The ‘Directory of wonderful things,’ Boing Boing reported over the weekend that they had received a letter from Baker & McKenzie LLP of London, the world’s biggest law firm, informing them that their client, Infront Sports & Media, “anticipates the possibility of unauthorized streaming and downloading of FIFA World Cup matches.” Presumably from Boing Boing. No wrong doing yet, just a precautionary measure.
Category: Soccer Business
Hungry for Soccer, Yet?
Lynne from the learn-english-network.org took this delicious photo. Are you hungry for soccer yet?
Ball History: Which Ones Have you Kicked?
I never have kicked a TELSTAR – I like its classical looks. Its the design I like the most-...
Bottomline: Soccer is for patsies according to Jim Reineking, Fox Sports
It was bound to happen. The rest of the world plays soccer because they do not have the physique...
Basil Fawlty makes peace with the Germans on the eve of the World Cup
In Episode 6 of Fawlty Towers, “The Germans” a clearly discombobulated Basil Fawlty goes around his staff imploring them...
Italian Serie scandal grows: More players questioned
Italian captain and Juventus players Fabio Cannavaro and French striker David Trezeguet were picked up for questioning by the...
Rooneywatch: The Roonster is back in training with both feet
Wayne Rooney’s rehab of his metatarsal fracture is going well. In fact, he might be in for England’s knockout...
Video Ad: Pepsi Sumo Soccer – Aaaargh
This one made me groan… Roberto Carlos and David Beckham actually agreed to do this?!
Where is the buzz out here on the biggest sporting event of the world?
I must be missing something. At least that’s the way I console myself when I look around and see...
The Eurocentric effect on soccer: Juju men are being marginalized
BF Skinner, the father of behavior pyschology studied the association between ritualistic behavior and a desired outcome that leads...
Cologne: The place to party at the World Cup
RhineEnergie Stadium- Cologne’s World Cup venue The NYT travel section has an article of where to base yourself in...
Double Dutch: Johan Neeskens tutors the Socceroos
Johan Neeskens, The Socceroos assistant coach Gus Hiddink is the coach of the Socceroos and his assistant coach is...
Video Ad: Maradona’s Nightmare
This ad is far superior to The Mastercard ad, Humberto. And funnier!
Video: The Life and Times of Kevin Keegan
In some ways, the brutal honesty of Kevin Keegan was responsible for both success and failure. He did things...
Video Ad: Mastercard & Carlitos
This is the Argentinian answer to Guarana Antartica’s “Maradona in a Brazil shirt” ad… The best player in Brazil...
Video Ad: U2’s ESPN Plug
One of my favorite ads to date: Not everything about the world cup is as uplifting. For example, cruzeiro...
Philips: “The Simple Game” – Not!
All I can say is why do they bother? This is the type of “agency-driven” advertising which does nothing...
WSJ: Nike versus Adidas
The Wall Street Journal picks up on the Adidas versus Nike battle for soccer supremacy. Stephanie Kang...
Adidas: humor in the workplace
The HR folk at adidas have a sense of humor. Here’s what they did for April Fools’ Day –...
Phorpa:The Tibetan version of the World Cup
It is not just Catholic priests who look to the World Cup to find their raison d’etre. But Tibetan...
Video: Thierry Henry – Loyalty is King
It’s not often that you see this kind of loyalty with this much money at stake. Arsenal vice-chairman David...
Finally, Finally, the NY Red Bulls get their win
On a day that Barry Bonds tied Babe Ruth’s record for home runs, an equally significant sporting moment was...
The degree of insularity in the national soccer squads: Italy worst, France best
Examine the rosters of the national squads of the countries that have the biggest drawing domestic leagues, the big...
Thierry Henry decides to stay: Arsenal can breathe again
Soccerblog called it by stating that Thierry Henry would stay with Arsenal and that getting to the League final...
Video: Racism against Samuel Eto’o in La Liga
Does Thierry Henry want to be subjected to this? As good a player as he is.
Arsenal’s sleepless nights begin: Is Thierry Henry coming back?
The Barca- Arsenal final was a less than fitting end to Thierry Henry’s career with Arsenal if that is...
Going Green at the World Cup
From a press release… At least they’re trying: As global excitement over the 2006 FIFA World Cup reaches fever...
Goleo goes Bankrupt
A German stuffed toy manufacturer that has exclusive rights to produce the official World Cup mascot — Goleo VI,...
Video: Pepsi in the Biergarten
Pass the Hähnchen ‘pon the left hand side… What was the agency thinking?
Escape to Victory: We’ve come a long way, USA!
Remember schmaltzy Escape to Victory. The soccer movie by John Huston with a beefed up Sly Stallone playing the...
India shops for a soccer coach: My advice, Go Dutch
Clarence Westerhof has joined a group of 10 other names being considered for coaching the Indian soccer squad. Westerhof...
South Africa WC 2010: Soccer’s role in ending Apartheid
We all recognize soccer for the beautiful game that it is. And for its power to unite a country...
The French name their 23 man squad
Djibril Cisse, Liverpool striker Raymond Domenech has solved the goalkeeper quandary by keeping Fabian Barthez as his first pick....
Vinnie Jones, soccer player grabs Gazza’s attention
One of the well known toughs in movies throughout the world. I saw his film debut in Lock, Stock,...
Jogo Feio: Fiat, Juventus & the Soccer Mafia
What’s going on in the Calcio? From the NY Times: Players and managers being threatened and blackmailed; numerous discussions...
Arsenal owners make Keith Olbermann’s worst person list
In the May 11th edition of MSNBC’s , Countdown with Keith Olbermann, Arsenal’s owners were mentioned in the Worst...
Movie Trailer: Once in a Lifetime
Back in the day. It was the New York Cosmos that brought soccer to America, leading with Pele –...
Free Tickets for Politicians…
“Sponsors are absolutely not allowed to grant advantages to public representatives, with whom they have possible official ties,” Karlsruhe...
Celebrity soccer ads – money down the drain?
Not even 10 percent of those surveyed could say that Ballack is a spokesman for sporting goods maker Adidas....
Adidas Grows Soccer Sales
From the WSJ: Adidas-Salomon AG of Germany raised its soccer-related sales outlook ahead of this year’s World Cup tournament,...
Video: A Better Ad from Nike
To counter Humberto’s low-brow ad in the previous post, here’s a far better ad from Nike:
Another Take on Van Nistelrooy
The Guardian: As always with Ferguson, his version of events differs from that of the player he is in...
Surprise – The Calcio is Corrupt
In “Forza Italia – A Journey in Search of Italy and Its Football,” published last week, the author Paddy...
Why is soccer good for you? Start your toddler early
In a study done by scientists at Louisiana State University published in Pedatric Physical Therapy (April 2006) it was...
Roger Daltrey: Rock legend and Arsenal fan closes out Highbury
Here is Roger Daltrey’s tribute to Highbury. Thierry Henry gets a mention. Highbury Highs – written by Roger Daltrey...
Juventus: The Serie champions have been getting by with a little help from friends
This could be a scene from one of those movies involving the Cosa Nostra. There is an investigation going...
David Moyes to the Socceroos: Tim Cahill is mine
With Wayne Rooney, it was a war of words with Sir Alex and Sven Goran. The lad was to...
EPL: Here is why a mid winter recess will never happen
Alright. Perish the thought. I was being naive about the FA looking into the long Premiership season and trying...
Only in Texas: “Name that Cannon”
The Texans can’t be without their guns, even at soccer games… FC Dallas General Manager Michael Hitchcock and Houston...
Gatorade Ad versus reality – videos
Here Gatorade takes us out to the ball-game in this cute advertisement: And here’s the reality: The beautiful game...
Its not the shoes, its not the pitches: The EPL season is far too long
I read with great interest the BBC article on metatarsal injuries, the current scourge of the English squad. A...
The physics of Rooney’s fracture: That’s a lot of weight
Rooney’s fracture of the fourth metatarsal, appears to have been caused by trauma. Most stress fractures occur in the...
Zico feeling the heat
Zico gets defensive (for the first time in his life): “I don’t think that it would be an abnormal...
Zico does a Scolari
Japan coach Zico on Thursday denied recent reports that said he was on the verge of inking a contract...