There was a pensive look on Lionel Messi's face when he arrived in Brazil for the World Cup. The question is was it football related or personal - FIFA photo

There's no turning back as the recently injured Cristiano Ronaldo arrives in Brazil for the World Cup - FIFA photo

Phil Jackson's new role as president of the Knicks is convincing their star player Carmelo Anthony to stay and not opt out of his contract - Keith Allison photo

New Your Knicks President Phil Jackson started his claim to fame on his way to winning 11 NBA titles as a coach first with Michael Jordan. The pair teamed up to fine tuned the Chicago Bulls to win two three-peat titles - Steve Lipofsky www.Basketballphoto.com photo

SPORTS NOTES - FIFA & the NBA are in TURMOIL

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

If it's woes you're looking for LOOK HERE! - These past few months have been trying from the Brazilian people who are in conflict with having moneys funded for World Cup venues and infrastructure & not on them, resulting in riots - The NBA's Donald Sterling blurts out racist remarks and is banned from the league for life and forced to sell the team - FIFA President Sepp Blatter utters Macarthur's famous words and says he WILL RETURN for a 5th election which some interpret as a threat - The world's two best football players Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo can't win the World Cup

Thursday, June 12, 2014

FIRE AWAY!!!

Both the NBA and FIFA are in turmoil at a critical time during their seasons. Controversy regarding the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling's racist remarks about black people that took away from the franchises most successful season in its history has been a hot topic for months. The result being the Sterling has been forced by the league to sell the team and is banned for life from the NBA.

FIFA has its own problems with corruption charges regarding Qatar winning the bid for the 2022 World Cup that is now being charged that corruption played a part in their being selected to host the games.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter reversed his promise that he would step down and now states he will run for a fifth term. The 78-year-old has been in power for 16 years when he took the office in 1998. This alarms many of the Western confederations who have money who are concerned that his administration is rife with corruption. The poorer confederations governing Africa and Asia are said to be in favor of Blatter making another repeat as the man in charge as they have benefiting from his presence.

This has played out following the ongoing problems and conflicts this past year from Brazil citizens that feel the money should NOT have been spent building stadiums and infrastructure for the World Cup and could have been put to a better use by investing that money in its people. The riots and conflicts that have evolved is another tainted blow for the Blatter administration.

Two of the world's best players are under the gun and under pressure to produce for their countries and earn their first title as a member of a World Cup winning team. Argentina's Lionel Messi has been under pressure with personal and health matters. When he arrived in Brazil he had a very pensive look on his face when he exited the airplane.

Much of the concern is regarding his vomiting before or during games. His father claims that there is nothing to worry about. It is believed that stress and pressure have something to do with the problem. There is no doubt that the World Cup is a pressure event which raises the questions how will Messi handle it and will he be productive?

Argentina is one of the favorites to win this year. They have been to the finals four times winning twice in 1978 and 1986. In their last title winning appearance in 1986 they defeated West Germany 3-2 in Mexico City. Argentina has the distinction of being in the final of the first World Cup but losing 4-2 to Uruguay in 1930 event held in Montevideo, Uruguay.

They are fourth on the list of having the most World Cup appearances trailing Brazil (7), Italy (6) and Germany (7). Although Brazil and Germany both have 7 appearances Brazil is the most productive with 5 titles to their credit as well as finishing runner-up twice.

On the personal side Spanish police are still investigating the "Messi & Friends" exhibition games played during recent summers for potential tax fraud. The publication El Mundo that Messi Senior would be called to testify in court regarding the use of such games to launder drug money.

Argentina is in Group F with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nigeria and Iran. On the surface it appears that they should move on to the next round, the question is can Messi overcome the controversy surrounding him and focus on football to help his squad to World Cup success? Their first test will be June 15, 2014 against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, FIFA's best player of the year after winning the Ballon d'Or Award, has knee and thigh problems. He has yet to do well in the World Cup competition.

Portugal is in Group F with Germany, Ghana and the United States. On the surface this group appears to be tougher than F with Ghana and Germany possessing strong squads. Ronaldo doesn't sound very confident as he was resigned to saying the he hopes to be on a World Cup winning squad during his career but failed to endorse that happening this year. In the squad's history they have never made it to a Word Cup Final match.

NBA - CAN PHIL JACKSON GET THE KNICKS TO TICK?

The Beatles sang it and the New York Kicks President Phil Jackson is living it. As the song goes, "It don't come easy." Since taking the helm of the Knicks Jackson has found that the NBA business is a tough one. He found no loyalty from Steve Kerr who opted to take an offer to coach the Golden State Warriors and not work for his former coach with the Chicago Bulls where they won three NBA tittles together. What factored into Kerr's decision was he wanted to be closer to his young family who live in California.

No worries for Jackson as he dismissed it as a business decision. Jackson moved on to his second choice Derek Fisher who won 5 NBA titles with Jackson was an LA Lakers player. The Zen Man prefers to work with someone he can mold and is familiar with the triangle offense. With that requirement, Fisher qualifies.

Although Fisher has no experience as a coach Jason Kidd set a precedent in making a seamless transition with no experience moving from player to coach and being successful in guiding his New Jersey Nets to the playoffs in his first season with an aging squad.

The next scenario plays into Jackson's new role as president of the Knicks is convincing their star player Carmelo Anthony to stay and not opt out of his contract. Sources say Jackson continues to urge Anthony to opt into next season's $23.3 million and put off unrestricted free agency for one more year.

Anthony is a super talent with a massive ego which is something Jackson is good at in massaging the egos of his former Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers mega stars. The problem is that Anthony is at 30 aging and anxious about being on a title winning team.

The Miami heat are clouding the issue in making overtures to the star and letting them know that they want him to join LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in forming a Big Four. Heat President Pat Riley would have to convince Bosh, James and Wade to restructure their contracts for the offer to be made. James and Anthony are friends and have always entertained the idea of playing in the NBA together. The two have been teammates on the US Olympic squad.

The flip side is Jackson is trying to counter with presenting the idea to Anthony of obtaining James from the Heat to join the Knicks. It all boils down to what is more convincing to Anthony that being joining a team with three superstars and two NBA tiles under their belt and a 3rd on the line that have played together for four seasons or be involved with a team in decline that must rebuild and doesn't have a 1st round draft choice for two years.

Should these scenarios play out all things aren't equal and Jackson will be in for a tougher job than one would want. Anthony has until June 23rd one week before the start of free agency to make his decision to move on or tough it out. The Heat are the NBA's first team to reach four consecutive NBA Finals since the Boston Celtics from 1984 to 1987 and are trying to become just the fourth franchise in league history -- along with the Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers and Bulls -- to complete a three-peat. If you had the choice which would you decide? Stay tuned...

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