Thierry Henry

Ireland today was a state of vitriol and anger. Well mostly that, but also combined with nationwide sadness and depression. Not a happy place today, I have to say. The reason is: Ireland last night lost to France 2-1 on aggregate, for World Cup qualifying, and therefore are not going to the World Cup, whereas France is. And its not that they lost, but the way they lost. It has been all over the news here in Ireland, but also probably France, maybe the UK and the rest of Europe as well. What happened was, France pretty much cheated to win. And the Ref didnt catch it. Theirry Henry, one of my favorite soccer players by the way, batted down a pass with his hand down to his feet, then passed over to Gallas for a wide open header and consequently the winning goal. Youtube it, youll see what Im talking about. Soccer is not Volleyball, or pattycakes, its called football for a reason, you're not allowed to use your hands. And here, in this situation, in probably the biggest and most important gamer either team has had in the last 1.5 years, the result was decided by a crystal clear rules violation. And now Ireland as a country is livid.

Heres the fascinating thing though, my insider perspective from the Republic: the Irish for some reason love suffering, and they are going to eat this shit up and hold on to it forever. Its how they do, they love to complain, and all Irish will completely admit it as well. A little bit of a background, the national soccer team has taken a beating over the last, oh, I dont know, maybe 4 years. Once highly favored within the country from 1990 to 2004 , the general public has fallen out with the team lately because of mismanagement, poor results, and what seems like the depletion of the decent talent they once possessed over the early part of the decade. They were not good anymore, playing terrible soccer, and missing out on qualifying for the last Worldcup and the last two European Cups. Thats 3 international tournaments in a row in which the Irish were outsiders looking in. And after a head coaching / manager debacle two years ago, this team was in complete shambles, and the nation lost interest. A majority of the team were young unknowns, and most of their best players were only maybe rated 'midranged' in the domestic leagues. No upper tier Lebron James or Peyton Mannings. It was mostly at best one or two Lamar Odom types, and then another few other 3rd line, off the bench type guys: the Jordan Farmars and Scotty Walkers. Then the rest were young and unproven. Basically you were not going to be intimidating any opponents with a team lead by one or two Odoms, and the rest utility guys.

They hired a new manager in 2008 though for the start of World Cup Qualifying; an Italian manager that spoke limited English, Giovanni Trapattoni. Personally, I think anyone name Giovanni is dead cool to begin with. Trapattoni was the former manager of the Italian National Team, along with powerhouse clubs Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus and Bayern Munich. Although he was old, 69 when he joined, he had a decent and proven track record, unlike the hopeless guy he replaced, local Dundalk boy Steve Staunton, who knew shit all about dick, figuratively speaking. He took this 2nd rate team, grooming and molding it to play a style to best suit its limited talent, and proceeded to go undefeated in World Cup Qualifying over the last year and half, finally earning a playoff against France for a spot in South Africa 2010. Along the way the Irish as a Nation started falling for the team again. They turned themselves into a hard working, nose to the grindstone, sum is greater than its parts (or any other cliche you can think of) type team, that no other country enjoyed playing against. And they hadn't lost. Not until this France match. So the country is understandably heartbroken and disgusted at the same time. They played well against France, a team with 3 times the talent the Irish had, and also a finalist in the last World Cup in Germany. They played so good, no one could argue that they did not deserved the win against a much better team on paper, this would probably even include any of the French press. But they still lost at the end of the day, in the worst way possible, complete controversy. Thierry Henry even felt bad, admitting to it, somewhat. Some, in an ode to Diego Maradonna, coined the whole thing 'the Hand of Frog'. He is now public enemy number #1. Personally I think, Dont hate the player, Dont hate the game, Dont even hate the coach... hate the Ref.

Even the Irish government got involved today, making calls to UEFA and FIFA, the governing bodies of Football within Europe, and Internationally, respectively. The Taoiseach (Gaelic Irish for the equivalent of Prime Minister, Head of Govermnent, pronounced TEE-shock. I know, dont get me started with pronounciations in Gaelic, its not logical, and definitely is not how I would of pronounced it) was desperately plea-ing for a replay. Deep down, the country, stuck in a terrible and debilitating recession, needed good news, needed something, anything to cheer about. The country needed a boost, and were relying on the Irish Soccer team to provide that, to provide unity, because to be honest there is nothing else to keep National pride up right now. Apart from a pretty good Rugby team at the moment, the overachieving soccer team potentially playing in the World Cup was the only other bright light they got. And it was taken away on an illegal ball slap.

It will be days, weeks, months, possibly years before the Irish will let this go. It hurt too much, and the Irish love wallowing in self woe. I was pretty devastate myself. Although I openly cheered against the Irish team when first got here, out of spite mostly, I did start slowly liking and then devoting myself to the team, especially once Trapattoni took over, theres just something about Italian accents, maybe. Also everyone loves the hard luck underdog. Surprisingly I didnt even watch the match though. I, instead, was in a photography studio taking pictures of a couple models. Umm, I guess Ill save that for another post..

Eva Mendes

So good... soo soo good. I had to share. People in Canada and US will not get this commercial.. so I share.. The moral of the story at the end of the day: Boys are silly.

Second post today! This never happens. There must be a blue moon tonight or something.

Best source for Canuck Nicknames

Marty started another email thread, dealing with the making up of cool nicknames for the Canucks. Apparently there was an article in the 24H Vancouver Newspaper which instigated it all. But did not want to reproduce the laziness of the common "Nazzy" "Kes" or "Big Bert". We wanted to come up with good ones.

Together he and I made up this list.

Daniel Mary Kate Sedin, Henrik Ashley Sedin - or is it the other way around?
Andrew Manta Raycroft - could of went Sting instead, but then there might be some confusion with the Police
Perry Mason Everybody Loves Raymond - it works so many ways.. but better both ways..
Aaron Rome if you want to - B52s! The song can play every time he hits! or scores.. or skates really fast..
No Shane No Gain O'Brien
Alexandre 'the Decent' Burrows or Alexandre 'the Not too shabby' Burrows
Kyle Wellwood you go out with me?
Tanner Plexi Glass
Ryan Coke Kesler - too bad there are no Jacks on this team.
Ryan Ginger Johnson - yes we are alcoholics. Im drinking Jameson as I type this. It keeps me so warm inside.
Alexander Edler on the Roof
Free Willie Mitchell - not because hes a whale, but there is one on his chest
Christian Don't Hassel the Ehrhoff - Michael Knight / Mitch Buchanan references never tire.
Sergei Shirokov Drops - the prescription is more shirokov drops
Sami Franken-Salo - because hes always stitched up
Jannik Marmaduke Hansen - the Great Dane
Roberto Hasta Luongo - its over, see ya later
Rick Rypiens Believe it or Not
Steve Slash and Bernier
Michael M40 Grabner
Darcy DH Hordichuk - How fitting?... In the line-up to hit only.
Mathieu 12 pack of Schnieder Wieners
Kevin Bacon Bieksa
Mikael Play it Again Sam-uelsson

Go Canucks Go!

Somtime when we touch..

This is the best ever... sounds exactly like my dad and everyone of my relatives, uncles, friends of family in front of living room with a magic mic karaoke. And by exactly I mean, spot on, same pitch exactly, right down to the the facial expressions on the high notes and to mumbly parts where you get lost between either not knowing the words well enough or just singing in a pinoy accent. Welcome to every party ever held at my house! Only flaw I saw, he didnt close his eyes enough while singing... but still, we are splitting hairs. Manny's score: 100 out of 100. This is my proudest post of all time.

Empire State of Mind

Lets chill with John Legend for a second..



Now are you thinking what Im thinking? Yeah I know! Thats a freakin dope jacket right? I love that Jacket. I want that Jacket. And the ever so lovely and completely perfect Alicia Keys singing in the background, too... to start off some World Series game 2, or whatever. South Bronx.. If you love it, Honks...

I was actually going to use Empire State of Mind as the soundtrack for that midnight video I did, cuz it rocks completely, totally and utterly. Walk around any NYC street with Empire State of Mind surrounding your ears, and its like a drug, it completely transforms the experience into something... better. Youll be hardpressed resisting the need to sway to the song. ESPECIALLY during Alicia's fabulously unreal chorus. She absolutely KILLS it in this song. I repeat, KILLS it. Kay Eye Double-L Es. Its a love song for the city at its simpliest; well done Mr. Zed and Ms. Keys. Well mostly Alicia. And she is perfect. Did I mention that? Well she is. Song of the Year.



However I wasnt listening to Jay Zed & Alicia at the time, I was listening to Passion Pit, so Passion Pit wins.

Too bad the Yankees had to be involved. I wouldnt of minded if it was the Mets...