It was the Bee Gees who many years ago lyrically asked “how can a loser ever win?”

In more recent music history, Off The Record bluntly insisted that “Losers Never Win.”

In the octagon surrounded world of UFC, deciphering the winners and losers isn’t generally rocket science. The loser is the one with the bloodied face and the pained expression. The winner has hands raised in glee and full-on exultation.

Easy, right?

Not according to Dana White. In the world of UFC, White is all-encompassing. He is their soothsayer, the heart, soul and brains of the outfit.

When White speaks, people don’t just listen. They get on it and get it done. 

So what’s all this talk about losers never winning? White will hear none of it.

In fact, following Saturday’s UFC 251 card on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, White triumphantly declared post bouts that one of the night’s biggest losers was actually the guy who made the card a big winner.

Masvidal Is Massive

In one of three main event bouts on the UFC 251 card, Kamaru Usman (17-1) successfully defended his world welterweight title, holding on to the belt by scoring a five-round decision over Masvidal.

Afterward, White heaped praised upon . . . the vanquished challenger.

“Yeah, he’s a big star,” White told MMAFighting.com of Masvidal. “Masvidal is a massive star. Obviously, Usman, the champion and a guy that we’re all starting to realize is tough to beat.”

It’s easy to comprehend why White was so pleased with Masvidal. After all, he jumped in to save the day, taking the title fight on six day’s notice after Gilbert Burns was forced to pull out of the bout against Usman after he tested positive for COVID-19.

Without Masvidal’s willingness to step up and step in, White loses one of the marquee bouts on his first big post-COVID-19 pandemic card. 

Not Much Of A Fight

In all honesty, the Usman-Masvidal title fight wasn’t much of a show. There were no knockdowns or attempted submission holds.

The rest of the numbers tell a tale of a lopsided contest. Usman connected on 263 of 341 attempted strikes, for a 77.1% success rate. By contrast, Masvidal was on target with just 88 of 157 of his strike attempts a 51.6% success ratio. 

Usman carried a 62.2% (94 of 151) to 52.8% (66 of 125) edge in connection rate in terms of significant strikes. He attempted 16 takedowns and was successful on five of those occasions. Masvidal never attempted a single takedown.

Perhaps it was the short notice and lack of specific preparation but those totals would seem to clearly exhibit that Masvidal was outmatched inside the octagon by Usman.

Masvidal Makes Bank

Historically, UFC fighters are easily replaceable and don’t tend to have a long shelf life as big-time draws.

Masvidal, though, appears to possess some sort of magical powers over fans of mixed martial arts. Whenever he sets foot in the octagon, despite a middling 35-14 career record and just a 12-7 mark in UFC, Masvidal is money in the bank. Masvidal’s win over Nate Diaz at UFC 244 was the promotion’s best-selling pay per view of 2019.

The numbers are in from Saturday’s event and they are impressive. In terms of pay per view, UFC 251 drew 1.3 million buys, making it one of the most-watched cards in the history of the promotion.  

Television ratings show that UFC 251 was the No. 1 draw among cable programming and also took top spot among the 18-49 demographic. 

What’s Next On Tap?

Masvidal is already lobbying strongly for a rematch with Usman, even though it was evident that he was clearly second-best in the bout. 

“I want that damn belt, and I’m stubborn,” Masvidal told ESPN. “And I know I’m better than Usman, and I want to prove it. I want to fight again.”

Masvidal insists it’s not about the money to him. Considering the drawing power he displayed in terms of eyeballs on the UFC 251 card, money in White’s pocket might be the exact reason why a rematch with Usman would make financial sense.

“It’s a no-brainer,” Masvidal said. “Could they offer me bigger names that pay me more money? Yes. For a fact. But if it’s up to me, Usman. For me stepping up on six days’ notice when no one else would. Because no one else would. 

“A lot of people are saying that they would, but who else did it? Ask Dana. Who else was actually like, ‘Hey, Masvidal didn’t do it, I’ll do it. I’m right here.’ 

“So, if it’s up to me, Usman right away. I don’t care if they can offer me a bigger fight or not, I would like to fight Usman.”

That bigger fight could in fact be a match with the UFC’s all-time king draw, Conor McGregor. But Masvidal seems dubious regarding that notion.

“You can tell me that McGregor right now would make X, Y, Z dollars, the biggest pay-per-view you get in history, right, and I’m going to get paid forever,” Masvidal said. “I feel I’m getting compensated well enough now that if I keep making the right decisions I’ve been doing, this money is forever money. So it’s not about money.”

Organized sports can do much more than we imagine for the development of a child. They help them build character, while also discovering their strengths and weaknesses. They also encourage them to build strong bonds, and learn cooperation among other things. But one aspect of sports that can be the most beneficial for children is learning how to battle through adversity. 

Sports can teach children how to step up to a challenge, how to deal with pressure, and how discipline, effort, and resilience eventually leads to progress. Resilience and determination, however, are things that often have to be taught and nurtured, and can easily start eroding without the proper support. Let’s take a look at how you can develop these qualities in your kids through sport.

Do Not Express or Show Disappointment

A lot of people, for some reason we still don’t understand, think that openly expressing their disappointment to a growing child is somehow going to make them better. But this is the time when they’re starting to build their character and sense of self. When it has already been established and they have a clear idea of who they are, their strengths, and their weaknesses, healthy criticism can lead them to push harder. However, when you do so when they’re still young, they might start internalizing the criticism and start thinking that’s who they are.

This should be the time to start building up their character by focusing on what they do best. It doesn’t have to be performance-based either. Maybe they’re fast learners or great team players. Play up to their strengths and it will become part of who they are. They will then be better able to accept criticism, and it won’t demoralize them as much.

Choose the Right Sport

Not all children were made to play football or hockey. Maybe that was the sport you had imagined for them, but you should pick a sport that fits their personality.

Sports like baseball, for instance, are one of the best for a growing child. For one, it’s a very low impact sport. Second, it can cater to all sorts of different personalities. All roles are important, and there’s not one person, or a group of leaders, that has to carry the whole team. All players learn their value and truly work as a whole. They also all get to realize themselves, and get individual praise when they do something good, which is great for building confidence and character.

If you think baseball would be a good idea for your child, we suggest you start looking at equipment. It all starts with a great bat. The type of bat you choose will make a huge difference in how comfortable they are, and how they perform. Youth bats made for little league players have to fit a certain standard, so make sure that you do your research on them, and try as many as you can until you find the best one for your child.

Teach them to Accept Failure

Failure can be tough for any child, but a lot of this has to do with your attitude towards it. You have to teach them that it’s normal to fail and that it’s a part of growing. They might not take your word for it, but they will listen to their favorite players if they say it. So, try to find quotes from famous athletes about failure, or watch documentaries on major athletes who were once failures. This will teach them that everybody fails, but that you can also come back from failure and become great.

Conclusion

There are all tips that you can use to instill resilience and determination into your child through sports. Make sure that you remind them that sport is about having fun first and foremost. Let them make their own decisions, and don’t not use them as a tool to vicariously live your own dreams.

The summer Toyko Olympics is growing ever closer, and there is already a sense that this could be one of the best summers of sport we have ever seen. Tokyo showed their dedication to sport, in general, this year as it played host to the Rugby Union World Cup.

Rugby isn’t a sport that you generally associate with the Japanese, but they thrived. Fans became captivated with it, and it surely helped their case that their own team did extremely well to reach the quarterfinals. 

However, next year it will be back to more common sports that they are engaged with, but what events could take on a life of their own in Tokyo next year?

Skateboarding

For the first time ever there will be medals up for grabs in skateboarding. It was one of the five sports that was introduced for this Olympic Games, and there will be four events featuring 80 athletes. All the events will be housed at the Ariake Urban Sports Park, and there will be both men’s and women’s medals for the taking.

Both genders will have gold, silver and bronze medals available for both park and street events. There will also be history made when Team GB will take their youngest ever Olympian to the games when Sky Brown represents Britain aged just 11.

Rugby Sevens

Rugby is already a sport that the Japanese have fallen in love with, and that love affair only looks set to continue next summer with the highly entertaining rugby sevens event. These gold medal matches last year were among the most-watched around the world. Australia won the women’s gold, while there was first ever-Olympic gold for Fiji as they beat Team GB in the men’s event.

The men’s event particularly captivated the world, as the whole of Fiji stopped for the history-making achievement. The success at the last Olympics meant that its inclusion was an inevitability, and it could be shot into the stratosphere further in Japan.

The success that it achieved in 2016 has already ensured that the HSBC World Sevens Series is achieving record-breaking attendance, and another strong showing here could further accelerate its growth.

The USA will be one of the leading contenders for medals in this field, as they have quickly taken to the sport due to the similarities between sevens and American Football. However, there isn’t a crowning event like the SuperBowl, which means the Olympic gold medal is the pinnacle of the sport.

Track Events

There was a massive change in the landscape of men’s athletics following the 2016 Olympics, and this will be the first one since Usain Bolt walked away from the sport. The title of the quickest man on earth will need to be picked up by somebody, and there are a host of leading names.

Bolt captivated the sport for so long that it almost seemed impossible that it could survive without him. However, it will have to do just that, and this will be the first opportunity since his retirement for somebody to take the sport by the scruff of the neck and show they are now the leading man in the field. 

Christian Coleman could be that man, but he will face an almighty challenge from Andre De Grasse and Justin Gatlin. One this is for sure: there will be enough pace to rival the best stallions in the Kentucky Derby race.

The women’s events have also grown in interest with the long-standing leader in the sprint field Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce coming to the end of her career.

She will be looking for one final Olympic title but could face stern competition from Dina Asher-Smith. There are so many questions that need answers, and that will make it unmissable. 

Nothing is more baseball-esque than having a passionate debate with a family member, friend, or misguided fan of the wrong team about everything from whether ballpark dimensions should be standardized across the league, to whether MLB should increase, decrease, or outright eliminate the use of instant replay.

The latter is a particularly incendiary topic that is currently occupying a great deal of territory on the baseball debate landscape.

As with all debates worthy of the term, there is no clear-cut answer to the instant replay question. According to Marvin Benard, a former major league outfielder who spent nine seasons with the San Francisco Giants from 1995-2003, here are the pros and cons that need to be considered before you reach your own conclusion.

Instant Replay Pros

Getting Calls Right

Instant replay is the last line of defense to confirm controversial ruling on the field, and determine factors such as potential fan interference, whether a ball left the stadium or hit the top of the wall, whether a fielder caught or trapped a sinking line drive, and so on. 

Marvin Benard, who later went on to work as part of the broadcast crew for the Giants’ Spanish-language radio broadcasts, says it’s not an exaggeration to say that at the professional level, getting a call right or wrong has far-reaching implications. This is not just in reference to plays in the postseason.

A blown or missed call in April, May or June could cost a team a critical game that ultimately keeps them out of the postseason. When that happens, managers and front office executives can get fired, players can get traded, coveted free agents can choose to sign elsewhere, and so on. It’s not a small deal.

The Technology Exists  

Folks who endorse instant replay in baseball — and there is a growing army of them, including plenty of ex-players and ex-managers who still nurse wounds triggered by blown calls (e.g. the Cardinals’ Joe Orta ruled safe at first in the 1985 World Series, the Tigers’ Armando Galaragga losing a perfect game in the 9th inning during the 2010 season, missing the fan interference in the 1996 ALCS that cost Baltimore the win, and the notorious list goes on) all agree on one point: instant replay technology already exists, and  so refusing to use it is not just stubborn, but it’s senselessly anachronistic. 

According to Marvin Benard, the argument here is that it’s not as if instant replay is some untested and experimental technology that exists in a research laboratory. In fact, instant replay made its broadcast debut in 1963 during an Army-Navy football game.

Advocates believe — and they have a compelling point — that not using instant reply to its full value is like trying to turn back the clock. It just can’t be done and simply should not be tried.

Instant Replay Cons

Prolonged Pace of Play

While baseball is not alone in trying to speed things up, the sport is a particularly easy target when it comes to pace-of-play criticisms. All of those warm-up pitches, mound visits, and time outs in the batter’s box and on the mound — not to mention the commercial break between each half-inning — add up and prolong the viewer’s experience. Instant replay additionally prolongs the delay between pitches and plays, which is a recipe for fan disengagement.

One of the potential changes that even instant replay advocates are calling for, is forcing teams to decide if they want to challenge a play within seconds. Right now — and quite wisely, if you look at it from their point of view — teams are using all kinds of creative delay tactics to go over a play from different angles before they ultimately decide to challenge it.

This is not just painful for people watching on TV, but it’s agonizing for folks in the stands who have to wait around for several minutes before play resumes. Yes, once in a while in really big games and at pivotal moments, this edge-of-your-seat drama can be very exciting and compelling. But for the most part, it’s just boring and exactly the opposite of what fans want.

It’s Not Perfect 

Perhaps the most convincing argument against using — or at least, expanding — instant replay in baseball, is that the practice is far from perfect; even with high definition cameras and multiple angles.

Marvin Benard explains that this aspect has really emphasized the importance of the call on the field. If the call appears to be wrong, unless the instant replay officials believe they have clear evidence to the contrary, they can’t overturn the call.

Even if in their gut they want to, or if tens of thousands of fans in the stands are screaming for them to do so, they are tied to that original call. Ultimately, what this means is that no matter what happens with instant replay, some calls — not all of them, but many of them — will still be controversial and subjective.

Instant reply can minimize the volume of these situations, but it can’t eliminate it. Marvin Benard states, “We’re dealing with messy reality here, not a video game.”   

The NBA’s list of MVP Award winners over the course of the last decade tells a relatively clear story about the league.

From the 2009-10 season through 2012-13, LeBron James won four of five MVPs as he rose to his prime; Kevin Durant won in 2013-14 as the heir apparent and representative of the ascendant Oklahoma City Thunder; Stephen Curry took back-to-back MVPs as the Warriors established their dynasty.

In 2016-17, Russell Westbrook won in a season win which his divorce from Kevin Durant was arguably the league’s biggest narrative, and the following year James Harden took the award as the Rockets famously looked to structure an offense designed to take down the Warriors.  Last year, Giannis Antetokounmpo won MVP in a season in which most everyone expected him to do so.

There are of course some outliers (like Derrick Rose’s 2010-11 win), but for the most part, the recent history of the league – in terms of contenders, teams on the rise, and even trends in playing style – can be traced through those MVP winners.

And when we consider this, perhaps it’s fitting that in what looks like the most unpredictable and hottest NBA season in years, the league’s crop of MVP contenders appears to be both larger and more surprising.

Now, the season has only just begun, and we’ll, of course, see the usual favorites in the running. Antetokounmpo is the betting favorite to repeat, James Harden will be in the mix, and many even believe LeBron James could win again, or that Kawhi Leonard could win for the first time. However, in the early going, we’ve also seen a somewhat unexpected new class of MVP contenders emerge, and it’s making the fresh season all the more exciting.

Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid is perhaps the least surprising player to list here because he’s been in MVP chatter before. In the past, however – most notably early last season – he was largely thought of as a “best of the rest” sort of player.

He was clearly the most dominant big man in the Eastern Conference but hadn’t quite reached the level of pure impact we expect from an MVP. This could well change, and may in fact already be changing, in 2019-20.

Not only does Embiid look fitter and better than ever, but for the first time he’s leading a 76ers team that people think should win the East – not one that could.

If Embiid posts the numbers he can post at his best, doesn’t sit out too many games and carries his team to the top of the East, there’s every reason to believe this could be his year.

Anthony Davis

We mentioned above that Antetokounmpo is the betting favorite for MVP this season, and that’s true at virtually all of the New Jersey sportsbooks providing a U.S.-based perspective on the current season.

However, you’ll find most of those sportsbooks are also listing Davis with only marginally lower odds than the Greek Freak. Davis may not seem like a newcomer to this conversation, because he’s long been viewed as a potential MVP.

But believe it or not, he’s still only 26 years old – likely just reaching his prime. That, plus the fact that he’s healthy and in the best situation of his career playing for the Lakers alongside LeBron James, puts him near the top of this new class of contenders.

Luka Doncic

Luka Doncic came into the NBA last season as the most promising international prospect in history. He won Rookie of the Year with ease and convinced many people he could be an MVP candidate in the future.

But it’s a surprise to see him putting himself in the mix already. Doncic has exploded out of the gate, effortlessly notching triple-doubles, pouring in buckets and making highlight passes, and even going toe-to-toe with LeBron James in Los Angeles.

He’s been an absolute phenom in the early going, to the point that it’s not crazy to imagine him winning MVP in a season during which he’ll turn 21.

Pascal Siakam

It seems just about every NBA analyst out there had an eye on Pascal Siakam heading into this season – but not as a likely MVP contender. Rather, the curiosity about Siakam was whether or not he could keep the Raptors afloat following the departure of Kawhi Leonard.

No one’s saying the Raptors are bound for another Finals appearance, but so far Siakam has vastly exceeded most expectations in this regard. He has frankly been Kawhi-esque through a few early games, and his usage is so high there’s no reason to expect his stats to tail off.

If he can keep his scoring average over 25 points per game, assert himself as an elite defender, and lead the Raptors to a top-three seed, he’ll be in the conversation all season.

Karl-Anthony Towns

Karl-Anthony Towns finally seems to be putting all the pieces together. He’s shown flashes of MVP-level ability fairly frequently in the past – but not quite like this. Through a few early games, he’s arguably been the best player in the league. And he’s so clearly the best on his own team, by such a wide margin, that one could imagine him taking over even more from here on out. Towns’ problem in any MVP conversation is likely going to be that the Timberwolves are going to struggle to make the playoffs. But right now he belongs in said conversation regardless.

Today, the annual cross episode between hip-hop and wrestling has returned as WaleMania comes to New York City for its fifth installment.

Founded by Grammy-nominated DMV artist Wale and former WWE writer Court Bauer five years ago, the showcase has become the quintessential meeting place for all things rap and wrestling. It seems to only get bigger every year.

The concept was simple. They decided to offer an event that’s one of a kind. All instead of putting on another pro wrestling function amongst the litter of independent wrestling shows circulating Wrestlemania.

One that merges the worlds of entertainment and pro wrestling.

“It was Court Bauer’s idea to do something around WrestleMania,” Wale told Sporting News ahead of the fifth installment of WaleMania on April 4 at the Sony Hall in New York.

“For a long time I wanted to have my own promotion but there are a lot of obstacles that come with that. But I still wanted to be a part of the culture and create something for the talent that didn’t feel like work. I wanted to do something different where everybody could just have a good time.”

On paper, the two may not seem like much of a pairing. Their origins are derived from different corners of culture. Still, hip-hop and wrestling actually have a lot in common.

Sure, wrestling does involve massive athletes, oil, pyromaniacs, and is very “scripted” but rap is the same way…

What’s more scripted than these antics for clout that record companies flock toward? Furthermore what about all the “beef” that ends up not being beef at all? Rappers may not oil up or do roids. Still, they sure love them big ol’ fake teeth and body modifications — what’s the difference?

This year Wale enlisted help from his friend Kazeem Fumuyide who is not only a former WWE writer but a successful event organizer partly responsible for the famous Dussepalooza.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvz2x0_n6B6/

In an interview earlier this week he spoke on Wale’s big weekend and how it’s actually elevated the career of some wrestlers.

“If he likes something, he obsesses about it, and that’s how he feels about pro wrestling,” Kazeem tells the wrestling site Fightful. He continued,

“A lot of wrestlers have benefited off of that. I don’t think Apollo Crews would have met Mark Henry if it wasn’t Wale tweeting about him. Guys like Lio Rush, Ricochet — Wale’s been a champion for a lot of these guys.”

What Wale has done with WaleMania is only what’s been going on in hip-hop behind the scenes for years. Together, they’ve made so many iconic moments in pop culture history.

Back in 2009, Snoop Dogg speared Chavo Guerrero at Raw. Meek got the WWE mad because he sampled The Undertaker’s entrance music in his anti-Drake anthem, “Wanna Know.”

Additionally, the Offset’s song “Rick Flair Drip” paid homage to nature boy. The worlds are more intertwined than we know.

With a lineup that includes Booker T, Samoa Joe, Lio Rush, New Japan’s Bullet Club, Ring of Honor’s Kenny King, recording artists Smoke DZA, Westside Gunn and the G4 Boyz and many others, tonight in New York, it is looking to be the biggest in WaleMania history.

“I just feel like wrestling needs something like this for the fans and the talent,” Wale said in his interview.

“Hopefully one day this can turn into a festival. And it’s organic and it’s not something controlled by major corporations.”

WaleMania takes place April 4 at the Sony Hall in New York City. Tickets are available on TicketMaster and Sony Hall.

Dropping on March 7 adidas Skateboarding is debuting a new colorway for their Lucas Premier ADV sneaker. The sneaker is dope as colorful pastels were inspired by Lucus Puig’s French beach-town home of Biarritz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKx6W4yRIGo&feature=youtu.be

The pink and white striped colorway reminds of us a glittery pink ocean we would probably see on the coastal fringes of Biarritz during sunset while the neon yellow and white colorway compliment the vibes and boast a piercing solar-like appeal.

Puig told adidas skateboarding why he was motivated to move to Biarritz and how the skating, surfing, and coastal culture were an inspiration behind the new colorways for the new Lucas Premier ADV sneaker. He said,

“I chose to move to Biarritz for the ocean. My girlfriend and I came regularly for vacation but the trips were always too short, so we decided to move here to have that holiday feeling all year long. The new colorways play off the town’s color palette comprised of natural and architectural scenery”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjSfqSnBppn/

These kicks are designed for nailing switch backside flips just like Puig.

A breathable fabric, a suede vamp and eyestay with a breathable knit quarter, abrasion-resistant Adituff toe and a vulcanized cupsole hybrid provide the support and durability any young skater needs without sacrificing crucial board feels.

Additionally, pulling inspiration from archival volley shoes the new Lucas Premier ADV sneakers are a worthy cop for comfort. For sure, Puig is a master of detail on the board and for him, liquid performance is of the utmost importance.

He described to adidas Skateboarding his favorite performance aspect of the signature shoe,

“What I first look at in a shoe is the shape of the toe box, it is the most important detail for every skater. This shoe skates great right out of the box, and has the best board feel.”

These $75.00 bad boys are definitely worth peeping when they drop on March 7. When you’re ready, pull-up to the adidas Skateboarding website, here.

For now, peep the drip below.

Questions are stirring around the world of why Cristiano Ronaldo has left the dominant Real Madrid.  

Since first signing with Real Madrid in 2009, Ronaldo has built an empire by winning 16 titles including two La Liga titles, two Copas del Rey, four UEFA Champions League titles, two UEFA Super Cups, and three FIFA Club World Cups.

Despite only being a part of the team for 9 seasons, CR7 was able to gain the title of the all-time leading scorer with 451 goals scored.

It is obvious to say that Cristiano Ronaldo has made his mark on Real Madrid, but why would he leave after all the fame and success? Sources say that CR7 simply yearns for new challenges.  

Born on the small island of Madeira, Portugal, Cristiano was the youngest of four children in a poor household. This difficult lifestyle forced him to act on his own, doing anything necessary in order to gain success.

His perseverance and genuine love for the sport propelled him into new experiences like playing with better teams and meeting more coaches. And it did not go unnoticed, especially by his family.

“He slept with his football, it never left his side.“

– Godfather, Fernao Sousa

Despite the poor living conditions and being diagnosed with a racing heart at age 15, Ronaldo kept working hard and kept moving on from one team to the next.  This lifestyle of overcoming challenges is the main reason Ronaldo said he was leaving Real Madrid.

At a recent press conference when announcing his contract with Juventus, Ronaldo states, 

I don’t like to stay in my comfort zone, I like to seize new challenges. After the experiences in Manchester and in Madrid, I’d like to mark the history of Juventus. I like challenges, again, and I hope everything will go very well.

Some people question why Ronaldo went to such a large team towards the end of his career.  Most soccer stars move to smaller teams to end out their career, but Cristiano Ronaldo is not like any other footballer.  

He knows that he is older, but he also knows of his capabilities. A few months back, the coaching staff of Real Madrid did a physical examination of Ronaldo and saw that he had the body type of a 23-year-old, ten years younger than he actually is.

Ronaldo’s eagerness for a challenge is most likely not the only reason for moving. The fact that he made a four-year deal for € 100 million with Juventus was surely a great motivator for him.

As one of the highest paying contracts in Serie A history, this offered Ronaldo the opportunity to grow his empire in the soccer game and his entrepreneurial lifestyle. He’s launched a clothing line, a footwear brand, a hotel chain, numerous smartphone apps, and more during his journey so far.

With this knowledge Ronaldo knew of his capabilities and decided to embark on his journey to a bigger team that can offer more for him.

Not only is Ronaldo trying to challenge himself by moving to Juventus, but he decided to leave for other reasons as well. Ronaldo reported that he was not content with some of the promises that were not kept by the President of Real Madrid, Florentino Perez.

There was some turmoil between the two but Ronaldo did not have any bad words about Perez during his announcement of joining Juventus. The relationship between CR7 and his past team are still great and he will always cherish the moments he shared with them.

He is physically and mentally fit for more challenges in his career and is eager for what is to come next. Ronaldo is a go-getter. He says he will not stop until he faces new challenges so that he can overcome them. Based on his career, he has proven this true and will prove it again at his new home in Turin, Italy. 

After a couple weeks off for international duty, domestic leagues across Europe were back up and running this weekend.

International soccer pretty much sucks anyways (especially now that USA, Italy, Chile, and Holland will all miss out on World Cup 2018) so it was great to see the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, the Bundesliga, et al. return for full action.

With rivalry games across Europe, the weekend did not disappoint. Let’s jump into the results.

Atletico, Real Madrid draw, Barcelona stretches big lead

All the hype going into this weekend in Spain’s La Liga centered around the rivalry in the capital, with Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid squaring off for the first time since Atletico opened their new Wanda Metropalitano stadium.

The game was a complete bore. Neither team did much of anything for 90 minutes, both seemingly waiting for the other to make a move, and the match ended in a yawn of a 0-0 draw (I would post the highlights here but there’s nothing to watch).

Elsewhere, Barcelona romped to an easy 3-0 win over mid-table side Leganes and are now 10 points up on both Real Madrid and Atletico.

It’s not overly surprising that Barcelona are playing well, although the fact that they’ve moved on so quickly from a tumultuous summer and a coaching change without missing a step has been truly impressive.

The story of the La Liga season thus far has been Valencia. After a series of weird coaching appointments and bad transfers, Valencia are rolling under new manager Marcelino. Valencia finished 12th last season and are currently 2nd, only 4 points off Barcelona and 6 above Real and Atletico.

There’s a long way to go, but Barcelona have a very healthy lead over their main rivals. Can Valencia keep the pressure on?

Arsenal win North London Derby, Man City continue to be unstoppable, Pogba returns for Man U

It’s been a turbulent beginning to the season for Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal. After getting run off the park rather easily against Manchester City before the international break, Arsenal fans were bracing themselves for Saturday’s showdown against their biggest rival Tottenham Hotspur.

Leading up to the game, much of the talk in the press centered around Tottenham manager Mauricio Pocchetino and the ‘revolution’ he’s led in North London. Columns were written about the perceived power shift in London, that Spurs had moved past Arsenal in terms of quality and stature, and even that no Arsenal players would get in the Spurs team.

😉🔴 pic.twitter.com/WE8KgvlIqk

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 18, 2017

Then they played the game.

Arsenal’s front 3 of Alexis Sanchez, Alexandre Lacazette, and Mesut Ozil worked brilliantly together and stretched Spurs’ backline all game as Ozil pulled the strings.

It seems rather obvious that playing this trio of world class players together would work really well and yet Wenger has done it only three times this season (three wins). Unfortunately, contractual issues with Alexis and Ozil mean that time is probably running out on this triumvirate.

League leaders Manchester City easily tossed Leicester City (remember when they won the Premier League??) aside and stayed 8 points up on Manchester United.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu-4qS93ehc

As for Man U, they celebrated the return of Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic from injury in a 4-1 victory over Newcastle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF16RnPcS48

Everyone is looking up at Manchester City.

Roma, Napoli win. Juventus falls to Sampdoria

After losing to Sweden in a World Cup playoff, Italy are missing out on the World Cup for the first time since 1958. This has led to some serious introspection in Italy, where it seemed the country had made recent strides to return to their previous glory.

While it’s hard to envision the World Cup without the Azzurri (and their rendition of the Italian national anthem), Serie A is still entertaining as ever. Perhaps the national team’s failings will only force Italian clubs to further reevaluate their systems and tactics.

One Italian player that seemingly embodies the issues at the national level is Lorenzo Insigne. The Napoli winger has been one of the most electric players in Serie A for a couple years now, but couldn’t get on the field against Sweden as Italy needed a goal.

Fresh off his disappointment with the national squad, Insigne was back in action with Napoli this weekend, taking on a rebuilding AC Milan squad that hasn’t quite figured things out after a summer of big spending.

Insigne tallied the first goal and set up what should have been the second as Napoli maintained their lead at the top of Serie A in a 2-1 win over Milan.

In Italy’s capital, fourth-placed Roma defeated their crosstown rivals Lazio 2-1 in their first Derby della Capitale without Francesco Totti in 25 years.

Juventus, who have won Serie A for 6 straight seasons, lost to Sampdoria in a 3-2 thriller. Gigi Buffon, the legendary Italian goalkeeper, didn’t play as he was still mentally recovering from Italy’s World Cup failure.

Italy will have to go through a period of serious reevaluation after failing to qualify for the World Cup, the fact that Serie A is competitive again after years of Juventus domination is a good first sign.

The United States Men’s National Team lost 2-1 to Trinidad and Tobago last night in Couva, Trinidad and have failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

This result is an absolute shock, all the USMNT had to do was get a draw in Trinidad after beating Panama 4-0 last Friday, but it never should’ve gotten to this point.

There are many people to blame, Jurgen Klinsmann, Bruce Arena, Michael Bradley, Tim Howard, Omar Gonzalez, and the President of United States Soccer Federation Sunil Gulati, but ultimately this is a damning stain on a team that has vied to be considered elite for years.

The USMNT is nowhere near the top echelon of the soccer world, as it so desperately wants to be. In reality, the entire program from top to bottom is deeply flawed.

Former USMNT striker Taylor Twellman went on a full blown rant after the result last night, calling out the US Soccer Federation. As Twellman pointed out, there are no excuses for this result and questions should’ve been asked years ago about the state of the national team,

“The gloves should have been off years ago. We should have been having real criticism. And the discussion after Brazil, Max, was, ‘Can we beat the Colombias and the Belgiums and the Argentinas of the world?’ You kidding me? We can’t beat Trinidad on a field that’s too wet and too heavy? What are we doing? What are we doing?”

https://twitter.com/MaxWildstein/status/917944013306650624

Twellman hits the nail on the head. With the billions of dollars being poured in to developmental programs and the MLS, how does a team of the supposed stature of the United States lose to Trinidad and Tobago?

Christian Pulisic, a 19-year-old, was the only player that put in a composed and decent performance last night.

As Twellman pointed out, this team has failed to qualify for the Olympics two straight times, there is a stunning lack of quality talent in the 25-28 age group, usually the peak of a soccer player’s career. Instead, the starting 11 from yesterday reveals a roster led by a 19-year-old and a rag-tag group of veterans way past their prime.

The United States has been eliminated from World Cup 2018. The most surreal and embarrassing night in US soccer history.

— Subscribe to GrantWahl.com (@GrantWahl) October 11, 2017

The most worrisome part in all of this has been the reaction from the higher-ups within the US Federation. Head coach Bruce Arena, who was brought in to bring us back to the heydays of the early 2000s (or something?) after Jurgen Klinsmann’s shtick had grown tiresome, said after the game last night that US soccer is in a “good place.” Arena told reporters,

“There’s nothing wrong with what we’re doing. Certainly as our league grows, it advances the national team program. We have some good young players come up. Nothing has to change. To make any kind of crazy changes I think would be foolish. We’re building a good system in our professional league. We have players playing abroad of some quality.”

Nothing has to change. That’s the message coming out of the USMNT head coach after failing to reach the World Cup because they couldn’t earn a DRAW against Trinidad and Tobago.

It’s also the message being echoed by Gulati, who doesn’t think “wholesale changes” are needed.

I asked Sunil Gulati if wholesale changes are needed and he didn't sound like someone who felt that way. He's in the minority on that one.

— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) October 11, 2017

Wholesale changes are desperately needed. From the top to the bottom of the United States Soccer model. Youth development has to change. Coaching has to change. College soccer should change, if not be completely disbanded.

How can we compete with the best soccer nations when kids in Spain, Argentina, England, Germany, France, and Belgium (it’s almost laughable to compare our team to these countries) are expected to become professionals at 16 and Americans are just trying to get a college scholarship?

I’ve supported the USMNT ever since I can remember. There’ve had glimpses of promise, the 2002 World Cup and 2014 World Cup brought relatively solid results. There’s always been this idea that we’re just a couple players or a couple years away from really being able to challenge the best countries in the world.

Now, we’re back at square one. I want to hope that some good will come of this. Maybe, like Germany in 2000, this shitstorm will invigorate the US Federation and MLS to change their entire structures, but the message from Arena and Gulati is disheartening and doesn’t reveal any of the necessary soul-searching.

Next year, teams around from around the globe will compete in the World Cup in Russia. For the first time since 1986, the United States will not be there. It’s an absolutely shocking reality for US soccer, but the writing has been on the wall for years.