>>>>>>>>You defining American football in terms of "physical power" tells me that you don't understand it <g>. It is ok :).
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>A man like Messi would be an American football player? He is a short and thin man and:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>"At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency.[20] Local powerhouse River Plate showed interest in Messi's progress, but did not have enough money to pay..."
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Messi>>>>>>
>>>>>>My problem with Messi is that he always disappears on the biggest stage. He plays great during the regular season but put a spotlight on him and he's suddenly not there.
>>>>>
>>>>>Just a stereotype:
>>>>>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Messi#Honours>>>>
>>>>That is a very biased article but I will concede the point. He has had a better career than I was giving him credit for.
>>>
>>>If you want to give a talented footballer stick for being a d___k I always choose Cristiano Ronaldo
>>
>>Good point ;-)
>>
>>Do you have a favo(u)rite in the Euro cup, other than the obvious one?
>
>Spain.But one thing I don't like about their game and about the way the game has gone as a whole is the way its become almost a non contact sport. The robust defenders of the past would have trouble playing now . Also Spain (like Barcelona) with their unrelenting passing play seem to lack a plan B when thats not working out and maybe sides are beginning to realise that.Possession means nothing if you can't score..
Good observations. I really did enjoy watching Spain vs. Italy. It was exciting just watching it on TV.
Between the Euro and the NBA finals I have been watching about 10 times my normal amount of TV. The basketball finals have been riveting, white knuckle time (to coin a phrase). It's the young Oklahoma City Thunder (the who? from where?) against the Miami Heat, who may be the most scrutinized basketball team of all time. It started two years ago when the Heat signed LeBron James to join Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in a power trio that would bring a championship to Miami Beach. To my surprise, I find myself cheering for the Heat. D-Wade and Shane Battier have long been among my favorite flayers in the league.
The revelation has been new respect for LeBron. For quite I while I really was not a fan. He won his third MVP this season, so it's not like he's been sitting in the upper deck wearing a hoodie. He has stepped up. You aren't considered among the all time greats until you've got that ring, and LeBron is playing like a man possessed to win one. Even Michael Jordan was dissed as a highlight player who "would never win the big one." He is going for it. There is a fierceness in his whole demeanor. The young Thunder are not going to be rolled over, maybe it's their time already, but they are going to have to go through LeBron.
Stan Van Gundy, the uber geek commentator on the telecasts, put it pretty well, I thought. He said LeBron isn't the boy wonder any more. He's a grown man.
UPDATE: Van Gundy had another great comment. It was about the moment that will always be held against LeBron. When he left the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the heat he announced at a press conference, in an arena, that he was "taking his talents to South Beach." The press conference was televised. He will never live that down. Van Gundy said OK, there is a statute of limitations on stupidity.
