This organization is using soccer to give low-income kids in Costa Rica a leg up in school

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 Tacos4Ticos is a non-profit organization  that uses soccer as a vehicle for teaching English and building community in Costa Rica. The name derives from two important words among Costa Ricans: “Tacos” is slang for soccer boots and “Ticos” is what Costa Ricans call themselves The organization collects, distributes and donates soccer equipment and school supplies to schools… Continue reading This organization is using soccer to give low-income kids in Costa Rica a leg up in school

Soccer Shops And Spongebob the Musical

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Soccer leagues have kicked off across the city and that means it’s new-boot season for thousands of New Yorkers. Sure, you can buy from Soccer.com or Amazon, but nothing beats browsing irl. Especially since soccer shops look like Spongebob the Musical. About 90% of the boots are neon, the balls are Patrick Star pink and… Continue reading Soccer Shops And Spongebob the Musical

Grease along the Champions League touchline

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A while back, I wrote a post comparing Diego Simeone to Leo “Craterface” Balmudo aka the Bad Guy from Grease. Well, today the Bad Guy from Grease takes on Danny Zuko lookalike Antonio Conte as Atlético face Chelsea in the Champions League group stage.   Conte/Travolta vs. Simeone/Craterface   UPDATE: Conte looks like Travolta, Simeone looks like… Continue reading Grease along the Champions League touchline

Stop the bespoke epidemic in soccer writing

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Remember that catchy 2008 Estelle and Kanye West jam ‘American Boy?’ Kanye’s lyric: “Before he speak his suit bespoke” was the first time I had encountered that cool new word. Bespoke. Nice. I heard the song on the radio, remembered the lyric, hopped on my computer a few hours later, searched the web for the definition and learned… Continue reading Stop the bespoke epidemic in soccer writing

In Poland, vandals mix White Pride with Club Pride

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Good logos are simple and immediately familiar. Easy to replicate, even by drunk guys with spray paint. A beautiful example: The Legia Warszawa logo. A sans-serif capital L inside a circle. See – Easy to scrawl when you’re in a hurry but want everyone to know what team you root for. When I was in… Continue reading In Poland, vandals mix White Pride with Club Pride

In Krakow, arch rivals separated by a narrow field

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Depending on what you read or who you listen to, the Krakow Derby between Wisla Krakow and Cracovia is a dangerous, perhaps deadly, clash plagued by two violent, racist hooligan sects. Or it’s a Must-Experience sporting and cultural event – an eternal rivalry that gets the better of some unruly fans who commit petty theft… Continue reading In Krakow, arch rivals separated by a narrow field

How reddit users helped me get a Champions League ticket on my honeymoon

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Earlier today, Atlético Madrid won a preseason tournament in Germany called the Audi Cup, defeating Liverpool and pissing off manager Jurgen Klopp. (“Atletico wanted to win the cup. We did also, but we also wanted to play football. Atletico only wanted to win the cup,” Klopp said.) The La Liga season begins in less than… Continue reading How reddit users helped me get a Champions League ticket on my honeymoon