Alexandra Leggat

Join Me to celebrate Randy Macho Man Savage's birthday...

2011-10-14T08:11:00.000-07:00

RANDY MACHO MAN SAVAGE BIRTHDAY MEMORIAL ART SHOW IN TORONTO!
Savage: Cult of Personality, Pure Media and the art of Macho Madness

curated by Nathaniel G. Moore

White House Studio 277 Augusta

November 12-15th (Opening 12 November 7pm)

The voice. The colours. The intensity. Pop culture magician Randy Savage transcended the sport of pro wrestling. This November in Toronto, the man who entertained thousands of Torontonians in the 80s and 90s at Maple Leaf Gardens and Skydome is having a party. An art show. A movement.

With fellow fans such as Greg Oliver (author of several wrestling books including The Heels Hall of Fame), Michael Holmes (author of Parts Unknown, wrestling poetry book) Daniel Scott Tysdal (award winning poet) who will be doing short readings, longtime fan Nathaniel G Moore will be unveiling almost 20 pieces of original art dedicated the the late Randy Savage. Other artists include Sherwin Tjia, Sonja Ahlers, Alexandra Leggat, Vicki Nerino and more.

Music, video and artwork from across North America including New York, Montreal, Calgary, Nebraska and Toronto.
The show runs from 12-15 November. Opening reception is Saturday November 12th 7pm. The event is free to the public. Wrestling fans young and old encouraged to attend.

For more information please contact Xenia or Nathaniel at

theotherwhitehouse (@) gmail.com

More info and preview:

http://criticalcrushes.blogspot.com/2011/09/savage-art-show-november-12-2011.html

Canadian Sadcore
NATHANIEL G. MOORE
-------------------------------
http://canadiansadcore.tumblr.com/

http://twitter.com/nathanielgmoore

Check out the latest issue of Front and Centre

2011-08-25T07:14:00.000-07:00

I interviewed writer Salvatore Difalco about his new book of micro fiction The Mountie at Niagara Falls, String theory, poker.
The link to the mags site is here - http://www.blackbilepress.com/black_bile_press/Editorial_Feature25.html

And the interview is also below.

Front and Centre #25
EDITORIAL/FEATURE

Two writers talking – Salvatore Difalco & Alexandra Leggat

>> Fom The Mountie at Niagara Falls by Salvatore Difalco

IF THE PHONE RINGS

I’m not home. I have a toothache and a headache and my stomach is off. I look like a corpse. I’m sure my boss is thinking of canning my ass. He never knew I could be such a whiner, such a wimp, such a wuss – as if whining about pain is a crime against humanity. But in some cultures it is, in a way. Nevertheless I cancelled my flight to Chicago, where I was scheduled to interview an important man I have never heard of and I’m afraid I’ve made a bad name for myself. Downstairs my wife is crying because her editor rejected her latest column and her sorrow threatens to boil over into anger. I can feel it in my tooth. I don’t know about flying with a toothache. My sister once flew to Florida with one and spent a week in hiding after a Clearwater dentist botched the root canal. Root canal in Florida, root canal in Chicago, a wounded wife in Toronto. These things call for serious narcotics. No one needs to be in pain.

>>

When I ask, my husband Salvatore Difalco swears I am not the wounded wife in Toronto, crying because her editor rejected her latest column. Though I don’t believe him, I wouldn’t want him to question the inspiration behind my characters. I wonder if Tess Gallagher raised an eyebrow at the female characters in her late husband Raymond Carver’s intricate and heart-wrenching stories. I recently read in a review of Joyce Carol Oates’ new memoir A Widow’s Story that she always kept her writing separate from her marriage. That her late husband Raymond Smith didn’t read her fiction and she preferred it that way. Oates writes, “I did not think of myself as a writer primarily, or even as a writer, but as a wife.” They kept their life domestic and unaffected by the literary realm. Hard to fathom. For Salvatore and I talking about our work, books, attempting to make sense of it all, is a big part of our union – writing is our life. Maybe after forty-seven years of marriage and over seventy-five books under my belt, I might feel differently. But for now there is too much to talk about: Salvatore’s new book The Mountie at Niagara Falls, the writing life, string theory …

Alexandra Leggat: We’d known each other for a long time before I discovered and was amazed that you had a thing for miniatures. Do you remember what drew you to writing in this compact form that reflects your love for little things?

Salvatore Difalco: I guess it comes from my love of miniatures in general, you know figurines, dollhouses, Dinky toys. Miniature paintings and sculptures do it for me. I like small, very small things. But I’ve always liked the short literary form as practised by Kafka, Beckett, Hemingway, Walser and so forth. You can do a lot in a short space, and you’re free to create hybrids of poetry, prose, and more discursive takes. It’s freeing, in a way. So after my longer fiction was out there and no one was really digging it, I turned to the small form exclusively, for a time, one that editors seemed to like more than my longer efforts. They were willing to give the short things space since they don’t demand much space. Hence I now have become a committed miniaturist. Or at least I had become one. Now I think I’ll turn back to longer forms.

AL: As a committed miniaturist, did you visualize the little gems in The Mountie at Niagara Falls, see them, feel them, hear them? How does one create the ship in the bottle as it were?

SD: Many of these shorts came almost unconsciously. I mean, I sit around scratching; exploring this or that conceit, this or that voice, and sometimes something catches fire. Then I get it down as it comes, make a few tweaks, and move on. These pieces either work on the first go or they don’t. In other words I discard the ones that fizzle out.

AL: I recall seeing a carpet of them strewn across the floor at one point; how would you describe the process of compiling them all for the book?

SD: I had written a couple hundred of these pieces over the last few years, many of which appeared in journals. I thought about compiling them into a little book and I solicited my artist friend, Francesco Galle, to ink a few drawings for the mass and he did. I found a publisher but doubts about the publication date and little or no feedback from the editors left it all hanging until the last minute. The actual book was thrown together in a forty-eight hour period just before it went to the printer. There wasn’t much editing or design, when all is said and done.

AL: But the juxtaposition of the artwork and the miniature story lends itself so perfectly to a book. I found the image allows the reader to reflect before moving on to the next story. Is this what you were hoping for?

SD: As far as the illustrations go, I had envisaged a cool, compact book that would be palatable and easily digested. Most of the pieces are so short that a little breathing time between batches seemed the way to go. Unfortunately, the editing process never really got off the ground and thus it fell short of my vision for it.

AL: How did you find that experience, working with an artist and his interpretation of your work?

SD: It was a mixed bag. I love Francesco but conflating two artistic visions is never easy. In the end Francesco proved to be flexible and accommodating and I’m pleased with the individual drawings, though I have no idea how anyone else feels about them.

AL: They are titillating, magical. You have a great appreciation for art, which I think comes through in your work, especially this last book. What artists inspire your writing, your mindset? I know who you like, but you always surprise me with who’s in your mind at the time of working and why?

SD: Well, that may have been true, of course, at one point. I mean, being inspired by “artists”. But I find myself backing off a little from that. Aesthetics can choke you out in the end. I don’t see many contemporary artists, in whatever medium, that give me a thrill, and you can only keep going back to the old stuff so often. So I have to admit that these days I am not inspired by artists. I am inspired by string theorists who spin out preposterous, unverifiable hypotheses about time and space, and poker champions who have the best jobs in the world, and those shiny men and women who have made a great deal of money. They inspire me. Ask them what they think about art.

AL: Ha, ha. And from what you tell me there are some great fictions in string theory. Would you say writing is comparable to quantum chaos, or the writing life is?

SD: I think the term is quantum uncertainty. Quantum uncertainty makes the whole precipice fragile and illusory. Have you ever heard of Calabi-Yau manifolds?

AL: Calabi-what?

SD: Never mind. It’ll just depress you.

AL: After reading your new book I felt that although The Mountie at Niagara Falls is a short story collection, a collection of miniatures, that there were three main characters whose lives and thoughts we were privy to, so in its way this works like an abstract novel to me. Did you get a sense of that all?

SD: That may be correct, but it wasn’t conscious. I guess looking at it now I see the trinity. I used to think I was merely schizophrenic, or at the very least divided. Now I have to consider all the pratfalls and complexities of being “three-personed” like the Christian God.

AL: Really? Do you? Or is it more like string theory?

SD: Did you know, string theorists propose that there are eleven or so space dimensions, not the three we normally think of. Now, what does this mean? It means that either the universe is infinitely more complex and mysterious than we have ever imagined, or that these guys have fabulous imaginations.

AL: And how does this relate to writing?

SD: You’ve seen how I’ve been tied up in knots since the publication of my last book.

AL: Yes, the post-partum publication rough spot, quantum uncertainty. You’re an avid poker player, are there parallels to poker and writing?

SD: Well, with poker, talent and knowledge aren’t always enough to win. You can play your very best game, that is, wait for premium holdings, read the table well, and bet accordingly, but that won’t prevent an occasional donkey from hitting a flop or a river with his or her junk and soiling you. So, yes, there are parallels.

AL: Can I begin my next book with that quote?

SD: No.

AL: In each of my books I always seem to gravitate to a favourite story or two. Of the unique stories in The Mountie at Niagara Falls, do you have favourites?

SD: My own favourite? That’s a bit self-indulgent, to name it – but maybe the actual title story is my favourite. Lots of people with strange bents are drawn to Niagara Falls. And as you and I know, people really do kill themselves there.

AL: We’ve both been described as edgy writers. Your first short story collection Black Rabbit and Other Stories was seen as extremely dark and edgy. And though not the same sensibility, The Mountie at Niagara Falls is not devoid of darkness and edge. Niagara Falls itself is the edge, as you mentioned we discovered first hand. How do you feel about that categorization?

SD: Frankly, I don’t know what edgy means any more. I don’t know if writers in Canada are really capable or permitted to write edgy fiction. But then again, that word is problematic, isn’t it? If it means you’re writing from the margins … either by choice or circumstance, well, okay. If it means you’re willing to explore certain darker regions of the human psyche and the human condition, I guess it’s as efficient an adjective as any. Also, pushing aesthetic boundaries; that can be edgy, to a degree. Writers who push too hard aesthetically run the risk of alienating a reader, even one with an open mind. I don’t know. If being edgy means being pushed out of the country’s literary discourse, being dismissed as coarse (i.e., uneducated or unschooled in the art) and unserious, and being denied grants and publishing opportunities and, well, respect and a viable readership, I wish that term edgy never made it into my orbit. It’s tiring enough and frustrating enough being viewed as an edgy human being. What does that mean in the end? That one might snap at any moment? That one might freak out? Go apeshit at the drop of a hat? Well, anyone is capable of losing it, of creeping too close to the abyss. Given the right pressure, the right poking, the ample amount of disrespect, anyone can be edgy.

AL: I see. We’ve talked about the phenomenon of how writers who try to be edgy are not – it doesn’t work. Care to share your thoughts on that?

SD: A lot of so called edgy writing, writing that perhaps emulates the efforts of Bukowski or Kathy Acker, or Burroughs, Carver, and the like, just isn’t convincing. I just don’t see it. I don’t see the cheaper, newer rip-offs possessing the authority and true darkness of their forbearers. Certain styles and conceits and tropes get worn out. That pared down, “gritty” style that became ubiquitous during the nineties is beyond annoying now; that clipped, minimal blandness leading to fecal alleyways and yawning toilet bowls and baring the bones of dysfunction and misery, I can’t bear it anymore. It’s been done to death. There’s no room for it any more.

AL: Agreed. What writers do you feel best illustrate what I would rather call treacherous or dangerous writing and why?

SD: Well, I guess I’d mention the usual suspects like Dostoevsky, Kafka and Babel, and of course Beckett in his way. Why? I guess they were all uniquely perceptive and at the same time subversive, unafraid to kick against the pricks and plunge into uncomfortable, subterranean subjects. As far as more recent writers go, Carver wrote some fabulously creepy and teeth-gnashing stories, and Bolano was really pushing the storytelling envelope in his last works. But maybe Stephen King is the king of this gritty, grimy domain, and one day snobs like us will accept that.

AL: Maybe you will. The Shining is not unreadable. And what about Jim Thompson and Andrew Vacchs, that calibre of true grit?

SD: Thompson wrote a lot of shit. But he wrote two or three books that are masterpieces. He created a couple of psychos thus far unsurpassed in fiction. Vacchs is good, true, but probably limited. And of course Denis Johnson comes to mind. Jesus’ Son is still thrilling to read.

AL: Are you conscious of evoking reactions in readers with your work, physical, emotional, psychological?

SD: Since I have no idea whatsoever who my readers are, and if indeed I have any legitimate readers, I find that difficult to answer. I don’t think I’m taken seriously enough as a writer to even consider “audience.” Since a reader, as such, is unknown to me, I never consider the reader when I’m writing, except that I always strive to make my writing exceedingly readable.

AL: Which medium do you think is the best vehicle for exploring the depths of more risk taking writing?

SD: Whatever medium you’re permitted to express yourself in. If you can’t get your so-called experiments published then perhaps you should rethink things. Writing in a vacuum is death. Pushing boundaries is meaningless unless you do have an audience that recognizes your bravery and ingenuity. F&C

Salvatore Difalco is the author of The Mountie at Niagara Falls (Anvil Press 2010) and Black Rabbit and Other Stories (Anvil Press). His essays, articles and reviews have appeared on Toro magazine, The Globe and Mail and other publications across Canada and the United States.

Alexandra Leggat’s latest collection of short stories is Animal (Anvil Press 2010), which was nominated for the 2010 Trillium Book Awards. She writes freelance and also instructs creative writing classes at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies.

New Story in...

2011-05-26T12:02:00.001-07:00

Taddle Creek | www.taddlecreekmag.com

Unfaithful By Alexandra Leggat. Last night I drank wine and thought of Idaho. ... www.taddlecreekmag.com/unfaithful

2011-05-25T21:18:00.000-07:00

Didn't wake up to the Golden Gate Bridge this morning, or on it, over it - my heart is somewhere between Jackson and Broadway, teetering on the incline - the rest of me? Northeast.

Branch Magazine

2011-04-03T14:44:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled to be the feature writer in Branch Magazine's Wild Issue and to be in such great company. Have a look at this beautiful publication, the art, the words...

Here's the link

www.branchmagazine.com

Anvil Press Book Launch

2010-12-06T18:50:00.000-08:00

Check out the Anvil Press Book Launch this Wednesday December 8th featuring my husband Salvatore Difalco.

TORONTO » READING/LAUNCH PARTY!
Ed Macdonald (Spat the Dummy), Tony Burgess (Ravenna Gets), Bonnie Bowman (Spaz), Kerry Ryan (Vs.) and Salvatore Difalco (The Mountie at Niagara Falls
December 8, 2010 | 7:00 p.m.
The Garrison
1197 Dundas St W
Toronto

Come out and celebrate the release of these great new books!

Cheers!

Favre from the truth

2010-08-10T12:27:00.000-07:00

I like Brett Favre. I do. He is great to watch, has been one of the greatest quarterbacks to watch over the years. Even throughout his on again off again flirtation with retiring, I have stuck by him because I can't help but like the guy. I am a diehard Indianapolis Colts fan, Peyton Manning is my guru and yet I have written about Brett Favre more than Manning and the Colts. Of Course, Manning doesn't threaten to quit every year.

This time around, I think I want Favre to leave. It bothers me that he doesn't like to attend training camp, that he doesn't feel he has to, which helps explain his inconsistencies. Sometimes he's brilliant and others completely useless - unlike Manning who is, I think, consistently brilliant, even on his off days. It's true Favre has a knack for joining teams in need and bringing out the best in them - a great leader. We saw this with the Jets and with the Vikings. He gives teams hope. He gives teams hope and he gives team's fans hope and that's why I think it's even worse that he threatens to leave each time he joins a new team. He dashes everyone's hopes.

I never liked the Minnesota Vikings. They were one of the teams I liked to dislike. However, last season they were likable, watchable, had a sense of discipline, channeled their thuggery into useful, effective energy which I attribute to Favre. Now the rumor is he won't be returning.

At this point, crying wolf is an understatement. Will I miss him? Or will I miss the on again off again Favre's not returning threat I've come to look forward to at the beginning of each new NFL season? That is the question.

Tate Leggat 1996 - 2010

2010-07-23T09:21:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the hardest thing for a writer to write is the truth, and yet I strive for truth to be present in everything I write and for everything I write to be true. As a kid, seeking truth was my life goal. Over the years I learned that truth is not what I thought it was. I am mystified and driven by it and ultimately realized that the truth was all around me, present and communicating and feeding me every moment for the past fifteen years of my life. The ultimate joy, the greatest gift I have been given on this earth, in this life has been the truth and for me it came in the form of a beautiful, intelligent, wise, funny, instinctual creature - my incredible husky/cross Little Man Tate - Tate for short.

When Tate passed away on July 19th, I felt that he guided us as beautifully and heroically through death as he did life. We have learned from him and grown because of him. Adjusting to his spirit's presence opposed to his physical presence is painful and yet enlightening for his spirit is as strong as it ever was. He is too powerful a being to not continue to envelop our days. I even believe that when he moved on to the next leg of his journey, that the earth new one of its greatest beings had left it.

I always thought an incredible animal like Tate would be immortal. When he died, I thought of one of my favourite passages from Marguerite Duras' novel The Lover,

"People ought to be told of such things. Ought to be taught that immortality is mortal, that it can die, it's happened before and it happens still. It doesn't ever announce itself as such - it's duplicity itself...It's while it's being lived that life is immortal, while it is still alive."

As a writer I have always dealt with pain and suffering and confusion and perplexity by pouring my thoughts and feelings into words - so it only seems fitting in honor of Tate, in honor of the ultimate truth that I have to write about him - my guru, my best friend, my spirit guide - our Wolf Totem. Our hearts are breaking Tate but our souls are together always. You were always my angel.

ANIMAL AMONGST FINALISTS FOR TRILLIUM BOOK AWARD

2010-06-02T08:24:00.000-07:00

17 FINALISTS FOR TRILLIUM BOOK AWARD: "TORONTO – Seven English books and five French have been short-listed for the 23rd Annual Trillium Book Award, the Ontario government’s prestigious award for literature. This year, three titles are also short-listed for the Trillium Book Award for Poetry in English language and two titles in French language."

On June 23, 2010 the public are invited to join in the celebration of the finalists with authors’ readings followed by a reception. The event will be held in the Bram & Bluma Appel Salon, Toronto Reference Library, 2nd Floor, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto. On June 24, 2010, the Honourable Michael Chan, Ontario Minister of Tourism and Culture, will announce the winners in Toronto at a luncheon.
English Finalists for the Trillium Book Award/Prix Trillium are:

Margaret Atwood, The Year of the Flood (McClelland & Stewart)
Ian Brown, The Boy in the Moon (Random House Canada)
Alexandra Leggat, Animal (Anvil Press)
Anne Michaels, The Winter Vault (McClelland & Stewart)
Alice Munro, Too Much Happiness (McClelland & Stewart)
Emily Schultz, Heaven is Small (House of Anansi Press)
Cordelia Strube, Lemon (Coach House Books)
French Finalists for the Trillium Book Award/Prix Trillium are:

Ryad Assani-Razaki, Deux cercles (VLB éditeur)
Nicole Champeau, Pointe Maligne. L’infiniment oubliée (Les Éditions du Vermillon)
Jean Mohsen Fahmy, Frères ennemis (VLB éditeur)
Daniel Poliquin, René Lévesque (Les Éditions du Boréal)
Daniel Soha, La Maison : une parabole (Éditions du GREF)
English Finalists for the Trillium Book Award for Poetry are:

Susan Holbrook, Joy is so Exhausting (Coach House Books)
Karen Solie, Pigeon (House of Anansi Press)
Matthew Tierney, The Hayflick Limit (Coach House Books)
French Finalists for the Trillium Book Award for Poetry are:

Jacqueline Borowick, Le chant du coucou (Inanna Publications & Education Inc.)
Michèle Matteau, Passerelles (Les Éditions L’Interligne)

QUICK FACTS
•The Trillium Book Award encourages excellence in literature through its significant investment in Ontario-based writers. Award recipients for both English and French works receive $20,000. Their respective publishers also receive $2,500 to promote the winning titles. All finalists receive a $500 honorarium.
•The Trillium Book Award for Poetry was introduced during the 16th Trillium year to recognize new emerging poets in English and French language (poets’ first, second and third published works only are eligible for consideration for this prize). The winner for each of these awards receives $10,000 and their publisher $2,000 for promotion of the titles. Finalists for these awards also receive a $500 honorarium.
•Internationally-acclaimed authors who have received the Trillium Award include Alistair MacLeod, Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, Austin Clark and Alice Munro.

The Power and the Glory

2010-05-27T08:18:00.000-07:00

There are two things that instantly bring tears to my eyes, an unbelievable surge of emotion comes over me, the sight of racing thoroughbreds and a football match (soccer, in translation). Every four years in a football fan's life, the world is a different place. With the 2010 World Cup less than a month away, life is beginning to feel different, take on new meaning - ah football.

As much as I want this to be England's year, my reveries are threatened by an ominous force - Argentina. And after watching the Champion's League final last week, where Inter's lethal Argentine striker Diego Milito scored both goals that shut out Bayern Munich, my gut is no calmer.

One of the many beauties of the World Cup is anything can happen. Every single team involved is in its way a threat. The names of the ruling class may astound but on the world stage they don't always take the spotlight.

Count down begins and yes, tears are welling up in my eyes this very moment. Ah, the magnitude of the beautiful sport!

Post Script

2010-04-05T07:32:00.001-07:00

Taddle Creek Magazine Recommends:

Animal, by Alexandra Leggat (Anvil , 2009; $18). Alexandra’s stories are usually not for the emotionally squeamish, but the characters in this collection really raise the bar on reader discomfort—in the best possible way. Excuse Taddle Creek’s lack of elegance, but this is a damn fine book.

The Year of the Tiger

2010-01-01T12:21:00.000-08:00

How ironic, that, according to the Chinese calendar, 2010 is the Year of the Tiger. That may or may not give Mr Tiger Woods hope for brighter days ahead. Who are we to judge - if the finger waggers opened their closets wouldn't there be many, many tales of immorality and such? Perhaps not to the same degree, however...

The fact that the game of golf will take a hit in the Year of the Tiger is probable.
What a shame that two greats in sports lost so much in the final days of last year. Tiger Woods and my hero the Indianapolis Colts. Imagine telling the Romans they had to rest before marching on to a major battle. Imagine Caesar worrying about his soldiers getting hurt.

To an athlete, great athletes at that, athletes who were making history, Peyton Manning, Jeff Saturday, Dallas Clark, Reggie Wayne, Joseph Addai etc, playing to the death as it were is in the script and if it isn't it should be. Why work so hard to win game after game after game to simply throw the historical winning streak away two games before the end of the season - why try at all?

I can't help wondering who the Jets' supporter is in the Indie Franchise that was willing to sacrifice his men, his team, from making history, from going ALL - THE -WAY so that the New York Jets could advance to the playoffs. On the sidelines, despite what he diplomatically voiced on TV, Manning looked destroyed. Imagine asking Picasso to erase Guernica, to erase the masterpiece.

2009, the Year of the Ox, came to a bad end for many. Oddly enough the Ox signifies stablilty and perseverence. "The typical Ox is a tolerant person with strong character. Not many people could equal the resolution and fearlessness the Ox exhibits when deciding to accomplish a task or an objective. Oxen know they will succeed through hard work and sustained effort and find no truth or benefit in concocting insincere schemes to get ahead." Hm...

The Tiger is said to be lucky, vivid, lively and engaging. Another attribute of the Tiger is his incredible bravery, evidenced in his willingness to engage in battle and his undying courage.

So for Peyton Manning and his loyal crew the future is inevitably bright - they will bounce back and fight back, as they do, to victory.

For Tiger, in this coming year that bears his name, he might just have to rely on the luck attributed to that of the other Tiger.

The Answer My Friend...

2009-12-01T19:09:00.001-08:00

...better not be blowing in the wind. What the hell's with Drew Breeze. There's good and then there's an unnerving good. The kind of good quarterback, team, coach that is so goddamn unassuming, egoless, modest that it rattles one's nerves inexplicably -because it is inexplicable - The New Orleans Saints. The New Orleans Saints. I ask you.

At the beginning of the 2009/10 NFL season, I hoped it was going to be a Giants vs Colts Superbowl - Manning vs Manning. Then I entertained, and still hope for, a Vikings vs Colts Superbowl, but after watching New Orleans trounce New England, I have to wonder. A Saints vs Colts Superbowl? Hmm? The unpredictability of a new NFL season - one never knows. The cream of the crop curdles, an underdog reigns supreme, coaches come and go, the young take over, the vets never cease to amaze, and cease to amaze, rookies rise and fall, stars are born and others diffused - all in a day's work. Laughter, tears, crumpled brows, bones and egos, and the glue of comaraderie - ah, the beauty of meritocracy.

Oh, and in answer to some dude's question that for some reason won't post on my comments:

Unicorns can't be bought - they're earned!

The Wizard and the General

2009-11-19T08:06:00.000-08:00

There are many great moments in the NFL that stick in my mind. Mind blowing plays, unfathomable feats performed by the wonders of the sport like Favre, Brady, Manning, Breeze, the other Manning, Moss, Hester, Polamalu, Harris, Sproles, Wayne, Ward, Clark, and on and on and on. Last Sunday's Patriots/Colts game was a beauty unto itself - ah, thanks for the memories.

I was nervous days in advance. The Colts were undefeated and the Patriots are the Patriots. They live for games like this - the two Super Powers of the NFL - but one of them has to lose. What a match up - there was something very Roman about it all. The two best quarterbacks in the league head to head - I was dying.

To me, Brady is like an army general leading his troops to war - an all out soldier, competitive, driven, merciless. He marches into the face of the enemy - unflinching and his troops respond to his lead. In that zone, he can and will annihilate the opponent. The tougher the competition the better Tom Brady is. And he proved it up until the last few plays of that brilliant Sunday night game against the Colts. But I never, for one second, doubted that the Colts were going to win that game. All the braun in the world cannot match a wizard's magic.

Peyton Manning is a wizard, a sorcerer, a magician - other worldly - a sage. It may sound over-the-top - so be it, call a spade a spade and all the other cliches. But there is noone else who can watch his team unravel before him, even allow it, want it to happen to expose the weakness, to learn the weakness, then fix it there and then, completely sew the team back up again, make it stronger and better while playing one of the best and toughest teams in the NFL. Then predetermine the exact time he is going take the game back and win it. With 13 seconds left on the play clock, Manning throws an unbelievable pass through the solid coverage into the waiting hands of Reggie Wayne.

Victory.

Magic.

How Reggie Wayne made that catch was mind blowing but that's Reggie Wayne and that's Peyton Manning - After the game, with the Wizard proudly towering over him, Wayne matter-of-factly said,"when Peyton called my number, I knew I had to make that catch." I don't know if I would ever want to be in that position, if I would ever want Peyton Manning calling my number on the last play of a supremely important game with a mere 13 seconds left on the clock.

On the sidelines, The General's face said it all. And the experts and the fans can blame the Patriot's loss on a great and risky call by Belichick, but no matter what the Patriots did in those last few moments of that monumental game - the Colts weren't going to lose. They were never going to lose. They knew it. Peyton knew it and I think Belichick new it too. How can a mortal, even great ones at that, ever beat a Wizard?

Upcoming Readings

2009-11-08T09:57:00.000-08:00

Wednesday November 18th - I'm reading at the Pivot Reading Series, Toronto, 8pm with Amy Jones and Priscila Uppal more info: pivotreadings.wordpress.com

The Casualties

2009-09-14T17:27:00.000-07:00

The first games of the NFL season are both exhilarating and frightening. Last year, Tom Brady went down in the first play of the first game, gone for one year - devasting. With 52 players on a team why is it the big playmakers are the ones most likey to be injured immediately, completely changing the fate of a team's season. Thursday night, Pittsburgh burst through the gate impressively, but noone was as impressive as their own personal predator, the panther that leaps out of nowhere at anytime, well always the right time, and trounces his prey in one foul swoop - Troy Palamalu. He was flying aroung that field, taking down big men in a swoop. Then he goes down, knee injury - out for 6 weeks. First game of the regular season, Chicago lost their toughest bear - Brian Urlacher - just like that -out fos a year. Heartbreaking. It is, it is but I'm not a Bears or Steelers fan. AS long as the Colts stay healthy,I'll sleep at night, eat and pray. Yes, yes, I take up praying come the start of the NFL season - pray that everyone stays healthy one game at a time.

Brett?

2009-08-25T19:43:00.000-07:00

The poet in me has four words and one exclamation mark for you:

What

Are

You

Thinking?

The other day I'm at work and there's a phone call for me. It's not unusual that the phone's for me but when the voice on the other end is a friend - that's unusual.

"Did you hear the news?" my friend Jan says, in a whisper. I look around, look around to see if anyone else has noticed that I'm acting strange because a friend has called me at work. No one's around. But I'm nervous for more reasons than one. Jan sounds serious. Serious with an echo of hysteria brewing in that whispering voice. I sit down and say, "No," and pause because Jan would only call me at work if it was big news - something serious. My palms sweat. I gulp. Look around again.

Jan's voice deepens and she says, "Favre signed a three year deal with Minnesota."

She guffaws.

"NO!" I shriek.

"Yes!"

I slap my thighs - crack up. Crack up and it is the most satisfying crack up I've experienced in months. "No. No." I squeal. Laugh, I laugh hysterically and she laughs with me and it's not that we are laughing at Brett Favre - we are not. But we have been through this on again off again thing with him for so long now - this is an event. The resurrection, the retirement resurrection - again!

At first it was heartbreaking - the initial retirement - the newest unretirement is gut-wrenching, a belly ache - another unpredictable play in Favre's career. Shocking? Shocking enough to call your friend, at work, when you haven't had the time to speak to each other in weeks!!

Never a dull moment in the NFL - ah, and here it is, back again - everything worthwhile makes a comeback!

I dreamt I was...

2009-07-01T08:32:00.000-07:00

Last night, I dreamt that I was Cristiano Ronaldo. I regularly have strange dreams. This one took the prize. Many a famous person, athletes, writers, philosophers, politicians, you name it, have appeared in my dreams but I've yet to dream of being one of them. How did I know I was Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese national who the Gods have been showering in good fortune for the past year and a bit; the highest paid right-winger ever to grace a football pitch; the new Real Madrid winger who was bought from the mighty Manchester United for 80 million pounds. The most any team has ever, ever paid for a player. How did I know I was him and not merely dreaming of him. I'll tell you how I knew - the feeling. I have never felt like I did the night I dreamt I was Cristiano Ronaldo - never. It was a fleeting dream. I, as Cristiano Ronaldo, walked into a diamond studded room. I as Cristiano Ronaldo, felt a little anxious at first, that feeling one has when you're still young enough to feel momentarily unsure of your surroundings. Then everyone in the room who was sitting down stood up. The crowd of people standing parted. Then, I, as Cristiano Ronaldo, remembered that I am no ordinary boy anymore. No. I am the highest paid footballer ever. I am an empire. Then later in the dream, though fleeting it had a few scenes, one of which I as Cristiano Ronaldo fell asleep and had a dream - the dream within a dream scene in which I couldn't kick the football. I had two left feet. I could not live up to the hype, the paycheque and that's when I as Cristiano Ronaldo woke up, sweating and ill. Then I, as myself, woke up, relieved that it was all a dream.

Launching my new book - Animal - Friday, June 19th

2009-06-14T19:55:00.000-07:00

Hey Ya'll:

This coming Friday I'd love it if you attended the launch of my new book!

This is the invite my superb publisher supplied:

Anvil Press & McNally Robinson Booksellers are
pleased to invite you to join us in celebrating the
release of Alexandra Leggat’s new collection of
short fiction ...

ANIMAL

Friday, June 19th • 8:00 pm

McNally Robinson Booksellers
at the Shops of Don Mills
1090 Don Mills Road
(corner of Lawrence Ave. East & Don Mills Rd.
Events Space, 2nd Floor)
Free Event • Reading • Signing
www.anvilpress.com info:

I really hope you can come, not only because I'd love you to attend the book launch but to check out the greatest new bookstore in town, McNally Robinson Booksellers - where it's all about the book, in all its brilliance, and reading, reading, reading; the good it does.

Come to the restaurant, Prairie Ink, have dinner or a drink before the launch, bring your kids,(superb children's book section!) Have a drink in the restaurant after the launch, listen to some music, sit on the patio, talk about books or whatever the hell you want to talk about on a breezy summer evening. It's not just about my new book, come out and experience all the cool happenings here.

Hope to see you!!!

Cheers!

Animal

2009-05-21T18:41:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a while since I've had a moment to write. and so many great football games have come and gone - in the original sense of the word. Man U is about to wrap up another spectacular year - goddamn them - Chelsea have been robbed once again and yet I'm thinking you reap what you sow - and John Madden sadly retired from the other football, a big loss in every sense of the word and Tony Kornheiser rightly retired from Monday Night Football - he is what he is in his own realm and we love him for that and John Grudin steps into a role I think he'll excel at. The World Cup is breaths away and the air is warming up - all is good.

As bad as I am at self-promotion, she says with a blog in her name - my new book Animal will be launched in Vancouver May 30th, the name of the bar escapes me at this moment but I'll post it later. This Sunday May 24th, I'm reading at the Steam Whistle Brewery in Toronto from 3-4 as part of the brewery's Open Door event, where they allow the public to venture into where the magic is made to check out the architecture, eat fries, drink beer and listen to literature in all its forms - who can ask for more - beer, food, literature and architecture - nice. And on June 30th, I'm launching Animal at the new McNally Robinson bookstore at the Shops at Don Mills.

I hope you can all attend.

How about those Jays!

My Oscars

2009-02-05T22:02:00.000-08:00

The Pro Bowl is to this football fan what the Oscars is to the sycophant. It's my chance to see many of my favorite players in one place at one time. It doesn't matter so much what they are wearing, what they look like at all. In fact unlike the Oscars, there's just a lot of talent in one place at one time and that's what thrills me. I know that there are many diehard NFL fans that cannot stand the Pro Bowl, will not watch it and think it's an insult to the game. Sure there's never much of a game. However, it's one last game, one last time to see the likes of say Peyton Manning until August. Weekends are harsh already. I don't know what to do on Sundays, I make plans with friends every Monday night I can. So as much as the Pro Bowl is not about who wins or loses or how they play the game - it's a few hours of football before the long withdrawal.

There's no place like home

2009-01-23T12:53:00.000-08:00

Like getting swooped up in the eye of a storm and planted in some strange fictional reality with yellow brick roads, talking lions, scarecrows, tin men and flying monkeys, my time spent as the coach of a fantasy football team was not all its cracked up to be. Ironically, the last time I wrote an entry here was while I was immersed in the excitement of joining a fantasy football league. Like being lost in Oz, I disappeared, got caught up in illusion and no there is no wizard behind the mask - just some little guy pushing buttons and getting nowhere. That's how I felt as a fantasy football coach. Fantasy, a misnomer, because, truly, how many participants of fantasy football are really, really having a great time. Living my fantasy should not cause me so much strife.

For example, early on when I learned how to, I got rid of players I thought would be a hindrance to my progress in the league and I scooped up a little dude named Darren Sproles who was supposed to take the NFL by storm. Well, he did take the league by storm, but not until the last regular game of the season when the Chargers Tomlinson pulls his groin and they throw in Sproles. By this time I'm knocked out of my fantasy league, didn't make the playoffs and the unceremonious end to the season occurs. That's it. It's over. No awards ceremony, no drinks with the other coaches to chat about the season - nothing - silence and Darren Sproles rides off in the sunset as one of the greatest little running backs. Where were you when I needed you Sproles? That's no fantasy.

I was grateful to be asked to join a fantasy football league, I appreciate the thought. But I can tell you it's something I will not do again. Give me Sunday and Monday from September to January relaxing on the couch in my ruby slippers with not a worry in the world outside of the success of my favourite team and players. Because when it comes to football there's nothing like the real thing - there's no place like home.

Fantasies dashed

2008-10-16T08:01:00.000-07:00

When fantasy turns to nightmare, one must ask themselves, why? Why do I do this to myself? At the start of every NFL season I say, Alexandra, just watch the games, don't bet on them, don't join a football pool, a fantasy league. On Sundays get up, crack open a beer, don your Colts toque, grab a bag of Louisiana hot sauce chips, and enjoy the next 12 hours of your life - relish in Sunday football. But no - I joined a fantasy league and as much as part of me enjoys it, the fact that I'm losing sucks. I hate to lose. Once in a while it's okay - weekly, no. That is why I don't play golf. If I can't be consistently good at something - forget it. Especially when the outcome is out of my hands. I can't call Lendale White and Santana Moss into my office and give them a talking to. I can't stand in front of Eli Manning. look him in the eye and shrug. I can't throttle my Tennessee defense when they lose points for my fantasy team Turf Dogs and I can't change bye weeks. So I ask you - why? Why do I subject myself to fantasy football? Because a pure sports enthusiast loves the goddamn challenge and if you like football, NFL style, you gotta enjoy a little bit of pain.

Speaking of pain - I can't tell you how disappointed I am that Canada's men's national soccer team did not qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Well, I can tell you how disappointed I am but you'll have to read it from my Toro column Sports Extras - here's the link - http://www.toromagazine.com/?q=node/794

Four days till Sunday - think I'll get a Proline!

The Little Guys

2008-09-26T07:01:00.000-07:00

I think I'm getting the whole Fantasy football thing, then I'm thrown for a loop. I won my first two fantasy games, got cocky the second week and dropped a couple of players aiming to improve my running game. I picked up the much touted, but didn't do too much in week 3 - Darren Sproles. Also I grab a stalwart like the Giant's Derrick Ward. Good, I'm happy. Week three goes smoothly, but not great. I win, but another guy in my league gets more points than me. I have to learn to be happy beating my weekly opponent, but oh no, I want to be the best every week in the entire league. So now I've got the mentality of an NFL GM. It's not enough to win each week, you have to win the Super Bowl. So this week all my reliable point makers have a bye week. So in one week I lose four guys including my QB Eli Manning, my kicker Gostowski, Reggie Wayne and my back up QB Kitna - so I've got to drop a couple of players that I like to ensure I've got a kicker and a quarterback in my game this week. So what happens. I add Kerry Collins, okay, I know, I know, but the worst part is after I got two other new guys they went on the injury list - Mr Roscoe Parrish for one. So I ask you, now I've got two guys injured and practically a whole new team of guys I didn't really want but picked up due to the bye week sucking the life out of my team. This is hard man, no fantasy should be this stressful - then last night I watched the killer college game USC against Oregon and was blown away by Oregon's little RB Quincy Rodgers and I thought man, I can't wait to pick up that guy when he comes to the big leagues. It doesn't matter how big and strong you get, the little guys will get you everytime!

Reinstating Favre!

2008-07-31T09:32:00.000-07:00

It only seems fitting that it's Brett Favre news that kicked my ass back into gear. A friend just emailed me to tell me that Favre has requested his reinstatement papers. Brett whatever for - you left in style, reflective of your great career, your whole persona. Everyone loves you Brett. Now I'm not so sure. I never thought I'd say this about the enigmatic Brett Favre - but dude, you're becoming a little annoying. For years you led up to the grand departure, now this. I thought and wrote about this in my Toro magazine Sports Extras column that it was the fans, the league that had contrived the rumour that you were thinking of returning. I thought it was the fans, the league that had trouble letting you go - but I am clearly wrong. You are having trouble letting go. Understandably. They say athletes go through the toughest time trying to retire and accepting retirement. My dad still has dreams about playing football, or soccer to you. He thinks about it all the time and he retired from playing professionally over thirty years ago. Look what retirement did to O.J. Simpson but you're a stand-up guy Brett. If anyone can handle retiring, I thought it would be you - you've handled everything on your plate - up until now!

Brett you left once - why go through it again. It's like getting back together with that person that you really know you should leave but feel bad for them, or out of habit or guilt stay. Then you'll have to go through the inevitability of breaking up again. Why put yourself, put us, through it again!! Say goodbye Brett - give it up gracefully - but man, give it up. We had all accepted it, you're opening a healed wound, brother and I'm not so sure any of us want to go through getting stitched up again. It's getting ugly Brett - its getting ugly!

Horseshoes and Asses

2008-06-10T21:26:00.000-07:00

Well, if there's one thing I've learned about myself in the last couple of months - I do not have horseshoes up my ass. I have the best intentions, go with my gut, hope for the best and the things I believe most in, don't work out, in fact they have come dead last. Now, that sounds like I'm feeling sorry for myself but honestly, it is what it is. Take the Preakness, I was a nutcase that day. On fire with beliefs, intuition and for those of you who may have read my Preakness blog, the horse and jockey I believed in came out of the gate flying, and ended dead last. At that point, I was a self-admitted Big Brown skeptic. Yet, the minute I set eyes on him on Preakness day, I didn't doubt my gut, it just had a few new kicks in it. Big Brown won that race like nobodies business, and on that day - it wasn't mine. So he won me over and I had no doubt, no doubt, he would take the Belmont and be the 12th horse to win the Triple Crown.

I bought Proseco, rounded up my closest friends, called my folks to ensure they were aware of post time, I did my hair, hyperventilated and ultimately in less time than it takes to sneeze, it was all over and my no-doubt-prediction came, it's even too hard to say now, dead last! Unbelievable. What went wrong - I wrote about it maybe, put it out in the ether, when I should have kept my big mouth shut.

My other theory. Big Brown was ready. Although he did not look the same going into the race, his jockey didn't either. There was a definite change in both horse and jockey's demeanor pre-race. More pressure, sure, I imagine. So then Big Brown steps onto the dirt and his ears prick up, he regains his composure. Looks almost himself. Not bad going into the gate, a little hesitant, comes out of the gate like he just wants to go. "Let me go Kent, let me go. I don't want these ponies in front of me, clear my way buster, let me go. God damn it, let me go. I can do it. I can do it, just let me go, man"

And his jockey appeared to be holding him back. Who knows? We don't really know what's going on between horse and mount but it looked to me like he was struggling to hold his horse back, preserve his energy for the mile and a half race and yet Big Brown wanted to go. He wanted to win. So I'm figuring that when Kent said, okay Buddy, now, go, go." Big Brown said, "You know what, screw you!! I wanted to run right from the get go and now, now, when I'm all messed up you want juice. Forget it man. No way buster. I'm done." I have a feeling at that point his jockey had to do everything from stopping Big Brown from stopping dead in his tracks - on the track, pulling a Seabiscuit.

Communication between horse and rider is huge and I think something went awry in that department. I think Big Brown could have done it - easy. What I've learned, is to keep my mouth shut. Every time I pick a horse to win, they come last. So I'm not about to tell you who I think has the potential to win this Euro Cup. All I can say is..no, I can't, I just can't.

Preakness Predictions

2008-05-17T09:35:00.001-07:00

I've always had a passion for horses and thoroughbred horse racing. Unlike many young women my major influences growing up had four legs, manes and tails. Secretariat being my main inspiration - if I could be like him when I grew up - I'd have it made. The second I laid eyes on the likes of Smarty Jones, I was hooked, without even realizing he was a descendant of the grand Secretariat. It shone through. There's nothing brings tears to my eyes quicker than the sight of a stunning thoroughbred and when the horn sounds, the gate flies open and thundering hooves storm the air, I weep like a baby!Hence my excitement for The Preakness Stakes. My emotions are still tender after the Kentucky Derby's tragic outcome for the incredible filly Eight Belles and I'm not convinced that Big Brown will win this race.

My gut is going with Riley Tucker. Not just because Triple Crown Hall of Famer William I Mott is this horse's trainer -- he also trained one of my all time favs Cigar -- but because the jockey is Edgar Prado. I believe his emotions are tender too and he'll want to win this race not only for Riley Tucker but for his former mount Barbaro. So I think 30-1 is underestimating this duo. I hope they shock everyone. At least two spirits just might be guiding this baby.

Other beauties that have grabbed my attention and could give Big Brown a run for the money are:

Kentucky Bear - I love that he's trained by Canadian-based Reade Baker and maybe the marriage of young blood between colt and up-and-coming jockey Jamie Thierot might be a winning combination.

Gayego didn't have much of a chance in the Kentucky Derby but he certainly has a great trainer - Paulo Lobo - and jockey Mike Smith who road Giacomo to victory in the 2005 Kentucky Derby. I read this horse has an affinity for dirt, this could be his day to stir it up.

Icabad Crane, apart from being incredibly beautiful, has a frightening element of fire emanating from those eyes. His look is threatening enough, not to mention the jockey on his back is Jeremy Rose of Afleet Alex fame.

However, never count out the grey. Macho Again could prove superstition is not a bunch of...

Well Big Brown as incredible as you are - you are under the most pressure. You're lucky #7. Your jockey Kent Desormeaux must be feeling confident after your Kentucky Derby win. But I think the race will come down to how you're feeling today, to what side of the stall you woke up on.

After all, it's the mighty horse that decides what its going to do.

My money's on Riley Tucker.

See you at the races!

An overdue farewell

2008-04-17T20:49:00.000-07:00

For certain writers, and maybe not,the things that are closest to us take a little longer to write; call it the gestation period, the incubation period, whatever. Or maybe we need time to distance ourselves from things that really matter before writing them down so that the feeling doesn't leave us too soon. Recently, I was offered a job where I get to follow in my dad's footsteps, not on the pitch but to report on football like he did. I can utilize my writing skills and my love for football and exercise everything I've learned and admired about my dad's many talents, and my mum's because her views and memories of the football life are equally as brilliant. The thing is I couldn't wait to tell another really influential person in my life how excited I was about this new prospect. The day I was about to pick up the phone and call George Gross to tell him my news, my parents left a message that he had passed away. Mr Gross had always, always encouraged me and my writing endeavours and I couldn't wait to tell him of my new gig. I couldn't believe that he was gone. There are some people that you don't think will ever go, like Mr Gross, who are so enigmatic, vivacious,kind and positive. He lived his life to the fullest, was wonderful to be around, had an awesome attitude, sense of humour and was brilliant at his job - the best damn sports writer out there.

I'd just finished writing a blog entry about another family friend that had passed away, the late Johnny Haynes and it took me a while to write this entry knowing it was going to be of the same nature. I wanted to put forth how much my family appreciated and loved George Gross. Since the day we moved to this country, he was a true friend to our family, my dad, my mum and to me and our hearts go out to his lovely family. What do you say about a man that could say anything more eloquently than you, that lit up a room, made you smile, always, always made you feel good, encouraged you and whose work you admired. I guess all you can say is thank you and know that he is probably as amazing now as he always was. I'm sure a man like Mr George Gross, who knew any sport inside out, will be making the best of the next realm of things as much as he did this one.

The Maestro Reaches Out

2008-02-29T07:33:00.000-08:00

and touches hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of loyal supporters. The other day, I came home to over 800 hits to my blog from Fulham supporters across the world. As far away as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Virginia, Brooklyn, Missouri, Austin and Houston, Texas, Ireland, California, Switzerland, Spain, Prague, the Bahamas and of course London, London, London... Brilliant. My folks always said that The Cottage, FFC, was a real family affair - and judging by the response to the Johnny Hayne's blog - that family is stronger than ever! I was amazed by some of the emails I received and by the great comments - thank you! To Dave from TOOFIF - that asked if he could use the posting in his fanzine There's Only One F in Fulham - by all means Dave, I'd be honored. I must clear one thing up for the supporter that asked about my brother - he's alive and well and living in California. Ironically, Fulham had just played Manchester United that day and after the game my dad drove the wrong way across Putney Bridge at full speed in a panic to get to my brother at the hospital! One of the comments that really struck me was from a Fulham supporter in California who said, "As a fan of the club and growing up in South-West London most of my life we sometimes idolised certain player's and most certainly hated other's....but......we never thought of them as family men or father's!!?? Our focus was totally on the pitch and that's where it ended." Being a daughter of a footballer, football's always been our life and our lifestyle and I never thought of that - poignant!

Writing about Johnny Haynes has sparked so many incredible memories for my folks and for me. It seems that those days at the Cottage, the fifties and sixties were an extremely special era in Fulham's history. My mum and dad were having a good laugh reminiscing about those great days then the frivolity sobered the moment I told them that Manchester United are heading to Craven Cottage tomorrow. "Wow," my Dad said. So I asked, "Dad, what would Johnny Haynes have said to you all before a game like that?" My mum laughed and said, "Did you even have team talks before a game?" Dad said, "A little bit." Then he said,"If it were now Johnny would say the same thing that he would have said to us, We know they're good but let's go out and prove that we can be good too! I asked if that's what their manager Beddie (Bedford Jezzard)would have said? Dad said, "No, Beddie wasn't as serious, he would have said, just go out and enjoy it!"

So Fulham that's got to be sage advice - just go out and enjoy it! Show United that you can be great too! Do it for the Maestro.

Let's Hear It For The Hometown Boy

2008-02-07T16:27:00.000-08:00

I remember the day my dad Graham Leggat called to tell me that Johnny Haynes had died in a car crash. It was October 18th, 2005. I met Mr Haynes as a very young girl when my dad was still a professional footballer in England. He's one of those people from my past that always felt like family and he was a big part of our family. As was Fulham Football Club. My Mum and Dad loved Johnny, in the same way I've gathered that everyone who knew him personally, played with or against him or as a fan does. My dad played alongside him at Fulham and says, "Johnny was a wonderful all-round player and a captain that led from the front." When I ask what he was like as a friend Dad says, "loyal and concerned." He also added that he was a 'one club man' from game one. My mum Marilyn Leggat says that Johnny was greatly loved."He was prized and a big part of English football history, very special." She recalls, and it brings her to tears, an incident after a game at Craven Cottage that she had attended when she received a call that my brother, 4 yrs old at the time, had been struck by a car. Johnny immediately went to my mum's side to ask what was wrong and what could he do. Mum says, "He was so concerned that day. He was always so lovely and such a great player. He was low-key, not flashy. Those were the days! When men were men and football was football. And Craven Cottage always had such a great atmosphere. It was all about the club; the fans, the players and Johnny - Fulham was Johnny and Johnny was Fulham."

For those of you who don't know much about #10 Johnny Haynes, Fulham's greatest inside left, or midfielder as they call them today, he began as a young seventeen year old and became their gallant captain and the captain of England. His career spanned from 1954-1970, when he left Fulham for South Africa for a while. My Dad was his supportive colleague at Fulham but the very opposite when it came to their international meetings. My Dad remembers the 1956 England versus Scotland game at Hampden, it was his very first international cap. "I scored the opening goal for Scotland," he says. "Then in the last 3 minutes of overtime Johnny tied it up for England! It was devastating for the Scottish fans and for me."

When we heard that Fulham fans want to erect a statue for Johnny at Craven Cottage we were all for it. This would be a fitting tribute to 'The Maestro'. So jump on the band wagon you Cottagers and lets help do it!! There's a link to Fulham F.C. on this site. Drop them a line in support of this wonderful project.

That day, almost three years ago, when I heard that Johnny Haynes had died, I wept and dug through my precious chest of football treasures for the silver beer stein that was given to my Dad then passed onto me. I filled it with a cold brew and drank to one of the greatest players ever - engraved on its front it says, With Thanks from Johnny Haynes 28-4-1969.

The Pro Bowl

2008-02-06T07:19:00.000-08:00

I have an ongoing debate with pals over the significance of the Pro Bowl. A lot of the guys I talk to say that they have absolutely no interest in it. Yet, they can tell me everything about what they didn't like about last year's and the years before. In other words, despite their machismo, they watch it. Probably for the same reason I watch it, to see a bevy of great players, favourite players, having a laugh, and to take them in for one more afternoon before the long drought. So I pour out my sentimentality, drink it all in then wait for the next draft.

Poetic Justice

2008-02-04T10:24:00.000-08:00

I felt very calm throughout the first half of yesterday's Superbowl. It was unpredictable, Brady was getting rattled by heart and soul, and Manning was unflinching. The last few minutes of the game, however, I was in an utter state of panic, head covered by my blanket, relying on Joe Buck and Troy Aikman to tell me what the hell was happening. Still, in my gut, I knew the Giants were going to win. Their defence went for the jugular and the team as a whole stopped at nothing to gain the win. I used to get so nervous watching Peyton Manning with his wizardry and unpredictable changing of the play at the line of scrimmage. It's always unnerving to watch a genius action. Like his brother, Eli was at times otherwordly. He exuded an incredible sense of calm throughout the game that prevented me from seeking refuge beneath the kitchen table and when he threw the final clincher to Plaxico Burress, it was such an incredible feeling of exaltation, like doves exploding from a balloon! Both teams fought like hell to the finish but the phoenix rose in the youngest Manning, heroically, within the entire team itself. Plaxico's tears said it all. It was such a beautiful game to watch - pure.

Congrats Giants!! You deserve it.

Jonesing

2008-01-28T09:22:00.000-08:00

I'm not the type of person who gets bored. Although at times I do get lost. This Sunday was one of those times. I was lost. Jonesing for football. It was the first Sunday without the NFL and I didn't know what to do with myself, couldn't concentrate. Watched a bit of the Sheffield vs Man City soccer game, but I couldn't get into it. Even Tiger Woods' stellar final round didn't satisfy me. I missed my friends. It's funny how that's what they become those football players, friends.

To occupy myself in the evening, I opened a bottle of Australian Shiraz and watched the Actor's Guild Awards. Now, I stopped watching the Oscars along time ago because they make me ill. Last night's award show was actually quite refreshing. It was laid back, the actors were more natural, not so much bling and over-the-top makeup and gowns. They were more real, likable, funny and moving. There were some great actors recognized and given awards for commendable performances, and the speeches were brief and human-like. Javier Bardem and Daniel Day Lewis stole the stage. Lewis's moving homage to Heath Ledger silenced the entire room. I wondered if anyone was left breathing. It was very cool to see these celebrities in that light, especially these days when the idea of 'celebrity' is so out of control. Last night, I really felt that those awards were being given for art, not politics or mere looks. It wasn't football but it was dramatic and entertaining all the same!

What's in a name?

2008-01-24T07:27:00.000-08:00

That which we call a Manning, by any other name would play as sweet. Wow, last year Peyton, this year Eli - very cool. I was sorry to see the Colts get knocked out by the Chargers and good old Green Bay not make it further, but there is something extremely satisfying about the Giants making it to the Superbowl. They almost beat New England in the regular season. This is their chance to make up for that loss. Oh, sorry, guys, we meant to beat you last time. We just came back to get the job done right!!

From Bradshaw to Burress to Boss to Tynes to Strahan to Manning to Coughlin to Webster and his superb overtime interception and on and on - Congrats Giants! I wish Shockey was there to share that field with you on the big day. It will be sweet - make it Shakespearean!

Speaking of Being Speechless

2008-01-15T20:00:00.000-08:00

One of the many things I've always loved about sports is that when all else fails it's a source for discussion. But I have to ask myself what the hell I'm doing wrong when all discourse has ceased in my recent blogs. When I was writing about soccer, people had something to say. It was good. Then I got all caught up in the NFL and I've had next to no comments on my entries, which is rather unsettling compared to the amount of hits I'm getting. So what am I doing wrong? A lot of people I know have told me that they wish I'd write about something else because they don't really get into sports. I tell them that I write about sports because I enjoy it and it's a great outlet for me being a creative writer and all. I write about sports on my blog because usually it conjures up response, discussion, debate, a good old tete-a-tete. But no.

Ah, who gives a shit. The beauty of these damn things is one can write about whatever the hell they want to write about and it kills me that Indy is out of the playoffs, really kills me. And yet to be completely honest, I must admit I'd rather they lost to an extremely strong and crafty Chargers than go up against New England again and lose. Not that I don't believe that Indy can beat New England which they have proven but in my loyal gut I had a feeling that this was not their year to do it again. Good Ol' Peyton took the Colts loss to the Chargers like the man that he is and didn't blame it on injuries because San Diego has injuries too, they just beat them.

Who knows now. I dreamt that New England lose their next game. I'd love to see the Giants go all the way. They truly look like they have what it takes to do so and I'm not just saying that because of the Manning element but my gut told me so. What do you all think - the millions of you out there who have a thing or two to say about the game!

Speechless

2008-01-02T16:26:00.000-08:00

I'm attempting to understand who the hell the late night talk show hosts think they are. Especially when it's been driven home over the last couple of months that without their writers, they are nothing. And did anybody miss them anyway? All the hoopla made over them returning to late night is sickening. Now if the real talent, the writers were returning, that would be something worth celebrating. It's a sin that the real comics, the wizards of late night are left out on the street, still fighting for what they deserve. Especially when they've already proven that they're invaluable. So vain and desperate, Letterman and others devised deals, but if I were their writers, I'd tell them to stick it, and get the last laugh elsewhere. It's amazing how they take so much credit for other people's work. I'd love to see them attempt to go it alone, step up to the microphone, open their mouths and nothing comes out - speechless. But isn't it ironic that Jay Leno and Letterman's first guests tonight are politicians, kindred spirits, another sector of humanity that can't speak without a writer.

It Wasn't Me!

2007-12-15T08:26:00.000-08:00

Every team in the NFL is capable of beating another team at any given time. I believe it. But I'm wondering how it feels now for the teams that are left to play the New England Patriots. I'm sure the Giants aren't rattled but are the others sleeping at night? Especially if there just might be a little bad blood between one of them. If there's one thing we've learned about the Patriots - don't add fuel to the fire, man. Just, um, keep your thoughts to yourself - you know, for the team! Did the Jets notice who the Patriots went after in last week's game against Pittsburgh? They annihilated the Steeler's Anthony Smith for opening his mouth a little too wide. Sure the Steelers, like every team, should go to battle expecting to win, but not every team exercises revenge quite like New England. Brady thrives on it and in tomorrow's match-up against the Jets I think we're about to see how Belichick does too. I'm sure the Patriots are foaming at the mouth, like the big bad wolf awaiting little red riding hood's arrival. Come on in boys, welcome to our turf. Now, what was that you said about illegal taping, Mr. Mangini? I can hear the hypothetical answers now, Oh, that, oh yeah, it wasn't me. I didn't say that. Sorry for the misunderstanding. Too late now buster - you're on your own. So when the Patriots come out onto the field, guys, just run the other way!

The Camaraderie

2007-12-11T10:27:00.000-08:00

Every year the NFL takes its blows on and off the field. This year has been rattled with the incredibly sad death of Sean Taylor and the fall from grace of the Falcon's quarterback Michael Vick. The last two weeks have been emotional on many levels. I think what moves me the most about the NFL's players, coaches, et al is the incredible support they have for one another. They hit the field week after week battling the shit out of each other yet rally together like one huge incredibly loyal family when the chips are down. Taylor's fellow Redskins must be beyond sick over what happened, but what amazes me is that during that time there was no segregation between teams. Two weeks ago, in every game, every player paid homage to their fellow athlete; the number 21 on the helmets, the fingers to the sky when scoring, and Baltimore's Willis McGahee almost single-handedly taking on the Patriots, playing the game of his life for his old college teammate. It was incredibly moving, incredibly sad, yet heartwarming - admirable.

Even at last night's Atlanta vs New Orleans game, despite Michael Vick's charges, his fans, his teammates, his coaches, the Falcon's owner and on showed their support for their fallen hero. There's not too many organizations, communities, individuals that would do that, especially in this day and age. It takes a special group of people to be able to look past certain actions, to offer support and second chances; whatever one's views of what happened are. It's a huge testament to this sport and to its players who, amidst dealing with what they do off the field, enable the show to go on.

The Bird of Prey

2007-11-30T11:50:00.000-08:00

Need I say more. There's no other cornerback like Green Bay's Al Harris. For years I've been drawn to Green Bay for the legend of Vince Lombardi, its heart and soul Brett Favre and the killer instinct of Al Harris. For a few years it seemed like there were only two players on Green Bay. On the offence Favre and on defence Al Harris. Now both key players have a team and Harris is as lethal and driven as ever. The guy never stops moving. Never misses a beat. Like he has eyes in the back of his head, he swoops in on his kill when he's out of their range and he's on them when they're out of his range. He creates big plays out of nowhere. In last night's game against Dallas, he was everywhere that he could be. Lurching, stretching, flying through, over and above the likes of T.O. and the rest of the Cowboys stellar offensive weapons. Even losing Favre didn't rattle this team's constitution, they are a team, one for all and all for one and Aaron Rodgers proved his strength. Comforting to know they've got a QB in the wings who can really play. But the man on the field that never stops working, scoping, attacking for a second, like a hungry falcon, Mr. Al Harris. Lethal.

The Dream Job

2007-11-29T08:52:00.000-08:00

The thing I love about sports is that it is a meritocracy. One gets ahead based on merit. If you're good - you play. Unlike writing, art. If you're good it doesn't really matter because it's not so black and white. It's too subjective and those in power affect your destiny based on personal taste, politics, the market and numbers. So no matter how original or great your work is, how well you hone your craft, how many books you have out, if you're not writing the right thing, telling the saleable story, then the powers that be dismiss you, even if the 'people' like you. Shades of socialism - oh yes. I should have been a wide receiver. I'm fast, agile and disciplined and being in the writing business all these years, I can handle a hit or two. But being a wide receiver wouldn't be my dream job. No, being one of those guys on Rogers Sportsnet's televised talk-radio shows, that's my idea of a dream job. You go to work in jeans, sip Tim Horton's coffee all day and talk about sports. They sit around all day, in jeans, drinking coffee, talking about sports and get paid for it. There's not even the pressure of being an on-air TV personality because really they are on the radio being filmed, podcasts. The camera is like a fly on the wall. Hair and makeup aren't an issue. They just have to talk, and talk, and talk all day about sports and get paid for it. Now that's a dream job. How do you get that job? I love to talk about sports, look good in jeans - are you hiring?!

The Brady Trail

2007-11-21T08:53:00.000-08:00

As my mother and I drove past Buffalo yesterday, I felt an incredible force. Inexplicable, almost like I imagine standing upon an empty battlefield feels. Long after the fighting is over, the impact of the battle remains. Then it hit me and I said to my mum, "The Patriots were here on Sunday." Like she knew exactly what I meant she said, "Oh my, how did that go." "Not good," I said. "Not good." She shook her head, "Poor Buffalo," she said. We went quiet, the sky darkened and it began to rain.

Now as a huge Indy fan, I don't like to harp on too much about how frighteningly good the New England Patriots are this season. How when Brady steps onto the field he is Robocop meets the Six Million Dollar Man, his arm flinging the ball like that arm was made of steel and his receivers, or whoever catches the ball, are magnetic. The ball soars directly into their guts, all they have to do is wrap their hands around it. Frightening. And it makes me sick when I hear certain analysts, mainly Canadians, say the Patriots should have stopped scoring, let up on poor ol' Buffalo. Jesus, what professional football player or coach in their right mind would say, okay guys, I think we've scored enough points, lets drop a few balls, throw a few interceptions, put the Gatorade boy in as QB. If Buffalo were up 56-10, would they quit doing well, just so New England could feel a little better?

In a Brooklyn hair salon last week, I flipped through gossip magazines while my sister had her hair flat-ironed. I filled her and the hairdresser in on all the latest gossip. Heath Ledger left Michelle Williams for ex-supermodel Helena Christianson. No! they said. Oh yes, I said. And other sundry shite. Then I said, Oh no! Tom Brady was spotted arguing with his supermodel girlfriend Gisele Bundchen in a Boston Starbucks. In unison, Lily and the hairdresser said, Whose Tom Brady?! I was shocked! The quarterback for the New England Patriots, I said. Oh, they said and asked if Brad Pitt's really leaving Angela Jolie. I shook my head and continued to read about how poor Brady's struggling to keep his high-maintenance supermodel girlfriend happy while longing to be with his son who lives in L.A. with his ex, actress Bridget Moynahan. Most men would be wrecked by such a tumultuous personal life; the kid, the ex, the supermodel girlfriend who dumped her Victoria's Secret contract to spend more time with her best-quarter-back-ever-in-the-history-of-the- NFL boyfriend (so say the experts), but not Tom Brady. He wraps up every minute detail of his troubled personal life and he packs it into that silver and blue uniform each week and he goes out there and he whips it and whips it and whips it into the end zone, time after time after time and he doesn't stop until the game's over and he trudges off the field like the warrior he is, goes back to his personal life and fuels up for the next game. I closed the magazine and nodded my head - so that's how the bastard does it, get all messed up with a couple of dames, get all amped-up over it then let that frustration out on the football field and rock the NFL's world - very clever.

My mother's tender voice shook me from my reverie. "How's Peyton doing?" she asked. "Okay," I said. "They've lost a couple of key players." When I looked back into the rear view mirror, I slowly felt the Brady Trail disappearing like the Buffalo skyline as it was swallowed by clouds.

Draining the Football Pool

2007-11-18T15:44:00.000-08:00

I'm not a quitter. A procrastinator, complainer, oh yes, but I don't give up, usually. While travelling last week, incessantly I checked my email for week ten's picks. Saturday night, Sunday morning, still nothing. I arrived home, nothing. I didn't receive last week's picks. Missing a week in a pool is a huge impediment. It's virtually impossible to catch up, unless the gods grant me all my wishes and from here on out I ace every single game including the Superbowl. Impossible. So I withdrew from my football pool. I quit. Not out of spite, or even because I'll never win, but it seemed like the perfect time to shed myself of the unhappiness being in a football pool brings me, the constant disappointment and the inability to watch the games for the game's sake. Today I did that, when the score said Indy 13, KC 10, I didn't think, oh no, they didn't cover the spread. I thought, yay, Indy won. And that happened with every game. I celebrated wins and losses for the pure joy of seeing a team I prefer win or lose. I watched the day's games with the monkey off my back, with emotion, not counting numbers, checking the spreads and my football pool print out. Today, I enjoyed the game of football for what it is and for that I don't mind being a quitter.

By a Nose

2007-11-07T10:38:00.000-08:00

It's taken me a few days to recover from the Colts' loss to the Patriots. I've avoided reading media analysis, listening to interviews with Manning and his teammates, Dungy's comments. I've been reflecting quietly, replaying the second half in my head. The Colts rounded the bend in good finishing position, then in the last leg they lost the lead, physically changed their gait, their composure, lost their stride. Was it Marvin Harrison's absence, too much confidence from their first half victory? Or was it Reggie Wayne's slippery hands, the Patriot's ticked-off defence and Brady's wicked competitiveness that turned the entire game around? I suppose it's all of those things and more. In the end, they had a good race and only, really, lost by a nose. No roses draped around their necks. As a fan it's a bitter defeat, but hell it wasn't the Superbowl and it's time for me to get back on the horse. When Manning meets Brady again, he'll show him what the Colts are really made of. And they'll race through that finish line by at least a furlong!

Zen and the Art of Football Maintenance

2007-11-03T11:33:00.000-07:00

All I have to say is the Colts vs the Patriots. The ultimate match-up, the pre-Superbowl. Manning vs Brady. It makes the hair on my arms stand on end. Makes me think of the movie Gladiators or Braveheart or Apocalypto, great fight scenes, lots of drama, emotion and no matter where one's loyalties lie, someone's going to lose and it's going to be devastating either way. I've been dreaming about it. The Patriots have been extremely lethal this season, slaughtering the Redskins 52-7 last week, the week before that they beat the Dolphins 49-28. Despite the Dolphins self-pity media banter how would they have handled the Redskin's 52-7 defeat or one of the more touted teams, Dallas' 48-27 defeat. It's all relative and for the Patriots it's just another day at the office. Whether the NFL's patching up hurt feelings, broken bones, broken rules or terminations, nothing can change the fact that one of its undefeated superstars is about to lose. Tomorrow it's my team the Patriots are up against and in my dreams I hear warrior drums and everything's in slow motion. Brady strides onto the field in his silver helmet, robocopish stature and sturdy glare. Followed by the thundering cleats of his brilliant teammates and Manning's standing there in all his wizardry and lethal genius, his sly and tricky and equally brilliant teammates at his side and it's like Yoda vs Darth Vader. It's a toss-up whose mental strength and cunning is going to outdo the other. This weekend's game against the two power houses is going to be physically exciting but I think it's going to be the Zen of these two teams that will decide the outcome.

A Bull Fight

2007-10-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

How many superstars does it take to score a goal? Apparently twelve because the eleven Barcelona put on the pitch in yesterday's 0-0 Champions League match against Rangers were useless. Barcelona has always been one of my favourite European sides, and now more than ever with a stellar line up including the likes of Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho, Gio Dos Santos, Eidur Gudjohnsen,Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi, plus the former Dutch international Frank Rijkhaard at the helm. No strangers to goal scoring, how is it none of the superstar strikers put a ball in the net? Ranger's defence was good but really. Ronaldinho had moments of brilliance and came closer than anyone to scoring. At least he appeared to be trying. Unlike his teammate and usually great goal scorer Thierry Henry who was for the most part invisible, so invisible I wondered if he was slipping over to the Arsenal vs Slavia game and scoring goals for his former team. Talk about going from the ridiculous to the sublime - Arsenal beat Slavia 7-nil. Of the 8 Champions League games played yesterday, two really stood out to me. One for what did happen and the other for what didn't. One of Barcelona's newest stars didn't light up the pitch, and his old team Arsenal proved the show must go on and pretty damn well without him. No doubt Henry made the right move going to Spain's often dazzling side, however is sharing the spotlight with so many other stars going to put a damper on his flare? Rangers put up a good fight warding off Barcelona's tempered weapons. It reached a point where I was praying they would score. Barry Ferguson had a few good chances; if only his legs had been a bit longer. I wanted them desperately to take the bull by the horns. It would have been a sweet victory. So how many superstars does it take to score a goal? Probably only one, as long as the rest stay in the wings.

The Vigorish

2007-10-21T08:27:00.000-07:00

In my next life I want to be a bookie. I want to get into the head of the mysterious dude on the other end of the line. I wrote about one once, a story called Galloway, it's as close as I'll get to peeking into the psyche of one or a group of people who make my life miserable every week creating 'the spreads'. What is it that they know, Vegas knows? Where the hell do they really come up with these numbers, and why do I get more nervous with a 3.5 spread in a game like Indy vs Jacksonville than I do with a 16.5 spread in the New England vs Miami game? What do the bookies know that I don't know, are they assuming that Indy isn't going to crush Jacksonville, like I presume they will? At the end of the day do they toss a coin, is it more random than we think? Do they really sit around debating the complexities and conundrums of what's going on in the league; that great, young quarterbacks are dropping like flies but Favre's stronger than ever, that "New York wideout Plaxico Burress is on a record-setting touchdown pace despite missing practice for the majority of the year with a sprained ankle", or that Buffalo are second in the AFC East despite, well, everything? Do the guys in Vegas really like the game - do they have a favourite team, player, loyalty? Nah, as my old friend Galloway explained, "we don't do it for the love of the sport, we do it for the vigorish"!

The Brady Bunch

2007-10-17T21:20:00.000-07:00

In so many words, Chris Collingsworth said last weekend that this New England team is possibly the best side in NFL history. John Madden said it was far too early to make such statements. Is it? I'm a diehard Colt's supporter. However, like in the other football, I've always had players and teams that I admire and respect. I suspect its comparable to many things in life, the heart, the intellect, the psyche, the gut, have their own opinions, favourites and I think it's healthy to be open minded and possess the ability to appreciate all things on many levels - which says nothing and everything. My gut told me that there was no way that Brady was going to repeat last season. He's far too competitive, stoic... There was no way Belichick was going to have a fair to middling season. He's far too competitive, stoic, creative, intelligent and plain old stubborn to let anyone prove him wrong. There is physical strength witnessed every game in football, part of the reason I enjoy it, the hitting, the running, the cunning. However in many sports the mental element takes over, intelligence sure, but the spiritualism, a Zen thing. In Brady's case, that's some mind driving his team forward. He's got all the weapons, sure, sure, the great coach, the bankroll of receivers, running backs, defense, special teams. But I think Brady, in all due respect to the artistry and genius of P. Manning, is the Trojan that's making and is pulling this side together,like Chris Collingsworth said, to be one of the best teams in NFL history. It kills me, it really kills me to say it, however...

The Dog

2007-10-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

Standing in the video store the other day I felt a little like I do before choosing my football picks - this could go either way. I've been more than disappointed lately in the state of new releases. It seems that movie makers in the last few years are obsessed with 'the twist' and overcompensate by adding too many. So when I think the film has reached its climax, when the first twist is introduced, I'm completely numbed when another appears and another and another. I grappled with my choice and opted finally for 23. At my video store if you rent an A flick you get a B flick for free. I grabbed a film I'd never heard of called Undertow, thinking that if I don't get around to watching it so be it, it was free. Now here's where picking videos is like picking football teams. The A film, the favourite, should be the better film and the B film, the dog, the loser. However, like every Sunday or Monday night during NFL season the dog could kill the favourite. Some weeks I take the dog, others the favourite and it's still a crap shoot. 23 was hammered by Undertow. The dog won hands down. 23 starring Jim Carrey and Virginia Madsen is just another one of those films attempting to do too much. It had too many plot twists, week dialogue, so much confusion and jumping around. Much like last week's Dallas vs Buffalo game - unbelievable. Undertow starring Dermot Mulroney and Josh Lucas, released in 2004, was remarkable. Great story, acting, intensity. The kids Jamie Bell and Devon Alun stole the show. And director David Gordon Green maintains all the things that Hollywood has long since forgotten. Undertow is like a really well-written short story. It had conflict, focus, was concise,not too many characters, smooth plot line and full of impact. I won't go into what the story is about but I'd recommend it based on how well it was executed. Keep it simple, go for the jugular. This week in my pool - I'm taking the dogs.

Urlacher in a Dark Alley

2007-10-08T18:01:00.000-07:00

I awoke in a sweat last night. Look around, quivered. Shook my head and laughed a little. It was just a dream meeting Brian Urlacher in a dark alley - just a dream and one of my biggest nightmares. After watching football for practically twelve hours every Sunday, it's not unusual that I dream of the sport. Often I'm suited up in the Colt's uniform, helmet, pads and all jumping up and down, a pea in the end zone, begging for Manning to throw me the ball. But he never throws me the ball and I argue with him on the sidelines. He towers over me, pats my shoulders and shakes his head like I should just know that he's never, ever going to throw me the ball, but I'm a good decoy. I lurch around my bed as I rush around the field in the dream, wake exhausted and refrain from telling too many people that practically every Sunday night I play for the Indianapolis Colts when I sleep and the guys on the team, they like me, they are sweet but I still don't get the ball.

Last night after watching Urlacher pummel Green Bay. I couldn't get that mammoth shaved skull and dark, seething eyes out of my head and one of the last things I remember saying before going to bed was, man I wouldn't want to meet Urlacher in a dark alley and I wouldn't want to be playing for anyone's O-line when they're up against him after a few weeks of losing. I can almost hear his feet thundering and heart pounding, when he leaps out of nowhere onto the likes of Brett Favre, Bubba Franks or Charles Woodson. He's omnipotent when perturbed,when his team's not up to snuff. He can turn any game around, nostrils flaring, eyes bulging. That's when all his moves appear slow motion and the grounds must start shaking with every one of his lunging steps. I wouldn't want to meet him again in a dark alley,conscious or not, or on the line of scrimmage, but I sure as hell would have wanted to be on his side in last night's surprising game at Lambeau field.

A Bye Week

2007-10-05T13:50:00.000-07:00

The guys at work come to me for a lock-in. Come on Alex, they say, I need a lock-in for this week. And for the past three weeks I have given them who I believe is a shoe-in to win. Last week it was New England to beat Cincinnati, which a couple of them nodded their heads to in that skeptical way, a slow nod, more like a rocking of the head, and took Cincinnati anyway. I don't know why they ask me because despite being correct on picking New England last week, and the Giants, Buffalo and Indy, I was completely crucified by every other one of my picks. I am sick of waking up on Tuesday mornings feeling like a complete and utter loser. I did not want to bet this year, play the pools, pro-line, for all the reasons that I am experiencing now. One of my work mates hands me this week's sheet for the pool he coerced me into joining, the one he won last week, and he says he needs my picks by the end of the night. I'm not doing it this week, I tell him. Shocked, he asks me why. So I explain to him that I have no clue who to pick, no feel for who the hell is going to win. I don't know, I say, I don't know. I'm at a loss. Statistically Arizona should not have beaten Pittsburgh last week, there's no way KC should have won and Cleveland...And another thing I tell him just because certain players are injured does not spell loss, the player that comes on for them could be the next best thing, look at Edwards for the Bills. So the injury list means nothing to me, an injury could unleash the unsung hero of a team. No, I tell him, I'm not doing the pool this week. I feel like a pebble under Shockey's cleats. I need a bye week, I tell him, to get back to purely enjoying the games, not being bummed because a team didn't cover the spread, not watching with a pro-line ticket in one hand and the other hand covering my eyes. I need to don my Colts hat, have a beer, enjoy myself, the banter, speculate, celebrate and grow back to my normal size.

The Grevious Angel

2007-10-02T23:01:00.000-07:00

I'm a late bloomer. I know. Discovering uTube and the music I can listen to and watch through it is like Christmas to me. The music I like to listen to though, I discovered a long time ago when I might have been too young to realize its significance. But what I realize watching utube is that the artists that effect me, that are still alive, I want them to know how much I love them. Emmylou Harris for one has been a huge influence on my work and Gram Parsons, who unfortunately is not around. So much so I wrote a story about them that was published in my first short story collection Pull Gently, Tear Here called Keeping It All In Tune and they were the impetus for me starting a band when I couldn't bear to do anymore poetry readings. The first song we learned was The Grevious Angel, and it was Steve Earle's music that I listened to the whole time I wrote my first and second books, along with Johnny Dowd's tunes, and the Verve.

On uTube tonight I watched endless videos of Emmylou, and Steve Earle, and Gram Parsons and Emmylou and ultimately what really hit me despite her uncanny beauty was the absolute genius Emmylou Harris is. She is by far the unsung hero of the music world. Sure, sure, she is recognized as great but she is unlike any of the other singers out there. Not only in her angelic vocals, her untouchable charm and un-selfconsciousness; she is as special and gifted as the other someone who recognized her talent from the get-go, the Grevious Angel himself.

Surrealism

2007-09-30T09:56:00.000-07:00

Ha, ha. It makes me laugh, the excitement that surges through my veins as Sunday approaches. The adrenalin boils and I'm gripping all the slips of paper from the multiple pools I've entered despite swearing I wouldn't participate at all this season. This week feels a little less hard than attempting to make last week's picks. But nothing is written in stone and each week I'm beginning to see more and more parallels between golf and football. Ultimately, being a Colts fan, it's Manning's artistry that I admire and that makes me nervous. It always has,even when I watched him play college ball. I know he's great, accomplished, talented, surgical, studies, studies, studies like I know Picasso is all those things and Manning like Picasso approaches the canvas makes the first brush stroke then completely deviates from convention and as beautiful as the outcome is, the execution makes me nervous. No huddle, the clock ticking down, down, down. However, I believe the Colts against the Broncos in Indy should be no contest. So my money's on the artist and his multiple weapons to completely deconstruct Denver.

Kids get away with murder

2007-09-30T08:12:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading a review of my husband's new book Black Rabbit and other stories. Reviews are reviews and as writers we take the good with the bad - as writers we have to, on every level. But there's a specific aspect of this review that rankles me. The stories in Black Rabbit at times depict a reality that many a reviewer may not relate to as they tap away on their laptops in the comfort of their cushy homes, after eating a meal, drinking a cool glass of healthy milk. In our society there are certain members of it who like to deny that shit like what graces the pages of Sal's book doesn't happen or that it happens and the perpetrators learn from their mistakes or are punished for them or somehow without support systems, healthy families, financial stability turn over a new leaf and become socially acceptable human beings - unfortunately some people's lives aren't like that and kids do get away with murder. The system is set up that way. Certain writers are effected by what goes on around them more than to them. For many, expressing this effect on the page is a way to exercise the demons and injustices of life, of the unfathomable events that are happening all around us and although fictional the honesty, the truth of the matter, is what prevails. Imagine if Jerzy Kosinsky or Isaac Bable wrote idealistic versions of The Painted Bird or The Red Cavalry - imagine if we all wrote what people wanted to hear, imagine if the world became fully devoid of empathy, and honesty, and ultimately imagination because after all what is a story? Kids, people, get away with murder and unfortunately so do reviewers.

Hey Ladies!

2007-09-05T09:08:00.000-07:00

On my flight back to New York yesterday, the Italian Women's soccer team were on the same plane. I would have assumed that they were on their way to China, via JFK, except that Italy didn't qualify for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China. Had I not gathered from the conversation the flight attendant attempted to have with them that they spoke little to no English I would have asked them a slew of questions. Of course my immediate reaction when I saw the team dressed in blue T-shirts and shorts board the plane was a superstitious one, OH, My God, I'm flying with a soccer team. The team might also be superstitious because compared to the amount of them that were checking in, only half were on my flight. However, the flight was perfect and superstitions are, well, just that. But it did get me thinking about the upcoming Women's World Cup. I've become familiar with many of the US and Canadian national team's players over the past few years and for the most part the women's national teams from those two countries have stronger sides than the men's. It's in the statistics. The US have weapons in their forwards Kristine Lilly, Natasha Kai and Abby Wambach and break out of the gate on Sept 11 against Korea DPR, who I have no doubt will be packed with their own ammunition. Canada's side is full of players who already play for MLS clubs and USL sides such as the Vancouver Whitecaps, New Jersey Wildcats, Toronto Lynx and Ottawa Fury, they include striker Christine Sinclair, defender Melanie Booth and forward Rhian Wilkinson, to name a few. They kick off on Sept 12th against Norway. In my gut, I foresee Canada and the US in the finals, be it quarter, semi's or the big 'F'. It all starts on September 10th. Should be high calibre play, another great event to fill up the old sports calendars with.

The Great Dane

2007-08-25T10:13:00.000-07:00

is what Manchester City's Kasper Schmeichel's dad Peter Schmeichel was affectionately known as. That and probably Manchester United's greatest goal keeper. It looks like that greatness runs in the family because Man City's young goalie was the star of the show today against the Gunners. Man City didn't get any balls into Arsenals net but Schmeichel prevented a hell of a lot of goals against Man City's. Arsenal had hundreds of chances to score but just couldn't get the ball past the rugged Danish goalie. The play of the game though was when Arsenal were awarded a penalty kick, hmm, funny how they always manage things like that, Fabregas looked more than confident when he hammered the ball and certainly joined the rest of his team in looking stunned when Schmeichel easily saved it. Stellar. Fabregast got his revenge in the 80th minute and walloped the first goal against Man City since the beginning of the season past the disappointed Schmeichel. One out of say ten, sure isn't bad. Not to be outdone, in the dying minutes of the game Schmeichel joined his team in the Gunner's penalty box and almost headed a corner kick into their opponents net. Then ran back to the other end of the pitch to pick up his post. That's some well-rounded player. They lost 1-nil to Arsenal but under the leadership of the infamous Sven-Goran Eriksson and with the 'Other Great Dane' in net, Manchester City's future look's quite bright.

Speaking of bright futures, oh, guess who is at the top of the standings now - here's a hint - Chelsea!! Hurrah!

To Bet or Not To Bet...

2007-08-20T11:06:00.000-07:00

That is the question.

With the NFL season just around the corner, I'm sitting on the fence - Do I rejoin the football pool, play Proline, both, one or the other, neither? Last year was the first year I joined a pool. I was excited, full of hope. Then found myself on the edge of the couch, fingernails in mouth, desperate to cover the spreads - to win the weekly pool. All in all I discovered it took the pure joy out of watching the games. Week after week, I stressed over the spreads, studied US Today's Friday NFL pages, the weeks I went the other route and simply went with my gut, still I came up short. One week I tied with some guy and we split the winnings. It was not satisfying. I joined a pool to alleviate my previous year's obsession with Proline. Thinking that it would still satisfy a need to compete and be able to really get involved in the season more so than just being a passive yet passionate observer. Proline just about killed me. I'm no stranger to obssessive behavior - it's the highs and lows that feed my craft. However what I discovered about Proline was that the thrill was never realized, no matter how knowledgable I became and I rarely enjoyed the weekend games because I was too concerned with my picks, never letting the little slips of paper out of my sweaty, trembling hands. One Sunday I had to attend a christening. I didn't want to go. Shoved past the burly guys in the Seven-Eleven to grab my pencil and spreads sheet, ignoring their scrutinizing stares and attempts to peek at what I was scribbling down. I arrived late to the christening and during the reception that followed I kept leaving and coming back a little more agitated than the previous time I disappeared. A concerned relative approached with a glass of wine and asked if I was okay. I nodded, grabbed the wine. She leaned close to me and asked if I had taken up smoking. Smoking, I said, God know. And I asked her why. She stepped away from me. Well, you keep on leaving, she said, anxiously, like a smoker. Like a smoker, she said, or worse. Worse, I thought. Downed my wine, then choked, choked because it hit me and the laughter rose up from my gut before I had a chance to swallow the wine and I slapped my knee then her back and she started laughing without knowing why. I'd been leaving to run to the radio in my car to check the football scores, my Proline ticket. I never told her the truth, it may have seemed like the something worse.

This year, I think I'm going straight, no betting. It'll kill me, but I want to get back to observing the purity of what's unfolding on the field. I want to be unaffected by what I think and allow the outcomes not to bring me down. This year I don't want to start my week, which is always Tuesday this time of year, feeling like a loser. Because there's nothing worse than having 9 out of 12 teams correct on a ticket, or lose the weekly pool by 1 to a dame that doesn't even like the sport. This way I can concentrate on the Colts, the progress of other team's new coaches, players, revel in the unpredictable nature of the game, drink my beer and relax.

Next year, I might befriend a psychic.

Buffalo

2007-08-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted to like the Bills. There is something about them, great players, superb coaching staff - what happens to them? I talked to a pal of mine today, a Bill's fan. He told me that the Bills were playing a pre-season game tonight. Great, I said. Oh, I don't know, he said. What, I said. It's the Bills , he said.

I froze for a minute, just a minute, then it all came very clear to me. My eyes widened and I said, "dude, I know what your team's problem is."

He cocked his head and he said, "Oh, yeah?"

And I said, "Yeah. It's the fans."

And he said, "what?"

I stopped listening to sports radio because of the Buffalo Bill's fans. They are/were the most unloyal fans a team could have. Like picking a daisy - we love you, we love you not, we love you, we love you not - the adolescent love of the team is, well an adolescent love of the team. The team is great, has the potential to be great and when I listen to the radio, to the guys I work with, the well-buts, the excuses, it dawns on me that this team's problem lies not in its merit but in its support.

Ready, Down, Set...

2007-08-15T09:08:00.000-07:00

I know, I know most die-hard NFL fans say they don't bother with pre-season games. Then who makes up the roughly 60,000 fans filling the stadiums during these games - movie extras? Granted that by the third quarter when the third string players are hitting the field more and more empty seats appear, but really who doesn't sneak a peek at the game at some point during its duration. For me it's even to hear the voices of my favorite commentators; the eloquent Al Michaels, vivacious John Madden and the Monday Night crew with good ol' Tony Kornheiser, full of his usual wit and vault of obscure knowledge and the newest addition to Monday Nights the funny, intelligent, knowledgable and articulate Ron 'Jaws' Jaworski, held together by the solid commentary of Mike Tirico. So it's not just what's happening on the field that excites me about the burgeoning NFL season but what goes on from the broadcast booth during the game and in the pre-game shows. All the drama, personality,and wisdom coming from above.

I can't help but watch the pre-season games to get that pre-season glimpse at the fellows I've come to know and love throughout the years,even if they are pacing the sidelines or relaxing on the bench, be it Manning, Brady, Hasselbeck, Alexander, Reggie Bush, Champ Bailey, Pennington, Harrington - whose presence I'm looking forward to seeing more of this season. And the new breed, even if none of these players who get a taste of the game in pre-season ever set foot on the field again, it's exciting to know whose hiding in the wings, and reassuring based on the nature of this physical game. I lasted through most of the 49ers vs Broncos game. The speedy 49ers with the return of Alex Smith appear to have a very promising chance this year. Thus far it's been the most exciting game to watch.

The bottom line is it's almost here, the countdown to the season opener is under way. I've stocked up the beer fridge, the snacks, I'm strengthening my vocal chords, reading up on my rosters and stats and placing Kleenex on the coffee tables because the incredible shit that happens during an NFL game - 80 yrd touchback returns, last minute interceptions, Brett Favre moves, Peyton Manning moves...damn-well moves me to tears!

How do we ever get from February to now?

Lady Sings The Blues

2007-08-12T19:16:00.000-07:00

Well a 3-2 win over Birmingham City at Stamford Bridge was a great start today for Chelsea - they have not had a home defeat in the Premier League for 63 games. And even though they were without John Terry, Frank Lampard donned the skipper's armband and they were out of the gate with flying colors - a sign of things to come, no doubt.

I suppose I was a bit premature in saying that I thought this year would be Rooney's pinnacle one for Man U. Poor kid hurt his ankle and limped off the pitch against Reading today. Despite the bevy of other great players remaining, I was a little underwhelmed by the match. The bottomline, I really wanted Reading to win.

Arsenal beat Fulham much to my chagrin and Liverpool beat Aston Villa. Well, at least Chelsea made a victorious debut. Here's to the blues.

My heads been in Spain the last little while though. I'm immersed in a brilliant biography of Pablo Picasso, thrilled about Henry leaving Arsenal for FC Barcelona and of course my favourite wonder kid starting this year for Barcelona along side Henry and the boys - Giovani Dos Santos. They play in the friendly the Franz Beckenbaur Cup this Wednesday against Bayern Munich. Another mid-week fixture on the 15th, Chelsea play Reading. This time I do not want Reading to win and will be singing for the Blues.

Speaking of singing the blues and running with the bulls, Toronto FC's 3-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls was a tad of a hammering. Altidore was in fine form today for the Red Bulls scoring two goals against the rattled Toronto club in the second half, adding on to Juan Pablo Angel's first half stunner. The red card only added insult to injury.

Ole! The fun and games has just begun!!

Light at the End of the Tunnel

2007-08-10T18:06:00.000-07:00

Like being woken from the dead, last night's chance channel flicking that landed on the pre-season game between my team the Indianapolis Colts vs the Dallas Cowboys brought all my senses alive. What a feeling! There they were my boys led by their man Peyton Manning. Though he wasn't playing when I finally discovered the game he held court on the sidelines just as effectively as on the field. Ah, the burgeoning NFL season. In that realm of things, only one other thing exhilarates me as much - the other football season - the Premiership, and it gets underway tomorrow.

There's nothing like waking up to Saturday morning football on the telly. The sound of the crowd, the commentary, the players, the play - ah, it brings back so many weekend morning memories for me - hard boiled eggs on a bun, tea and football. Tomorrow's games aren't as significant to me as Sunday's. Except of course Aston Villa vs Liverpool, Villa being the last English side my dad Graham Leggat was affiliated with as coach of the youth side before we packed up and left for the Toronto Metros here in Canada. Villa will always hold a place in my heart because at one time they too were part of our family.

Sunday my club Chelsea open against one of my Dad's other old clubs, Birmingham, and the last place I lived prior to hopping the Atlantic. As the season unfolds you'll see how every team ties into my upbringing in one way or another. I don't hold much of an allegiance toward Birmingham despite the family connection and I get the feeling that even though Chelsea played relatively well against Man U the other day, that they'll be in fine form Sunday against Birmingham City and should have no trouble beating this side. Especially to prove something after three of their penalty kicks were saved by Man U's stellar goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar. I don't think that's ever happened before, not even by ex-Liverpool and England's old national team superstar goalie David Seaman, who personally I thought was great.

Sunday, the dreaded Manchester United play Reading. I think Man U will crush Reading. Too many superstars, so much adrenaline, fire, the list goes on and on. Unfortunately for the rest of us, I think this will be Rooney's pinnacle year, which is frightening. As a team, they are always frightening - bastards. Speaking of which, the same day the Gunners take on Fulham, the real family team for us, next to Aberdeen and Scotland International, many a Craven Cottage story has been imbedded in these ears, in this heart. I wish my Dad was playing for them Sunday. Can't help bringing to mind the time he scored three goals in three minutes for Fulham, still holds the hat trick record, granted that game was against Ipswich on Boxing day in 1963, not Arsenal, one of the teams, like Man U, that I was born to loathe, despite liking many of their individual players along the way; the now departed Thierry Henry for one. Losing him, another strike against Arsenal as far as I'm concerned. (My cousin Paul's a supporter so for that I try to make allowances!)That said, I hope Fulham crush Arsenal on Sunday, and that the ref is on Fulham's side.

Ah, the history, the comaraderie, the football life - both of them. It's been a long dry off-season, even though the U-20 tourney was superb - hail the oasis, the light at the end of the tunnel.

From the Sublime to the Ridiculous

2007-08-05T19:54:00.000-07:00

I spent the last week in New York City visiting family, roaming the streets of Brooklyn and Manhattan, seeping up inspiration from President Street to Carnegie Hall and spending my evenings with a cold beer bought from the corner store working on new writing. My feet ache but my mind's rejuvenated.

[An aside, I was hoping that New York's Red Bulls would have been playing while I was there, but no such luck. Altidore and the dudes were in between games. In a couple of weeks they'll be playing against the L.A. Galaxy, I'll be interested to compare scenarios.]

After spending hours in MoMA moved to tears by Jackson Pollack and beyond tears to the metaphysical by Picasso's work, I had an overwhelming sense of a real melding of passions and self. And it was in the first paragraph of Patrick O'Brian's biography of Picasso that I picked up at the MoMA bookstore that summed it up for me. He wrote, "For even the strongest individual is indelibly marked by the culture in which he is brought up; even the loneliest man is not an island; and even Picasso carried his cradle with him to the grave. 'A man belongs to his own country forever,' Picasso said."

Now, what is she talking about, you may be asking yourself. So how shall I put it. When it comes to art it's in me, when it comes to football, it's in me. Part of my culture, my heritage, how I was brought up. And football certainly is its own culture; a lifestyle, not unlike being a writer, it's a way of life, just part of who you are. So when the Los Angeles Galaxy came to play Toronto FC today in Toronto, it should have been about two clubs, the city's club, the city. Football was the working class sport, work all week for the game at the end of it, the reward, the outlet, the comaraderie, and respect for the players, and the sport. Today's excitement could have begun in a pub prior to the game with your mates, your team's colours segregating you from one side of the pub to the other, or depending on the rivalry separate pubs altogether, discussing the game, the players, the possibilities, the standings, the stakes. And the fact that one of England's great players is now part of the Galaxy is a really exciting factor. Beckham is exciting despite the hype, his hollywood celebrity - he's a great footballer. If you respect the game and its players to have Beckham over here in the MLS is huge. Some may say he's past his prime, well yeah, most players are at his age, that's why they make a move such as this, but he's no less great when it comes down to it. The fact that he's not fit, is part of the game, there's no shame in it. He's still part of the team. And I must say that for ninety minutes of play the most exciting moves in today's match were by David Beckham; composed and well-dressed in a black suit, white shirt and red tie he strode across the pitch and took his seat on the bench. His facial expressions intensified as the game commenced, hands held to his lips, eyes steely and darting, feet sockless and agitated like they were playing, brow furrowed, observing and pondering every move made during the nil-nil match. The football savvy and panache that injured Becks exuded from the bench was far more exciting than what happened on that field. To watch a player who knows the sport from the inside out, from birth, watch a game as it's being played can teach the critics, the boo-ers, and even the good fans a thing or two about being a great footballer, and teammate. "For even the strongest individual is indelibly marked by the culture in which he is brought up; even the loneliest man is not an island...'A man belongs to his own country forever.'" I think because of all that we're pretty lucky to have him over here, on or off the bleeding pitch.

The Young Americans

2007-07-30T08:43:00.000-07:00

Well, it didn't take long for USA's U-20 star Freddy Adu to get back in the news. Looks like Portugese side Benfica are courting him with big numbers and the deal is almost sealed. If all goes well, Benfica will certainly have a new lease on life because not only will they have the dazzling Adu but the dangerously crafty Argentinian player Angel Di Maria and Argentina's Andres Diaz. Now that's some triple threat. Although Adu and Di Maria didn't get a chance to play against each other in the recent U-20 tournament held in Canada, they are no strangers to the other's feats and capabilities - it's one thing to play against each other, to play on the same team could prove quite thrilling, and I'm sure many of these youngsters would rather have the likes of a Di Maria and an Adu on their side opposed to battling it out against them. On the other side of things Jozy Altidore is holding his own for the Big Apple's Red Bulls, although he just couldn't get the ball in the net during last week's match against Chivas USA, nobody could, not Altidore, Juan Pablo Angel or John Wolyniec, three forwards and no luck. Sometimes that's what the ball does, adopts a mind of its own; hits every part of the goal, posts, crossbar, the goalie, outer-sides, corners and top of the net, but just can't seem to find its way into the back of it. Speaking of backs of things, I think it's going to be a long time before we see the backs of many of the latest U-20 players. News on Mexico's Gio Dos Santo's should be filtering in soon enough and the latest on Argentina's stunner, Sergio Aguero.

Never a Dull Moment

2007-07-27T23:20:00.000-07:00

I was feeling a sort of post-partum depression with the end of the U-20 World Cup but the beauty of the football world is that there's rarely a dull moment. In less than a month from now on August 11th the official season begins, English, Scottish, then Seria A, Bundesliga et al - on August 18th the FIFA U-17 tournament gets underway in Korea, and Beijing hosts the FIFA Women's World Cup in September . Ah, the beautiful game.

Trades, rumours, and all that are happening across the Premiership. The most interesting one to me thus far is about Gabriel Heinze's threat to leave Man U for Liverpool. This brings me back to the strange dichotomy of liking certain players but not their clubs. I've always liked Heinze as a player, can't stand Man U by birth and Argentina, well I think I've stated my case before - it's in the statistics. Heinze is one of those modest, lethal players; perhaps the modesty's adopted from the British end of things and the lethal comes from being an Argentinian national player - that innate talent. Now Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping that Heinze, whose taking legal action against his club, will make the "right" decision and remain with the almighty Manchester United. However, I think it would be a great move for the left back(defender) to move to a team where he can actually do something. Heinze's talents have been nullified with Man U over the past couple of seasons and fresh off a good show of things in the Copa America tournament, Heinze seems fit and ready, in his prime, perhaps a little tired, but ready to make a fresh start in the new season. A new side would be good for the young Argentinian that will only get old too soon if he remains with Manchester. Time will tell, but here's hoping he gives Man U the boot!

Goals, Goals, Goals

2007-07-26T09:37:00.000-07:00

Last night Toronto FC played a friendly against England's Aston Villa, no coverage, that I could see. I flicked and flicked and I flicked channels in an effort to find something about the game and eventually after wading through what seemed like the entire MLB's highlights,finally highlights from the soccer game were shown.

Toronto FC's popularity has taken off like a bullet and in the sold-out match against Aston Villa, they held their own it seems by coming back from a two-nil deficit to tie the game, then allowing two more goals against them in the end, but hell what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. For those of you that think soccer is generally lacking in goals - the 6 scored in this game must have whet your appetite. The highlights didn't satiate my desire to have seen the entire game, however, I should just find a way to see them in person, soak up the atmosphere and chant an anthem or two.

Villa's warm-up show

2007-07-24T21:22:00.000-07:00

I went online in a desperate attempt to obtain tickets to the Aston Villa friendly against Toronto FC Wednesday night at BMO field in Toronto; a club I have yet to watch fully and completely but look forward to taking in. MLS, Los Angeles, Hollywood entertainment shows etc have been blind-sided by the arrival of Beckham but I find it so much more exciting that the Galaxy hosted a friendly against my favorite side Chelsea on the weekend and tomorrow Aston Villa will be on the pitch against Toronto FC and then on to play Columbus on Saturday. I think these friendlies can do more for the game in North America than the arrival of good ol' Becks. I like Beckham, I do, despite the fact that he played for Man U, a side I was simply born to abhor, that's the way it is for Chelsea supporters. I think Beckham is a master at what he does, sets up goals, drives the perfect corner kick, free kick and was a superb skipper, fair and generous, but he's not a patch on experiencing a full-on Premiership side, even if they are going to be a little rusty. If Aston Villa plays their starters tomorrow night it could be an exciting match. The team has an excellent mix of Danish, Czech, Irish, Scottish and English players, and the ex-Man U midfielder Cameroon's Eric Djemba-Djemba could be on the verge of a comeback year, could it start here. Many of the Villa players are familiar with their Toronto FC opponents and it should be a good game for all involved.

The Agony and The Ecstasy

2007-07-23T08:48:00.001-07:00

When the tears spilled down the pained faces of the young Czech players after yesterday's final against the almighty Argentina - my heart broke. Before I knew it tears soaked my face. The Czechs put up a good fight and played strong, clean football. In the first half Argentina exhibited shades of their histrionic play against Chile but quickly realized it wasn't going to work against the controlled and steely will of their European opponents, not to mention the ref and the entire FIFA organization, the cops, you know, and in the second half played the skillful game they are lethal at and renowned for.

The ecstasy that must have surged through the Czech's veins when Martin Fenin walloped the ball past Romero in the 60th minute of second half play was quickly shut down when Sergio Aguero took advantage of sailing past the Czech defenders, who were momentarily resting on their laurels, and swooped the ball past Petr into the back of the net. Aguero caught the fans, and practically everyone else on the bloody pitch off guard. That's the Argentinians for you. Shockingly, and not, even Aguero's goal was superseded in the 86th minute when Mauro Zarate stealthily sliced the ball, sending it soaring like a meteorite, an apparition, right through the goal keeper. I almost died. I think a lot of people on and off the pitch must have dropped their jaws and almost died. To my extra surprise, in response to the winning goal former goalkeeper and CBC broadcaster Craig Forrest made a comment that went something like this, Petr has just let down his country, all those watching from home, his mother, his grandmother, his sister, the entire nation. I have to ask you, Craig, would you have been able to save that comet, that bullet, that shooting star? I don't think so and I think Petr's mum, his grandmother, his sister and his country recognize there was no shame in preventing that goal from getting into the net - like I said before -that's the Argentinians for you.

Although I didn't see the third place game, I was happy to hear that Chile, despite missing many of their key weapons, played a respectable game of football and ended the tournament on a good note - afterall they were not the only culprits in the debacle on and off the pitch in the game against the equally guilty Argentinians, the officiating and on and on. And Austria, the solid football side they are, also missing a couple of their important defenders, did so well in their final game, in the entire tournament.

I'm sad it's all over. The final was bittersweet to me. Deep down, due to my personal issues with the Argentinian side, my English roots, all that, I desperately wanted the Czech Republic's U-20 side to win. They were a pleasure to watch, a great example of a solid European side - they were charming. If this is the sign of what's to come in that country's national team, in all the participating countries teams in this U-20 World Cup, the next World Cup's emerging national squads are going to give the power houses a real go of it. How exciting - bring on the new breed!

I did it my way

2007-07-21T20:25:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow four teams battle it out for fourth, third, second and first place in this absolutely brilliant FIFA U-20 World Cup. As a newish Canadian, despite emigrating from soccer territory years ago with my soccer family (well football to us, really) and after all the work my dad has done for the sport in this country, it was huge to me that Canada was host to this world class event. I kept humming something while thinking about what to write in this post and figured I'd leave it up to the man whose song came to mind - old blue eyes. My Way puts many things into perspective for me and mine, and the tourney I've experienced up to now. And I'm sure all of the teams - U.S.A., Mexico, Canada, Uruguay, Nigeria, Gambia, Zambia, Costa Rica, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Congo, Jordan, Korea DPR, Korea Republic, and New Zealand, and the third place challengers, Chile, Austria, the final contenders, the Czech Republic and Argentina - players, managers, refs and all, will agree ...Mr Frank Sinatra take it from here:

And now, the end is near;
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I'll say it clear,
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.

I've lived a life that's full.
I've traveled each and every highway;
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets, I've had a few;
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course;
Each careful step along the byway,
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall;
And did it my way.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried.
I've had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.

To think I did all that;
And may I say - not in a shy way,
No, oh no not me,
I did it my way.

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows -
And did it my way!

MAY THE BEST TEAM WIN, my friends, and congrats to all of those that fell before us!!!

When the Beautiful Game Turns Ugly

2007-07-20T08:31:00.000-07:00

Local darbies have been breeding grounds of dirty play for decades; whether it's between London Premiership teams like Arsenal/Man U, the Scottish contingency, Celtic/Rangers, or on a grander scale, neighbouring nations - trouble awaits. Last night's match between Chile and Argentina was no exception and when the ref spilled more fuel on the fire everything exploded. It was no fun to watch these untamed players go after a win by attempting to break legs, ankles, take unnecessary dives, rolls, grab the ref, push each other about and have tantrums. The calmest most mature player on the pitch was Argentina's solid goal keeper Sergio Romero. Like colts these young men are only half-broken at this stage in their careers, a few more solid trainers on their backs and they might, just might, be reined in.

I've been told that the numerous times throughout the years that these countries have played against each other, Chile has only beaten Argentina three times. Whether this statistic relates to the full national team or the half-pints, there is something to be proved. Uruguay exhibited similar behaviour on and off the pitch with their loss to the U.S. but the geographical triangle of South American teams - Argentina at the top, Chile to the left and Uruguay to the right - are not only fighting on the pitch for football supremecy but to distinguish themselves one from the other, to create their own identities. Argentina have done that - hence the drive and rivalry brewing in Chile's boots. Chile have great players. Medina, for one, seemed disheartened, like all he wanted to do was play the game, do what he does best, get the ball in the net and his teammates, Suarez, Vidal, Sanchez, Godoy, to name a few were letting him down. On the other side, the Argentinians were no saints. Yacob was the timebomb we've come to know him as - but channelled his fire into the net with a beautiful goal in the 65th minute of the second half, and Moralez sealed the deal with a sneaky goal in the 93rd. But it's not so much how it ended but how they began, twelve minutes into the game, Di Maria scored a wicked goal that sailed past Chile's overly-dramatic goal keeper Cristopher Toselli and all tempers rose their ugly heads. I think the ref lost control of this game very early on and attempted to get it back the wrong way. FIfA's fair play banner was not gallantly swaying in the wind last night. And what happened off the field is not even worthy of discussion - it's stuff like that that gives football a bad name, and when it's off the pitch, it's not about the sport anymore.

In the end, the best team won. Now it's all about the South Americans against the Eastern Europeans - two different styles of play, mindsets, cultures, history, that all come to life on the pitch. If Argentina display their ability to play any kind of football be it controlled, unleashed, or both, they should put on a good show against the Czech Republic's strength, creativity and drive. I have a feeling, or I hope, this match, the final, will be a battle of skills not tempers.

The Not Knowing

2007-07-19T11:43:00.000-07:00

At this point in the tournament, I feel like anything can happen. I'm sure that for most people the money's on Argentina to win over Chile and move onto the final against the Czech Republic. However, who knows - anything can happen. Chile are not oblivious to what they are up against tonight and they didn't get this far without being the tricky, passionate team that they are. Sometimes the not knowing is more disconcerting. I'm very anxious, just to see what unfolds. What I do know, I think I can safely say, is that tonight's game will possess a lot more bells and whistles than last night's match between Austria and the Czech Republic - both literally and figuratively. It's almost down to the final in this very satisfying U-20 World Cup and I'm still reeling from the quarter finals; between Austria beating the US, and Mexico losing to Argentina - that game was like a great story that just resonates with you for days, maybe weeks after. I better get over it, and prepare myself for what's to come. Tonight's game should be one of technical wizardry and passion - look out for the fireworks.

Lights, Camera, Action...

2007-07-18T12:17:00.000-07:00

Tonight Austria play the Czech Republic in the first of the semi-final games. At this point I have no clue who will take this game. Both teams have their subtle and not so subtle weapons. I'm curious to watch what unfolds, with no preconceived notions. This game for me will be like going to a movie. I like some of the actors but have no clue about the story line, the end is completely unpredictable, and the directors could be the deciding factor in the shows overall effect. So, lights, camera, action...

Survival of the Fittest

2007-07-15T19:00:00.000-07:00

There are obstacles and then there are locked doors, brick walls, bridgeless waterways, jail cells, quick sand, all things that hinder one from moving freely, and ultimately prevent one from progressing, reaching a destination or achieving a goal. Barring the metaphors, in today's Argentina vs Mexico game, Mexico not only met their match, their match superseded them on many levels. They shut them down and wore them down, like a crafty predator does its prey. Argentina completely took over in the second half and defended their jewel of a goal, disabling the frustrated Mexican side. Dos Santos couldn't get in goal position if he tried, surrounded by blue and white shirts at every turn. All of Mexico's opportunities were used up in the first half, and that sneaky goal by Moralez in the remaining seconds of the first half must have sealed Argentinian coach Hugo Tocalli's strategy for the remainder of the game; hang onto the lead and prevent the Mexicans from scoring - it worked. The Argentinians were sturdy, strong and cunning. With the likes of Aguero, Moralez and feisty Yacob, who was yanked off the field at one point by his coaches and given a talking to, Mexico's opponent were simply too well prepared, too well coached and too powerful. Their confidence on the field is inherent - it's in their football genes, natural. Their predecessors, their ancestors, these boys too are so familiar with competing in and winning championships, they pull the astroturf right out from under the other teams feet. Despite my visions and hopes, if Mexico were finally destined to lose to someone, there's no shame in losing to the likes of this Argentinian side. They put up a good fight but just couldn't make a move. It won't be the last of Dos Santos,Barrera,Vela, Guerrero etc. Of all the future superstars we've been exposed to in this U-20 World Cup and future fixtures for their respective national teams, Dos Santos' career is one I really look forward to following. I can't wait until he meets Yacob, Moralez, Mercado, Benego and Aguero again. Because you know all these players are going to be kicking-off against each other on numerous occassions for the next, oh, ten years or so, at least.

So, lets see how Argentina handle their geographical neighbours, Chile. It could be interesting - it's always interesting.

Then There Were Six

2007-07-14T20:03:00.000-07:00

It breaks my heart when a team that exhibits so much promise gets knocked out of a tournament such as this. What today's Austria vs U.S.A. game reminded me of was that not all team's weapons are blatent. There are many different styles of play on a pitch, and we've witnessed at lot of panache in this U-20 World Cup; entertaining sides like Mexico, Argentina, Japan, Chile, Brazil, Nigeria, Uruguay, Costa Rica and on - fancy footwork, speed, agility, cunning, passion, and flare. However, teams such as Poland, Scotland, the Czech Republic and Austria bring a whole different style, discipline, strategy and physical element to the game. Austria are strong, structured, reserved and lethal in their surgical, almost mechanical approach. Though not present in this World Cup, Germany is a prime example of this method that stealthily wins championships. Austria has modestly marched their way to the top of this mountain and could very well be placing its flag at the peak. The Czech Republic though a little less controlled play a similar game. It takes one killer striker to hit the field for a team like Austria to nail a securing goal, then the rest of the team takes over again defending the lead - Hoffer is Austria's cannonball. He's deadly, accurate and enviably consistent. Unlike Altidore and Adu and the rest of the U.S. side that run and run and run and run and shoot and miss and shoot and score and run and run and run and run...the Austrians defend and defend and defend and send on Hoffer and score and defend. There's barely a bead of sweat apparent on their brows. They're not as exciting to watch, as memorable, but they march on, never veer from the path, have a mission and successfully complete it, like ants, and that's admirable.

I have followed and been behind the U.S. team from the start of this tourney. I love their enthusiasm, skill, professionalism and the incredible progress they've been making since hosting the World Cup, on the major scale, just over thirteen years ago. I envisaged an U.S.A. vs Mexico final - today half of that vision dissipated. I still see Mexico there though. Spain is gone. The Czech's move on. Nigeria always pose a threat. Chile has proven their toughness and Argentina loom like a dark cloud over my brightly lit dream of Mexico beating them like a pinata. I anxiously await Dos Santos and the rest of the Mexican crew hitting the pitch again and showing us what they can do! Whatever happens in tomorrow's quarterfinal matches, one thing is certain, we're heading toward a paradoxical final.

The Luck of the Draw

2007-07-13T07:58:00.000-07:00

I have a love/hate relationship with the Argentinian side. Gabriel Batistuta has always been one of my favourite players - if not my favourite; Argentina has been England's nemesis on more than one occasion in World Cup play and when I'm rooting for my national team a segment of my loyalty lies with my birthplace England, another with my folk's birthplace and my dad's former national team - Scotland, and of course there's my loyalty to the country whose soil I live on, Canada - it's a fine balance. Usually, it's England I'm behind and I have sat in the stands amidst good-natured Argentinian fans at World Cup events of the past and watched them kill my team. They are sly and fast and often far too bloody good. They have dominated World Cups, both U-20's and the big guys, since before many of us were born. In short - they frighten me and in yesterday's game against Poland, Argentina's youth team were no exception.

Last night's pitch was full of eleven sturdy Polish players and eleven Diego Maradonas. The ball was an extension of the young Argentinians' sweeping feet, which at times didn't even seem to be touching the ground, they appeared to communicate telepathically, eyes never leaving their target and it all seemed so effortless. Whose feet move that fast and skillfully other than perhaps Barishynikov's, Secretariat's, or Muhammed Ali's - Maradona's, Batistuta's. Frightening. And doesn't it figure that the nemesis is playing one of my favourite teams in this competition, the dazzling and seemingly unstoppable Mexican side. Sunday's game, Mexico vs Argentina is going to be a final in itself, and sadly one of the two most spectacular teams in this U-20 World Cup will be heading home trophy-less. That's the luck of the draw.

From the ashes of disaster...

2007-07-12T14:51:00.000-07:00

...rise the roses of success!

USA's game last night against Uruguay had my blood boiling,and my tone of voice reached a level that drove my poor dog into another room where he hid beneath a desk and quivered. He's not a small dog. I hurled pillows at the television screen and bit off what little fingernail growth I had until my damn fingers bled. A few minutes into the game I said, wait a minute, as well as a predictable style of play presenting itself on the opposing team, I thought, this ref is going to be responsible for the U.S.A.'s demise. Overcoming practically every obstacle imagineable on the field, except for a penalty or red card amazingly, the U-20 American side rallied together like the pros they are turning out to be and proved there is justice!!! There's nothing worse to me than when a ref turns a blind eye to an offending team, we see it in the Premiership with teams like Arsenal on a weekly basis, sorry Gunner's supporters but one has to call it as they see it. The more I watched the young Uruguayans step on opposing player's feet, punch players in the ear, elbow them as they ran by, and fall to the ground from a whisper, I thought I was going to lose my mind. Somehow, with the loss of Altidore to a filthy challenge that wasn't even called a foul, the U.S. hung on and Michael Bradley, their consistent work-horse on the field, achieved what he deserved, personal, and his team's, victory. Uruguay are undeniably talented and I looked forward to watching them but at this stage in their game they are a deadly mix of too much testosterone and South American anguish. The poor losership at the end of the match was the icing on the cake, proof that Uruguay's U-20 side ended this competition just where they belong - on the plane home.

As far as the officiating in the dying moments of an incredible performance by a bruised and exhausted U.S. side, half of the team were handed yellow cards for looking at their opponent the wrong way - so if the ref couldn't help them lose in the round of 16, he'd effect their security in the games to come. The beauty of it is - I don't think it'll make a damn difference to their success. I'm wary of premature predictions but among many things I think the Uruguay game did for the U.S., despite buffing up their injury list, was make them even stronger. I think Austria's luck might be about to run out.

The Spain vs Brazil game was a mix of absolute brilliance and absolute dullness - a game of extremes. In the end the stronger side won and for that I was very pleased. Players like Adan, Bueno, Capel, Pique, Garcia and Adrian put up a great fight for Spain against a tricky and skillful Brazilian side; it took 3/4s of the game for the Spanish side to reach their peak but when they did, they exhibited their shifty footwork, creativity and bravery on the field - ending so aptly with the matador's stance.

I believe that Japan would have been better off nailing a win prior to going to penalty kicks,easier said than done, however, they have yet to master the old one-on-one with their opponents. They played so well throughout this competition, though. They should be thrilled with their performance. As for the Czech Republic - I can't wait to finally see them play a game.

Tonight, Portugal play Chile, Argentina play Poland, Zambia play Nigeria and Mexico play Congo. I prefer Chile over Portugal, Argentina over Poland, Nigeria over Zambia and Mexico over Congo. I have to admit Mexico are my favs, along with the Americans. Right from the very first whistle in this competition I loved the look of the Mexican side. I'm nervous and emotional and think I better drop the dog off at my parent's.

One Wrong Move

2007-07-11T10:12:00.000-07:00

We've reached the first elimination round of the U-20 World Cup and I'm getting nervous. One wrong move and 4 of the best teams in this competition will be going home. The 3 games I'm really excited about in today's match-ups are USA vs Uruguay, I've yet to see Uruguay play in this World Cup but if history has any bearing on their performance, it should be a tough game, for both sides. Spain vs Brazil - again, have yet to see Spain play and I hope I get to see them today because I love the way the Spanish nationals play. I've watched Brazil and still think they're a little green, individual talent abounds, but their team work has yet to be mastered. And Japan vs Czech Republic - I've heard the Czech side are very strong, and I've witnessed Japan be dazzling and then not-so-dazzling, so I'm not sure how predictable their performance will be. How they play seems to depend on how the other team plays, so if the Czech side is going to give them a fight, I think they'll rise to the occasion. Austria vs Gambia is one game I'm not biting my fingernails off about, but hell it could turn out to be the one to watch.

My money's on USA, Spain, Japan and Gambia. I think I'll need a pint or two through this round!!

Then, tomorrow's another story.

It's not whether you win or lose...

2007-07-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

It's how you play the game!!

In the last twenty minutes of the Canada vs Congo match all hell broke loose - why did it take that long for the fire in our team's hearts to start burning? As painful as it was to watch goalkeeper Asmir Begovic's large gloved hands come flying up to touch the ball while he was at least ten feet out of the penalty box - the event itself brought the Canadian team to life. The red card - the goalkeeper sent off in the dying minutes of Canada's last game - their last chance to show us what they are made of, what we're made of. When little, fair-haired, Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault donned the make-shift goalie jersey, mammoth gloves and stepped between the two daunting goal posts, I thought, Oh my God, now what are we in for. Then something happened, he took control of the game!!! Stopped a few incredible shots on goal, exuded passion, drive and guts and a healthy desperation that catapulted his entire team to life - suddenly they were attacking, shooting at the net from close range, scrambling for the ball, working together as a team, fighting for a win, fighting for anything, the anguish on their faces began to show, they were trying. The rain-soaked fans came alive, the bleeding ref came to life and the Congo had a game on their hands - I ask you, should this side of our national team not have been evident from their very first kick-off on their country's soil!!?

Having been a huge soccer fan practically since birth, and those of you who live and breathe the sport will understand, there's an all-encompassing effect that comes with supporting your country's team, the beauty of World Cup events, of any sporting event - hockey, the Olympics, the world series. They bring the fans, the people, together on so many levels, the patriotism, the pride one takes in cheering their players on and those players more often than not are brewing with that very same pride when they hit the pitch, the ice, the field - ah, it's magic. So sure, it isn't whether our countries win or lose but for those ninety odd minutes that we're all there as one; emotionally, joyfully, faithfully and with so much hope - it's how they play the game.

The Skipper

2007-07-07T19:29:00.000-07:00

Some games take time to assimilate, like some movies, books etc. You need time to mull over what happened before talking about it. I felt this way about the USA vs Brazil game. Ultimately, what I felt is that USA play like pros, this is the future national team, and they are playing like it now, almost more accomplished than their superiors, the old nationals. Brazil have so many talented players that have yet to hone their craft. They will be superb when they are ripe. Christiano Ronaldo (Portugal) and Ronaldinho (Brazil), were like some of these kids too at first, bubbling over with natural talent but not quite sure how to control it and apply it to the 'team'. Once they grew into their talent, yikes!

What USA have that Brazil don't, I think, is a great leader. Adu looks after his mates on the field. He's not a selfish player, for a superstar. They work great together and Adu has the ability to help make many of his teammates shine - like Altidore for example, a combination of great coaching, a great skipper, and strong experienced players is what's taking this team swiftly up the ranks. I think they stand a great chance in the round of sixteen.

I'm crossing my fingers for Scotland against Costa Rica tonight - it's going to be a strange match-up.

To Use the Vernacular

2007-07-05T22:21:00.001-07:00

With all due respect to the other commentators in this U-20 World Cup, the key elements that really made the Mexico vs Portugal game so brilliant were Mexico and Gary Bloom. There were two compelling narratives happening in unison. One on the pitch, made up of Mexico's thrilling ball control, foot work, skill, speed, joie de vivre and as Bloom so aptly put, incredible ability to read each other; and two, from the broadcast booth with Bloom's wit, poeticism, knowledge, genuine enthusiasm, and the football vernacular. I could have listened to that game with my eyes closed and enjoyed it just as much!

Mexico from the get go against Gambia exhibited a freshness, determination and skill that captured me instantly. Though I stated before, I have always liked the Mexican nationals for many of the traits that are present in the new breed. But this youth team are even more compelling, extremely talented and cohesive, a unit. Portugal had fleeting moments of brilliance, put up a good fight but appeared frustrated, exasperated, worn out. Mexico, though slightly breathless and drenched in sweat, maintained unbelievable ball savvy, control, determination and looked like they were enjoying every minute of it - all in a day's work. What a great game. Individual players like Dos Santos, the goalie Blanca, Hernandez etc were great but their ultimate gift, I think, is how they play as a team.

I had so much faith in Canada against Austria. It'll happen, in time.

Tomorrow - the outcome of the group of death!

Balls

2007-07-05T09:20:00.000-07:00

Tonight at 7:30pm ET Canada play Austria. From here on out they better play with everything they've got, especially balls! Canada have a lot of weapons, there is no reason why they can't take on and stand up to Austria, who will be one tough opponent. I heard one broadcaster say that, "we don't expect Canada to win the whole thing". Yes, we do! Everybody wants their particular country to win, it's all part of it, whether they will or not...at this point it's, almost, anybody's cup.

Darrin P commented on one of my posts that Canada are essentially greenhorns and that it takes time to develop a team. It's true, and tested, look at the U.S. side, thirteen years ago when they were greenhorns they hosted the World Cup, faced the best of the best in soccer boots, now look at them! Canada's U-20's are experiencing the best possible opponents in this competition and hosting The World, but I think we have to remember that the players themselves are far from greenhorns. 'Under-20' can be misleading. These so-called kids pretty much all play for top clubs, many of them are scouted at the ripe old age of 10 or younger. So yes, soccer itself is a greenhorn in this country but that's changing. My dad says it takes about thirty years to develop a great side, time and of course money. Over thirty years ago he came here from England as the first player-coach of the Toronto Metros. I'd say it's just about Canada's time to shine.

I'm also really excited about the Mexico vs Portugal game. I have always loved watching the Mexican national team, like Spain(which I'm so disappointed was not shown on CBC yesterday)and was really impressed with their U-20 side when they played Gambia. The new generation are a little different than their predecessors. I've got my eye on Giovanni Dos Santos and Javier Hernandez, strong players, both physically and mentally. And Portugal a real power house. This should be some game. I hope it's a steely ref or else look out for the red cards!

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

2007-07-04T20:40:00.000-07:00

Is it just me or is anyone else completely frustrated with the lack of coverage on the U-20 World Cup games. Finally, Canada hosts a brilliant soccer event - the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the calibre of talent on these teams, a World Class event and we only get to see one game a day!? Granted maybe I don't have the right cable package, satellite or the box, but if I did, would it make a difference? There were four unbelievable matches yesterday, one was shown on CBC last night at 11pm, taped. Tonight the same thing, 4 matches, and an 11pm taped version of the Japan vs Costa Rica game. And an interesting match-up it was.

Also, I'm astonished that the U.S. team's brilliant win over Poland received little to no coverage on the U.S. stations. Haven't we been waiting for something entertaining, dramatic and spellbinding to occupy our television screens throughout this sports dryspell. Baseball can't satisfy all our cravings as we wait for the arrival of the NFL season, mourn the anticlimatic end to the NBA, the NHL and the Triple Crown! How lucky we are that we have a brilliant soccer event happening on our soil and the media is letting us down. No wonder the beautiful game has had such trouble taking off in this country! The fans are out there - feed us!

So Long, Farewell, Adu

2007-07-04T07:14:00.000-07:00

Wow, now that the first game jitters in the U-20 World Cup are out of the way, the cream of the crop are unabashedly rising to the top! Brazil and Korea Republic played a world-class game against each other. I was on the edge of my seat throughout most it. Brazil started a little sloppy but with the end of the plank in sight, knowing they needed a win, they rose to the occasion. What skill these players exhibited on both sides. I think there was only one kid on Brazil's side that was marginal, but 10 out of 11 is quite something. Aside from the highly touted Pato - or the duck - I really like the looks of Amarol, Marcelo and Roberto. Pato wasn't living up to his hype in the first half, but he more than made up for it the minute the second half whistle blew. I think Brazil have found their stride, but Korea Republic are a force to be reckoned with. This is an exciting group.

I didn't see either of the high scoring games. Very frustrating that out of all the stellar games played yesterday only 1 was shown on CBC. Argentina beat Panama 6-0, and the USA, wow, a 6-1 win over Poland. Poland must have been flabbergasted coming off a win against Brazil! USA have built some national team over the last decade and if they have youth players like this, whoa!They could be one of the new power houses. Freddy Adu is something else - I think he'll even keep the spotlight off of Beckham for a while!!

The Kids are Alright

2007-07-03T08:10:00.000-07:00

I was a little overwhelmed yesterday with three games in U-20 World Cup. It was so exciting. What I love so much about this is watching the new generation of players. For years I've been watching and have become very attached to the old school.

It's like following college football and basketball. You have the opportunity to pick out the stars of the future. I've followed the likes of Peyton Manning from college to the Superbowl. By the second round of this tournament individual players will start to identify themselves. Right now I'm watching the teams as a whole. I love that Portugal exhibited the calibre and finesse of their superiors, their role models. They were cut right from that mold, little Figo's and Nuno Gomez's, et al. They looked very strong, a little too strong for the inexperienced New Zealand. New Zealand show a lot of potential though. I think it's good that they started with such a tough opponent as Portugal.

More later, especially on the Mexico and Gambia game!!

Postcards

2007-07-01T17:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, perhaps this is not the tournament where the postcards will arrive home before the Scottish players. The Japanese, like the Chileans and the Argentinians play like small dogs run - fast and close to the ground. All lower body, excellent ball control, speed, agility. Scotland and Canada appear gangly and awkward next to their opponents. Is it all physique effecting these games? Of course not. Part physique, part mentality, part passion and culture. What I love about World Cup soccer is all that; how a country's traits are representative in their players. Each player has their individual characteristics, skills, but the overall country's can be seen in its team. Scotland like Canada has a team full of skilled players, like England's internationals,(not its youth team), packed full of stars, pros, but when you lump them together, they can't seem to pull off the grand win. Is it representative of the country? Am I getting political? No. Just an observation.

Off to the second half of the Canada vs Chile game. I think Canada needs to stop thinking so hard and play with their hearts, like the Chileans; their passion and drive is channeled through those speedy feet, just where it should be, an eye on the goal helps too!

The future of soccer

2007-07-01T14:08:00.000-07:00

I'm about to sit down and watch Scotland play Japan in the FIFA U-20 World Cup. These kids are the next Gaza's, Beckham's, Batistuta's, Zidane's etc. Of course, these teenagers are far from amateurs at this stage in their game. It's exciting that the whole thing is taking place in Canada. In jest, or not, my dad Graham Leggat says that in international play Scotland always make it home before their postcards. He should know, he used to play for Scotland! This tourney might be different, we'll see how they perform against the always-exciting-to-watch Japanese.

Can't miss the kickoff!

Later.