I'm a doctor, not a World Cup organizer

Just to get warmed up, take a look at this:



Sound familiar?

Now take a look here, where the CMO of FIFA should have stopped after saying these words. Here's the quote from FIFA health chief: Winter Qatar World Cup a must:

D’Hooghe said: “My position is very clear. From the medical point of view I think it will be better not to play during the hot summer months."

He's right of course. It's not good for the players to be exerting themselves in 50C (122F) heat. Only problem is that he started to dismiss that with the technical advances to the stadiums where players and fans could operate in "acceptable" temperatures.

It turned a bit ridiculous when he stated this:

“They will need to travel from venue to venue and I think it’s not a good idea for them to do that in temperatures of 47 degrees or more.”

I appreciate the concern, but somehow I don't see how exposure from air conditioned hotel via air conditioned car to air conditioned stadia is a risk. Even omit the air conditioned trip between hotel and stadia and you get some discomfort, yes, but hardly debilitating.

Michel D’Hooghe, Chair of the FIFA medical committee, who REALLY is a doctor, and seemingly a stand up guy, I believe mixed his professional and personal opinions on this one. If he kept it to a medical discussion, I am with him ... it's hot, we get it. But to stretch that logic into why the World Cup should be moved, if it genuinely does not pose a threat is another matter.

Then again, I'm an engineer, not a meteorologist.

"In principle" my arse

Qatar are in danger of having 2022 FIFA World Cup snatched from them with major pressure on FIFA

Pressure from Europe’s football elite — including the Premier League — as well as the concerns of powerful American TV interests, Qatar’s beaten rival bidders for 2022 and anti-corruption investigators could scupper the project to stage the world’s biggest football tournament in the small but oil-rich desert state.

It is virtually certain that football’s world governing body, FIFA, will announce early next month that the 2022 tournament cannot be staged in Qatar in the summer — as originally envisaged when the World Cup was awarded to the emirate three years ago — because of the dangerously high temperatures, which can reach 40 degrees centigrade. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of Fox News.

Kicking Back Comments: So in the article we see the mounting legal challenges to moving the World Cup to winter of 2022. Fox, Telemundo, EPL, and various bidding association are among them. It would seem clear that if the EX-CO takes the decision to move the Cup, all (legal) hell is going to break loose and FIFA could wind up losing substantial revenue as FOX paid $1BILLION ... for a tournament in the summer (when nothing else is going on in the US sports-wise). It suffices to say they have concerns about bumping into the NFL schedule in winter.

Now from the article we see yet another weak justification from Sepp:

Blatter appeared to attempt to claim last week that FIFA had the latitude to move the event at will, saying 2022 bids were made for a summer event ‘in principle’.

Of course the contracts to host the Cup do not say that, but reportedly actually state June and July in there, as any good contract would.

Sepp's pathetic explanation continues to lend credence to just how arrogant this empty suit is. A single handed belief that he can move a honored tournament that has been played in June and July since the 1930's, to another month.

Now, here is the other side of my mouth, and I loath to make Sepp's case, but ... what about countries like Qatar who can't reasonably host the tournament in that timeframe due to factors out of their control, like the weather. Should they be denied the opportunity to host?

I don't think so ... but this is an issue that should have been disclosed before the bidding even began.  

Know Thy Hot Spot - NFL Version

So for anyone who was watching the NE v NY (NFL) game on Thursday 12-SEP, you were treated to the following incident near the end of the game. Have a look.



We see Talib #31 from NE intercept a NY pass and jaunt to the sideline, in essence winning the game for NE. In the process we see Mangold #74, the center for NY roll over Tallib's legs out of bounds, a clear penalty.

The Side judge (#125) was right there and immediately threw the flag for the penalty. Perfect position, perfect call. Also, we see around :33 of the video, he even walks the "trouble maker" out of the "hot spot" to try to calm things down. Again, perfect.

It's no accident as #125 (a.k.a. Dr. Larid Hayes) knows The Game as he serves as the men's soccer coach at Orange Coast College.

Of course his nearly two decades and multiple Super Bowl appearances I'm sure had something to do with it too. I jest of course, but the result remains for me he handles this one just right. He knew the benches were a "hot spot", he got right in there and escorted the creator of the incident away. Perfect.

So what happened next, it looked somewhat out of control.

Well, there is a lesson in there too. As a referee we can prevent, prevent, prevent, but honestly sometimes if a players is bent on causing trouble, no amount of prevention can help. I think this was the case here. There were just too many angry bodies, and no way to get between them all. At that point, as most of the refereeing crew did, step back, and take good notes for later.

One thing I did find funny was the "yellow flag dace" that was going on. Aside from the initial flag, which as I stated was absolutely necessary and well done, I think the stuff after that was a bit much in how they were delivered. At :36 we see the referee launch one and side step away quickly. At :50 we see another one launch into the air from a skittering back judge (I think).

I'm not knocking the call, just the delivery of the flag. While I'd bet the rules of the game require the tossing of a flag for a penalty to take effect, throwing it into the 300 section of Gillette would seem to have no effect. That one is just me.

Finally, once again the media showed how silly they were by insinuating that Talib was "asking to be fouled" (my words) by how he got out of bounds. It was not over celebratory or showy, he hopped out of bounds, simple. To suggest that it is ok to be rolled in the back of the legs with the potential to cause a knee injury, even if this was a genuine taunt, which it was not, is just stupid.

I can only hope Brad Nessler (play-by-play) and  Mike Mayock (game analyst) get better as the season goes on, because they were mediocre at best on Thursday, with sprinkles of ridiculous.

Here is the complete crew from that game (source):
51 Carl Cheffers, Whittier, Calif., 14
96 Undrey Wash, Duncanville, Texas, 14
79 Kent Payne, Aurora, Colo., 10
100 Tom Symonette, Windermere, Fla., 10
21 Jeff Lamberth, The Woodlands, Texas, 12
125 Laird Hayes, Newport Beach, Calif., 19
30 Todd Prukop, Rancho Santa, Margarita, Calif., 5

To Boldly Go ...

I offer this thought to give us a sense of perspective.

Voyager I was launched in 1977, and has traveled approximately 11 BILLION miles since then, and is now leaving our solar system (hyper technically our heliosphere), into inter-stellar space (again hyper technically after passing through the Oort cloud). This marks the first human made object to do so in our history ... our complete history.

Traveling at about 38000 miles per hour, it will next come into contact with a star system in about 40,000 years.

Voyage II is right behind it at about 9 BILLION miles and take another 5 years or so to get out there.

Makes me feel a bit smaller ... and also awed at what we can accomplish as a species.


Embedded video from
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology

Maybe 13 is a lucky number after all

USMNT Moves Up To 13th In Latest FIFA World Rankings

FIFA's September world rankings were released this morning, and we found out that U.S. Soccer, after being ranked 19th just last month, jumped six more spots to 13th in the world. The Americans also were able to hold onto the top spot in CONCACAF. Mexico, second in the federation, fell one spot, and are now ranked 21st in the world. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of Deadspin.

Kicking Back Comments: FIFA Rankings can be found here.

Honestly, don't put too much stock into them. Brazil is currently 8th, and if you really think that the 7 teams ahead of them are not as good ... after seeing Brazil play a couple of nights ago ... think again.

Just read the article =)

Fox Sports' Simon Hill questions Sepp Blatter's Qatar confession and lambasts FIFA's flawed process

SO, what we all knew has finally been made official. Good old Uncle Sepp (Blatter) has admitted that handing the World Cup to Qatar was a "mistake." What took him so long?

What irks though, is Blatter's sheer audacity in trying to turn the tables on those who bid - in good faith - by claiming that the 2022 World Cup should now just switch from summer to winter to alleviate that mistake.

He's even attempted to shift the focus away from his moribund administration towards Europe (and for Europe, read England in particular, the nation whose press led the charge against FIFA largesse), by trying to suggest that a seasonal switch shouldn't be hijacked by "European self-interest." ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of Fox Sports.

Kicking Back Comments: Can I get an "amen" for Mr. Hill?

7th Time A Charm?

United States clinches place in 2014 FIFA World Cup

Thanks to their 2-0 win over Mexico and Panama drawing against Honduras, the United States has become the first team from CONCACAF to clinch their place in the 2014 World Cup. ...

See the whole story here, from SB Nation.

Kicking Back Comments: I was actually at the Brazil v. Portugal match when I was watching USA v. Mexico ... it was kind of surreal. What a great result to be going back to the World Cup a 7th time!

There are a series of excellent articles out there about the stories history between these two soccer teams. One in particular is USA vs. Mexico: A history of 'Dos a Cero' also from SB Nation. A worthy read.

A tremendous result, and one well earned to go back to the World Cup, now for a 7th time.

Will lucky 7 be a charm for the US?

A Whistle, a Punch, and a Soccer Referee Is Dead

Ricardo Portillo Update: Utah Teen Accused Of Killing Soccer Ref In Court

SALT LAKE CITY — A teenager charged with killing a Utah soccer referee because he didn't like the man's call during a game pleaded guilty Monday to a charge of homicide by assault in a case that brought new attention to the issue of violence and sportsmanship in athletics.

The plea deal was hashed out between the teen's attorneys and prosecutors as the judge planned to hear testimony to decide if the 17-year-old suspect would be tried in juvenile or adult court. Under the deal, prosecutors agreed to keep the case in juvenile court. ...

See the whole article here, courtesy of the HuffPo.

Kicking Back Comments: The title comes from the NYT article of same fame that can be found here. It was the best way I could think of to focus the mind on what happened here.

Here is another, this admitted murderers sentence is a maximum of just over 3 years.

Focused yet?

Biggest loser in this case is the Portillio family, who lost a husband and father. (see here for video)

Biggest chicken $h*t in this case is Patricia Cassell, ADA for Salt Lake County, on two levels.

First, is having the gall to say the plea deal struck is fair. Fair to who Patty? To the 17 year and 9 month old who killed an innocent man? Fair to the DA's office who took the easy way out and got a plea? Fair to the Portillio family somehow to (in my own words) "end their suffering?"

Second, is the DA's office going back on their statement they were going to have this admitted murderer tried as an adult. They took the easy way out and got the "quick win." Gotta make those numbers look good .. getting ready for the bench and all following in her husbands footsteps. Right?

Who really knows. Plea deals happen every day, all the time. Lets not forget however, it is a quid pro quo. In exchange for his guilty plea, the murderer has received only 3 years maximum. Granted the sentencing guidelines would call for only another 2 if tried as an adult, but for my money Patty, do the leg work, and get the additional 2 years. But it's so expensive to have a trial you say, tax payer dollars and all ... well then have the guts to say that to the press and Mr. Portillio's family when asked why juvenile court was the venue. Don't just shrug and say "... it would have only been another two years ..."

What amazing empathy from the ADA to the Portillio family.

Now I'll go out of my way to say that there is nothing improprietous on its face that seems to be going on here, it is however a stunning reversal for the DA for a serious crime.

Maybe I'm tainted because I expect the DA to prosecute the crime to the full extent of the law without short changing the investigative process in actually getting the necessary evidence to punish this person for what he did.

Maybe I am just so taken with the story of Matthew Cordle who killed a man, yet had the courage to admit what he did, even before he was charged, and accept his punishment for it. Punishment he deserves for killing a man.

No such honor in this case, from the criminal, or those who were responsible for prosecuting the crime.

There is one loose end however ... does US Soccer know, and is this killer now on a "no fly list" with them? I would hope a proactive lifetime ban is now in effect for this individual.

If not, shame on US Soccer.

But wait ... there's more ...

Fifa accused of ‘playing God’ by stopping 17-year-old Briton’s college education

FIFA has been accused of playing God after football’s world governing body used rules designed to prevent child trafficking to deny a 17-year-old British schoolboy the chance to take up a place on a college course – in Wiltshire.

To make matters worse, the boy’s family has concerns that the British government, while sympathetic to the their case and supportive, are reluctant to get actively involved because Fifa has a track record of suspending national associations when there has been ‘political interference’ in the football business of that nation. ...

See the whole article here, courtesy of Sporting Intelligence.

Kicking Back Comments: I have to admit, when I first read this I figured there was some clear crossed wire, or something else was going on, or was fabricated.

Yeah, not so much.

Take a look here at the decision from FIFA to keep a college kid from playing.

What is scary too is the discussion in the article about the retribution FIFA has taken on the FA in the past, and there is concern for the same in this case.

Honestly, I can actually sort of rationalize the large efforts like the racism board I ranted about yesterday. It can take time to move such a big ship. I get it.

This current situation is rather pathetic however. I mean come on, let the kid play. His folks are moving (back) in country and (in essence) not let a child play football is absurd ... even for FIFA.

For the good of the game they say ...

They could do so much if they actually wanted to

FIFA Task Force Against Racism and Discrimination to meet

The FIFA Task Force Against Racism and Discrimination will meet on Thursday 12 September, at the Home of FIFA in Zurich. The creation of the Task Force was announced by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter in early March, following a meeting of the FIFA Strategic Committee, as part of a series of measures to tackle the pressing issue of racism and discrimination in football. ...

See the rest of this propaganda drivel article here, courtesy of FIFA.

Kicking Back comments: At least there were some pictures attached to the article that looked like they were actually doing something. There's some progress on racism, eh FIFA.

All the pictures are pretty dar n pathetic, this one is my favorite however:

Photo Copyright Foto-net and FIFA (source)

So much for Mr. Nice Guy

Special Report: Qatar 2022 – A crisis of FIFA’s own making

France Football's Philippe Auclair is bringing us a three-part special report into Qatar's controversial hosting of the 2022 World Cup. In part one, he looks at how FIFA found itself in such a mess, and how Sepp Blatter has potentially opened up a huge rupture in the global game. Parts two and three will be published on Thursday and Friday.

Two years and nine months after FIFA’s Executive Committee awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar in perplexing circumstances, the uncertainty lingers: no one knows for sure what lies on that horizon, which could yet prove to be a mirage.

Sepp Blatter, who masters double negatives with something of PG Wodehouse’s virtuosity for similes and metaphors, did nothing to dispel the clouds that are gathering over the fate of that tournament when he spoke on the subject little over a week ago. ...

See part 1 of the story here, part 2 here, and part 3 here, courtesy of Yahoo! Sport.

Kicking Back Comments: I am suddenly becoming a fan of 2022 in Qatar.

It is wonderful to see FIFA implode right before my eyes, and characters like Blatter and Platini show their true hatred of the English Game.

Here are our leaders folks. How truly sad for The Game.

Failure is not an option here

The cyclist diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease who is inspiring others to ride

Viv Mackay is one of life’s joiners.

She is a member of numerous political and activist groups and used to be an active trade union official.

So it is not particularly surprising that her love of cycling led her to set up a cycling group, an event and, more recently, become an ambassador for women’s cycling.

And given her seemingly boundless energy, perhaps it isn’t surprising that she has done her best not to let Parkinson’s disease stop her from doing what she loves – cycling. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of Daily Echo.

Kicking Back Comments: When I was in NH the other week completing my training for the White Mountain Gran Fondo, I saw a mountain biker with one arm, churning out the miles.

It was staggering.

It is hard enough just going out and riding a bike when things are all working the way they should, but just imaging throwing in a serious medical condition on top of it and imagine how hard it gets.

Now, in addition to all of that, to become an advocate for the sport she loves just blows my mind.

Inspiration, thy name is Viv.

And if this one does not jerk at your heart strings ...

... you may want to check your pulse.

Inspiring sports story week continues with:

St. Charles 8th-Grader With Cerebral Palsy Scores His First Touchdown

The actions of the coaches, players and opposing team bring tears to more than one eye as a 13-year-old achieves his dream in scoring his first touchdown.

Eighth-grader Jack McGraw has dreamed of scoring a touchdown for his football team at Haines Middle School in St. Charles. His was a dream, however, that seemed unattainable. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of The Patch.

Kicking Back Comments: Inspiring indeed. We should always strive to be so kind.

Inspiring sports story week continues with this ...

Iranian Referee Gets a Long-Awaited Call: He’s In

Adel Borghei spent Saturday at the United States Open, inside Louis Armstrong Stadium, clad in the navy blue uniform of a referee. He wore sunglasses and made line calls and blended into the background, even if this was far from a normal day at work. ...

See the whole story here, from the NYT.

Kicking Back Comments: There are many, many kudos to go around here for so many to make this happen.

Of course I could rail about the lunacy of something so simple made so complex ... but I won't, as in keeping with the week, for Mr. Borghei to be "called up" and serve his sport, cutting through all the lunacy, is to me, an inspirational story.

With so much bad news out there recently ...

... let's try a week of some truly inspiring sports stuff.

I think it appropriate we begin with this:

Diana Nyad completes record-setting Cuba-to-Florida swim

American 64-year-old long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad today became the first person to swim across the Florida Straits from Cuba without a shark cage, succeeding on her fifth attempt at the feat.

Nyad came ashore about 1 p.m. Chicago time, 53 hours after she set off from Havana, completing the estimated 110-mile journey and setting a record for the longest ocean swim without a shark cage or flippers, according to her crew. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of the Chicago Tribune.

Kicking Back Comments: I recall first introducing this topic back in 2011 with "What a crock" where I take particular aim at the FIFA age restriction of 45 years.

This more than ever resonates with me as I turn 45 later this year.

That said, now is not the time for that particular discussion, just wait until December.

Now however is the time to celebrate, a truly inspiring moment in modern sports history.

She did have one comment among many that resonated with me ...
“There is, it looks like a solitary sport, but it’s a team," Nyad concluded.

Every feel that ay in the center circle waiting to start the game?

Congratulation to Ms. Nyad!

Apparently even other MLB pitches think Dempster was "bush league"

Baseball Players Don’t Have a Problem with A-Rod via an ESPN Poll

Last week Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz came to the defense of Alex Rodriguez in the wake of the Ryan Dempster plunking on Sunday Night Baseball. If an ESPN confidential player poll is to be believed, Ortiz isn’t alone in the pro-Rodriguez camp. ESPN the Magazine interviewed 36 current MLB pitchers anonymously and asked them if they wanted to bean A-Rod?

Their answer: 100 percent no. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of TheBigLead.com.

Kicking Back Comments: Hmmmm ... That's pretty compelling stuff actually.

There were a couple of other things that caught my eye from the actual survey results (from the above link to ESPN).

First, was this:
4. If the 211-game ban were put to a vote with players, what percentage would side with A-Rod?
Average answer: 43.6 percent

Staggeringly precise answer aside ... it is actually a pretty small number. Far smaller than I would have ever thought.

Second, was this one, which was illuminating:

8. What percentage of players do you think is still violating MLB's drug policy?
Average answer: 7.1 percent

Wow. Honestly, I think that one is scary as I interpret this one as "How many do you have actual knowledge of that are still violating the MLB policy ..."

If it is near 10% this is really a serious issue ...

But like the NFL and NBA, MLB just does not care I would opine.

Take a look at the whole ESPN survey, it does paint a picture, and one that is not good at all.

Upgrade Kudos

Congratulations to the following Massachusetts referees for their upgrade to Grade 7 (Referee 1st class):

Cara Pember, Watertown, Grade 7

Mohamed Fnine, Fitchburg, Grade 7

You make the call ... monsoon version.

Special thanks to Elie for bringing this one forward.

So ... what's the call?

Blatter: We may regret picking Brazil

Blatter: World Cup in Brazil could be mistake

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 17 (Xinhua) -- FIFA President Sepp Blatter said Wednesday it may have been a mistake to choose Brazil to host next year's World Cup.

His comments follow nationwide unrest during last month's Confederations Cup in which hundreds of thousands of Brazilians expressed anger that public money was being spent on stadiums instead of vital services like health, transport and education.

Blatter said he planned to raise his concerns with Brazil president Dilma Rousseff in September. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of Xinhuanet.

Kicking Back Comments: What is sadly hilarious are Sepp's comments. He is already laying blame at the feet of Brazil. Now I for one believe that there will be significant protests during the World Cup, and based on his comments, Sepp is going to lay it right at the feet of the Brazilian government.

He forgets to give the citizens some credit, as while yes, the Brazilian government bears some responsibility for inviting FIFA (and the IOC) into their homes, these organizations have some responsibility back to the citizens (not just their government) for allowing the privilege.

FIFA courts are going to have their hands full in 2014, and certainly well beyond any "ambush marketing."

Wait for it ...

FIFA to move 2022 WC from summer?

FIFA President Sepp Blatter expects his executive committee to decide soon that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be switched from summer.

Blatter told The Associated Press on Sunday that an Oct. 3-4 meeting in Zurich should approve the change, and begin consultation on the best time for Qatar to host the tournament.

''I would be very much surprised, more than surprised, if the ExCo will not accept the principle you cannot play in summer in Qatar,'' Blatter said in an interview on the sidelines of the annual charity football tournament in his home village. ''What will be following, this would be then decided later.'' ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of Fox Sports.

Kicking Back Comments: From even a neutral perspective (i.e. without regard to nationality), this is a joke as Qatar did not suddenly get really hot in summer. This leads me down the path of (a) FIFA is really, really dumb in not recognizing this fact, or (b) FIFA knew exactly this tournament was unsustainable in the summer and had designs to changes the dates all along to accommodate the bribes country that won the vote.

As a US national, this ticks me off as if this was really on the table, it should have been so up front for a level vote between Qatar and the US. Instead we get the FIFA ExCo strong-armed to vote in October in moving the World Cup. I have to believe it would have been a different result if everyone was honest upfront about what their intention was, or at least going in knowing a concession would need to be made for the heat.

Something tells me that the vote would have been very different had that been disclosed up front.