Robbie Keane

Robbie Keane: player, husband and father. His full time club is the Tottenham Hotspur, but he is on loan to Celtic, a team in the Scottish Premier League. He is also the captain of the Republic of Ireland National Football team. Although he is known very well for his goals and skills, he is even more known for this famous celebration. Out of all the great celebrations in soccer history; the shirt over the head, the slide on the knees, the fist pump, this may be the best due to the acrobatic skill that is required to even be able to do such a thing. Trust me. I've tried to do a cartwheel. It's not that easy. There are only a select few players besides him who even know how to do it. These players include striker of the Chicago Fire Marco Pappa and striker for Liverpool Fernando Torres in his prime.
-The Phantom

Phantom's Terms

I have been using a lot of confusing terms in some of my posts. For all those who are confused, I hope this will help.

• datred- deep hatred
• drambunctious- dramatic and rambunctious
• efficult- extremely difficult
• glepic- glorious and epic
• hong- hard and long
• inshamed- internally ashamed
• possimpable- where the possible and the impossible meet
• rexhausted- relieved and exhausted
• squick- strong and quick
• vicsational- victorious and sensational

-The Phantom

A Slap in the Face

Weather can be a tricky thing. It can be helpful and fun, and then go all bi-polar and slap you in the face. The latter was the case at today's New Jersey Jackals game. The game was scheduled to be played against league rivals the Sussex Skyhawks. And the game could still be played. It's just that I couldn't stay around as the Heavens unleashed a torrential downpour. Saying it was a hurricane storm would be an understatement. After their whooping last night with a final score of 12-4, I am sure the team would be very excited to face this team. After being 14 games behind first place in the 4th place spot, a win against Sussex would have been extraordinary. However, the rain makes it efficult* to even go outside. Before the game, I had a chance to sit down with Manager Joe Calfapietra, Hitting Coach Eddie Gerald, and First Base Coach Ani Ramos. When asked about practices and how the players are at cooperating, Ramos replied, "We practice six days a week. The seventh day is the off day." As is apparent by this answer, the Jackals play very hong*. When asked about their fourth place position out of 6 teams, Gerald replied, "It's not really where you want to be." That was obvious. So, overall, the Jackals have been dealing with their mini slap in the face and I wish them the best of luck in the rest of the season. However, when I got back inside, I was totally rexhausted*.

-The Phantom

*See Phantom's Terms

Red Bull Gives you Skillz!

When walking onto the field where the New York Red Bulls have their practices, I felt bad for the players because they were out practicing in the heat on a day that was 83 degrees but felt like 183. But they seemed to be having the time of their lives. While doing their warm-ups, they were yelling and laughing like it was recess at an elementary school. As they practiced their free kicks and corner kicks, I tried to think of the perfect interview questions to ask the players, and then I realized. We're in the middle of the World Cup, the most popular soccer event that only happens once every four years! And the player we were interviewing was from South Africa! When asked how he felt about the World Cup being in his home country, defender/midfielder Danleigh Borman (#11) said, "It's really great for the country and the people. There's has been so many issues in the country recently such as the apartheid. It's just unbelievable." Speaking of the World Cup, when asked who there predictions are for Sunday, every player and coach said, with a frank certainty, "Spain." Plain and simple. With a very wide range of diversity and age difference, one may think that it is difficult to get along with the other players. There are players from Ghana, Colombia, South Africa, Estonia, and even some country called Georgia. The youngest player is 17 and  the oldest is 34. Borman, however, disproves that theory. "Juan Agudelo, the 17 year old, is a great kid and a great player, so no. It's not difficult to connect," explains Borman. So, overall, the Red Bulls are a pretty diverse team with a lot of good chemistry. I say good luck to them in all of their conquests and making it to first place.
-The Phantom

Maradona hand of god

Possibly one of the most controversial moments in World Cup history, Diego Maradona committed this play in the 1986 World Cup Final against England. This goal won Argentina the game. Mardona is the one on the left in the blue. Was it a handball? Obviously yes. But the referee said it was. What do you think?

-The Phantom

The Cool Kids are Alright

Bruce Harper has held the record for most kick return yards by a New York Jets player. He has a total of 5407 yards and has been a very key player in Jets history. But who is the man behind the legend? Mr. Harper has currently started an organization called "Heros and Cool Kids" which teaches high school students to be able to mentor younger children. In short, they're be mentored to be able to mentor. Many athletes have gone the non-profit charity route to help those less fortunate. I suppose it is a way to help those less fortunate and find something to do in their spare time. Because really. What else are they going to do? They've played football all their lives and don't know what else to do. Sure, they majored in a certain subject in college. However, without practicing every day by going to a job in their field, it may be difficult to remember all the information they absorbed in their college days. So they figure, how can I help those less fortunate and conquer boredom at the same time? That's were charity comes in!

-The Phantom

To learn more about Heros and Cool Kids as well as Mr. Harper's career, visit this site:

http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/multimedia/video/310-jetting-through-history-bruce-harper-with-karen-keyes