Thursday, June 14, 2012

So I Met Someone Special


As I casually mentioned in my last post, my country got to host the arrival of an international guest. 

Someone very Special. 

When news of his arrival spread online, at first I thought it was an April Fools that was 2 months too late or something. But it turned out people weren't being crazy, it was true. Jose Mourinho, currently the big guy at Real Madrid, was invited here to Indonesia (of all places) by a rich Singaporean businessman. I'm not sure why the rich dude invited Mou to Indonesia instead of Singapore, but it has something to do with his charity foundation. But I heard he did make it to Singapore (and Malaysia), so yeah, I think he was doing a sort of mini Asia Pacific tour.

Anyway, I am lucky enough to actually be working in the press. Unfortunately, not lucky enough to be sent to cover Mou's meet and greet. Pssh, I know right? Who would be better for the job, seriously, everyone who reads my blog knows I am totally a hard-hitting journalist.


A+ photography skills. credit to whoever.

Mou is long gone but that hasn't stopped me from thinking about all the important questions I would have asked if I had the chance to meet him face to face.

Here is the interview I would have done with Mou and how it would have gone down.

Me: Hello, Jose! Mourinho. Mou? Jo? What do you prefer I call you?

Jose Mourinho: The Special One will suffice.

Me: Alright, then. But I'll call you S for short, if you don't mind.

The Special One (TSO): No, I don't. I don't really care.

Me: First thing's first, how are you liking it at Madrid?

TSO: Meh, it's pretty good. I can't complain. We just won the Liga, so that's nice.

Me: Yeah, congrats on that. No broken trophies?

TSO: No. We didn't let Sergio touch it this time.

Me: Great precautions. So what's up with the gum chewing and notebook?

TSO: Are you kidding? Gum is great. It keeps my jaw nice and tight, that's why I'm still looking hella fly at 49. The notebook is for my feelings.

Me: Feelings? You mean things you feel during a Madrid game?

TSO: Of course. Expressing your feelings is very important. But, obviously, I can't tell the boys what I feel during the game, so I write it in my book for locker room talk after.

Me: Does it help with their game? I mean, your scribbles.

TSO: We won the Liga so obviously it's working.

Me: Why did you poke Tito Vilanova in the eye that time?

TSO: Why are people still talking about that! It's not like I shot the guy, I'm not Ashley Cole. I told you, I was trying to help Tito because he had something in his eye. It's not my fault he moved into my finger.

Me: Well, of course people keep asking about it. Why are you whining? Do you feel victimized?

TSO: Yes, yes I do! Completely, all the time. Everything I do is wrong in the public's eye [no pun intended]. I feel like an older, hotter Cristiano.

Me: Speaking of, how are your relations with him?

TSO: I'm not gay, if that's what you're suggesting.

Me: I mean as coach and player.

TSO: Oh. We get along good. It's hard though, because we both have egos the size of Saturn. But he listens to me. Except about tanning and hair gel. I still can't get him to lay off that stuff. He thinks it helps him with his goal precision.

Me: Who is your favorite player?

TSO: That is like asking me who my favorite child is. But my favorite is Karim. He is a french lion.

Me: What are your thoughts about Pep Guardiola? He's moving to New York, you know.

TSO: Hah, so I've heard. He thinks he's so classy, moving to New York to take some time off of football. If I took a break from football, I'd die. I'm like a football shark.

Me: So I take it your relations with him aren't that good?

TSO: What? I never said that. I like Pep.

Me: Okay then, one last question. What do you want to say to the people who think you're an egotistical sunuvabitch?

TSO: Don't hate me cus you ain't me.


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x Natasha



Wednesday, June 13, 2012

What Football Has Taught Me in 3 Months

Hello my football kittens!

It's been a while since my last post (3 months actually) and a lot has gone on in the footy world. Some good, some bad, some hilarious and some I don't really want to talk about (but will anyway because I have too many feelings). Whatever they may be, these happenings in football have taught me a thing or two about life. Yes, football is the sport that keeps on giving.

Let's take a look at some of the football highlights that have happened during my unintentional hiatus and what wisdom they have accidentally bestowed on me:

WHAT HAPPENED: Manchester City took the Premier title away from Manchester United this year. In yo face, Fergie!
LESSONS LEARNED: Don't be a douche just because your team has won a title 19 times, because karma is a bitch. Also, don't print things in advance.



WHAT HAPPENED: Chelsea won the Champions League. Not sure how that happened. Where the hell was Mario Gomez?
LESSONS LEARNED: Money cannot buy you happiness, but it damn well will buy you the Champions League. Don't trust Germans.

WHAT HAPPENED: Barcelona's King Guardiola decided to not renew his contract for another season and plans spending his free time with family by moving to New York. 
LESSONS LEARNED: Never fall in love with a coach. Because they will leave you and you will die.
Note to self: send Pep a jar of my tears for him to bring with him to the States.

WHAT HAPPENED: Liverpool also lost their King Kenny because the guys at Fenway Sports Group don't know what the hell they are doing.
LESSONS LEARNED: Suits are asshats and they should never be allowed to make decisions of importance in matters as life changing as football.
Note to self: save money to fly to Liverpool to give Kenny a hug. Try not to get a restraining order while doing so.

WHAT HAPPENED: England has a new number one man and it ain't Prince Charles......... It is actually Roy Hodgson.
LESSONS LEARNED: I am totally kind of psychic.

WHAT HAPPENED: The 2012 Euros are here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So far the Greeks beat Poland with 2 men down, Holland could not live up to their rep against Denmark, Spain tied 1-1 with the Italians and England tied with the same score to France, which no one can decide is a good thing or not.
LESSONS LEARNED: Greeks are unpredictable and very nice to look at. And Italy needs to do something about Balotelli before he causes an international incident.


Tonight is Portugal vs Denmark, which will definitely be a treat, especially with a special guest visiting my country to commentate on the game.

Who are you rooting for? Happy Euros, everyone!


x Natasha