All the best to the Malaysian national team. You guys did good the last time. Make it better this time.
I would have gone to Singapore today but the Cameron Highlands trip was a little bit too exhausting for me. Worry not though for my heart and mind are there with you.
Go get ’em Tigers.
The ASEAN Championship match between Malaysia and Singapore was a match that I eagerly anticipated. Despite that, I only managed to catch the second half. Yesterday had been a busy day; one Board of Directors meeting and then my CEO’s birthday on the same day. Busy but fun. Well, not quite busy but whatever. I caught the first half review nevertheless. The second half was entertaining but the result — one all — is tremendously disappointing.
Pardon me for being a pessimist or an unpatriotic bastard but I did not place too much hope on the national team; the team’s past performance is not convincing. Upon watching the half time review though, I was surprised to find out that Malaysia was dominating the game. I am unsure if it was the case of Malaysia performing well or Singapore waking up with a fever but Malaysia was dominating nonetheless.
The scoreline at halftime was zero all.
The second half time proved explosive.
Malaysia continued to dominated and the deadlock was finally broken when a Malaysian player by the name of Hardi scored. It was a fantastic, beautiful, surprising, superb goal. The curve of the ball path and the distance the ball travelled make the goal all the more astounding. It is not everyday I could witness a goal like that – not from the Malaysian team. With that goal, Malaysia took the lead. A glorious lead befitting a glorious goal.
I was watching the game quietly right up until the goal. The goal animated me. I was clapping, shouting and my blood was circulating greatly that I thought I was having a heart attack!
It was a fantastic feeling that I do not think I remember having since the Michigan-Michigan State match at the Big House. It was ecstasy. What was better, Malaysia continued to harass the Singaporean that it seems that it was Malaysia up against Brunei or some other lesser regional team.
The way the game was going, a Malay would say, “harapan menggunung tinggi melangit.” Well, I am unsure what a Malay would say really but the phrase seems catchy.
With surging expectation going beyond rationality, Singaporean equalizer struck a mighty blow. I do not think the goal should have gone in. After all the spectacle, the goal went in too easy. But I am speaking as a couch potato. And I think Shebby spoke too much.
Malaysia continued attacking nevertheless. It was amazing how the players kept on fight. They realized that the game had not ended yet and certainly were not ready to throw in the towel yet. Why should they?
They were highly spirited. I had not seen that in the national team for a very long time. It was a contagious feeling and I was shouting at the top of my lungs.
As anger and frustration was mounting, I tried to pick fault with all the Singaporean players. Especially the Singaporean player Precious – an African giant – audaciously pushed a Malaysia player for the ball. He was given a yellow card but the referee should have given that guy a red. And, the red card for the Singaporean captain was freaking marvelous.
And then I thought, damn, how many imported players does the Singaporean team have? Two, Three? Five!
Whatever it might be, the game was great. I wish the Tigers all the best. Let us beat the Lions in their own den!
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Not even close.
Florida — yes, Florida — owned the field it wasn’t supposed to be on, embarrassing Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith and No. 1 Ohio State 41-14 on Monday night to run away with the college football national championship.
I am not sure who is in a more embarrassing situation now — Michigan or Ohio State.
If it had not been for the earthquake, I had wanted to listen to the Rose Bowl online. Alas, the earthquake severed the the internet in this part of the world and thus, prevented me from listening to the game.
Perhaps, it was a blessing because Michigan lost to USC 32 – 18 in the Granddaddy of Them All:
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — There were no Heismans or national titles up for grabs in this one for Southern California. It was hard to tell, though, given the way Dwayne Jarrett, John David Booty and that suffocating USC defense played.
Jarrett, the sensational USC receiver, caught 11 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns to help the eighth-ranked Trojans finish their season with a statement Monday in a 32-18 Rose Bowl romp over Michigan.
When was the last time Michigan won a bowl game?
I cannot remember.
The NYT describes the Rose Bowl record of the Wolverines and the Trojans:
PASADENA, Jan. 1 — No game in college football’s postseason has more historical resonance than the Rose Bowl. Southern California’s 32-18 victory against Michigan on Monday maintained two long-standing hallmarks of this prestigious event.
No team has won this game more than the Trojans, who raised their Rose Bowl record to 22-9 since their first appearance in 1930. And no team has lost this game more than the Wolverines, who fell to 8-12 since their first trip here in 1902, the first time the game was played.
Bah! I just hope the Buckeyes would screw Florida through and through in the national championship.
Nigel Reo-Coker answered Alan Curbishley’s call to do his talking on the pitch by grabbing the winner in the West Ham manager’s first game in charge as they beat Manchester United 1-0.
A great way to start the week.