A bit off side re-set

Ok so basically I started to neglected this blog after I started working at LT. Work, School, and Life started sucking up a lot of my time. I barely have anytime to watch a futbol game anymore. I do manage to catch a Chivas and a Barza game about once a week. Anyway I'll leave the door open to possibly write about soccer in the future, but for now I'll be focusing on other things such as: finishing up my Master's, and getting my little side business up and running (more on that in future posts).

USA versus Mexico for September 9th cancelled!

The game between the national teams of Mexico and the USA has been cancelled due to "contractual and financial" reason. More information will be posted later today.

U.S. and Mexico national teams face off for third time this year

The U.S. will face off against Mexico at Aztec stadium on September 9th in a deadly exhibition game (nothing between these two teams is friendly). This will once again stir up fans from both sides into a heated argument on which National Team is better. After winning the Gold Cup the U.S. NT laid an egg at Copa America losing all three of their first round games. Mexico, on the other hand managed, to win third place at Copa America only behind Brazil and Argentina. The U.S. had a slightly better result in last year’s World Cup, where they lost two and tied one. Mexico lost in overtime in the round of 16 against perennial thorn-in-the-side Argentina.

So what gives, does the U.S. focus exclusively on CONCACAF and Mexico? And how can Mexico claim to be the third best team in the America’s when they are not even the best team in CONCACAF? So what National Team is better? Which fans are right?

First off, I have to acknowledge that there is a lot of pride on both sides.
We have to take things in to context. Only people in denial will minimize that the U.S. has been asserting itself over CONCACAF the last 8-10 years. There is no denying that. Until Mexico manages to beat the US in a major tournament, Tri fans will continue to be, well somewhat bitter about the recent U.S.-Mexico history.

Many U.S. fans will argue that you have to handle business at home (CONCACAF) to claim you are better; therefore the U.S. is better because they sit atop the CONCACAF kingdom.

I don't buy this whole "you have to handle business at home" argument. Why, because I've seen examples of the opposite happening all over soccer.
Just to point out one obvious example: Current World Champs, Italy, they didn't "handle business at home" at the EURO in '04. As a matter of fact they were bounced out in the first round. Italy didn't even make it out of group stage. Yet that didn't stop them from becoming World Champs in ‘06. On the other hand EURO '04 champs Greece didn't even qualify for the World Cup in '06. Essentially winning your Regional Tournament guarantees a trip to Confederations and that’s it, nothing more. Losing your Regional Tournament also doesn't mean you are a bad team; Italy proved it. I’m sorry to break this to all the U.S. NT fans, but the U.S. NT won’t win the World Cup just because they won the Gold Cup; take the U.S. NT out of a CONCACAF tournament and well you have a mediocre team. World Cup and Copa America revealed at least that much.

Truth be told, the U.S. NT has been able to capitalize on Mexico’s inability to deliver in big games. Let’s call it Mexico’s Impotence Problem.
Look the “problem” with El Tri is not necessarily the USNT. The biggest problem with El Tri is the fact that they can't win the biggest games; Mexico can't win "must-win" games regardless of the opponent. In Copa America alone, three times third place winner and 2 time finalist, but yet never a winner.

Just look at the World Cup history. Stopped at the Round of 16 for the last 4 World Cups: Bulgaria in Penalties in ‘94, Germany in ‘98(Mex was leading the game), US in ‘02, lose to Argentina in extra time in ‘06 (Mex was again leading the game).

Look at Confederations in '05: lost to Argentina in the semis on Penalties, and then lost the 3rth place game to Germany in extra time.

Here's what I find puzzling. In the last few years Mexico has proven it can beat good teams in Major tournaments outside of Mexico. Brazil in Confederations '05 and in Copa America '07, Argentina in Copa America '04. But all these wins have come in group stages. Mexico has even managed to play major European team to ties at the group stage of World Cups; Italy in '94 and '02 and Netherlands in '98. But again all these have come in group stages.

Mexico has a problem when it comes to Big game, direct-elimination matches in big tournaments, regardless of whom the opponent is; Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Columbia and now the U.S. have been able to take advantage of Mexico’s inability to deliver when it matters most; and that is the Mexican NT biggest problem.
Hugo’s winning mentality? We’ll that’s another post for another time.

Sevilla sign Pachuca's Mosquera to five year deal

Pachuca, current Mexican League champion, made the transfer of Columbian international Aquivaldo Mosquera official today. Mosquera has been transferred to reigning UEFA Cup champions Sevilla of Spain, and will sign a five year deal after clearing medical tests.
Pachuca club president, Jesus Martinez, stated, “I very happy it’s to Sevilla, I very happy for the player (Mosquera) because he’s going to one of the biggest clubs.”
Martinez considers that with Mosquera’s exit Pachuca has said good-by to one of their “idols”; a player that helped Pachuca conquer 3 Mexican League titles, a CONCACAF Champion’s Cup and a Copa Sudamericana.
Martinez added that he wishes “a lot of success to my ‘compadre’ (Mosquera).” Martinez also stated that he would like to give Mosquera a proper good-by from Pachuca and confirmed that Pachuca and Sevilla have agreed to play two friendly matches, one in Mexico City and another in Spain.
Without a doubt Mosquera has been one of the best defenders in the Mexican League for the last couple years. Mosquera’s assets are his strength and speed as well as his ability to shut down the opposing team’s best offensive threat. A Central Defender that is able to control play and set the offense, Mosquera is not afraid to push forward. He is also known for having great individual technical skill; it is not uncommon for him to dribble past opposing players. Mosquera’s skill set is so refined that Pachuca has even used him as a third striker in situations where they’ve needed an extra attacker. Mosquera’s performance earned him the distinction of South America’s Best Defender in 2006. In perhaps Mosquera’s most defining moment on the pitch, he managed to score a stoppage-time goal against Chivas in the second-leg of the 2005 Clausura semifinals which put Pachuca in the finals.

ITV, Sevilla Tie up Mosquera deal.

FOOKING FERGIE. Devils sell Rossi to Villareal

The following was submitted for posting by anonymous contributor.

ok, i am writing without any composure... so it may sound very bad. ugh,,,, my fooking lungs hurt!yes... making way for tevez. as i told endo... either rooney or rossi is gone. rossi sure was the best candidate.he was the best prospect to make it big at ginobili. he was our raul, beckham.. etc. it is good for him, nevertheles.

he would not have pt time at all. he has still miles to go to develop into a cron rooney, messi type, and may never reach that level. however, i wanted him to stay and all the fans i m sure wanted him to stay. he was our chance to see someone out of the youth reserves make it big.

agree... they are clearing room. agree... it is good for rossi. not good for ginobili as previous stated why. in addition, FOOKING FERGIE... saha is hurt; smith is being sold and that is good; ole is old and hurt; teves might not be here; that leaves rooney as the only foward. WTF is going to happen if when (they get hurt)? even though they are healthy, what happens during an injury criris!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!

this may come off bad, and i dont mean no offense to latin american players in genral. but to me, this is the result of today's football - commercialism, business. yes, i accept it. it is a natural progression. the sad result is that is the end of playing players out of the reserves or youth academy. because of strict comptition, where every game counts, players from reserves dont get playing time. ther eis no chance to give away games here and there to give young players a chance anymore. for young players to get pt,,, they ahve to be loaned out or be stolen from other teams after they have proven to be first team at a lesser team - - like torres. but, today's trend is to get players from latin america, more specifically argy and brazil, and now you are seeing mexico and others like peru.i guess you can say that about american basketball.

it is international and HS (well, college freshman) now. that signaled the end for college students trying to play in the nba. there isnt enough space on the squad.

Power Rangers buy Univision, seriously; Televisa bails

Televisa v.s. Univision, Business Week. Very good article, I recommend it.
History of Univision.

Back in September 2006, Univision was purchased by a group of private investors for 12.3 Billion dollars. The group of investers was headed by Haim Saban, the man that gave the world Power Rangers. Emilio Azcárraga, owner of Televisa, had his bid rejected by Univision president/owner Jerrold Perenchio. Perenchio then seemed to back track a little when the bidding period was extended; either to allow Televisa to make a counter offer, or join Saban’s group of investors. Televisa pulled out of negotiations and stated that they would “look in a different direction.”

Televisa was 11.4% owner of Univision right up until the sale. Televisa will now look into a different direction to continue its aspirations of infiltrating the U.S. market. Televisa and Univision will continue to be attached at the hip by an agreement that gives Univision the exclusive right to transmit Televisa-produced content in the United States. Televisa is the largest producer of Spanish content in the world.
Back in May of 2005, Televisa sued Univision. Televisa’s claim is that Univision has failed to pay full royalties for Televisa-produced content. Univision’s response is that they had made overpayments to Televisa in previous years.
From the point of view of analyst, Televisa has a legitimate complaint and has a good probability winning its case.
Ana Gabriela Ocejo, analyst for Scotia Bank Inverlat, stated that if Televisa wins the case, they will be able to renegotiate the current Univision-Televisa agreement to increase the amount of future royalties. The royalties currently received by Televisa seem meager given the tremendous popularity of Televisa-produced programs and “novellas” (soap-operas).

In 2005, Univision unilaterally decided to reduce the amount of royalties paid to Televisa. Furthermore Univision seized payment on non-recurring television specials produced by Televisa, such as Premios Lo Nuestro, and various musical specials. The stop-payment seems odd given that Univision had been paying for these specials for the last 14 years. In addition Televisa claims that in the same year, Univision began “modifying” Televisa-produced programming, in violation of the Televisa-Univision agreement.

Televisa also asserted the right to distribute its content online and prevent Univision from distributing Televisa-produced content online. Univision’s right to distribute Televisa-produced content online expired December 19, 2006. Televisa moved to assert itself as the only online distributor of its own content.

So what does this have to do with Soccer???
Everything! For starters Forbes reports that there is a completely different pact that allows Univision to broadcast Televisa produced soccer games. That pact is set to expire December 2007. Chivas have already signed a U.S. TV deal that gives Telemundo the right to broadcast Chivas home games on U.S. airwaves beginning in 2008. See my other post about Chivas’ new TV deal. By losing Televisa-produced soccer games, Univision will miss out on all Club America, Necaxa, and Club San Luis home games as well as any other team who has a contract with Televisa. This is most likely the reason Univision has just inked a deal with Soccer United Marketing in which Univision will carry 25 MLS games a season, 10 U.S. National Team games and 5 International Friendlies. The Univision-SUM deal began this year and will last until 2014.

Currently the Televisa-Univision case has been postponed until January 15, 2008. Televisa has filled 111,140 pages worth of documents for the case and has petitioned the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles to subpoena records from sponsors like Coca Cola, Procter & Gamble, Lexicon and Wal-Mart in order to show that Univision has made “tremendous” profits advertising these companies’ products on Televisa-produced shows.

Whatever the outcome of the court case the Univision-Televisa partnership has most likely been severed beyond repair. I expect that Televisa will most likely seek a temporary partnership with NBC Universal’s Telemundo, which will probably halt NBC’s attempt to infiltrate into Mexico and create a third major network in Mexico. If Televisa can’t gain full control of Telemundo, I expect them to seriously begin considering forming a 4th major Spanish network in the U.S.

FMF to block players from competing sponsors

FMF will pay some of the National Team players to keep them from filming commercials for brands that are competitors to sponsoring brands of the Mexican National Team.

Mexico’s El Financiero reports that about 10 Mexican National Team players we be paid annually in order to keep the players from filming commercials with brands that don’t sponsor the Mexican National Team.
Rodrigo Lopez, merchandising director for FMF, stated that “we are covering the players that are the most coveted in the National Team, players like Giovanni Dos Santos, Carlos Vela, Pavel Pardo, Oswaldo Sanchez and Refael Marquez, among others. This way we can assure exclusivity to our sponsors."

This news shouldn’t surprise anyone that follows “El Tri”. FMF had to take action after last year’s incident in which Lavolpe along with Kikin Fonseca and Rafael Marquez filmed a commercial for Pepsi, while Coca Cola was the El Tri’s official sponsor. Coincidently, Lavolpe also appeared in El Tri’s Coca Cola commercial which aired two days earlier. Pepsi contracted Lavolpe along with 5 other MNT player right before the 2006 World Cup. There are no rules prohibiting a player or coach from signing an individual commercial contract.

Marquez and Dos Santos are currently signed to Nike. Adidas is the official sponsor for the Mexican National Team. Marquez and Kikin Fonseca are also spokesmen for Pepsi, while Coca Cola continues to sponsor El Tri.
FMF better be careful. If it is ever even theorized that Sanchez is selecting players based on what sponsors they are signed to, it might blow up in FMF’s face.