There could hundreds if not thousands of untold stories concerning glory or shame.
It is understandable that people don't like to talk about "shame" especially if it concerns themselves. This is taboo. This is sacred to be confined to the dark side of one's life history. Nobody has the right to know. Those involved do not even want to think about it just in case people can read their thoughts.
There is no necessity to think about it, what more to talk and tell people about it. It is best left buried in the past.
But there are people whose business is to know and let the whole world know. These people are everywhere. The media people, the manipulators, the intimidaters, the gossipers, and so on. Stories like these sell.
True stories that can warm the heart
I remember reading a long time ago many stories of heroic deeds during the two world wars that were untold before. A few of them narrated stories of soldiers who risked loss of limbs and even lives by dragging bombs away from fellow soldiers. The bombs usually blew off after the respective heroic soldier had left the bombs some distance away. These people who were willing to sacrifice their own lives for others were given medals of valor.
Reading such heart warming stories make time stand still. You feel you are in a different world then.
Live a life to the full
Don't you want to have a life that is full of meaning? Don't you wish that you can help change the world for the better?
Life is not meant to be lived only for oneself. This is not a very productive way to spend your whole life. Life is to be used for the good of others, too. If you do that, life is worth living. You have something to live for.
Live a life that will be told years hence that reveals the goodness in people.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Friday, July 4, 2014
Watching Professional Games can be Stressful as well as Shameful
I like tennis although I know the basics only. I like to watch professional tennis players at their best. I feel happy when the player I support goes on to win and become the champion.
But watching tennis - or any sports for that matter - can be stressful. This is particularly so when your favourite player loses. This is unhealthy. Some people can get so emotional that they lose their appetite. Things can be worse. People were known to have died from heart attacks while watching their favorites who lost badly.
So what do you do?
Disengage. Switch off the TV or go to another channel. Leave and do something else. Go to sleep. Read a good book. There are so many positive things that you can do.
Bad habits of players
Some professional players are so childish that they make a mockery of the game. They throw tantrums, They break their rackets. They say or do something abusive.
This is not good for children to see. They may imitate the crazy behaviors of these adults who should set good examples.
So, both players and fans must behave and not do themselves any harm or cause others to regret being a fan. It is shameful. Very shameful. There is no good sense in glorifying such behaviors. The media do that most of the time.
But watching tennis - or any sports for that matter - can be stressful. This is particularly so when your favourite player loses. This is unhealthy. Some people can get so emotional that they lose their appetite. Things can be worse. People were known to have died from heart attacks while watching their favorites who lost badly.
So what do you do?
Disengage. Switch off the TV or go to another channel. Leave and do something else. Go to sleep. Read a good book. There are so many positive things that you can do.
Bad habits of players
Some professional players are so childish that they make a mockery of the game. They throw tantrums, They break their rackets. They say or do something abusive.
This is not good for children to see. They may imitate the crazy behaviors of these adults who should set good examples.
So, both players and fans must behave and not do themselves any harm or cause others to regret being a fan. It is shameful. Very shameful. There is no good sense in glorifying such behaviors. The media do that most of the time.
Superstars on downward spiral?
When you listen to the news, when you watch TV, listen to the radio or go online, most often than not, you will get to know some superstars here or there who had shot themselves in the leg.
If people are not careful they may end up being nasty. Some among the rich and famous are not immune from this. Success goes to their head. They may forget that in the past when they had not found fame, they were just any other person.
It is not easy to understand why people can lose their head when they have the money or become successful. Some even forget about their roots. One or two are too stingy that they don't give even a cent to a close family member. How much stingier can people become?
You can say that these superstars are on a downward spiral until they reached the very bottom of life. Rock bottom! Then they start blaming others, groups and or society at large.
Ordinary people can also fall
Ordinary people should not think that since they are not famous, they can't fall. It depends! Don't be too sure.
Not all people born in poverty can appreciate the importance of living within their means. Such people may spend all that they earn within no time. When they get more, their yearning to satisfy their "artificial" needs may take priority. Their real needs and the needs of their families will, then, take a back seat.
If these kind of people do not take steps to put a stop to their acquired way of life, they will not experience true peace of mind.
Yearning for glory for glory sake is not right. Such a person may end up in shame for the rest his life.
If people are not careful they may end up being nasty. Some among the rich and famous are not immune from this. Success goes to their head. They may forget that in the past when they had not found fame, they were just any other person.
It is not easy to understand why people can lose their head when they have the money or become successful. Some even forget about their roots. One or two are too stingy that they don't give even a cent to a close family member. How much stingier can people become?
You can say that these superstars are on a downward spiral until they reached the very bottom of life. Rock bottom! Then they start blaming others, groups and or society at large.
Ordinary people can also fall
Ordinary people should not think that since they are not famous, they can't fall. It depends! Don't be too sure.
Not all people born in poverty can appreciate the importance of living within their means. Such people may spend all that they earn within no time. When they get more, their yearning to satisfy their "artificial" needs may take priority. Their real needs and the needs of their families will, then, take a back seat.
If these kind of people do not take steps to put a stop to their acquired way of life, they will not experience true peace of mind.
Yearning for glory for glory sake is not right. Such a person may end up in shame for the rest his life.
The World Cup 2014
FIFA World Cup 2014!
Now the crucial stage has come! The knockout stage. Next emotion? Glory or shame!
Those teams who were kicked out earlier went home in shame. The heads of several managers had rolled. Some more may follow. The teams - including great teams - who did not make it to the knock out stage - were very disappointed indeed. Who won't?
But football like other sports is extremely unpredictable. Even the best team can fall at the first stage. Even footballing teams who managed to win a few World Cups are not assured of winning and progressing until the final game.
So it is with the World Cup 2014. Former champion Spain is out. England and Italy are out. Mexico and Chile are out. Some of the fans of some teams who lost mocked their teams.
Which team is next next to go?
Finding Scapegoats
Teams that fail to progress and are licking their wounds will ask a lot of questions. Some may try to look for scapegoats, whether players, coaches or managers.
The blame game is not healthy. It does not solve anything. Teams may even deteriorate further.
It is better to ask hard questions as to what had been their weaknesses and the mistakes they could have avoided. They could also examine how their opponents managed to score against their team.
Of course, when it becomes very apparent that the manager made a bad decision that cost the team dearly, then it is high time for the manager to tender his resignation.
Eight Teams, Four Teams Each from Two Continents
The number of teams that made it to knockout stage are evenly distributed between the Americas and Europe.
Which teams will not make it to the semi-finals? Things are getting tougher. The pressure will be almost unbearable, lesser on some, more on others.
Losing will be more painful. This is so since they are nearer to the final.
But teams have to concentrate, to focus on the next game, not on the final game. Let the final game remain in the future for the time being. Teams cannot afford to get distracted by anything else. The objective is to win the next game. If not, they don't proceed to the next level.
Players with something to prove
Some players are expected to prove their greatness. The media is constantly breathing on the neck of Messi. It is field day for them during this World Cup. Some commentators even go so far as to say that Messi is not as good as Pele or Maradona.
Neymar of Brazil is another who is expected to prove something. Brazil has the advantage of being the host country for the 2014 World Cup. Brazil is expected to win. But things are not as straight forward as that. Even the mighty Brazilians can fall, shooting themselves on the foot.
Let us wait and see. Meanwhile, hurray to the teams that made it to the knockout stage. Who will bathe in glory? Who will go home in shame?
Read about the winning combination.
Hopes unfulfilled
There are many good players who want to demonstrate to the whole world that they have extraordinary skills. But excellent personal skills may not be enough for teams to keep winning. Members of the team need to click perfectly. If not, great names in football will return home with hope unfulfilled.
Neymar is the most recent victim of this unfulfilled hope. It was reported that he had to withdraw from the FIFA World Cup due to injuries sustained. Who is next? Keep your fingers crossed that your hero does not stumble and fall.
Is it that the greater the reputation the greater the shame?
Greatest shock of the 2014 World Cup
Then it happened!
The possibility for Brazil to lose to Germany was there. But who would expect Brazil to lose 1 to 7? The truth is more painful than a lie.
This could be the greatest shock of the 2014 World Cup. Better luck next time, Brazil!
The much expected glory had escaped Brazil's grasp. Only shock and shame remained. What a sad story! But the saddest story was that a young fan committed suicide as the result of Brazil's defeat.
Netherlands may have had the same hope of creating another shock by beating Argentina by a similar margin. But things did not work out that day. Netherlands lost in the penalty shoot out.
Argentina will meet Germany in the final.
Who will win and be crowned 2014 champion? We'll wait and see. It can go either way!
Meanwhile, Brazil did not get the third spot losing to Netherlands 0 to 3. Well, anything can happen. After all, the ball is round, not square
Germany won the 2014 FIFA World Cup
Germany scored against Argentina in extra time, making them world champion. Congratulation to Germany!
Now this is strange! Brazil celebrated Argentina's defeat. Pele also belittled Messi, saying he was still better than Messi. A well-known person like Pele should not have said anything like that.
Now the crucial stage has come! The knockout stage. Next emotion? Glory or shame!
Those teams who were kicked out earlier went home in shame. The heads of several managers had rolled. Some more may follow. The teams - including great teams - who did not make it to the knock out stage - were very disappointed indeed. Who won't?
But football like other sports is extremely unpredictable. Even the best team can fall at the first stage. Even footballing teams who managed to win a few World Cups are not assured of winning and progressing until the final game.
So it is with the World Cup 2014. Former champion Spain is out. England and Italy are out. Mexico and Chile are out. Some of the fans of some teams who lost mocked their teams.
Which team is next next to go?
Finding Scapegoats
Teams that fail to progress and are licking their wounds will ask a lot of questions. Some may try to look for scapegoats, whether players, coaches or managers.
The blame game is not healthy. It does not solve anything. Teams may even deteriorate further.
It is better to ask hard questions as to what had been their weaknesses and the mistakes they could have avoided. They could also examine how their opponents managed to score against their team.
Of course, when it becomes very apparent that the manager made a bad decision that cost the team dearly, then it is high time for the manager to tender his resignation.
Eight Teams, Four Teams Each from Two Continents
The number of teams that made it to knockout stage are evenly distributed between the Americas and Europe.
Which teams will not make it to the semi-finals? Things are getting tougher. The pressure will be almost unbearable, lesser on some, more on others.
Losing will be more painful. This is so since they are nearer to the final.
But teams have to concentrate, to focus on the next game, not on the final game. Let the final game remain in the future for the time being. Teams cannot afford to get distracted by anything else. The objective is to win the next game. If not, they don't proceed to the next level.
Players with something to prove
Some players are expected to prove their greatness. The media is constantly breathing on the neck of Messi. It is field day for them during this World Cup. Some commentators even go so far as to say that Messi is not as good as Pele or Maradona.
Neymar of Brazil is another who is expected to prove something. Brazil has the advantage of being the host country for the 2014 World Cup. Brazil is expected to win. But things are not as straight forward as that. Even the mighty Brazilians can fall, shooting themselves on the foot.
Let us wait and see. Meanwhile, hurray to the teams that made it to the knockout stage. Who will bathe in glory? Who will go home in shame?
Read about the winning combination.
Hopes unfulfilled
There are many good players who want to demonstrate to the whole world that they have extraordinary skills. But excellent personal skills may not be enough for teams to keep winning. Members of the team need to click perfectly. If not, great names in football will return home with hope unfulfilled.
Neymar is the most recent victim of this unfulfilled hope. It was reported that he had to withdraw from the FIFA World Cup due to injuries sustained. Who is next? Keep your fingers crossed that your hero does not stumble and fall.
Is it that the greater the reputation the greater the shame?
Greatest shock of the 2014 World Cup
Then it happened!
The possibility for Brazil to lose to Germany was there. But who would expect Brazil to lose 1 to 7? The truth is more painful than a lie.
This could be the greatest shock of the 2014 World Cup. Better luck next time, Brazil!
The much expected glory had escaped Brazil's grasp. Only shock and shame remained. What a sad story! But the saddest story was that a young fan committed suicide as the result of Brazil's defeat.
Netherlands may have had the same hope of creating another shock by beating Argentina by a similar margin. But things did not work out that day. Netherlands lost in the penalty shoot out.
Argentina will meet Germany in the final.
Who will win and be crowned 2014 champion? We'll wait and see. It can go either way!
Meanwhile, Brazil did not get the third spot losing to Netherlands 0 to 3. Well, anything can happen. After all, the ball is round, not square
Germany won the 2014 FIFA World Cup
Germany scored against Argentina in extra time, making them world champion. Congratulation to Germany!
Now this is strange! Brazil celebrated Argentina's defeat. Pele also belittled Messi, saying he was still better than Messi. A well-known person like Pele should not have said anything like that.
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