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female-buckets · 8 months

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Dom Amore: Time still trying in vain to catch up with UConn’s Diana Taurasi, trying for her 6th Olympics

NEW YORK — Diana Taurasi finishes shooting and comes over to the group of reporters, some of whom are scrambling to set up equipment.

“You gotta be ready,” she says.

It’s time for USA Basketball to pick another women’s Olympic team, and Taurasi, as we all learned long ago, was born ready for all this. She’s just not ready to stop, even if she will be 42 before the next Summer Games start in Paris in July.

“It’s no secret,” Taurasi says. “It’s ground and pound. It’s just, ‘Do you want to do it every single day when you’re 40?’ And it hurts a little bit more, takes a little bit longer, but when the day’s over, I still love to compete, still love to play. Like you guys. Why do you still do it? Because you love it, you love covering sports.”

(Okay. Yes, Dee, I’m old, too, and you are correct.)

Taurasi has played, and won, in every corner of the earth where basketball matters, from her three national championships at UConn, when she greeted President Eisen … er, George W. Bush, at the White House, to three more in the WNBA, championships in Russia, Turkey, EuroLeague. But she wants more, and knows how to get after it.

“Only someone with that level of experience can understand,” USA coach Cheryl Reeve says. “She’s been through everything. She’s seen everything, her level of experience and wisdom is something only she could have. And any time you come to a USA Basketball camp, you’re not going to find someone in better shape than Diana Taurasi. You’re not going to find someone who better understands how hard you have to play than Diana Taurasi, so she’s teaching the young ones.

“When they show up in the gym, Dee is already here, already warmed up, already getting in her stuff. That leadership is really effective.”

With all that experience, Taurasi knows that, however good a look it would be to have her on the team, it’s not a lock. She is at Barclays Center in Brooklyn all weekend with 18 of the best players in the world at USA Basketball’s minicamp, where it will be determined which of the youngsters are ready, and which of the 11 vets of past Olympics still have it.

Taurasi is nearly twice the age of some of her possible teammates, and eight years older than the second oldest player in camp, Brittney Griner, 33. This means little, though, when Taurasi is getting up and down the court with the kids.

“It’s such a fun experience every time I get to be here with her,” says Napheesa Coller, 27, who won her championship at UConn in 2016, a dozen years after Taurasi’s third. “She seems so much younger. Her personality, she has stayed super young. You wouldn’t be able to know her age, she is so fun. But from her wisdom, you can tell. The way that she sees the game is so smart, and you can tell she has had years of experience.”

Regardless of the sport, one must marvel to those who continue to play, and at a high level, past the big four-oh. They are the ones that separate from the great to become the all-timers. You know who they are. Taurasi? Let’s put it this way: In her first Olympics, one of her teammates was Dawn Staley. One of her teammates at this tryout camp is Aliyah Boston. That’s the arc of Taurasi’s Olympic experience, in South Carolina terms.:

“I mean, it’s amazing,” Collier says. “The fact she’s able to still perform at such a high level, that’s why she’s considered by so many to be the greatest player in our game.”

Taurasi, who averaged 16.0 points, 4.6 assists in 26 games with the Phoenix Mercury last season, and has another year on her contract, may be destined to outlast them all, now that Sue Bird has retired with the five gold medals they’ve won together. Taurasi wants No.6, and that’s why she’s so often the first one on the court, ready to go.

“Once we get going, there’s nothing like playing with the best players in the world,” Taurasi says. “These camps happen for a reason, it’s an Olympic year so they’re high in the intensity and pressure, but Coach Reeve does a good job of making it simple. Come out here, play hard, physical, play for your country. … We know what the goal is, so when you put this jersey on it’s a different feeling you have.”

Taurasi, 6 feet, has played in 38 games in the last five Olympics, averaging 10.9 points, impacting at both ends. She came off the bench in 2004 in Athens, started 30 games in a row, and could be coming off the bench again in Paris. She’s surrounded by the future of women’s basketball, a symbol of the past still fighting for the present.

“Sometimes, experience is an Achilles heel,” she says. “You’ve been through it so many times, you feel like there is a certain way of doing it. Being around these kids on USA Basketball and the WNBA, it’s a whole new generation of kids. They learn different, they think different, play different. It’s been really fun to see how they go about it. There’s more than one way to skin a cat.”

The U.S. team has qualified for the 2024 Games by virtue of its gold medal at the 2022 World Cup, but will play in the four-nation quadrennial qualifying tournament in Antwerp, Belgium, beginning Feb. 8 with games against Belgium, Nigeria and Senegal.

“We never take it for granted,” Taurasi says. “We never feel like we’re the favorites, we always have something to prove, as individuals and as a team. We know how good these other countries are. Sometimes you just look at the ending, but the journey is always hard.

“We’ve had some really hard games. I can go back to 2004, the gold medal game (against Australia), that was a really hard game. In 2008, our semifinal game (against Russia) was very difficult. In 2012, we were down 12 at halftime against Australia. If we played Japan with people in the stands (during the pandemic in 2021), that might have been very different. There are always challenges.”

There are always challenges, and more than one way to meet them. But Taurasi has found a way every time, and not even time has been able to catch up just yet. Oh, it will, but with another Olympics in front of her, time is still chasing her.

“She has a love for the game,” says Nate Tibbetts, the new Mercury coach, who was at mini camp. “That’s unmatched.”

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kyndaris · 2 years

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The Sin of Pride

Looking back over the year that was, so many things have happened. Honestly, it’s hard to believe that all of this was crammed into just 365 days. And yet it did. Life in 2022 has been hard. Especially as people have stepped out from their caves and have attempted to return to a life of normalcy. True, COVID-19 has still rampaged and caused chaos but as the year has gone on, it’s become something that’s accepted by most able-bodied people in the community. And what of those individuals that are immunocompromised or have disabilities? Well, they’re simply part of the price that most people pay as we transition back to the ‘new normal.’

For many, if it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

The start of 2022 was a fraught time for many of us in Australia. Soaring cases of Omicron and a lack of rapid antigen tests (RAT) meant that many holidays were cut short because of testing requirements to visit family in other states. On a personal scale, it had me panicked for attending a friend’s wedding reception early on in the year. For, if I did not have a RAT, how would I be able to test and make sure I would be hale and hearty?

But it wasn’t all fun and games. During the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic endured a trial by fire in trying to come to compete. His visa was cancelled, then reinstated after a challenge with the Federal Circuit Court, and then cancelled again by the then immigration minister.

Prince Andrew was stripped of his military titles and royal patronage because of all his shitty behaviour. And in more recent news, he’s been formally banned from Buckingham Palace.

Not long afterwards, there was a huge eruption in Tonga that led to the underwater communication cables being destroyed. This meant that people could receive no news about their loved ones as the islands were battered by tsunamis as a result of the volcano saying that enough was enough. The Philippines also saw a volcanic eruption.

In the world of gaming, Microsoft bought out Activision Blizzard. However, even now, that sale has yet to go through with the FTC suing Microsoft to block its acquisition. How it will all shake out is anyone’s guess but for for this loyal fan of the PlayStation, I certainly hope it doesn’t come to fruition. Even if it does, Activision Blizzard has so tarnished their reputation, it might be a good long while yet before peace can be restored in what was once a much celebrated company.

Back out in the world, Burkina Faso’s military took over the country. And then, of course, before spring had hit the northern hemisphere (and autumn down here in the south), Russia invaded Ukraine. Why? Well, supposedly to save it from fascists. But as anyone who is keeping up with the news cycle knows, the narrative continues to change because the resistance that Ukraine has put up has stemmed, and occasionally reversed, the red tide.

In Australia, many were shocked by the sudden death of famous cricketer: Shane Warne. Easter brought with it severe flooding in NSW and QLD, with fears of Japanese encephalitis spreading in the southern states. The rains, of course, returned in the spring of 2022 and even now there are parts of Northern NSW that are still recovering.

Beyond that, there was Ash Barty’s retirement from tennis! After reaching World Number 1, the Australian tennis player stepped down and back from the eyes of the world.

Elsewhere, Sri Lanka was undergoing a severe economic crisis. Many a protest was held, with many finding their way into the presidential abode and enjoying a dip in the President’s pool. In Pakistan, Imran Khan narrowly avoided a no-confidence vote to be ousted as Prime Minister for Pakistan. A week later, however, he is tossed out. As for the Philippines, Marcos, son of the previous dictator, was voted in as President of the Philippines - with many of those that had voted for him buying into the narrative he and his mother weaved when once they were pariahs to the Filipino people.

Honestly, it is astounding how quickly people can forget the crimes of a previous regime.

In May, Labor won the Australian Federal Election. Thankfully, unlike many of their counterparts in other places of the world, the conservative party didn’t attempt to claim election fraud. Rather, they bowed out with some grace. But instead of providing bipartisan support for ways to better the country, it could be said that they’ve returned to sniping off snide remarks from their very much diminished position as the opposition. And even though Labor won, much of it could be attributed to the introduction of Teal Independents and other smaller parties taking the fore.

Beyond politics, there was flooding in South Africa, Ukraine won Eurovision, and shooting returned to America after a brief stopper with the COVID-19 pandemic. While some of the shootings were motivated by race, others occurred in schools, which led right back to the debate of American gun control. Something that has still yet to see resolution as pro-gun lobbyists continue to advocate for dangerous guns out in the public.

With COVID-19 somewhat in the background but with the world still struggling with certain supply lines, many countries were struggling with high inflation. Many countries such as Tunisia, Ethiopia, Ghana, El Salvador, Turkey and Pakistan found themselves in an economic crisis. It certainly hadn’t helped when COVID-19 had disrupted trade across the world. But with low interest rates to combat the lack of spending when the virus was running rampant, the sudden war in Ukraine (the breadbasket of the world), essentials also became harder to acquire. Coupled with the effects of climate change...well...is it any wonder?

Back in politics, the landmark Roe vs Wade case was overturned. To combat this, Biden signed an executive order to protect several key human rights. Across the pond, Boris Johnson was forced to resign. He was followed by Liz Truss (who lasted about 40 or so days - not even as long as a head of lettuce) before being replaced by Rishi Sunak, the first Prime Minister of Indian ethnicity.

Shinzo Abe was shot while giving a speech, before later dying.

And in Australia, scandal of scandals, our previous Prime Minister: Scott Morrison, was discovered to have secretly appointed himself the head of five Ministry Departments. His excuse? To better manage the COVID-19 emergency.

In celebrity deaths, none could have competed against the passing of Queen Elizabeth II this year. For Australians, though the death of Olivia Newton-John hit close to home. While I mourned the loss of the much beloved Angela Lansbury. There were also a slew of deaths among the old communist regimes with Mikael Gorbachev and Jiang Zemin.

As the latter months of 2022 continued, there was the launch of the James Webb telescope. Since then, my Tumblr dash has been filled with magnificent photos taken from space. Other big events included record heat waves in Europe with many countries across the globe also suffering an energy crisis, hastening the need to transition to renewable energy.

Russia, still trying to subdue the Ukrainians after a disastrous foray that should have ended in mere days, was forced to partially mobilise their reserve troops. To punish the other countries in Europe for stymieing their attempts at bringing Ukraine to heal, they also closed off gas supplies to Europe.

As October approached, protests began in Iran following the death of a woman held in custody by the moral police. In Australia, however, many of the populace were rocked by revelations of personal data being compromised by companies such as Optus and Medibank. And in Seoul, after reopening to tourists following the COVID-19 pandemic, several people were crushed to death in a panic stampede in the narrow streets in the Itaewon neighbourhood.

The rest of 2022 was a cavalcade of chaos. Trump, defying the advice of his closest advisors, made a tilt for a 2024 presidential run. Even as the January 6 committee recommended that criminal charges be brought against him. An explosion in rural village in Poland spooked many before it was determined to be a result of Ukrainian anti-air defence. Elon Musk, showing how geniuses can still be terribly stupid, bought Twitter and is intent on running it into the ground. Even Tesla stocks have tanked. And following form his acquisition of Twitter, many people have seen what a terrible boss he would be to have.

On Tumblr, with many Twitter users fleeing one social media site for another Hell site, the good people decided to bring back a long lost classic. That of Goncharov. The best mafia film ever made. Or, at least, that’s what they would have liked people to believe.

As Christmas started ramping up, the FIFA World Cup was underway. In the end, after a hard fought battle, Argentina emerged as the victors.

But though 2022 could have ended on a high note, civil unrest in Peru, a shooting in Paris and blizzards bombarding the United States and Canada, have left many without power. In China, after lifting all COVID-19 restrictions following protests, COVID numbers are rising, with many individuals hospitalised.

Looking back on the year that has been, 2022 has not been the bounce back from the pandemic many have hoped. The economy of many countries is a shambles, rocked by high inflation due to the prices for basic goods. Climate change has also shown it is not going away with natural disasters occurring more frequently. If humans hope to survive as a species, and enjoy our current luxuries (especially in first world countries), there are several things that need to change.

Although starting at an individual level, this also needs to come from governments and those with the authority/ power to make more meaningful changes. I’m looking at you big oil/ energy companies.

You would think that such companies, knowing how capitalism works, would be smart enough to PIVOT. Don’t keep relying on the same old finite resources that will lead to humans being wiped out. If you want to be clever and capitalise, PIVOT! It’s a common thing for all successful businesses.That way, you won’t be behind the ball.

By predicting where the market goes, you could make such a killing!

But do you?

No! Because you’re stupid. Holding onto old glories.

If I was your shareholder, I’d sell your stocks fast because clearly you haven’t gotten the memo. Honestly, what happened to being flexible?

On a personal level, this year has been very heavy on change for me. I’ve grown out my fringe (a small thing), nabbed a promotion, refinanced my investment property and have started trying to date. Will it be successful? Who knows. But maybe in this way, I’ll be able to learn a little bit more about myself and what I want out of life.

Will the world learn in 2023? Or will we only hasten our own demise?

I, for one, would not prefer civilisation taking such a huge hit that it vanishes entirely, but with disease, war and possible other issues in the past, has the golden age of our modern age finally come to an end due to our hubris?

Only time will tell.

#personal blog #year in review #2022

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sa7abnews · 1 month

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The Russian ‘bad boy’ who brought tennis glory to his country

New Post has been published on https://sa7ab.info/2024/08/16/the-russian-bad-boy-who-brought-tennis-glory-to-his-country/

The Russian ‘bad boy’ who brought tennis glory to his country

With the 2023 Australian Open nearing its conclusion, we look back at a charismatic Russian former winner of the event

The Australian Open runs to its conclusion this weekend, with the first Grand Slam of 2023 set to be bookended on Sunday when the men’s championship match is played between record nine-time winner Novak Djokovic and debut finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas. With the exit of Karen Khachanov in the semifinals at the hands of Tsitsipas, Russia is again left ruing a missed opportunity for glory in Melbourne after Daniil Medvedev was beaten in successive finals in the past two editions of the tournament. Indeed, it is fast approaching two decades since the last Russian man won the title Down Under. On that occasion it was Marat Safin, one of the most charismatic, combustible characters of his or any other generation of tennis talent. The second Russian to win the Australian Open after Yevgeny Kafelnikov in 1999, Safin struck gold in 2005 in Melbourne by coming back to beat local favorite Lleyton Hewitt in what was his last great individual triumph. Despite retiring prematurely in 2009, Safin is far from forgotten in the tennis world – as evidenced by a viral throwback photo from 2002 which circulated during the current edition of the Australian Open, and which featured the eye-catching female following in Safin’s box during his playing days. A playboy once described as a “two-meter embodiment of women’s dreams” by compatriot Dmitry Tursunov, Safin was often admired for his “frankness, outrageousness and charm” – married with no shortage of talent on the tennis court. The Australian Open was a tournament that Safin graced with all of those attributes, reaching the final three times. The re-emergence of the famous photo from 2002, where he allegedly partied before being beaten by underdog Thomas Johansson in the final, has led to many recalling one of the most colorful characters to have played the game.

Marat Safin's box in 2002 Australian Open, where he lost in the final to Thomas Johansson 😄 pic.twitter.com/B6m4bOghok— Luigi Gatto (@gigicat7_) January 13, 2023

Rise to the top Born in Moscow to Tatar Muslim parents, Safin showed early promise as a tennis prodigy and moved to Valencia in Spain as a 14-year-old to access advanced tennis training programs. As a teenager who – in his own words – grew “very fast … with no muscles,” Safin felt that Spain’s clay courts would be better for his knees. The surface was arguably better for his overall career progression and development. After turning professional in 1997, he took the scalps of Andre Agassi and reigning champion Gustavo Kuerten at the 1998 French Open, before being eliminated in the fourth round by two-time Grand Slam finalist Cedric Pioline. Agassi pulled one back against Safin by beating him in the final of the Paris Masters in November 1999, but Safin had already tasted triumph by pipping Brit Greg Rusedski in an ATP final in Boston in August. Turning 20 on January 27, 2000, the new millennium ushered in Safin’s most successful year in which he set records that remain intact to this day. He won a Masters tournament in Canada, then beat four-time champion and 90s great Pete Sampras in straight sets at Flushing Meadows to become the third youngest winner of the US Open aged just 20 years and 228 days.

A fresh-faced Safin won a stunning victory at Flushing Meadows in 2000.

Safin’s maiden Grand Slam title also saw him become the first Russian to win the title in New York – and it was a full 21 years until Daniil Medvedev became the second to do so by beating Novak Djokovic in the 2021 final. The youngest Russian winner of any major tournament, Safin went on to become the youngest player of the Open Era at the time to reach the world number one ranking with his number of titles (seven) the most on the ATP Tour that year. “For me it was very strange in my experience reaching number one. I wasn’t ready for that because I couldn’t imagine just a few months earlier that I’d have the chance to become number in the world. I was Top 50, dropping, playing very badly,” Safin later confessed to ATPTour.com. “I underestimated myself… I didn’t believe in myself, and I was seeing myself weaker than others, which is unbelievable. Now I can understand tennis better.”

What a year 2000 was for Marat Safin…🔹 US Open champion🔹 ATP Finals semifinalist 🔹 Seven singles titlesOn this day 21-years-ago, the Russian reached the 🔝 of the ATP rankings for the first time in his career! pic.twitter.com/MgaqLwMpYd— US Open Tennis (@usopen) November 20, 2021

The fire and the fury By now, Safin was building a reputation as a fiery personality who brought everything to the court and who would often take out his frustrations on his racket. Not only boasting generational talent, he had the heart to battle through adversity and was a must-see draw for the crowds, whether on fire at his unbeatable best or out of sorts due to his temperament. In the Paris Masters final of 2000 against Mark Philippoussis, for example, Safin became bloodied from diving for a volley and beat the Aussie with a bandage over his right eyebrow through five sets and a tiebreak. While 2001 proved relatively quiet, save for two ATP finals victories in Uzbekistan and St. Petersburg, Safin reached his first Australian Open final in 2002 but was upset by Thomas Johansson – turning heads with the aforementioned entourage in his box along the way. Some years later, another controversial character in Daniel Kollerer claimed to have seen Safin partying and drinking before the match played in the run-up to his 22nd birthday. “He [was] so drunk he can’t even walk on his two feet, it can not be that bad,” reminisced the German to Unbreakable Media while talking about his own descent into a hedonistic lifestyle. “He could never win because he was so drunk, unbelievable. He was celebrating the night before like it was his birthday party. He celebrated like he already won the Australian Open.”

Safin was often portrayed as something of a party boy.

Safin’s first French Open semifinal ended in disappointment too, and he also fell short of regaining his world number one spot. But he ended the year well by beating the holder of the spot, Hewitt, to clinch the Paris Masters again and by leading Russia to its maiden Davis Cup title in December. A string of injuries blighted Safin’s 2003, as they did for much of the remainder of his career. Yet he returned to the Australian Open in fine form in early 2004 by topping number one seed Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals and Andre Agassi in the semi-finals, ending the American legend’s 26-match winning streak at the tournament. Those five-set affairs drained Safin, however, and rising star Roger Federer blew him away in straight sets in the final to become world number one for the first time in his career. That year was another which started with disappointment but ended well for Safin. Losing his head at the French Open and receiving a $500 fine for “racquet abuse” but strangely not for dropping his pants, he blasted “all the people who runs the sport” in a memorable interview.

“They have no clue!” said Safin ranted. “It’s a pity that tennis is really going down the drain… They do everything that is possible just to take away the entertainment. You’re not allowed to do that; you’re not allowed to do this. You’re not allowed to speak whenever you want to speak…” Later, though, he claimed a third Paris Masters crown and became the first man to win the final two Masters of the calendar in the same year by sealing victory in Madrid. Success Down Under and early retirement In 2005, Safin got off to the best possible start by reaching his third Australian Open final in four years – and this time finishing the job. In the semifinals, he got his revenge over Federer by winning a five-set thriller, then swatting away Hewitt in the final in four sets after going one down.

Safin tasted Grand Slam success for the second time in Australia in 2005.

Sadly, injuries would keep Safin off the court for the rest of the season. Save for winning the Davis Cup with Russia for a second time in 2006, Safin was often perceived as something of a spent force at the top level, except for becoming the first Russian to reach the semifinals at Wimbledon, where Federer beat him, even though Safin harbored an open disdain for grass. Despite retiring prematurely in late 2009 aged just 29, Safin still boasted a storied career and was immensely popular as a player twice voted the ATP Fan Favorite. The men’s tour described him as a “must-watch player” and many felt he could have achieved more given his natural genius. For this and other facets of his personality, Safin is perhaps most comparable to modern day star Nick Kyrgios as his generation’s most eye-catching on-court presence but with a hint of nonchalance and accusations of underachievement – although unlike the Aussie, Safin does have Grand Slam success to his name. As with Kyrgios, Safin was known for often smashing his racquet – destroying a total 1,055 of them, according to his sponsor who kept count.

In one of his last stands, at the 2008 Cincinnati Masters, Safin was booed various times by the crowd after throwing his racket and rowing with the match official. He still managed to end his career on good terms at the Paris Masters, though, where he was given the Bercy key after crashing out in the second round to Juan Martin Del Potro in November the following year. In an emotional farewell, Safin said: “Today I will put all my memories, all my wins and losses in a small box. Today a door is closed, hopefully another one will open.” Post-career life Another door did open, and it happened to be in politics around two years later as Safin was elected to the Russian State Duma as a member of the United Russia Party. It was not to be a long-term career choice, however, and Safin stepped down from his role representing Nizhny Novgorod in May 2017. “I was young and unexperienced. They talked me into it,” he later claimed. “‘Polite’ and ‘likeable’ people. But I don’t regret it. I practiced and used my law degree, I have learned a lot. I got much more experience and finally, more importantly, six long years in the top politics on the federal level in such a huge country like Russia is an amazing achievement, and a very serious lesson.”

Safin pictured at an Australian Open ceremony in 2020.

Safin, whose sister Dinara also enjoyed a successful professional career and reached three Grand Slam finals, went on to become an official for the Russian Tennis Federation and a member of Russia’s Olympic Committee. He stayed connected to the sport through coaching a Russia ‘Dream Team’ featuring Medvedev and Khachanov while attempting to recapture his Davis Cup glories after becoming the first Russian tennis player inducted into the sport’s Hall of Fame in 2016. “We had ups and downs, we cried, we broke rackets, we shouted some words, we threw the balls out of the court, we insulted the referees, only sometimes,” Safin said at his induction with laughter. “But this is a part of our life. I’m just so pleased to be part of it. It’s a huge honor to be inducted and be part of history.”

Safin pictured at the ATP Cup in 2020 alongside current Russian tennis stars Daniil Medvedev and Karen Khachanov.

Making headlines for his views on Covid-19 during the pandemic, Safin has been out of the spotlight of late until his recent viral resurgence due to the photo circulating on Twitter from the Australian Open in 2002. That image did not even feature Safin himself, but rather the collection of fetching blonde women in his player’s box known as the “Safinettes” and boasted two Moscow models. Current Australian tennis star Thanasi Kokkinakis even described Safin as the GOAT – greatest of all time – for the eye-catching team he had managed to assemble. Safin is said to have had no fewer than eight women in his player’s box during his run to the final in Melbourne, with a tour insider saying that the Russian “never has difficulty finding female supporters”. “His little black book would be pretty impressive,” the source added to Herald Sun.

Members of Safin’s entourage at the 2002 Australian Open.

The Melbourne daily newspaper wasn’t the only outlet to pick up on the Safinettes’ presence, as Channel 7 focused on them during Safin’s matches and on-court interviews. “I have to say thank you to all my family sitting over there,” he said to laughter on Center Court at the Rod Laver arena, while gesturing towards the ‘harem’, as the media dubbed them. Safin, who celebrated turning 43 on Friday, described Australia as a place that “stays in my heart.” “I have great memories from Australia. I played well and happy there,” he recalled.

👑 Former World No.1🏆 2000 US Open champion🏆 2005 Australian Open champion🏆🏆 2-time Davis Cup winnerHappy Birthday Marat Safin 🥳#HappyBirthday #MaratSafin #Tennis pic.twitter.com/o1DygcGRYz— Sportskeeda Tennis (@SK__Tennis) January 27, 2023

It perhaps seems unfathomable that a player on the current ATP tour could pull off such a stunt. Yet that was Safin – a unique entertainer full of charisma from a bygone era, but still remembered warmly and with many of his impressive records still intact.

#News &x26; Politics

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ohioprelawland · 2 years

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Brittney Griner And Viktor Bout Prisoner Swap

By Joey D'Amico, The Ohio State University Class of 2024

December 8, 2022

“She’s safe. She’s on a plane … Brittney will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones.”, said President Biden during the heartfelt public announcement of Griner’s release [3]. About 10 months ago, WNBA player Brittney Griner traveled to Russia to play basketball during the offseason. She was “detained at Sheremetyevo Airport outside of Moscow after customs officials allege they found vape cartridges that contained oil derived from cannabis in her luggage.” [1]. After the news spread throughout America, celebrities such as LeBron James, 50 Cent, and Ted Cruz displayed their emotions, standing with Griner and supporting her release. As public support for Griner’s release rose, The Biden Administration immediately began negotiation with Russia to attempt to bring the WNBA player home.

At the same time was the Russian-Ukraine war. During the conflict, it was believed that Russia would be inflexible when it comes to diplomatic negotiations. However, “Trevor Reed, a former U.S. Marine who has been held in Russia since August 2019, was unexpectedly released from Russian custody [in April]…” [1]. The release, which was a swap for a Russian national, was a good sign for Griner’s case. Russia was showing signs of compliance during the time of war. Unfortunately for Griner, 4 months later, she was “sentenced to nine years in prison. During sentencing, Judge Anna Sotnikova said she had found that Griner intentionally broke the law and also fined her 1 million rubles (about $16,700).” [1] Griner subsequently appealed, which was then denied by Moscow. Griner was set to spend the next decade of her life in a Russian Prison, instead of her prestigious life as a professional basketball player in America. The Biden Administration, though, did not cease to attempt to bring her home via a prisoner swap.

Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer, was on the other side of the prisoner swap. Bout was “accused of selling weapons to Al Qaeda, the Taliban and militants in Rwanda.” [2]. Bout was a highly-skilled militant, evading capture for years on end. However, his luck ran out in 2008 when “Mr. Bout met with undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agents he believed represented rebels from Colombia’s Revolutionary Armed Forces, or FARC, which the United States considered a terrorist organization until last year.” [2], when he displayed his stance against America and was thus captured and eventually sentenced to 20 years. Eric Holder, the attorney general when Mr. Bout was at the height of his career, nicknamed Bout “The Merchant of Death”. However, “despite serving less than half of his 25-year prison sentence … he was exchanged on Thursday for the American basketball star Brittney Griner, who had been imprisoned in Russia for 10 months.” [2].

The people of America spoke for Griner’s release, and Russia’s long-awaited release for Viktor Bout was granted, so the trade was deemed a win. However, “the Griner-for-Bout exchange leaves retired U.S. Marine Paul Whelan imprisoned in Russia. Whelan has been in Russian custody for nearly four years. He was convicted on espionage charges that the U.S. has called false.” [3]. Notably, The Biden Administration had continually attempted to include Whelan in the trade, but Russia would not budge. The choice of trading a WNBA player who intentionally broke the law over a Marine who was wrongly detained for a Russian Militant is supported and opposed by many. Nevertheless, Griner is coming home to America.

______________________________________________________________

[1] ESPN Internet Ventures. (2022, December 8). Brittney Griner Russia drug case timeline: Prison, trial, release. ESPN. Retrieved December 8, 2022, from https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/34877115/brittney-griner-russia-drug-case-line-prison-trial-more

[2] Hopkins, V., & Yuhas, A. (2022, December 8). Who is Viktor bout, the arms dealer in the swap for Brittney Griner? The New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2022, from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/08/world/europe/viktor-bout-brittney-griner.html

[3] Triay, A., & Milton, P. (2022, December 8). Brittney Griner released by Russia in 1-for-1 prisoner swap for arms dealer Viktor Bout. CBS News. Retrieved December 8, 2022, from https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/brittney-griner-release-russia-prisoner-swap-viktor-bout/

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rinkrats · 3 years

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🥺 that mike lange story. But also those tags #sid loooves christmas #he loves giving presents #looks good in red #piles on the pounds fast #post hockey career as santa 😂😂👌🏽👌🏽

he loves his mementos and presents and is COMMITTED to them. scrapbooking. matching jackets. little pills with hidden motivational messages~*~ his love language is gifts and neck smooches and stalking geno. relevant right now are some anecdotes i sent a friend earlier this year for dorky sid gifts fic fodder:

1. Crosby's constant thoughtfulness would be impressive from anyone, much less someone of his stature.

"Sid always texts me happy birthday, he's always asking me like, how's Russia?" Evgeni Malkin said. "We talk and message all summer. He asks me how my skates are. He knows, like, everything. He follows my Instagram, I think (laughs)."

In addition to having a handle on those little details, Crosby is constantly providing those around him with memories and mementos. If the team is on the road and goes, say, sightseeing or to a sporting event and takes a group photo, Crosby will later send a framed copy to everyone.

When Ron Hextall and Brian Burke watched their first Penguins game in person, Crosby is the one who approached head equipment manager Dana Heinze and asked for two used game pucks to give to the new GM and president of hockey ops.

After the Penguins won in 2009, Crosby had jackets made for the three players on the team who had scored a Cup-clinching goal in Game 7: Talbot (Pittsburgh), Ruslan Fedotenko (Tampa Bay) and Mike Rupp (New Jersey).

"They were blue jackets with gold buttons, and each one had a patch on it that said 'GWG Game 7,'" Talbot said. "At one of our first team meals the next season, he presented us with the jackets and did a big ceremony with the music and stuff. We had a private room in the restaurant. I still have the jacket."

-The Consummate Teammate, Captain and Ambassador, Feb 2021

2. Merz: My first interaction with Sid was when we were on the bench, guys were talking about a teammate, and the first thing this 15-year-old says is, “Hey, guys. Let’s keep everything positive. Don’t talk about your teammates that way.”

Salcido: When we were getting ready for nationals, he found these little pills that you could put a hidden message inside. They unscrewed, and inside was a tiny scroll. He gave one to every teammate. … He had everyone fill one out. He didn’t tell anyone what to write, but he made it known that we all knew what the goal was: winning nationals. So we wrote on our scrolls, rolled them up and put them in the pill thing. We kept them with us everywhere we went.

-‘Is this real?’: Stories of Sidney Crosby’s year at a Minnesota prep school, May 2020

3. On “Butterfly Boy” Jonathan Pitre:

Though the Senators are his team, Sidney Crosby has always been Jonny’s favourite player. After the TSN documentary airs, Tina gets a call from the Penguins. Sid needs Jonny’s measurements. He wants to have a suit made for him by his personal tailor, Domenico Vacca.

“It’s the kindest, sweetest gesture,” Tina says. “Sid heard that Jonny went to a lot of games, so he wants him to look like he’s one of the guys.”

“I want him to feel like a pro,” Crosby says. “Here’s a guy who is going through something so painful, and his first thought is always, ‘How can I help others?’ When I was young, I’d watch on TV the players coming to the rink in their suits. That was a cool part of being an NHL player. I want him to feel that, to make it as real as possible for him.”

Tina tries to discreetly measure Jonny while she’s changing his dressings. But he’s way too smart for that.

“Um, Mom, why are you measuring me? Am I going for surgery again?” he asks.

“No, no!” Tina replies, trying to reassure him and come up with a good lie, all in the same breath. “The doctor needs them just to make sure they have proper dressings next time you are in.”

A few weeks later, the sharp navy blue suit shows up at their front door, along with a couple of ties, an autographed stick and a handwritten letter from Sid.

“His eyes just light up,” Tina says. “Jonny always liked to be well-dressed, and he just loves having his own suit. It fits perfectly. He looks so good in it.”

-Beauties by James Duthie (2020)

4. Pascal Dupuis inspired his Pittsburgh Penguins teammates on their run to the Stanley Cup, and Sidney Crosby found a special way of driving that message home.

Dupuis retired in December with lingering health concerns because of blood clots. Despite his NHL playing days coming to an end, the veteran forward remained an integral part of the Penguins and was in uniform to hoist the Cup after Pittsburgh's six-game win against the San Jose Sharks in the Stanley Cup Final.

On Sunday, Dupuis brought the Cup home one last time as a player to share a special day with his family, friends and hometown fans.

"Yes, it does feel bittersweet a little bit," Dupuis said. "You get the Cup, you want to celebrate. But at the same time I got a gift by the mail [Saturday]. Basically, it's a book of all the pictures of all the good stuff we went through. It came from Nova Scotia, so you guys can figure out who it came from (Crosby), but he couldn't give it to me during the season, he saw me skating a little bit.

"And he sent it [Saturday], before my day with the Cup, so he knew what he was doing to get me right here," Dupuis said, putting his fist over his heart.

-Pascal Dupuis shares Stanley Cup with family, friends, Aug 2016

5. In 2011, Crosby was out of the lineup with a concussion, and the Penguins made their annual visit to Children’s Hospital.

Crosby got along so well with one boy there and was so touched that he later asked Bullano to go back... just the two of them, no cameras, no attention.

When Bullano and Crosby met for the follow-up visit, Crosby appeared clutching a pair of Toys “R” Us bags, filled with a Transformer toy the two had discussed.

“He literally bought every type of this toy they make,” Bullano said. “[Crosby] had never seen it before and thought it was so cool.

“There are no pictures of this. There’s no video. He was laying in the bed with the kid. They were just playing. We were there for over two hours. I got to know the mom really well because we were just sitting there.

“The kid had no idea. Didn’t expect it. They had no idea he was coming. We got there and he said, ‘Hey buddy. hope you don’t mind that I came back.’ The kid couldn’t believe it.

“[Crosby’s] crazy cool about stuff like that.”

What’s crazy is trying to recount the many times stuff like this has happened with Crosby:

• The Little Penguins Learn to Play program has been around for nine seasons, outfitting now 1,200 kids with free head-to-toe hockey equipment. Not only does Crosby serve as the face of the program — which the NHL has now adopted — but he helps fund it, too.

“There’s an awareness of what a person in his position can bring,” Penguins vice president of communications Tom McMillan said. “I think he activates that as much as anybody I’ve seen during his playing career.”

• After a recent practice, Crosby noticed a local family in the Penguins dressing room, approached them, introduced himself, learned their story and wound up giving them a signed stick.

Nobody asked Crosby to do that, and he wanted zero credit when discussing it a couple days later.

“For people who have the opportunity to come in here, people dealing with certain things, if you can brighten their day a bit or spend some time with them, it’s something that’s special for all of us,” Crosby said.

• A few years ago, through a team charity event, Crosby befriended a 4-year-old Amish boy with cancer. Crosby remarked to Bullano how much he loved talking to the boy because of how engaging the boy was and how he wasn’t consumed with technology. Crosby even tried to visit the boy but learned he had passed away.

• He learns the first and last names of the kids who attend his hockey school in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia.

“Two kids came from Japan its first year,” Bullano recalled. “He was so blown away by that. He couldn’t wait to meet them.”

• Earlier this season, the Penguins welcomed Grant Chupinka, 24-year-old cancer patient, into the dressing room. Crosby chatted up Grant and his parents, Steve and Kim.

He spent his usual time — about two or three times the requirement. Gave the tour. Then found out the Chupinkas didn’t have tickets for that night’s game and decided he would pay for them to go.

“I’m sure he could just give them an autographed puck or something, but he takes his time to go out and see them and talk to them and get to know them,” Brian Dumoulin said. “It speaks volumes for him and who he is as a person.”

Spend any length of time with Crosby during his visits with those less fortunate, and a few things become obvious.

One, Crosby is really good at these. Smooth but not in a slimy way. Sweet. You know how when you’re around someone talking and they go out of their way to make eye contact with everyone around? That’s Crosby.

He’s also humble, always introducing himself like those he’s meeting don’t already know. Holding a hand is no issue. And Crosby is the rare 20-something pro athlete without kids who acts every bit like he does.

“It is not an easy situation to talk to someone with terminal cancer,” McMillan said. “A lot of people couldn’t do that. He has an amazing ability to do that and make that person feel good.”

Crosby has welcomed several Make-a-Wish kids and tries, if at all possible, to schedule such events for practice days — to maximize the time he’s able to spend.

He’s developed a special friendship with Patrick McIlvain, a soldier who nearly died when he took a bullet to the head in Afghanistan. McIlvain actually does physical therapy with one of Crosby’s sticks.

A former club hockey player at Cal U, McIlvain comes by every year, and the Penguins don’t even bother to tell Crosby. Either he already knows or immediately stops what he’s doing to come say hello.

“He’s not doing it to leave a legacy,” said Terry Kalna, Penguins vice president of sales and broadcasting. “His numbers leave the legacy. He’s just a down-to-Earth, good guy.”

Before a visit, Crosby has Bullano email him what is essentially a scouting report on who he’s going to meet. He likes to learn about them, their situation and what they’ve been through. As much information as he can ingest. Crosby never just swoops in, shake a hand and leave.

“As much as anyone has ever seen, he accepts the responsibilities of being not just a professional athlete but a star professional athlete,” McMillan said. “He views it as part of the job. Like coming to the morning skate. That’s just what you do.”

Put another way, “he owns those moments,” says Kalna.

Said Bullano, “He’s just a good human being.”

-When it comes to giving, Sidney Crosby does as much as he can, Feb 2017

6. When Crosby received a generous signing bonus on his Reebok deal, he wanted to share it with everyone.

“He gave everyone on the bus gifts,” says Oceanic radio commentator Michel Germain. “Him sharing his bonus with all the people he’d been travelling with for two years, that impresses me greatly. I think the most important thing about Sidney Crosby is his personality and the kind of human being he is. What he exuded. The inner richness he’d already developed.”

-Superstitious and generous, Dec 2006

7. also this simply because it makes me ;w;

Even in defeat — no, especially in defeat — Sidney Crosby proved why he wears the "C" for the Penguins.

After the game, with his heart sinking and his season over, the Penguins’ captain bent over, sank to the ice to pick up the puck, took it to linesman Tony Sericolo and then skated to his team’s handshake line.

I immediately thought of a View from Ice Level I’d written on Crosby making sure a retiring official was sent away from PPG Paints Arena properly. I knew picking up the puck wasn’t for the same reason that was, but I also knew, in some way, it was connected to Crosby’s awareness and respect of the game.

“It was for the Islanders,” Crosby told me after the game, his eyes swollen from a first round exit – by way of a sweep to make it worse. He told me how the winning team always wanted the puck, and it was his way of providing it for the Islanders.

Crosby looked me right in the eye as he told me this, just as he did with every other member of the media to come to him after the loss.

I could tell from those swollen eyes and the way he sat at his stall, by himself with his hands folded as he stared blankly, that Sidney Crosby is much more used to being on the receiving end of a puck when a series ends than he is at retrieving it for the winning team.

That scene. His swollen eyes. Staying in the locker room until most had left – talking to anyone who needed him. Most of all, though, picking up the puck that prompted my question in the first place and making sure the right people got their piece of their own history.

It all adds up to one thing: In victory and in defeat, Crosby respects the game above all else – just as he’s always done.

-Even in defeat, Crosby shines, April 2019

#anyway this was a nice walk down memory lane after the disastrous game rip #sidney crosby #pittsburgh penguins #hockey #text

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kingsofargentina · 3 years

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I had planned on making this before copa américa begun, but then life happened. Better late than never, tho, right? Let's call this a celebration of Argentina's win. :D

Kun Agüero and Leo Messi are the OTP of all OTPs for me, so here is a list of a few of my favorite kunessi fanfics that I've read over the years. This is not by any means a complete list since there are so many great fics (so hmu if you'd like more recs or are looking for something specific), and the fics are not in any particular order.

Multi-chapter/ novel length

Before the Third Star by rainedparade (162 096 words, rated E)

When it was the two of them, the pitch became their world and the ball, their very own sun.

A story about football, love, and life featuring Leo and Kun from 2005-2010. Takes place in an alternate reality with liberal use of the butterfly effect.

This feels like an account of what could have happened. Many scenes that draw on real events etc. A very beautiful story of boys who love football and each other.

A Messi Love by stillgold (69 188 words, rated E)

Kun knew he never should have had that last drink. Now he's gone and spilled his deep dark secret to Masche. And why is Kun's feelings for Leo the only secret Masche can't keep?

A good story with excellent smut.

two bodies pressed together by yvenger (jjjat3am) (6015 words, rated T)

"If I weren't a footballer, I would be a footballer's wife." - Kun Aguero

The one where Kun has to retire from football early and becomes Leo's househusband instead.

A little sad at the very beginning, but then very cute and domestic.

A Matter of Biology by MessiFangirl (hpdm4ever) (25 701 words, rated E)

Nicolás guides him down the hall, body still tight with tension. “You shouldn’t be alone,” his friend says, a hint of a growl in his voice. “Not anywhere until we’re back in England. We don’t really know if it’s true about how they do things here. The last thing we need is you mated to some neanderthal from Russia. It would probably be the end of your career.”

“They were being perfectly nice,” Kun says, frowning. Instead, he takes a deep breath as the familiar scents of his teammates wash over him, trying to raise his spirits again. It’s what gives him the strength to add, “I’m allowed to do things differently here. You’re the one who was being rude.”

The a/b/o fic I didn't expect to love as much as I did.

By the Rio de la Plata I sat down and wept by whimsicule (48 904 words, rated M)

Buenos Aires AU. Kun is part of the city's social elite, drifting without any sense of responsibility and purpose. A chance encounter with a childhood friend puts his life into perspective.

AU that has nothing to do with football. My favorite fic of all time; any genre, any fandom, any pairing. What an absolute masterpiece. It broke my heart, but in the most beautiful way. I cried, and then I cried some more. And then i reread it.

One shots

Prayers by ren_makoto (3418 words, rated E)

How do you worship a god? Kun Aguero shows his reverence to one D10S de Futbol. But gods can be spoiled, complicated creatures...

"He's seen fans almost kill themselves jumping down from the stands to hug Leo, kiss him, bow down at his feet. Nearly drowning themselves to swim to his yacht. He's seen fans cry in joy when Leo gives them his shirt or a hug. This is his equivalent, Kun imagines. This is as close as he comes to praying anymore."

Hot and a bit angsty. Actually really angsty if you think about it.

Tonight Is For You by MessiFangirl (hpdm4ever) (3199 words, rated T)

Nobody approaches him, perhaps aware that he's fighting to maintain his composure. The Icelandic players are respectful enough that they give him his space, while the Argentine players are wise enough to know that he needs it.

There's a light touch against his bare back then, right against his waistband, and Leo lowers his shirt to glare.

I just love it when Kun get's a little angry. I mean I also love it when he gives Leo anything he needs, but when he puts his foot down, it makes for very good plot. This fic has that.

Make it better by brightcrystal (4324 words, rated E)

After Argentina's semi-final defeat against Brazil in the Copa América 2019, Leo is devastated and Kun wants to help him feel better. Going down a familiar path is the easy choice, but is it the right one when the kisses are mixed with bitter tears of disappointment?

A bit of fluff, a bit of angst, and a bit of smut. Can't go wrong with that.

short beards are for fun by mm_nani (834 words, rated E)

leo has shaved his beard short and this is why

Hot and fun. Made me smile.

Todo Por Vos by stillgold (1286 words, rated G)

There’s nothing to say, but the words come unbidden. “Hoy por vos”, he whispers. Today for you. For you. He could have said todo por vos, all for you, and it would have been true.

Maybe Leo understands, or maybe Leo already knew—maybe Leo, with his dark eyes and his quiet mouth—maybe he can see better than others can. It seems like it on the pitch, but maybe that skill translates here too—maybe it sees Kun’s yearning, his hunger, his ache, his everything—all for Messi, todo por el.

I just reread this as I went to copy the link and GOD it's so... I can't even describe it! It's just.... The feelings, u kno???? No smut or nothing just... words and.... and FEELINGS!!!

sometimes your voice might just be enough by westhamutd (1773 words, rated M)

“hey kun. how are you doing?”

he hears kun yawn on the other end of the line and starts to laugh.

“oh you’re tired? it’s literally four in the morning here.”

things you said on the phone at 4am

This manages to be both cute and hot in less than 2000 words.

#fic rec #kunessi #sergio aguero #lionel messi #fanfic #long post #I was going to tag the authors on tumblr but maybe that would be annoying for them? I don’t know! I’m very socially awkward!#(and I wasn’t sure about the tumblrs of a few of the authors)

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croatian-nt · 3 years

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Luka&Ćarli podcast

I realize this also isn't in order but, I think Luka podcast was needed after yesterday. Anyway, enjoy

Host: so today with me is our captain, Luka Modric and our new coach, Vedran Corluka. Luka, he is something like a boss to you right?

Luka: yes, actually * laughs* when we first talked after I hear he will be joining us here as a coach, I didn't say "Hello Vedro or Ćarli" as I usually call him, I said "Hello boss"

Luka: but I quickly switched back to Vedro

Host: did he let you call by you(we also have Vi, as sort of more respectful way of saying you, usually to your superiors)?

Luka: yeah, he did. I mean I am still older than him se he let me *laughs *

Host: what about you Ćarli? How are you getting used to your new position?

Ćarli: oh that *laughs * well mostly good but sometimes I forget and coach starts talking and in a in a circle with other players. Only then do I remember I am supposed to stand next to him and not in the circle

Host: when we have players answer card questions here, a lot of them answer the question "Which teammate would be the best coach?" with Luka. Is that a compliment to you?

Luka: that is very nice to hear. I am glad they think that. I haven't yet decided on what will I do after I retire. I think there are few more years of playing football ahead of me. But of course that's nice thing to hear

Host: I have one tricky question for both of you. Do you know how many games you two played on the pitch together?

Ćarli: ufff

Luka: hmmm. I know we had our 50th game together-

Host: in Romania right?

Ćarli: no, no-

Both at the same time: in Rijeka

Luka: against Norway, wasn't it?

Ćarli: yes

Luka: so. I played over 100 games, you played over 100 games...I'd say we had 80...85 games together?

Host: there! Spot on!

Ćarli: I was think between 80 and 90 but-

Luka: wait, it's correct?

Host: exactly 85 games, yes

Luka: impossible

Host: good job man, wow

Ćarli: I don't believe this *shales his head * he is generally pretty good with informations like this

Luka: so wait it is really correct?

Host: yes. You guessed exact number

Luka, to Ćarli: did you see that huh? Huh?

Ćarli: yeah, that's a lot of games. 3/4 of my whole career in the nt I spent with you on the pitch *thinks for a moment * even more actually

Luka: is there a prize for me guessing the exact number?

Host: we'll think of something

Luka: to make the podcast shorter?

Host: *laughs * sure we'll cut it shorter

Host: would you mind sharing some happiest and some saddest moment in the games you played together?

Ćarli: well, I think saddest is the easiest. For me, and I think Luka will agree, the saddest game was Turkey

Luka: yes, me too. And your favorite?

Ćarli: Favorite? Well my first game-which was spent with him on the pitch as well, and all the games in Russia

Luka: I agree. I would also add Euro 2008, because that was also special for me. We were young there still but we already had that something. Maybe if we had more luck during that time...but, nevermind. Still, it stayed as a happy memory for me

Host: I find it interesting that the two of you spent the big part of your careers together. You were together in Dinamo, in Tottenham, in national team-

Ćarli: too much *all laugh *

Host: I wanted to ask, since you two know each other for so long and surely you had the chance to get to know each other well. Of course as players, but also as people

Luka: yes, we really know each other for a long time. From Inter, Dinamo, Tottenham...I actually remember in Dinamo-when he left, about a year before me. I wasn't thinking much before that, but when Ćarli left, I started to think more about leaving. Because we were really connected. Then I came to Tottenham and Ćarli immediately came for City to Tottenham. But even when we weren't together in clubs we'd be together in the nt

Ćarli: to me, the weirdest period was when he was in Real, and I wasn't *both laugh *

Host: I mean he could have made some arragments for you I'm sure

Ćarli: sure he could *laughs *

Host: we all know Luka who won all the trophies and what an amazing player he is. But I'd like you to tell us how he is behind the scenes so to say

Ćarli: behind the scenes? Well, I can tell you he isn't much different. He is very...focused at anything he is doing at the moment. And very competitive at any...games outside the pitch too

Host: yes, I saw the way he played against Lovren yesterday

Ćarli: *laughs * yes, as I said, nothing is easy with him. If you want to win, you have to try really hard

Luka: yeah there are certainly stories about video games...

Host: share some?

Luka: I am not sure if those stories should be said in front of cameras

Ćarli, laughing: you gotta share some now

Host: were there broken consoles?

Luka: and other things. Not just consoles

Host: as long as heads stayed in one shape

Luka: Ćarli is also like that. He hates losing, we are quite similar in that regard-

Ćarli: But unlike you, I don't choose games and battles I cannot win. Your games

*all laugh *

Luka: yeah if he knows he'll lose he won't play. But he was really good at Playstation

Host: I'd like to hear about your time in Tottenham. There was 4 of you there, you must have hanged out together

Ćarli: too much *laughs * but it was good. Of course it was good. We were lucky the two of us played together and then for Niko and Pletikosa to arrive later on as well. Also the fact that our coach loved Croats. It was very easy to fit in in that kind of environment. And about other things...well we won't talk about that *laughs *

Host: you gotta tell us something!

Ćarli: this is a serious podcast!

Host: it isn't

Luka: yeah there were quite a lot of shenanigans

Host: there were huh?

Ćarli: I mean, English people are known for throwing Christmas parties. But I can say we weren't the worst

Luka: it was impossible to be the worst there

Host: alright, we'll make a first card break here. You ask one another, whoever wants to go first

Luka: I'll let the boss go first *laughs *

Ćarli, pulling out a card: wow, what an easy question! Kulen or prosciutto?

Luka: *laughs, looks at someone off the camera * what's up Vida? *laughs again *

Domo: *says something I couldn't hear *

Luka: hmmmm. It's hard to choose but kulen

*Domo yelling something from the back *

Luka: black, black Slavonian one of course!

*everyone laughs *

Luka: Čobanac ili brudet?

Ćarli: what is brudet *laughs *

*everyone laughs *

Ćarli: considering I feel closer to this name ČObanac, I will choose čobanac *laughs again *

Host: okay, you can go on

Ćarli: oh we are supposed to pull out next one?

Host: yes, you switch until you ask all questions

Luka: there are three cards

Ćarli: ah, okay!

Ćarli: a nutmeg or a dribble?

Luka: uff. I like to do both on the pitch *laughs * but I suppose nutmeg looks more attractive. So nutmeg

Ćarli: I'll say as a defender, I prefer someone does a dribble than a nutmerg. It's embarrassing on a different level

*all laugh *

Luka, looking at the card: oh god, what kind of questions you got...Severina or Lidija Bacic?

Ćarli: ooooh *laughs *

Host: I swear this isn't a set up! We randomly arranged them!

Ćarli: I don't see why would I think this was set up. It's ridiculous *laughs * so. Severina or Lidija Bacic. And I gotta choose one?

Host: yes

Ćarli: considering Severina is older and...pause I know more song from her....Severina *pause *

Luka: great *pointed look *

*both burst out laughing *

Ćarli, pulling out the next question: what is this? Black or white and red kit? What are these questions? Why are they so easy?

Host: well...they just are

Luka: what was the question? Black or white and red kit?

Ćarli: yes

Luka: white and red

Luka: this isn't a hard question either...Bela or Briškula? You probably don't even know how to play Briškula

Ćarli: I don't know how to play either of those

Luka: *laughs *

Ćarli: So the answer to this question is...*shrugs * what do you prefer?

Luka: well Briškula, of course. I don't know how to play Bela

Host: Trešeta must be your favorite then?

Ćarli: I am not much of a card guy

Luka, overlapping: Trešeta is more dynamic. And interesting. But that's me, I constantly play Briškula and Trešet

Host: so Luka, during our flight, everyone was either sleeping or eating or joking around but not you. You rewatched the game again. That really shows how focused you are

Luka: well, yes, I have that habit of rewatching the games few times. So I can see if I made a mistake and whereI made it, so next time I can do it differently

Host: so you rewatch bad games too?

Luka: yes, both good and bad. I mean, it's always nicer to watch good ones but you learn more from bad ones. So that's why I always rewatch the games

Host: and you Ćarli? How did you spend time during rhe flight after some of your games?

Ćarli: well, it depends. Sometimes I'd rewatch the game as well, but it wasn't something I had to do immediately. If it was a bad game, I'd usually be pissed off, and I wouldn't talk to anyone. Especially if I played badly. If someone else played badly, then I'd insult them

*everyone laughs, Domo especially loudly *

Luka, imitating him: "why did you play you badly"? *still laughing *

Ćarli: if it was a good game thought, singing and celebrating and stuff, of course. But when it's bad, I'd just look through the window and wait until we got home

Host: I am guessing you didn't watch the WC final?

Luka: no, I didn't. Recently, during lockdown, they were playing all the games from WC again, and I rewatched almost all of them except the final. I watched some parts, but never until the end. So no, I never actually watched it

Host: both of you own a lot to Slaven Bilic, who actually got you into nt. You had quite a close relationship with him, and you probably are very close to him today, too

*Luka and Ćarli look at each other *

Ćarli: who is gonna say it? You or me?

Luka: you can go first

Ćarli: alright. Slaven is, and well, both Luka and me said in a lot of interviews, that he is our football father, so to say. He open the door for us, and believe in us both from the first moment. And he kept convincing us that we were it. That we were those who will take over, even back in U21. Of course we own him a lot

Host: alright one more related question for each of you. Luka will go first. I heared a story concerning you and Slaven. About how back in Čatež, someone said that Messi was worth 100 million dollars and Slaven then said: If Messi is worth 100 million, then Luka is worth 100 million and one dollar. Is that true?

Luka: well, I don't know. I don't know about that one but what stayed in my memory, was when Iniesta was starting to play in Barcelona, while we were in U21, he told me: "Do you see him? You are not any worse than him. You can play just like that, too. And you can get to that level" I remember that. Slaven is really an amazing man, he is all the things Ćarli said and more. And of course you feel the need to prove his trust was warranted after all that. He shows you so much love, and not just regarding football. So that story about millions-*laughs * I cannot say I remember that in particular, but I remember that story about Iniesta

Host: for you Ćarli-

Ćarli: 102 milion *laughs *

Host: with you, there is a story about when you were in Lokomotiva, you didn't come to trainings on Mondays

*Luka and Ćarli share a look and start laughing *

Luka: he only came to the games on Mondays *laughs again *

Ćarli, still laughing: it's a lie. A complete lie. But I do know why that story is going around-

Host: your recuperation period lasted a bit longer?

Ćarli: so I came from England, from Leverkusen, from full Wembly stadium, after playing against Barcelona. And I come here, and first game is Lokomotiva against Mordovia

*Luka chuckling in the background *

Ćarli: and we get in. About three thousand people are there. Some weird music is playing. And I'm like "good lord what is this?"

Luka, teasing: where did I come to?

Ćarli: and I'm like "we finish this game and I am traveling right back to Zagreb"

*all laugh *

Ćarli: and we win, 3-0 and I scored a goal. And I go to Slaven and say "coach I can't do this. If I don't go home now, I won't be coming back". And he says "sure, you can go, come on Monday for the training." And I take the flight and I go straight to Zrče (it's a place known for wild parties) and stay there for a few days and he writes me a message "I see you are having good time at home"

Host: Luka, is it true that you had to be convinced to take number 10 in the nt? That you were so humble you weren't sure if you should take it?

Luka: well, yes, it's true. But it wasn't because of being humble or anything like that. It was because up until that point, I wore number 14, and I was doing well with that number. Despite the fact that number 10 was always an amazing concept, I was doing well with 14. So when Niko retired, Slaven came to me at the airport, and said "you can take numer 10 now". And I remember saying "uff. Do I have to now? Can I have some time to think?" And he looked at me and he was like are you fuc-, you know what I mean I don't want to swear, are you kidding me? And I said "I just want to think about it. Can I have some time?" And he looked at me weirdly and said: "this is the first time I hear something like this in my life. For someone to refuse number 10". And then after that, a couple of teammate came to me to ask me why I didn't take the number 10, and I kept saying I am doing well with 14. And it took me some time but then I decide to take the number 10 in the end. And I am happy I did now

Ćarli: then you have me, I took 14 in Leverkusen thinking, I will be going to Real soon too

*all laugh *

Ćarli: then again 14 in Lokomotiva and it was good. It fit me, 14 is a good number

Luka: 14 is an amazing number

Ćarli: I went by this logic-Luka was 14, 1+4 is 5, 5 is my favorite number...so 14 served me well as well

Host: second card break. Favorites

Ćarli, reading the first card: ufff. I'll start first now

Luka: sure

Ćarli: favorite superhero?

Luka: hmmm. Batman

Luka: favorite second sport?

Ćarli, smiling wide: cycling!

*all laugh *

Host: finally you got an easy question huh?

Ćarli: I must say I really fell in love with cycling. Especially in the morning, sometimes as early as 5 am, I love to go and cycle for hours. I even started watching it. A lot of people say look at this crazy man, watching men cycle for 5 hours

Luka: terrible

Ćarli: but when you get into it, and realize there is a technique and stuff...it's really good

*everyone laughs *

Host: wait did you also cycle back in Moskva? In minus temperatures?

Ćarli: no, I didn't. That's why I had home gym with a Zwift-here now you have an ad for a Zwift-and then it feels like you are outside

Ćarli: who forgets the most?

Luka: who forgets the most? Hmmm. Who asks the most questions?

Ćarli: *laughs *

Luka: Well Perija or Brekalo maybe. More Perija I think, he always asks a lot of questions, when is this, where is that. Although little Brekalo also-

Ćarli: *chuckling from the background *

Luka: -he forgets a lot too

*host bursts out laughing with everyone joining in *

Host: questiom for both of you. In Russia, was there a specific moment or a game when you realized exactly how far you could get in the tournament?

Ćarli: I think it was after the game against Denmark. Since we haven't passed the game after group stage ever since that bronze medal was won...I think it meant a lot. Took weight off our shoulders. Everything seemed slightly easier after that

Luka: For me, it was the game against Argentina I think. I mean from the beginning we could feel the special kind of connection we all had, but games against Denmark and then Argentina...I think we showed what we can really do

Host: and which celebration part was the best? Ćarli you'll probably know that the best

Ćarli: celebration party? *looks at Luka * there weren't many parties. Probably the one after semi final-I mean final! There was no party after semi final *burst out laughing, causing everyone else to laugh *

Luka: just a bit

Ćarli: there was just a bit of singing-

Luka: yeah with Grdovic

Ćarli: and after final, no other party can really compare. There was sadness of course, but we partied through it. And of course there was doček the day after too. I view that night after the final and doček like one big party. So that was the best one for me *smiles * and for the rest I'm sure

Luka: for sure

Host: Luka, I already mentioned you have a lot of trophies, and almost all of them one can get as an individual player. Would you trade some of them if you could have won gold during WC?

Luka: of course. It's...incomparable. i would instantly trade all trophies to me as induvidual player for it, and a lot of other big ones as well. So that's-

Ćarli: you'd trade all of those "football player of the year" huh?

*everyone bursts out laughing *

Luka: no, no, not those *burst out laughing *

*everyone laughing even louder *

Luka: but all the rest induvidual trophies I would trade. And even some from Real. I'd trade them for it. It would mean that much to me. But it is what it is

Host: for the end, last set of cards

Ćarli: which teammate would you choose to help you solve crossword puzzle? *under his breath * good lord

Luka: Miki Badelj. I think he is expert in that

Ćarli: *laughs * professor

Luka, absolutely dying: yes, professor *still laughing * who would you choose for going to the market?

Ćarli: ...who would I choose to go with me or who would I send to go for me?

Host: it can be send as well

Luka, mocking while luaghing: it can also be sending

Ćarli: but it says teammate right? I don't have teammates anymore

Host: it says player(igrač) or teammate(suigrača)

Ćarli: ah. Honestly I don't know who i'd send

*Luka, still losing it in the background *

Ćarli: very hard question. I am afraid someone will get offended if I say I'd send them to get fruits and vegetables

Luka: he can go with you then. Really, where better can he be

*everyone laughs *

Ćarli: someone fast

Luka: you keep saying stuff, I have a feeling they'd just end up carrying full bags *laughing *

Ćarli: I have a feeling going to the market with Juranovic would be a good choice

*everyone losing it again *

Ćarli: Jura, I think you and me would get everything done very fast

Ćarli: who would you choose to pick your outfit for the night out

Luka: ufff. Well...here I'd choose Mateo

Ćarli: *bursts out laughing * oh god

Luka: because he always likes to talk about how nicely he is dressed

Ćarli: *chuckling at like every other word *

Luka: so I'd like to see how he-

Ćarli, interuppting: wait, whose jacket did he have again? From some actor?

*Luka and Ćarli overlapping, I cannot understand the name *

Luka: -and he came dressed in it. We won't let him forget that

*two of them absolutely losing it *

Luka: but he loves that Italy thing. Always says he is amazingly dressed *says something else but laughs to hard to be comprehensive * so, Mateo

Luka: who would you choose to paint your apartment?

Ćarli: hmmm. It would need to be some perfectionist. Here I would once again choose one meticulous player, Milan Badelj *laughs * who it looks like, is talented in many things. Yes, it would last long, but the end result would be amazing

Luka: he is like, a card for everything

Ćarli: who would you choose to cook you a dinner?

Luka: to cook me a dinner? Uff

Ćarli: this is a true thinker

Luka: who do we have here...*looks at something off the camera * Budimir how do you cook?

*everyone around starts laughing *

*Budimir says something I couldn't hear*

Luka: steak is good huh? *laughs * well I don't really know, none of my teammates ever made me dinner so...

Ćarli: choose Vida, at least you'll definetly have good appetizer

Luka: true good kulen...

Host: so you won't end up hungry

Luka: who would you choose as a co-driver in rallying?

Ćarli: rallying? So what, he'd just tell me what to do?

Luka: *sighs * a co-driver Ćarli

Host: so Ćarli drives

Ćarli: I do drive

Luka: it would be better if he didn't

*everyone laughing *

Luka: oh there are stories about his driving...from when he was just starting

*louder laughter, especially from Domo with "oho" followed *

Luka: ...but we won't talk about that now

Host: you have to tell us something!

Ćarli: he can say, just let me tell my side first!

Ćarli: so first of all, I was under so much pressure. I bought BMV 1 in Dinamo, everything was high quality. And behind me, were my dad and Luka with another car

Luka: following everything

Ćarli: now I another car pass, and their car makes a turn. And I am supposed to start driving. And the car turns off once

Luka: *laughing, covering his face *

Ćarli: I am watching from rearview mirror and the two of them are watching, putting more pressure on me. So I try to turn the key and-the car dies again. And it happened once or twice more after that

Luka: at least 4-5 times

Ćarli: there was a whole waiting line of cars behind us Luka: we had to get out of the car to help him

Luka: it was a whole circus

Ćarli: so for me...automatic cars are great

Host: so you were missing a co-driver. So...

Ćarli: so here i need to once again choose my Milan Badelj

Host: And with that, we'll finish our today's podcast, I hope you'll watch us tomorrow as well

#luka modric #vedran corluka #vatreni podcast #croatia nt as text posts

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javajunkieao3 · 4 years

Text

Beth/Benny Fic: Stay With Me

Summary: Several months after Russia, Beth finds Benny in her doorway.

In the wake of her Russian win, Beth found contentment at the seat of a battered chess board, the usual spectators in their suits and horn-rimmed glasses replaced with heavy overcoats and ushankas. In that crowded Russian park, the cold wind whipping against her face, she was brought back to hours spent with Mr. Schiable in the Metheun basement. Back when it had only been about the game and not the useless pageantry that seemed to only grow with the esteem of the venue. She still beat them all. That hadn’t changed.

When she returned to the States, it was a flurry of activity with interviews and invitations to speak at this engagement and shake hands with that diplomat. She even received a special commendation from President Lyndon B. Johnson, but she didn’t particularly enjoy any of it, the entire process feeling laborious. The problem was, she didn’t have anyone to enjoy it with. Alma had always been with her before, and after her mother’s death, she had effectively sunk all other relationships and she hadn’t quite had the time to repair them before her so-called national tour started. She talked to Benny here and there, but it stalled somewhere between congratulations and asking her what was next. Beth could sense that he was hesitant to push things farther, and she was equally hesitant to try herself, which made it all the more surprising when he showed up at her door in Kentucky.

It was almost half a year after her Russian win and the national curiosity had tempered enough that she had been home for just over three months without interruption. Beth had come home from the grocery store and she braced the heavy brown paper bag against her hip as she walked up to him. She hadn’t seen him since before Russia, and she noticed that his hair was shorter. His usual black leather duster was traded in for a leather vest over a simple t-shirt for the Kentucky summer heat. He still wore the same worn-in jeans but, thankfully, appeared to have retired the holstered knife.

Nervous energy coursed through her as she asked, “Benny, what are you doing here?”

She had a pretty good idea, considering Kentucky wasn’t exactly a prime destination on its own, but she needed to hear it from him. Her heartrate picked up in anticipation.

“Just in the area,” he said evasively.

For such a remarkably gifted chess player, he was a terrible liar, and Beth couldn’t stop herself from pressing him with, “In the area for what?”

She knew for a fact there were no tournaments happening, since she, herself, would have received an invitation, and Benny swallowed hard, no doubt weighing his options, before he said, “The Kentucky state fair.”

“The Kentucky state fair?” Beth repeated. “You’re here for the Kentucky state fair?”

He nodded. “I figured I’d stop by on the way. Say hello.”

It was incredibly stupid, and it struck her that somehow Benny Watts, with all of his swagger and bravado, was spinning some story about going to a state fair to see her. All of it made her want to cry and laugh at the same time because she knew she sowed the seeds of his insecurity, but also he was here standing in her doorway, after so many nights of her wishing for the same but being too afraid to ask, and so she said, “Okay. I’ll go with you.”

“You’ll go with me?” he repeated, clearly surprised by this turn of events.

“Yes. To the state fair. I’ll go with you.”

Benny looked confused, likely because he had no idea if there actually was a state fair nearby for them to go to, and she handed him her keys and asked, “Can you get the door for me?”

“Yeah, sure.”

He unlocked the front door and she walked in with him following. She had a million questions going through her mind, but she didn’t ask any of them. Instead, she set her grocery bag on the kitchen table and began to unpack it. Benny was quiet, uncharacteristically so, watching her put away the groceries and then she turned back to him and said, “Are you ready?”

He nodded and they walked back outside to embark on the road trip to Louisville that neither of them had planned on taking that day. But they did, and when Benny parked in a field in front of the fair after being directed there by a cantankerous older man in a cowboy hat, he sat stock-still at the wheel for a moment before looking over at Beth and saying, “I probably could have said this before we just drove an hour, but I’m not actually here for the state fair.”

She smiled slightly. “I figured.”

“I panicked. Which, I never used to do. But, since…” he trailed off, shaking his head. “I don’t know how to do this. I’m not used to feeling like this.”

“Feeling like what?” she asked gingerly, although she knew what he meant. She remembered how it had felt when she first met Townes and the rush and terror of feeling parts of herself so entirely unmoored. She had been more prepared for it with Benny. Less scared. However, it seemed Benny hadn’t been.

Benny looked over at her, face open, and said, “There has not been a day that has gone by that I haven’t thought of you, Beth. Not a single one.”

His hand rested on the console between them and Beth hesitated before reaching forward and covering it with her own. He turned his hand over and interlaced their fingers, his thumb running along her knuckle. There was still a lot that needed to be said, but Beth decided there would be time for that later. Right now, they had a state fair to go see.

And so, they got out of the car and headed toward the fair, and as they walked Benny captured her hand with his again, and he didn’t let go. They shared a funnel cake and demonstrated surprisingly poor hand eye coordination during a series of ring-toss games. On the drive back, Beth realized it had been one of the best days she’d had, and they hadn’t played a single game of chess.

When they returned home, he followed her up the steps to the house without the need for an invitation, and then up to her bedroom. It seemed things would go a certain way, but both were tired from the day and too much sugar, and they fell asleep instead, her body tucked against his beneath the covers. Beth woke up somewhere in the early morning hours and she listened to the steady course of his breath until she fell back into a dreamless sleep. Some hours later, sunlight filtered into her bedroom from the half-open blinds and she began to stretch, inadvertently ramming her elbow into Benny.

“Ow,” he mumbled.

“Sorry,” she said, turning on her side to face him. They were almost nose to nose now, and she felt her breath catch at the closeness of him. Although they had slept together before, something about this felt more intimate. There had always been a casual feeling to what they had done before, but this felt purposeful. Meaningful.

A bit of his hair had fallen down below his brow and she reached forward and smoothed it away from his face. His eyes bore into hers and she moved even closer, close enough to brush her mouth against his, but she held back, eyes searching his and she murmured, “I’m sorry.”

“I know. I’m sorry, too.”

And then he kissed her, and it felt better than any one of her wins. He pressed her back against the mattress and she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. It had been almost a year since they were last together, but their bodies remembered. When they were finished, she rested her head on his chest feeling an overwhelming sense of contentment.

“You can stay here as long as you want,” Beth said. And when that felt too casual, she looked up at him and said, “I want you to stay.”

He smiled slightly before he said, “Okay.”

She rested her head back on his chest and closed her eyes. “Okay.”

#the queen's gambit #Beth Harmon #Benny Watts #Beth x Benny #The Queen's Gambit fanfiction

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vanderlustwords · 4 years

Text

Liquor and Loose Lips

(not my gif)

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Fem!Reader

Prompt: 15. Drunkenly confessing feelings

Summary: There are countless times Bucky has shared drinks with you. No matter how much he drinks, he’s always careful with guarding his feelings close to his chest. Maybe it’s the cocktail, maybe it’s the way the moon looks tonight, maybe it’s the way you look under the streetlight. Whatever it is, Bucky can’t hold it in anymore.

Note: My first Bucky fic! Feedback is always appreciated :) oneshot dedicated to @empyreanwritings

Count: 2432

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Tequila.

Not Bucky's go-to ever, but he'll drink it if someone offers.

Vodka.

A taste he's grown to love. During his time when he studied in Russia, there was probably nothing better to drink and help pass the time.

Rum.

He likes it, but mostly because when he drinks it, he thinks this is what you'd taste like.

And that might be as close as he can get.

Whiskey.

Bucky finds himself in a fight when he has too much.

Cocktails.

No one could probably tell, but Bucky did have a specific cocktail. Something he enjoyed at a leisurely pace. A blend of rye whiskey, extra dry vermouth, and maraschino liqueur. He likes that it's smooth, it's dry bite keeping him coming back.

Bucky has a high tolerance, he always has. No one could outdrink him, and you'd be hard-pressed ever to find him drunk. But he likes a good party. He likes being able to take care of you if you drank too much, even though it's not really his job.

Because you're not his girl.

"Bucky!"

He turns over to see you coming over with a huge grin and rosy cheeks.

"Are you drunk already, doll?" He laughs as you stumble into him at your last step, fumbling over a faulty tile. He catches you easily as he wraps one of his arms around you as you fling your arms around his waist.

"God, no, maybe, yes, no," you decidedly answer with a laugh. "I think Tony poured me way too much rum in my last drink."

"And you drank it?"

"You know I love rum."

Bucky merely sighs playfully, painfully aware of how warm your body feels against his. How perfectly you fit under his arm and into his side. His fingers ache to flex, to hold you more tightly, but he can't.

So, he helps you stand upright as you cheekily blow a raspberry at him.

"Careful now, you don't want to finish off so early when the night's just begun," Bucky tells you, and you blow air out of your mouth before grabbing a water bottle.

"C'mon, it's my first party since the breakup. Surely this is better than having to hang inside watching b-rated chick flicks, eating an unhealthy amount of pizza and ice cream while I cry," you wryly quirk your lips.

But Bucky doesn't say that he secretly enjoyed those times.

Not you crying.

That was awful, and it broke his heart to see you cry like that. But there was something about hanging in your apartment for long periods with nothing to do but watch movies and eat together.

It was like on some level, only the two of you existed in those moments. It helped that you would snuggle up to Bucky under the blankets, and sometimes even fell asleep.

"You sure you're up for tonight? I know Sam is here too," Bucky asked quietly.

You sighed but shook your head. "I can't avoid him anymore. Besides, I can't keep you locked up with me forever, either."

Bucky wishes he could say he wouldn't mind.

He looks at you, watching as your turn to your head to look out into the living room where Sam is standing talking with a bunch of guys.

For the longest time, you were Sam's girl.

Bucky has known you since pre-K, then Sam came in the picture in junior high, and when the two of you started dating in high school, everyone was surprised.

It was no secret that Sam was a notorious player, never have been in a long-term relationship. But the two of you had always clicked, and Bucky couldn't help but feel that it was like a cliche movie.

The player settles down for the one girl who's always been by his side and keeps up with him the way no one else can.

Bucky was convinced this was only destined to end happily ever after.

And so, he kept quiet about his feelings.

But then midway through the first year of university, Sam broke up with you. Sitting on the couch crying your eyes out, you had told Bucky that Sam said he just wasn't ready for a relationship right now. It was amicable, you didn't hate Sam, but it had also hurt a lot. He didn't know what to say when you had said that perhaps you just weren't the girl who could get a player to retire from his game.

It made Bucky's chest ache painfully because he's stopped looking at other girls for a long time now.

"Alright," Bucky decides, "finish up that water bottle, and we're going to find some duds to destroy beer pong at."

You smile at him, tipping the water bottle all the way up as you finish the last of it. Chucking the water bottle aside, you take Bucky's outstretched hand as he leads you into the living room.

You pass Sam, giving him only a nod of acknowledgment as you keep walking. You hear Bucky give him a brief greeting, but he doesn't stop to chit-chat with his friend.

Entering the area for games, the two of you arrive just in time to enter into a new game with two strangers that seemed to have been dominating the game the entire night.

The two frat boys looked at you, making wolf-whistling sounds that made Bucky quirk his brow. You didn't react to it, but you did meet Bucky's eyes from the side. He gave you a knowing smile as the game started.

Sinking cup after cup, the game ends way too quickly, and the frat boys aren't too happy about being trounced, but they're not willing to start something with Bucky Barnes, so they leave quietly.

Bucky starts to walk off, but you pull his sleeve.

"Let's play a couple more rounds," you smile at him. He tilts his head, a little surprised as you usually don't like to play the same game in a row, but he nods nonetheless.

Seven rounds.

You don't call it quits until after seven rounds. With Bucky by your side, you never lose a game, but you are feeling buzzed again.

"Done with the games?" Bucky teases.

You're about to answer, but the words get caught in your throat.

You probably weren't meant to see it, but you did. Sam's on the dance floor with some girl you don't recognize, she might be in her second year of university.

They're grinding and kissing, and even though you're pretty sure you're starting to move on, it still hits you in the gut.

There's a momentary flashback to when Sam first broke up with you and the painful feeling of knowing somehow, you weren't enough.

You know Sam didn't mean it that way, but that's how it felt.

Bucky follows your line of sight and feels his gut sink. He doesn't know what to do other than to move to stand in front of you. You blink, your view being blocked as you look into Bucky's eyes.

"Let's grab some drinks," Bucky turns you around, pushing you towards the kitchen.

He thinks it might still be too early for you to be out and partying when you've got a broken heart, but when you don't cry, he's impressed.

You swallow the lump in your throat, coughing lightly to clear your throat as you turn to Bucky.

"This party blows," you tell him, watching him quirk his brow with a smile. "You know, Tony has the good stuff up in his study room."

You don't say anything, but Bucky grins right away, knowing what you're insinuating.

"Meet me out back?" You lick your lips.

"You've got yourself a rendezvous, doll."

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Bucky finds you not too far from the house, just down the block where the road curves. You're sitting on the edge of the sidewalk under the streetlight.

Normally, Bucky would scold you for being so reckless, but it's late in the night, and you've got a look on your face that he just decides to let this one slide.

He walks up to you, taking a seat and shows you the treasure he brought.

You chortle, "I knew Tony was hiding the good stuff."

"We're probably going to hear about it from him tomorrow," Bucky smirks, but that doesn't stop him from cracking the bottle open.

"That's a tomorrow us problem," you shrug, causing him to laugh.

You both take a shot of the premium vodka Bucky stole, licking your lips at how smooth it goes down.

Even as good as it was, you still make a face and a displeased noise.

Bucky turns to you and laughs.

"I knew I should've brought the rum instead," he jokes, and you lean over and push him playfully with your shoulder.

"You fool," you smile, "there was rum, and you took vodka? Rookie mistake."

Bucky throws his head back with laughter. There's something that feels warm in your stomach as you watch Bucky laugh, and you wonder if it's the vodka.

"Here," you say, turning over slightly pick up two glasses you had brought out earlier.

"What's this?" Bucky asks as he looks at the cocktail. The orange color looks familiar to him, and there's a toothpick with cherries in it.

You quirk your eyebrow at him as if he should know. "Your favorite cocktail? The Brooklyn cocktail. I think it should be called the Bucky Barnes cocktail, though."

Bucky takes the drink slowly, sipping it. He's not sure if it's because he's already had so many drinks tonight, or if it's the fact that you made it, but it tastes better than usual.

"I hope you appreciate this. I stole the cherries."

"From where?"

You were silent.

"From where?" Bucky jokingly begged.

The two of you burst into laughter as you share drinks under the night sky.

"How did you know this was my favorite cocktail? I drink everything, and I've never mentioned this drink," Bucky asked, savoring the flavor.

You look at him with furrow brows.

"What do you mean?" You lick your lips. "It's the only cocktail you'll drink twice."

It was so small, something no one else ever has noticed. Bucky likes to drink, and he really will drink everything. It's easy for people to assume he likes vodka the best.

Fuck, he's so in love.

But he downs the rest of the drink along with his feelings.

The night passes quietly with the two of you drinking from the vodka bottle, and Bucky is feeling the liquor a little more than usual.

"This is so dumb," you sigh.

"What is?" Bucky asks softly back.

"I dragged you and myself to this party, but now we're sitting out here on the curb."

Bucky shrugs. "This right here is the coolest party 'round town."

You laugh, "Not sure if two people make it a party."

"What does it make then?"

"A date, maybe?" You say.

It's meant innocently, but Bucky's chest flares with butterflies, and he's gripping the edge of the curb tightly.

Suddenly, you groan as you lean against his shoulder.

"Be honest, you think I'm tragic, don't you?" The warmth immediately seeps through Bucky's shirt against your temple.

"Not at all, doll," Bucky licks his bottom lip.

You pinch his side lightly. "Doll this, doll that. Careful, Barnes, I might just fall for you."

And maybe it's the alcohol that has him relaxed.

Maybe it's the way you look under the streetlight.

Maybe it's the way you look like you don't believe you can be anyone's entire universe.

Whatever it is, it has Bucky leaning over your face. You look up, caught in his steel-blue eyes. Your breath hitches when you feel his breath ghost over your cheeks and on your lips.

His other hand comes to cup your face, thumb dragging from the corner of your mouth across your cheekbone.

Your eyes flutter closed as you unknowingly move closer.

"What are you doing?" You whisper.

You open your eyes when Bucky doesn't answer. He only swallows visibly.

"How long?" You ask instead.

"Before Sam," Bucky's forehead touches yours as your noses brush.

Your jaw clenches because that was ages ago.

You come to a sobering realization that Bucky has loved you longer than you have ever known.

There's a nagging thought in both of your heads that this could be a mistake.

But as quick as Bucky's lips brush against yours, he pulls back.

You blink.

Bucky coughs, standing up.

"Sorry," Bucky smiles contritely.

Because the thing is, even if you're not Sam's girl, you're not Bucky's either.

And he's not about to risk something just because his entire body feels like he's about to go through vertigo if he doesn't kiss you.

You stare at Bucky as he gives you that goofy grin, scratching the back of his head.

"Let's head back inside," Bucky starts walking, "I bet Tony is white girl wasted at this point."

You watch Bucky's back as you stand up.

The truth is, you don't understand. You don't know what the right decision is or if you'll regret it in the morning.

The only thing you know is that things have changed regardless of what you choose to do.

There's this uncomfortable feeling in your gut as you bite your nail before running your hand through your hair frustratedly.

You look to the side, huffing before you look back.

"Bucky!"

You're already running when he turns around as you collide into his body, hand cupping his jaw with a bruising kiss.

Bucky responds immediately, both his hands coming around to hold your face. You feel the ring on his thumb as it's pressed just right on the corner of your lips.

He kisses you like he's known your lips forever. Even though the last thing you drank was vodka, there's still an underlying tone of rum, and Bucky thinks rum might be his new favorite.

The smell of orange blossoms and dry leaves invades his nose as he pulls back, both breathless.

He doesn't dare pull back any further, feeling your warm breath on his lips.

He catches your eyes, the way they flutter to his as your chest heaves. Your fingers move to hold his fingers that are cupping your jaw and neck.

And Bucky falls all over.

"I'm in love with you, doll," Bucky confesses, pulling you into another consuming kiss.

Cars pass you, their headlights shining just momentarily on the two of you as you share something new from drinks.

And whatever panic tomorrow brings, you'll at least have known kissing Bucky Barnes tastes like a promise.

#v.myfic #g.romance #g.fluff #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes x you #bucky barnes imagine #bucky x reader #bucky barnes fanfic #bucky barnes fluff #avengers x reader #avengers imagine #modern avengers au #marvel fanfic #bucky barnes oneshot

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fwc2022 · 3 years

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FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Who are Favourites? Can U.S. progress? Will Ronaldo hand over to Haaland?

Now, the countdown to Qatar 2022 is at its final stretch. With the completion of Euro 2020 and Copa America over, the focus shifts to the opening match of the FIFA World Cup in 500 days.

The CONCACAF Gold Cup (due to be held in Cameroon between January and February 2022) has yet to determine their continental champions (Qatar won 2019 Asian Cup). However, history shows that the major contenders for the World Cup will be the heavyweight countries of Europe and South America.

Lionel Messi, who finally won the Copa America international trophy with Argentina, will now be confident that he can add to his remarkable career with World Cup glory. England, on the other hand, will hope that their first major final since 1966 at Euro 2020 will serve as a springboard for success in Qatar.

France has the team to rebound from Euro 2020 disappointment to win back-to-back World Cups. Italy will be aiming for a Euro-World Cup double after failing to qualify for Russia 2018.

Brazil will be able to bridge the gap of 20 years since 2002, when they won their last world title. Can the United States capitalize on the growing number of UEFA Champions League stars and reach the round of 16? Will Qatar be Erling Haaland's entry to the international stage alongside Norway and Cristiano Ronaldo?

ESPN evaluates what to expect from the next World Cup, which will take place between Dec. 21 and December 18, 2022.

Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. Only)

- Do you not have ESPN? Get instant access

Who are your favourites?

Although both Euro 2020 as well as the Copa America brought us drama and winners in Argentina and Italy, it's fair to say neither team can be called the one that will rule for many years.

The international game doesn't have a Spain team, which won three major trophy between 2008 and 2012. Or the France team which won the 1998 World Cup, before reaching success at Euro 2000.

Brazil continues to promise more than they deliver. Germany is in transition after Joachim Low's departure from coach and the retirement midfielder Toni Kroos. Belgium is running out of time to win something. Spain needs to find a reliable striker. England has shown that they have the players to succeed internationally and will be real contenders in Qatar. Italy will feel buoyant after their Euro 2020 win.

France remain the most likely team to win the next World Cup, despite their 16-round exit. Their team remains the best, so expect Kylian Mabappe, Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba to use their Euro 2020 defeat as motivation to win again.

What about Argentina?

Copa America's win in Argentina was their first continental title since 1993. This will help them to be more positive going into Qatar.

Argentina reached the World Cup final twice in 1990 and 2014. However, Argentina hasn't won it since 1986 when Diego Maradona helped them to victory. This is Messi's challenge ahead of his last chance at becoming a world champion.

Argentina is an older team, with a Copa-winning team that averaged 27.1 years. Messi is 34 while Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero and Nicolas Otamendi are all 33 when they won the Rio de Janeiro trophy. Lautaro Martinez from Inter Milan, who is 25 in Qatar, is a key player. However, it seems unlikely that Argentina will win the World Cup unless they can find some young talent within the next 16 months.

Is Brazil the only chance for South American success?

It is possible, in fact. The lack of talent in emerging areas is likely to make Argentina too older to challenge for the title. Uruguay has a younger team than Argentina (average age 26.8), but Diego Godin (35) and Luis Suarez (34) are more experienced, while Edinson Cavani (34) is more mature. Martin Caceres (34) may struggle to make it to the World Cup. Chile has turned to Ben Brereton (Blackburn Rovers striker), an English-born player. Colombia, however, have not shown much to indicate that they are capable of competing in Qatar.

Brazil has the players to defeat Europe's best nations. They have the quality players in every area, from Ederson and Alisson in goal to Neymar at the front. Thiago Silva, captain, will turn 38 at the tournament. He may not be able to make it. However, Brazil will still have players like Fabinhos, Casemiros, Roberto Firmino and Richarlison, as well as the next young star that may emerge over the next year-and a half.

Brazil is the continent's greatest hope if the World Cup returns to South America.

England has young stars. Can they succeed?

Even though England lost the Euro 2020 final to Italy, it is evident that they are a growing force in the game. Coach Gareth Southgate has a wealth of young talent that is envy of many countries.

Between now and Qatar, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford will all grow in experience and maturity. Southgate could also add Mason Greenwood to his squad and bring back Trent Alexander-Arnold or Dele Alli.

It is important to ask whether Southgate has the courage and tactical insight to make the most of this talented group of young players.

England came in fourth at Russia 2018, third at the 2019 UEFA Nations League, and runners-up at Euro 2020 under Southgate. We are making progress. They can win the World Cup, which is the next big step.

Who is Europe's greatest hope?

England is in the mix but France and Italy have an edge because they are more tournament-savvy than Southgate's team.

France lost badly to Euro 2020 and Switzerland on penalties in round 16, but they will be back home in Qatar after learning a valuable lesson about complacency during that unexpected exit.

Italy has shown under Roberto Mancini that tactical awareness and experience are key qualities for success in major tournaments.

Both Germany and the Netherlands are far from being serious contenders. However, Spain could be a threat if it can score without a top-quality striker.

Portugal can cause an upset even though Cristiano Ronaldo will only be 37 when the World Cup begins. Qatar will be the last chance to get Belgium's best players. Even Eden Hazard, Axel Witsel and Kevin De Bruyne are still playing international football 2026.

Can the United States reach the quarterfinals?

The U.S. must first qualify. Although the U.S. missed Russia 2018, qualification to the World Cup is their primary goal. Coach Gregg Berhalter is a skilled coach and has the ability to make sure that the process is seamless.

With so many European players performing at the highest level in Europe, it is possible that the U.S. will qualify for the tournament.

Christian Pulisic was the Champions League winner with Chelsea. Sergino Dest, Weston McKennie, and Giovanni Reyna (Borussia Borussia Dortmund) also performed in the competition last year. Tim Weah (Lille), will be representing the French champions this season in the Champions League.

The U.S. will not win the World Cup. However, if they do not draw heavyweights, they will reach the last eight and establish solid foundations for hosting the tournament in 2026 with Canada and Mexico.

Ronaldo will pass the baton on to Erling Haaland.

Cristiano Ronaldo announced that he would retire from international football following the 2022 World Cup. He is currently tied with Ali Daei on 109 goals.

Portugal is currently top of UEFA qualifying group A heading into September fixtures. They look poised to secure a spot in Qatar, and Ronaldo the worldwide send-off he deserves.

Borussia Dortmund striker Haaland is already taking the club game by storm in both the Bundesliga and Champions League. But he has to face a challenge to qualify with Norway for the World Cup. Norway is currently fourth in Group G with three games left, just one point behind leader Turkey.

Haaland will likely have to share the same expectation with Norway as Ronaldo with Portugal. His goals will determine whether the Norwegians reach major tournaments. To be able to play in Qatar, Haaland must translate his club form to international competitions with the Netherlands and Norway in Norway's qualifying groups.

How about Qatar? What about Qatar itself?

Qatar 2022 will host eight games in eight stadiums located within a 45 minute drive of each other. All will be available well ahead of the opening game on Nov. 21, 2022.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty about many aspects of the tournament, including fan travel, accommodation, and testing requirements. However, all facilities and stadia will be operational.

The average November temperature in Qatar is 26 degrees Celsius (78.4 F), but they fall to 20.7C (69.2F in December). This could make Qatar's climate one of the most mild since South Africa hosted the 2010 World Cup in the southern hemisphere.

It will be mid-season for most major leagues, and it will be packed into a country slightly smaller than Connecticut. However, 32 teams will be competing to be world champions. Although it may not look or feel the same, Qatar 2022 will be the biggest show on Earth when it happens.

#fifa world cup #fifa world cup 2022 #world cup 2022 #football #Football World Cup 2022 #football world cup #fifa #fifa 2022 #soccer #qatar 2022 #qatar world cup

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sa7abnews · 1 month

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The Russian ‘bad boy’ who brought tennis glory to his country

New Post has been published on https://sa7ab.info/2024/08/13/the-russian-bad-boy-who-brought-tennis-glory-to-his-country/

The Russian ‘bad boy’ who brought tennis glory to his country

With the 2023 Australian Open nearing its conclusion, we look back at a charismatic Russian former winner of the event

Marat Safin's box in 2002 Australian Open, where he lost in the final to Thomas Johansson 😄 pic.twitter.com/B6m4bOghok— Luigi Gatto (@gigicat7_) January 13, 2023

A fresh-faced Safin won a stunning victory at Flushing Meadows in 2000.

Safin was often portrayed as something of a party boy.

Safin tasted Grand Slam success for the second time in Australia in 2005.

Safin pictured at an Australian Open ceremony in 2020.

Safin pictured at the ATP Cup in 2020 alongside current Russian tennis stars Daniil Medvedev and Karen Khachanov.

Members of Safin’s entourage at the 2002 Australian Open.

#News &x26; Politics

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techgoddessdeluxe18 · 4 years

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SidGeno Parent Trap AU!

Will someone please write this i stayed up till 1 aimlessly typing this, ive already fleshed it out for you pleaseee

So Sid and Geno played together as Rookies for the Penguins in the 2005-2009 seasons, lighting up the NHL world as they had done always, slowly finding love and happiness together (after the Me 3 years Super league convo, you saw how blushy Sid was), quietly getting married in an discreet court house somewhere in Pittsburgh, having blissfully unprotected sex before and after the 2009 Stanley Cup win, just happy and in love and their life and success was just beginning to blossom.

But Sid finds out that he’s been pregnant with twins for some time now, having been nearly 12 weeks pregnant already by the time the final round was played. Geno finds out that there are some legal issues from escaping the KHL in order to play for the Penguins, and so to settle some ruffled governmental feathers, it would be best if Geno went back to Russia to fulfill those duties. Sid is extremely worried about the awful timing of the pregnancy and the sheer amount of alcohol consumed during the Cup celebrations, and Geno is worried about Russia ever letting him out of the country, or worse; finding about his relationship with Sid.

They hole up in a remote corner of Canada for the off season, just trying to soak in the time they have together before Geno goes back to Russia. Days are spent going to doctors visits, holding hands as they walk around the lake, cuddling on the couch at night, Geno’s big hands rubbing Sid’s belly, little feet kicking as hard as they can, while Sid giggles and twists round to kiss Geno.

Sid safely delivers the babies, two identical adorable boys, who have thankfully have not had birth defects as Sid was fearing, and so the rest of the off season is spent trying to decide what to do, how they could go back to their respective corners of the world and try to raise their kids. They agree to split the kids, and keep silent on where they came from.

Geno returns to Russia with a little baby boy, who will mostly be taken care of by his mother and father. Sid does the same, heading back to Cole Harbor more often than he would during the season, always glued to his phone and even taking phone calls from his mother on game days.

So then the actual story goes, 16 year old Daniel Patrick Crosby and Dimitri Evgenevich Malkin meet at Worlds to play for their respective countries, and like a random dinner clash between Russia and Canada find Daniel and Dimitri really confused because they look exactly the same; dark curly hair, strong solid bodies, angular doe eyes. Their teammates chirp them, saying they wouldn’t know who was who if they switched sweaters before the tournament.

They meet up again after Russia wins, meeting in Daniel’s hotel room while his roommate is away. They’re like

“oh when were you born? September 1st, 2009”.

“Oh shit me too”.

“ oh who’s your parents?”

“Evgeni Malkin, big KHL superstar”

“Sidney Crosby” because duh who doesn’t know the greatest player ever.

Maybe they have a ripped picture like in the movie, like with Sid and Geno holding the Stanley Cup like they did in 2017. Daniel has Sid, and Dimitri has Geno, and they’re like “ yeah Dad never talked about who Papa was, but that he loved him, but they couldn’t be together”. So they whip out the picture halves, stashed in their wallets, and tada they fit. They’re twins!

Since the tournament for them is over, Russia with the gold and Canada with silver, they have a few days to themselves to watch the rest. On a midnight run to Tim Hortons, sharing a box of Timbits, they agree to swap places to meet each other’s dad, and then switch back during the Olympics, let say it’s somewhere in America, in a few months time. Daniel and Dimitri spend the next precious days coaching each other on how to be each other. Daniel is conveniently mostly conversational in Russian and can understand better than he speaks, but Dimitri is a quiet kid so it works out. Dimitri works hard to soften his Russian accent and worm eh into his normal syntax more. They get haircuts together, the barber laughing at these rambunctious twins and their beautiful curly hair, and they laugh at the ridiculous stripes they agree to shave onto the sides of their heads.

Before they separate at the airport, they exchange necklaces, a #45 from Daniel and a cross from Dimitri.

Dimitri flies back to Cole Harbor, and finds his dad waiting for him. He looks older than the picture he has, more lines on his face, Definetly shorter and grey-er hair, and sad eyes. If Sid notices his son hugging him tightly and for longer than he normally does, he doesn’t say anything. They chat through the drive home, to the lake house that Daniel told him about. Dimitri can only stare and try and absorb who this man was, the man who birthed him. Sid asks him if he’s ok as they eat dinner on the dock, bare feet dipping into the cold water. Dimitri can only mumble “you’re the best”, as he snuggles his head into his fathers chest. Sid can’t help but think that his son’s voice sounds different; the way he pronounced best sounded just like Geno.

Daniel manages to not say too much on the flight back to Russia, desperately trying to memorize more vocab and grammar before landing and being picked up by his grandparents. The cooing and lecturing is the same in either English or Russian, so he smiles and just lets it wash over him. He tentatively asks where his Papa is, and Grandmama Malkin says he’s probably wining and dining his latest girl. They go home and Daniel is stuffed full of food, everything Grandmama could have possibly made for his arrival. Geno comes home later that night, tired but eager to congratulate his son for winning Gold for Russia. He notices that his son perhaps looks a little different, ruffling the funny haircut that he had gotten, but more at the expression of awe on his face; a similar expression Sid had on his face when he told him he usually went out last before a game, many many years ago.

So yadada ya, they’re enjoying the time that they have with their respective dads, occasionally wringing out a small story or a sad look of their faces whenever they mention anything about each other. So the Olympics are rolling around, and they’re all going to be in one place (lets just say that Sid and Geno had never attempted to make contact whenever they played against each other, afraid that they might get caught) But Daniel has frantically been calling Dimitri over Geno’s new girl and how he might propose and would ruin their plan to get their parents back together.

Shenanigans during the Olympics, one groups disappearing before the other can see them, until Geno is in the elevator shmoozing his girl until he sees THE ASS tm across the room by the front desk. Sid turns around and just smiles sadly as the elevator door closes.

Then the scene where Sid is walking down the hall and Dimitri and Daniel open the doors at the same time and suddenly Sid is confronted with what he thinks is the son he hasn’t seen in 16 years. They pull him into a room, and explain the whole swicheroo, and Sid is mad because there’s nothing they can really do, he’s prepared to let Geno move on and do what’s he needs to, but resigns himself to being alone.

Then the pool scene, where Geno and his girl are lounging with his parents, and Sid walks his fine ass down the stairs and Geno falls in, scrapes up his nose a bit, Sid bandages him up a bit. Daniel and Dimitri reveal themselves to Geno.

Some time in between tournaments, with Russia and Canada on the rise to be competing for the Gold Final, Daniel and Dimitri bully their fathers into a family dinner at a nice restaurant. They cut a handsome swath at dinner, good looking men in good looking suits. Geno instinctually files in last, whether it being his remembered deal with Sid, or merely to ogle a bit as he pushes in Sid’s seat for dinner. For fun, after dinner, they find a nearly empty outdoor rink, equipped with rental skates. Daniel and Dimitri take off, chirping each other and racing and checking each other into the low boards enough for Dimitri to flip over and out of the rink, Daniel wheezing with laughter as Dimitri hefts himself back over. Sid and Geno skate around at a sedate pace, both having played a round that day and simply watching their sons fool around. They don’t say much. They can’t really. They can only quietly enjoy each others presence, wondering where had all the time gone, all the plans they had had.

The final round for Mens Ice Hockey has arrived, Russia vs Canada for Gold, and Daniel and Dimitri can only watch and wonder to see who will come out on top, and what will happen with their parents, watching as Geno checks Sid into the boards. Sid refuses to give up, and so Canada ends up winning the Gold. Like the 2014 picture where Geno and Sid hug after the game, what the camera doesn’t see but their sons see from behind the glass is the shaking hands of Geno and the single tear from Sid.

Like in the movie, before everyone hops onto their respective planes to their respective corners of the world, Sid and Geno make sure their sons aren’t faking this time, and that they go back to who they belong to. It’s how it has to be.

Cue the rain sequence, the sad music, the umbrellas.

Sid and Daniel return to Cole Harbor, still down pouring and quiet. They don’t say anything in the car ride back to the lake house. They finally arrive at home, and take some time to unpack and get comfortable. They silently look at each other, each longing for their other halves. Daniel had become so close to Dimitri, finding out who he was and planning the whole quest to meet their fathers. Sid just missed his husband, and playing against him after fighting so hard to play with him just made him wish for retirement sooner. They hug, and with Daniel under Sids arm, quietly wander down the bank of the hill towards the dock.

Although there seem to be two people already sitting there, with their feet in the water. Geno and Dimitri turn around, identical smug looks on their faces. Dimitri says, his accent hovering somewhere between the hard Russian accent and the rounded Canadian pronunciation, “hey Dad, did you know the Penguins still have those private jets?”

“Ye-yeah, they do bud”, Sid murmurs, still looking at the tall Russian slowly making his way towards him. Daniel duck out from under his arm to sit with his twin and watch the two goofballs that are their parents figure it out.

“I made mistake of not coming for you once, Sid. I’m not do that again, no matter how brave you are.” Geno says

“And I suppose you expect me to go weak at the knees and fall into your arms, and cry hysterically and say we’ll just figure this whole thing out, a bi-continental relationship with our sons being raised here and there, and you and I just picking up where we left off, and growing old together and… And, c’mon G, what do you expect? To live happily ever after?” Sid warbles, his tired eyes welling up with long withheld tears.

“Yes—to all, except you don’t have cry hysterically.” Geno murmurs, cupping Sid’s face and wiping a lone tear as it falls.

“Oh, yes I do—” Sid is cut off as he is kissed (AKA THE BEST KISS SCENE EVER, CUE THE MUSIC)

Daniel and Dimitri can only grin and fist bump as their parents finally kiss after 16 years apart. They put and end to it when Geno starts to dip Sid into a deeper, more lurid kiss and some major groping, and they push both of them into the water.

During the epilogue with This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) by Natalie Cole, scenes flash by of Geno and Sid holding hands in front of a press conference, their sons standing by their sides, as they announce their retirements from both the NHL and KHL after 20 years, and their relationship and their sons to the hockey community.

Another scene where Daniel and Dimitri attention Shattuck St. Mary’s to finish up high school before inevitable being drafted when they turn 18. It would be the first and only time they play together on the same team, Crosby-Malkin proudly spelled onto the back of their sweaters.

Another scene where they’re all playing shinny on a frozen pond somewhere, Geno getting distracted and just sweeping Sid into his arms after he scores a goal, kissing and swinging around until they both fall into a snowbank, their sons launching themselves at them at top speed.

Another scene where Daniel Crosby-Malkin from the Chicago Blackhawks and Dimitri Crosby-Malkin from the Dallas Stars face off for a Stanley Cup final

And finally, a small wedding held in Sid’s backyard in Nova Scotia, where Daniel and Dimitri stand with Flower and Tanger and Kuni and Duper and Talbo and most of Geno’s Russian buddies as their parents finally get married again, kissing happily under the sunset and the lake shining behind them.

Bonus scene: A few months after the wedding and a few days before the season starts up again, with everyone home, Sid comes down the stairs for breakfast with a strange look on his face and something in his hands. He’s a graceful 43 now, grey hairs really pushing now, so when he says “you boys up to being big brothers?” Geno spits out the tea he had been drinking and jumps up and envelops his husband.

#sidgeno #hockey rpf #sidney crosby #evgeni malkin #pittsburgh penguins #the fetal alcohol syndrome possibility was glossed over #as was the playing at 12 weeks pregnant #and frankly with his personality he would be working till he popped #let me know what you think!#mpreg

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justforbooks · 4 years

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Sean Connery, Oscar Winner and James Bond Star, Dies at 90

Sean Connery, the Scottish-born actor who rocketed to fame as James Bond and became one of the franchise’s most popular and enduring international stars, has died. He was 90.

Connery, long regarded as one of the best actors to have portrayed the iconic spy, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000 and marked his 90th birthday in August. His death was confirmed by his family, according to the BBC, which notes that the actor died in his sleep while in the Bahamas. It’s believed he had been unwell for some time. His last acting role had been in Stephen Norrington’s “The League of Extraordinary Gentleman” (2003).

Connery was an audience favorite for more than 40 years and one of the screen’s most reliable and distinctive leading men. The actor was recently voted the best James Bond actor in an August Radio Times poll in the U.K. More than 14,000 voted and Connery claimed 56% of the vote. Global tributes poured in for Connery on Saturday following news of his death.

In a statement, Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said Connery “was and shall always be remembered as the original James Bond whose indelible entrance into cinema history began when he announced those unforgettable words, ‘The name’s Bond… James Bond.’

“He revolutionized the world with his gritty and witty portrayal of the sexy and charismatic secret agent. He is undoubtedly largely responsible for the success of the film series and we shall be forever grateful to him,” said the producers.

However, Connery — who made his debut in the first Bond film, “Dr. No” (1962) — also transcended Ian Fleming’s sexy Agent 007, and went on to distinguish himself with a long and mature career in such films as “The Wind and the Lion” (1975), “The Man Who Would Be King” (1975) and “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (1989).

His turn as a tough Irish cop in Depression-era Chicago in Brian De Palma’s “The Untouchables” (1987) brought him a supporting actor Oscar.

Even as he entered his seventh decade, Connery’s star power remained so strong that he was constantly in demand and handsomely remunerated. In 1999 he was selected People magazine’s Sexiest Man of the Century, and from his 007 days to “Entrapment” (1999), opposite the much-younger Catherine Zeta-Jones, his screen roles more than justified the choice. Age seemed only to intensify his sex appeal and virility.

In his early career, his physique was his main asset as he modeled and picked up acting jobs where he could. In 1956, he landed the role of a battered prizefighter in the BBC production of “Requiem for a Heavyweight.” Good notices brought him to the attention of the entertainment community, and his first film was “No Road Back,” a B crime movie in 1956. He seemed doomed to play the hunk to ageing leading ladies, as he did opposite Lana Turner in “Another Time, Another Place,” or roles that stressed his looks such as “Tarzan’s Great Adventure” in 1959.

It was easy to dismiss him in films like “Darby O’Gill and the Little People,” but his Count Vronsky to Claire Bloom’s Anna Karenina on the BBC brought him some respect and the kind of attention needed to raise him to the top of the Daily Express’ poll of readers asked to suggest the ideal James Bond.

After an interview with producers Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, he landed the role without a screen test, according to Saltzman. It was a controversial choice at the time, as Connery was an unknown outside Britain. But 1962’s “Dr. No,” the first of the Bond films, made him an international star.

His stature grew with the ever more popular sequels “From Russia With Love,” “Goldfinger” and “Thunderball,” which arrived over the next four years. Bond gave Connery a license to earn; he was paid only $30,000 for “Dr. No” but $400,000 for Alfred Hitchcock’s “Marnie” and was soon getting $750,000 a film.

His initial efforts to break out of the Bond mold, however, proved fruitless. Films like “A Fine Madness,” “Shalako” and “The Molly Maguires” were well-intentioned attempts that did nothing to shake Connery as Bond from the public consciousness. After 1967’s “You Only Live Twice,” he left the Bond franchise, but he was coaxed back for 1971’s “Diamonds Are Forever.” He looked old for the role, and the series seemed tired, so with that, he left Bond behind — though money would tempt him back once last time in 1983 for “Never Say Never Again.”

He took a major misstep with sci-fi film “Zardoz,” and his career seemed to be foundering.

But he bounced back in 1974 with a supporting role in “Murder on the Orient Express” and the following year with “The Wind and the Lion” and “The Man Who Would Be King,” two bold adventures featuring a mature, salt-and-pepper-bearded Connery. “Robin and Marian” (1976) opposite Audrey Hepburn was not a popular success, but critics embraced it, and the film cemented Connery’s reputation as a versatile, serious screen actor.

In the late 1970s, there were more missteps such as “Meteor,” “A Bridge Too Far” and “Cuba.” But he scored in Terry Gilliam’s “Time Bandits.” It wasn’t until after his last Bond film that his standing as a box office star caught up to his critical reputation, thanks mostly to two huge worldwide hits: “Highlander,” which was not a big hit in the U.S., and “The Name of the Rose,” which was also much more popular abroad.

BAFTA gave him a best actor award for “Name of the Rose,” and he received his Oscar for “The Untouchables.” After that, he was an instant greenlight any time he agreed to take a role even if some of them, such as “The Presidio,” and “Family Business,” were not so hot.

Pairing Connery and Harrison Ford as father and son in the third “Indiana Jones” film was an inspired move, and the film grossed almost half a billion dollars worldwide.

Meanwhile, “The Hunt for Red October,” in which Connery played a defecting Soviet sub captain, was also a major hit in 1990.

By the 1990s, he was so popular that his uncredited cameo as King Richard in “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” became one of the film’s highlights.

He was still a force to contend with in the foreign market, as “Highlander 2,” “Medicine Man,” “Rising Sun,” “Just Cause” and “First Knight” proved over the next several years. His salary was regularly $5 million and above.

One setback was a bout with throat cancer in the early 1990s, but Connery rebounded with a burst of activity. He starred with Nicolas Cage in 1996 actioner “The Rock,” playing a character that drew more than a little on his history as James Bond. In 2000, he essayed a very different role and received positive reviews for “Finding Forrester,” playing a reclusive writer who bonds with a young black basketball player who’s an aspiring scribe himself.

Nevertheless, he continued with action roles well after his 70th birthday, playing the legendary adventurer Allan Quatermain in 2003’s “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.” He announced his retirement in 2005. He voiced a James Bond videogame the same year, and he subsequently did some other voice acting, playing the title character in the animated short “Sir Billi the Vet” and reprising the role in 2010 for “Sir Billi,” which he also exec produced.

Thomas Sean Connery was born of Irish ancestry in the slums of Edinburgh on Aug. 25, 1930. Poverty robbed him of an education, and by his teens he’d left school and was working as an unskilled laborer.

At 17, he was drafted into the Royal Navy, but he was discharged three years later due to a serious case of ulcers.

He returned to Edinburgh and worked a variety of jobs, including as a lifeguard. He took up bodybuilding and placed third in the 1950 Mr. Universe competition.

After moving to London, he learned of an opening in the chorus of “South Pacific.” He took a crash dancing and singing course and, surprisingly, landed the role, in which he stayed for 18 months. He was “hooked,” he said, but spent several years paying his dues in small repertory companies in and around London before anyone else became hooked on him.

Connery was devoted to his native Scotland and used his stature to press for the re-establishment of a Scottish parliament. When the body reconvened in 1999, 296 years after its last meeting, Connery was invited to address the first session, where he was greeted with a thunderous ovation. The next year, when he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II — an honor he called “one of the proudest days of my life” — he asked that the investiture be performed in Edinburgh.

Connery published his autobiography, “Being a Scot,” co-written with Murray Grigor, in 2008. Besides his knighthood and his Academy Award, he received many kudos over his long career, including the Kennedy Center Honors in 1999 and the American Film Institute’s lifetime achievement award in 2006.

Connery was married to actress Diane Cilento from 1962-73. The couple divorced in 1973 and Cilento died in 2011. Connery is survived by his second wife, painter Micheline Roquebrune, whom he married in 1975; his son by Cilento, actor Jason Connery; and a grandson from Jason’s marriage to actress Mia Sara.

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at http://justforbooks.tumblr.com

#JUST FOR BOOKS #Sean Connery

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croatian-nt · 3 years

Text

Domo podcast

Alright, I am posting my podcast translations here. Idk how often I’ll be able to post them, but I’ll make sure all 26 of them eventually end up here. So first one had Domagoj Vida and Ndermin Redžaj (who will be refered as Deki through the text) as first guests. Translation below the cut bc this will be long

Tomislav Pacak, one of two hosts, does an introduction of the podcast and says it will feature each day one player and one member of the staff for 26 days.

Host: Or goal here was to introduce or get to know the players and members of the staff who are part of the team better. I see our first episode, with Domagoj with a physiotherapist Ndermin Redžaj will be fun. Although very challenging for me, a host

Domo was asked about the end of his season in Beskitas. His was talking about it and at one point he said "of course, we over complicated things for ourselves, the way croatian nt does usually"

Then, Domo and Deki(who is a Domo's physiotherapist) talk about how they know each other for a very long time.

Domo: Yeah Deki is a very good friend and colleague. Along with massaging me, he also cooks very well

Deki: oh Vida cooks even better. He puts us all in the car and takes us to the nearest restaurant

Host: How does your wife handles the fact that you are in mostly men's company?

Domo: oh, she handles it well. We can also always leave them to handle David for a few hours and we go out alone

Host: What memories do you associate with your time in Russia in 2018?(directed at Deki)

Domo, cutting in: Bunga, bunga!

Deki, trying not laugh: Well, I definetly remember the atmosphere

Host: What about you Domagoj?

Domo: Well, for me, I mostly remember what we did in our free time. How we had fun, and most fond memories come from massage room where the whole team often spent a lot of time

Host: During doček you were hanging from the bus few times right? Who kept you up again?

Domo: oh yeah, I hanged like a ceiling lamp. Suba and coach held me up. But generally, that whole day is one of my most fond memories. Whenever I am at hard point in my life, I turn on doček on youtube and I instantly feel better

Domo: It's weird you know? People still tell me „Thank you" even today as they did on doček

Host: How was it with all the mixed feelings after the final? Were you all proud immediately after or was there some bitterness at first?

Domo: well, it all depends on people individually. For me, it hit ne hard. We were so close to winning and I was crushed. Everyone kept telling me "keep your head high, we should be proud". It was only after we came back to hotel and started celebrating that the good feelings started to come back

Host: Alright, first card break. These are which one would you choose

Domo, under his breath: pancakes

Deki: *laughs *

Domo: don't laugh at me dragi! Don't. Oh *looks at first card * you should have pulled out this one. Beer or wine?

Deki: depends on a moment

Host: okay what about...after the win against England? Deki: beer. Definitely beer

Deki, to Domo: sand or pebbles(on a beach)

Domo: sand. I don't like pebbles. They hurt my-

*He cuts himself off, everyone laughs*

Domo: ...my feet

Deki: Batman or Superman? Domo: what was the first again?

Deki: Batman

Domo: *burts out laughing * there are cameras here!

*both laughing *

Domo: inaudible from laughter in the mouth

Domo, finally stops laughing, makes a straight face: Superman

Domo: just because of...you know *laughs again *

Deki: okay, okay, yeah

Deki: burek or ćevapi

Domo: ooof. ćevapi. I am sick of burek from Istambul, I eat it every third day.

Host: Pick three cards in which you'll choose one of your teammate

Domo: Livaković *pointing at something off camera *

Host, turning around: I see he came to watch since it's turn tomorrow

Domo: yeah, he came to watch me break the ice. Watch and learn son, watch and learn

Domo, to Deki: which teammate would you let change your tire

Deki: Livakovic

*all laugh *

Livi, off the camera: you won't go far!

Domo: it's because you have golden hands

Deki: which teammate would you choose for a partner in show potjera(hunt)?

(So in the show, there are 4 people who signed up to be there and they form a team. They need to go through three challenges to leave with money, and "the hunter", has to try and catch them by answering more questions than them. It's a bit more complicated than that but that's the gist of it)

Domo: Badelj

Deki: which teammate would you let cook you dinner?

Domo: ufff. I don't think anyone here know how to. Hmmm *thinking for thirty seconds *

Deki: Kale, maybe?(Kalinic in case someone doesn't understand our dumb nicknames)

Domo: no, he has good prosciutto, but that isn't cooking

Deki: Sluga?

Domo: Sluga! Yes, he is good!

Domo: who would you trust with a secret?

Deki: Domagoj Vida

Domo: that-that's. Well. I guess you don't have many of them

Deki: who would you choose for business partner

*they make eye contact and burst out laughing *

Deki: he isn't here!

Domo, still laughing: Lovren then!

Host: one of the players you worked with privately, even outside of national team is Mario Mandzukic. He is very popular but he has this sort of untouchable image. How is he in his private life?

Deki: he is only like that in public. He is like the rest of the team. For me, they are firstly good people, and only then good players

Deki: we all know what Mario is like. He seems like he is no good but he is actually a very good man(direct translation is he is a soul of a man which is a term used in croatian)

Domo, in a bit silly voice: soul

Domo: a good man but...no I am kidding. He is a good man and we miss him here in nt. I think he retired too early but it was his choice and we respect it. The two of us(he and Deki he means) used to spend time with him more than the others and he is truly a great man. And he is always ready to help, not just those he is on good terms with but everyone

Host: you said yourself massage room is very important in national team. Is it the same in your club as well?

Domo: well no, not as far as I noticed. People from foreign countries have different rituals, but I noticed this is very important to people from balkan. It's very important for atmosphere. After training and all the activities for the day are done, 10 or so of us guys will gather there for massage and since you go in one by one as you wait there will be fun and joking around and stuff like that. So that's very important for atmosphere, which we saw in Russia how important that can be

Host: round three of cards with questions

Deki: what's your favorite part of a training

Host, jokingly: it isn't the breaks?

Domo: ufff. So, I like the most when a day before the actual game, older play against younger and it's the very end of the game. With centre shots between two people

Deki: Favorite jersey?

Host: That isn't Croatian

Domo: Beskitas. Of course

Deki: favorite club when you were a child?

Domo: Barcelona

Host: Domo, you are nt's dj from what I heard

Domo: I suppose-

Host: so, what music do you play before and after games and what in the bus?

Domo: well, mostly narodni radio. But I mostly gave up that role to others now. To Šime Vrsaljko, and there was Jedvaj before, too

Domo: and I think during this time we'll get Livaković to do it too. He is young and he will have a long career in nt, so we should teach him how it's done

Host: you already answered this for UEFA, but I was wondering if you could repeat it. Who is the best dancer, singer etc of the team?

Domo: I am not sure I remember what I said

Host: I can remind you. You said Livakovic is the best dancer

Domo: oh, yes, true! He is the best dance he has these moves *moves side to side with hands and body * and does everything with his hips

Host: And the best singer?

Domo: there is no best singer. We sing the best all together

Host: Do you still watches Osijek games? Since it was your first club

Domo: yeah, of course. I am glad to see they are doing well. I also watch Dinamo games since I have friend-

Host, half laughing: Livakovic?

Domo, grinning: Livakovic, our dear octopus, and Bruno and Orša...

Domo: but I'd like them to slow down a bit, leave something for Osijek you guys. Although they have been very good this year too

Host: Last card break. It's „who in the national team...“

Deki: Who gets mad the fastest?

Domo: Broz. But he also stop being angry the fastest

Deki: Who is the best at public speaking?

Domo: oh, coach, definitely. But from players, Badelj

Host: so which clubs and players do you love to watch and some maybe that you used to love to watch before?

Deki: well I used to love watching Milan during Boban's time. Today, I love watching Real Madrid. And for players Luka of course. Benzema-

Domo: oh god

Host: so how is now with Corluka being a coach when he was your teammate only a short while ago?

Domo: well, it's only the first day so we didn't have much time to talk. It's a bit weird with Carli being a joker and a gentlmen both in one. We are used to joking around but during training now that isn't the case because he is the coach and he should be treated as such. After it though, we can relax a bit more and talk

Host: that's all guys, thank you for this and thank you for breaking the ice in this show. Although you put the bar pretty high, I guess we'll see tomorrow if Livakovic can outdo you

Domo: I am sure he will, you'll have two goalies tomorrow

#domagoj vida #ndemir redzan #vatreni podcast

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