Pickup Soccer on Film: Pelada

Pickup soccer is born of a love for the game. In a way, it is a forum for self-expression - an addictive, joyful, occasionally painful, and almost always fun and surprisingly competitive place. It's a web of interwoven and evolving philosophies of self, constituting style set within a commonly-accepted framework of a substance defined by attacking and defending. It's not bland functionality of pass, dribble, shoot, but a blossoming example of human creativity and decision-making within narrowly-constructed rules. In Pelada, we witness two former college players explore the global phenomenon of soccer at the pickup level.

This couple - Luke Boughen and Gwendolyn Oxenham - is the narrative heart of Pelada. Both had hopes of going pro. Boughen has begun to move on from this dream. Oxenham, however, dwells on what could have been and wants at least one more chance. For better and worse, each view their international interactions through their respective prisms. The two travel from country to country seeking and playing in pickup games - Buenos Aires, Casola Valsenio, Nairobi, Tokyo, Jerusalem, Tehran, and more. The fields range from concrete to grass to dirt and back. What shines through, no matter where they are, is the universal love of the game. If you have a ball and a friend, you can play. And if you can play, you will.

Erich Braun, a former University of Notre Dame star, makes an appearance in the film and discusses his inability to become a professional soccer player, despite alleging that he was better than others who became professional players in Germany. Rather than explore this theme with "why?", the question becomes whether Braun has given up hope. He has. Pelada's only fault is the frequent narrative presumption of a professional/failure dichotomy that comes across as a Hoop Dreams-lite for soccer.

But Pelada's fault is minimal. Its exploration of the game is neither psychological nor geopolitical. Director Ryan White rightly shies away from the latter - this is not "How Soccer Explains the World." Regardless, the cultural subtexts of the myriad locales make themselves apparent in Oxenham's and Boughen's inherent whiteness and the reactions to Oxenham's gender. Both race and gender matter in a visit to a La Paz prison game and gender plays a major role (obviously) in the duo's trip to Iran. Across many of the countries visited, however, skill on the pitch is what matters most, and, in the end, it's the shared joy of a simple game that makes this film.

This is cross-posted at Beatbots.

Thierry Henry leaves Premier League for MLS; Can Red Bulls Capitalize on Beckham-like Acquisition?

- photo credit Matthews/AP, via NY Daily News

This week, failed French hero and 32-year-old forward for the Tottenham Hotspurs (English Premier League) announced he has signed with the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer. The headline from most casual soccer fans is that Thierry Henry has thus officially declared himself a has-been by signing with the much weaker MLS (even 28-year-old U.S. star Landon Donovan is having second thoughts about ending his remaining prime years in Los Angeles).

But the question for MLS fans is whether signing an aging-but-star striker like Henry, fresh off a disappointing World Cup performance, will yield better results for NY than the signing of former Real Madrid/Man U star David Beckham did for LA. For those of you who have been wondering why you haven't heard about Beckham recently, other than watching him look depressed (and yet dapper) on the sidelines while England got served by Germany, the $32 million Galaxy player tore his Achilles tendon while on loan to AC Milan, and is out for the whole season. Injury and fitness issues have plagued Beckham's time at the Galaxy, as have questions about his commitment given multiple loans and perceived lack of effort, infamously earning him boos an an altercation with a fan.

Will the story be different for Henry, who also formerly played for a perennial Premier League contender (Arsenal) and in La Liga (Barca)? Or will he suffer similar problems of ego, age, and inflated fan expectations? Just as Beckham entered a club that already featured a star at the same position (Donovan at midfielder), so too will Henry, who will be teammates with fellow striker and frequent Golden Boot contender Juan Pablo Angel. With a new soccer-specific stadium and an impressive season thus far from a previously bottom of the barrel team (the Red Bulls are second in the East, a decent enough performance to make the playoffs), the timing is right for the New York club to really make a push as a real soccer town. Whether Henry will be a key part of that push shall be determined very soon.

The Wiz Officially Sign John Wall

While the basketball world copes with Cleveland's pain, LeBron's narcissism, Dan Gilbert's psycho ex-girlfriend routine, and how the Heat will actually have a full roster, the Washington Wizards accomplished something big: the Wizards signed John Wall, officially.

Craig Stouffer of the Washington Examiner has more details:

The Wizards signed three of their draft picks -- No. 1 pick overall John Wall, Trevor Booker and Hamady N'diaye -- and they renounced the rights to free agents Mike Miller, Josh Howard and Randy Foye.

Furthermore, the Wizards finalized the Hinrich trade. Now, the Wizards have three point guards: John Wall, Kirk Hinrich, and Gilbert "Guns-no-Ammo" Arenas. It's early in the trading season and the Wizards still need two more players on their roster with roughly $10 million in cap space.

Are the Knicks Entering the 21st Century?

UPDATE - Walsh has denied rumors that he is leaving the Knicks.

Peter Vecsey of the New York Post is reporting that Knicks president Donnie Walsh "may possibly retire" within the week because of "health" and "a failure to land LeBron James."  The article goes on to suggest that former Portland GM Kevin Pritchard is the front runner to replace Donnie Walsh.

This is an interesting, and dare I say, an exciting development for the Knicks.  Prior to his dismissal by Portland, Pritchard was widely considered to be a top five GM in the league. While he might be most famous for taking Oden over Durant, Pritchard did a spectacular job of taking a terrible Portland team (the "Jail Blazers") filled with bloated contracts and bad personalities (sound familiar Knick fans?) and putting together a solid, if not championship contending roster. (This link is to a great article about Pritchard).

While Walsh may have done a good job of shedding the Knicks of bad contracts and at least putting us in a position to sign LBJ, I am not sure that he is the man that you want to conduct the rebuilding of your franchise.  By losing out on LBJ, the Knicks will have have to actually use skill and talent evaluation to build a contender.  I would much rather have Pritchard orchestrating the trade of Eddie Curry's expiring contract in January than an aging Walsh who has never been a great talent evaluator.  I think Prtichard's energy, hunger, and desire to show Portland that they were CRAZY for firing him will be great for the Knicks.

All the best to Donnie Walsh, and lets hope that his health really isn't a huge issue, but it will be nice to see the Knicks with a GM who will take us into the 21st century.

Miami Thrice is a Stupid Name

A Scientific Survey about LeBron James

Given the relentless speculation and the fact that the media is reporting rumors as fact regarding the LeBron James announcement, and given LeBron's hugely narcissistic hour-long announcement circus, and given the pendulum-like nature of which team is in the lead to gain LeBron's services for the next few years, I conducted an extremely scientific survey of one former Cleveland resident to determine what LeBron's seemingly imminent (at least for right now) departure means for all of Cleveland, Ohio, and perhaps the Midwest in general.

1. If the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is the heart of Cleveland, what building or neighborhood best symbolizes the back of Cleveland where LeBron can plant the knife?

Former Cleveland Resident:

That would have to be the Slavic Village. Oh. I thought you said the backside of Cleveland. The backbone has to be the Cuyahoga River. We'll go with that because it has the consistency of the back fat that so many Clevelanders have, and when LeBron pulls out the knife, maybe someone will have the good sense to set his hand on fire. Where's BP when you need it?

2. In the long run, where would a potential LeBron departure rank in terms of Cleveland Sports Disasters?

Former Cleveland Resident:

I actually already ranked this today. A LeBron departure in and of itself wouldn't be so high (everyone has kinda been expecting it for two years). It would be the fact that he staged an hour-long show just to tear everyone's hearts out. In fact, there will probably be a moment, not unlike when Lisa Simpson broke little Ralph Wiggum's heart, where you could pinpoint the moment the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame starts to explode.

1. Art Modell turning the Browns into the least likable team in the NFL (and them winning a Super Bowl three years after leaving)
2. LeBronapocylapse
3(tie). The Drive
3(tie). The Fumble
5. Jose Mesa
6. The Shot
7. Any of the MLB playoff collapses to the Red Sox
8. Red Right 88
9. Delonte West meeting Gloria James
10. Ten Cent Beer Night (who am I kidding? That was great. My dad's old boss still has second base from that night in his office.)

3. What will be the term that comes to describe a LeBron departure? I.e., the "Backstab," the "Betrayal," the "Another Cleveland Sports Disaster," "Pulling an Akron."

Former Cleveland Resident:

The most public yet of our many humiliations.

Now, on to the media circus. Nearly every news outlet has been pushing some sort of LeBron story - US Magazine says LeBron is likely going to Miami because he has hotel rooms booked there this weekend; ESPN reported that LeBron is likely to stay in Cleveland and then, this morning, changed tune and states now that LeBron is going to Miami. Last week, New York was in the lead. The truth is none of these folks know where LeBron is going. It's all speculation - except for, maybe, Stephen A. Smith's prediction that the whole thing is a done deal (Smith may have insider knowledge, but also has been pretty accurate with regards to free agency). Since no one knows what LeBron is thinking, speculation becomes rumor which in turn becomes fact. Since it's the off season and there just aren't a lot of sports headlines, what would otherwise be a slow week (or two) has become a crescendo of web traffic driven by speculation and driving revenues.

As nearly everyone and their mother knows by now, LeBron has five real options: the Nets, the Knicks, the Bulls, the Heat, and the Cavs.* If he goes to the Nets, he gets the New York media market, Brook Lopez, Devin Harris, and Avery Johnson. If he goes to the Knicks, he gets the New York media market, teammate Amare Stoudemire, and an up tempo system with Mike D'Antoni. He does not get a ring unless the Knicks manage to finagle a fantastic point guard. If he goes to the Bulls, he gets a franchise-altering point guard with Derrick Rose, a defensive center in Joakim Noah, and Carlos Boozer along with new head coach and alleged defensive mastermind Tom Thibodeau. If he goes to the Heat, he gets to play alongside Dwyane Wade who is a bigger superstar in Miami and Chris Bosh who wins fans over with his sense of humor - essentially, LeBron becomes LePippen to Wade. If LeBron stays in Cleveland, he does not stab his most loyal fans in the back and he remains a big fish in a small pond while making more money than he could make anywhere else.

I'm guessing and hoping LeBron stays in Cleveland. Why? You just can't go on national TV and tear out the hearts of your most loyal fans and expect to get respect. Oh, and LeBron really likes money, which Cleveland can give more of to him, and has a massive ego (limestone bust of himself much?).

* C'mon, the Clippers? Would any serious and sane player want to be traded to the Clippers? Here are several reasons why the answer is always no: Donald Sterling, the Clippers, Vinny Del Negro, Baron Davis's inability to not shoot a contested three pointer with 18 seconds left on the shot clock, the curse of the Clippers, Donald Sterling, increased likelihood of career-crippling injury, the Clippers, and Donald Sterling. The reasons to go to the Clippers? Clippers dancers, Blake Griffin, Eric Gordon, and Chris Kaman.

The King's Announcement

ESPN.com is reporting that LeBron James will announce his free agency decision Thursday night at 9 ET during a one-hour special on ESPN. 

Assuming that it takes, I don't know, 20 seconds for Lebron to make his announcement, what are they going to do with the rest of the hour?  Am I crazy, or did Lebron convince the "World Wide Leader in Sports" to provide him with a free hour long tribute. That is CRAZY.  

While it is easy to understand why ESPN would agree to air the "special" - in exchange for one hour of TV time on a slow summer Thursday, they are getting an exclusive on the biggest free agent announcement in sports history - do we as fans have to like it? Should we even watch it? 

Me, I know I shouldn't but I'm sure I will.  What can I say, I love the King!

What about you?

Clipps Get New Coach

Reports are in that the Los Angeles Clippers have selected Vinny Del Negro as their new head coach. Does anybody care? Does it really matter? Can LA-2 ever be good?