Every step my foot takes is a gift

Sierra Leone has a large enough number of amputees from the recent insanity (war) that they held a tournament for all those with soccer skills but without the legs God originally gave them.

Amazing. Inspiring. Angering. Human.

Full report after the jump. Incredibly, the players seem basically to just be nervous about their soccer games, not staring 24/7 at where their missing foot used to be.

Update: I think this picture is an example of why people keep investing in the future, like investing in the stock market in hopes that other people's effort will yield positive results some day. If these guys are so optimistic as to be playing games and expending great energy to do so better than than the other guys, than how much more possible might it be that some guy at Google or Dow is working with equal effort on some big money project that is about to become very profitable for their company. Humanity has its moments of greatness.

Practice set shots your entire.... life

A weak Fulham side tied my newest preferred team in the EPL, Blackburn, today. Blackburn got a decent goal and then with maybe 4 minutes to play, Fulham was awarded a free kick at about the 24 yard line. Fulham's star for the day, Bullard, had a teammate tap the ball and then sent the ball over the wall with spin to bring its energy back down and into the upper left corner to tie the game. They were ecstatic. Blackburn has the best goalie (Brad Friedel) in the best league in the world right now - he was defenseless against such a shot. Imagine what your opponent will do if you can even approach Bullard's skill today: They will be standing there thinking "We are doomed!" Having a player on the other team with this kind of skill is like having a mansion on skid row and no friends in the police department.

Practice set plays like that all you can. 10 per day. 15 per day is better. Success with these shots can make you the hero very fast.

David Beckham is a quality player, but his true brilliance is on set shots just like this one.

Flexibility

The older guy in the red/white striped shirt very isn't flexible any more. The young guys juggling on his hands and knees IS flexible.

The definitions of being "in shape" are shown in these categories: Endurance, strength, quickness, and flexibility.

So, stay flexible. Muscle is fine in any sport, but flexibility is something you can develop without access to any fancy equipment, and it is very important in soccer.