Top 1 moment ‘I wish I could speak some Chinese’
Friday, 22 August 08, 07:34 AM
BEIJING (CHINA) - Communication is by far the biggest enigma from Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. It doesn’t matter if you know the name of your destination in Chinese. When you speak, they just don’t understand. The accent is so different that I already gave up.
For the worst moments, a telephone number with a friend who speaks the local language is the only option.
But, even the telephone can fail. So here is my sad history:
My accreditation is not valid for tennis. I am a huge fan of Roger Federer and I made a lot of effort to get a pass for one of his games. But, I had to do table tennis before as part of my work here. I had enough time. One hour left between the end of my article in the table tennis venue and the Olympic Green, where the tennis courts are.
So I asked a volunteer to help me to find a cab and tell him where he should go. They spoke 3 minutes in Chinese, looked at me and gave me lots of OK OK OK OK. After 50 minutes in the cab (wow) I was at the venue. 10 minutes to the game. Nice! I passed through security and finally I was there... in the BADMINTON VENUE!
I lost the game. Federer lost the game to James Blake. I definitely have to improve my Chinese beyond Ni Hao.
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Tears, Pain and Goodbye: Brazilian week in Review
Sunday, 17 February 08, 02:40 PM
Tough week for the Brazilian sport. Two of the greatest athletes that ever were born in my country had sad weeks. Gustavo Kuerten and Ronaldo faced both pain and tears.
The first one was Gustavo Kuerten. The three time Roland Garros champion and former top 1 in the world started his farewell tour. He announced earlier this is his final season although he is only 31 years old. Guga suffered two major surgeries during his career after his back problems.
The first tournament in his last tour was the Brazilian Open, in Bahia. He won that title twice during his best years. After that, he will play some of the masters and grand slams he won it and he has special affect for, like Miami, Hamburg, Montecarlo and Roland Garros.
On Tuesday, he lost in the first round for Carlos Belorcq, an Argentinean top 100 in ATP. The first set he tried hard, losing by 7-5. During the break, he needed medical help and came back with no mobility at all, ending the game at 6-1.
He gave a very emotional speech after the game. Said going away from his passion is harder than winning Roland Garros three times. He cried a lot and apologized for not been able to play in high level again.
Then Wednesday comes. Ronaldo is on the bench at AC Milan’s game for Serie A. He cames in the second half, stays less than two minutes on the field and suffers a major serious damage in his right knee. The same contusion he had in 2000 (in the left knee at that time).
Ronaldo left the field crying a lot. The pain was the same, he said. At 31 years old also, he is risked to have to stop his career. But there is an old say in Brazil that is never doubt about Ronaldo. He will be probably out the rest of this year. And he still thinks of coming back, as his dad and personal doctor said after the surgery in Paris.
Whatever it happens. If they quit or not the game. Guga and Ronaldo, both born in 1976, are major idols and a pride for Brazilians. Their effort and they fight against pain and physical problems will be remembered forever.
Two phenomenal players. Thank you guys for all those Sundays. The goals, the winners and aces. Good job!Like this blog? Help spread the word:
Thursday, 25 October 07, 03:50 AM
Vocês viram o que Robinho fez em Madrid nesta quarta? Lembrou os bons tempos de Romário com o bordão 'se não saio 'a la noche', não 'meto los goles'.
Eu juro que não ligo se o cara sai a noite ou não. Problema dele, com a mulher dele, com o chefe dele, e tudo com ele. Na verdade, sempre rola aquele fascínio com o cara que joga muito e faz o que quer. Uma coisa meio Garrinchesca-romântica que, confesso, tem seu charme.
Pior pra mim é jogador que vai pra balada e não joga nada. Ou jogador que não vai pra balada e também não joga nada. Se ele vai ou não pra balada, se é evangélico ou budista, o importante é que em campo venda a alma para a bola e trate-a com o amor divino.
Voltando a Madrid, Robinho pode até ter tocado somente cinco vezes na bola. Fez dois gols, deu dois passes para gol e ainda sofreu um pênalti não convertido. O famoso 100% de aproveitamento. Então, balada nele. Já!
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Friday, 22 June 07, 04:22 PM
A revista Placar de julho traz na capa uma matéria sobre a seleção brasileira. O título diz: 'Onde foi para a seleção' e o olho é: "Desdenhada pelos craques, distante dos torcedores e superexposta pela CBF a Amarelinha desbotou".
Na revista, outras matérias se destacam como:
"Lúcio Flavio, Leandro Amaral e Renato: Inferno em SP, Paraíso no Rio"
Uma reportagem sobre Rincón, o drama de um ídolo preso.
Guia da Copa América
A crise da camisa 10
Quem são os novos 'Afonsos' do futebol brasileiro, que vão fazer sucesso lá fora antes de jogarem aqui
Entrevistas com Taddei, Emerson, Marcelo Ramos, entre outras colunas, seções e atrações.
Mas, claro, tenho que puxar a sardinha para a página 37 e um artigo imperdível. Fala do lançamento do Ole!Ole, que a revista chamou de 'Orkut dos Boleiros'. Diz que é o lugar perfeito para quem não aguenta mais 'as abobrinhas dos comentaristas de TV' se expressar.
Passe na baca e compre a sua!
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Finally a top Brazilian plays for Arsenal
Wednesday, 20 June 07, 08:39 PM
I always thought my gunners friends deserved better. Silvinho, Edu, Gilberto, Julio Baptista, with all my respect, are mid class players among so many talented ones (I will keep Denilson out of this list by now).
So, for the first time in history, Emirates will get a top one. From the same state in Brazil as Ronaldinho, Lucas, Anderson and Alexandre Pato, there she comes..
Gisele Bundchen...
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On Brazil calling: Brasileirao, the best league in the world, is on fire