MAKING SENSE OF THE SUAREZ AFFAIR
Unless one has gone to visit Mars, everyone on this planet would have known that the biggest news this past week was not Iraq, Syria, the South China Sea, Ukraine, the Indonesian presidential election or even the World Cup itself! All attention was focused on one man and one incident which is, of course, the alleged small punctures inflicted by Suarez's front teeth on Chiellini's shoulder during a soccer match; and the resultant lengthy 9-match, 4-month ban and a hefty fine.
There are at least three big unanswered questions that remained which still puzzle many people. I shall try to answer them so that we all can be at peace and the world can go back to normalcy.
Question 1: Why did Suarez bite a third time in an important World Cup match knowing full well that cameras were everywhere and watching his every move, especially having already served lengthy bans for two previous similar offences?
Is Suarez mad, sick or idiotic? No. He is perfectly sane and well, except that his response to fear, anger and frustration is a little different from us. When we are unable to control ourselves when provoked on the field, we may either kick at our opponent's shin, head-butt his nose or swing out an elbow. Suarez is different - he may bite. It's like a kind of reflex reaction, not a premeditated one. It may be noted that under similar situations, it is natural for animals, children and even women to bite. Suarez is not an animal and certainly not a woman, so his tendency to bite must be an inappropriate child-like response to provocation. I will leave to his psychologist the task of rectifying that.
Question 2: Why did FIFA hand out such heavy penalties, much more than for far more violent conduct on the field?
Biting is not normal behavior in an adult male and therefore not acceptable. It's not the degree of violence or intentionality that matters. The penalties meted out reflect the extent of shock, distaste and objection to such an act which is considered uncivilized.
Question 3: Why is there so much animosity by the media and other parties towards Suarez over the years, such that he appeared to be singled out for condemnation every time?
This is because there had been some jealousy about this man who grew up in a poor South American neighborhood and dared to become successful. There is some suspicion of cultural indignation by the Europeans when they are less successful despite having more privileged backgrounds. In short, he showed them up.
So, there you have it. Now, we can sleep tight tonight. But not for poor Suarez. I really feel for him!
Saturday 28 June 2014
Thursday 26 June 2014
MY FORGIVING TRIBUTE TO SUAREZ
Oh Luis, my dear Luis,
You're soccer's famous marquis.
Just when EPL started to bore,
You showed them how to score.
From poverty you had risen,
To the exclusivity of the chosen.
For paving the way for us all,
With the people, you stand tall.
But, with every bite you take,
And with every fall you fake,
You're only undoing your magic.
That would really be tragic.
So, let's just serve the ban
And learn the lesson if you can.
Restore the name of Suarez
Not marquis but football's prez!
Oh Luis, my dear Luis,
You're soccer's famous marquis.
Just when EPL started to bore,
You showed them how to score.
From poverty you had risen,
To the exclusivity of the chosen.
For paving the way for us all,
With the people, you stand tall.
But, with every bite you take,
And with every fall you fake,
You're only undoing your magic.
That would really be tragic.
So, let's just serve the ban
And learn the lesson if you can.
Restore the name of Suarez
Not marquis but football's prez!
Thursday 19 June 2014
WORLD CUP 2014 BRAZIL
FIRST REFLECTIONS
As Spain and their tiki-taka brand of soccer get totally discredited, as Portugal's ego gets punctured and flattened, as Brazil's non-samba game gets boring, as Argentina seems to lack self-belief, England seems stuck in perpetual mediocrity and stagnant in their predictability.
Yet, there are some bright sparks. Arjen Robben and van Persie are running circles around their opponents, France seems rejuvenated, Germany's teamwork is even better than before and Costa Rica is surprising us with such joy and fearlessness.
So far, these are my favorite World Cup moments:
FIRST REFLECTIONS
As Spain and their tiki-taka brand of soccer get totally discredited, as Portugal's ego gets punctured and flattened, as Brazil's non-samba game gets boring, as Argentina seems to lack self-belief, England seems stuck in perpetual mediocrity and stagnant in their predictability.
Yet, there are some bright sparks. Arjen Robben and van Persie are running circles around their opponents, France seems rejuvenated, Germany's teamwork is even better than before and Costa Rica is surprising us with such joy and fearlessness.
So far, these are my favorite World Cup moments:
1. Cahill's first-time volley goal against the Netherlands. So economical in action and so perfect.
2. Costa Rica's third goal against Uruguay when the striker instinctively placed the ball beyond the keeper's reach from an acute angle. Watching as the ball roll into the net is like watching a golf ball rolling into the hole!
3. Van Persie's diving header goal against Spain, whose action looks more like that of a whale splashing water on the ocean surface.
These are what beautiful soccer is all about.
Friday 6 June 2014
WHAT I HAVE LEARNT FROM ATHENA ORCHARD
"Love is rare, life is strange, nothing lasts and people change.”
ON HERSELF
British teenager Athena Orchard, of New Parks, Leicester, died on May 28 this year, having succumbed to osteosarcoma (a bone cancer) after a six-month illness. Unknown to her family, before she died, she had written her deepest thoughts at the back of a tall mirror laid against a wall in her room. Only discovered days after her death, her family was amazed at the 3,000-word message she had written intended as advice for them to live by. What it revealed was the mind of a spunky and optimistic spirit, wise and mature beyond her 13 years. So pure, so innocent and so idealistic!
As my personal tribute to her courage, wisdom and inspiring attitude, let me present a selection of her writing so that we can all learn from her.
ATHENA'S MAXIMS AND APHORISMS
ON LIFE
"Thank you for existing."
"The purpose of life is a life of purpose."
 |
| Athena - a fit and athletic boxer |
ATHENA'S MAXIMS AND APHORISMS
ON LIFE
"Thank you for existing."
"The purpose of life is a life of purpose."
"Every day is special, so make the most of it."
"You could get a life-ending illness tomorrow so make the most of every day".
"Life is only bad if you make it bad."
"Remember that life is full of ups and downs; without the downs the ups don't mean anything.”
"The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra."
"Never give up on something you can’t go a day without thinking about."
"People gonna hate you, rate you, break you, but how strong you stand, that’s what makes you… you!"
ON HAPPINESS
"Happiness depends upon ourselves."
"Maybe it's not about the happy ending, maybe it's about the story."
"You could get a life-ending illness tomorrow so make the most of every day".
"Life is only bad if you make it bad."
"Remember that life is full of ups and downs; without the downs the ups don't mean anything.”
"The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra."
"Never give up on something you can’t go a day without thinking about."
"People gonna hate you, rate you, break you, but how strong you stand, that’s what makes you… you!"
ON HAPPINESS
"Happiness is a direction, not a destination.”
"Be happy, be free, believe, forever young.”
"Be happy, be free, believe, forever young.”
"Happiness depends upon ourselves."
"Maybe it's not about the happy ending, maybe it's about the story."
ON LOVE
"Love is not about who you can see spending your future with, it's about who you can't see spending your life without.”
"Love is not about how much you say I love you – it’s about how much you can prove it’s true."
"Love is like the wind, you can feel it but you can't see it."
"If someone loves you then they wouldn't let you slip away no matter how hard the situation is.”
"I'm waiting to fall in love with someone I can open my heart to.”
"Love is not about who you can see spending your future with, it's about who you can't see spending your life without.”
"Love is not about how much you say I love you – it’s about how much you can prove it’s true."
"Love is like the wind, you can feel it but you can't see it."
"If someone loves you then they wouldn't let you slip away no matter how hard the situation is.”
"Love is like glass, looks so lovely, but it's easy to shatter.”
"Love is rare, life is strange, nothing lasts and people change.”
"Sometimes love hurts."
"Life is a game for everyone, but love is the only prize."
"Life is a game for everyone, but love is the only prize."
ON HERSELF
"You know my name, not my story.”
"You have heard what I've done, but not what I've been through.”
"You have heard what I've done, but not what I've been through.”
"Now I’m fighting myself. Baby I can feel your pain. Dreams are my reality. It hurts but it’s okay, I’m used to it."
"Don't be quick to judge me, you only see what I choose to show you... you don't know the truth."
"I just want to have fun and be happy without being judged."
"This is my life, not yours, don't worry about what I do."
"Only I can judge me."
"I just want to have fun and be happy without being judged."
"This is my life, not yours, don't worry about what I do."
"Only I can judge me."
"I want to be that girl who makes the bad days better and the one that makes you say my life has changed since I met her!"
"There's no need to cry because I know you'll be by my side."
"There's no need to cry because I know you'll be by my side."
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