Soccer Superstar Cites UM MBB as example for Spain in World Cup
Now here is a strange tie-in, but it works.
If you didn't hear, yesterday Spain FIRED their coach on the veritable eve of the World Cup. They are one of the top 4 contenders, filled with tons of talent. They were embarrassed at the last WC (lost the first game 5-1, didn't make it out of the group), and are looking to not only redeem themselves but possibly win it again. But now, they are using an interim coach. Their coach was fired because he had the audacity to take another gig for after the WC ends -- frankly, the best gig on the planet, Real Madrid.
Sound weirdly familiar?
One of their superstars, Pique, sees the parallel to UM's 1989 basketball championship:
http://www.espn.com/soccer/spain/story/3524899/gerard-pique-draws-inspiration-from-michigan-basketball-after-spain-fire-coach
I particularly liked that he related to us in Spanish. Just seems weirdly cool.
If you didn't know that our team's basketball history is known to European soccer stars, well -- now you do. I'm sure some of you were losing sleep over that question, in fact. Rest easy.
Now I have a team to root for
Now I have a rooting interest.
3.0 is killing me...
User name checks out
Now I'm looking forward to the WC.
Well played Gerard.
Spain trying their best to overtake France 2010 WC drama.
Nothing can top that dumpster fire.
That is true. So far there are no reports of a potential player boycott or players getting in altercation with staff.
Don't forget that Domenech apparently used astrology to choose his roster. Not only could he not control his locker room, he was just plain nuts.
That was my first thought this morning when I saw the news Spain had fired their coach. Funny that Pique knew the '89 team
Funny, my first thought was, "A Spaniard will coach Spain!"
I'm impressed that Piqué 1) knew about Michigan basketball at all and 2) knew an almost 30-year-old story about M basketball.
Go Spain!
You know, if Spain had Glen Rice bombing some long goals as a Midfielder, they might be able to pull out this World Cup.
Love this story. Go Spain, and...
Sorry, Pique, I've got Portugal and Iran advancing from your group.
That is a bold move picking Iran. Portugal is probably going to advance from group stages, but I can see them being upset by Morocco. Will see if they can keep riding a super defensive style past the group stages.
Spain should easily advance from the group stage. They have oodles more talent than Portugal.
I'm sure their boss wants a Spanish Man coaching Spain!!!
/BTW, why isn't "Spanish" spelled "Spainish", did some staee fuck up that spelling long ago and it stuck?
Why is it French instead of Franch?
As much as I love Pique, I seriously doubt he knew that off the top of his head. What I'm sure he does know is how to Google for precedent...
Good Karma for Spain.
Totally piqued my interest about Spain's team. Cool.
I already liked Pique as a player this is cool to see. On another note screw Ramos he's a dirty Mofo and he's the one reason I can't stand Spain. Germany will win the cup
Ramos is not a generally dirty player. The takedown of Mo Salah was terrible, but Ramos is not known for that kind of play. He plays tough, but not dirty.
Portugal's Pepe, on the other hand... He's a piece of shit.
Ever since Pepe has left Real, Ramos has taken that role in my opinion. Im not too sure if thats accurate but every time I have watched him this year he plays a lot more aggressive. But yeah, Pepe is a dirty mofo I would hate to be a forward going up against him.
Ramos is absolutely known for dirty play. He is the most carded player in La Liga history.
Is there some sort of soccer tournament going on? Is the U.S. expected to win?
Yep. I’ve got money on them going undefeated.
He must be on here.
This is great.
It is, of course, also entirely appropriate. The circumstances are shockingly similar.
But then the 1989 Michigan Basketball team is the only team I know of in sports history that won a title under when their coach was shown the door for reasons other than incompetence. So they basically have to go there because there's nothing else.
If Glen Rice gets out there and starts hitting bombs from 35 meters I'll begin to believe.
Was the coach fired because his taking the job with Real Madrid shows a lack of focus on the World Cup or because of some conflict of interest regarding players on the Real Madrid roster?
Bo firing Frieder made sense, but the Spanish National Team does not compete with Real Madrid.
Vivan los ganadores
Heroes conquistadores
¡Viva! ¡Viva! Michigan
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