An almost epic ride ...

Unless you’ve been hiding in a dark isolated cave in the last few weeks, I’m sure you’re well aware of USA’s run at the World Cup in South Africa. I’m a futbol fan 365 days a year but the roller coaster ride I went through during USA’s almost epic run has heightened my passion for the sport on another level. We were a Bocanegra/DeMerit blink away from possible advancing to the quarterfinals and getting a soft draw vs. Uruguay. ESPN’s Colin Cowherd said it best in his morning show; we are far from being a soccer giant and at best be a 9-7 NFL team who had a good string of luck heading into the playoffs. A lot of luck definitely played a big part in USA advancing to the knockout stages considering we were down a goal after the 15th minute of every game except Algeria. Luck which finally ran out against the Ghanians. Kudos to them.

It has been more than 48 hours since the US loss and I am still devastated. The World Cup moves on and I’m putting my marbles on a Spain/Brazil final which is relative to cheering for the Colts and the Saints to make it to the Super Bowl. I would’ve much rather continued cheering for the 9-7 wild card team.

4 years ago ....

The 2006 World Cup will always have a special place in my heart.  I’ve had memorable milestones and blessings in the last four years that could quite possibly be a direct result of what I witnessed in the last World Cup.
 
I remember watching the Italians play against the US and adoring how physically fit and sound the Azzurri were. Fabio Cannavarro was the first to catch my attention. He was a few years older than me, not too tall, stocky for a footballer, and halting every American attack like a man possessed. My sister made a very bold statement during the game, “You and that guy have the same build”. Sorry but aside from the broad shoulders not even close, dear sis. The man was built like a wall and I was in my late 20’s overweight and looking to get in shape. In that exact moment, something triggered in my head. Do I sit here and continue to eat my adobo or should I finally do something about my weight? So I asked myself what would be the ONE THING I can benefit from these athletes and implement to my lifestyle. Well duh, they run a lot. I put the bowl of adobo down, laced up my old dusty Air Max 95’s, and ran no more than two minutes before I was completely gassed. The rest is history. Fast forward to today and with four half marathons, five triathlons, and countless 5k’s under my belt; I’m still running and I’m in the best shape of my life.  Thank you, Fabio Cannavarro.
 
The most important piece in my life today can also be traced back to June of 2006. The World Cup was well underway and my cousin, Sheryl Jane, invited me to join her and a few friends for dinner. I decided to wear my gold Adidas runners after catching a glimpse of Spain’s Fernando Torres walking out with the same pair. Little did I know that in only a matter of a few hours I would meet the most amazing, captivating, loving, genuine, and beautiful woman in the world. Three years and four months later from that day, this woman became my wife. As my grandma always says, it was all orchestrated by The Lord. Sorry Grandma, I think the gold shoes also had something to do with it. Thank you, Fernando Torres.

So as the 2010 FIFA World Cup kicks off, cheers to a great tournament and for greater things to come in the next four years ...
 

Beast Mode

Summer is almost here and I don’t want to be that dude with his shirt on at the pool party. Living in LA, it’s that time of the year when almost everybody hits the gym harder and eat cleaner. Making last minute adjustments to fit those boardshorts before we strut our stuff at the beach. I exercise regularly all throughout the year but now it’s time to step it up to Beast Mode. Here are a few things that has jump started my game from exercising to Beastin’ …..

1. TRX Suspension – Eff the weights, I take the TRX with me to the gym. Meatheads love to stare all day like I’m homo. But seriously bench pressing 400 lbs and looking like someone stole your neck and traps isn’t cool anymore. Try doing 10 TRX atomic pushups instead, Sucka!


2. Medicine Ball – My favorite exercise is the Crossfit ball slam. Situps hurts my neck so I do these instead. Works as well and it feels good to just slam the living shit out of something.


3. Kettlebell – Enriqz got me into kettlebells. If you want to get on beast mode, this should be you’re # 1 weapon. The variations and combinations of exercises on a kettle are endless. Talking about bang for your buck, you get the whole shabang on a kettlebell.


It’s never too late to start beastin’ and get your sexy back by summer. Even the newly reinvented, plastic surgery having, robot looking, quick trimming, ASS poppin' Kim Kardashian is on Beast Mode (see below). LET'S GO!!!

Viva!

Our blog has been flooded with so many football posts these days that I might as well contribute my efforts to The Original Winger or Dirty Tackle. I told myself I wouldn’t make any more soccer post until the World Cup begins but then I saw the new Umbro World Champions Collection. Umbro’s new series is less than impressive but the sight of Luli Fernandez wearing only an Argentine soccer shirt definitely made this post worthy. Ms. Fernandez is so hot that the world should pause for a few seconds and just stare. Real Madrid’s Fernando Gago is one lucky MFer. Also featured, and not to be overlooked, are the other beauties in this series which includes English striker Peter Crouch’s girlfriend Abbey Clancy, Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar’s wife Susana Werner, and French/Arsenal left back Gael Clichy’s main squeeze, Charlene Suric. For more pictures and details, visit Umbro.

Bonus video of Luli Fernandez - Viva Argentina!

Crowning The Champ

One of the most anticipated events in the European football season is the Champions League Final. It crowns the best of the best Europe has to offer. After ousting Man U in the semis, Bayern Munich has put themselves in the finale against Inter Milan who halted Spanish football giant, Barcelona. This year’s finale is special as both teams are going for the treble after winning their respective domestic cups and league championship. I’m an Inter fan and Bayern beating my other favorite team, Man Utd, is another reason to root for the Nerazzurri. Jose Mourinho is the Phil Jackson of soccer and he should put Inter in a good position to win. The wifey and I plan to watch the match at Nike Montalban. This should be amazing!!

Pint-size dead ball specialist, Wesley Sneijder, will be key to Inter's offensive attack.

Bayern Munich will miss their best player, Franck Ribery.

My prediction: Inter wins 1-0

Epic.

Check out this new video that Nike made for the upcoming World Cup. It's practically a movie and has cameos from everyone from Kobe Bryant to Homer Simpson. It's a clever video and sure got me hyped for the World Cup.

Pursuit Of Happiness

I've been out of the sneaker game for awhile now. Around 5 PM Thursday, I got a call from the wifey telling me that her brother won one of only 200 bids to purchase the Nike Kobe Aston Martin Pack. As a former sneakerhead, I knew how exciting this moment would be for him so we hit the road and checked out the scene at Staples Center.

Each winner gets a photo with the AM Hyperdunk and the lifesize Aston Martin

Winners receive a thumb drive with their lottery number engraved

Random bystander flossin' $1200 Christian Louboutin Studded Louis Sneakers

Look at the smile on that boy's face. Priceless.

No reselling here.

Nike Kobe Aston Martin Leather Jacket

It's a wrap. Congrats, Bro!

UFC Primetime is back.

Just in case you missed it last night, Spike's UFC Primetime is back featuring Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and "Sugar" Rashad Evans. Both characters have quite a mouth on them so it's about to go down leading up to UFC 114. All this talk is hyping me up.Winner of this fight should get a shot at the newly crowned light heavyweight champ, Shogun Rua. Let's get it on!!

Come Ups: American Apparel Rummage Sale

American Apparel Rummage Sale is at Santa Barbara this weekend. I'm still 50/50 whether I should make the 2-hour drive north. Since they are taking requests, I'm asking for their chambrays and v-necks to be available please.  Alanna behind the register with the outfit above would also be nice. For more details about the sale, go to Chic Files.