>>>As I predicted, Germany easily beat Brazil! :rolleyes
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>>Stunner. Absolute stunner. Germany 7, Brazil 1, with the Brazilian goal scored in garbage time. Four goals in six minutes. In Brazil. Having to play without Neymar and Silva does not explain it. The outcome would not have been different even if the score had been different. Suddenly it's Germany looking invincible. (Then again, they said that in 1939 too).
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>>You know who I will be cheering for today.
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>>There was a really good article about Lionel Messi in the NY Times Sunday Magazine just before the Cup started. He was on the cover. It basically said he is certainly respected in Argentina but not beloved. It said he is perceived as too emotionally detached and not Argentinian enough. It said he doesn't inspire the passion Maradona did, even though Maradona went to prison for drugs. Maybe leading his country to the WC will thaw them out a little.
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>>UPDATE: One of the great moments in soccer history -- the "hand of God" goal. He was a kid from the slums (as Messi is not, although his family was not wealthy) and he did what he had to do.
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>Hi Mike,
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>Unfortunately. I was not able to watch the game but here is a little anecdote that springs to my mind:
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>Many moons ago when my son Alan was a senior in high school, we hosted an exchange student for the school year. His name was Gustavo Gabellini and he was from Porto Allegre, Brazil. Italian father and Brazilian mother.
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>He was here for the school year and naturally, the soccer coach wanted him on the team. (Alan was center midfielder and actually turned down scholarships). Gus was not a gifted soccer player and, in fact not particularly athletic but he was at least on a par with his American friends.
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>Here is the part that contains my point. One day the team was playing an away game and Gus was with them but not feeling well. He did not play much and at the end of the game he asked me if he could ride home with me rather than on the team bus. I suggested that he would probably want to be with the team... you know.. show team spirit. That concept was totally foreign to him. Granted, one small episode but it made me wonder about cultural differences. By the way we got similar quizzical responses when he was told he had to make his own bed, wash his own clothes and even, heaven forbid, go grocery shopping with me.:)
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>Don't get me wrong, it was a great learning experience for Gus and for us. He was very popular in school and had many friends. His mother still thanks us for our generosity but more for the life lessons he learned. We love him dearly and remain in touch. He is now a doctor in Sao Paulo.
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You are one of the good guys, Ken. I have said that before but it doesn't hurt to say it again.