Comments on: My heart’s in Accra… if only the rest of my body were, too http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/06/22/my-hearts-in-accra-if-only-the-rest-of-my-body-were-too/ EthanZ's musings on Africa, media and international development Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:45:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Zerk http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/06/22/my-hearts-in-accra-if-only-the-rest-of-my-body-were-too/comment-page-1/#comment-23365 Zerk Sat, 08 Jul 2006 18:41:56 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=852#comment-23365 It was a tuff loss for USA soccer. I was disappointed in the Ghana vs US game, but was pulling for Ghana vs. Brasil. I guess the reffing caught up with Ghana (NO RESPECT - same as USA). All of Brasil's goals were offsides. I still think the USA were the better side against Ghana -- even whilst playing poorly. The real problem with this cup is the FLOPPING and the REFFING. LEt the daggum players play football. All these side activities take away from the game. Refs should NOT be noticed in the game. They are there merely to make sure the game is played within certain parameters. Blame it on pitiful FIFA for trying to be cute and change the reffing rules right before the cup. Great idea, DISASTER in practice. This cup was by far the biggest FARCE I have ever seen. Flat out pathetic display by the world body on many counts. Certain refs should be nominated as MVP for many teams. It was a tuff loss for USA soccer. I was disappointed in the Ghana vs US game, but was pulling for Ghana vs. Brasil. I guess the reffing caught up with Ghana (NO RESPECT – same as USA). All of Brasil’s goals were offsides. I still think the USA were the better side against Ghana — even whilst playing poorly. The real problem with this cup is the FLOPPING and the REFFING. LEt the daggum players play football. All these side activities take away from the game. Refs should NOT be noticed in the game. They are there merely to make sure the game is played within certain parameters. Blame it on pitiful FIFA for trying to be cute and change the reffing rules right before the cup. Great idea, DISASTER in practice. This cup was by far the biggest FARCE I have ever seen. Flat out pathetic display by the world body on many counts. Certain refs should be nominated as MVP for many teams.

]]> By: charlie http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/06/22/my-hearts-in-accra-if-only-the-rest-of-my-body-were-too/comment-page-1/#comment-20927 charlie Sun, 25 Jun 2006 12:14:24 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=852#comment-20927 ethan, i too have been thiking of you as ghana proceeds to the next stage. as someone who bleeds green and yellow, i look forward to seeing the amazing ghana team meet my brasil. i've always admired the african teams - nigeria, cameroon, cote d'ivoire, and now ghana. indeed, everyone is suprised it took ghana so long to reach the cup, seeing as they are considred one of the top teams in africa. and i am sad cote d'ivoire didn't make it through. i think the internatinalization of football is raising the level of play globally, but the traditional powerhouses still keep churning out amazing teams, as witnessed by the usual suspects moving to the second round (argentina, italy, germany, brasil). the argentina-mexico game was a great match (more than i expected), but there are not as many hot matches this round as the ghana-brasil will be. you in the berkshires and me in suburban helsinki will be watching matches played in germany by our favorite teams ghana and brasil. we'll be united with millions of our fellow 'countryfolk' across the globe who share our passion. i'll be sitting right 'beside' you in cheering for a win. talk to you later. tchau, charlie ps incidentally, i visited your site today for random tid-bits on accra nightlife for a story i am writing only to see you wax poetic and partriotic on football. funny guy. ethan,

i too have been thiking of you as ghana proceeds to the next stage. as someone who bleeds green and yellow, i look forward to seeing the amazing ghana team meet my brasil.

i’ve always admired the african teams – nigeria, cameroon, cote d’ivoire, and now ghana. indeed, everyone is suprised it took ghana so long to reach the cup, seeing as they are considred one of the top teams in africa. and i am sad cote d’ivoire didn’t make it through.

i think the internatinalization of football is raising the level of play globally, but the traditional powerhouses still keep churning out amazing teams, as witnessed by the usual suspects moving to the second round (argentina, italy, germany, brasil).

the argentina-mexico game was a great match (more than i expected), but there are not as many hot matches this round as the ghana-brasil will be.

you in the berkshires and me in suburban helsinki will be watching matches played in germany by our favorite teams ghana and brasil. we’ll be united with millions of our fellow ‘countryfolk’ across the globe who share our passion. i’ll be sitting right ‘beside’ you in cheering for a win.

talk to you later.

tchau,

charlie

ps incidentally, i visited your site today for random tid-bits on accra nightlife for a story i am writing only to see you wax poetic and partriotic on football. funny guy.

]]> By: Akwe http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/06/22/my-hearts-in-accra-if-only-the-rest-of-my-body-were-too/comment-page-1/#comment-20879 Akwe Sun, 25 Jun 2006 05:38:52 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=852#comment-20879 ok, we may think we're happy but our joy is a limp whimper compared to the lady encountered in Accra by journalist Kwaku Sekyi Addo who simply screamed: "I want to have Stephen Appiah's child!" ok, we may think we’re happy but our joy is a limp whimper compared to the lady encountered in Accra by journalist Kwaku Sekyi Addo who simply screamed: “I want to have Stephen Appiah’s child!”

]]> By: tom leverett http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/06/22/my-hearts-in-accra-if-only-the-rest-of-my-body-were-too/comment-page-1/#comment-20411 tom leverett Sat, 24 Jun 2006 03:32:10 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=852#comment-20411 Kate- it was Cameroon. Might have been a couple of world cups ago.... Kate- it was Cameroon. Might have been a couple of world cups ago….

]]> By: Adrian http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/06/22/my-hearts-in-accra-if-only-the-rest-of-my-body-were-too/comment-page-1/#comment-20315 Adrian Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:18:33 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=852#comment-20315 Oh I'm not saying that the US was robbed unfairly. The way they played I was amazed that they were even in the game. The entire World Cup, Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson and McBride (and, for as long as he was out there, Pablo Mastroeni) looked like the only players who cared about winning. But Reyna giving the ball away on a play during which he's injured (even though I agree it probably wasn't a foul, incidental contact) and then Ghana winning a penalty on a bad call (the players size is irrelevant if there's no real conctact) doesn't translate into Ghana "outplaying" the US. Even with the US lackluster performance and Bruce Arena's tactical idiocy, the US still looked like Ghana's equal. Neither side deserved to win that game - the US because of a lack of effort, and, in my mind, Ghana because of their style of play. For a team touted as "Africa's Brazil," diving and fouling their way to the group stages left me with a bad taste in my mouth both as a US fan as as a spectator of the sport. Oh I’m not saying that the US was robbed unfairly. The way they played I was amazed that they were even in the game. The entire World Cup, Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson and McBride (and, for as long as he was out there, Pablo Mastroeni) looked like the only players who cared about winning. But Reyna giving the ball away on a play during which he’s injured (even though I agree it probably wasn’t a foul, incidental contact) and then Ghana winning a penalty on a bad call (the players size is irrelevant if there’s no real conctact) doesn’t translate into Ghana “outplaying” the US. Even with the US lackluster performance and Bruce Arena’s tactical idiocy, the US still looked like Ghana’s equal. Neither side deserved to win that game – the US because of a lack of effort, and, in my mind, Ghana because of their style of play. For a team touted as “Africa’s Brazil,” diving and fouling their way to the group stages left me with a bad taste in my mouth both as a US fan as as a spectator of the sport.

]]> By: Ethan http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/06/22/my-hearts-in-accra-if-only-the-rest-of-my-body-were-too/comment-page-1/#comment-20312 Ethan Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:05:18 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=852#comment-20312 Adrian - I wonder if we were watching the same match? Dramani took the ball from Reyna on a tough but fair challenge and beat a terrific keeper one on one. I agree that Gootch's foul on Pimpong shouldn't have been called and that the PK was a horrible error by the ref... but would you concede that a 100kg defender challenging a 70kg striker in the air might actually put the smaller man on the ground? My two teams in the cup were the US and Ghana, reflecting the only two nations where I've ever resided, and the two countries closest to my heart. I thought the US played with passion and grit against Italy... they disappointed me against Ghana and the Czechs. Yes, Ghana outplayed the US. Yes, it involved some dramatics and more than a little fouling. Yes, I hate the flop and cry school of football roughly as much as you do... but the US has to take more than a little responsibility for this loss. Adrian – I wonder if we were watching the same match? Dramani took the ball from Reyna on a tough but fair challenge and beat a terrific keeper one on one. I agree that Gootch’s foul on Pimpong shouldn’t have been called and that the PK was a horrible error by the ref… but would you concede that a 100kg defender challenging a 70kg striker in the air might actually put the smaller man on the ground?

My two teams in the cup were the US and Ghana, reflecting the only two nations where I’ve ever resided, and the two countries closest to my heart. I thought the US played with passion and grit against Italy… they disappointed me against Ghana and the Czechs.

Yes, Ghana outplayed the US. Yes, it involved some dramatics and more than a little fouling. Yes, I hate the flop and cry school of football roughly as much as you do… but the US has to take more than a little responsibility for this loss.

]]> By: Adrian http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/06/22/my-hearts-in-accra-if-only-the-rest-of-my-body-were-too/comment-page-1/#comment-20305 Adrian Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:51:48 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=852#comment-20305 To moderate my comment above, let me add that I still admire Essien, Muntari and Appiah, as they are very good players, who didn't play negatively as Pimpong, Boateng, Dramani, and the less-skilled Ghanaian players did. To moderate my comment above, let me add that I still admire Essien, Muntari and Appiah, as they are very good players, who didn’t play negatively as Pimpong, Boateng, Dramani, and the less-skilled Ghanaian players did.

]]> By: Adrian http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/06/22/my-hearts-in-accra-if-only-the-rest-of-my-body-were-too/comment-page-1/#comment-20297 Adrian Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:23:18 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=852#comment-20297 Ghana outplayed the US??? Their first goal came from an out-of-position Reyna falling down and handing Ghana the ball and a 1v1 on the keeper. Their second goal came from a blatant and cynical dive, when Pimpong went down after minimal body-contact, clutching his foot. Instead of a yellow card for diving, he won a penalty. In any other sport that is considered cheating. Ghana out-fouled the US 32-16, received four yellows to the US's one, and spent the entire second half diving and crying to the ref, fitting, as most of their good players (other than Essien) have played or currently play in Italy. I WAS going to root for Ghana if the US didn't make it out of the group. After that display, though, not a chance. Right now, they top my anger list, second only to Bruce Arena, that tactical genius. Ghana outplayed the US??? Their first goal came from an out-of-position Reyna falling down and handing Ghana the ball and a 1v1 on the keeper. Their second goal came from a blatant and cynical dive, when Pimpong went down after minimal body-contact, clutching his foot. Instead of a yellow card for diving, he won a penalty. In any other sport that is considered cheating.

Ghana out-fouled the US 32-16, received four yellows to the US’s one, and spent the entire second half diving and crying to the ref, fitting, as most of their good players (other than Essien) have played or currently play in Italy.

I WAS going to root for Ghana if the US didn’t make it out of the group. After that display, though, not a chance. Right now, they top my anger list, second only to Bruce Arena, that tactical genius.

]]> By: Black River Eagle http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/06/22/my-hearts-in-accra-if-only-the-rest-of-my-body-were-too/comment-page-1/#comment-20296 Black River Eagle Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:12:51 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=852#comment-20296 I knew that you would be ecstatic about Ghana's win yesterday Ethan. In our local pub here in Germany there was a mixed crowd of U.S. fans, Ghana fans, Iranians, Czechs, Italians...and of course Germans. At the end of the match we were all excited that Ghana won and although I cheered my hometown team (U.S.A.) throughout, I let the Ghana fans know we were absolutely delighted to see them go through to the next round. After all, who in their right mind would want to face Brazil in the WM 2006 Achtelfinale? Certain death! P.S. I'm cheering hard for Ecuador to advance to the quarterfinals and beyond, despite their crushing defeat by Germany. Ecuador is the team to watch at the FIFA WM 2006 and I believe they can stop Brasil if they can clobber England on Sunday. Tunisia just bit the dust against Ukraine (0-1) and Spain is leading the Saudis 1-0. Can tiny Togo send the French team packing tonight at 9.00 and will South Korea stop the Swiss? Talk about upsets! What a nailbiter this World Cup has been. BTW: The beer is great over here and the Germans have simply outdone themselves as a host nation. They've recovered there national pride again after 61 years in the lost-and-found. Tor! Tor! Tor! Viva Ecuador! Go Go Go Ghana! I knew that you would be ecstatic about Ghana’s win yesterday Ethan. In our local pub here in Germany there was a mixed crowd of U.S. fans, Ghana fans, Iranians, Czechs, Italians…and of course Germans. At the end of the match we were all excited that Ghana won and although I cheered my hometown team (U.S.A.) throughout, I let the Ghana fans know we were absolutely delighted to see them go through to the next round. After all, who in their right mind would want to face Brazil in the WM 2006 Achtelfinale? Certain death!

P.S. I’m cheering hard for Ecuador to advance to the quarterfinals and beyond, despite their crushing defeat by Germany. Ecuador is the team to watch at the FIFA WM 2006 and I believe they can stop Brasil if they can clobber England on Sunday. Tunisia just bit the dust against Ukraine (0-1) and Spain is leading the Saudis 1-0. Can tiny Togo send the French team packing tonight at 9.00 and will South Korea stop the Swiss? Talk about upsets! What a nailbiter this World Cup has been. BTW: The beer is great over here and the Germans have simply outdone themselves as a host nation. They’ve recovered there national pride again after 61 years in the lost-and-found.

Tor! Tor! Tor! Viva Ecuador! Go Go Go Ghana!

]]> By: Tomas http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/06/22/my-hearts-in-accra-if-only-the-rest-of-my-body-were-too/comment-page-1/#comment-20222 Tomas Fri, 23 Jun 2006 08:15:06 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=852#comment-20222 Ethan, Last week, in our local pub, wearing my 2001-2002 yellow black stars outfit, I was also reminded of my time in accra, especially of the last time i wore that same t-shirt, as i ran through the streets of accra celebrating a Ghana U17's victory or something along those lines. Yesterday afternoon, watching Ghana, outplay the US, my thoughts echoed yours exactly. Oh, how happy it would make me to have watched that game in a chop-shop in osu, yelling, dancing, smiling and biting my nails with friends who appreciate the wonder that is the Black Stars :-) Luckily I live in a country where everyone is watching the world cup, even though we aren't qualified, and everyone seems to appreciate the lively, yet disciplined attacking midfield of the Ghanaians. I have to say, that on tuesday, I am likely to again be sitting at my local pub, wearing my Black Stars outfit, although this time most of my countrymen will likely be rooting for Brazil. cheers.... Ethan,

Last week, in our local pub, wearing my 2001-2002 yellow black stars outfit, I was also reminded of my time in accra, especially of the last time i wore that same t-shirt, as i ran through the streets of accra celebrating a Ghana U17′s victory or something along those lines.

Yesterday afternoon, watching Ghana, outplay the US, my thoughts echoed yours exactly. Oh, how happy it would make me to have watched that game in a chop-shop in osu, yelling, dancing, smiling and biting my nails with friends who appreciate the wonder that is the Black Stars :-)

Luckily I live in a country where everyone is watching the world cup, even though we aren’t qualified, and everyone seems to appreciate the lively, yet disciplined attacking midfield of the Ghanaians. I have to say, that on tuesday, I am likely to again be sitting at my local pub, wearing my Black Stars outfit, although this time most of my countrymen will likely be rooting for Brazil.

cheers….

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