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Beijing 2008 was for most of us just the Olympic Games, which are held each four years; it was the time when world records don’t count anymore, and the time to new world records to be established … we have 9.69 the new time measurement for running 100 meters, and we have a legendary crossline from the world champion in men’s 100m, Usain Bolt with the face on the audience and clapping his hands on the chest, in a crazy gesture, the beautiful type of crazyness. We had also a 14 yrs Chinese champion on the gymnastics with the world title performance and age analyzed by the CIO but what is the most important, we have new world champions after these 16 days of competition, ….  and we have China, as expected, with 80+ gold medals crowned as the best Olympic country, followed by USA, also as expected.

But, what will stay in my mind is the opening and closing ceremony. The footsteps (don’t care if they where artificially created for TV) over the Beijing heading to the Olympic Stadium, the paper monitor, the sidewall run to light up to Olympic Torch, the human spectacle in the field, the strange of the entrance order for the country teams, when from J we skipped to A then to M, and the closing ceremony with the torch tower, Jackie Chan singing,  the silk flower and the London bus, as in expectation for London 2012 Olympic Games; another thing that will stay in my mind, strange as it seems, is the inner need to visit China, to see close-handed the dog-hamburger, to eat the red fish and to listen to the beautiful Chinese songs (actually to see the beautiful Chinese singers, but hey … ).

Over all, I think that although China is a closed system, with it’s own values, restrictions and rules, they and we can all dream the dream of Pierre de Coubertin: one nation, one heart … one dream. We can take a deep breath of air for all the chinese and say, without modesty: thank you China for the beautiful show you offer us in the summer of 2008, and I hope to see you soon.

Sport / Football, social Beijing 2008, China, Olympic Games

We waited 8 years for a final tournament. We waited 8 years to see the followers of Hagi, Popescu and Co. playing in the green square like lions; and we waited in vain. Yesterday, at Berna, I saw the great Romanian fans shouting like lions for their team, but I didn’t see a team on the field.

On the one hand, I understand that Adrian Mutu was missing all three games (although he scored the only goal of Romania at the Euro 2008, he also WAISTED the penalty kick which should have brought us the qualification, regarding that Italy won 2-0 against France) but C’MON! What the HELL, the Netherland has given us every chance to score. They backed down in the first half. they didn’t engaged, and their defenders even given our forwarders the damn ball, but Mutu & Co where to stupid to make a score. Or even make one shot on goal. I repeat, IMHO, Holland was about to give us the game, and let us qualify with them on the next stage, the only thing that they where not able to do was to place the ball inside their net.

And then, on the other side, Mutu, Chivu and whoever was on that field where not able to place one shot on goal! One shot! Where was the Brilliant during the Euro? Where where the spartans ? the allmighty Dacs who faced the Roman Empire ? Where the hell was Romania ? With Mutu out of shape, with Nicolita and Fl. Petre useless on the field, without any midfield players since Radoi was out on injury, with a defensive game that has brought us back home, Romania isn’t at all a team. They are a bunch of guys who pretended to be football players.

I mean, again, C’mon what the hell! Holland has given us the game yesterday. I even think that van Basten made a bet on Romania’s victory! Have you seen the faces of the dutch when they scored in the second half ? they weren’t even happy for beating us. What more can I say? I believed in Mutu, Piturca, Chivu. I believed that this generation of football players can make a difference, can step up to the footsteps of the golden generation of Hagi and Popescu. Now I can only say to Mutu and Chivu: SHAME ON YOU! You are a disappointment to me and for at least one year, I won’t stand to see your damn happy faces through Coca-Cola, Pepsi, mineral waters ads and whatever you want to advertise. You should lay your had down and bury it like the ostrich. SHAME!

Sport / Football Euro 2008, Holland, Romania, shame

Or at least this is what we hope for. We have the time, we have the space, we have the public on our side; all we need is 11 heroes to get into the green field and teach the Italians that football is played by man who know how to score.

I hope that today, at 18:00 Mutu, Chivu, Lobont and Dica will have the match of their time and they will defeat the World Champions, like Holland did Monday. I hope that I will see a Romania made from the brave Dacs in defense and by great Roman conquerors in offense.

32 Millions of Romanians wait for this victory. From Voronin’s Moldova to Berlusconi’s 1 Million of Romanians will cheer for the national team today, will cheer for the right to be where we belong in football: UP, over the “enemy”.

I’m ready to shout from the bottom of my lungs “GOOOOOOOOLLL” when Mutu, Nicolae or Contra will score. I’m ready to be the witness to the first victory since Lucescu’s Romania left Italy home. Italy is already packet for Rome, so we must show them the way. TODAY!

Update: Holland won against France with 4-1, being the first team out of our group . We made a draw against world champs, Italy. Catalin Tolontan, from gsp made a great article in today about Romanian over the board: Jos comunismul, hai Romania! Bravo Catalin, I liked it a lot!

Sport / Football Euro 2008, italia, Romania

I’ve waited 14 years for a match like this. Hell, all of us waited fourteen years for a game like this; I think all of us remember the magic game against Argentina on the USA 94 World Cup; we all remember the spider-goal of Hagi, the magical run of Ilie Dumitrescu and we still haven’t forgot the joy and happiness we felt then. We want to feel it again, we want to raise the voice and shout as loud as we can: ROOOOMAAAANIIIIIAAAAAA OLE, OLE, OLE.

This is a possible dream that can start today! We have just the former World and European Champions, France to beat by one goal, and we can make the history shiny again.

Welcome to Euro 2008, impossible is a word that doesn’t go around this! One dream, 23 millions of hopes! Make it happen.

Sport / Football Euro 2008, Franta, Romania

As of today, has started the month of the King Sport: Football, or as Americans would say, Soccer. Starting today it’s the beginning of the time when beer, crackers, peanuts and long pauses becomes something normal. It’s the start of the time when words like "hit the damn ball right" or "how in the hell could you miss that ball" are said each 5-10 minutes when the national team play.

And because we’re a people of coaches and politicians, the creative part of our brain will start functioning from 7 June. We would be able to comment the most crazy, bizarre, stupid and did I say crazy? football moment for more than 3 hours without getting to a general agreement.

And because at the final stage of the Switzerland - Austria 2008 European Championship we have what most would say a "group of death" with the current World Champions, Italy, the former Word and European Champions - France and another Former European Champions Team - Holland, it’s the time when "Romania should get famous again" (it sounds better in Romanian language - e timpul sa redevenim celebri). We have a group from which we start with the last chance but we hope, secretly, to finish it with 6 points after 3 matches. We have the hardest European Championship group since I don’t remember when , with teams for which Zidane, Ruud Gullitt, Marco van Basten, Roberto Baggio, Del Pierro or Tigana have made touchable history and their name is spoken with respect and veneration by the football players today. Hell, their name is spoken with the same veneration and respect by the Romanian football players also, with the hope that after 6 games, their names will shine on the same window as the legends.

But, one over other, we have a group in which ANYTHING can happen. ANYTHING!

As a American football coach would say, let’s get out and play ball ! And don’t forget, we want to get in the streets again, while we shout from the bottom of our lungs one thing: Romania, ole, ole, ole! I think this is a normal exercise that should be repeated for each generation for at least each 15 years. We have Hagi, Popescu and Romania 94 in USA, we NEED to have Mutu, Chivu, Lobont in 2008! Welcome to the EU Championship, and break a leg!

Sport / Football European Championship 2008, Football, France, Group of Death, Holland, Romania