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Barcelona's Density of Stars
I just returned from two weeks in internet-less, newsless Cuba, and I'm starving for information.
I feel like something big occurred in my absence, but what was it? All I can find in the newsstands are pictures of Michael Jackson (putting "freedom of the press" to shame).
Was it Iran? North Korea? Sotomayor? No, no, and no. Something bigger than that. Finally, after an hour search online, I find the earth shattering news: The Sounders lost to San Jose 4-0 . Holy Bejezzus! What the Fidel? I leave for a little while and the team falls apart. What happened?
Was it Ljungberg's long-in-coming ejection for dissent? Was it the previous All-stars game featuring four Sounders?
Or is it just cause Amway is so revolting? Whatever the reason, it doesn't matter. We can afford to get blown out by San Jose. They're firmly in last place; we're in second. Better to disintegrate against them than in a game that matters.
Let's move on to more important things.
There are few things that could end a trip to the Leftie Mecca of Cuba more appropriately than the Leftie Soccer Gods Barcelona, playing the Sounders tonight at Qwest.
As profiled in Franklin Foer's How Soccer Explains the World , during the Spanish civil war and the proceeding Franco dictatorship, Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium was literally a bastion of freedom for leftists persecuted by Franco. There they could express their opinions, speak/sing/chat in otherwise outlawed Catalan, and revel in the fact that ultimately, they had the best futbol team in Spain, if not the world. Conversely, Franco lavished dictatorial favors on his Real Madrid, turning "El Clasico" into a mini version of the Fascists v Communists warfare of WWII. It continues as one of the largest rivalries in the world.
Barcelona's progessive politics make Left Coast blue Seattle look positively periwinkle. Their member-ownership plan was copied by Hanauer, Carey et al when they formed the team. If nothing else, they are the richest (if not only) team in the world not to feature a corporate sponsor prominently on their jerseys (adding UNICEF to their chests only a few years ago).
Of course on a purely athletic scale, Barcelona's roster is an international dream-team. They are headed by diminutive Argentine Lionel Messi, whom Maradona himself claimed to be something like “possibly the best player ever.” Samuel Eto'o—on the verge of transfering to Man City —was African Player of the Year in 2004, 2005, and 2006 when he also ranked number 3 in FIFA's Player of the Year. French national star Thierry Henry (though supposedly those rumors of his coming to Seattle are false . And they're rounded out by a bevy of Spanish national stars, like Xavi, Iniestra, and captain/defender Carles Puyol.)
The best thing about their leftist roots is that they're the World's Best Team (tm) while keeping true to their principles AND remaining rich, topping any list compiling richest and most profitable teams in the world (usually after Real Mad and Man U ). Part of this is by following the same money-making formula as Chelsea, ManU et al by touring the US to showcase their team, spread the revolución, and convert non-believers.
"Possibly the best player ever."
As for the game itself, don't expect blood and guts. Like the Chelsea match, the actual purpose of this game (aside from money and spreading the revolucion) is to trot out the stars. Chelsea emptied the bench in the second half so the crowd could see everybody play. (Chelsea's bench is hardly a bench. The team is loaded top to bottome with soccer stars.) Expect Barca (same density of stars) to do the same.
For the Sounders, this is a mid-season friendly—a break from serious matches against much weaker MLS teams. In the friendly against Chelsea we also emptied the bench second half, giving everyone on our roster (not all stars like Chelsea's bench) time to play. Coach Schmid will probably do the same tonight, because we're playing the best team in the world, a dream come true for any professional soccer player.
And the Sounders don't have a chance in hell of winning.
I feel like something big occurred in my absence, but what was it? All I can find in the newsstands are pictures of Michael Jackson (putting "freedom of the press" to shame).
Was it Iran? North Korea? Sotomayor? No, no, and no. Something bigger than that. Finally, after an hour search online, I find the earth shattering news: The Sounders lost to San Jose 4-0 . Holy Bejezzus! What the Fidel? I leave for a little while and the team falls apart. What happened?
Was it Ljungberg's long-in-coming ejection for dissent? Was it the previous All-stars game featuring four Sounders?
Or is it just cause Amway is so revolting? Whatever the reason, it doesn't matter. We can afford to get blown out by San Jose. They're firmly in last place; we're in second. Better to disintegrate against them than in a game that matters.
Let's move on to more important things.
There are few things that could end a trip to the Leftie Mecca of Cuba more appropriately than the Leftie Soccer Gods Barcelona, playing the Sounders tonight at Qwest.
As profiled in Franklin Foer's How Soccer Explains the World , during the Spanish civil war and the proceeding Franco dictatorship, Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium was literally a bastion of freedom for leftists persecuted by Franco. There they could express their opinions, speak/sing/chat in otherwise outlawed Catalan, and revel in the fact that ultimately, they had the best futbol team in Spain, if not the world. Conversely, Franco lavished dictatorial favors on his Real Madrid, turning "El Clasico" into a mini version of the Fascists v Communists warfare of WWII. It continues as one of the largest rivalries in the world.
Barcelona's progessive politics make Left Coast blue Seattle look positively periwinkle. Their member-ownership plan was copied by Hanauer, Carey et al when they formed the team. If nothing else, they are the richest (if not only) team in the world not to feature a corporate sponsor prominently on their jerseys (adding UNICEF to their chests only a few years ago).
Of course on a purely athletic scale, Barcelona's roster is an international dream-team. They are headed by diminutive Argentine Lionel Messi, whom Maradona himself claimed to be something like “possibly the best player ever.” Samuel Eto'o—on the verge of transfering to Man City —was African Player of the Year in 2004, 2005, and 2006 when he also ranked number 3 in FIFA's Player of the Year. French national star Thierry Henry (though supposedly those rumors of his coming to Seattle are false . And they're rounded out by a bevy of Spanish national stars, like Xavi, Iniestra, and captain/defender Carles Puyol.)
The best thing about their leftist roots is that they're the World's Best Team (tm) while keeping true to their principles AND remaining rich, topping any list compiling richest and most profitable teams in the world (usually after Real Mad and Man U ). Part of this is by following the same money-making formula as Chelsea, ManU et al by touring the US to showcase their team, spread the revolución, and convert non-believers.
"Possibly the best player ever."
As for the game itself, don't expect blood and guts. Like the Chelsea match, the actual purpose of this game (aside from money and spreading the revolucion) is to trot out the stars. Chelsea emptied the bench in the second half so the crowd could see everybody play. (Chelsea's bench is hardly a bench. The team is loaded top to bottome with soccer stars.) Expect Barca (same density of stars) to do the same.
For the Sounders, this is a mid-season friendly—a break from serious matches against much weaker MLS teams. In the friendly against Chelsea we also emptied the bench second half, giving everyone on our roster (not all stars like Chelsea's bench) time to play. Coach Schmid will probably do the same tonight, because we're playing the best team in the world, a dream come true for any professional soccer player.
And the Sounders don't have a chance in hell of winning.
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