Bloggin' With Amaldo

Diego Must Go

Tue, 8 Sep 2009 19:43:45 -0500

Diego Armando Maradona is the best player to ever step foot on a soccer field. Whatever others may say, there was not one individual who did what he did both on Argentina's national team, and on the teams he played for.

Dunga, on the other hand, was a bland player, a negative player, who, some say was the teacher's (or in this case, the coach's) pet, and for this he got to be apart of Brazil's national team, and even became the captain.

But while with Dunga as a coach, you can see the thought process behind the line-up, behind the dynamics of the game, Maradona is like a little kid, who only wants all of his favorite players to play together, no matter what, even if it means there is no defense and the offense is as disorganized as a game in the barrio.

Diego should go home, and let others do the job. He was a great player, but among the things that he is not, is a coach.

What about Bianchi (He looks like Larry David's long lost twin brother...?)

Michael Zandberg, Is It Good For Hapoel

Sun, 5 Jul 2009 18:59:23 -0500

Over the weekend we've learned that Michael Zandberg signed with Hapoel Tel Aviv. Zandberg, who is a refugee of the "Great" Beitar Jerusalem collapsing empire, did not wait to see if former gazillioner Arkadi Gaydamak will pour money into Beitar, and decided to leave. I think that Zandberg is a talented player, who can contribute to Hapoel, but he is also not a leader, and often more concentrated in the party scene, and the Pop Culture colunms then in his career.

Time will tell, but meanwhile, we'll just say: Welcome to Hapoel, Michael Zandberg, good luck!

Will The U.S. National Team Makes it To The World Cup in 2010?

Sat, 6 Jun 2009 08:58:15 -0500

After last week's loss to Costa Rica, and assuming that Mexico will somehow get back on it's feet, it is not a given that the U.S. national team will be a part of South Africa 2010. It's true, the U.S. is still in great shape to make it to the world cup, but after Costa Rica's stunning 3-1 win in San Jose, we saw many weaknesses that any other national team in the group can take advantage of. Saturday's game Vs. Honduras, and of course Vs. Mexico in December, will determine if in the summer of 2010 we will calculate our every move away from the screen (Or if you have the dough you will be running between stadiums in SA,) or we'll have to stick to the daily dose of pop culture.

Cheers!

Gili Vermut Is Back!!!!

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:47:23 -0500

Gili Vermut, is back in Hapoel Tel Aviv, after spending one season in Belgium.

According to Israeli sports websites, Vermut took a significant pay cut to re-sign

with the Reds. Gil Vermut played last year for Gent, but did not get many minutes.

The Dude Abides? A Welcome To Beckham

Thu, 2 Aug 2007 14:31:04 -0500

I found this picture on Sport5 website, and I knew I had to put it here. The sign is in reference to David Beckham, and the guy who hold the amazingly resembles Walter Sobchak, John Goodman’s character in The Big Lebowski my all-time favorite. And the writing on the sign has the same attitude, as if he was saying: “You want a toe? I can get you a toe, believe me. There are ways, Dude. You don't wanna know about it, believe me."

Don't Bite The Foot That Feeds You

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 11:36:17 -0500

I've already stated before, that it is very hard to be a soccer fan in America. It became much easier since David Beckham joined the LA Galaxy, or even better since he made his debut a couple of days ago Vs. Chelsea. However, despite the rising popularity of the game here, when I watch the soccer channels I often hear the commentators complain about the Media Circus surrounding Beckham's arrival. Do you get this? Media Circus. Instead of embracing the moment, and enjoy the new audience you complain. Oh shut up!!! Go get another job.

David Beckham may not be the greatest soccer player of all time, but he is by far the biggest caliber to ever land in the MLS. Beckham's success here is important to everyone who is connected to soccer in America. So please FSN and GolTV, don't bite the hand then feeds you.

Originally posted on Bloggin' With Amaldo

When Brazil See An Argentinian Shirt...

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 17:54:18 -0500

I have to admit (with a lot of pain,) the better team won the match. Argentina played great soccer throughout the entire tournament, but when Brazil who showed us sad soccer all along the Copa, see an Argentinian shirt, everything changes and they actually decide to show up to the game. So congratulations Brazil, you won again, we'll try again soon. More sports and pop culture posts at Amaldo's blog

David Beckham- Hollywood Way

Sat, 14 Jul 2007 09:15:39 -0500

How to promote an unpopular sport, step by step, by the Los Angeles Galaxy. You got to hand it to the Los Angeles Galaxy. They sure know how to rock the world, literally. So how do you do it?

Step 1: Location! Location! Location! Hollywood is the only place to bring the Beckhams to, money, spotlight, cellebrities. We'll get to that later.

Step 2: Find your man. Find the most famous soccer player in the world, who is also good at what he does, meaning a real fighter on the pitch with natural talent and proven experience.

Step 3: Open your pockets.When Real Madrid bought David Beckham from Manchester United they paid $33 million Euro for him. It took them only six months to cover this expense. So when the Galaxy pay him $250 millions for five years, they know what they are doing.

Step Four: Cherchez La Femme. One of the most important steps of all. You can love or hate Victoria Beckham, but she is an icon. You must not ignore her and her every caprice. Actually, she is the one you have to talk to even before you talk to David Beckham himself. I mean, it's quit obvious who call the shots right? So how do you do it? First you hook her up with the hottest and most paparazzi-stalked couple around, and if Brangelina are not around Tom and Katie Cruise will do just fine. Then you put her in the spotlight. But remember it has to be in the middle of the spotlight. You make an NBC Victoria Beckham- Coming to America special, you put her in the Morning show, The Tonight Show, The Whatever show, and she is happy. And if Victoria is happy, everybody is happy.

The Fifth and last step is the introduction: I have seen many soccer players being introduced to the public by their new clubs. But I have to admit, I have never seen something like what I saw at the Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy. It was as if David Beckham was getting a lifetime achievement award for something he hasn't really done yet. Amazing.

And even before King David even touched a soccer ball in America, marketing wise, he already does to soccer what his idol Michael Jordan (That's why he is wearing the number 23, not because of the Jim Carrey movie...) did to Basketball. Now everyone in America knows what the rest of the world knows for years, Who is David Beckham.

For more pop culture and sports posts please check out www.amaldo.com/blog

Argentina, The Final Frontier

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 21:07:01 -0500

The first half went as planed, actually the best Argentinian half of the Copa. And the cherry was the amazing goal. Mexico is probably the strongest team of the tournament other then Argentina, concentrated mainly on committing annoying fouls and going for dangerous counter attacks here and there.

The second half of the game will be best described in one word: A Concert!! Don't get it wrong, the Mexicans were good, the Argentinian made it easy. We may have seen the world's best team right now, and perhaps, the best Argentinian team since 86'. All of that is great, but will count as nothing if there will be no revenge on Sunday's finals Vs. the boring but lucky Brazil.

Read more sports and pop culture posts on Amaldo's blog, and watch original videos on Amaldo.com

Brazil, Dunga's way...

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 22:15:44 -0500

Yes, Brazil got to the finales, but in the Dunga way, the ugly way. Argentina has a good chance tomorrow, Vs. Mexico. The three J's: Juan Riquelme, Javier Zanetti, and Juan Veron are the skelaton and Messi, Tevez, and the rest provide the fine tuning to this surprising team. There is a different spirit then the one of the last Mundial, lets hope Argentina can bring glory days back. Vamos Argentina, Vamos a ganar!!!

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