Nutmeg Radio: Football Culture & Gear

Latinos offer three unique ingredients: 1. Latino kids have superior ball skills and are more comfortable in tight spaces. That seems to be taken as gospel now by the soccer cognoscenti. 2. Latino kids “need” the game to bring them opportunity. 3. Those same kids often play — are even given no option but to play — “unstructured” soccer where they develop a confidence and style that elevates their game — much like African-American kids playing on inner-city blacktops changed basketball and the NBA.

The Latino skill and hunger combined with the athleticism and power of the traditional Anglo affiliated and college player blended by a special national team coach is the recipe we should be after.

– Brad Rothenberg on the value of Latino talent in the U.S. (via Soccer America)

****

If we assume that Rothenberg’s characterization of Latino players is correct, why are Latino kids blessed with superior ball skills and more comfortable in tight spaces? The broad diversity of hues and hairs within the Latino community suggests that it has nothing to do with DNA. So if nothing intrinsically makes a player great from birth, what is it about our method of development in the United States that supposedly creates definable skill sets compartmentalized by ethnicity or race?

Perhaps it has more to do with our regimented way of thinking than it has to do with ethnicity or race.

Continue Reading

1974 Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) team photo. Ever wonder who started this standard prematch team photo pose? Everyone does it, but who first said, “You six, squat in front. The rest of you, line up in the back?” I can think of a few other formations.

(Introduced as Sheffield United’s new signing at Bramall Lane in July 1978 - via The Star) 

The man in the hat at the bottom of the photo. Yes, he dates the entire picture.

Now they have men’s and women’s v-neck tees. Fresh, Bumpy Pitch. Fresh.

Vamos.

“We’re invading. I’ve weighed the pros and cons and there is no perfect answer. We have to send a signal to our enemies – and they do exist – that their conduct will not be tolerated and that there will be retaliation. That signal has to be sent. We also have to make our best attempt to influence who ends up filling the power vacuum once we succeed in removing the threat. And we will succeed. There will be casualties on both sides, even if we attempt to minimize the damage, but that is a small price to pay when our national security is at stake. And no, this has nothing to do with oil or any other type of natural resource.”

- some fictional president

READ MORE 

It’s here. Alexi Lalas joined us for the making of Nutmeg Radio Mixtape No. 2: The Ginger Rewind. It’s fascinating stuff. Check it out over at Nutmeg Radio!