Famous Soccer Referees

Soccer is one of the most popular sports in terms of worldwide fame.  It has bred several international superstar players and it is home to one of the most popular sports tournaments in the world: the FIFA World Cup.  However, soccer is not only known for famous players and famous tournaments.  It is known for famous referees too.  Read on for a list of some of the world’s most famous referees and some of their major accomplishments.

Ken Aston was a soccer referee from 1936 to 1963.  In 1940, during the war, he has to stop the game he was refereeing because of too much bombings that went on.  In his autobiography, he mentions that he was the only soccer referee in world who used a helmet when working soccer matches.   His most famous, and most important, accomplishments though came in his role as Chairman of the FIFA Referee Commission.  As chairman, he was responsible for the design of the modern uniform of soccer referees.  He was the one who included the fourth arbiter into the game and he was the one who change the flag colors of the side referees to make them easier to see.  Best of all, Ken Aston was the one who was responsible for the inclusion of red and yellow cards into the game of soccer.

Pierluigi Collina is “Kojak”.  He is easily recognized as the soccer referee with the bald head.  He is regarded as one of the most famous referees of soccer.  His relationship with soccer started as a player when he played for a local team in his native Italy.  It wasn’t long though before he realized his real talent lay in being a soccer referee.  Collina first shot to stardom was when he was chosen to referee the championship match between Argentina and Nigeria in the 1996 Olympics. Other important matches that he refereed include the 1999 UEFA Champions League final and the 2004 FIFA World Cup which was a match between Germany and Brazil.  His fame as a soccer referee even reached over to video games when he was included in popular soccer video games such as FIFA 2005 and Pro Evolution Soccer 3.

Arnaldo Coelho is the first non-European referee to ever officiate a FIFA World Cup Championship Match.  This Brazilian referee was able to accomplish this feat by being the lead official in the 1982 World Cup Final between West Germany and Italy.  His career as a professional referee started in 1965 and by 1968, he was already able to get himself included in the distinguished list of FIFA referees.  Throughout his career, he was selected to officiate in 7 World Cup matches including back to back selections in 1978 and 1982.  At the height of his fame, Arnaldo David Cézar Coelho was said to be the World’s highest paid soccer referee.

Said Belqola is a Moroccan referee.  He is the first African ever to referee in a FIFA World Cup Finals Match. This happened when he was chosen to be a referee in the 1998 World Cup Finals match between France and Brazil.  That same year, he also refereed in the African Nation’s Cup.  Later, the French Football Federation offered financial help to Belgola in exchange for the ball that was used in the 1998 World Cup Final.  He agreed to this proposal and donated all of the money to charities in his native country.  Said Belgola died in 1998.

American Football

What is American Football?

Known in the United States simply as football, this is a sport played between two groups of 11 players each. Each team tries to score points by moving forward the ball into the end zone of the opposing team through some techniques like running with the ball or throwing it to a teammate. In the US, American Football takes the forms of a high school football, college football, and professional football. The high school football is governed by the National Federation of State High School Associations, while the college football by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The professional football, as the American Football, is under the governing authority of the National Football League (NFL).

The origin of American Football can be traced to 1892 during a match between the Alleghemy Athletic Association and the Pittsburg Athletic Club, which the latter won. When Pittsburg became professional, the National Football League was organized in 1902 to become as the first professional football league in the US. Records show that American Football is the result of many changes in the rules governing rugby football, especially those developed by Walter Camp, an American football player, coach and sports writer, who is known today as the Father of American Football.

Using a ball that is pointed on both ends, the sport is played on a flat grassy field measuring 360 feet by 160 feet or 120 by 53.3 yards (109.7 x 48.8m) with boundary lines  and opposite goal lines near each end of the field. Beyond each goal line is the end zone, which is a scoring area that extends 10 yards (9.1m) apart. The field has two goal posts called uprights built at the back of each end zone and connected by a crossbar 10 feet (3.05m) above the ground. The game starts with a coin toss that determines which team kicks off to begin the game or which goal each team will defend. The team that wins the coin toss will have three options, that is, to choose to either kick or receive the opening kickoff, to choose which goal to defend, and choose to defer its first choice or have the choice to start the game’s second half portion. As in the start of the first half, the options to kick, receive or choose a goal to defend are again brought out by the referee with the team captains, one of whom gets the first choice of options if his team did not choose first to start the first half.

It may interest you to know that the players of American Football have highly specialized roles in the game for both the offense and the defense lines. The offense has the offensive line consisting of five players who are tasked to protect the passer and clear the way for its runners by blocking the defense players. Also playing for the offense are the quarterback, running back, a wide receiver and a tiger end. The defense, on the other hand, has the defensive line consisting of three to six players positioned immediately across the offensive line, to try to occupy the offensive linemen in order to clear the way for its linebackers.

Real Madrid

Real Madrid is Spain’s most successful soccer team which the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) named as the best club of the 20^th century in 2000. With the nicknames Los Merengues (The Meringues) and Los Blancos (The Whites), it is also the richest club in the world with a revenue estimate of US$400 million. It is the world’s most popular football team and one of the “winningest,” having a record 31 La Liga titles and nine Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League titles tucked under its sleeves.

Early years to the 20^thCentury. The club’s present status is carved out through its checkered history. Founded in 1902 as the Madrid Football Club, it started slow, winning its first Spani8sh championship to beat the Bilbao Athletic Team in 1905. In 1931, it won its first league, followed by a winning streak for a few years. In 1943, it prevailed on FC Barcelona by 11-1 after losing its previous match to the same team 0-3. Seven years after opening its own Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, it again won the league this time against Valencia in 1954. The year 1961 saw the club achieving the feat of being the team with the most league wins at 24 out of 31 games. In the Spanish league in 1995, Real Madrid again prevailed on Barcelona 5-0 before winning the UEFA European Cup in 1998 and being named the best team of the 20^th century by the FIFA in 2000, and celebrating its 30^th league win in the 2006-2007 season.

Current Players and Team Honors. Real Madrid’s current players could not be the best in the world but they are considered as star players for pooling their resources together in making the club win most of its games against equally prestigious teams in football. They include Iker Casillas, Jerry Dudek and Jordi Codina as goalkeepers; Michael Salgado, Pepe and Sergio Ramos as defenders; midfielders Mahamadou Diarra, Fernando Gago, Cristiano Ronaldo, a men’s shampoo endorser, Arjen Robben, who is dubbed as the club’s “flying wing,” Gati, Von der Vaart, Sneijder, and Drenthe; and strikers Raul, team captain, Van Nistelrooy, and Gonzalo Higuain. Along with the club’s early players, they have helped the club achieve the following team honors: (a) 30 Liga titles between 1931 and 2007, (b) 17 Copa del Rey victories 1904 to 2007, (c) Seven Spanish Supercup titles, (d) Two Latin Cup titles, (e) Nine European Cup titles from 1956 to 2002, (f) Three Intercontinental Cup titles, (g) Two UEFA Cup titles, (h) One European Cup victory, (i) Two Pequeñas Copa del Mundo victories in 1952 and 1956; (j) One Copa de la Liga title in 1985, (k) 12 Regional Championship titles from 1904 to 1929, and (l) 14 Santiago Bernabeu trophies. The club also collected trophies for winning the games from 1949 to 2003, with the last two trophies for winning the Naranja championships in 1990 and 2003.

                        

Camel Trophy: The Legendary Four-Wheel Vehicle Rally

In the past, there was no better way to have the most exhilarating and the most daring race but to engage in an event like Camel Trophy. One will not simply experience an ordinary expedition but a combination of competition and quest that offered a rewarding and meaningful experience.

Camel Trophy’s Historical Accounts

To better appreciate the wonders and the thrills brought about by Camel Trophy, know that the legendary four-wheel rally of vehicle has a modest beginning. There are good stories to hear about Camel Trophy and when you learn about them, you will completely appreciate and honor its worth.

One of the most famous rally events in the world, Camel Trophy in 1980 was initiated by three teams of Germans who drove along the reputable Transamozanica Highway. The tour started in Belen and ended in Santarem, Brazil.

The initial plan of the organizing teams was to simply promote a one-off event and they called it Camel Trophy. But, it went massive as the spectators and the participants saw how great the event was. More future plans of rallies were perceived and they materialized after ensuing events followed suit year after year until 1998. But, the final Camel Trophy waterborne event came to its end in 2000.

Everybody who participated in the rally immediately acquired the spirit of becoming a part of the Camel Trophy legacy. The results were all favorable even though many believed that the rally defied rules for the purpose of going beyond the standard.

The Vehicles and the Participants

To be able to understand the competition, you have to understand the players or the participants first. Camel Trophy was for adventure-seekers. Yes, there was a competition in every rally as every team had to prove their mechanical skills in driving and controlling their 4x4. Land Rover vehicles took over the rough and tough roads for twenty years of Camel Trophy’s history.

Some of the famous Land Rover vehicles driven by competitive drivers include the Range Rover, the Defender, the Series III, and Freelander, and the Discovery. All the vehicles have to be conditioned and modified heavily to handle extreme expedition. Recovery and safety equipment were installed in the vehicle to provide functionalities and support.

The participants of the rally must exhibit exemplary qualities. According to Iain Chapman, Camel Trophy’s Event Director for a decade the participants as a team must have the following attributes: “mechanical skills, endurance, courage, stamina, perseverance and resilience against the worst that nature could offer.” He further reiterated that the vital stress should be taken into account because the rally was “more toward testing human endurance and adaptability than pure competition. All participants were amateur and anyone, over the age of 21 from a participating nation could apply to take part – provided they did not hold a competition driving license or were full-time serving members of the military. The essentials were fitness, common sense and an adventurous spirit.”

Paris Dakar

An epic ride that is.  Pakar Dakar is the former name of what is now recognized as the Dakar Rally or “The Dakar.” What is it?

It pertains to the Dakar Series rally race that is held annually to highlight the rules, the fun, and the extremities of an off-road race. The Dakar is organized by Amaury Sport Organization.

Incepted and established in 1978, the Dakar Rally had gone a lot with the aim of crossing borders. The first ever race started in Paris France to Dakar, Senegal. The rally continued to thrive but like any other races, it had its ups and downs as well.

During the 2008 Rally, there were threats against the security in Mauritania, where the next rally will take place. So, the organizers had been left with no option at all—the 2008 Rally was cancelled. But in 2009, a record was set for the history of Dakar Rally because it was run in Argentina and Chile and these were the first two South American countries to be considered for the race. Until the present time, the Dakar Rally is still celebrated and hold in South America.

More Interesting Facts about the Dakar Rally

Basically the Dakar Rally is an off-road race that aims to test the endurance of the participant drivers. Such patient is required in traversing the rough terrains. Every competitor has to be as tough as the road. Their vehicles had to be properly conditioned. The real challenge for the drivers and competitors would be to overcome the tests ahead of them that include mud, camel grass, rocks, and other obstacles that are all part of the off-road topography.

In Paris Dakar which is commonly addressed as the Dakar Rally, there are three major groups of competition. The first would be the motorcycle category or class. The second competition would be under the car class wherein the car may pertain to a small SUV or a buggy. The third and last competition would be the truck class.

Tough challenges are ahead of the off-road race, drivers and competitors, including the manufacturers had to take advantage of the hard-hittingterrains. This is done to test the ground and to determine if the vehicle will be able to successfully illustrate strength and flexibility. This is the reason why many vehicles used in the Dakar Rally have to be deeply modified or built with specific functions and capabilities.

The Intensifying Scenes Off-Road

When you watch the Dakar Rally, you will savor every moment especially if you are fond of witnessing how drivers overcome the most difficult terrain. The fun even goes more intense when vehicles are all over the places and are being driven by the most courageous spirits.

Dakar Rally is an extreme race that has to be carefully monitored. Though there will be less fun when there is less or no clashing and smacking of vehicles at all, the organizers are the most vigilant people when it comes to security and safety. This is the reason why there is a stringent selection process for race enthusiasts before they finally get in.

Results of the 2012 London Olympics (SPORTS)

Before the year ends, the world has witnessed the biggest event of 2012, and it wasn’t the Oscars or the hit movies such as the Twilight Saga, Avengers, or Batman. What it is then? It was the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and there is no question it had the world completely gripped until the medals were awarded and the deserving athletes took the center stage.

The Proud Countries and their Medals

The Olympics resulted to a lot of controversial news that have become even more sensationalized because it was trending in Twitter, mentioned in Facebook status updates, and shown on YouTube. Instagram also took the spotlight for many upload of Olympic photos and images. But the highlight of them all was not the regular attendance of the celebrities like the royal couple, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, or the presence of Queen Elizabeth in the opening ceremony.

Still, the limelight was directed at the athletes who did their best in making their country proud and the people of the world who were hooked in watching the Olympics until the closing ceremony. Interestingly, Chinese athletes got the most media attention especially with the news of how the China government pushes its athletes to strive for the gold or strive for nothing at all.

So, which countries garnered the most number of medals and who are the athletes who shine brighter than the night stars?

1. The United States of America took the most number of gold (46), silver (29), and bronze (29) with a total of 104 medals.
2. In spite of all the controversies and drama, China took home the second most numbered of medals with gold (38), silver (27), and bronze (23) with a total of 88 medals.
3. Great Britain earned gold (29), silver (17), and bronze (19) with a total of 65 medals.

There are also athletes who gained recognition for their individual performance and as many have expected, Michael Phelps made USA proud with 4 gold medals and 2 silver medals. Another swimmer from USA in the name of Missy Franklin took home 4 gold medals and 1 bronze medal.

Apart from the countries with most number of medals and individual athletes who shine real bright, there were also some names that will continue to become part of the historical 2012 London Olympics, whether or not they are recipient of Olympic medals. These names include the following:

1. The triumphant Brownlee brothers who took gold and bronze in triathlon gave the world the most tear-jerking story Olympic story.
2. Wojdan Shaherkani, a participant in judo is the first woman in Saudi Arabia to take part in the Olympic Games and her Olympic story has definitely inspired a lot of viewers and athletes from all over the world, women especially.
3. Ruta Meilutyte, the 15 year old swimmer from Lithuania was the big fish when she became the champion while 17,000 of roaring fans wait in anticipation for the results of her performance.
4. Andy Murray’s Olympic gold medal was less of a highlight as opposed to the hugging moments of the 11 year old Henry Caplan and Andy Murray. The scene was so surreal yet so touching for the host county of the Olympic Games.

With the Olympic Games done and complete, it pays to learn about the results of the medal counts. But still, the glory should be given to the athletes who have performed their best to make their country proud.Fore more details click here.

The Benefits of Traveling

When you travel, you may be going from one place to another, like your home place to another country, by road, air or the sea. Your reasons for traveling may be recreation, vacationing or tourism and in some cases, business, religious pilgrimage, and migration to other place where a new life can be started. Some people are motivated to travel for relaxation, pleasure, exploration, and discovery or for knowing other cultures in the world. There are other reasons why people travel locally, in the regional or national level, or internationally but they narrow down to the benefits that traveling can provide. One such benefit is relaxation that extends to the traveler the chance to enjoy a stress-free time for himself away from the day-to-day activities at home. It also provides great opportunities for adventure and fun, and discovery of many things about the people in other places.

Many other benefits can be derived from traveling, and these include health and emotional benefits. Among the health benefits are (a) Opportunity to relax and reduce stress, (b) Avoidance of monotony to gain energy and make change to prevent leaving your body and mind inactive from daily routine, (c) A chance for the outdoors to breathe fresh air and have good exposure to sunlight, (d) Engaging in additional activities like doing some sportsand walking exercises in the place of destination, (e) Enjoyment of different types of healthy foods and gastronomic delicacies which may not be otherwise available at home, (f) A good break to deal better with current work or family problems, (g) A chance to meet and socialize with some people in another country, which is a good form of therapy, (h) Creation of a memorable experience visiting a chosen destination , (i) Opportunity to reconnect with a loved one, especially a lifetime partner, with quality time away from everyday activities, and (j) Opportunity to make culinary exploits while avoiding fast food.

For emotional benefits, traveling reduces stress by getting away from physical problems at home, as the traveler is helped with leaning and understanding the other cultures of the world and the way they view life. It also makes happy memories to strengthen relationships with family and friends. It gives you a sense of fuller life and self-fulfillment by getting to the place you have dreamed to see. It gives you time to appreciate and admire real beauty like the best-known painting of Mona Lisa by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci, or the Sistine Chapel in the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, and some wonders of the world. Most importantly, your own appreciation of home is increased and your perspective about home life is refreshed.

Travel experts advise that if you want to make use of the benefits that traveling provides you should plan it well, including a research of hotels or hostels, and the must-see sites in your planned destination. When you are already there, be aware of your surroundings and avoid being a victim of a crime. You also should make some room for new and impulsive decisions but avoid known tourist traps like places that are otherwise hyped as best tourist areas but which offer less cultural value. Since traveling is luxury, always keep an open mind about it and feel that you have bettered yourself and made the most of it as you prepare to leave for home.

El Bulli—Food, Health and Art

El Bulli is a three-star restaurant near Roses town in Catalonia, some two hours northeast of Barcelona in Spain. The star classification is bestowed by Michelin Stars Awards owned by French-based tire manufacturer Michelin which gives the award to restaurants for cooking excellence. Before its closure on July 30, 2011 but with a proposed reopening in 2014, El Bulli was described as the world’s most imaginative generator of skillfully prepared food or haute cuisine, and judged by the Restaurant Magazine as number one of its list of the world’s top 50 best restaurants for five times up to 2009.

Early years. The location of El Bulli, which is atop a hill overlooking Catalonia’s Costa Brava was chosen by Dr. Hans Schilling, a German, who was the owner of that piece of land. The name El Bulli came from the Schillings’ French bulldogs. Several years after its opening in 1964, the restaurant had its first Michelin star while it was managed by French chef Jean-Louis Neichel. In 1984, Chef Ferran Adria, who now runs the facility, became part of it and was assigned in full charge of its kitchen in 1987. In 1990 and 1997, El Bulli achieved its second and third star, respectively from Michelin. Since its opening, it has become as a holy Mecca or sought-after food center for food lovers of Spain and other parts of the world. In 2008, some of its recipes were incorporated in the book A Day at El Bulli, and these were (a) Melon with ham, (b) Pine nut marshmallows, (c) Steamed brioche or enriched bread with rose-scented mozzarella, (d) Rock mussels with seaweed and fresh herbs, and (e) Passion fruit trees.

Foods at El Bulli: The restaurant has developed what is known as molecular gastronomy consisting of foods that surprise and attract many of its guests. These are part of a 35-course taster’s menu that provides customers with a great and wondrous experience of tastes and textures. Some of these recipes are (a) Hot gin frizz, (b) Piña colada, (c) Cloud of carrot with tangerine or concentrate of orange-colored citrus fruits, (d) Round mango with caramelized ravioli, (e) Apple caviar, (f) Rabbit with hot apply jelly, (g) Sardines with fish roe or internal egg mass of the fish, (h) Hot and cold trout roe tempura, (i) Frozen polenta or ground cornmeal, (j) Oysters with smoked Iberian pancetta or bacon, (k) Spherical egg with white asparagus and truffle or mushroom, (l) Clam meringue or topping of beaten white egg, (m) Clam ceviche or raw seafood, and (n) Golden egg with steamed shrimps and tea.

Health and art: Good foods at El Bulli are healthy because they significantly involve good ingredients that are best when they are available in season, or when these ingredients are treated in simpler ways. They are good when they lead customers to satiety and pleasure and for health benefits, or when they promote a good state of nourishmentthrough innovation and creativity in kitchen science. Already, the restaurant’s cooking is an avant-garde art because of its most exciting and innovative methods that come up with foods going beyond tasting good, and that make cuisine as an art, and vice-versa. 

The Sevillanas Dance

The sevillana is a set of four separate dances that form the core of a folk dance in Spain usually performed at ferias or market festivals, wedding ceremonies, and other Spanish social events. As a type of Spanish dance, it made to the dictionary of the Spanish language in 1884 after a long period of non-recognition by the Royal Spanish Academy. It first emerged as a separate and distinct form in the latter part of 18^thcentury and as a variant of seguidillas, a form of Spanish song. In the 19^thcentury, it became part of Escuela Bolera, an approach to the formal study of various regional Spanish dances, and of the repertoire for flamenco, another dance style in Spain.

Sevillana is the only dance in Spain that is learned by non-dancers but is now performed as a partner dance at the annual Feria de Abril in Seville, in flamenco and other dance concerts or in tablaos or venues for flamenco shows, and dance competitions in Spain and other parts of the world. It has become so popular especially among couples of all ages, that each town in Andalusia also holds weeklong ferias similar to Seville. The feria week provides a man and his girl friend to court each other with the man asking her to dance the sevillana with him.

The four sets of the dance cover the primera, segunda, tercera and cuarta levels, each of which consists of three verses or coplas. The first copla uses the paso de sevillana, which is a basic step, followed by the second and third coplas which start with a connecting step of one pasada and another of paso de sevillana, and then by verse step. A sevillana dancer knows that the coplas have individual steps that incorporate certain moves in a flamenco dance and the mainstream form like ballet. The dance style can be evident in a couple dancing face-to-face to sevillana music in a three-fourths beat. This music that accompanies the dancers is simple unlike the song accompanying the dance which has various lyrics and themes. Originally the song described the town folk’s daily life but also conveyed criticisms and humorous tales and anecdotes. Through the centuries, song themes were developed about love, religion, festivals and even Biblical stories to go with the dance.

Learning how to dance the Sevillanas is not as hard as some people may think. All they have to do is memorize certain dance steps which are performed three times per movement and repeated five times in succession. The steps also alternate between the start on the left and right feet for five 6-beat music bars. Each of the two succeeding steps has the dancer stepping to the left, tapping her right toe at the back of her left foot and the left toe to face the right foot. You can also memorize dance steps by practicing the dance to a melody of your choice, or watching someone else do the dancing. You can simplify your dance practice by getting the order of the movements and the dance rhythm. Better still record the steps which you can memorize easily. Remember that when you start learning Sevillanas, you also start learning flamenco because a certain level is easier to reach it and it provides many possible occasions for its training and practice. 

Set Up a Home Gym

A gymnasium or gym is a building or room, or an athletic facility equipped for indoor sports and physical training, exercises and physical education. It originated from ancient Greece where it was referred to as a locality for both intellectual and physical education of young men. If it is a home gym, therefore, it is a room or facility in your own premises with equipment for sports, physical training or exercises, or a place where you can regularly exercise or train physically. It may also refer to a compact unit of equipment with which you can do many exercises, or a multi-gym of various work stations that fit into your spare room, home basement or garage, where you can do your weight training as often as you want.

Setting up a home gym is not as hard as they think, because the set ups depend on the goals of the exercisers and their levels, such as the beginners, intermediate trainers, and advanced trainers. For beginners whose goals are based on general fitness, muscle tone or flexibility, a minimum set up is best to include aerobic exercise equipment such as treadmills, stationary bikes and rowers, and combinations of basic extensible equipment like dumbbells, bench, balls, steps, mats, bands and ab workers. For intermediate trainers, the home gym should consider a complete set of dumbbells and barbells with weight plates, a barbell rack and an exercise bench, and free weights combined with cheaper multi-gyms. For advanced trainers, or serious weight trainers, the home equipment often supplement but not duplicate those in regular gym sessions but may include free-weight bench set ups or multi-gyms.

The other types of home gym set ups include the following: (a) Multi-gyms based on steel or composite cords and bands that create the resistance, (b) Total gym concept that uses an inclined bench, adjustable height, and a sliding seat platform, (c) Multi-gyms based on stacked weights that uses a pulley and cable mechanism with carefully arranged weights, and (d) Multi-combinations of Smith machines that constrain the bar in one vertical plane.

As part of the home gym set ups, you can decorate them or choose the colors that will motivate you to perform more. You can paint a mural or artwork on one or two walls in it, with colors that can make the gym room feel cooler and give you something to help you recover when you are seating. If the gym is going to be used for running, weight lifting or stair stepping, you can paint it or some areas with warm colors such as peach, orange, banana yellow or even bold red are aggressive-looking and can invoke from you some feelings of determination and persistence. But if your gym is mainly for yoga or Pilates exercises, you may want to use cool colors like green, purple and blue for a calming and soothing effect.

With a well set up home gym, some good exercises can be performed on a regular or daily basis, such as body building, heart rate training, general fitness, low-impact exercises, sports training, performance training, weight loss workout, strength training and stretching.