will not go far. And credit to Croatia and Mexico they played very well.  Mexico’s goalkeeper was just phenomenal!  It seems all the teams have forgotten who is the sheriff in this town! Lol  Would it kill them to just let us run away with the Cup?  All kidding aside, it is good to see some so-called underdogs thriving.  Speaking of underdogs, the US was brilliant in their first game and I am looking forward to US vs Portugal on Sunday. Soccer is one of the few areas where the US is considered an underdog, I think it is good – it builds character! 🙂

We play Cameroon next and we should win easily, BUT, if there is one thing that this Cup is showing us is that there is no sure bet.  I will be glued to my TV with my heart beating out of my chest until the referee whistles the end of the game.

“Soccer isn’t the same as Bach or Buddhism. But it is often more deeply felt than religion, and just as much a part of the community’s fabric, a repository of traditions.” ― Franklin Foer, How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization

It is hard for Americans to understand this passion for soccer.  They call the game boring.  I understand them, they were not born into it.  I am not going to try to justify it or explain it. I am just going to describe it what it is for me.

To me the World Cup is not just a sporting event.  It is tradition, it is culture, it is patriotism, it is love, it is passion, and it is pride.   For the longest time in Brazil we were in such dire economical disaster that it seemed that the only things we could be proud of was soccer and carnival.  Here is something that we are good at, here is something to be proud and happy with. (happy to report there is much more to be proud of)

“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it.”  ― Mark Twain

Soccer is a sport universally loved.  At World Cup time people don’t root only for their team, but for their country.  No matter your social status, religion, gender, color, political affiliation, anything, at this one time we are all together hoping for the same outcome.  For a month it seems we forget the differences (for the most part, unfortunately as we have seen in Kenya, some use the opportunity to level attacks).

This time brings me closer to my roots, to my country. I am also American and I will be watching and rooting for the US, but I cannot lie, my heart belongs to Brazil.  I am Brazil and the World Cup and Brazil and the World Cup are me.  I grew up with it, it is in my veins.  I rarely watched soccer, but World Cup is different, it is a whole other level.  I look forward to it and I watch every game I can.  At work I have 2 computer screens, at this time one is for work and the other is for the Cup. If Brazil is playing, then I go home to watch it.

I am looking forward to the rest of the tournament no matter how Brazil fares. (is it bad to say that I want anyone to win except Argentina and Italy? 🙂 Argentina-it is a Pele vs Maradona thing, Italy- I don’t want anyone to equal our number of wins! )

I am looking forward to the fans and their crazy costumes.  I am looking forward to great goals and even greater saves. I am looking forward to the National Anthems. I am looking forward to it all. I am in a World Cup mood and I love it!

I hope that at the end the fans that traveled to Brazil will take back with them amazing memories of a country, that, even though it needs a lot fixing, is still full of amazing welcoming people.  I hope they remember the people, the beauty, the experience.

Go Brasil! Make me proud!

Day 15: … and the chocolate cake of choice is

06 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by in Dating, Food

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So here it is the cake of choice:

Bittersweet Chocolate Cake (Milk Chocolate Ganache)

It was delicious but it didn’t taste like I expected it would.  In a way it was kind of a let down.  Chocolate doesn’t taste the same to me anymore.

I feel chocolate doesn’t have a hold on me anymore.  I feel freed from an addiction!  Even though AL and I shared that small dessert, there was even some left.  Today I bought hot chocolate for a co-workers and chose coffee for myself.

I know that at another time of the month (pms) I will crave chocolate and indulge in it, but it feels great not to feel controlled by it anymore.  It feels great not to want it!

Don’t get me wrong, I battle sugar constantly, some days are easier than others, but I feel that conquering chocolate is progress and brings me closer to having a normal relationship with sugar.

***

So last night, we had a great meal at a local restaurant called Alvin and Friends http://www.alvinandfriendsrestaurant.com!  I had Caramelized Salmon with Roasted Potatoes, Asparagus, Pot Likker Butter Sauce.  AL had Braised Curried Lamb Shank with Black Eyed Pea Vegetable Salad, Lemon-Truffle Vinaigrette.  Both dishes were delicious!  But we both still vote the duck the best dish there – and I am not even a duck person!!

Followed by conversation, music and even some Sunday night football!

Life is amazing and it keeps getting better all the time!! 🙂