Handball!

Earlier in the week, French footballer Thierry Henry committed a handball during a World Cup qualifying match against Ireland. This has sent the world of soccer into a huge uproar. Henry himself said it was handball, but it was the refs’ job to call it. The FAI (Football Association of Ireland) has complained about the integrity of soccer and the honesty of the game. Roy Keane, a hugely popular Irish soccer player came out and said that Ireland earned a shit call for a penalty kick against Georgia, which the FAI didn't dispute (as it was in their favor).
Personally, I am a fan of French Football, and my favorite player since I've began playing soccer is Thierry Henry. And I feel I may be a bit biased in saying that the entirety of the team (or even the country) shouldn't be punished on the actions of one man. Henry himself should be suspended from any meaningful international competition (I.E. the World Cup). I don't mean ban him from the World Cup, but make France advance past the group stages without their captain, as there is no meaningful international play between now and next summer.
I know my last post was about sportsmanship and being courteous to your opponent and Henry has clearly disgraced the game; but no more so that Argentine legend Diego Maradona (hand of god). If we argue to replay every game with any controversial call in soccer, we'd never advance to any level. As much as I hate to admit it, dives, intentional handballs, and dirty intentional fouls are a part of the game. It works disadvantageously around the board. I myself, a former goalkeeper, have caught shots behind the line that would've been goals, or tossed balls out of the goal before the ref could distinguish that they'd gone past the line. I played to win. "Winning isn't everything." No its not, but it sure feels a hell of a lot better than losing. Henry cheated. Yes, he is still my favorite player. He cheated. But soccer is constant. Soccer's set up doesn't allow for replay like basketball and football.
Roy Keane also commented on the poor defense of Ireland stating that they should be to blame for allowing Henry to get goal-side of them. In addition, allowing a ball to bounce uncontested in the penalty area, not to mention inside the 6-yard box. Also receiving criticism from the Irish footballer is Irish goalkeeper Shay Given who is supposed to attack and gather any ball inside of the 6-yard box. This is a painfully true statement coming from someone who has goalkeeper experience, though never on any high level.
In addition, the President of France and the Prime Minister of Ireland are agreeing to meet in Brussels to discuss the situation... You've got to be out of your mind!! I understand soccer is huge in Europe. I understand that very well. When 2 committees oversee the soccer in your area, (First FIFA, then UEFA) how can you really take it upon yourself as a politician to worry about sports. That's as absurd as Bush investigating steroids in baseball. It’s a sport. You are the most powerful person in your country; don't you have something better to do with your time?

Sportsmanship

This is my first blog, ever, and I felt like it'd be a good idea to talk about something that's been bothering me the past few days: sportsmanship. I was watching ESPN and they were talking about the leaders of the NCAA encouraging the handshake before and after games. They progressed to say that both the Oregon and Boise State quarterbacks were against it; and progressed further to say that Oklahoma State and Georgia were against it as well. These were two of the four biggest games this upcoming weekend, leaving out Oklahoma and Brigham Young, and Alabama and Virginia Tech. The Oklahoma State (Cowboys) coach was credited with saying something along the lines of "Given the intensity of the game against Georgia, I'm worried that a brawl may break out under the pre-game/post-game handshake." That's not a direct quote, its a paraphrase so excuse me if it's not perfect.
My comments on the whole thing are where is sportsmanship anymore? I play soccer regularly, and I've never had a problem helping a guy up or shaking hands. I understand frustrations or opponents being complete assholes, but it happens. You shake hands, walk of the field, no harm no foul.
Then you get great guys like LeGarrette Blount from Oregon who apparently got a foul remark from Boise State linebacker Byron Hout. This remark provoked Blount to forfeit the rest of the season in NCAA football. To top things off, Blount was a potential first round draft pick in the 2010 NFL draft.
I'm not saying that I've never wanted to violently retaliate another player for a dirty hit, a snide remark, or just an arrogant demeanor, I'm just saying if you can't distinguish between better judgement and realize that you need to chill and walk away you should probably not be a professional or a D-1 athlete.
This doesn't just pertain to football, but what about diving in professional soccer? If you would rather fake a fall than progress forth and rip through a defense and take a free kick, you are dumb.
Sportsmanship isn't something I'm great at, but look at it like this. They guy who you're playing is an asshole, he's a prick, he's arrogant, he's everything you hate in an opponent. Guess what, you have an opponent, which means you are still playing the game. Shake his hand, respect his play, because if all the assholes in sports left tomorrow, you'd be running down a field with no one passing you the ball, no defenders to break through. You'd be there all alone. So shake a dude's hand.