The Future Is Red!

Once in every few years, there will be a player whose arrival at a football club is greatly anticipated, highly celebrated. Barcelona acquired Ronaldinho long before. Manchester United has got Cristiano Ronaldo to pen down contract for them a few years back. Now, Fernando Torres has decided to become a Red.

"I am dying to play in front of the Kop"- Torres, from the
exclusive chat with Liverpoolfc.tv

The future is bright, the future is Red!

Now who says the offseason isn't interesting?

Sporting Seasons Swansong

June is not a good month for a sports fan. Real Madrid’s come-from-behind win which sealed the Spanish La Liga title yesterday earmarked the wrap-ups of most of major European football leagues, or at least by now the respective regional league conquerors has already been decided. Season swansong means no more checking up Soccernet or LiverpoolFCtv twice or thrice per day. Oh, I see dull days ahead.

Meanwhile across the Atlantic, the NBA has just been recently concluded. San Antonio Spurs swept pass Cleveland Cavaliers in a Finals series expected by many, but in the end captured low worldwide ratings. It is always great to watch sporting triumphs especially ones that entail enormous perseverance, human spirit and painful sacrifice before the end line is reached. Of course, far beyond the joy of observing from distance is being part of the triumph itself, an indescribable feeling perhaps best encompassed by Tim Duncan and Robert Horry of the Spurs, both with 4 and 7 championship rings respectively under their belt:

‘It never gets old, winning never gets old..’

Despite the sweep, the losing Cavaliers are not a bad team though, not when you start to think about Lebron James as the team’s engine. Also, they have a bright future in rookie Daniel Gibson whose name was hardly known during the regular season but turned out to be an instrumental player in the Finals. With the win, the Spurs have made it four championships in eight years, putting the franchise on par with the likes of Celtics, Lakers and Bulls with most rings. Speaking of rings, do you guys have any idea that they are indeed given a ring each? Not the usual winner’s trophy or plaque or anything else, but a ring. How cool is that? It is also a double delight for the team’s point guard Tony Parker; besides securing a third a championship ring as well as the Finals MVP title, this Frenchman is also getting married to the ever so lovely Eva Longoria. An NBA Championship and a wedding ring in the same year, how great is that great people? Now, this year is the first time that I followed the playoffs closely- thanks to NBA Broadband and of course, excellent internet connection- so you can pretty much expect me to delve into every single bit of playoff game’s details day in, day out. Besides, where else do you think I got all these information from? Again, no matter how great the season wind-up seems to be, in the end I still need to try coming to the term of not being able to get routine updates from NBA.com as always.

The good news is there are always the transfer rumors, penning down of new deals among players to look for within this period. Boy, I am always excited about millions of cash spent and human trade, how about you? I am seriously hoping that Liverpool will get two or three more good players to prepare for the grueling Premiership next season, though I remain optimistic that the current squad is good enough; the only thing lacking is consistency. As for the other ball game, Kobe Bryant is asking for a trade away from the Los Angeles Lakers. Now, this is something huge for me for the reason that the idea of me supporting the Lakers all these years is because he is there.

Of course when the curtain of those sporting actions in the Northern Hemisphere regions fall, the ones in the southern part are only about to commence. Alas the games highlighted in the sporting calendar here Down Under do not really manage to catch my attention the same way as the ones in the other end of the globe do. Nonetheless I am going to the stadium this weekend for live footie.

Can’t wait until August when all those stadiums open their gates again for the new season. In the meantime I guess I the only thing I will do is to remain seated and listen to transfer news, besides [occasionally] flipping through physics book for I still have physics examination to go through the next Monday. Oh, boy.

Not An Istanbul Deja Vu

There was not anymore any sort of miracle as displayed by Istanbul this time, other than a dream shattered, a Greek tragedy.

A cruel way I must say to end a match we easily dominated, nonetheless kudos to Milan for the sweet revenge. I know that I was no close to matching Rafa’s tactical intelligence, but I still think Kuyt should be paired up with Crouch if he were to throw Pennant down the right flank. And I cannot agree more with Am in questioning why Zenden should be given the starting role in the first place.

Still, what is done is done, there is always imminent future to look for.

I reckon the good thing about losing is we learn how to win.

Athens, Here We Come

I experienced a rare twist of feeling within the space of 36 hours as a sports fan today. First, my darling Liverpool is through to the final stage of the much-coveted European Champions League by courtesy of the nail-biting penalty shootouts win over the mourning Mourinho’s Chelsea. 36 hours later, it was heartbreak; the Los Angeles Lakers is dumped out of the NBA Playoffs after battling their heart out in five scorching showdowns with the Phoenix Suns. But I guess at the moment, I am ruling out any chance of mourning over the somber note like Jose Mourinho of Chelsea always did. Let’s talk about winning.

“Because even defeat wouldn't obscure the good things in place at Liverpool right now”

They say it is merely a matter of luck. Penalties? It’s everyone’s game my friend. But luck it was, Liverpool is now delightfully breathing in the lavish air of qualifying for the second European Cup final in a space of three years. Luck must love the Kop I guess. Now we are cruising for a repeat epic final against the side that trounced us apart in the first half of last two years’ final- albeit in the end that hapless side was the one to cry losing- and possibly yet another win to add to Anfield’s already-crowded trophy shelves. Athens, here the Scousers come.

The sheer brilliance of Rafa Benitez is so easily excluded to be disputed, mixing well with the passion of the players that never tired to demonstrate the kind of zealous play that they always believe would win the game, and the magic of the Kop is without doubt, the greatest gift of all. Their rendering of spirit, You’ll Never Walk Alone, filled the humid night air recurrently as if it were the only rhythmic noise known by the mankind on earth.

I believe I was not the only man wishing to be immediately transported to the magical world of Anfield last night to experience the beautiful spirit of the team.

Kudos to my darling Liverpool, but always keep yourself reminded that the job is not yet done. Athens reunion does not also mean a certain win; fight like you always did to get hold of it will you?

"Walk on through the wind

Walk on through the rain

Tho’ your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on, walk on

With hope in your heart

And you’ll never walk alone

You’ll never walk alone"