Comments for The Hand of Dan

Comment on Game Six: v Godoy Cruz by Hernan Epelman

Hernan Epelman — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:41:03 +0000

It’s really too bad that growing up in a football country you don’t get the luxury of picking your team based on its philosophical characteristics. You’re too young and end up going with the team of a respected older figure. Your father’s team. Or maybe you rebel against and pick a favorite uncle’s team. Maybe it’s the team of a friend. Regardless, between 6 and 10 years old you make your irrational choice and then are stuck for life.

If you’re the respected older figure, the father, the cool uncle, think about the great responsibility you bear. Do you really want to inflict a life time of pain and disappointment on someone that admires you and yearns for your approval? Maybe for their benefit you can put away that Racing jersey during those crucial years and fake interest in a team that can win something more than once in a generation. And if you want to feel independent and root for a real underdog you can even pick Boca right now. They look really awful, but you know, it’s just a matter of time before they come back to the top.

PS: on Sunday I heard you on the radio here in California, reporting on the Chile quake. It always makes my day.

Comment on Game Two: v Banfield by Hernan Epelman

Hernan Epelman — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:09:05 +0000

Here’s an interesting article from The Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/feb/25/falklands-sovereignty-argentina-britain

I especially enjoy the comments below the article. I guess everyone feels pretty strongly about those wretched islands.

Comment on Game Four: v Newell’s Old Boys by Mark

Mark — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:43:32 +0000

Ha ha! “Elbow trauma” Love it Dan.
Cheers
Mark

Comment on Game Four: v Newell’s Old Boys by Hernan Epelman

Hernan Epelman — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:36:32 +0000

I always thought Argentinian drivers embody the “me first” philosophy. The same one they use to jump ahead of lines makes them ignore all sorts of traffic signals: lanes, stop signs, road direction, etc.

When I visit I spend my first driving day in horror, cursing at drivers that don’t really get what I’m getting upset about when they cut me off without warning, drift across lanes, etc. Then I relax and remember the golden rule of Buenos Aires driving: if the front tip of my car is 1 millimeter ahead of yours, I can do ANYTHING I want and you’ll just take it. It really works! You can cut people off, swerve without warning, etc, and nobody bats an eyelash. It’s just expected and a good way to exercise our already outstanding driving prowess.

I usually wonder how much fun it would be to unleash a set of US traffic cops in Buenos Aires and see what happens…

Comment on Game Three: v Lanus by swissmiss

swissmiss — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 13:08:38 +0000

I think you could be the Nick Hornby of Latin America. You write really well. Is this going to turn into a book and film?

A/ And you, Swissmiss, would have first offer as leading lady in the film

Comment on Game Three: v Lanus by wembley

wembley — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:29:54 +0000

Great blog. What’s the motive behind the collaboration/violence? Money I presume but how?

* The reasons are many. Free tickets and travel, sale of drugs on the terraces, food and drink concessions and even ownership of player contracts.

Comment on Summer Heat by Hernan

Hernan — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:19:58 +0000

Hilarious post! I especially enjoyed the link from the slow River players to the turtles enjoying themselves.

A simple way to distract from the heat? Watch some Spanish soccer. Real Madrid for the snow and Barsa for everything else. Yesterday Tenerife tried to nullify Barsa ala Estudiantes and failed miserably. Messi scored 3 goals, the third one a total beauty. I can’t say I’m missing Boca’s pitiful play quite yet. Of course, with Riquelme back in form everything is possible…

Comment on Summer Heat by Andreas

Andreas — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:00:55 +0000

Sorry but what you said about the portenios being paranoid so they buy dogs is not true. Please fo you don’t know about something, don’t talk bullshit.

Comment on Game Fifteen v Arsenal by Thomas Jones

Thomas Jones — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:17:58 +0000

Keep up the awesome work! Look forward to reading more from you in the future. I think it will be also nice if you add “send to email” tool so people can forward the articles to their friends easily.

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Comment on Intermission – for a small matter of life or death by RichBee

RichBee — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:39:02 +0000

I want to hear your view on the offside moment that was not spotted nor barely reported on that enabled Uruguay to qualify over the Ticos. And how about a piece on that swiss crack pot running the game. What a nutter.

I like the tit bit facts in your reporting Danny, nice work sir.