Hermann Hesse was born to a devout family in a small village nestled near Germany’s Black Forest. Thanks to his family emphasizing the role of art, literature, and music in nurturing strong discussions and faith, Hesse remained deeply immersed in intellectual pursuits. From an early age he was open to new ideas and different cultures. Ever the iconoclast, he celebrated becoming a father by leaving his young children to explore Sri Lanka and Indonesia. On his return, he enlisted to support for the German side in the First World War, by overtly encouraging understanding and compassion for the prisoners of war he served. He did all this through a carefully developed detachment from personal feelings in dealings with the world that drove others to strong emotional reactions. It might make him aloof and aggravating, but it was certainly a fixture in his view of the right way to live.
While he received the Nobel Prize shortly after the end of the Second World War, he really rose to prominence from the free spirited movement of the 1960s. The countercultural spirit and seeking of truth while releasing attachment spoke deeply to many, and soon young students came to agree with the old fuddy-duddies at the Swedish academy about “his inspired writings, which while growing in boldness and penetration, exemplify the classical humanitarian ideals and high qualities of style”
Works
“Nothing on earth is more disgusting, more contemptible than borders. They’re like cannons, like generals: as long as peace, loving kindness and peace go on, nobody pays any attention to them–but as soon as war and insanity appear, they become urgent and sacred”
“You should not take old people who are already dead so seriously. It does them injustice. We immortals do not like things to be taken seriously. We like joking. Seriousness young man is an accident of time. It consists, I don’t mind telling you in putting too high a value on time. I too, once put too high a value on time. For that reason, I wished to be 100 years old. In eternity however, there is no time you see. Eternity is a mere moment, just long enough for a joke.”
“What is called history at school, and all we learn by heart there about heroes and geniuses and great deeds and fine emotions, is all nothing but a swindle invented by the school masters for educational reasons to keep children occupied for a given number of years. It has always been so, and always will be. Time and the world, money and power belong to the small people and shallow people. To the rest, to real men belongs nothing, nothing but death.
–Steppenwolf (trans. Basil Creighton)
Message
Obviously, there’s a clear link between what Hesse would call radical detachment and what appealed so much to the counter-cultural cohort that adopted him as one of their own. But there’s never just one message, and from what I read, I think there’s one thing that Hesse is attached to: himself and being the fullest version of himself regardless of what others thought. So I would posit his primary theme as a belief that: the road to personal fulfillment is arduous and alienating, but also man’s highest calling.
Position: #9 Striker…with a caveat…
Hesse has some moments of staggering brilliance, individual quotes that can linger for a long time afterward, rather like a goal poacher who strikes and creates a memorable thrill in the crowd. BUT, most of the time people approach him as a genius, and I don’t. I see a rather self-important navel-gazer who has a better rep than he deserves.
To put this in soccer terms, I think of Hermann Hesse as a low budget Ruud van Nistlerooy. But, given the idolization of him, I think he’d probably end up miscast in the #10 role like Leo Messi–someone everyone expects to be a threat to score who can ALSO create amazing goals and support a team towards greatness…only…he never does.
I don’t think I’m a man for “Hot takes” either in sports or in literature, but this might be my hottest one. So let this fire up the comment section (please)
Next Time 1966 was a split prize year! So we’ll do a double in June! First we’ll look at Nelly Sachs!
I spend a lot of time trying to find valuable lessons within soccer for you all, but this time I’m going to try something different. On a recent walk to see the Loons play we began discussing tactics, and Alex realized that his love of soccer mirrors his love of a real hobby (and fictional sport) Bey Blades. I’ll let his words take it from here:
Alex: “I think there are a couple things you can do, if you’re a beyblade or a soccer team. You can be an attack type where you go all out for goal and try to knock the other team out with big shots. You could be a defensive type where you just try to stop the attacks and then surprise them with a goal of your own. You could be a stamina type where you try to outlast your opponent and just let them get tired out…then, in soccer, you can get it in the goal. Or you could be a balance type and do all of them.”
Dear Kids,
Me: “I think balance sounds good.”
Alex: “Yeah, but also you’re just good at each thing and not great at any of them. That can make it easier for teams that do any of the other things to get you.
Me: “I see, what style do you think the Loons are?”
Alex: “Probably a defensive or balance type…but it’s harder to do without Dayne.”
Me: “What style do you like best?”
Alex: “Definitely attack type! They’re the most exciting…but I can see why you’d do something else if you really want to win the game.“
So there you have it. It’s a very solid broad strokes game theory…and I’m happy to say congratulations Dayne St. Clair…you are the Obsidian Shell of soccer…or Obsidian Shell is the you of Beyblades…either way, good company.
Results & Notable Players
Part 1: The Hard Times
If April is the cruelest month, then our teams in Legon seem to be trapped in an endless April from which there is no escape. Chris Junior Narh’s attempted jail breaks from the back line of the Royals to knock in two goals (half of the whole club’s total), only mustered a few points and left the team still anchored to the bottom of the table.
Meanwhile other troubles have befallen Alebrijes mostly of the between season lull variety. Once again the Oaxacans were limited in attack and exposed in defense until they finished their spring season well shy of the playoffs. Israel Garcia and Julio Cruz did help the team get the most points in two years (four campaigns), so we can only hope this is a step in the right direction.
W 1 – D 0 – L 2 ; GF: 4 / GA: 5
But in the Alps there seem to be nothing but missteps for Grenoble, particularly as the Men slide perilously close to the relegation zone. The usually stout defensive line seems to be well shy of its full strength with Gaetean Paquiez and Loris Mouyokolo the most steadfast defenders, but they can’t stop it all. Nor can Jessy Benet be the only functioning piston in the offensive engine (though goodness knows he will try). The silver lining is that the Women’s side has secured a spot in the second division again next year, again, like Alebrijes, looking to make slow and steady progress towards the ultimate goal. Their recent 4-0 win over Nice was (don’tdoit, don’tdoit, don’tdoit, don’tdadjokeinwriting) nice! (sigh…I’m not proud of myself) Kudos to Melanie Chabrier on her double (and sorry to put you in such proximity to such bad writing.
Hommes: W # – D 3 – L 1 ; GF: 5 / GA: 6
Femmes: W 1 – D 1- L # ; GF: 4 / GA: 0
Part II. Hanging Tough
It’s hard to acknowledge that you often have to take the good with the bad, and should expect both for moments of triumph and hours of disappointment. So it is with our next set of teams.
Ross County came in at the bottom of the league, and they’re still there with only one game to play, but a few vital results (including a 4-0 thumping of Greenock Morton) have given them a lifeline if they can only grab it (while their rivals stumble) Alex Iacovitti’s big winner against Ayr and Ryan Duncan’s tremendous game has lifted their spirits…but they may come crashing down again on Friday. Unfortunately, their good showing has come at the same time that the Lasses slip (two straight losses by a total of 8-0).
It’s been a similarly mixed bag for Emelec with the men’s squad stepping up through a superb resurgence of Goalkeeper Pedro Ortiz. He’s had to be excellent while the defense leaks attacks, but there may be hope ahead with 16 year old Luis Fragozo becoming a regular and netting the winner against LDU Quito at the end of the month. If Ortiz is winding down his career, perhaps he can spend some time with the Electricas, who shipped a total of 15 goals over their three defeats in the month (cue jokes about the power going out for Emelec)
Masculinos: W 2 – D 1 – L 3; GF 4/GA: 8
Femininas: W 0 – D 0 – L 3; GF 1/GA: 15
The final club I want to talk about it in this bracket is Rosenborg. It was baffling to find them at the bottom of the March table, but it was the only place for them after failing to garner a win during the opening weeks’ of the Norwegian seasons. They now have wins to their names…but are still playing catch up: a rare place for the most decorated men’s side and most consistent women’s team in the country. Eivor Ulvand ran the show from the striker spot to help the women beat Honefoss, but they squandered that same momentum against Aalesund. Meanwhile, Ole Kristian Selnaes has been an immediate impact player for the men after missing the first few games….unfortunately he’s only one of eleven, so there’s still more to do.
Kvinner W 1 – D # – L 1; GF 2/GA: 1
Menner: W 1 – D 2 – L 1; GF: 3/GA: 4
Part II. Flying
Then there are the teams that are on strong runs of form and looking for all the world like, you know, professional soccer teams. You could make a case that Freiburg have actually just been solid, but the fact that Julian Schuster shepherded his team to two cup semis (both Europa League and the Pokal) can’t be ignored. The offense beyond Vincenzo Grifo is developing nicely as Igor Manatovic has been clinical, Yuito Suzuki is a lightning bolt and Johan Manzambi is poised for a massive breakout. Plus I’m growing especially fond of Jan Niklas Beste’s cult figure status as Europa League whisperer. (The women were largely idle this month)
Herren: W 4 – D 0 – L 3 ; GF: 12/ GA: 11
Frauen: W 0 – D 0 – L 1 ; GF: 1/ GA: 4
Meanwhile, the team that topped our table last month (Punjab) have continued to show plenty of strength, thanks in large part to the stoutest defense in all of the subcontinent. Despite saying farewell to club legend Luka Macjen, Nigerian Nsungusi Effiong is quickly writing his own name in the history booksz. But defense remains the hallmark of the Indian team members with Bijoy Vargehse and Khaimintang Lhungdim forming the strongest part of the line while benefitting greatly from two way player Manglengthang Kipgen.
W 2 – D 0 – L 1; GF: 8 / GA: 4
Closer to home, Minnesota clearly made a big bet on bringing in a South American sensation to capture the hearts and minds of cold midwesterners. The trick is, it isn’t Golden Ball winning James Rodriguez, but veteran winger Thomas Chancalay (though to be fair veteran of Los Loon like stalwart defender Nicholas Romero and leader creator Jaoquin Pereya have been impressive contenders too).
I was a little wary when James finally started and played a majority of a game against LAFC last weekend, but he showed staggering array of skills for a man older and less comfortable than most of the more consistent players. Try as he might, he just could not get a goal or carry teammates into a position to deliver the same. The bigger question now is can the team find some way to fill up the pitch with all their most talented players? (And please…give Bongi some more playing time)
W 4 – D 1 – L 1 ; GF: 7/ GA: 3
The final team to talk about is the one with the most at stake: FK Vozdovac. After a tepid run in after the winter break, you might have seen a clear limp in the Dragon’s gait as they began the Championship Round (against the other top 6 teams). That was certainly apparent in an opening loss to Loznica. With only four matches left and no room for error, they came out like a house on fire during the last week of April. It started with a thumping of Jedinstvo Ob (5-1) and was shortly followed with a drubbing of Zemun (3-0). Jasin Rasljanin came away with three goals over those two games and Nenad Lukic with two more. It’s unclear to me if the promoted teams are the top 2 from this set of 5 matches, or for the season as a whole. But either way, a match Friday against Macva Saba (their direct competition for promotion) will be seismic.
W 3 – D 0 – L 1; GF: 10/ GA: 3
Looking Ahead
It’s getting down to squeaky bum time, so let’s consider the leagues that will wrap up before our next post.
In Ghana, it’s all over but the crying, each and every Legon player is doomed to the drop.
Things are pulse-pounding in Scotland, as County needs a win on the final day and an Airdreones loss or draw to sneak out of the trap door and buy themselves another bit of life (A super big win against a stout Raith Rovers and they could even slip past Greenock Morton to avoid the playoffs for relegation.)
Vozdovac has two games left to seal their return to the top flight, but they’ll be playing against some heavy hitters and has to face two teams they haven’t beaten this season. Freiburg has a lot to do in a short span of time, but they might want to get a move on if they want to make it to Europe (either by passing Frankfurt for a top 7 spot, or by winning the Europa League and going up to the Champions League). And then there’s the wildness of India’s pell mell competition, where Punjab who have to go out and play 5 matches in three weeks.
Grenoble needs at least one result to save themselves from the drop. With multiple teams withdrawn or in forfeit mode I think the Electricas should be okay…but I have no certainy about the final out comes.
While 9 teams will be done for the summer soon, Minnesota Aurora kicks off their season in the middle of May
Standings
A very rare occurrence where the Loons and the Dragons have the exact same standings.
Because, apparently, any aspiring writer needs “a brand” these days, and since my natural “brand”–is sports/book nerd, I took a little time to put writing into visual form with a Mock Draft for the Nobel Prize featuring a round table discussion of who could be the pick in October.
I’d write more about that, but it would defeat the point of making a video of it in the first place. I hope you enjoy.
The 16th and most recent (for now) French Nobelist is one of the oldest winners for the Nobel, which makes sense as a she plumbs the depths of her personal experience for her writing. Her works frequently cover her own lived experiences as auto-socio-biographical or memoir-style composition. Her childhood in Normandy was marked by a young girl’s stressful and shameful agonies of post-war trauma in a misogynist patriarchy. Her adulthood, as a teacher and author, has been marked by stressful and shameful agonies of a modernizing world that retains many old power structures.
Why Ernaux’s work stays fresh…
As the patriarchy remains dominant (if a little more discrete) she has had plenty of fodder for her writing. Covering everything from traditional families and romance to assault and marginalization, her works were specially marked “for the courage and clinical acuity with which she uncovers the roots, estrangements and collective restraints of personal memory”.
Works
With as short and direct as Ernaux’s prose is, I’ve been able to listen to a couple of her works Happening, and Shame. Her writing is often blunt plain, one of her books includes the explanation: โmy writing is still confined to the language of the past. I shall never experience the pleasure of juggling with metaphor or indulging in stylistic play.โ Still, her writing has an honest beauty.
“I realize this account may exasperate or repel some readers. It may also be branded as distasteful. I believe that any experience, whatever its nature, has the inalienable right to be chronicled. There is no such thing as a ‘lesser truth.'”
“Among all the social and psychological reasons that may account for my past, of one I am certain: these things happened to me so that I might recount them. Maybe the true purpose of my life is for my body, my sensations, and my thoughts to become writing. In other words: something intelligible and universal causing my existence to merge into the lives and heads of other people.”
–Happening
“I almost feel I am committing a sacrilege replacing the sweet landscape of memory…by a far harsher one that strips it of all magic but whose truth cannot be questioned.”
โThe worst thing about shame is that we imagine we are the only ones to experience it.โ
โShame
(Side bar–that last line about shame might need to be my personal mantra)
Message
There are a lot of assumptions that Ernaux’s work and message is limited to women and others who suffer directly from misogyny. But one thing that stands out on reading her works is how the pain and difficulty she faces stems from revisiting and reviewing her life and how, despite the pain, there is power and meaning there. We all face those moments, and they can cut us to our core, but if we can find some of the strength that Ernaux does we’ll be well-served. Memory is informative and inescapable.
Position: #7โLeft Wing
I was torn on where to put Ernaux. Her plain Marxist leanings put her on the left for sure. She’s short in her prose, direct, and a little blunt, which feels defensive.
But her bluntness is confrontational, challenging, and uncomfortable. Much more like an attacker. She questions and challenges tradition more than I think would be appreciated by the other French winners (looking at you Prudhomme and Simon)–so let’s call her a winger with some wingback tendencies.
What do you think? Given that Ernaux scrupulously avoids rooms with soccer matches on, I figure she doesnโt careโฆbut feel free to prove me wrong Madame Ernaux (or literally anyone else).
Next Time (back to our 80th anniversary winner!) 1946 Honoree–Herman Hesse
BONUS!
I started making videos about these posts, feel free to watch it here, or on the YouTubes
I realized recently that I feel guilt and shame about what I like to do with my free time. Soccer is long and not always exciting. Wrestling often doesn’t reflect my values. Writing, reading, studying languages, solving crosswords, and running are all great for me personally, but they’re utterly inconsequential to helping others or building a better world.
In that light, you might wonder why I keep doing this project. Why not stick to things that matter?
Dear Kids,
Because, the things we love matter too.
Conveniently, after reading a pair of Italian Nobel Laureates this year, I found the original (reputed) source of a widely used quote in Italian manager Arrigo Sacchi
“Football is the most important of the least important things.”
Inigo will “no be moved” either
Right now there are many “IMPORTANT” things happening. War, injustice, corruption, dehumanization. The guilty part of me feels like maybe: I should teach about those issues; take you to protests in the streets; get you writing your congress people now in the hope of stemming the tide of cruelty in the future. I think I should not just talk about sports ball.
And yet…This is where I am, and this is where I stay. I will not be moved.
In part because proponents of war, injustice, corruption, and dehumanization try to pass off their contempt for others with the misdirection of organized sports events (see World Cup 2018, 2022, 2026) and calling that out rebuffs their slight of hand and reclaims our joy. In part because savoring the joy of human life helps to anchor why we fight for it.
And perhaps most of all, because in the midst of all the madness, I got to take you both to matches this month. I got to share snacks, and jokes, and laughs, and dances with you. And those are the most important things…so, football might not matter, but what it connects us to, definitely does.
Rosenborg, Punjab, Minnesota, and Emelec all started their seasons in earnest this month. Of those sides only Punjab really seems to be ready, and given the long layoff before the season started in India, that makes sense. While longstanding talisman Lucka Macjen left the team during its interminable offseason, Nikhil Prabhu is ready to step up…or was until his injury. But defenders Khaminthang Lhungdim and Bijoy Verghese both have stepped up wonderfully to help the team (and in Verghese’s case himself en route to a national team cap). Plus defensive midfielder Samir Zeljkovic has already chipped in plenty of offense with an assist and goal.
Meanwhile both Emelec and Rosenborg have balanced fine debuts for their women with rougher goes for the menfolk. Irene Dirdal and Marie Kristine Vik combined well in the first match, and Beate Marcussen looked to provide a fulcrum in the second but the team wasn’t able to shut down opponents chances. At the same time that inconsistency would be welcome for the men who (after falling to Molde, Valerenga and getting dumped from the League Cup) has been consistently awkward.
In Ecuador, Los Bombillos have had better luck but also seem dependent on Miler Bolanos and Romario Caicedo caputring the old magic to mixed effect. Meanwhile the women are looking to be putting together a campaign as professional as their ptich as they stand solidly in the middle of the table after beating teams they should (and struggling against top sides)
Punjab
W 2 – D 2 – L ; GF: 7 / GA: 2
Emelec
Masculinos: W 1 – D 1 – L 2; GF 3/GA: 5
Femininas: W 2 – D 0 – L 2; GF 4/GA: 7
Rosenborg
Menner: W 0 – D 0 – L 3; GF: 2/GA: 8
Kvinner W 0 – D 2 – L 0; GF 2/GA: 2
Finally amongst the newbies, it behooves us to take a little time to talk about the team that we’re closest to. But the clearest lesson is that the Loons have definitely missed Dayne St. Clair. The goalie of the year’s departure for Miami and Messi makes logical sense, but its also put extra pressure on the defense to figure out how to organize themselves while new keeper Drake Callendar gets to know them and Michael Boxall works back from an injury. Anthony Markanich still looks like a dynamic and undervalued full back, but the actual offense hasn’t done much to fire up their engines or the crowd as we all shiver in a Minnesota spring.
Among the teams that already had matches to their credits, it was a rough showing for both Grenoble and Freiburg who simply could not find any consistent form. The Frenchmen have been winless since the end of January, and the women might be in real trouble if it weren’t for three straight second half equalizers (including two straight stoppage time savers from Laurine Baga and Graziella Mazza.
Freiburg’s struggles came on opposite ends of the field. The women could not get the attack into gear, finding the net once in their first two matches. To be fair, they do have a young attack with the front four in both matches fielding nobody younger than 24. While the men’s defensive inconsistency, putting a lot of pressure on Noah Atubolu. Fortunately Igor Matanovic did put together a good attack to help them get another win in the league.
Grenoble:
Hommes: W – D 2 – L 2 ; GF: 2 / GA: 4
Femmes: W 0 – D 3- L 0 ; GF: 3 / GA: 3
Freiburg
Herren: W 2 – D 1 – L 3 ; GF: 10/ GA: 10
Frauen: W 0 – D 0 – L 2 ; GF: 1/ GA: 4
For the rest of the sides there was a similar ebb and flow to the month. With several great showings and some disappointments.
Alebrijes has long struggled with their offense, but seem to have a strong squad to show up this year with Jose Franco netting two in a win, 19 year old Jesus Bustos with two in a loss, Hecor Mascorro and Fernando Morales again in match where they get the lead before needing a late winner from Bubakarry Fadika. Meanwhile Vozdovac put their focus on the defense with defender Nikola Jankovic in the right back spot has been the most consistent contributor to the Dragons defense. Finally the Staggies continue to just barely avoid the bottom of the table after a couple of collapses, but the women’s side clicked in a big way with 15 goals unanswered (7 of which belonged to Rhea Hassock).
Sadly, we should also mention both Legon Cities sides who had plenty of disappointments and not a lot of great showings with one point from 7 matches. The Royals gave up 9 in a row to the same component over two matches, and only Eden Kofi Asamoah’s two second half goals against against Samartex saved it from being a month long shutout for both teams.
Alebrijes
W 2 – D 1 – L 2 ; GF: 10 / GA: 16
Vozdovac
W 2 – D 1 – L 2; GF: 4/ GA: 3
Ross County
Lads: W 1 – D 2 – L 3; GF: 5 / GA: 9
Lasses: W 3 – D 1 – L 0; GF: 17/ GA: 1
Legon Cities:
Premier Team: W 0 – D 1 – L 3 ; GF: 2 / GA: 8
Divison 1 Team: W 0 – D 0 – L 3 ; GF: 0 / GA: 12
Looking Ahead
April will feature two big splits as teams in Scotland and Serbia fight against the other sides in line for promotion or relegation (as the case may be). Right now County is in real trouble, while Vozdovac is in the thick of their scrap as well. Meanwhile it’s all over but the crying for both Legon clubs as more relegation awaits….but maybe they’ll just buy another team to make it three?
At the same time the World Cup will kick into the next gear as the final six teams book their spots in the group stages (assuming, as named above, more ridiculous political theater doesn’t derail it further). I’d love to say Vincenzo Grifo could finally get some international acclaim, but as he’s 32 and hasn’t played with the national team in 3 years, it’s sad to say that he’s probably past it at this point (which just means more for us!)
Standings
I think it’s worth noting that Punjab went from last to first this month, while two time cup winner Rosenborg is bringing up the rear (even including the mess at Legon Cities)
Like her fellow Italian winner Giossue Carducci, Grazia Deledda was fierecely proud of her local community. Unlike Carducci, who spread his wings to write about the whole world around him, Deledda was stayed on Sardinia and write about the world around her and the people in it. That specificity was critical to both inviting the world into the (often inhospitable) island and appreciating the same for everyone’s appreciation and awareness.
She received her award in 1926 for her ability to picture the life on her native island with depth and sympathy, defying easy categorization and assumptions among visitors. That PR Blitz full of hometown pride is not uncommon (and, was in Deledda’s case supported by world class twit Benito Mussollini).
Works
I read Deledda’s short but truly beautiful story The Mother in which the titular mom fights for her son’s (the local priest) soul. There is a lot of quiet desperation, but also aching love both parental and romantic (between the son and his illicit paramour).
Man is a hunter and Woman his prey.
Little by little, desire crept into that love of theirs, chaste and pure as a pool of spring water beneath a wall that suddenly crumbles and falls into ruins.
He was unhappy because he was a man and was forbidden to lead a manโs natural life of loveโฆ. Then he reflected that pleasure enjoyed leaves only horror and anguish behind it.
ยโThe Mother
Message
Deledda relished everything about Sardinia and captured the essence of the spaces that are both protected from danger and deeply insulated to the point of endangering themselves. That definitely reminded me of Montana, where the mountains, and scrub brush make people both leery of and loving to outsiders. To me Deledda’s message sounds more like this: “we can all appreciate each other more and judge each other less.”
Position: #4 Center Back
Try as she might to be inclusive and appreciative, Deledda was born a home with a hearty distrust of others. That combined with her solid (though unremarkable) writing suggests the career of a true center back. Her writing doesn’t push many boundaries or reinvent the wheel, but it is prepared to do what it takes to protect her kith and kin.
Monthly plea for interaction goes here!
Next Time: We dart back to the present to honor one of 3 women honored by the Nobel within the last 6 years. Annie Ernaux (2022), c’mon down!!
When your mom went on a special trip with her friends a few weeks ago it was time for an OPA celebration (Owen, Papa, and Alex). We did some special stuff that I’m much more likely to encourage: we ate a lot of meat, practiced burping, and watched pro wrestling.
O’s Hero
I have a soft spot for the not remotely subtle science, and I can’t help but want to share it with you particularly when my favorite match of the year, the Royal Rumble, is in season. So, we watched, and Owen discovered a new hero: The Boogeyman (also known as Martin Wright).
Owen has long had a soft spot for the bad guys: the Sanderson Sisters, Scar, the Saja Boys, so I’m not overly shocked that a monstrous, worm-eating, figure of fear is the wrestler who sticks with them. What it made me realize though, is that, in sport (and sports-entertainment) there isn’t really one bad guy and one good guy. There are just favorites and foes.
Take the case of Ecuador’s biggest rivalry where our side (Emelec) faces their neighbors (Barcelona) in El Classico del Astillero (the battle of the shipyards). Emelec is vaunted, celebrated, and successful. But they’re widely seen as interlopers, funded by a wealthy foreigner (American George Capwell) and ignoring their actual community.
My Hero
I will still cheer for Emelec, but I can fully acknowledge that others never will. In the same way, I’m actually delighted to hear that Owen’s selected champion is a spooky-wooky monster. Who cares if everyone else responds with fear, disgust, or opposition. Your favorite is your favorite, O. Enjoy it…just like I cheered until Andre the Giant was bodyslammed by Hulk Hogan and everyone else screamed in joy.
It can be tempting to think that we only cheer for the good guys, or that our opponents deserve to lose. But that’s not a fair way to view the world. I can see well reasoned arguments that there are absolute rights and absolute wrongs in some particular areas (treatment of other humans for instance). But shows, entertainments and sports aren’t one of them. So feel free to like who you like, and respect that others will disagree.
All around it was a rougher month for the teams, with most teams struggling to win more than a single game (though, to be fair, several teams only just got off the line…or in the case of Vozdovac forgot to score, or in the case of Emelec, got postponed).
Once again, Noah Atubolu is the biggest name in the conversation, (goal)keeping Freiburg in matches where the rest of the defense struggles to hold a consistent line. Jessy Benet, long a favorite of this website, seems to have a new midfield running partner in Yadala Diaby who is creating lots of chaos and lining up some impressive shots from distance. But the men’s undefeated month really owes a lot to Loris Mouyokolo and Clement Vidal who have stepped up to the vital Center Back positions with ease.
The other team with the most points this month is Alebrijes! Julio Cruz has been more of a super sub this year than his usual lead attacking self, but it’s been working with Hector Mascorro running the show. (I very much want to heap praise on the Ur-Royals’ Forward Makhmud Bansi Isaak who netted twice more than the top division team this month…but the second division Royals also lost 3 games despite scoring 6 goals….oof)
The women’s sides continue to play a strong team game, with Freiburg’s defenders Julia Steirli and Lisa Karl running both sides of the ball, Melanie Charbonnier and Laurine Baga serving the attack in a big derby win against Thonon Evian. And I’m choosing to believe that Ross County’s four goal deluge to notch their first win of 2026 was inspired partly by the goalkeeper “Sofia” who also helped them stem the tide against Arbroath. I’m rooting for her to start a trend of one-named Scottish wonders like “Ederson” or “Marta” only colder.
Looking Ahead
Good luck Coach C!
In the rush of the end of the year I missed some major news out of Missoula where Chris Citwoicki (the superb Griz coach) chose to take his talents to the higher profile and better funded Washington State University up the road in Pullman Washington. Genuinely, Citowicki is a very nice guy and an excellent supporter of his players. It seemed inevitable that he would be going on to bigger things so we wish him well. But this month the Griz got a new coach in Stuart Gore. Gore came to the US from England for college and then as a coach won a lower level national championship in Ohio, a conference championship in Louisiana (with the Northwestern State Demons–an old favorite logo of mine) then Troy in the dangerous Sun Belt conference. We hope he continues what’s going well and continues supporting the toughest team in Big Sky Country.
Sadly, I won’t be attending the World Cup this summer as your uncles and I did not with the lottery, but Alex did try out for his team again so I’ll be having fun regardless.
Emelec will kick off their new campaign in early March after an unexpected stadium related delay (that’s been going around as Punjab had the same issue on their first match day). While Rosenborg hopefully won’t have any such problems as both the men and women start fresh.
Finally, our fondness for Tottenham Hotspur is being tested by something approaching gross incompetence, but our beloved Julie Blakstad is now on their women’s team, so we’re committed again.
Giossue Carducci is as Italian as it is possible to be. The man came from a family of revolutionaries in Tuscany who abhorred separated rule (including the deeply revered Pope) and insisted on the chance for federal unity among Italian regions. Those strong opinions suffused his work, a massive collection of poems that revived some of the classical and pagan world but brought them to bear with more modern (for the time) language.
While Carducci was probably most honored to become a Senator with in Italy’s newly independent system, he was widely appreciated by the Nobel committees becoming a unanimous selection by the committee in 1906 (over the much more widely read Leo Tolstoy). He was cited most plainly for his “creative energy, freshness of style, and lyrical voice”. He was buried in Bologna where he was a professor, and his tomb sits facing the stadium of Bologna FC (literally, one block away).
Works
Satan alone lives. He holds sway in the tremulous flash of some dark eye,
Or the eye which languidly turns and resists, or which, bright and moist, provokes, insists.
He shines in the bright blood of grapes, by which transient joy persists,
Which restores fleeting life, keeps grief at bay, and inspires us with love
You breathe, O Satan in my verses, when from my heart explodes a challenge to the god
Of wicked pontiffs, bloody kings; and like lightning you shock menโs minds.
–Hymn to Satan–
Message
Carducci was as political as he was poetic, and the citation for his “lyrical force” was a very considerate way of describing what sometimes feels like a diss-track master for the turn of the last century. If I were to sum up his message from the poems I read it would probably be something like: “F*** the system, bros…LIVE FOR THE NOW!!”
Position: #9 Striker
With this much aggression and energy, Carducci makes the most sense to me as a Striker, making him the first pre-1980 laureate I’ve put at the point of the attack. I’m aware that his legs have decayed a lot more than other options for the goal scorer, but Carducci’s old school style of doing what has long worked is a good match here. (Like Lucas Holer)
I started writing these notes to you when Owen was still small enough to fit in the crook of my arm, and Alex’s favorite activity was chasing the vacuum cleaner, and while that seemed simple…handling both of you (and a vacuum cleaner)…navigating a pandemic was not.
Dear Kids,
It has stayed hard.
Through murder, unrest, insurrection, division, deceit, venality, corruption, and now an armed invasion again (and that’s just in our country…never mind the terror, invasion, and war crimes abroad), things are hard, have been hard, and will likely remain hard.
When everything is hard, it is so easy to get discouraged, to get mean, to get angry and cold (especially in Minnesota in January), which is why I take heart from the little things.
Ross County is in a hard place. They are struggling to get points of any kind. They have conceded more goals than any other team in their division this year, and they look likely to be demoted for the second straight year.
Alex wants to stop ICE with ice and bologna.
So Alex Iacovitti didn’t need to do this. He could have just let the ball go past again…let the team lose 2-0 instead of 1-0. But he did what he could, he threw himself into the situation and managed to help. Iacovitti’s play is sweet…and a very tiny glimmer of the energy and effort that we and our neighbors are throwing at the situation in Minnesota now.
As federally endorsed officials attempt to detain and expel other Minnesota residents, we have seen senseless brutality and violence. But, I also see breathtaking effort, love and care when your mom and so many others stand in the freezing cold to keep kids safe on their way into your school. I see it in your aunt and uncle fundraising and gathering groceries for other families in their day care. I even see it in the two of you making posters to protest and tease the officials who are imposing their interests on our community.
I don’t know if Alex Iacovitti would be with us in lending help and support to the people in need. But I know that I love living and working with a bunch of people who would, no matter how bad things are, rush back to try to clear an attack away.
Freiburg leads the charge out of the gate in our 2026 season, with Vincenzo Grifo (big shock) being a talisman in attack; Goalie Noah Atubolu stopping both Hamburg and Koln; Matthias Ginter and Christian Gunter offer goal opportunities in the defense (attack and pk to fight back).
Grenoble sits second with a big pair of goals of the bench getting the ladies in to the round of sixteen before the bowed out to Strasbourg. But we’ll also tip a cap to Claudia Fabre who got the winner against Guingamp and Gaetan Paquiez who saved the day in defense before sending in two assists to steal a point against Pau.
Ross County’s Alex Iacovitti has already gotten his flowers, but we’ll also shout out Jay Henderson whose two goals gave the Stags their first win in the league since October. And honorary mentions to the last teams on our list including Rauf Muna with two goals to get the Wonder Royals their first points in six attempts, and Jair Cortes delivering a late equalizer against Cancun.
Looking Ahead
The biggest item on my horizon is finding out if your uncles and I will be attending a World Cup match in Philadelphia this summer. But we’ll also watch as each of these teams builds into fuller form and Minnesota United kicks off their new season with a change in veterans, goalies, and even coaches, while Punjab (maybe) kicks off (maybe) on Valentine’s Day (unless something weird happens…which with Indian soccer…it will)
Standings
Team
W
D
L
PPG
GFA
GAA
Freiburg
4
1
2
1.86
1.00
1.00
Grenoble
3
1
2
1.67
1.00
1.50
Ross County
2
0
3
1.20
0.80
1.00
Legon Cities
3
0
5
1.25
1.00
2.13
Alebrijes
0
1
1
0.50
0.50
2.00
Emelec–b
0
0
0
—
—
—
Montana–b
0
0
0
—
—
—
Rosenborg–b
0
0
0
—
—
—
Minnesota–b
0
0
0
—
—
—
Vozdovac–b
0
0
0
—
—
—
Punjab–b
0
0
0
—
—
—
Table Updated 1/26/26 b–Team is between seasons x–Team is finished playing for 2025
Abdulrazak Gurnah is one of only two black African authors to win the Nobel prize. Unlike the Nigerian Wole Soyinka, he was born and raised on the Eastern coast of the continent in the Sultanate of Zanzibar (part of present day Tanzania), but had to flee the country shortly after he finished his high school education due to an overthrow of the Islamic ruler of the island.
Displaced from his home, Gurnah was pushed into life as a refugee, in a moment that clearly shaped (but did not dictate) his work thereafter. He immersed himself into studies of literature and became a professor first in Nigeria and then at the University of Kent. Throughout this time he also wrote a small selection of lauded and awarded novels (though they weren’t considered big sellers) leading both him and others to believe the announcement of his name was “a prank” or “a joke”. But the Nobel truly did award him โfor his uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continentsโ.
Works
I read/listened to his latest novel: Theft, and liked it enough that I’m certainly planning on reading/listening to more later. A few key quotes I loved:
“Does beauty like hers make its own rules, disregarding responsibilities and duties?”
“What do these people (foreigners/tourists/volunteers) want with us? Why do they come here? They come here with their filth and their money and they interfere with us and ruin our lives for their pleasure, and it seems that we cannot resist their wealth and their filthy ways … Volunteer! You see them in their big new cars, bringing us their goodwill. They should stay in their own country and do their goodwill there.”
(This is as perfect an encapsulation of my old colleague’s claim that I and those like me were part of “the New Raj”)ย
Message
Obviously, as someone who spent several years teaching in post-colonial systems and studying the legacy of British colonialism, I’m biased…but fortunately, so is Gurnah, so we’ll get along fine. Impressively, if unsurprisingly, he doesn’t opt for a simple lesson about that flag planting frenzy, instead I’d say he turns a careful eye on the human scale of the shifts and argues colonialism’s legacy lives on in those with a will to power who adopt its lessons.
Position: #3 Left Back
Gurnah reminds me of a full back, he’s wide ranging, flexible and fluid, able to react to whatever is thrown at him. He often reacts to the world that is flung in his face, but he can still cut in and be dangerous in a way that echoes Tolstoy, Ishiguro, Jane Austen and Scotland star Andy Robertson (yes, I linked a Liverpool player to Leo Tolstoy and I stand by it!)
In another crass attempt to get someone to leave a comment on my posts, I’ll just point this out: Gurnah makes 4 Left Backs, but I only have 1 Right Back and 1 Left Winger…am I going to hard on the position I played back in my AYSO glory days? Or have I been fair to put progressive/socialist leaning players on the left?
Next Time (pingponging back from the most recent decade to the first one) 1906 Honoree–Giossue Carducci
MacKenzie's Boot Room 