joi, 14 aprilie 2016

Pau Gasol - The emotional farewell letter to Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant played this morning the last game of his brilliant career. One of the best players in NBA history to put an end to his career after twenty years in the elite , of which six and a half shared with Pau Gasol, lograndos two rings. Those feats in the Lakers carved a great friendship between the two and now, hours of goodbye, Pau wanted to pay tribute to Kobe with a letter full of feelings and emotions.


LETTER INTEGRA PAU


"On my first day with the Lakers, I met the team at the Ritz in Washington DC and 1:30 am someone knocked on my door. That's how I discovered that Kobe does not sleep much. I sat on the bed, I think, and he sat at the table next to the television. He welcomed me to the team and told me it was time. It was time to win. He felt that I could take it to the top again and wanted to make sure I knew it. "This is our chance," he said. For me that meeting was very meaningful.


Much of the triangle offense is based on reading and understand each other. I understand the game. He was very meticulous with it. And I think he appreciated it . It was fresh air. Our relationship conceded from the start. We both knew we needed each other to succeed.

There are many games in the NBA, this causes it easy to get carried away. He kept us all at bay. In training he challenged people. He spoke ill of others. This does not hold everyone. Some players can not with this, but I did not care. It was his way of motivating us and push us to us to give more. It is easy to accommodate. He made ​​sure that no one did.

After losing the sixth game against the Celtics in late 2008, we did not talk much about it. It was time to digest what had happened and why we had fallen short and let the fire began to burn up inside. We arrived the next season with a different, more aggressive and more determined attitude, with a stronger focus. I think that was the reason we won the next two titles.

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Guardiola wins the battle and Bayern goes to semifinals

The Estadio da Luz became a pressure cooker , as feared Thiago Alcantara, but the mirage lasted 38 minutes. Benfica had to give in to the powerful Bayern Munich, and that Pep Guardiola Lewandowski sat on the bench to opt for a hat trick attack clearly addicted to the average tip.
The Portuguese, with the significant drop of the Brazilian Jonas , managed to sow panic in the German box to mark the Mexican Raul Jimenez, former Atletico Madrid. But before the break put Arturo Vidal(again, as in the way) things in place.
That's hopes vanished in Lisbon and Bayern began to show his safety, his conviction that will be on Friday in the draw for the Champions League semifinals.
When Thomas Müller scored the second both, and it became too difficult for the team Rui Vitória, specialist harangue his players with more thrust and heart than anything else.
He gambled by withdrawing the Luso coach Pizzi to get the Brazilian Talisca, who soon prove his punching power with a goal from a free.
But hardly it had time for a comeback, as two goals with just over 10 minutes required to play.
The Estadio da Luz recovered the illusion with the draw, but hung in the air a climate of resignation directly proportional to the German fortress.
One can speak at all ride for Bayern , but it became clear that it is more team and once again deserves to appear in the hype of the last heat, prior to the final at San Siro on May 28.
Guardiola ended strategy paying off, certifying that is an expert in bringing their pupils born winner (as it did in Barcelona) at the top of the top European competition.
The club and the public Lisbon had to settle for at least not lose the match, proof that they have maintained the type in the aggregate.
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Atletico - The fifth assault on the Champions League

Atletico Madrid with a 2-0 win against Barcelona in the return of the quarter-finals and 2-1 in the first leg (global 3-2) for the fifth time has reached the semifinals of the Champions League, the second under the name Champions League.

Two years after the end of Lisbon Champions League 2013-14, which fell against Real Madrid in extra time 4-1, Atletico group led by Diego Simeone Argentina is again among the best four teams the continent.

Like two years ago, Atletico won the ticket to the semifinals defeating Barcelona in this season overcoming the adverse 2-1 brought the Camp Nou with a 2-0, thanks to two goals from Frenchman Antoine Griezmann in the Vicente Calderon the second penalty in the 89th minute.

In the 2013-14 season, when they played the semi-finals last time, the red and whites came to achieve a 1-1 (goals from Diego and Neymar) draw in Barcelona and served them a 1-0 (Koke) to overcome the crossing. After they beat Chelsea in the semifinals, to meet with Real in the final.

The former Atletico precedent in the semifinals of the showpiece of European football clubs have to find it under the name European Cup in 1973-74 season, just at the other end that Atletico have played in this competition, that of infamous memory for their fans against Bayern Munich German.

In the quarterfinals of 1974, the athletic victim was the Serbian Red Star, which defeated Atletico 0-2 in Belgrade (goals from Luis Aragones and José Eulogio Gárate) and served with a 0-0 in the return in Calderon. The semi-final opponent was the Scottish Celtic Glasgow, passed after a qualifying row to face Bayern in the final.

Three years earlier, Atletico overcame the quarter-final against Legia Warsaw thanks to the double value of away goals. The rojiblancos achieved a 1-0 in the first leg at the Calderon (goal Adelardo Rodríguez) and lost 2-1 in Warsaw (Ignacio Salcedo made ​​the Atletico goal, Pieszko and Stachurski scored for the hosts). They lost in semifinals against Dutch Ajax, where he played the recently deceased Johan Cruyff.

The first experience in the semifinals of the European Cup for Atletico was in the 1958-59 season , in which he beat in the quarterfinals German Schalke 04 with a 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu (goals from Vava, Gonzalez and Peiro) and 1-1 in Gelsenkirchen (Nowak for German, Vava for Atletico). They fell in the semifinals against Real Madrid, in a tie that required a playoff game.

Rojiblanco signed with their eighth victory in the quarterfinals of this competition, which has come consecutively in the last three editions. He was eliminated in the quarterfinals in three seasons: 2014-15 (Real Madrid) 1996-97 (Ajax) and 1977-78 (Bruges).
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Luis Enrique: "The team is sad"

Luis Enrique, Barcelona coach praised Wednesday following the elimination of his team in the quarterfinals of the Champions League with Atletico Madrid (2-0), his team has to "rise" of defeat and "improve" in the final stretch, which are "two objectives," referring to the League, of which he is leader, and the Copa del Rey.

"The team is like can only be a team that aspires to win the title was one of our goals, no doubt;. A goal that flattered us a lot, but this year will be no such a possibility.. The team is sad " he said at a news conference after the 2-0 loss at the Vicente Calderon.

"Our goals are always the highest and is proud that the club is always favorite at all, but you have to accept defeat, understood as something of sport, such self-criticism to improve and we have two competitions on the horizon in which we have to will improve our performance if we want to win them options ", reviewed.

"Any coach of any league in the world if you win those two titles (League and Cup) would be a great season, but we need to improve, I am the first , " continued Luis Enrique, who insisted that "yet" there are "two very interesting targets "and took" one hundred percent "of the blame for the defeat on Wednesday.

"For that I am the coach, the head and not intended to have any points less than one hundred percent , " he added the coach, who, when asked by Argentine Lionel Messi, declared that "the only undeniable is that it is very unfair individualized a player when there is a loss, because this is all, of all the players. "

The coach stressed the "excellent attitude of all" players in the return leg tonight at the Vicente Calderon, but admitted: " What is evidence is that we are not at our best, but in terms of attitude'm so proud of my players . "

"Sorry for the Catalans fans and my players. Our goal was to conquer all, but get up. This is a test for the team," continued Luis Enrique, also questioned the why and if he saw that this bad time could arrive.

"Because there are rainy days and other days the sun rises. We controlled parameters that are important to view the status of the players, but I have no magic ball to know how we will be if we'll be lucid ... What yes it is clear is that we can improve. it's not our best version. and from that analysis and things to improve, consider the season finale with logic and ambition that is going to have this team, "he said.

Luis Enrique admitted he expected "Atletico Madrid maybe a not so quiet" at the start of the match, "as waiting in a medium retreat". "I expected a higher pressure. We had the ball calmly and that has allowed us to have controlled the match in what is playing out against Atletico," he said.

"I think the game has gone well in the idea they had. They have taken advantage of their time in our error, have been ahead on the scoreboard and have played what they do best, to defend their own country. They do very well. they have it played a very complete match. To us it lacked perhaps more finesse and daring "he said.

"We wanted a party control through ball wearing rival. The course was not to offer frills, non-excuse me, it was difficult to stand. We had control, but not depth. We have not generated occasions. We understood that make a goal it would be very important, but it has not happened, "he added.

"In the second half, and yet it lost, we have gone with a lot more people ahead of the ball to create more situations but it cost us a lot. Congratulating Atletico Madrid and wish him the best of luck," he said.
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Faith returns to lead Atletico to semifinals

Atleti, the team with more faith in Spain, again in the semifinals of the Champions League. It is no coincidence nor an extravagance. Simeone has led this team to the elite coup effort and heart . Outside was the champion, a Barcelona exceeded in the first leg until the expulsion of Torres, and at the Calderon speculated impermissibly until he was with the score against. Even then he could face a team that is growing hopelessly under the baton of Simeone, the great architect of a group that dream of back European Cup still owes history.
With the lesson learned from the qualifying round two years ago Atletico was launched by the same way then. Atletico eleven came out with rage by the opponent and the sixth gear engaged, with 50,000 throats tightening behind as usual. Barca boot that caught him off guard and spent real trouble for putting the ball. A volley from Gabi and two separate auctions of Griezmann and Carrasco gave life to the first ten minutes.
Atletico brazenly sought goal and the club reacted to harassment killing the game completely . Uncaring attack, his players were devoted to an absurd passing game in order to run rival and despair to the stands.Mascherano Pique, Jordi Alba from there, back to Ter Stegen ... and back again. It was to have the ball at any price, playing slowly and without looking askance Oblak's goal . Debatable or not, Luis Enrique's plan seemed to work. Possession Barca side shot beyond 80% and souffle party collapsed.
The tremendous letdown remediated the head Griezmann last half hour .French, jinxed so far against Barca, impeccably he finished a measured center Ter Stegen Saul beating Calderon and exploded. Barca did not expect that goal, at least not this time, so he suppressed his self - imposed slumber and began to run. And Atletico to defend, of course. And eleven.
A shot from Neymar between Uruguayans (Godin and Luis Suarez) took the game to rest and Luis Enrique to reflect. With Messi permanently installed in the middle , but far from the area, the club changed the horizontality of the first part for a much more vertical game, looking for bands and inside passes Rakitic and Iniesta. Atletico tried not towrinkle. In fact, soon after the restart he could make the second with a header that gave Saul on the outside of the bar.

Tucked into the cave

But the situation of the party invited a second agonizing part. Barca left his field and Simeone locked in just thirty meters. Each began to play it that really knows . Both forward lines that Griezmann nearly killed the party to the contras in a dogfight with Ter Stegen.Arda, received a loud blast from his old hobby, and Sergi Roberto Alves came through and Rakitic, then a bloco Oblak Suarez shot at close range.
Now it was Atletico who had more than enough minutes . Simeone further strengthened means taking the field to a Carrasco exhausted and ushering Thomas. Ghana, a physical portent, helped out wherever he could, and accompanied Griezmann in the few outings against to which end adventure.El became an ordeal for the Atletico fans. Messi, Suarez and Neymar played increasingly closer Oblak. The fear of a last tie was over, hovering in the air. The stand noticed it and raised the decibels that marked the beat Simeone from the technical area.
In the absence of five minutes Pique was already a front more. So the second goal came in a lethal against which he could only resist sticking his hand Iniesta in the area. Griezmann did not fail, and then Rizzoli avoided a possible extension of the area by pointing out a hand of Gabi who had been inside.
"Together to victory , " he reads the banner that pulled at the beginning. He knows no other way Atletico. Now happens next. Whatever happens, will also suffer .

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miercuri, 6 aprilie 2016

Google Doodle - Olympic Games' 120th anniversary

The modern Olympic Games' 120th anniversary has been marked with a Google Doodle!
The 1896 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, was a multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece, from 6 to 15 April 1896. It was the first international Olympic Games held in the Modern era.

When were the first Olympic Games?

The Ancient Olympic Games were athletic festivals held every four years in Olympia, Greece from around 776BC, where athletes would compete to win wrestling, chariot racing and running races, among many other sports.

While definitive records are few and far between, the rising influence of the Roman Empire is believed to have caused the decline of the formally-organised Games.

It is believed that the Christian emperor Theodosius I legally abolished "pagan" events like the Games, in 393 or 394 A.D.

On April 6, 1896, the Olympic Games, a long-lost tradition of ancient Greece, are reborn in Athens 1,500 years after being banned by Roman Emperor Theodosius I. At the opening of the Athens Games, King Georgios I of Greece and a crowd of 60,000 spectators welcomed athletes from 13 nations to the international competition.

The first recorded Olympic Games were held at Olympia in the Greek city-state of Elis in 776 B.C., but it is generally accepted that the Olympics were at least 500 years old at that time. The ancient Olympics, held every four years, occurred during a religious festival honoring the Greek god Zeus. In the eighth century B.C., contestants came from a dozen or more Greek cities, and by the fifth century B.C. from as many as 100 cities from throughout the Greek empire.

In 1850 an Olympian Class was started by Dr. William Penny Brookes at Much Wenlock, in Shropshire, England. In 1859, Dr. Brookes changed the name to the Wenlock Olympian Games. This annual sports festival continues to this day. The Wenlock Olympian Society was founded by Dr. Brookes on 15 November 1860.

The ancient Olympic Games were initially a one-day event until 684 BC, when they were extended to three days. In the 5th century B.C., the Games were extended again to cover five days. The ancient Games included running, long jump, shot put, javelin, boxing, pankration and equestrian events.



What do the Olympic rings signify?


Coubertin explained his design in 1931: "A white background, with five interlaced rings in the centre: blue, yellow, black, green and red...is symbolic; it represents the five inhabited continents of the world, united by Olympism, while the six colors are those that appear on all the national flags of the world at the present time."

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