Enjoy all goals from the Brazilian National Championship!

Make your comments if you like! This will enable me to continue attaching these links!

 Botafogo FC

 http://video.globo.com/Videos/Player/Esportes
/0,,GIM750039-7824-ASSISTA+AOS+GOLS+DESTA+QUINTAFE
IRA+PELA+RODADA+DO+BRASILEIRAO,00.html

Congratulations to Sao Paulo FC - 2007 Brazilian League Champions - 1st Division

Click on the link to watch the goals that led Sao Paulo to the title!

http://video.globo.com/Videos/Player/Esportes/
0,,GIM749462-7824-OS+GOLS+DE+SAO+PAULO+X+AMERICARN
+PELA+RODADA+DO+BRASILEIRAO,00.html

Feel free to make your comments!

Play soccer, be happy!

Brazil once again will be hosting the WC in 2014

I always believe that events like this can help a country’s tourism and exposure. Soccer has been a form of expression for Brazilians! Brazilians like to be identified with soccer!

The Brazilian national team’s jersey can be seen in different countries at the airports, parks, museums and on the streets.

People enjoy being recognized by their country’s sports achievements. It displays a sense of pride!

As far as safety, Brazil definitely needs to make public safety a priority for this event. It’s imperative that soccer fans and visitors have a piece of mind when arriving and staying in Brazil.

Many countries from the first world to lower scales have one or another type of violence. In various countries, including here in the United States people need to be careful when walking at night, talking to strangers, driving through certain neighborhoods, getting mugged on the street, and the list goes on and on. Apparently it happens everywhere! 

Sadly enough, safety has been an issue for Brazil for many years! However, safety at the Pan American games in Rio was very successful! Rio’s Governor asked for additional security from the Armed Forces (6 thousand) and the local police (2 thousand) on the streets and it looks like it worked.

According to a Brazilian news paper crime in Rio decreased substantially during the Pan American games, take a look at the statistics below:

• Robberies occurring inside public transportation (buses and trains) - (13.3%)

• Pocket picking on the streets – (10.8%)

• Traffic accidents due to negligence –  (11.8%)

 Should safety be a concern for the 2010 World Cup? What cities in the US would you compare to Brazil’s crime rate?

 Would you go to Brazil in 2010 to watch the world cup?

 I would like to hear from you with your comments!

 You may email me with your questions if you have plans to go to Brazil.

 Here is a video from Pele’s 50th birthday in Milan! Just click at the hyperlink below and enjoy!

This is a recent picture for illustration purposes only!

  http://video.globo.com/Videos/Player/Esportes/0,
,GIM748822-7824-EM+FESTA+DOS+ANOS+DE+PELE+EM+MILAO
,00.html

 Play soccer, be happy!

Worst corner kick in soccer history!!!

 Coritiba FC is in first place on the table!

This is not a joke! It actually happened!

This happened in the second division of the Brazilian Soccer Competition where Brazilian teams from all over Brazil play each other trying to get back in to first division.

The video you are about to watch is from a well known team from south of Brazil, called CORITIBA F.C.

This was the worst corner kick I’ve ever seen! See it for yourself and feel free to make your comments!

Please do not use foul language! Thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGTHELw88Ms<
/p>

Professional Soccer in the USA

Just few decades ago, more precisely over 35 years, soccer in the United States was not very popular. As matter of fact only it was mostly played by women.

In the 70’s Pele was introduced to the US soccer arena as a motivation for Americans to join the most popular sport in the world.

Needless to say that the “fever” only lasted until Pele retired from the Cosmos, consequently bankrupting the team forever.

That frustrated investment on Pele cost the investors almost $5 million dollars. It gave investors a great return while Pele was active.*

Soccer never took off the way Americans expected! There was very little interest in joining leagues in the 80’s.

I remember in the late 80’s when watching soccer on television was limited to men’s college games and in the 90’s a weak MLS competition.

I remember leaving in the northeast and not being able to find a single decent pick up game on the weekends.

Finally, I’ve met a friend who went to MIT University and we were able to play with other students (Americans and foreigners) on the weekends.

The question is: Is soccer ever going to be popular in the US?

We definitely need more support from the US Soccer Federation and MLS.

Buying foreign players for millions of dollars just give a temporary boost for people to play the sport and watch these soccer stars on television.

Since most of these players come to America to retire with 3 to 5 more years to play, soccer goes back into a relapse. Is it the true idea of bringing these players for the good of the sport, or a way to make a quick return on the investment as we see for Beckham?

This will never make soccer popular if we do not take it to the heart. We see many counties that play this beautiful game for fun! It must begin in the heart, then it will be a reality in this country.

*Pele's biography from the Cosmos archives.

Brazil has been performing well despite to what Brazilians expect. In Brazil, people always had high expectations for the national team.

It’s attributed to the fact that Brazil has been one of the countries that “export” players the most.

Talent also plays a big role! “Futebol”, in Portuguese is synonym of happiness, fun, after work event, weekend barbecue with friends and family. It’s embedded in the blood!

We have higher expectations from our players because we assume they should apply themselves more than an average player or just because they make millions of euros.

We mistakenly think that they are “perfect” neglecting to the fact that they are just as humans as we are.