by PAM
Tennis, football... what on earth is happening? It feels like the planets have been re-aligning or something. Yes, of course, I've been paying attention! I just didn't have enough leisure time to supply the sports ingredient in my blog these days. But today, I feel I need to make time for it... or the balance in my world would tip to the dangerous 'burnout' end. I have to say though that all is satisfying in the work front as far as outcomes are concerned... but burnout is slowly creeping in, too... and it's not even one year yet. I'm feeling the pressure on my body... and it doesn't feel good.
Therefore, bring on football and tennis!
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Alright, football first... let's break it down.
First, Sir Alex Ferguson retired, ending his 27-year tenure as Manchester United's big boss... but that happened ages ago already, it seems, at the rate things are going in the football world. It's just that Foodball Captain chose to write about David Beckham's retirement - only - when the 'shake-up' was happening. I needed to rely on FC that time just because I was too busy with my 'day job' to write about my sentiments. Oh, well... what can I say, except you go for what's in front of you... and complain later? :)
Second, Pep Guardiola, my man, finally started his stint with FC Bayern Munich last month... and it felt odd to see the cule legendary coach mentoring the already
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Pep Guardiola (5th from left, 2nd row) is the Bundesliga
Champs' new boss.
(Photo credit: grabbed from Daily Mail UK.)
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On the other hand, Barça's future seems uncertain, even when they regained the Spanish La Liga Primera crown back to Camp Nou (yaay!)... an achievement that contributed to the shortened stint in Madrid of the, now confirmed, not-so-special-one, Jose Mourinho, who is now back at Chelsea FC's helm. Yep, when a 'Pep news' comes up, somewhere, somehow, a 'Mou news' pops up, too. But, who cares? About the Mourinho out-of-Madrid, gone-to-Chelsea piece of news, I mean. Well, it matters to Roman Abramovich, obviously... and, perhaps, John Terry, who was assured - not - by Mou of being in the first team. Alright, here we go... more colorful drama at Stamford Bridge next season! Bring on the popcorn! In the meantime, we wait in giddy anticipation of the Bayern Munich-Chelsea match soon... and the Bayern Munich-Barça match even sooner! Big matches, alright. Hah, sorry work, you just gotta share time with football now - seriously! :)
Third, so many player movements across teams and Leagues... and even across continents! Barça's very good home-grown young midfielder, Thiago Alcantara, for instance, is now Pep's new recruit - from Catalunya to Bavaria. David Villa now plays for Atletico Madrid. Brazil's current best player, Neymar, is Barça's newest 'boy wonder #2'... Lionel Messi being (and always will be) #1. How would that figure in Leo's false 9 position in the Barça scheme... we shall see - soon enough.
Fourth, Tito Vilanova's cancer so sadly recurred... and he had to step down as FC Barcelona coach two days ago to resume treatments. :( Oh, boy... talk about uncertain future! That piece of news was
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Snatched from the touchline by a horrible illness... anims, Tito!
(Photo credit: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
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Now, the search is on for the next Barça coach. Who would it be? I hope it'd be Rubi. His ideas seem fresh, and his personality seems right for the Barca philosophy: work hard, observe discipline, be a teamplayer, keep ball possession and bring it to the goal, play well - to win... and play beautifully. He seems to be passionate enough about leading and leading well a great football team, and he seems to have enough youthful energy to match that passion. He could be in the same wavelength as most of the key Barça players. He has Pep's aura... not to say that Barça needs to look for another Pep, because there is only one Pep Guardiola... and he is now in Allianz Arena in Bavaria. Just look for one who respects the Barca philosophy, and will keep it alive and well.
Man, I lied low on my 'football thing' here for a few months, and I came back to a completely new world of football! Whew! But, life goes on... the ball rolls on the turf, and the men kick it to keep the beautiful game alive and well. Therefore, we hope for the best... and we get ready for schedule adjustments to accommodate football in my sked. I'm excited! :)
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Next, tennis...
Yes, yes, and yes, I have been paying attention to tennis, too!
And yes, I did follow the French Open and the Championships at Wimbledon... alright, I admit, I did an unacceptable in-and-out (of consciousness) in the middle of matches. I was just too tired to stay awake most days... but, hey, I exerted tremendous effort to stay awake. That should keep my "licensed" tennis fan status! :)
I have to admit that I almost fell from my seat when Roger Federer exited Roland Garros in the quarter-finals. But, I was totally, totally awed by the greatness on clay by Rafael Nadal! He was sooooo awesome - on clay - the greatest ever, in my book! I'm so glad he was back to play strong, and regain his seat as one of the Top 4 players in the world.
Ooops, I know, I know, I spoke too soon... because Rafa exited Wimbledon, a few days later - in the (freak of a) first round - against an unseeded player! Imagine? A day later... there went the defending Champ, Roger Federer, out of Wimbledon, too - in the second round! Ow! Just a year ago, after bowing to Andy Murray in the London Games to claim the silver medal, the King of Grass was back, and made history by claiming his 17th Grand Slam in Wimbledon - the most GS ever by a male tennis player in the Open Era. This year, he was not good enough to overcome the challenge of another unseeded player, 'causing him to slide down the ranking to #5 - for the first time since 2002! Ow, ow, ow! Too bad, there hasn't been enough time for the world to watch the cute antics of his adorable twin girls. Oh, well....
There's a saving grace though... Juan Martin del Potro is towering tall again on court, giving Novak Djokovic a spirited run for his money in the Wimbledon semis, and the Andy Garcia look-alike, the beautiful Spaniard, David Ferrer, went up to #4 in the ranking, for the first time... and played in the semis in Wimbledon - for the first time, too. Woot-woot! And the biggest tennis drama of the year went off from the tough, tough racket of Andy Murray... he claimed his FIRST Wimbledon Cup - the first British man to win in more than 70 years! Woohoo! You can just imagine how happy Judy Murray was... immensely happy - maybe, happier than Andy himself! ;) By the way, that was heartfelt, the woot-woot, I mean... CONGRATULATIONS, Andy! :)
Alright, I have work to do *sigh* .... ciao!
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