Women's Tennis Shows That Women Are Beautiful And Relevant Beyond 30 :)

Witnessing Venus play Kimiko Date-Krumm in a 3 set thriller on Wednesday was soooo inspiring. Best women's match of the year :).  The 31 and 40 year old proved that it is all about being young at heart: having the drive, the belief and the gumption to reach and fufill your potential is not about being young. Both women don't look over 30 and are as fit, if not fitter, than the 20 years olds out there! Both women looked seriously scrumptious. (I am ignoring the little boo boo that stops Venus' outfit from being a hit due to the funky zip at the front causing problems in the boob area.  Thankfully, Serena has redeemed the sisters with a classic, simple fit and lovely purple nails with a silver flourish.) Not only that, they are playing better too. Look at the last few number ones. Only Ivanovic was able to get a Grand Slam while at the top before fading away fast and Safina and Wozniacki have not been able to keep it together under the pressure of playing on centre court. It is the "old" who are still winning as the William sisters and the return of Clijsters has shown, as well as those believing that it is never too late to reach the heights as shown by Schiavone last year and by Li Na this year at the French Open (both were 29 when they won and both popped their Grand Slam cherries too, with Li being inspired after being beaten by Schiavone in the 3rd round only to see her win in 2010).

This display of hotness and vitality  at the cusp and beyond 30 is especially pertinent in the world we live in today where the international media keep telling us that by the time you are 30 you are well past your sell-by-date or at the very least hanging on by a very thin thread. If these two are anything to go by, a correction is in order and the umpire has to overrule and state that actually 30 is when life truly begins :)!  I plan to help prove this point when I enter the imminent flirty and dirty 30s meself he he he ;}

Keep growing and never grow up!

Regeneration

Usually to regenerate I watch films and sport.  However, this is heavy season in Hollywood and even though I enjoyed Black Swan immensely, it did nothing for my mental peace! Sooooo good I highly recommend.  I also highly recommend the King's Speech.  Very excited for Oscar night...





Unfortunately, I cannot rely on Chelsea for a pick-me-up either seeing as it seems their good fortune has gone down the toilet since their brilliant start to the season.  I have no idea why Torres is now on the squad, I feel another Schevschenko (no idea if that is the right spelling and I don't care that is how much I couldn't stand his uselessness) coming on and I am not amused. AT ALL.

And to make it worse, Rafa got injured at the Aussie Open (yes it has taken me this long to recover from seeing him reduced to tears as he fought on so as not to retire in the quarter finals against his countryman Ferrer).  After such a brilliant 2010, I am sad to see his season start out this way.  I hope he recovers for the American hard court interlude before the clay court season start.  I love seeing him win the French - it never gets old, so I am hoping that things will work themselves out. I am glad he was honoured with the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award this year because he deserves it.  He works so hard and fights to the bitter end.  Very inspiring. Looking at his lovely bod as he models for Armani Jeans is a great substitute for the lack of gratification from sport at the moment though he he he...

A Hidden Summer Gem: Scott Pilgrim

If you are looking for an off-beat graphic novel adaptation to entertain you I highly recommend Scott Pilgrim vs The World.



This quirky action movie has got teen angst, twenties malaise, baggage in the form of a motley crew of evil exes from diverse backgrounds, ranging from vegans to Japanese twins, and whose stereotypes are exploited in a lighthearted, fun, way, a plethora of zinger one-liners and jam packed with action coupled with amazing, innovative cinematography that marries refreshingly different CGI that doesn't overwhelm the film.  So cute, loved it, awesome possum :)!  Watched Kick Ass on DVD right after seeing that at the movies and was disappointed. Scott Pilgrim balances the cool with the cute and cutting-edge effortlessly, while even though Kick Ass had its moments with daddy-daughter combo Big Daddy and potty-mouthed 11 year-old Hit Girl, it tried too hard on all counts.

I'm also really liking Chris Evans' movie choices of late.  After doing the blockbuster thing with the Fantastic Four he's been picking a lot of smaller films. Really enjoyed his character in The Losers (another quirky graphic novel adaptation) earlier this year and also liked his transformation in the indie Loss of A Teardrop Diamond, an adaptation of a Tennessee Williams Screenplay I was happy to become acquainted with because I do enjoy me some TW.  

World Cup Lessons

So sad...we have to wait another 4 years to experience World Cup fever again :(.  But have no fear, a little nostalgia will prolong the feeling just that little bit longer...Well just two days longer, the Final was only on Sunday...

So what have we learned over the last month? Have no fear I am here to tell you :)

World Cup fever does have an antidote. His name is Suarez. And he got what he deserved.

Karma is something not to take lightly.  If you trifle with it, there will be vengeance. Uruguay learned this. And if you think about it Algeria did too after their equally dodgy qualification to the Finals.

The Hand of God is alive and well and still wielding its power in football, albeit it in a twisted form, as demonstrated by the Green and Suarez.

Africans are not very good at using their own juju.  It seems to have helped the Europeans more. Sure Cote D'Ivoire were in the group of death and South Africa really didn't have a chance but what was Cameroun's excuse? And Algeria should have played better after denying Egypt, the African champions the chance to shine.

The next time we have a World Cup in Africa it should not be held in one of the coldest countries on the continent during "winter".  We need to take advantage of the heat like South America do to stop European teams from winning!

Do not underestimate the power that Mr. Boateng's loins has had on football and will have in the future.  Watch out the English Premier League!

The Black Stars are the light in African skies!

It is easy to pick what team you are on sometimes.  When it comes to Twilight (I know, my love of film takes me to very strange places) it's easy - Team Jacob. However when your fever has been mollified it can be hard to think logically when your mind is clear. I know, what an oxymoron.

The more you listen to Waka Waka, the more you realise how cartoonish and stereotypically useless the song is and wonder more and more why Wavin' Flag was not the official song...

Footballers are hot! ;} See here, here, here and here for proof he he he...

Nike and Coca Cola know how to market and create great adverts.

Paul the Octopus is amazing! Is it terrible to wonder whether his football prophesising is also an indicator of how tasty he is?

Footballers know how to cry appropriately - either due to the emotionality of losing quite terribly ala Gyan, of winning ala Iker Casillas or when appreciating the importance of the Word Cup ala "The People's Rooney".  Federer crying after losing the Australian Open because he couldn't tie Sampras' all-time Grand Slam record not so much.  His scant of tears of joy when he later won the French for the first time to equal Sampras and that fact that when he actually became the all-time great a month later at Wimbledon he didn't even cry wasn't good either!

Spain have something in their water. In the last two months Pau Gasol won the NBA Championships, Nadal has won the French and Wimbledon back to back for the second time and La Roja have won the World Cup!!!!

Whatever anyone may say i.e. the constant referral to how even though South Africa, a proxy for Africa, may be developing there are still problems - cue pictures of slums and little boys playing football in raggedy clothes, South Africa should be proud of the World Cup they hosted.  Having travelled the world some, this is true everywhere.  It may manifest itself differently, but whether you are in the West or the East, the North or the South of this planet, there are always disparities between the rich and the poor, but for some reason Africa is constantly being berated for this difference and in other places, the media is perfectly happy to hide them.  Which by the way makes it all the more shocking when you stumble upon these things, especially in the West.

South Africa 2010 will be remembered as the World Cup of firsts.

FOOTBALL IS THE BEST GAME ON EARTH!!!!!! And even though the Americans are to be commended for continuing to learn to appreciate the game, they have a long way to go in the media.  Even Paul who is an octopus gets it! Come on! I do have to say having watched a coupla matches at bars, it is clear that the public are getting into it.  However, this article REALLY annoyed me.  What kind of nonsense is this???!!! And to make it worse its written by a woman who is perpetuating the stereotypical view that women do not understand sport and couldn't care less. Silly silly woman! Which leads me to my next point...

It is a myth that women do not understand nor care for sport.  This is because a. sport is full of men in their prime flexing their muscles and being men which is thoroughly entertaining when coupled with the highs and lows of playing whatever game they are playing and b. you just need to be patient if the woman has been denied the opportunity to love sport and teach.  This is proven by the video below, which contains a lovely woman I know, but shall remain nameless, showing what World Cup fever can do to ESPN viewers and also by the fact that I have officially turned one of my roommates into a Nadal, basketball and football loving woman over the past year! Oh an the fact that my blog has been dominated by sports commentary for most of its short life ;)



We are ready for Brasil 2014 already he he he...

Euphemism Of The Day: Mediocre Pigeons

To Nigeria:

Do not name yourselves Super Eagles when in reality you are Mediocre Pigeons.  All will be revealed when in the end all you produce is crap.


This not only applies to football, but to any instance in life when grandiose attributions are rewarded to ultimately generic entities.


So disappointed with their performance.  The same old same old, they qualify for the World Cup and then lose their marbles when they get there.  The Super Eagles could take a page from the Black Stars who live up to their name consistently! Hopefully the Naija Boys will redeem themselves and win the next two games, giving themselves the chance to qualify to the Round of 16.  Argentina are proving the pundits wrong.  Maradona seems to be a great coach despite being a crazy player and even though Messi has yet to find his form, the rest of the team are on point.  I expect they will be a huge threat throughout the tournament.

England vs. USA...All I have to ask is WHO IS GREEN?  He was certainly acting "green" on the pitch, that fumble was terrible! My eager to learn about football roommate asked me who he was and I was like I have no idea, I'm actually quite worried and not long after he let the bleeping ball in.  Was not a happy puppy Bob as my sister says. Watching the game out and about was fun, however, I was clearly outnumbered because I ended up at just a regular bar not an English pub because crazy English people had camped out since 4 am to get in for the Algeria game at 5am and wouldn't budge!!!  I personally would not be so proud of benefiting from such a mistake but as my father says "In the end a goal is a goal".  I commend Dempsey though.  Have huge respect for him ever since the 2006 games, he literally saved face for the USA.  He was only one who seemed to actually be playing football.  I remember them saying back then he used to practice with Mexicans when he was younger and thinking, well that explains everything ;}!  Howard also played a fine game too. Without him I don't think the US would have pulled out the draw from Uncle Sam's hat. If indeed he has broken ribs I do not think it is too pessimistic to say that the USA's World Cup will be over soon.

There is an African connection on the USA team. This time its not whether Freddie Adu will play for Ghana or the USA (good riddance to  him though, clearly not an all-together dude).  We  have eye candy born of Nigerian parents in the form of Oguchi (Gooch) Onyewu who currently plays for AC Milan.

Also related, it was clear that Beckham wanted to be part of this World Cup with him being very animated from the bench, which reminded me of the Addidas campaign.  They opted for Zinedine Zidane to be the flagship player, have top players including Messi and Kaka and completely omit Becks! I found that rather strange, are we all Becked out? Beautiful ad though!



And here is another cute Addidas ad that really captures the essence of African kids playing football. I remember making a ball out of plastic bags or the plastic net bags onions/ potatoes come in when our ball needed to be replaced, pumped or happened to get lost somehow for whatever game we were playing :).

WORLD CUP FEVER AND MY TEMPERATURE IS ONLY GOING TO GET HOTTER!! ;}

I cannot contain myself and I hope I am contagious because if you are going to spread any kind of fever, it should be of the football variety!!!!

The Kick-Off concert was good.  Shakira left her weird hair adornments at home and gave a lovely performance. Alicia Keys played two of my fav songs - No One and Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart. K'NAAN was also good.  The Black Eyed Peas were disappointing because Fergie seemed to have forgotten to pack her voice and/ or her confidence - her performance was horrible.  She was pitchy, off-key or sounded like she was trying too hard, and when everyone came together at the end things continued to go south for her unfortunately.  Loved Lira's dress, although she had issues with it when she first came on. Will troll for my fav clips and info on the dress and if I find, I will post. My only critique is that there could have been more contemporary African artists like D'Banj, Jozi and Lizha James who could have played more upbeat songs and gave the concert more of a party flavour.

Just when I thought ESPN had gotten it together they decided to disappoint me! Their coverage is an antidote to the fever, it really gets you down :(. Not really bothered about all the hype surrounding the US-England game on Sat because that is understandable and the pundits aren't trying to sugar coat the fact that England are most likely to win.  However, the coverage on Sports Nation is not worthy of a reputatable sports station! They compared Christano Ronaldo to Jonah Hex (ya, I know! who is that?), Messi to A-Rod (pulease yes he's pretty popular in the US but even his stature here is nothing compared to Messi's globally) and the Brazil squad to the film The Expendables (features old-school action heros Swartzenegger, Stallone and Willis).  Really???!!!! Clearly a way to squeeze in marketing and it's just pathetic.  I LOVE MOVIES AND I LOVE SPORT BUT THAT SORT OF THING IS UNACCEPTABLE ESPN!!!  Insert expletives amongst the capitalised words because that is how infuriated I am.  I think that the US's limit on not understanding football and treating it like soccer is over. GET WITH IT!!!!! :( I VOW NEVER TO WATCH THE WORLD CUP IN THE USA EVER AGAIN UNTIL THIS IS FIXED - HAVING TO BEAR IT FOR THE SECOND TIME IS MORE THAN ENOUGH :(. I miss the BBC and Super Sport! I am afraid of what may happen if the US win the 2018 bid and its funny because their tagline is "The Game is in US". Nice play on words but it is ALL A LIE!!!! You may have the money to host but still don't have the heart or the passion, where is your football soul America??!!

So in order to get the fever back up I had to remember that Nadal won despite a little hiccup on the grass and that he was in Shakira's Gypsy video. (See how slick that was, World Cup connection and eye candy :})



And seeing as we are on to eye candy here is the last of the Vanity Fair pics :)

Ah, the fever is back up again he he he...

And now that you are in a good mood check out 1 GOAL: Education For ALL and spread the love :)

A Happy Interlude: More Vanity Fair Pics :}

In order to mitigate the depression I fear I may fall into after Federer's defeat, I have decided to comfort myself and any of you who may be feeling the same way with World Cup excitement.  Here is some more eye candy from Vanity Fair:

I have nothing to say about stars in certain places except that when the Ghanaian and Camerounian flags were being designed, I don't think they had boxer briefs in mind ;}

Here is a harrowing South African football story, all the more so seeing as SA has been progressive with gay rights, being the 5th country to legalise gay marriage.

It is said that football unites everyone, and this was also the case with UN Chief Ban Ki-Moon during his trip to Uganda.  He was able to leave politics on the sidelines to play a little footie with President Museveni.

This sentiment is nicely epitomised by ESPN's World Cup advert.  I hope this means better US coverage than in 2006, both in terms of games and commentators!

TWO WEEKS UNTIL THE WORLD CUP!!!

Unfortunately the South African Tenor, Siphiwo Ntshebe, died recently and will not have the honour of performing at the opening ceremony and the Algerians suffered a thrashing from the Irish in a friendly in preparation for the finals, 3-0.  And my beloved Essien is injured. However, we still have much to look forward to!

To keep updated make sure to check up on the Official Site and come here too of course!

And here is something to really get you excited.  Can't believe I spent $5 to get this! The Vanity Fair article was terrible because it was trying to school Americans once and for all about the beauty of football.  All they had to say about the World Cup and Africa was this: 

"African football is marvelously exciting.  No African country has ever gotten past the quarter-finals, but they play with an eager, individualistic enthusiasm, often without any apparent defensive strategy.  In South Africa, while rugby and cricket were played by the white ascendancy, deafening football has always been the game of the township."

:(

But the photos were absolutely beautiful and the recounting of pivotal moments in the game such as England 1966 win and Zidane's head-butting debacle were spot on.

So here is the front cover, and I will post the rest of the goodies on the inside in coming posts...

;}

Summer Movies: Sex And The City 2 And Iron Man

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing Sex and the City 2, all for free with Moet and popcorn gratis to boot he he he ;}.

It was interesting to see the girls evolving.  All I can say is that if you expect Sex or the wonderful city of New York then don't go see the movie coz there literally isn't much of either to the chagrin of this particular writer. However, I enjoyed it, because these women are not what they were when the series started in 1998 but the essence of the characters is alive and well, which is how it should be. Carrie scracks her silly pun jokes and is still a little bit ridiculous, Miranda is still defined by her job and making sure that everything runs smoothly, Charlotte still has her prissy, traditional and sometimes naive but endearing ways and Samantha is ever-chasing the fountain of youth proverbially and literally, as well as you know what.  A lot of the people I was watching with were a little shocked that the film tackled serious issues like motherhood, cheating and balancing femininity with independent individuality.  I thought Sex and the City has progressed to discuss the issues of marriage in the same way that it tackled sex for the single girl.  However, some were not having it.  They wanted to see their beloved characters on screen live the life they can't have or don't have the balls to have, kind of like the fan Carrie meets at the beginning of the movie.  

Interestingly enough, most of the movie was in Abu Dhabi, which I think was relevant and was a great way to discuss gender roles and also misconceptions about the Middle East and their women.  Also it talked about respect for other's cultures ,which I liked too.  Another unexpected thing was how representative the demographics were.  I have never been to Abu Dhabi but I have been to Dubai and know that there is an African presence about and was surprised to see that we were there in the background, of course in African garb to make sure that the audience knew we were there ha ha ha.  Funny though how they had only black people donning South African rugby shirts at the hotel that was hosting the players for the Rugby World Cup trials...I know they wanted to contrast them with the Aussies but really Rugby is dominated by Afrikaaners and they are Africans too! Then in the Karaoke scene they had Nigerians MC the whole thing, in a very stereotypical way, but what can you do.  

All in all I enjoyed STC2, the champers may have helped ;), but it does not hold a candle to Iron Man 2, which leads my Summer Blockbuster list so far.

Also a sequel but unlike STC2, which was good, but not as good as the first, Iron Man has moved from strength to strength.  It has not disappointed like say the way the Matrix 2 did - that movie was made clearly as part one of the next installment which ended up being even worse.  Iron Man 2 had a full story as well as great set up for The Avengers movie as well as for a third.  I heart Robert Downey Jr and as Tony Stark he's still hot, intelligent and flawed in the movie, what more can you ask for ;}.  Don Cheadle made it seem like he was in the first. And I do have to say Scarlett Johansson was hot too.  I was quite taken aback about how mesmerising she was on screen.  And she did this move involving a split on her part and pain to an unfortunate guys nether-regions that was quite impressive ha ha ha!  Critics were clearly wrong about this one.  It's summer fun, what more can you ask for?! :)

Didier Drogba, Les Elephants And Eye Candy :)

Didier Drogba has been honoured with a place on Time Magazine's 100 list for 2010. Considering his influence not only in Cote D'Ivoire, but also in the world through football, this is not surprising.  You would think that seeing as I have bled blue since 1996 I would be a real Drogba fan but alas I am not.  I find him quite a petulant childish man on the field, and if he was not so talented a player I would not care for him at all.  I suppose it is the nature of the striker to have a bit of diva in them, but sometimes I think that he indulges this to ludicrous points that overshadow his football and puts a sour taste in my mouth watching him.

If we are talking Ivorians I love Kalou. He is such a clutch player and I love his little mohawk, love that he is silent but deadly.  His efforts are often overshadowned by his more flamboyant teammate, both at Chelsea and when representing Les Elephants, but he is a vital cog in the  machine on both teams :).  My love at Chelsea however is Essien.  He has such grace, such style, such power, and he's good looking to boot.  PERFECT :}.  My friend COMBINE (com-be-nay) will not be amused by my proclamation because she is convinced that she is his future wife.  Ha!

My second pet peeve is Drogba's hair. WHY? I know all these footballers like Cristiano Ronaldo, (with whom he features on the current Vanity Fair cover) like to experiment with perms, relaxers, length, gels, colour, braids and anything else they can think of, but really, I do not enjoy a lot of their hairstyles.  A little too prima dona and metrosexual for me these footballers.

However, I have come to respect and like Drogba off the field the more I have come to know about him.  This article shows how he is growing as a man, and how he knows that he can be a bit of a baby.  I also like his hyperawareness of his position in society and how his actions have a butterfly effect with quite grandiose consequences at times.  His devotion to charity and hospitals redeem his on-pitch antics.

I do believe that Drogba can lead Kalou, the Toures and the rest of the boys to victory at the World Cup. Les Elephants are set to trample all those put in front of them if he keeps his head.  They are in a difficult group though with Brazil and Portugal in the mix (this is group G with Korea DPR as well). Qualifying out of this group will be a herculean but not a sysiphean task. We will have sangomas, juju and mother Africa's protection on our side he he he ;}! He himself is cognisant of the weight on his shoulders and how he carries the dreams of Africa.  He is already championing for his team, letting everyone know they are a force to be reckoned with, and that 2010 is the year to present Africa to the world in a different and more positive light.  You can read his thoughts here.  You can also read what Ya Ya Toure has to say about Cote D'Ivoire and 2010 here.

Drogba is actually quite a soft spoken man for someone who hurls obscenities at referees and dives about in grass so much I'm convinced he is at least part fish.  Here is a video of who he feels is the most influential person in his life.



And here is some eye candy featuring footballers participating in the World Cup next month, including Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o of Cameroun and Sulley Muntari of Ghana. Unfortunately, they will not be so skantily clad when playing next month :(