ESPN 30 for 30: The Two Escobars

ESPN is often criticized for excessive self-promotion and being its own biggest fan.  I don't disagree.   However, one thing that ESPN should be beaming with pride about is its phenomenal documentary series, 30 for 30. 

ESPN premiered the first documentary of the series, Kings Ransom, back in October.  Since then, the network has received much deserved critical acclaim for many of the docs that have aired.  I've missed a few here and there, but definitely make an effort to view them all.  Some of my favorites have included:  Without Bias, The U, and the excrutiatingly painful to watch, Winning Time:  Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks.

Even with quite a few stories still to be told, The Two Escobars, premiering tonight on ESPN at 9pm/ET is being hailed as the best one yet.  Everyone that has had a chance to watch The Two Escobars raves about it, including Cannes and Tribeca Film Festival critics.

Directors Jeff Zimbalist and Michael Zimbalist retell the story of Columbian soccer player, Andres Escobar, his love for soccer and time spent representing the National Team during its 1994 World Cup run.  Simultaneously, the doc looks at one of the world's most notorious drug kingpins, Pablo Escobar, while ultimately drawing parallels between Andres and Pablo's gruesome murders.

Trust me, if you only watch one documentary from the 30 for 30 series, choose The Two Escobars. It airs tonight on ESPN at 9pm/ET!!  Let's face it, our society has a fascination/obsession with crime stories, whether real or fiction.  I guarantee, The Two Escobars will satisfy the hole left in your heart since the Sopranos finale.

Here's more info about the doc:

While rival drug cartels warred in the streets and the country’s murder rate climbed to highest in the world, the Colombian national soccer team set out to blaze a new image for their country. What followed was a mysteriously rapid rise to glory, as the team catapulted out of decades of obscurity to become one of the best teams in the world. Central to this success were two men named Escobar: Andrés, the captain and poster child of the National Team, and Pablo, the infamous drug baron who pioneered the phenomenon known in the underworld as “Narco-soccer.” But just when Colombia was expected to win the 1994 World Cup and transform its international image, the shocking murder of Andres Escobar dashed the hopes of a nation.

Through the glory and the tragedy, The Two Escobars daringly investigates the secret marriage of crime and sport, and uncovers the surprising connections between the murders of Andres and Pablo.

And, to my visual people, check out the trailer:

PUSH PLAY: 30 for 30:  The Two Escobars

World Cup, Bermuda Style!

 
I've really got to start doing a better job of booking my vacations.  If you recall, last year I was in South Africa when the NCAA Tournament was ramping up and not happy about it.

This year, I was in Bermuda for the first few days of the World Cup.  I quickly realized the overlap of events soon after I purchased my Bermuda ticket.  However, instead of feeling some type of way, I was actually pretty excited about experiencing the World Cup in another country.  Unlike NCAA Basketball, soccer/football really is the world's game.  Participating in the World Cup spirit with Bermudian locals was suddenly a good look.  The only tricky part was that my flight was scheduled to depart JFK on June 12th at 5:20pm ET.  This posed a conflict because the highly anticipated USA/England match was scheduled to be played on June 12th at 2:30pm ET.  There was NO WAY that I was going to miss any of that match.  If it meant getting to the airport 4 hours before my flight, then that's what must be done.

I'm going to summarize my World Cup viewing experience starting with the USA/England match through my stay in Bermuda.

On Saturday, June 12th @ 1:30pm, I arrived at JFK.  Going through security was a breeze.  I was done in 15 minutes.  Next order of business was finding a bar to watch the USA/England match, order a turkey burger with cheese, fries, and a Stella Artois.

There was a lovely restaurant with large flat screens and all, as soon as I passed through security.  However, my flight departed from Gate 43.  I kept it moving because I didn't want to rush to catch my flight after the game ended.  I finally stumbled across Soho Bistro, which was across the way from my Gate.  Perfect.  Or so I thought.  The first thing I noticed about Soho Bistro were the teeny tiny TVs. 

Sigh...you've got to be kidding me!  Oh, well no sense complaining, I chose door #2 and will make the best of my decision. Time to get ready for the match.  When I first sat down, there were about 7 others at the bar. As the match played out, the crowd grew larger and larger.  Eventually, it was standing room only.  A nice mix of USA and England fans.  You know how it ends....a 1-1 draw.  Not bad.  I check the time, we're boarding in 10 minutes.  Perfect timing.

Three hours later, I land in Bermuda.  Besides learning where to eat, the only thing I wanted to know was where's the best place to watch the World Cup matches.  I'm told that THE place to watch matches is at Clearwater Beach.  There's a large projection screen, a bar, and lots of people.  OK, sold!  I check the schedule to determine when I'll make my way to Clearwater Beach.  If I'm going to drag my friends with me, I want to make sure it's a compelling game.  Ummm...Drogba vs. Ronaldo on Tuesday?  Let's do it! 

Until then, I'll just catch the highlights or glimpses of the matches here and there. For example,  on Sunday, I decided that I was ok with catching the highlights.  But, I was in luck!  We ended up going to the Swizzle Inn for lunch and guess what...they're showing the matches!  Nice.  I don't mind if I do.

 

Throughout the island, tons of pubs hung flags outside of their establishments, much like they do in the US. 

The locals also repped their teams by hanging flags from their cars.

I wonder how schizophrenic this US/England fan was during last Saturday's match.

On Monday, it was more of the same. Here's a crew of people watching Italy/Paraguay in a pub at the Dockyard.

OK, Tuesday arrived.  It's time to venture to Clearwater Beach.  I was excited because after all, this was where EVERYONE would be....or so I thought.  We arrived and were the ONLY paying customers there!!! My first thought was, WTH!?!?! Is this is a setup?  Everyone there worked at the beach.  Whateva, man!  I pulled up a chair, my friends ordered drinks, and I made myself right at home.  This was the setup.

The picture wasn't all that clear, but after watching the USA/England match on that little screen at the airport, I wasn't complaining!  This was a much better deal.

Despite the small crowd, the few peeps on hand erupted when Drogba entered the game. 

See?  Empty...I asked them where all of the people were and they said at work.  Ohhhh, I see....that makes sense.  The match WAS on a Tuesday morning.  I'll buy that.

These soccer balls in the net made me feel that Clearwater Beach has the potential to be a soccer hangout.  It's definitely a spot for the locals, so I can dig it.  Overall,  I was glad we came.  I just wish more people were there to enjoy the action with us. 

In between matches, we relaxed on the beach, which was also empty, lol. 


On Wednesday, there was no World Cup watching for me.  We only had one more day to enjoy the island, work on our tan, shop and eat, and that's exactly what we did.  SportsCenter highlights sufficed.

But, we did stop to eat at a restaurant and they had a special World Cup Bar menu.

Yesterday, on our way back to the States, I spotted a crowd of folks enjoying the Argentina/South Korea match.  I wanted to stop and join them but I had a plane to catch.

Curious to know where I watched the USA/Slovenia match this morning?  In the comfort of my own home.

I had the best seat in the house.  Still can't believe the ref did us dirty.  I'm hoping Karma will make an appearance and things will work out as intended.  We're already off to a good start with the nil-nil draw between England and Algeria.  Team USA, we're still in this!

New York Times: How a (Dutch) Soccer Star is Made

We are less than one day away (about 21 hours to be exact) from the World Cup!!  For the next month, that's all anyone will discuss...well, not really.  There will be nonstop chatter about Lebron James and the rest of the free agents, offseason football, and Strasburg (if he continues to dominate), but you get my point.  The World Cup will dominate a lot of conversations for the next four weeks.  New talent will emerge.  Small nations will be put in the world's spotlight for the first time.  And, hopefully, Americans will fall in love with the sport that is loved so much around the world, even if it is short lived.

Over the past month, it's been difficult to avoid the growing buzz about the tournament and which stars to watch.  We all know that the popularity of soccer/football in the States pales in comparison to the rest of the world.  Have you ever given any thought as to why?  Or, furthermore, have you ever thought about the resources and dedication that are put toward developing world class soccer talent in countries outside of the great U.S. of A.?  

Michael Sokolove of The New York Times travelled to Amsterdam and visited the Ajax (pronounced EYE-ox) youth academy aka De Toekomst — The Future.  There, the Sokolove learned the ins and outs of Ajax (stop pronouncing it like the cleaner, lol!).  Ajax and other soccer academies around the world are similar to a big-league baseball team’s minor-league system — but one that reaches into early childhood.  Ajax starts training soccer stars as young as 7 years old through the age of 19. Two hundred promising soccer stars are invited to train at Ajax, the boys only club.  Hardly anyone turns down an invitation. 

Ajax's most notable graduate and accomplished Dutch player at the moment is Wesley Sneijder.  At 23, Real Madrid acquired him for 27 million euros.  He now stars for Inter Milan, the current Italian champion and the winner of this year's Champions League tournament. 

Last night, I read the full 10 page article on the New York Times website and recommend you do the same.   If you're uninterested in the development of soccer players overseas, but care about the development of young basketball or baseball players in the USA, you'll learn something by reading this article.  The article compared, contrasted and criticized the USA's approach to developing talent.

Below are a some highlights from the article.  In no way does it cover everything, but my hope is that you'll have a better appreciation, understanding, and respect for the care and diligence that youth academies like Ajax and others dedicate toward developing top talent.  I think you'll also be forced to question if the US way is the best way to develop athletes.  I was.  

Background of Ajax... 

The Ajax youth academy is not a boarding school. The players all live within a 35-mile radius of Amsterdam (some of them have moved into the area to attend the academy). Ajax operates a fleet of 20 buses to pick up the boys halfway through their school day and employs 15 teachers to tutor them when they arrive. Parents pay nothing except a nominal insurance fee of 12 euros a year, and the club covers the rest — salaries for 24 coaches, travel to tournaments, uniforms and gear for the players and all other costs associated with running a vast facility. Promising young players outside the Ajax catchment area usually attend academies run by other Dutch professional clubs, where the training is also free, as it is in much of the rest of the soccer-playing world for youths with pro potential. (The U.S., where the dominant model is “pay to play” — the better an athlete, the more money a parent shells out — is the outlier.)

Every year, some in each age group are told they cannot return the following year — they are said to have been “sent away” — and new prospects are enrolled in their place. And it is not just the children whose performances are assessed. Just before my second trip to Amsterdam in March, several longtime coaches were informed that they had not measured up and would be let go.

When the boys start at the youth academy they are attached to the ideal of Ajax, whose senior team packs in 50,000-plus fans for its home games and still occupies a mythic place in world soccer because of the innovative style it established in the 1960s — a quick-passing, position-shifting offensive attack that became known as Total Football.

Over time, though, the academy hardens them mentally as well as physically. I asked a player how he felt about his coach’s being fired. He shrugged. “The football world is a hard world,” he replied. “He has made the decision to send boys away. Now he knows how it feels.”

On the success of the academy... 

Late on afternoon in the cafe at De Toekomst, I was talking with a coach, Patrick Landru, who works with the academy’s youngest age groups, when he asked if he could take my writing pad for a moment. I handed it over, and he put down five names, then drew a bracket to their right. Outside the bracket, he wrote, “80 million euros.” The names represented five active “Ajax educated” players, as he called them, all of whom entered the academy as children, made it through without being sent away and emerged as world-class players. Eighty million euros (or even more) is what Ajax got in return for selling the rights to the players to other professional clubs. Once a team pays this one-time transfer fee, it then negotiates a new, often very large, contract with the player.

Wesley Sneijder, the first name on the list and probably the most accomplished young Dutch player at the moment was acquired for 27 million euros. The other four players named on my pad were, like Sneijder, highly paid pros for clubs outside the Netherlands and prominent members of the Dutch national team that will compete in the World Cup beginning this week in South Africa.

 On training- the schedules and culture...

During training sessions at Ajax, I rarely heard the boys’ loud voices or laughter or much of anything besides the thump of the ball and the instruction of coaches. It could seem grim, more like the grinding atmosphere of training for an individual sport — tennis, golf, gymnastics — than what you would expect in a typically boisterous team setting. But one element of the academy’s success is that the boys are not overplayed, so the hours at De Toekomst are all business. Through age 12, they train only three times a week and play one game on the weekend. “For the young ones, we think that’s enough,” Riekerink said when we talked in his office one day. “They have a private life, a family life. We don’t want to take that from them. When they are not with us, they play on the streets. They play with their friends. Sometimes that’s more important. They have the ball at their feet without anyone telling them what to do.”

By age 15, the boys are practicing five times a week. In all age groups, training largely consists of small-sided games and drills in which players line up in various configurations, move quickly and kick the ball very hard to each other at close range. In many practice settings in the U.S., this kind of activity would be a warm-up, just to get loose, with the coach paying scant attention and maybe talking on a cellphone or chatting with parents. 

On how Ajax compares to a traditional American development system... 

More than three million boys under age 18 play organized soccer in the U.S., but we have never produced a critical mass of elite performers to compete on equal terms with the world’s best.

Americans like to put together teams, even at the Pee Wee level, that are meant to win. The best soccer-playing nations build individual players, ones with superior technical skills who later come together on teams the U.S. struggles to beat. In a way, it is a reversal of type. Americans tend to think of Europeans as collectivists and themselves as individualists. But in sports, it is the opposite. The Europeans build up the assets of individual players. Americans underdevelop the individual, although most of the volunteers who coach at the youngest level would not be cognizant of that.

Americans place a higher value on competition than on practice, so the balance between games and practice in the U.S. is skewed when compared with the rest of the world.

No other nation has as comprehensive a college-sports system as exists here, and none assume that an elite athlete will seek (or benefit from) higher education. “You have a major problem in the ages of 17 to 21,” Huw Jennings, now the director of the youth academy at Fulham, in the English Premier League, told me when I visited him in London. “The N.C.A.A. system is the fault line. I understand that it is good for a person’s development to go to university, but it’s not the way the world develops players.”

On monitoring the boys' diets... 

I was in the office of Olav Versloot, the club’s chief exercise physiologist, when a 14-year-old knocked on his door, eager for the results of his latest body-fat measurement, which was too high the last time. Boys in their midteens are permitted to have up to 13 percent body fat; by 17, the measure is supposed to be down to 12 percent. (The younger players, who are almost always lean enough, are monitored more loosely.) “The first time limits are exceeded we are quite liberal,” Versloot told me. “Diet suggestions are made. But after that, we start a program with a dietitian. Parents are called in, and special exercise programs are started.”

On how to become a star...

There are two ways to become a world-class soccer player. One is to spend hours and hours in pickup games — in parks, streets, alleyways — on imperfect surfaces that, if mastered, can give a competitor an advantage when he finally graduates to groomed fields. This is the Brazilian way and also the model in much of the rest of South America, Central America and the soccer hotbeds of Africa. It is like baseball in the Dominican Republic. Children play all the time and on their own.

The other way is the Ajax method. Scientific training. Attention to detail. Time spent touching the ball rather than playing a mindless number of organized games.

The more thoughtful people involved in developing U.S. soccer talent know that we conform to neither model. We are a much larger nation, obviously, than the Netherlands. Our youth sports leagues, for the most part, are community-based and run by volunteers rather than professionals. They have grown organically, sending out tendrils that run deep and are difficult to uproot. Change at the elite levels is more possible than at the stubborn grass roots.

Efforts to change American soccer culture are largely occurring in the older age groups. Some of the most talented players are being extracted from a deeply flawed system, but only after they’ve been immersed in it for many years.

The academies of M.L.S. teams have begun to abandon the pay-for-play model and are bearing nearly all costs, including travel, for their players.

I'll be paying extra attention to the Netherlands team. They have a pretty easy group with Japan, Denmark and Cameroon, so they should advance to the next round with no problem.  


Like I said, these are just excerpts from the article. When you have time, please read the full article and leave a comment below.  Would the Ajax model work in the states?  I'd love to know your thoughts.

Sidenote:  I love that the New York Times' feature stories also include a slideshow and video.  That's very thoughtful of them.  They recognize some of their readers prefer to watch a 3 minute video or review pictures via slideshow over reading a 10 page article.  I consumed the info via all three options.  I'm a junkie, lol. 

Below are links to the full length article, slideshow, and video.  Pick your poison.

Article: How a Soccer Star is Made

Slideshow:  The Ajax Soccer Academy:  From Boys to Pros

Video:  Training to Play the World's Game 

Don't forget the World Cup starts tomorrow (Friday) at 10am/ET on ESPN with South Africa vs. Mexico.

I'm most looking forward to USA vs. England on Saturday at 2:30pm/ET on ABC.  I'll be posted up at a bar at JFK waiting to board my flight to Bermuda.  I'm hoping I can find some Amarula to put me in a South African frame of mind!

Click here for the full World Cup schedule.




Source:  The New York Times

Nike Outdoes Itself

Sorry it's been a minute since my last post.  I've just been busy handling business and trying to get these bills paid.  But don't worry, I know I gotta give you what you want, I gotta give you what you need! *in my Chuck D voice* I appreciate you visiting my blog, and don't want to lose you! I'm continuing to work on doing a better job of balancing everything.  It's just hard! OK, no more excuses.  Let's go! *in my Diddy voice*

World Cup fever is in full effect!  As I walk around NYC, I can't help but notice bars and restaurants promoting the event  on every street of every neighborhood. We only have about 2 weeks to go and I'm starting to get really pumped, especially because the NBA Playoffs have been a HUGE disappointment.  I can't wait to watch a tournament that makes me care.  And, as much as I love the NY Yankees, it's not enough for me.  I feel like a piece of me is missing, especially since I can't watch my Jets until August.  Thankfully that void will be filled on June 11th when the largest sporting event in the world starts.

Last week, Nike released a 3 minute promo for the World Cup called "Write the Future".  Everybody and their mama was in that spot.  Literally.  It's epic.  And, because it's so big, and has generated so much press, you'd think that Nike was an official partner of FIFA and the World Cup, if you didn't know any better.  They "just do it" big and go hard.  They rep some of the best soccer/football players in the World (Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney, Franck Ribery and Christiano Ronaldo) and reap the benefits of the implied association they make with the event, without using any FIFA intellectual property.  Rather than paying FIFA hundreds of million of dollars to become an official sponsor, like Adidas, they'd rather rally their roster of talent to sell their brand, while promoting the event at the same time. So smart.

Today, Adage released an article stating that Nike's release of "Write the Future" broke their own viral record for the biggest audience in the first week of a campaign with 7.8 million views.  That's A LOT of people!  The previous record, which was also held by Nike, was the creepy (my word, not theirs) "Earl and Tiger" ad, which debuted in April with 6.3 million views in its first week. Nike's latest feat is way more impressive because it didn't have the luxury of a sex scandal from the world's most popular athlete to benefit from. 

Seriously though, even if you are Adidas or FIFA, can you really be mad at Nike when they're bringing this many eyeballs to their work which in turn promotes the World Cup?   Every four years, Nike catches a lot of flack for "ambushing" this event.  I understand why people get upset with "ambushers".  At the end of the day, it's all about money.  But, in my opinion, if you're Adidas, FIFA, another official WC partner or a broadcast partner, you are also benefiting from the push Nike has put behind the World Cup and the worldwide appeal that it draws.  In fact, they should all be thanking Nike for creating such a buzzworthy spot that still has people talking about it a week after its release.

Here's a map showing where the video has had the most impact.  As you can see, it's penetrated every pocket of the world.  

  
Also, If you'd like to see which other viral videos made the list, check it.  Our favorite Old Spice man is back on the list. And, Pepsi's "Go Africa" spot (another unofficial partner) also made the list with 1 million views. 

Finally, if you haven't had a chance to see Nike's "Write the Future" spot, I got you.

PUSH PLAY:  Write the Future

2010 TIME 100: The World's Five Most Influential Athletes

Last week, TIME Magazine released 2010 TIME 100:  The World's Most Influential People.  I always enjoy reviewing this list because it's an opportunity for me to step out of my USA bubble and expose myself to international trailblazers and influencers in art, politics, business, music, medicine, philanthropy, sports, etc.

This year, I was particularly interested to learn how many athletes or individuals tied to sports made the list.  As it turns out, there are five including two Americans.  As much as we like to think we rule the sports world, TIME Magazine thinks otherwise.  Forty percent isn't exactly world domination.

Below includes the Five Most Influential Athletes or Heroes, per TIME Magazine, along with a blurb providing context as to why they made the list.  I also added my two cents and shared when I discovered these athletes.  I was hip to four of the five.  Not bad. 

1.  Kim Yu-Na:  Figure Skater  
This year I hardly watched the Winter Olympics.  I have no idea why I was less interested than I've been in the past.  The only event I watched with slight regularity was figure skating, my favorite Winter Olympic event.  I'm always in awe by the grace and athleticism that the skaters exhibit.  The way these athletes toss fear aside and just trust in their partner or themselves is unfathomable, for me at least.  The one skater that stood out to me was Kim Yu-Na.  Her routines were jaw dropping.  It's good to know that I wasn't the only person captivated by her movement.  She is one of Time's Most Influential People in the World. 

Check out what Silver Olympic Medalist, Michelle Kwan, had to say about Kim Yu-Na,

I couldn't have been more surprised or honored last summer when Korean figure skater Kim Yu-Na told me that as a 7-year-old, she was so inspired by my skating at the 1998 Winter Games that she memorized my skating routines, pretending to be at the Olympics. Twelve years later, she no longer had to pretend. I have never seen a skater with such a combination of artistry and athleticism. From the first notes of her sassy James Bond medley to the closing Gershwin strains, Kim's inspiring performances in Vancouver changed the face of figure skating forever. Those 6½ minutes on the ice left not only a mark in the record book but also an indelible impression on millions of young girls around the world. For Kim, the dream that began as a 7-year-old has been realized. For these girls, thanks to her, a dream and journey are just beginning. 

2.  Phil Mickelson:  Golfer
I'll admit, I didn't really start following golf until Tiger Woods stepped on the scene.  In my opinion, no one that looked like me participated in the sport, so why should I care.  Also, it was kind of off limits in my mind.  Growing up, my Dad used to take me to the basketball court and we'd shoot hoops for hours.  Golf wasn't as accessible as other sports that I was more familiar with.  There was a dress code, you had to wake up early to get on the course, it went on for hours, it moved slow....it was just boring.   I lacked an appreciation for the sport and how challenging it was until I started to watch Tiger Woods.  As a result of following golf more, I became familiar with some of its other greats, including Phil Mickelson.  I couldn't understand how "this guy" could give Tiger such a run for his money if Tiger was supposed to be the best.  Last month, I was glued to the TV, like most of the country, waiting to see if Tiger was going to pull off a comeback or if Lefty was going to win another green jacket.  So glad Mickelson held on for the win.  Couldn't have been happier for him.

Here's what another golf great, Jack Nicklaus, had to say about Phil Mickelson,

Now that I am five years removed from competitive golf, I, like many of you, have simply become a fan of the game. I have long enjoyed the engaging personality of Phil Mickelson, 39, and the smile that has endeared him to many fans. We have all celebrated Phil's victories and cried with him over the struggles faced by his wife Amy and his mother. Family has always been my priority, and their presence outside the ropes has underlined every win. After he won this year's Masters, I imagine that slipping into a third green jacket would not have meant nearly as much to Phil had he not first slipped into the embrace of his family. That's the way it should be. My wife Barbara and I are proud to call Amy and Phil friends. (via Jack Nicklaus, who's won a record 18 major golf championships)

3.  Didier Drogba:  Soccer/Football Player
If you're unfamiliar with Didier Drogba, get familiar.  Or, if you think you've heard his name somewhere before it may be because he was just featured on the Vanity Fair cover alongside Christiano Ronaldo, for their World Cup issue.  He's definitely someone to follow when next month's tournament gets underway.

There are six African nations competing in the World Cup.  To date, no African nation has ever won the tournament, but experts say that if it were to happen this year, Ivory Coast would be the team to do it, and the reason for that is Drogba.  He's not only carrying the weight of his country on his shoulders, but an entire continent.  What pressure! 

Read what Ebben Harrell had to say about Drogba and why he means so much to the sport and his fellow countrymen, 

If soccer is a religion in England, then the Slug and Lettuce pub in Putney is its Vatican. There, over warm beer and soggy fries, middle-aged men pontificate on everything from the inherent sinfulness of the offside trap to the fallibility of Wayne Rooney's left foot. But like church officials confronted with Galileo's telescope, football's high priests can't quite make sense of Didier Drogba. "He's a weapon, not a footballer," says one. "A specimen," says another. "The scariest footballer in the world."

Drogba, 32, a striker for England's Chelsea Football Club and the captain of the Côte d'Ivoire team, has shown the world what's possible when power and grace fuse on the soccer pitch. Imagine the body of an NBA star with feet as nimble as a prima ballerina's. When the World Cup kicks off in South Africa in June, he will carry the hopes of a continent as Africa's best-known soccer star. (West African fans will toast him with a beer glass called the Drogba. It's nearly twice the size of a normal mug.)

No one knows the rickety and high-spirited but often heartbreaking touring bus that is African soccer better than Drogba. At the 2006 World Cup, his homeland ravaged by civil war, he organized a statement from the Elephants, as the Ivorian national team is referred to, calling for peace. Many credit the ensuing calm for allowing reconciliation to begin. At a match last March, 22 Ivorians were killed in the crush to see their beloved heroes play. After the game, Drogba resolved to donate every dollar he earns from endorsements to a charity he set up to build new hospitals in the country.

Drogba is conflicted about his stardom; the same love of No. 11 that brought Ivorians together in 2006 also led to the fatal tumult last year. "I'd like the country to ultimately be able to deal with political problems itself," he says in his soft, French-accented English. "It's not really good to depend on the win or defeat of the national team. That means there is something wrong."

On the pitch, Drogba is known for the strength with which he holds off opposing defenders; it's that awesome ability that scares and baffles the high priests at the Slug and Lettuce. But why should it surprise them? This sensitive young man already carries so much of Africa's weight on his wide, sturdy shoulders.

4.  Sachin Tendulkar:  Cricketer
I'll be honest, I had no idea who Sachin Tendulkar was before discovering him on TIME's list.  Admittedly, I'm a little a green when it comes to cricket (no pun intended, well kind of...). So, I searched for him on YouTube and there were over 4,000 results.  No big deal.  Fans love him for his hitting ability.  After watching a few videos,  I recognized how he sent balls flying at high speed, which caused endless frustration by his fellow cricketers on defense, further causing his extremely celebratory fans to go crazy in the stands.  That kind of reaction does not get lost in translation across sports boarders.  I understand his appeal, but if you need further convincing, Tendulkar amassed over 160K Twitter followers in less than 48 hours.  These numbers tell the whole story. In a society where popularity is judged on the number of Twitter followers or Facebook friends you have, that's major.

Here's what New York Times best-seller Deepak Chopra had to say about Sachin Tendulkar, 

In the history of cricket, only one man has scored a double century — 200 runs — in a One Day International match, and his name is Sachin Tendulkar. To millions of Indians and countless fans around the world, this act, which caps a career of record-breaking feats, arouses a sense of awe.

Cricket casts the tiniest shadow on the American sports scene, but globally it stokes the fire in people's souls. Inherited from imperial England, the world's second most watched team sport has become a symbol of beating the colonials at their own game. Sports heroes such as Tendulkar, 37, stand for national dignity in a way that perhaps only a postcolonial nation can understand. And feel grateful for.

5.  Serena Williams:  Tennis Player
I remember when Serena was known as Venus' younger sister that also showed signs of being a decent tennis player. How good she'd become was still unknown.  I also remember sitting in my parents' living room, watching Serena play, and debating my brother about Serena being a better player than Venus.  He disagreed and we went at it.  I think he dismissed my point of view because he was the athlete, and I was the younger sister.  But I stood my ground because I knew I was right.  Fast forward 10-15 years later and this is no longer up for debate.  Serena has undoubtedly proven to be the superior Williams sister, as well as female tennis player of my generation.

Her power, focus, and consistency is not to be messed with.  I love that she shuts down her critics that say she's not devoted to tennis.  Yes, Serena has interests off the court and I applaud her for doing so.   If she wants to open schools in Africa, she should.  If she wants to pursue fashion, or become an actress or a nail technician, she should!  If she can balance everything and still be at the top of her game, she should do it all! Serena is so good that when it's time for her to redirect her focus on to the court, she turns on her tennis switch and lights it up.  I have no doubt that when the French Open starts later this month, she'll be ready to take out every opponent, Venus included.

Here's what Billie Jean King, tennis champ and social-justice pioneer, is a co-founder of World Team Tennis and the founder of the Women's Sports Foundation, had to say about my girl,

 Serena Williams is one of those rare champions who have transcended sports and impacted our society. In tennis, she is as focused as she has ever been at any point in her career, and it shows. (She recently picked up her 12th Grand Slam title, the same number I won.)

But in addition to the people who follow her on the court, she has a growing legion of fans outside the sport. Serena, 28, is committed to making a difference in the lives of others. Her work with children in Kenya and here in the U.S. stresses the importance of education.

Through her charitable efforts, people are seeing her in a larger context. She has several interests — yes, tennis is one of them — but it is this new combination of success on the court and stability in her life that is creating new opportunities, for her and the people whose lives she touches. 

Click here to read about the other 95 Most Influential People in the World.

Source:  TIME Magazine

Are You Ready for Some Football? Well..Soccer for you guys.

WOW!  I'm literally dropping everything I'm working on to share the newest ESPN 2010 FIFA World Cup spot with you guys.  It's FANTASTIC and literally gave me goosebumps.

I'm sure "you American" sports heads are probably preoccupied with the NBA Playoffs, early MLB season, NFL Draft, trades, signings, etc.  No harm in that.  I'm also guilty as charged, but listen to me when I tell you that you need to start paying attention to the upcoming World Cup.

Don't worry, I'm not going to go on and on about why it matters.  I'll let Bono do that.  Yes, that Bono. I promise the 60 second spot below is the answer to why you should dedicate June 11 - July 11 to watching the World Cup on ESPN.  Get involved and thank me later.

PUSH PLAY:  2010 FIFA World Cup: United 



And, in case you haven't seen the Robben Island spot, here it is!



P.S. I don't know why the video is in widescreen format. I'm new to this whole posting video thing. Please forgive me.