SPORTS: Football - Memories of the Oranje

As a short intro., most who know me already know how much I love football (soccer) and how much I love the Oranje Dutch National team.

Here are some links that I can share about the sweetest memories of my favorite team:


When we won EURO 1988:
http://www.euro2004.com/history/Year=1988/

Final match against the USSR:
http://www.euro2004.com/History/Year=1988/round=210/Match=22/index.html


When we lost in World Cup 1978 Final:
http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~goldkeep/Holland78/Argntna.htm
..... So Argentina were crowned World Champions, and the party began in the streets of Buenos Aires, but few outside the country celebrated with them. Would they have won the World Cup had it not been held in their own country? Some commentators have asserted they wouldn't have got past Hungary, France and Italy in the first phase, let alone overcome Holland, had the competition been held in Europe, or refereed with a bit more steadfastness. As for Holland, Jongbloed and Suurbier would not play international football again, nor would Rijsbergen, injured against Scotland. But their team had again done the nation proud, and written another glorious chapter in the history of the game. Again, their "failure" would perhaps become more legendary than winning the World Cup could have been. Whatever, they had given the world some more great memories. Thanks.


When we lost in World Cup 1974 Final:
http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~goldkeep/Holland74/WGermany.htm
..... Holland, the team, had lost the Final to West Germany, because the Germans, on the day, had scored more goals, it's that simple. What's clear, to me anyway, is that, even in defeat, they had written their name large in the annals of football legend. The game's over, it can never be replayed; the Dutch team of 1974 will never get another chance to win the World Cup, but, as long as the game is played on this earth, it will never be forgotten.


Between 1988 and 2004, we have reached quarter and semi final in some World Cup and EURO tournaments; most recent one semi final in EURO 2004 Portugal. We have lost in penalty kicks several times (4 major tournaments in a row EURO 2000, World Cup 1998, EURO 1996 and EURO 1992) before we won penalty kicks against Sweden in the quarter final of EURO 2004.

As I'm updating this, Marco Van Basten - whom most know as the scorer of the most spectacular goal in EURO 1988 against the USSR - and the former AC Milan legend, has taken over the position of the national head coach team from Dick Advocaat. I have high hopes for Van Basten and look forward to trophy from major tournaments.

The immediate task would be World Cup 2006, how sweet will it be if we can win it all in Germany?


--H

POLITICS: US Presidential Election

Contrary to other bloggers (I think), I actually prefer to listen/read more than to talk/write.

This is one subject that I'm very curious to read about.

Basically, I'd appreciate if you can state where you reside, your citizenship, how much are you following (or not following) the US Presidential Election this or any other previous year, and why?

I will surely try my best to respond, of course.


--H
"We're One But We're Not the Same"

PERSONAL: Friends of - - H's BLOGs

Here are some of buddies of mine who have already stamped their existence in blogoshphere.

Strangely enough, I met both of them through the Motley Fool discussion boards (eerrr, I have NOT physically met one of them, actually ... and another strangely, he is the one who lives close to me).

The Bowie-fan-space-midi music-geek-Moon:
http://moonagewebdream.blogspot.com/

The Software Engineer-fish-and-baseball-fan-what-a-bloody-good-writer-Fling:
http://fling93.com/blog/


CHEERS,
--H
"We're One But We're Not the Same"

PERSONAL: Blog-ing

Hi:

I used to post on the "Current Events" board at the Motley Fool discussion boards: http://boards.fool.com/Index.aspx

After slightly less than 3 years participating on that board, I decided to call it quits and create this blog site instead. The Motley Fool has probably the best-designed discussion boards separated by Investing and non-Investing topics of participants' choices. Some of its best features include: threaded/non-threaded views, favorite/ignored Fools (participants are addressed as "Fools" - with capital "F" - which I think is way cool), recommendations, crowns for highest-recommended ratio Fools, etc.

I still visit the Motley Fool's boards regularly; mostly on social-type and sports/movie-related boards - but since the boards and their posts technically belong to the Motley Fool, I thought I need some other medias where I can claim as my own space on the net.

Additionally, the Motley Fool also have a UK site and discussion boards.
You can find me posting regularly at this one over there, Land of Off Topic Board:
http://boards.fool.co.uk/Messages.asp?bid=50927

To those who are not yet too familiar with "Blog",

Definitions of "Blog":
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oi=defmore&q=define:Blog+--+(weB+LOG)

Blogger Help, on how to create and post at "Blogs":
http://help.blogger.com/

So here is the short intro. and feel free to comment.
Let me know if there is any certain subject of discussions that you want me to start here, easiest way is to just e-mail me at HedonistiX@yahoo.com, you can link articles/subjects you wish to start discussing plus your introductory comments, etc. and we'll take it from there.


CHEERS,
--H
"We're One But We're Not the Same"