countdown to euphoria... anxiety

In exactly two weeks the 2010 World Cup will begin in South Africa.  For soccerheads, Christmas comes only once every four years.  But it lasts a month.

These two weeks are going to feel interminable, though.  It can't come fast enough.  The trick is to stay busy until kick-off... not to give into the anxiety.  That will come soon enough once the tournament begins.

So this morning, while trying to keep my mind off the fact that I have to wait yet another two weeks before the start of the matches, I came across these cool World Cup murals done by the am i collective based out of Cape Town, who were hired by Portland, Oregon ad agency Wieden + Kennedy through ESPN.  The 32 murals, inspired by wonderfully cheesy Ghanaian movie posters from the 1980s, symbolically show the respective warriors of the pitch ready to take the ultimate crown of the only game that matters.  Vanity Fair magazine also did a piece on it and you can see more of the murals here.

ja! ja! ja!

Now where's my scotch?

bradley's boys at the white house

Yesterday coach Bob Bradley announced his 23-man World Cup squad live on ESPN--generating plenty of controversy at the same time--and earlier today Bradley and the squad were guests at the White House.  President Obama, former President Clinton (who is a US Bid Committee Honorary Chairman), and Vice President and all-around shit disturber Joe Biden met with the team and... well, it bodes well for the sport in this country, I think.  You keep comin' a long way, baby.

one born every minute

asshole

Main Entry: ass hole
Pronunciation: \'as-,(h)ōl/
Function: noun
Date: 14th century
1 usually vulgar : Anus
2 a usually vulgar : a stupid, incompetent, or detestable person b usually vulgar : the worst place--used in phrases like asshole of the world

-- Merriam-Webster   

In William S. Burroughs's classic novel Naked Lunch, there is a scene, a routine really, about a man who taught his asshole to talk.  It's brilliantly funny, upsetting, and acidic in that Burroughs way.  Monty Python on smack.  For years I thought the piece was nothing more than fiction.  Yes, the world is full of strange, unbelievable wonders.  But surely this was just Burroughs riffing off of some make-believe routine he used to do for friends.

I was wrong.

A man named Barney Ronay has mastered the trick.  Unbelievable indeed!

And after you read about that incredible piece of human ingenuity, you can read a measured and thoughtful reply.

one door closes...

Looks like Real Madrid have axed Manuel Pellegrini as manager of the team. Madrid performed well last season in La Liga and gave the reigning champs Barcelona trouble throughout the year. But when "The Special One" makes it clear that he would love to manage the team... not to mention stick another shiv in the hearts of Barça and their supporters...you don't deny him. No one puts José Mourinho in a corner! No one!

apm on twitter

Oooh... fancy.  Although we're pretty good with the typewriter/computer thingy, we're not the most tech-savvy.  We're stubborn.  Somehow apm managed to get a twitter account started up.  I know, I know, baby steps.  What next?  A facebook page?

So if you're at all interested... follow us over at that place where everyone talks about eating a sandwich and sexting and all those other things the kids are doing.

http://twitter.com/aprettymove

materazzi and mourinho: a tearful farewell

Whoa. Does this mean the hearts of Jose Mourinho and Marco Materazzi aren't two sizes too small? This may force me to recalibrate my entire worldview.

Expect to hear word of Mourinho's appointment as Real Madrid manager any day now, natch.

We are coming back... just in time for the 2010 World Cup.  Take it as something to look forward to or just another thing to make you angry.  But it's gonna happen.

Hope to see you here too.

Cheers,
the apm gang