World Cup 2010 Blog: “Landon Donovan Red Carded By Photocopier” plus 9 more | ![]() |
- Landon Donovan Red Carded By Photocopier
- A Creatively Dutch World Cup Art Challenge
- World Cup Friendlies Recap: Everybody Sucks – Except Jong Tae-Se.
- They’re Going To South Africa!
- Daily Dose: May 25th, 2010.
- World Cup Moments: Gheorghe Hagi Scores From There, ‘94.
- World Cup 2010 National Anthems: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon.
- World Cup 2010 Video Demand Will Be Bigger Than Barack Obama
- David Beckham Practices His Shooting?
- World Cup 2010 Jerseys: South Korea
Landon Donovan Red Carded By Photocopier Posted: 26 May 2010 05:30 AM PDT The Nike World Cup advertising campaign has the big budget. The MTV World Cup campaign (if you can call it that) has all the weird. But the ESPN Sportscenter campaign seems to have the tone just right. Following on from that clever Jozy Altidore shirt-swap commercial, ESPN aired the above ad starring Landon Donovan during halftime of the USA vs Czech Republic pre-World Cup friendly. It’s Landon Donovan, presumably working in the Sportscenter office, receiving a yellow and then a red card from the photocopier. The first card is clearly for the Beckham vs Simeone in ‘98-esque kick, while the second seems to be for complaining. As with the Altidore ad, what I like most about this commercial isn’t just that it’s low budget, clever and funny (and reminds me a little of Terry Tate: Office Linebacker) it’s that ESPN doesn’t feel the need to spell out who Donovan is. Which means the ad is aimed squarely at people who are already fans, rather than pandering to the non soccer-savvy audience. If the rest of ESPN’s World Cup coverage is as good as the Sportscenter commercials, it will be like 2006 and Dave “Michael Beckham” O’Brien never even happened. |
A Creatively Dutch World Cup Art Challenge Posted: 26 May 2010 01:10 AM PDT A few days ago I posted a video on Nike’s Bloed Oranje ad, which preceded the Write The Future ad. I’ve watched the latter once, the first time, and thought it to be wonderful. I’ve watched the former upwards of twenty times. I might just go watch it again – be right back. So Nike are going creative with their World Cup Bloed Oranje push, and they’re having an art challenge to determine the best art which, predictably, bleeds oranje, with all five being put up at a Nike store in Amsterdam. Dutch World Cup art after the jump. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. (We love orange) I’m partial to the first, and lo, it’s leading the race. The website is in a great deal of detail and far more informative given you either speak Dutch or have mostly mastered the English language and can slay its closest linguistic neighbor, not to mention you can vote for your favorite. You can also see Rafael van der Vaart doing who the hell knows what. But one thing for which you don’t need Dutch is to realize…they’re awfully confident about winning this thing, aren’t they? [Spotted on Behance] |
World Cup Friendlies Recap: Everybody Sucks – Except Jong Tae-Se. Posted: 25 May 2010 11:10 PM PDT
Of course there are a few good reasons: fatigue with European seasons ending along with coaches trialing formations, bubble players and new pregame hype music. Still, nothing can make up for coming into the tournament on a rousing run of form. Quickies after the jump. Greece 2 – North Korea 2 Not much is known about North Korea as a whole, but plenty is known about Kawasaki Frontale’s prolific hit man, Jong Tae Se. That knowledge centers mostly around him being the business, and Greece got a first hand taste yesterday with two sublime goals on neutral soil in Austria. Geniunely, he’s legit. Greece also got two goals off set-pieces. Leave your stereotypes at the door. In fairness, Ireland is a World Cup caliber team, the game was played in Dublin and reports say Paraguay “dominated possession”. However, and it’s a huge however, these now leaves Paraguay at… Chile 2-1 L …in friendlies since qualification ended. Having sent this to NASA for analysis, they’ve returned with the verdict: 1-2-3 ain’t good. Particularly not when that one win came via a dodgy penalty – it would be suspicious, but nothing’s ever suspicious when North Korea is involved. Hooray for stereotypes. In other, blunt words: Paraguay needs to get its shit together. The good news is Lucas Barrios did score fresh off earning a passport, so there is hope. Nigeria 0 – Saudi Arabia 0, Georgia 0 – Cameroon 0 There are no highlights available as of yet, so you’ll just have to imagine the listless draws – one Lars Lagerback’s Nigeria debut – being played in your head. And…1…2…3…nap. US 2 – Czech Republic 4 (Better video if/when – and if someone could locate the time machine for the soundtrack, that’d be peaches.) Hey! Goals! The battle of the B teams, those of the US and Czechoslovakia, in the states didn’t go particularly well in the rematch from ‘06, but at least the US wasn’t on the wrong side of a Tomas Rosicky highlight. Connecticut hookers are another matter. Bob Bradley and Co. have declared they’ll name their 23 later today, but they may want to sleep on it another day or several. |
They’re Going To South Africa! Posted: 25 May 2010 09:46 PM PDT That’s not a Qantas plane – it’s the Socceroos Qantas plane. And it’s taking off for South Africa. That’s right: the very first team has taken off for South Africa 2010 (30 to follow), just hours ago. Is this a big deal? Not really. But it’s eminently cool and brings a little tingle where tingles shouldn’t be had. The World Cup is here. |
Posted: 25 May 2010 08:10 PM PDT All great things are born from flying beer bottles.
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World Cup Moments: Gheorghe Hagi Scores From There, ‘94. Posted: 25 May 2010 06:40 PM PDT Back at the ‘94 World Cup, Romania’s Gheorge Hagi was the bee’s knees. He was so good he was allowed to join that rarified group: players who’ve sidled up on each flank of El Clasico. Good throughout the tournament, but there was a moment, one singular moment, which reigns in the memories of all: that goal, from there. One has to believe it’s simply one of the more audacious attempts on goal in World Cup history. Only Hagi had the ability to put it into the back of the net, and he did. Thirty minutes into the opening game with Colombia already up by one, the ball was dropped off to Hagi on the left, seemingly a harmless position by most standards. Colombia’s keeper wasn’t carelessly out of position, and even if he were riding the far post like a fireman, the ball was dipping with such heavenly trajectory it would’ve been tipped into the under side of the bar, rolling the dice with the bounce. All of it mere yards from the left-hand touch. It’s hard to imagine a ball could be struck with more brilliance. |
World Cup 2010 National Anthems: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon. Posted: 25 May 2010 04:40 PM PDT The intermission is over, the lights have flickered and everyone’s back in their seats, wondering why the older, balder gentleman is making out with what looks suspiciously like a mail-order bride in the midst of the opera. No price too high for high class. We’ve been offering up on a platter the national anthems, those catchy little tunes you’ll hear before the game, of each and every group. Group D happened way back then, and with the breather for a £10 Diet Coke over, we’re onto Group E, featuring Netherlands, Cameroon, Japan and Denmark.
Netherlands – Het Wilhelmus (The William)This should do nicely for the purposes of Group E: some consider the Dutch anthem to be the oldest national anthem in the world, while others say it’s the Japanese. The Dutch anthem was written in 1574, many, many moons ago, and has remained since, earning official status in 1932. The confusion comes in that the lyrics of Japan’s anthem were written as a poem in the 9th century, but music was added much later. Depends on your standard, I suppose. The Dutch Royal House, as good a source as you’ll find, gives a very succinct assessment: “The Wilhelmus has 15 verses, the first letters of which together spell the name WILLEM VAN NASSOV (William of Nassau). Only the first and sixth verses are usually sung. The Wilhelmus was written during the Eighty Years' War as a tribute to Prince William I of Orange, the leader of the Dutch revolt against Spanish domination. The writer is generally considered to have been Philip van Marnix, Seigneur of Sint Aldegonde (ca. 1538-1598), secretary to the Prince.” The first and sixth verses: William of Nassau My shield and reliance Denmark National Anthem: Der er et yndigt land (”There is a lovely land”)Denmark are so musical they have two national anthems: Der er et yndigt land and Kong Kristian stod ved højen mast. However the latter is used primarily for royal outings – dinners, weddings, frolf, etc. – while Der er et yndigt land is used for your unholy gatherings, such as football. The words were penned in 1819 by Adam Oehlenschläger, who was a visionary hair stylist as well as lyricist, with music added 16 years later by Hans Ernst Krøyer. Like so many anthems, it’s much longer than what is normally heard or will be heard this summer. In the case of Denmark, it’s the first stanza and the last three lines of the fourth and final stanza: There is a lovely land Strong men and noble women still Japan National Anthem: Kimigayo (君が代)(These were the clearest lyrics which could be found.) For the lyrics being so old, a Waka poem written in the 9th century, Kimigayo is also so new – it was only passed as the official national anthem in 1999, even though music was added in 1880. It’s also awfully shorty, with the official Japanese a total of only 32 characters. It’s also a bit controversial since the slight, or once, ambiguity of Kimigayo’s actual translation refers to the reign of the Emperor and thus past military matters. When it was officially named the anthem, the Prime Minister tried to clear this up: “Kimi” indicates the Emperor, who is the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people, and whose position is derived from the consensus-based will of Japanese citizens, with whom sovereign power resides. And, the phrase “Kimigayo” indicates our State, Japan, which has the Emperor enthroned as the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people by the consensus-based will of Japanese citizens. And it is reasonable to take the lyric of Kimigayo to mean the wish for the lasting prosperity and peace of such country of ours.”. The translation: May your reign Cameroon National Anthem: Chant de Ralliement (The Rallying Song)Since Cameroon is bilingual, the lyrics for the French and English additions vary, which makes it awfully confusing when trying to make the direct translation. In addition to the multiple sets of lyrics, it’s also known as O Cameroon, Cradle of Our Forefathers. So really it’s one set of music for two sets of lyrics with one name. O Cameroon, Thou Cradle of our Fathers, From Shari, from where the Mungo meanders CHORUS: |
World Cup 2010 Video Demand Will Be Bigger Than Barack Obama Posted: 25 May 2010 03:10 PM PDT
Apparently the biggest video event so far has been Barack Obama’s inauguration as President of the United States. But according to Tom Leighton, Chief Scientist (great job title) at Web service company Akamai Technologies Inc., that record is about to fall:
Which actually makes a lot of sense. Obama’s inauguration was just one day, and was (theoretically) of interest to just one nation. The World Cup is a whole month, and though only 32 teams will compete, it will be of interest to every single nation on earth. Even Scotland (kidding, kidding). Think about all the media companies (BBC, ESPN etcetera) who will be streaming live games over the internet, all the not so legal streams that people will be watching at work and elsewhere and all the video highlights we’ll be viewing before, after and between games, and all of a sudden you start to wonder if the World Wide Web will actually make it through World Cup 2010 without melting. Maybe two months from now we’ll all be back to reading actual newspapers again. |
David Beckham Practices His Shooting? Posted: 25 May 2010 02:10 PM PDT David Beckham visited British troops in Afghanistan this past weekend, posing for pictures and generally proving once again that what he lacks in left foot, he makes up for as a first class football ambassador. However, if I was an England player heading to the World Cup, then somewhere in the back of my mind I’d be ever so slightly concerned that the above image of Becks with a machine gun is in some way related to the injured player’s as yet undefined role on England’s coaching staff in South Africa. |
World Cup 2010 Jerseys: South Korea Posted: 25 May 2010 12:10 PM PDT South Korea Home Shirt
I’m surely not the only person to look at these South Korea jerseys and ask: “What is that pattern all about?” I don’t have a 100% definitive answer, but think I have a good idea after reading the following on Nike’s product page:
Based on that description I think it’s safe to say that the pattern is tiger stripes, to represent South Korea’s Tigers of Asia nickname. So then the question becomes: Is this a good idea? The only other similar pattern I’ve seen is the one Will Ferrell wears as coach of The Tigers in the (surprisingly good) soccer movie Kicking & Screaming: I’m not 100% sure, but I think Nike and South Korea just about get away with it. Mostly because the tiger stripes are visible but much much more subtle than Will Ferrell’s. South Korea Away Shirt
The stripes are arguably an even riskier strategy on the white away jerseys. But again, they appear to be just subtle enough to work. At least in this light. But if the South Korean start bringing their own coffee machines to games and demanding that people fetch them juice-boxes, then we might have to revisit that assessment. |
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