Socrates. The Loss of a Legend 23/12/11

One of the most talented players in Brazilian history died on Sunday morning. Socrates, a former attacking midfielder and captain of the Seleçao, has died after a serious intestinal infection.

One of the icons of the 1980s has left us forever. Sampaio de Sousa Vieira de Oliveira, otherwise known as Socrates, was 57 years old and big brother of ex-Parisian Raï. He died on Sunday morning at the Albert Einstein hospital in São Paulo, following a serious intestinal infection for which he had to be hospitalised on Thursday. The much feared outcome of his unfortunate alcohol problem, which he acknowledged in September after a second hospitalisation in three weeks (to treat a digestive hemorrhage), came as a consequence of over-consumption.

But along with his image as a rangy attacking midfielder, as well as being the symbol of the incredible national team that he captained at the 1982 World Cup, Socrates leaves behind him a void in Brazilian culture. A true anomaly among his peers, this tall bearded man made a success of what has become almost unthinkable today, by studying for a degree in Medicine during his professional playing career. His stature, intelligence and especially his elegance with the ball at his feet all made him a perfect ambassador for the sport, for the largest country in South America.

A political and social role

He had a role which he carried forward to the social and political scene, engaging publicly in his own way against the military dictatorship which prevailed at the time (1964-1985). With Wladimir, then other partners, he founded the Corinthian Democracy which called for a decision suggested within his own club, Corinthians, to be adopted after a vote by the players.

At the time when nobody in Brazil wanted to publicise a great desire for freedom, this political change within the league’s flagship team (then in the sporting doldrums) was made in the collective footballing memory of Gilberto Gil’s country, a man who had written a song in homage to this atypical democracy. ‘Democratia’ was a word seen in 1982 on the players’ jerseys, including Socrates, as it made itself public. Socrates smoked one packet of cigarettes per day and sometimes a cigarette at half-time. A legend, one might say.

Source text written by William-Alexandre Proust of Sports.fr. See the full French article here: http://www.parismatch.com/Actu-Match/Sport/Actu/Socrates.-La-disparition-d-un-mythe-360529/

 

Nicole Scherzinger – Lewis Hamilton: A new change of course? (03/11/11)

According to the Daily Mail, the ex Pussycat Doll and the former Formula 1 world champion have recently separated, following rumours of an announcement of their engagement last summer.

It’s very tough to follow Formula 1, and even more difficult to take to the wheel of 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton’s racing car. He was the youngest champion in the history of the sport, before having the record snatched from him by the precocious Sebastian Vettel. From that point on they have lived and worked in parallel with each other, striving for the seemingly impossible. According to the ‘Daily Mail,’ the beautiful Nicole Scherzinger finally threw in the towel after four years of a relationship that invoked jealousy in more than one member of the paddock. Long distances apart were apparently the cause of the break, if we believe the English tabloid. The former Pussycat Dolls singer now wants to focus on a dual career as a musician and actress, and will be working as a judge on the ‘X Factor.’ An anonymous source also informed the ‘Mail’ that they realised their relationship was impossible to maintain, with such demanding commitments.. The anonymous informant said, “They remain very good friends and it was an amicable break-up.” And in an effort to dismiss any speculation, Miss Scherzinger made sure to deny on Twitter all rumours of last summer’s engagement …

BACK TO 2010

Our two lovebirds had previously separated in January 2010, already tired of having too little time to dedicate to each other due to their busy schedules. A month later, on Valentine’s Day, the couple surrendered to the obvious: they couldn’t live without each other. So they decided to fight for their relationship. Lewis actually told the BBC that he had made up with his sweetheart. “I just wish Nicole could be in Bahrain with me, but she’s a long way away,” he said. “She’s currently working on her album and has a busy schedule, so she’s working hard. If she can come, so she surprised me and it will be fantastic, but I know she has to work, so maybe next time, “had he resigned, before concluding on a positive note: “When something is worth doing, we must do everything possible to make it work.” Things finally broke down again a year and nine months later.

Source text written by Yannick Vely. See the full French Article here: http://www.parismatch.com/People-Match/Sport/Actu/Nicole-Scherzinger-Lewis-Hamilton-nouvelle-sortie-de-route-345423/

 

The diesel-powered Blues (13/09/11)

The French team beat Japan 47-21 in Auckland on Saturday, asserting themselves as contenders for the World Cup. But despite six tries from Pierre (5^th minute), Trinh-Duc (12^th), Clerc (34^th), Nallet (71^st), Papé (78^th) and Parra (80^th), the Blues’ performance was far from reassuring as they wilted for much of the second half.

The Blues played with fire against Japan. We thought it would be a great game for the French, and the six tries they did manage to score would have one believe that it was a walk in the park. This wasn’t really the case, particularly during the painful second half. The French team had been growing impatient over the few days leading up to the opener against Japan. The French let fly at the start of the game with a breakthrough by Estebanez, then a first scrum driven forward to claim their territory. This made a significant impression, and was swiftly reinforced by the first try of the match. It began with Médard and led to a series of passes between Mas, Lakafia and finally Yachvili who gave it to Julien Pierre, who took it across the line. Yachvili converted to make the score 7-0 in the 5^th minute.

When Arlidge missed the first Japanese penalty of the game in the 11^th minute, the Blues kept up the pressure with an interception by Trinh-Duc who then ran the length of the pitch down his wing to score a second try. This took the score to 12-0. The Blues were in a good position after the try was converted for 14-0. But the Japanese then opened their account with a try from Arlidge to make it 14-3. Despite this, Yachvili was not put off and he earnt his team two penalties, pushing the score up to 20-3. After a Japanese attack, the stand-off half didn’t stop bringing misery to the French – he tried a forward kick which was met by Trinh-Duc, but the ball fell back into his hands and he ran to 32^nd minute try, for 20-8. At the time it seemed to be of little significance, but this could not have been more wrong.

Even though France managed to strike one more time, with Heymans passing to Rougerie who sent it out wide to Clerc for the 3^rd French try, (25-8 in the 35^th minute), the following period would prove to be much more nerve-racking. At half time after a penalty scored by Arlidge (25-11), Marc Lièvremont voiced his disapproval live on TF1: “Five line-outs, five decent runs, there’s not much to smile about. We are ill-disciplined. It’s all well and good to be winning by such this margin, but I expect more from them.” An analysis of the Blues’ problems which perfectly describes the… second half! Whether or not the selectors had obviously moved players around during the break, the effects were only temporary.

Ten minutes, three tries, ouch!

The French team started the second half with Harinordoquy crossing the line with three Japanese players on his back, including Taniguchi who stopped him diving to the ground (43^rd minute). Nallet then scored another try, this time from the pack. It looked like a well-earned three points, but the video referee disallowed it… And following this strong period by the French was a black hole! The Blues’ form dropped off dramatically, and the Japanese suddenly looked sharp. Then James Arlidge took advantage of a number of missed tackles to record his second converted try, leaving the score at 25-18 after 51 minutes. A softly-conceded try is as unpleasant as it is unexpected.

Everybody in the stands was feeling the tension, and Marc Lièvremont’s first changes couldn’t stop prevent the Nippons worrying the French. The Japanese enjoyed a very strong spell and attacked the French line hard. Arlidge took advantage of the good play by scoring a penalty in the 57^th minute, for 28-21. The host of difficulties faced by the French led to Skrela leaving the field, having hardly been part of the game. He was replaced by Parra who would soon make his presence known. Whenever Tupuailei made a brilliant twisting run, the Blues were forced to try and make progress of their own.

This attempt at progress began with a penalty taken by Yachvili which pushed the French to a 7 point lead in the 67^th minute, before three tries in the final ten minutes. Nallet, Papé and finally Parra contributed to a somewhat misleading score line, with six tries and the bonus point that goes with it. It could be said that the undermining paid off. Though that is not exactly what an angry Lièvremont was thinking. “I am not relieved, rather angry. I’ve got a feeling of déjà-vu. We have to make use of the work we do in training, respect our opponents and respect ourselves,” he said through clenched teeth on TF1. We’ve lived up to the expectations much better in other games. The selector always knows that his team will come out fighting.

Source text written by Michaël Balcaen of Sports.fr. See the full French article here: http://www.parismatch.com/Actu-Match/Sport/Actu/Des-Bleus-au-diesel-equipe-de-France-331287/

 

Kobe Bryant, once again confronting his Demons (23/08/11)

The basketball player is said to have attacked a young man in a church.

Did Kobe Bryant openly attack a young man in a church in San Diego? Whatever the case may be, that is what twenty year-old Thomas Hagos (the supposed victim) is accusing him of. According to the local CBS outpost, the L.A. Lakers star was at the Saint Theresa of Carmel church in San Diego on Sunday, with his family. That is when he came across Thomas Hagos. Thinking that the young man was taking a picture of him, Kobe Bryant rushed towards him to try to seize the mobile phone. He claims he returned the phone to its owner after saying that he didn’t want any photos taken of him. The sportsman supposedly then left the church. But Thomas Hagos claims he had to go to hospital with a minor wrist injury.

The police want to talk to the star

According to the Los Angeles Times the San Diego police would like to question the player. Firstly, the inquiry team want to hear the victim’s version of events. But on Tuesday a San Diego police spokesman made it known that they, “Want to hear from both parties,” The interview with Thomas Hagos is expected to take place next week. The Lakers defender’s lawyer, Mark Campbell, suggested that his client, “Is fully aware of the unjustified accusations against him and is ready to defend himself.”

This isn’t the first time that Kobe Bryant, already thirty-three years old, has made the headlines for reasons other than his exceptional sporting ability. In 2003, he had to defend himself against accusations of rape brought against him by a nineteen year-old hotel employee. That particular legal affair eventually collapsed. The supposed victim, Kate Faber, effectively refused to take part in proceedings. In the face of rumours surrounding her sexuality and various threats, the young woman preferred to abandon the case. At that time, Kobe Bryant released a statement to remove all ambiguity. “Although I genuinely consider our relations to have been consensual, I realise now that she didn’t and still doesn’t perceive the incident in the same way as me.” And if Kate Faber did indeed start a legal procedure against the basketball player, it came to nothing: the two parties made peace through private discussion.

Source text written by Gabriel Daunadou. See the full French article here: http://www.parismatch.com/People-Match/Sport/Actu/Kobe-Bryant-accuse-d-agression-dans-une-eglise-323129/

 

Swimming: A Relay Record! (02/08/11)

With the silver won in the 4×200 relay this Friday in Shanghai, the French team who rank 4^th in the world have already amassed their best World Championship medal total, with seven so far. In the hunt for this most recent prize, the foursome of Agnel, Stravius, Mallet and Gilot beat their own French record by nearly five seconds, surpassed only by the high-flying United States of Phelps and Lochte. 

“The 4×200 metre relay is a great strength of the country.” Be it Grégory Mallet or Fabien Gilot, the French relay team didn’t hide their pride in having earned the silver medal in this discipline. “I had told you not to underestimate this relay,” recalls the Marseilles hotel boss. This medal represents a record for the French team, who had never earned so many medals in a World Championship. With a total of seven so far,
including two golds, won in the same race (100 metre backstroke) by Camille Lacourt and Jérémy Stravius, the Blues are giving rise to a beautiful story. It is a tale which could continue this weekend.

And to earn this status of second best in the world, the French foursome completed a wonderful performance, enabling themselves to open up a gap of just under five seconds over the previous French record (7’04”81 versus 7’09”70). “We really wanted this medal. It brings us great joy,” declared Yannick Agnel, the man responsible for a great first leg, finishing in front of a certain Michael Phelps. “The work pays off.”

Stravius: “We took great pleasure in this.”

Jérémy Stravius, already a medal-winner in the 100 metre backstroke singles, has again proved himself to be very impressive after maintaining final leg lead, having caught up with the Yankee Richard Berens. “We did a super relay,” panted the Amiens man. “We enjoyed the build-up, but also the swimming. That’s what makes for a strong relay.” This energy inspired Fabien Gilot, still far from being a
specialist in this discipline and victim of a truncated preparation period, to try the impossible in last position. “I took that as a mark of respect,” he said. “I was so much in my own race that I even believed for a moment that I would keep myself up alongside Lochte.”

As things were he only managed that for 150 metres. “It’s far from being my speciality, and that was evident by the finish. Being second best in the world, that’s good,” explained the Frenchman whose performance justified the respect of Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, the American superstars. “I get on well with Ryan, he’s a cool guy, we’re quite similar people. We tapped fists before the relay. Leaving the podium, Michael asked me if I was going to enter the 200 metres,” he recalls. “The other countries respect us more than before.” By pushing the Americans all the way, the French team has importantly booked its place inLondon.

“I am convinced they’re beatable,” suggests Gilot, full of hope for the 2012 Olympic Games. “It’s not bad, what we’ve already achieved in two years, and that gives us ideas for the future. There are good things coming our way.” That can be said not only for the 4×200, but also for the entire French team who still has some cards to play – notably Camille Lacourt in the 50 metre freestyle and the 4×100 relay swimmers – in completing the medal haul.

Source text written by Benoît Conta of Sports.fr. See the full French article here: http://www.parismatch.com/Actu-Match/Sport/Actu/Natation-Un-relais-record-!-318427/