If you still doubt the power of blogs, notice that today's New York Times has finally caught up with constant complaining about player's diving ruining the World Cup.  For some reason the author is focused on some stellar acting by Luis Figo when there are far better examples of the power of deceit in what used to be the Beautiful Game  (see every game the Italians play).  I think Ronaldo took about five such dives himself in their loss yesterday.  At least twice, Fatnaldo probably could've scored, or taken a strong shot on goal, if he just stayed on his feed and played with some integrity.

In the first game, we once again were treated to Marcello Balboa's running commentary on the "skill" and "experience" of player's taking dives, or faking injury to "slow down the pace of the game."  Here most of us are hoping for the return of sportsmanship, and former players turned commentators are praising players for their "intelligent play" in flopping at the opportune moment.  Keep it up, and just watch those ratings dive. However, don't expect much action from FIFA, except maybe a Karl Rove-inspired attack on the NY Times for exposing this problem to the light of day while of course, "Helping the terrorists."

For Best Actor in a Diving Film, the Prize Should Be a Card - New York Times

This is my complaint about the way soccer is played today. I love the game, and the World Cup is the greatest sporting event around. But the continual diving or flopping, which has become entrenched, can make acting talent, or lack thereof, as important as soccer skill.

The dives that draw yellow and red cards are not the only ones that matter; the dives that fail to draw the call also take away from the thrill of the sport.

Whatever happened to sportsmanship and winning the right way? I was watching a highlight from the 1970 World Cup in which Franz Beckenbauer of West Germany was fouled hard. What did he do? He got up, helped the defender to his feet and moved on. Wow.

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This was one of those days that epitomized why Americans don't care about soccer.  No surprise, another day, another bad call that cost the "little guys" (Socceroos) their world cup dreams.  The bad refereeing is old news.  With ten games to go, this world cup has already smashed the record for most red and yellow cards in the tournament's history.  However, the story -- or non-story -- today was that over 215 mins. of scoreless soccer was played.  The only balls that "bulged the old onion bag" were those kicked from the penalty spot.  I was trying to be a good worker so I can take a break tomorrow and watch France v Spain, but I was bored by osmosis even with the TV on in the other room.

Switzerland epitomized "The Boring Game" with the dubious distinction of becoming the first team to get knocked out of the tournament without ever giving up a goal (final penalty kicks don't count), and the first team not to score even one penalty during the penalty kick phase of overtime. 

True, this type of dull play may be what drives the interest and ratings down, but my beef is still with the dives players take (especially those Italians).  Today marked the second time I heard an announcer -- Marcello Balboa today -- discuss the "strategy" of taking a dive to get card against your opponent, or to earn a penalty kick.  Italian striker, Fabio Grosso, made a nice move to avoid the initial challenge, but instead of going to goal and possibly scoring (was a tough angle) he went all Greg Louganis.  I mean I haven't seen flopping like that since the old Bill Lambeer Detroit Pistons.

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