Writing Worth Reading
Writing Worth Reading
How Abraham Klein survived politics, prejudice and the Holocaust to become the best referee in the world. "He never refereed a World Cup final—but perhaps the greatest game in World Cup history is a decent alternative"
Where is football's original world cup, the Jules Rimet trophy? The statuette vanished in Rio de Janeiro in 1983, but the story that it was melted down into gold bars is probably not true. And it may not even have been the original
Is hosting the rugby World Cup a well-timed Keynesian stimulus for New Zealand or an ill-advised boondoggle in a time of austerity? Fans need hotels, and more than 7 million sausages will be sold. But opportunities have been missed
Gulf state Qatar is helping African children launch careers in professional football. It's also ranked 88 in the world and preparing to host the World Cup. Is real purpose of this exercise to build a Qatari team with African talent?
No holds-barred attack on corruption at FIFA, governing body of world football. JoĂŁo Havelange, elected in 1974, was first to exploit commercial potential. "I'm a happy president," beams the egregious Sepp Blatter today
Satisfyingly hostile commentary on former world football bigwig. "An autocratic, belligerent man who has never satisfactorily answered questions regarding allegations of corruption and who has slithered free of real punishment"
Sepp Blatter, chief of world football's governing body FIFA, now beyond parody. Time for others to enforce change at morally squalid institution he heads. Starting with commercial sponsors, Swiss parliamentarians
Rightly sceptical take on Sepp Blatter's promise to root out corruption at world football's governing body. Which he has already headed for the past 12 years. And (surprise!) which he would like to head again, for another four
World Cup encouraged a lot of high-flown theorising about soccer and life, but really, it's just a game now—globalised, homogenised. Geopolitics have drained away. No more festering WWII resentments.
Interesting if true. South African musician claims to have invented infernal instrument by blowing into bicycle horn at age 10. Gets no royalties, struggles to support nine children, happy anyway
Marketing professor analyses Adidas, Nike battle. Adidas was official FIFA sponsor, but Nike learned how to size up social networking trend and apply it to its business. Other companies should watch and learn
Behavioural economist asks, and answers, two footballing questions. Why do players take dives so often and so obviously? And why do national styles of play persist over generations?
