Zizou Tsuki

Van Canna · Post by **Van Canna** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:02 am

In any thing that is happening, there is always a cause and an effect. A simple function of C/E. If you are feeling subjected to forces outside of you, that you blame are outside of your influence (government, sport, employer, client, school, you name it), you are at the effect side - the results of something.

Something that you say you have no control over. What those "things" do to you is "making you sick", "they are unfair", "they treat you badly", "you gotta get back to them", and so on. Poor thing - you are living your life as a subject to something.

It is hard to do, but way more rewarding to say - I take responsibilty, I am 100% in charge of my life, I am designing my life, I change what I can change, I am not a blamer but will have the attitute, the strength and the integrity to do what I can do to make my life better.

Hey - simply, to make your life a WoW!

That means that while it might hurt badly to be insulted, to have your wife, kids, sister and mother getting insulted, not to go down to that low level, but walk proudly and strong and unaffected. Concentrating on what I want to achieve.

In Zizou's case - he wanted to hold the World Cup in his hands. He should have focused on that only and nothing else. Sure, it was hard, very hard, but then, isn't it even harder now?

So a coach shouldn't understand such behaviour, but get rid of it. Move his patient, player, whatever, to the Cause Side of things, and away of feeling exposed to circumstances that are away from your potential influence.

To design the life and be powerful in times of adversity. Or, simply, to win the World Cup.

^The funny thing is _ the French still don't get it.

The Italians set them up badly for a goodbye to the cup with Materazzi's cunning masterpiece.

What a bunch of idiots.

My childhood friend in Italy, and he himself a professional goalie in his day[ as little kids we lived for soccer] back in Italy _ called me to have a few laughs over the 'set up' _

He talked of french and German arrogance in the papers, insulting the Italians anyway they could think, simply because they feared them so much on the field.

And in the end they were all had like a bunch of school boys.

And Materazzi was a good actor in folding after the butt.
Soccer players get hit twice as hard on regular basis, but only fall down when it is convenient to 'sucker' the opposition into red cards.

My team's coach was a genius in teaching this concept.

Gene DeMambro · Post by **Gene DeMambro** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:41 am

I love to watch World Cup soccer, and I won a few bucks on Italy's win, but I got the impression after watchiing this Cup that everytime a soccer player is so muched as looked at cross-eyed, he flops to the ground looking for a foul. Kinda weenie.

Gene

Van Canna · Post by **Van Canna** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:40 am

At the world cup level, teams are matched so closely that games are won by 'cunning' _ weenie has nothing to do with it. Play acting is king.

The problem is with the refs who are ridiculous with penalties and cards and the smart players ‘play the refs’ along with the ball.

The real games for me, were when playing in this country for the ‘SS ITALIA’ team in an International league against German, Dutch, Portuguese, Irish and other ethnic teams.

At the time, soccer was still in infancy in the US, and the refs let the players ‘slam’ the game much more than today.

In this shot, you see a semifinal game we played in the Boston North end field, on Atlantic Avenue, not far from Hanover street.

No weenies there.

The bleachers were opposite the fence and always packed with people who loved a rough game.

There was also lots of violence connected to the games in those days.

Once we came to serious blows with Germany. Pretty serious business back then.

Some great games for sure.

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:42 pm

I also don't buy the "weenie" label.

This is no different than basketball. I never forget as a young college kid watching Duke come into University Hall and play the refs like a piano. Then I began to appreciate the art of taking a charge. It's more difficult than it looks, and takes the same kinds of skills that we teach in ukemi. You need perfect timing, and an ability to create the perfect elastic collision with the player. Then you need to know how to do a back fall on a hardwood floor. I know a lot of martial artists who shy away from that.

The psychological play on the field is all part of the game, and I agree with Van here on his assessment. Materazzi executed the perfect emotional hijack on Zidane - considered by some to be the best soccer player in the world. By doing so, he took him off the field and gave Italy an advantage.

Mike and Mike in the Morning (ESPN radio) were talking about this yesterday. They didn't get emotional about it, but basically said that the trash talking was part of the game. The former lineman Mike talked about which (American) football players ran their mouths, and which didn't. Basically he said that the ones farthest from the ball were the ones who jabbered the most. And a few named individuals had developed it into an artform.

Mike talked about a scrimmage game he played once where an opposing St. Louis player was getting under the skin of one of his linemen. His fellow player kept telling the guy to stop talking like that, which only made him go at it with more intensity. Finally he looked at the trash talker and said. "Alright, Jesus is coming!"

In the huddle, the lineman kept saying it over and over. Jesus is coming... Jesus is coming... Jesus is coming... Being that it was just a scrimmage game, Mike said he told his counterpart on the other side of the line that he was sitting back this play, because he wanted to watch what went down. When the ball was hiked, the enraged player rammed into the trash talker and pushed him about ten yards across the field and into their quarterback.

That's how you handle it!

There's usually a constructive way to channel all that emotional energy. One just needs to take a few deep breaths and bring it down a notch so you can engage the brain and plot a response that YOU own. In some cases, no response at all can be even more devastating.

- Bill

Van Canna · Post by **Van Canna** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:01 pm

Great and 'well experienced' post, Bill.

Gene DeMambro · Post by **Gene DeMambro** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:52 pm

Taking a charge is one thing - an art in itself in basketball. True fouls are true fouls and no compliant here. Trash talking is also part of the game as well. Larry Bird - one of the all-time great basketeball players - was also one of the all-time great trash talkers. The penalty that won them the game vs. Australia was a true penalty. And the refs did loose control of several matches. But enough with the "play acting" and win the damn game already. Too many calls that should have been waived off in my book.

Gene

Van Canna · Post by **Van Canna** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:24 pm

> But enough with the "play acting" and win the damn game already. Too many calls that should have been waived off in my book. <

Agreed. But you must convince the refs and the associations of this. They fear players out of control, injuries/physical and pocketbook.

World class soccer is big-big-big business.

Van Canna · Post by **Van Canna** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:27 pm

Fouls and misconduct are penalised as follows:

Direct Free Kick
A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following six offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:

kicks or attempts to kick an opponent

trips or attempts to trip an opponent

jumps at an opponent

charges an opponent

strikes or attempts to strike an opponent

pushes an opponent

A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player
commits any of the following four offences:

tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball
holds an opponent

spits at an opponent

handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area).

A direct free kick is taken from where the offence occurred. *

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:57 pm

From SI.com

1. Lance Armstrong made a triumphant return to the Tour de France on Monday as a visitor. France was so eager to welcome the seven-time champ that it arranged for Armstrong to be met at the airport by Zinédine Zidane.

2. Speaking of Lance and the French, the retired cyclist gave one of the all-time great non-apologies over the weekend for his crack about the nation while hosting the ESPYs.

Joking about the French World Cup team, Armstrong said, "All their players tested positive ... for being a--holes." Armstrong later explained that he didn't consider the comment offensive because, "If they'd live[d] with me and heard me at home, they'd know that was a step down." Sure, that's a great way to defuse a potential international incident. It's like President Bush saying, "Come on, that was nothing, you should hear what I say about the Syrians out at the ranch." Shockingly, the French weren't appeased by Armstrong's explanation. French newspaper France Soir welcomed Armstrong back to the country on Monday with the headline, "Welcome in France, a--hole!" Yes, good feelings all around.

Hmm... Maybe if he had said it with Mariah by his side, the sting might not have been so great.

You go, Lance. If they can dish it out (baseless criticism and unfounded charges of drug abuse), they sure ought to be able to take it.

- Bill

Valkenar · Post by **Valkenar** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:10 am

Bill Glasheen wrote: This is no different than basketball.

I agree with this, but disagreen with the conclusion. Flopping in basketball is considered bad sportsmansip by everyone I know. I don't doubt that there's definitely skill involved, but it'd take skill to lace the opponents' water with a sedative to and I'd hardly call that inspiring play.

Personally, watching soccer plaers flop all over the place made me a little less appreciative than I might otherwise have been. Though I still watched, since I was in Brazil on the day they were eliminated.

RACastanet · Post by **RACastanet** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:21 am

I was in Brazil

Justin: What did you end up using for insect repellant on you jungle trek?

Rich

Aaaargh · Post by **Aaaargh** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:47 am

Consider the NHL, where diving is not only a penalty, it's punishable by a $1000 fine, even if it's detected after the fact on video review, even if the refs never detect it on the ice... and the league publishes a list of "divers" and posts it in every locker room.

Van Canna · Post by **Van Canna** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:05 am

The Italian players are amazing athletes with spectacular technical abilities, but I was most impressed with the degree of savvy that each player possessed.

I remember reading quotes from their players during the first round of the tournament, where they described the way they approached each game. They went into each challenge with a clear plan and played together to achieve the outcome they needed.

And, in the Final, they definitely proved to be the team that kept their cool under pressure. The great Zidane blew his cool (and the game); much like Wayne Rooney did for England when they were eliminated by Portugal.

I don't know what was said to Zidane that forced him to head butt that Italian defender, but it really doesn't matter. There is no excuse for losing your head_

especially when it leads to your team losing the World Championship!

There are many examples of great players losing their cool: Maradona in the '82 World Cup comes to mind. But, he came back to be the most dominant player in 1986, leading Argentina to the World Championship. Unfortunately, this is Zezou's last game – it's the exclamation point to the end of a brilliant career. He clearly is the Tragic Hero of this World Cup.

# # #

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:05 pm

Justin wrote:
Flopping in basketball is considered bad sportsmansip by everyone I know. I don't doubt that there's definitely skill involved, but it'd take skill to lace the opponents' water with a sedative to and I'd hardly call that inspiring play.

I take it you don't watch a lot of basketball, Justin. Taking a charge (what you called "flopping") is one of the fundamental skills of the game. It's a vital part of the defensive game, and you can't win in basketball without good defense. Lots of the non-purists call this "ugly ball." What-ever... It's part of the game, and takes multidimensional athletic skills to execute. If you don't know how to do it but the opposing team does, you're doomed.

Here are some instructions from eHow.com. Note how many skills taught here that are highly relevant to martial arts. Consider drunken monkey style, ukemi in the grappling arts, taking a hit in striking arts, protecting vital zones while inside, etc.

How to Take a Charge in Basketball

Every team needs a nuts-and-bolts player to do the little things in a game. Taking a charge tends to fall into this category.

Steps:

1. Plant your feet shoulder-width apart and keep them planted.

2. Keep your arms at your side. If you stand with your elbows out to your sides, you're liable to have a blocking foul called against you.

3. Wait for the player to meet you.

4. Give the defender a chance to see you. Avoid blindsiding your opponent.

5. Stand your ground without leaning into the defender or throwing a hip.

6. Prepare for contact.

7. Absorb as much of the other player's momentum as possible.

8. Put your hands out to cushion your fall.

9. Celebrate on the floor as an offensive foul is called. It only hurts when they call you for blocking.

Tips:

Whistling a foul for charging is generally a judgment call for the referee. Do your best to keep your feet steady before your encounter with the player.

When you fall, don't imitate NBA players and flop to the ground. Try to maintain body control even as you fall.

If you're smaller than the opponent bearing down on you, you're more likely to get the sympathy call because you're risking your body. It may not be fair, but it happens.

Overall Warnings:

If you have any condition that could impair or limit your ability to engage in physical activity, please consult a physician before attempting this activity.

Tips from eHow Users:

How to take a charge by Ryan Schnier
Don't put your hands out, you could break your wrist when you fall try to fall on your but.

Other technique by eHow Friend
Lean back on your heels, and when the player is just about to charge you, get some air under your feet as it will help you absorb the blow.

Coach Rick Torbett, one of the most prestigious coaches in the nation prefers one hand down (to protect the crotch) and one hand up to the face. This way you have a complete shield. He also instructs players to slap the ground with both hands after their bumps hit the floor to help distribute the blow.

- Bill

Zizou Tsuki

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