While the Men in Blazers take a break, we thought you might enjoy the following poster that perched above Producer Greg’s bed in Nebraska for many, many years. The Official Unofficial Poster of the 1994 U.S. National Team. Denim kits. Nonchalance. A head of hair for Brad Friedel. And mom jeans. Lots of mom jeans.
Fashion Icons.
(Source: meninblazers)
He couldn’t take the U.S. to the next level, but we hope he does well in Africa.
In the ever-elusive environment that is African football, Egypt are the winners. They may not be the best, but they’re winners. They may not have the talent to match the Ivory Coast or Ghana, but the 7-time winners of the African Cup of Nations won’t back down against anybody. That’s precisely why if you’re an Egyptian football fan, these past few months (and even years) have been rough as can be. Egypt’s success on the continent has been nothing more than a tease for those hoping to see the best of African football on the world’s stage. Winning back-to-back-to-back African Cup of Nations in 2006, 2008, and 2010, their failure to perform on the biggest stages in international football has left even the most passionate supporters incredulous.
Just two weeks ago, minnows Sierra Leone knocked Egypt out of the African Cup of Nations qualifiers, so the Pharaohs can’t even defend their title. Before that? A failure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Before that? A failure to advance out of the Group Stage of the 2009 Confederations Cup despite a brilliant 1-0 victory over Italy. Perhaps the Confederations Cup, as well as the objective values of motivation and a winning mentality, is where this story begins.
“Up or down, in or out, what happened Saturday isn’t important. This is not about winning or losing. America’s strange relationship to soccer is never about winning or losing. (At least it won’t be until we start winning.)
No. This is about something else.
This is about America’s existential soccer crisis.
Or maybe soccer’s existential America crisis.
Not entirely sure.”
- The winner of Miss Congeniality in a regional beauty pageant.
- An Eastern European police chief.
- The mayor of a small Midwest town, presiding over a parade in the ’50s.
