BECKHAM MANIA

July 2007 is the start of Beckham’s debut with Major League Soccer.

This is the event that people in Florida have been awaiting. The streets of Miami Florida are filled with those wearing Beckham Shirts or LA Galaxy Shirts. Even women are replacing posters of their idols of rock and roll with posters of Beckham and have formed fan clubs.

People in Miami Florida have talked about a British Invasion of football that will rival the Beatles Invasion of Music. What is the purpose behind Beckham Fever? Is it a fad, or is it permanent? Will Beckham help or hurt US Football? Will Beckham get along with Landon Donovan or will there be a clash of personalities?

Questions like these deserve an analysis.

It must be remembered that football in the USA is in its adolescence. US Football is in need of nourishment especially since there are other sports competing such as American Football [which is an imitation of Rugby], Baseball, and Basketball. Everything almost will depend on Beckham’s Performance. Pele even advised Beckham to take “US Football to a new level”.

Even though Beckham is also a celebrity, he must learn how to separate the sports from the celebrity status. This is a delicate balancing act especially in Los Angeles.

Football will grow in the USA not just because of Beckham or the change of demographics in the USA. Football will grow because of the people who are making it happen like the US Soccer Foundation, Drew Carey [a comedian and football lover] promoting the sport, and personalities like Landon Donovan.

Even though Football will grow, Pele is right when he stated that “US Football must be taken to a new level” especially since Donovan, Beasley, and others will not be playing forever. Donovan and Beckham can make great chemistry in US Football and prepare for the next generation in the same fashion as US Women Football when Mia Hamm passed the mantle to Kristie Lilley.

It is the desire of Roberto that Beckham give the best that he has and contribute to the growth of football in America. Welcome to MLS, LA, and the USA Beckham. We are with you all the way.

Even though Qadafi is appears to resemble an eccentric astrologer instead of a world leader, we should not forget about the decision by Libya to execute six Bulgarian Health Care Workers [including Nurses] on trumped up charges of infecting 400 children with AIDS.

To enter Libya on any type of visa, the person has to have a clean bill of health. If the person is a Health Care Worker, there would be registration of luggage or personal items lest they contain any "diseases" or "germs". Why would someone bring a vial of HIV?

Nursing is a noble profession and to falsely accuse a nurse of wanting to hurt or kill a patient is beyond comprehension. The majority of Nurses are God's Angels on Earth willing to take care of patients and know the patient more than the Physician. What has happened? The Libyan Government has planned to execute these nurses and does not believe in the charitable work of Nurses.

The Last Decision for an appeal would be the Supreme Court and they have already said "No". Qadafi is the final authority in Libya and has the power to commute the sentence to life imprisonment or deportation. Qadafi could have shown that he is "the humanitarian he paints himself as" but decided for political survival to do nothing.

Let this be a lesson for Health Care Workers abroad: when you go to another country, you are subject to the laws of that country and be extremely careful with whom you deal with. Maybe Qadafi has rehabilitated himself but he is still flaky and dangerous.

I take leave with an experience I had with Libyans when they sent delegates to the OPEC Conference in Venezuela in 1979. I was at the Hotel Tamanaco in Venezuela as a visitor and I went to the Rest Room. In the Rest Room, were approximately three Libyans from the delegation.

They approached me and looked at me weird. Last, they gave me an advertisement which stated: "Visit Libya, the Jewel of Africa with Libyan Arab Airlines". They left the restroom immediatly.

At the same time, Venezolana de Television [Government Owned in the 1970's and still Government Owned] had a documentary about Libya. I looked at the documentary and thought to myself that maybe Qaddafi improved Libya with the petroleum money after seeing the highways, supermarkets with full shelves, and modern buildings.

The impression was shattered when they showed the meeting of the Libyan Revolution and there was Qaddafi wearing a dress and suit as he was giving classes. After that, I said "No Way".

LONG LIVE NURSING!!!!!

The struggle to get to the finals of Copa America 2007 between Brazil and Uruguay was an example of sports drama.

Between Goals and Equalizers, Roberto was experiencing the emotions of the moment. There was one moment when the game was delayed with the clock running while the referees were debating. There was an internal anger against the referees that lead Roberto to pull his hair and scream expletives.

What was expected of the referees since a majority of them base their rulings on personal matters unrelated to football? Just remember how South Korea won against Spain in 2002, and how a referee cancelled a goal by the USA in one of its games in the Copa America 2007.

Regardless, Brazil and Uruguay were equalized at 2-2 with extra time at penalties and kept everyone including Roberto on the edge of their seats, laptops, and pulling hair. Roberto even had some Cold Coffee with Milk and some Red Wine which lead to a temperature spike of 39*C. In spite of advice from family members, Roberto still wanted to see Brazil VS Uruguay.

Brazil deserves congratulations on its victory although it rested on its laurels and past glories. Brazil also won on penalties which shows that they still need to improve their performance. Games that are won on penalties are not true victories; they are the result of both teams unable to defeat each other

It is hoped that Brazil gets its act together to defeat whoever results victorious between Argentina VS Mexico. It is of the opinion of Roberto that maybe Brazil can win Copa America 2007 but everything depends on the Mexico VS Argentina game for the finals and the attitude of the referees during the game.

REFERENCE:

Univision.com: "El drama se fue hasta los penales"

http://www.univision.com/content/content.jhtml?chid=4&schid=9756&secid=9983&cid=1227853&pagenum=