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1

Football / Interesting Observation Part 2 / A Serious Analysis!!!!!

« on: April 10, 2011, 04:23:01 PM »

Saga Pinto

First of all thanks for taking some serious stick on my behalf. I want to clear up some issues raised previously:

1) I did apply for forum membership on-line in 2006 and never got a response from the moderators. I  don't know what happened.

2) I hold no brief for Mr Warner. My reference to “poor Jack” was satirical. Sorry if it was too subtle for some.

Now Saga Pinto, last time, I poke a jep nest by saying that Germany 2006 was a fluke. The English language is a very complicated  thing. Webster's dictionary defines a “fluke” as “a turn of exceptional good luck”. The inference was that we needed a hell of a lot of luck to qualify in 2006. Anybody who disputes that, wasn't really paying attention. Flukes do not repeat themselves often and I want to offer into evidence the following arguments to support the fluke theory.

Before I do this, I want to say something to the very emotional fans on the forum. In most sports, serious  fans spend time analyzing data, statistics and track records in order to have an informed expectation of the team they support. In baseball, fans analyze and compare team and player batting averages, horse racing fans analyze win statistics to estimate betting odds and so on. Football fans by and large live from game to game. If we win, we celebrate. If we lose, we want to cuss the world and mash up de place, which is why we have plenty football hooligans and no baseball or basketball hooligans. So, if what I say causes you to cuss and carry on, QED.

Statistical anomaly:
Statistically, TNT's chances of qualifying for 2014 or any other WC are remote at best. National sport selection, like mortality experience, is a numbers game. Every experienced insurance agent knows that on average, you have to make 15 calls to get 5 interviews to sell 1 policy. Similarly, you need a large pool of players to select the best of the best of the best to compete at the WC level. TNT just doesn't have those numbers to guarantee consistency. Even with a West Indies population of some 6 million, we don't have the numbers to select a consistently strong cricket team to compete on the world stage, which is why we can’t beat crazy ants since the fluke of the Clive Lloyd era ended 30 years ago.

If you want to find 50 world class players to form a team with depth, then you need a pool of a couple hundred really good players to start with, which is why the US created the ODP for youth soccer. According to a recent publication on Canadian sport demographics,  the number of young people registering to play soccer last year has reached 1 million, (about the size of our entire nation), 400,000 more than Canada's other major sport, hockey. I am predicting that the 3 powerhouses in CONCACAF in the next 20 years will be Canada, USA and Mexico. Rather than take their limited resources and waste it on a foreign coach, they have publicly admitted to sacrificing 2014 and 2018 with the hope of dominating the minnows to qualify consistently from 2022 (like the US has from 1990). Don’t just read SWF, check out the bigger picture.

The other statistic that upset forumites was the 20 year prediction. Odds are that TNT will not qualify for another WC in 20 years. Some informed rebuttals to this point from forumites included “bullshit” and “woman talk” Please consider this:

 Jamaica's one and only fluke qualification was in 1998, 12 years ago, Canada's was in 1986 France,  24 years ago. Neither country has much of a statistical chance of getting pass both Honduras and Costa Rica in 2013 grab the 3rd spot. The odds of  the winning the play-off game for the other half spot (as Costa Rica found out) are not all that good, especially if we pull South America again. Canada, as I have already pointed out, have recognized this and are strategically focusing on creating a large pool to own that 3rd Concacaf spot from 2022. So where does that leave TNT?

TNT's best chance prior to 2006 was 32 years ago in 1974 when we were robbed in Haiti. 1990 does not count since we were not good enough to get past the US. Close, but no cigar.  While every team walking on to the field (including  Barbados and Bermuda) has a mathematical chance of qualifying, the probability range varies from plus 95% confidence in Brazil (which has qualified for every WC since 1932) to less than 5% confidence in Grenada which has not, and probably will never, ever, ever qualify. Assuming that each of Canada, TNT and Jamaica had a similar theoretical chance of qualifying (each having done it once before), we need to see when this is likely to occur again. If we were to find the average wait period of the 3 Concacaf “one shot” teams to date, it would be (32+12+24) divided by 3 or 22.6 years, ergo 20 years from 2010.

Now, 20 years sounds like a very long time, but it is just another 5 tournaments. If we can qualify 1 in every 5 times, then we are actually doing exceptionally well. There are 16 teams which have qualified only once for the WC and are have not had a second run to date. They are: Dutch East Indies, Senegal, Wales, Ukraine, Cuba, Jamaica, Israel, Kuwait, TNT, Iraq, Togo, Canada, China, Haiti, Zaire, UAE. Their average wait time so far exceeds 40 years. So why get upset if I say TNT will not qualify for another 20 years? I am giving us far better statistical odds than the rest of the other One Hit Wonders of the World. Of these hopefuls, I pick China as the most likely to repeat in 2014.

If TNT does qualify for Brazil 2014 with the present crop of players (inducing the proposed EPL second division  recruits), it will require a bigger fluke (or stroke of really really exceptionally good luck) than in 2006. Based on available statistics, I wouldn't bet on it though.

The truth is that while I am still a  TNT supporter, I try to do so with some intelligence. If the “experts” on this forum are right, then I am nothing more than a madman talking a pile of crap. Time will most certainly tell.

2

Football / Interesting Observation From a Once Loyal T&T U20 Parent,Enjoy!!!!!

« on: April 05, 2011, 07:26:19 PM »

Saga Pinto

The last time I shared a comment on TT football was just before the U17 team went to Korea. At that time I think some of your colleagues on the SWF felt that I was writing in defense of my son. Truth be told, I was in part. However my comments were also an attempt to share a perspective which at the time I don't think the majority grasped. Maybe after the perceived failure of current U17 and U20 teams, it will now make more sense to you.

I have read with great amusement the comments made on the forum after the U20 team's 5 nil  loss to Mexico. Some forumites are blaming the coach, others blame the players, some say it is Jack's fault (poor Jack) others think its the lack of a development system. Ready for this? The answers is (d) None of the above. The real culprits for this big let down are the fans, particularly those on this forum and their foolish expectations. Hear me out before you stone me.

The problem with you folks is that you harbor unrealistic expectations. “We going Brazil” Really?

Your unrealistic expectations are based on what I consider to be 3 fluke occurrences:

1 Senior team qualification for Germany( fluke).
2. U17 Qualification or Korea (fluke)
3. U20 Qualification for Egypt (also a fluke).

Fluke occurrences are no basis for building a sustainable business model. In each of the above cases we qualified for the WC on the last goal in the last game.  I am not a knowledgeable soccer fan so I may get names and times mixed up, but I seem to remember  Dennis Lawrence (of all people) scoring a once-in-a-lifetime header to get us to Germany in the last do or die game, (how many headers has he scored in his career?). Young Molino scored  one goal in the last do or die game against Jamaica to get us to South Korea and if I remember correctly, Sean De Silva scored one goal to get us to Egypt. Imagine scoring one single goal in a 3 or 4 game tournament and qualifying for the U20 world cup. Teams that  have the right to be disappointed by a 5-0 result at that level, are those who have earned the right to be there by consistent performance. T&T lost all 3 games in Korea conceding 15 goals and scoring 1. We lost in Germany (conceding 5?) and drew one in Egypt (conceding 5?) for a total tally of about 25 against and 2 for. When the US embarrassed us last time with a 3 nil cut ass, men on the  forum wanted to die. Did you really expect a different result? The problem is that fans have deluded themselves into thinking that these flukes are a norm, so when we collect 5 from a world class team like Mexico, everybody upset.
 
This delusion exists at many levels, not just with the fans. Some of the coaches themselves are infected with the madness. When we were in South Korea for the U17 tournament, I had a brief chat with Anton Corneal at the players hotel the day before the first game against Ghana. I asked him how the boy were feeling and if he had worked out the approach to the game. He said that the approach was all out attack and we were going to run the Ghanians into the ground. He predicted a TT win by 3 clear goals. Now I am no football coach, but that sounded like sheer madness to me. All out attack Anton? You must be mad. I told him that I heard that Ghana selected the final 20 players by lining up their best 40 and releasing the lions. Anton didn't find that funny at all. I said to a friend of mine later, “Chris, we getting 5.” So said so done. T&T persisted with this “attack with full force” lunacy throughout the tournament as if our opponents were the underdogs instead of us. Talk about delusional.

Now, I don't mind if the fans and coaches delude themselves. Fans and coaches really don't really have much to lose. The TTFF is hell-bent on hiring expensive coaches thinking that it will make a difference and since they have money to burn, every coach will  promise them all sorts of miracles and take their money.

I am most concerned that the madness of unrealistic expectations has also infected the players, their parents and handlers. Every little boy who gets called to a TT youth team begins to dream of being the next Dwight or Russel or Shaka. Parents who see their son dribble through the unskilled competition at the trial stages,  pretty soon begin to believe that crap. What the players and parents don't realizes that York, Latapy and Hislop, in a T&T context, were also flukes. These 3 happened to possess the innate talent that none of our current youth players have. The problem is that some people, including  certain idiotic local coaches, make these young players and parents  believe that it could happen to them too. They don't realize that, apart from the dynamic trio, the other TT players who are currently playing overseas football for real money, (Kenwene, Carlos, Stern etc) are by international standards, mediocre at best and could drop out of reckoning any day. Yet all these parents think that their son is special and that they will make it big like Dwight.

Experience does not support this expectation. We had the same bunch of players make it to 2 youth world cups, U17 and U20. Many of the parents who went to Korea were genuinely expecting that their sons would be discovered by foreign scouts and plucked from obscurity like Dwight was. How many of them have been so lucky? None. If you go back to my email to you before the U17 world cup, I picked just one player to make it big, Daniel Cyrus. I still have a hope for him, that is, if his genius agent Mr Look Loy doesn't screw it up for him. The other players with youth world cup experience who have banked their futures on pro football, are, with the exception of Primus, “earning their living” in that poor excuse for a pro league in T&T, waiting for some fairy god-father to take them away to Europe or the MLS. They don't realize that the reason they cant break in to the big times is that they just don't have the talent. Every one of them (except Cyrus) who has been to overseas trials and has returned empty handed. Incidentally, where is Jamal Gay now?

I want to thank Touches and Jah Goal for opening my eyes to the harsh realities of being a soccer parent. Their comments on my son's skill level years ago, caused me to re-evaluate what I was led to believe by certain supposedly well informed persons. After a careful review of specific criteria, I concluded that the chances that my son (or any of the other U17 players) had of “going pro” (outside of the TT Pro league) were remote at best. This certainly was not the lotto that I wanted to gamble his future on. I began to focus him on using his soccer talent as a ticket to get a free education. So far, he is not doing too badly with a 3.7 GPA and is currently preparing for the LSAT to enter Law school. My role has changed from being his football manager to his academic manager and it is my job to make sure that he stays focused. I hope that Leston Paul, Sean De Silva, Stephen Knox, Qian Grosvner, Uriah Bentick and the other few who are on scholarships in the US, understand that the real value of their soccer talent is to get free education and not play the ass in school, as most young men tend to.

It may appear that I am presenting an unfairly pessimistic and negative view of our talent pool, so I am providing you with a free acid test to assess potential pro prospects. Here it is...Jake Thompson. Jake requires no work permit to play in the UK and is a product the UK development system. He is also yards ahead ability-wise of any of our local U23 players and yet he is one of many fighting hard to earn his place in the real world of pro soccer. My advice is that unless your “next Dwight” son can match Jake for ability and has a European passport or Green Card, then make sure he knows how to read, write and spell well enough to maintain a 2.0 GPA and meet NCAA standards.

Finally Saga Pinto, I have a prediction for forumites who still believe that T&T belongs at the world stage.  Sorry to bust your bubble, but it will be another 20 years at least before T&T qualifies for another world cup at any level. My advice is to stock up on Prozac. Until then, I want to encourage you to continue contributing to the forum. It has been a source of much comic relief for me.

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Football / T&T FOOTBALL DEAD PLAIN & SIMPLE!!!!!

« on: February 23, 2011, 04:20:34 PM »

Who vex lorse,national can't make the grade to the big dance,the under 23's can't make it either and here comes the under 17's failing once again to make any significant strides.

At this point me ent care bout what we do last year or how much tournament we come close to winning or we have some serious talent on the team all kinda f**king excuses, I will eat my words or retract my statements when we starting winning tournaments plain and simple.Until then is the same repetitive shittt on this board.     

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Football / Are our Football Players subject to random drug testing/Marijuana included...

« on: October 12, 2010, 04:34:57 AM »

I know a lot ah men doh think nothing of weed but ah throw it in there because overall I think any type of drug or weed affects performance,speech,and creates learning disabilities and I'm wondering about a lot of those players who just cyah get it right maybe that might be the case or maybe I'm wrong for even starting a thread like this.

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Football / Do Our Trini Footballers Suffer From an Inferiority Complex?

« on: October 09, 2010, 03:33:25 PM »

I've been asking myself this question for years,especially when the opposition is of a particular persuasion or a known power house,not completely minimizing some accomplishments but we've yet  to solidify a place as a serious contender in the region or even around the world.

So is it that the big stage overwhelms us or we subject ourselves to psychological paralysis which translates to poor performances on the field.

Wha Allyuh Think I running out ah possibilities.   

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Football / I say enough is enough bring in video replay in soccer......

« on: June 27, 2010, 03:22:41 PM »

I've been watching football for over forty years now and is the same thing when another side score a goal like the one today by england and the ref doh call it and the funny thing is the fans at home as well in the stadium could clearly see without any doubt the ball cross the line by a mile on the big screen monitor at the game and there tvs.......I'm totally perplexed by this.

I understand it's the way the game has been played for the last 100 years but when man playing they liver string out for the ultimate prize in the world there must be a reasonable solution for controversial calls.

Just my frustration...... still the most beautiful game.... 

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Football / If some of us on this forum could ah suit up we would never miss ah world cup...

« on: September 13, 2009, 09:35:17 PM »

The way how some men does analyze and disect the games and players we ent short ah coaches and possibly players.I think we should start we own pool ah players from this site...... 

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Football / Is jason scotland on steroids?

« on: September 10, 2009, 04:30:43 AM »

I watching that man on field an he looking heavy heavy almost like ah bobolooks.....

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Football / Which is more important club or country?

« on: September 07, 2009, 08:09:33 AM »

I understand a lot of players make their living because of club football and there is a degree of perception that playing for your country while an honour and a privilege it won't pay the bills, as a matter of fact some players tend to hold back on tackles or attacking with full venom for fear of injury when playing for country but for clubs it's all or nothing,so my question is how do you counter this or is it just up to the individual player to decide.I'm thinking this maybe true for some of our players but not for all. 

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Football / Are we the whipping boys of the region?

« on: September 06, 2009, 08:45:49 AM »

It's sad but throughout the concacaf region I have friends telling me whenever they playing trinidad is sure cut arse and a guaranteed 3 points for them whether it's costa-rica,mexico,honduras,el-salvador,usa trinidad will lose.

Is this what we have become,why could it not have been us at the top of the table for once in our lives but I'm seeing it for what it really is trinidad and tobago football is simply not that good and the players maybe 1 in 1000 may standout in our history......   

11

Football / Where was the Defense?

« on: June 07, 2009, 08:02:57 AM »

Tallest and Keyeno thomas are right at this moment liabilities on the field no composure or confidence defending very hap hazard and laborer like defenders in my book may have had some basics but you have got to think on the field also,it's not as if we have defenders who are like animals relying on instinct to get by its all about reasoning and rationalising,for instance granted carlos allowed that cross to slip by, keyeno was to close to the ball to attempt a diving header he could've threw his chest at that ball or brought his body closer to the striker to throw him off,if I'm a costa rican player I'm looking at that and saying these defenders are desperate and from then on I telling my boys just keep crossing them balls into keyeno and tallest way.......   


Boi I tell allyuh it ent easy with we defense nah.I wish we had ah defense like germany always coming forward never backing up ......

12

Football / Is This paragraph Correct?

« on: April 19, 2009, 06:35:02 PM »

Birchall was voted young player of the year in 2005 at Port Vale after having a good season at the club he had been associated with since the age of nine.

In August 2006 Birchall was sold to Coventry City for a fee of £325,000 plus a sell-on clause. He scored his first Sky Blues goal against Norwich with a 25-yard (23 m) low drive stunner.

On 31 August, Birchall signed with St Mirren on loan until January 2008 depending on his appearances.[1] He returned to Coventry after suffering an injury in November.

On 27 November 2008, Birchall signed for Carlisle United on loan until 31 December. When returning to Coventry, he agreed to have his contract terminated by mutual consent.[2]

On 5 January 2009, it was revealed that Birchall had joined English League One side Brighton & Hove Albion on an initial week-trial with a view to earning a contract.[3] On 16 January, he signed a contract until the end of the season.[4]

In April 2009, Birchall was the subject of a move to Major League Soccer side Los Angeles Galaxy[5], with Galaxy offering him a one-year deal, but Brighton unwilling to let him go before the summer.

In the coming weeks however, Real Madrid managed to reach the £50,000,000 asking price and signed him.

Got it from wikipedia.....

13

Football / What Brand of football do we play?

« on: April 13, 2009, 01:32:47 PM »

The question I've been asking myself for years is do we really have we own brand or style of football that is unique just to trinbago ballers.I've heard guys on this site say is the soca warrior brand, Now it was the dutch style of football that took us to the world cup so should we stick with the european brand or is it the coach that ultimately makes the brand.....   

14

Football / Which of our Warriors could be compared with these Players?

« on: March 31, 2009, 01:30:36 PM »

Strikers/Midfielders.


Samuel eto`(cameroon intl)
Lionel messsi(argentine intl)
Ribery(french intl)
Ronaldo(manu)(Portugese intl)
Pavlyuchenko(russian intl)
Arshavin(russian intl)
Robinho(brazillian intl)
Pato(brazillian intl)
Lukas Podolski(german intl)

Defenders


Maldini even at his age(italian intl)
Cannavaro(italian intl)
Rio Ferdinand(england intl)
Roberto Carlos(brazilian intl)
Puyol(spanish intl)
Philipp Lahm(german intl)
Nesta(italian intl)
John terry(england intl)
Sergio Ramos(spanish intl)


So I compiled a list,it's easy how good are we really is the question.

Tell me could tallest,dog,hislop,akile match up with anyone of these defenders or could stern,scotty,glen,jones,edwards,birchall match up with any of those strikers/midfielders.

Yorke and Latas not in this already established legends and could match up with any ah them men so forget them.......   

15

Football / Scounting Report on T&T....

« on: March 31, 2009, 11:22:05 AM »

March 31, 2009
Scouting Report: Trinidad & Tobago
 


By CLEMENTE LISI - NEW YORK, NY (Mar 31, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- Two ties in two games is not a bad start given the 10-game schedule, but Trinidad & Tobago enter Wednesday's game against the United States in Nashville with issues on the road to South Africa.  Saturday's 1-1 draw with Honduras followed an opener against El Salvador that they dominated, but couldn't win. 

“We did not play well,” coach Francisco Maturana lamented after the Honduras game. “We lacked rhythm. I hope we can improve in the next game and get some points.”

That makes the objective as clear as possible.  Ties are better than losing, but T&T need to turn a few games into three points to control their own fate in the Hexagonal round.

The United States - coming off their own hard-fought 2-2 draw against El Salvador on Saturday night - has never lost to Trinidad & Tobago on home soil. After clinching a berth to the Hexagonal last year, the US sent a less experienced team to Port of Spain, where T&T snagged a 2-1 victory. The US also controls the overall series 14-2-3 and has a 9-1-2 record against the Soca Warriors in World Cup qualifying. Clearly, the edge belongs to the Americans.

Despite the historical edge the US possesses, T&T has a deep roster with plenty of experienced players. Although Maturana has experimented lately with a 4-5-1 formation, he reverted back to his normal 4-4-2 system against Honduras. Maturana, famous for coaching his native Colombia at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, yearns to guide T&T to the 2010 tournament after a series of coaching failures – but it won’t be easy.

Missing will be captain Dwight Yorke, who sat out Saturday’s game because of a red card last month. His two-match ban, originally a four-game suspension that was successfully appealed, means Yorke will miss the US game. The 37-year-old remains a key player for the Soca Warriors. He missed the first U.S. qualifier last fall – a 3-0 victory for the Americans in Chicago – because of club commitments with Sunderland of the English Premier League. When Yorke did play against the US, he netted the winning goal.

Despite Yorke’s suspension, the soccer federation’s spin doctors put out a statement last week trying to argue that the veteran striker’s presence in training camp and on the bench would be a “great boost” for the other players. So far, that “boost” hasn’t really materialized for the players.

In Yorke’s absence, Trinidad & Tobago will likely rely on striker Kenwyne Jones, who was shockingly demoted to the bench against Honduras for the first time since the 2006 World Cup. In a post-game interview, Maturana claimed Jones, who finally entered the game in the 61st minute, needed rest and will be a probable starter on Wednesday. Maturana was so bombarded with questions about Jones’ limited playing time that he’s unlikely to make a similar mistake again.

One option that has worked well for Maturana is to partner Jones with Stern John, who has scored 69 goals in 107 games for the National Team. The 32-year-old forward is no stranger to fans of Major League Soccer from his time with Columbus, and remains one of the better forwards in CONCACAF.

Feeding balls to the forwards in Yorke’s notable absence will be Russell Latapy. At age 40, Latapy is the oldest player on the squad (Yorke is close at 38) and a scorer in his own right with 29 goals in 76 matches. Latapy wasn't as effective as normal against Honduras. Look for him to be more involved offensively against the United States.

With the United States holding such an advantage at home, Trinidad & Tobago are in a situation where they need to stick to the fundamentals that have gotten them to the final round of qualifying.  Even without Yorke, they work the ball well out of midfield and they have established attacking options.  What they still need to show is that they can hold a lead when they get it and turn a bad game into more than a tie.  A lot of that is on the defense, and they'll be facing their first major test on Wednesday after two games where T&T has to believe they should have done better.

Clemente Lisi is the author of “A History of the World Cup: 1930-2006.”

16

Cricket Anyone / A serious move or a publicity stunt,wha allyuh think?

« on: March 19, 2009, 08:09:23 AM »

Manny takes a swing at cricketAssociated Press
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Updated: March 18, 2009, 11:01 PM EST 65 comments GILBERT, Ariz. (AP) - Decked out in a chinstrapped red helmet, padded gloves and pillowy shinguards, Manny Ramirez watched from the side as a bowler warmed up.

Two-sport Manny? Photos: The Dodgers' Manny Ramirez knows he can handle pitchers, but can he dominate bowlers? Check him out.
Video: Watch Manny take his hacks. 
After the first ball kicked up dust and rocketed past him, the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger turned and wondered about his safety. But it wasn't long before one of the most feared hitters in baseball felt secure enough to step in and take a few swings with a cricket bat.

"Let me see a fast one," Ramirez shouted to the bowler, Souvir Bhuta, who fired a hard one-hopper.

"Very good," Ramirez said. "I'm going to talk to Frank (McCourt, the Dodgers' owner). Maybe we could sign you. We need some pitching."

The Dodgers had Wednesday off, so Circus Manny moved to this suburb southeast of Phoenix, where Ramirez took batting lessons from Australian pro Shaun Marsh to promote for DIRECTV's international cricket broadcasts.

Ramirez has been sidelined with a tight hamstring, and he didn't run or play in the field. He said he had been treated at the team's facility before heading over for the demonstration and that he hopes to play in an exhibition game next week.

"I'm feeing better every day," Ramirez said. "We've got three weeks to opening day. That's what we're shooting for."

Ramirez chuckled when asked if Dodgers manager Joe Torre had authorized his outing.

"Oh yeah. I think I'm going to retire and maybe sign with cricket," said Ramirez, who recently agreed to a $45 million, two-year contract with the Dodgers.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 
The made-for-the-media event took place on a sunsplashed field often used by the Arizona Cricket Club, one of an estimated 750 cricket teams in this country. The event paired two men who make their living with a bat - although the bat wielded by Ramirez on Wednesday had an elongated handle and was flat, like a paddle.

Marsh is a left-handed opening bat who plays for his country and for Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League. Like Ramirez, Marsh is coming back from a hamstring injury that he said had sidelined him for about six weeks.

Marsh said he had been looking forward to meeting Ramirez.

"I've heard a little bit about him, but I really don't follow baseball too much," Marsh said. "I read up about him when I was coming over here. He's certainly an icon in American sport."

Marsh gave Ramirez a few quick pointers on the rules.

"It's pretty simple, mate," Marsh said. "You just make sure you're nice and relaxed. You keep your eyes on the ball, just like you do in baseball."

With Marsh standing nearby, Ramirez swung and missed at his first pitch, then lined the second one past the bowler's ear as yellow-jerseyed members of the Arizona Cricket Club chased down the ball.

On the third delivery, Ramirez let the ball hit the wicket, which would have been an out in an actual game.

"That's an out?" Ramirez said. "Give me one more chance."

A few minutes later, Bhuta fired a ball that bounded behind Ramirez, who danced out of the way. "Am I allowed to charge the mound?" Ramirez said.



 

"They weren't bowling too quick," Marsh said.

When the brief session was over, Ramirez expressed admiration for Marsh and the skills of cricketers, although he cringed when told that some at-bats can span nine hours.

"That's too long," Ramirez said.

Asked to recall his longest at-bat, Ramirez said, "Maybe 10 pitches."

Ramirez's escapades in the outfield are legendary, but at least he has a large leather glove to protect himself. In cricket, only the wicketkeeper wears gloves in the field.

"It's unbelievable," Ramirez said. "I don't know how they do it. The ball comes like 110 (mph) and they catch it with no glove."

Sometimes they catch it in the ribs. That's where Ramirez's longest drive hit Anil Cheruvu, one of the fielders from the Arizona Cricket Club.

Cheruvu had an alibi used by many a baseball outfielder: he lost it in the sun.

"I got blinded," he said. "He got me right in the ribs. I guess I'll have to keep the red mark for a while."

17

Football / Positive Messages to our warriors.......

« on: February 13, 2009, 06:44:27 AM »

The first game is over and done with,we blew a once in a lifetime opportunity but it could have been worse,we could have lost and the headlines would've read elsalvador puts the magic spell on the soca warriors,so moving forward these guys need our positive messages going into the game against honduras,how about some praises for the men who became heroes and made our country proud for the first time in our nations history,remember they're the ones on the field making the ultimate sacrifice and despite how we feel about them  and the coach, as supporters we need to show strenght and faith.

These players no when they mess up we'll let them know,but at the same time while visiting this site our players should feed off the positives,they're all we got and it is what it is,so I will continue to pray for them always and hope that we're successful moving forward.

God Bless.....       

18

Jokes / Bweee.....

« on: January 07, 2009, 09:20:25 PM »

Ahh, Bee Wee

A guy sitting at an airport bar notices a beautiful woman sitting next to him. He thinks to himself, "Wow, she's so gorgeous she must be a flight attendant; but which airline does she work for?"   
 
Hoping she'll speak with him, he leans towards her and says, "Love to fly . . . and it shows!"  She gives him a blank, confused stare and he immediately thinks to himself, "she doesn't work for Delta."
 
A few seconds later, another slogan pops into his head. He leans towards her again, "Something special in the air?"  She gives him the same confused look. He mentally kicks himself and scratches American Airlines off of the list.   
 
Next he tries United, saying "I would really love to fly your friendly skies!" This time the woman barks back at him "Man, wha you want?" 

The man smiles, then slumps back in his chair . . .  "Ahhh, Bee Wee". 

19

Jokes / A tale of two nuns..

« on: January 07, 2009, 09:14:00 PM »

two nuns

 

There were two nuns...

One of them was known as Sister Mathematical (SM),

and the other one was known as Sister Logical (SL).

It is getting dark and they are still far away from the convent.

SM: Have you noticed that a man has been following us for
the past thirty-eight and a half minutes? I wonder what he wants.

SL: It's logical. He wants to rape us.

SM: Oh, no! At this rate he will reach us in 15 minutes
at the most! What can we do?

SL: The only logical thing to do of course is to walk faster.

SM: It's not working.

SL: Of course it's not working. The man did the only
logical thing. He started to walk faster, too.

SM: So, what shall we do? At this rate he will reach us in one minute.

SL: The only logical thing we can do is split. You go that way and
I'll go this way. He cannot follow us both.

So the man decided to follow Sister Logical.
 

Sister Mathematical arrives at the convent and is
worried about what has happened to Sister Logical.

Then Sister Logical arrives.

SM: Sister Logical! Thank God you are here!
Tell me what happened!

SL: The only logical thing happened.
The man couldn't follow us both, so he followed me

SM: Yes, yes! But what happened then?

SL : The only logical thing happened. I started to run
as fast as I could and he started to run as fast as he could.

SM: And?

SL: The only logical thing happened. He reached me

SM: Oh, dear! What did you do?

SL: The only logical thing to do. I lifted my dress up.

SM: Oh, Sister! What did the man do?

SL: The only logical thing to do. He pulled down his pants.
 

SM: Oh, no! What happened then?

SL: Isn't it logical, Sister?
A nun with her dress up can run faster than man with his pants down.
   
 
And for those of you who thought it would be dirty,
I'll pray for you!   
 
 
 

20

2010 World Cup - South Africa / How do you feel about a World Cup 2010 without Brazil?

« on: January 02, 2009, 02:49:16 PM »

I was just watching paraguay tear them apart and could'nt help notice how dismal there football has gotten over the years,plus all there opponents of recent seem to be going after them with no respect,that brazilian mystique is no longer there and I think it's going be difficult for them this rounds,what's your take............... 

21

Football / Roy Keane the worst coach in the EPL What allyuh Think?

« on: November 23, 2008, 12:03:41 PM »

How the hell you going to take off the best header of the ball in kenwyne jones,when yuh just bring to men who could make better crosses,that man on drugs I suspect,just totally left field in my book.

It's amazing how roy keane starts off with two top strikers and nobody who could supply the crosses or proper passes,it's like cici and jones playing with ah pee wee team......

22

Football / Blast from the past.....

« on: November 22, 2008, 03:41:10 PM »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lolS5NBmQ04

23

Football / What's the worst weather conditions allyuh ever play in?

« on: November 09, 2008, 12:50:52 PM »

I thought it might me interesting to note while looking at that chealsea vs blackburn game,with the deluge of rain,it reminded me of ah game I played years ago in the eddie hart league rain pouring it muddy and at this point both teams no longer playing attractive football but a display of some of the most dangerous skate tackling.... 

24

Football / How good is scotty?

« on: October 16, 2008, 12:28:10 PM »

This guy scottland has been eager to show what he's made of and fails to impress me. I don't know for other people on this board but is either the league he's playing in is shitty or he just can't score in international football....

25

Football / What happen to cornell glen?

« on: June 22, 2008, 08:28:39 PM »

Anybody know the status of cornell glen,is he fit or he cyah make,what's up?

26

Football / Spiderman ny magic.........

« on: March 06, 2008, 06:07:06 AM »

FORMER National goalkeeper Earl "Spiderman" Carter continues to produce winners. This time it is with the Sabb of Hunterdon Tewksbury Cheetahs girls team. This team defeated West Winsdor in the Mid-New Jersey U14 Girls Soccer Tournament 3-2 in East Brunswick. This also added to his success. In 2003 under his coaching ,the Tewksbury U11 boys team won the New Jersey State U11 champsionship, the National Regional Championship in Boston. and the Jefferson's Cup championship in Virgina, which is the second largest tournament in the USA. In 2004, this team under his coaching won the New Jersey State Championship. They went on to become ranked as the No. 1 Under 12 team in the USA.

                                                     TnT Mirror.

27

Football / Who better Derby or Sunderland?

« on: December 26, 2007, 11:09:48 AM »

I tell you,poor kenwynne,working hard like ah dog in every game,an they still coming out losers,It's become apparent now,they will be relegated,but derby is showing more fight somehow,what's even worse is keane is waiting for that january window to pick up some talented players,but it's at a stage where that may not even help them,it may ultimately make the situation worse,because you don't want to spend millions of dollars aquiring new players and still get relegated........     

28

Football / African Cup Tournament in South Florida................

« on: October 02, 2007, 09:38:39 AM »

It starts at 9.00am on Saturday Morning at the Biran Picolo Park,teams from nigeria,ghana,cameroon,ivory coast etc,also teams from south and north america and (the caribbean,at least so I was told).......

I'll be there with my son........

29

Football / Gay World Cup In Argentina! Wha goin orn?

« on: August 20, 2007, 10:57:48 AM »

Gay World Cup in Argentina This Year

by Ryan Wilson

A gay Mexican football team is hoping to win a place at the 2007 Gay Soccer World Cup in Argentina.

I didn't even know there was such a thing as a Gay Soccer World Cup, but according to this 2004 article, the International Gay & Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA) was started in 1992, and the first organized gay soccer team was formed in New York City in 1981.

These teams aren't comprised of professional players, but guys with everyday jobs hoping to use soccer as a vehicle "to spread tolerance and social understanding." There will be 32 teams competing in Argentina, though the Mexican side still needs to raise funds for uniforms, a coach, and travel expenses from corporations and gay organizations.

Honestly, the Gay Soccer World Cup is a great idea. I think everyone, no matter their sexual preference, should be afforded the right to take dives, throw punches, and drop-kick unruly fans. Just make sure the coach wears a helmet.
Labels: gay soccer, gays in Argentina. world gay soccer.

I could'nt believe it when I read it this morning at the back of the New Times,it was an ad placed by Wizzard Travel ......

30

Football / Sunderland goal scorers.....

« on: August 10, 2007, 06:39:21 PM »

I say yorke,if he starts go surprise them with a beautiful header.............