All Sports All The Time

[Bluegreen]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)
Dear Friends, I'm guessing that like me you may know little or nothing about Kickboxing, and have never heard of Mona Kimura. But trust me, you gotta watch this.

She's adorably cute, and doesn't look very strong: she's 5 foot 5 and weighs just 115 lbs.

But she started karate before she could tie her shoes, and her parents coached her to stand absolutely still on one leg for minutes on end. The result is that she kicks like Achilles throwing a spear, with her opponents barely able to get near her. Her lightning-fast speed, accuracy and balance might have made Muhammad Ali jealous. It's quite something to see.

First, take a look at this, just 30 seconds.

https://avalonlibrary.net/Bill/Mona_Kimura.mp4



If you're inspired to see more, this 9 minute video is all about her career, starting when she was a tiny little girl.

They Laughed at Mona Kimura… Until the Brutal KOs Started

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=DqA1q4oXGzc

20 Times Mona Kimura DESTROYED Cocky Fighters For Disrespect



And a marketing genius wearing pigtails, purple and pink in the ring.

(15:52)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=8HinyZ4eSMk

[Richter]

Match of the season!
Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes | NHL Playoff Highlights | Game 3 (13:09)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=wYBsNDGOMhg

[Inversion]

Joe Rogan speaks with world champ in armwrestling Devon Larratt. He was in the Canadian special forces and has been arm wrestling for decades. He goes through the history of the sport and injuries they deal with. While talking about genetics with powerlifters I thought there's experiments going on them and people are mind controlled into entering sports. A segment of this video was posted four days ago. While with the military he saw an eight-foot-tall male overseas and in Canada he saw a man over eight feet.

Devon's comments about giants.

Noteable arm wrestlers he mentioned:

John Brzenk- Devon said he's the greatest of all time (GOAT) and dominated the sport for decades. The 1987 movie Over the Top followed a tournament John won.

Levan Saginashvili- No one has beaten him in ten years.

Jeff Dabe- He was born with extremely large hands and forearms. video

Andrey Smaev- Known as the Russian Hulk that they're trying to bring into the sport. video

06/05/26 (2:42:49)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZmejzHXudq0

[Bill Ryan]

Here's more Mona Kimura, for anyone who needs a little light relief.

This isn't a fight — it's just some dojo sparring between her and Yuto Fukuchi, a karate world champion way bigger and heavier than Mona. But Fukuchi is a big admirer of Mona (and vice versa) — and the two have a great deal of fun.

Both fighters show their skills (it takes a lot of skill NOT to hit an opponent when sparring), and they're admirably humble, respectful, and it's all very funny. They're role-playing as Ryu (Fukuchi) vs Chun-Li (Mona), two of the characters from the Street Fighter video game.

Fukuchi is clearly an extremely good guy. He jokes to the camera all the time, though in a real fight Mona would surely have no chance against him. But watch to the very end, where there's a wonderful brief outtake when Mona lands a kick to Fukuchi's head (which may have been unintentional!) — and floors him completely.

(And more than one YouTube comment points out what a great couple they'd be... )

MONA VS FUKUCHI 〜 REAL LIFE STREET FIGHTER

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=0BtP27a-Ufw

[Bill Ryan]

Dear Friends, trust me: this short video is ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING.

Despite the [poor!] video title, this isn't about Lionel Messi at all (the soccer player in the thumbnail). It's about how all elite sportsmen and -women employ holistic pattern recognition in ways that mere mortals just don't and cannot.

Besides soccer, discussed are baseball, American football, boxing, and even chess. It's all about how when one is highly skilled and very well-trained one can react effectively to and take full advantage of sudden situations before they even happen.

Why The Best Player Alive Barely Runs

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=d_OIvLt3SO4

[Mark (Star Mariner)]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)
Besides soccer,

S-s-s-s-whhat?

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by Mark (Star Mariner) (here)

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)
Besides soccer,

S-s-s-s-whhat?

Way way off-topic here.

This is known as the Oxford "-er". It even has its own Wiki page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_%22-er%22

So English football, known as Association Football, became shortened to 'soccer' (though occasionally it was called 'footer'). And Rugby football was shortened to 'rugger'. Taking a break to breathe some fresh air was known as a 'breather'. A rotten (bad) person was known as a 'rotter', a top hat as a 'topper', and breakfast as 'brekkers'. Someone who was stark naked was 'starkers'. Five and ten pound notes were known as 'fivers' and 'tenners'. And so on.

All that is pretty archaic now, but 'soccer' has persisted in the US to distinguish it from American Football — which isn't 'football' at all.

[Bruce G Charlton]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)

Posted by Mark (Star Mariner) (here)

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)
Besides soccer,

S-s-s-s-whhat?

Way way off-topic here.

This is known as the Oxford "-er". It even has its own Wiki page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_%22-er%22

So English football, known as Association Football, became shortened to 'soccer' (though occasionally it was called 'footer'). And Rugby football was shortened to 'rugger'. Taking a break to breathe some fresh air was known as a 'breather'. A rotten (bad) person was known as a 'rotter', a top hat as a 'topper', and breakfast as 'brekkers'. Someone who was stark naked was 'starkers'. Five and ten pound notes were known as 'fivers' and 'tenners'. And so on.

All that is pretty archaic now, but 'soccer' has persisted in the US to distinguish it from American Football — which isn't 'football' at all.

It's very interesting, and I didn't realize that "soccer" was university slang. Another source reminded me that the same process led to the alternative term "footer" which I recall Bertie Wooster used:

“The trouble with you, Spode, is that just because you have succeeded in inducing a handful of half-wits to disfigure the London scene by going about in black shorts, you think you're someone. You hear them shouting "Heil, Spode!" and you imagine it is the Voice of the People. That is where you make your bloomer. What the Voice of the People is saying is: "Look at that frightful ass Spode swanking about in footer bags! Did you ever in your puff see such a perfect perisher?” From PG Wodehouse: The Code of the Woosters.

This also may explain why my family - who come from the "soccer" crazy area of Northumberland around Ashington (e.g. Bobby and Jackie Charlton) never called the game soccer, but always and only "football". "Football" just was "soccer".

There was no confusion - partly because rugby was not much played outside of private schools and the city of Newcastle, and partly because nobody would have called rugby "football"!

I get the impression that the word soccer in England was not very commonly used (outside the upper classes, who typically weren't much interested in the sport - although it was played at some of the highest status public schools such as Charterhouse) until the past few decades of increasing (top-down) cultural Americanization.

[rgray222]

Here are a few random (most are very short) videos from the 2026 World Cup. Fans and locals are enjoying themselves immensely, and many people are getting a more honest view of America than their media back home portrayed. Many people from around the world have expressed affection for American hospitality, amazing infrastructure, and the nation's open and friendly attitude towards visitors. While politics divides us, sport acts as a great unifier because it serves as a universal language and helps break down barriers: no presidents, no prime ministers, and no supreme leaders, just fans and players giving their best for something they love.

There is still a long way to go. The final game will be played at New York New Jersey Stadium, which is located approximately 5 miles west of New York City, on July 19, 2026, kicking off at 3:30 ET.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=q4g5v0XnEpA

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=S_xSry_o7aA

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=4ZzA-pjiA40

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=23em_aR6D40

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=aHev73gTP0k

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=ogfgoIVgppo

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=wrWwsY_qL-8

[Bill Ryan]

With the Football World Cup in the US well under way, here's a chance to remember this iconic moment. (I actually saw this live on TV at the time, and I've never forgotten it to this day.)

(Or if you've never seen or heard of this before, watch and enjoy. The video is only a minute long.)

This happened in 1997. The amazed commentator at the end of the clip says: "I'm not so sure we'll see one better than that for many, many a year."

And indeed, almost all football fans agree there never has been "one better than that". In all the countdown #20—#1 video compendiums online of exceptional best-ever free kicks, this is #1 every time, always supported by all the comments.

It was called "The Impossible Goal". Physicists even studied it to fully understand the aerodynamics. (They really did.)

Roberto Carlos' LEGENDARY Free Kick: Brazil vs France, 1997

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=zhY9bpLTZGg

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=zhY9bpLTZGg

It was called "The Impossible Goal". Physicists even studied it to fully understand the aerodynamics. (They really did.)

A little more.
The Shot That Scientists Couldn’t Explain for 13 Years

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=uWDuctxrmag

[rgray222]

I didn't know where to put this because it is more mystery than sport, but here seems as good a place as any. The ball showed no signs of changing direction or slowing down; it did not appear to go between the netting; it actually seemed to go through the netting, and there was only one person in the stadium who saw it correctly. For a good view, open to full screen, and you will only see what I'm talking about at the very end of this short video.

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by rgray222 (here)
I didn't know where to put this because it is more mystery than sport, but here seems as good a place as any. The ball showed no signs of changing direction or slowing down; it did not appear to go between the netting; it actually seemed to go through the netting, and there was only one person in the stadium who saw it correctly. For a good view, open to full screen, and you will only see what I'm talking about at the very end of this short video.

Ha. Another glitch in the matrix. (And I'm not sure if that's merely a joke!)

[Mark (Star Mariner)]

Which hits harder and further, a Baseball bat or a Cricket bat? A bit of a fun here for fans of both sports. And for Cricket fans, there's a deal of interesting content on this guy's channel. He's an American baseball fan who has recently discovered Cricket and is trying learn and understand the sport. With every new video, he's more and more surprised and impressed.

Cricket Bat vs Baseball Bat – Which One Wins?

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=HpvxlFTeHjE

[Bill Ryan]

Scenes in Spain, just published, as Spain beat Argentina 1—0 to win the 2026 World Cup. All the analysts agree that fittingly, they were the best team in the whole tournament.







~~~

For some, it was not such a happy moment. Both Donald Trump and Bibi Netanyahu had been loudly supporting Argentina for purely political reasons. I confess that in itself caused yours truly (who is actually far more interested in cricket that football) to savor the result just a little more.

[rgray222]

[bojancan]

In this new three-part, deep-dive video series, Zeteo’s editor-in-chief and lifelong Liverpool and England football fan Mehdi Hasan goes back in history to explain how some of the world’s most shameful leaders have used the World Cup and FIFA’s corrupt behavior to raise their own status on the world stage and also distract from their country’s heinous human rights violations – a practice known as sportswashing.

In this first episode – published exclusively for paid subscribers June 1 – Mehdi starts off with an authoritarian whose sportswashing is not getting nearly enough attention right now: U.S. President Donald Trump – one of the co-hosts of this summer’s World Cup, despite his administration having threatened to bring rogue ICE agents to the World Cup stadiums.

Millions around the world have been tuning in for the most-watched sporting event on the planet – the FIFA World Cup, which is being hosted in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

And although World Cups tend to create a festive atmosphere associated with joy and excitement, this World Cup has already been mired by exorbitant ticket prices, mistreatment of the Iranian team, and of course, entry and visa chaos caused by U.S. President Donald Trump’s vicious crackdown on Middle East and African countries?

In this episode, Mehdi is also joined by a team of expert guests, like former football player turned political scientist Jules Boykoff, former footballer and human rights activist Craig Foster, and anti-ICE activist Katherine Funes.

This video was released June 1 exclusively for paid subscribers on Zeteo.com. For early access to hard-hitting content, subscribe to our Substack: zeteo.com/subscribe

Zeteo
2.13M subscribers
The World Cup’s Ugly Reality: Trump, Infantino and ICE

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=gpiH8p3UiAM

========

Yes, you read that right. The organizer of the World Cup has historically been complicit in legitimizing authoritarian regimes and helping distract from their crimes – a phenomenon commonly known as “sportswashing.”

Just take a look at the 1934 World Cup. And the 1978 World Cup… Oh, and the 2026 World Cup.

In the second episode of Zeteo’s three-part video series, “The Dark Side of the World Cup,” Mehdi walks through these three World Cups – which respectively take place under Italy’s Benito Mussolini, Argentina’s junta leader Jorge Videla, and the U.S.’s Donald Trump – to connect the dots and highlight how FIFA helped these authoritarians cover up their crimes.

Plus, Mehdi breaks down the controversies around the Russia- and Qatar-hosted World Cups and digs into the double standards when it comes to the lack of media coverage on the U.S.’s own controversies.

This video was first published June 16 on zeteo.com. If you want earlier access to more coverage like this, subscribe at zeteo.com/subscribe.


FIFA Has Been Covering for Dictators for 90 Years

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=hnt3b2-qA9s

==========

As the World Cup drew to a close, all eyes were on Spain and Argentina – and then Trump nudged his way in front of the camera.

To the surprise of few, a trend that began at last year’s U.S. Open and continued at this year’s NBA Finals was on full display at this year’s World Cup: when Trump shows up to a sporting event, the story inevitably becomes about him.

Yes, the World Cup final marked the culmination of an event that has served as a distraction from Trump’s various crimes and misdeeds – or, in the case of FIFA suspending Folarin Balogun’s red-card ban at Trump’s behest, a glaring reminder of them.

But FIFA has been allowing authoritarian leaders to use the World Cup to their benefit since one of the earliest tournaments under Benito Mussolini in 1934 – a story we’ve documented throughout this three part series.

As the New Yorker’s Ishaan Tharoor puts it, that tournament was “a wonderful showcase for Italy…a showcase for the preeminence and prowess of its fascist regime.”

Join Mehdi, The New Yorker’s Ishaan Tharoor, Political Scientist Jules Boykoff, and FIFA whistleblower Bonita Mersiades for a timely unpacking of the dark side of this incredibly cherished international tournament, and FIFA’s role in it.

This video was released July 9 exclusively for paid subscribers on Zeteo.com. For early access to hard-hitting content, subscribe to our Substack: zeteo.com/subscribe


FIFA’s Decades of Corruption EXPOSED

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=7t5nIRvqNVU