Sports Notes - Zico Leads Japan To World Cup? - Phil Jackson Returns To Lakers

Zico leads Japan to World Cup finals - NR/James Loving photo

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

 

Zico Leads Japan To World Cup. Who is Zico? - My Friend You!!! - FIFA On Racism - Phil Jackson Jumps Back Into The Lakes Frying Pan. Is This The Jeanie Buss Factor?

 

Wednesday June 8, 2005 - Update June 15, 2005

ZICO LEADS JAPAN TO WORLD CUP. WHO IS ZICO???

Who is Zico? I asked then Thailand national team (now coaching Indonesia) coach Peter Withe in 1999. I was curious why then Thai national team star Kiatisuk Senamuang was referred to as Kiatisuk 'Zico' Senamuang by the Thai media. Withe said Senamuang was named Zico for the former Brazilian star Zico. I never heard of him." I said.

With only two years of covering the MLS in the US I was oblivious to the background of international football… or as Americans call it…. soccer. (Please… let us bow our heads in prayer and forgive them.) I had seen International football greats Walter Zenga and Carlos Valaderama in the MLS during twilight of their careers but this Zico thing was all news to me.

Withe then gave me a brief rundown of the great Brazilian squads that felt they could give up goals and then beat you because they could score as many goals as they wanted. Withe said Zico was one of the great Brazilian players. I then contemplated the information and figured out that Zico was a great player but not Pele, not Maradona(I know he's not Brazilian), not Ronaldo, not Rivaldo but his own man with his own name and reputation…. ZICO

I then saw a football feature on TV with a segment on Zico. I was impressed but still wondered who ZICO was? I still didn't get it. I knew about Pele but this Zico…. NO… I DON'T KNOW. Then BANG!!!! Japan and their national coach Troussier Philippe Troussier go their separate ways. The word was Trousiere was tough on the players. The reality was he was gone.

With him went the fast breaking Japan style of rushing down the pitch with quick passes running four abreast at times and smashing in goals. They played an exciting brand of football that severed them well into the second round of the 2002 World Cup. Then the big news….. ZICO signs as Japan's national coach.

When Japan Football Association VP Junji Ogura visited the Cambodian Football Federation shortly after Zico's hiring I asked him why they hired Zico?

Japan players celebrate after 2-0 victory over North Korea - NR/James Loving photo Japan captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto addressed racism in post match ress conference following Japan's 2-0 victory over North Korea - NR/James Loving photo

He's a great football player. He came from good football stock was generally the reply. I wasn't familiar with Zico's coaching career so I continued to ask Why Zico?

The team started off slowly after Zico's arrival. Out went the fast break Troussier style of play and in came the more methodical. Victories were hard to come by at the outset. The team had to adjust to the Zico style of football.

On June 8th it all came to fruition as Japan defeated North Korea 2-0 at Bangkok's Supachalasai Stadium. FIFA scheduled the match there due to crowd trouble when fans rioted after March 30th in Pyongyang, North Korea in a game with Iran. The victory over North Korea qualified Japan for the World Cup finals in Germany next year.

The blood sweat and tears that Zico must have shed in the process was summed up in a post match press conference. He said he was proud of his players and that the team won 10 of 11 games on the way to the clincher.

"I'm pleased with the mental condition of my players. As they were mentally tough, they played good tactics,'' Zico added.

Now I know who ZICO is. He's the coach that led Japan to the World Cup finals competition in Germany 2006.

JAPAN IN CONFEDERATIONS CUP:

Japan represents Asia in the Confederations Cup in Germany. They face Mexico on June 16, European champions Greece June 19 and current World Cup champions Brazil on June 22. The finals will be played June 29.

FIFA AGAINST RACISM

Following Japan's 2-0 victory over North Korea JAPAN captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto addressed the media regarding FIFA's stand against racism.

IRONIC…. Thailand is cluttered with Thai owned nightclubs that state specifically in ENGLISH at the entrance of the premises that Japanese ONLY are permitted in the club. What is racism?

ACTION (Phil) JACKSON RETURNS TO COACH LAKERS

Yo!!! What's up? What's this world coming to? Phil Jackson has signed to return as the Los Angles Lakers coach.

At a press conference Jackson went on to inform the media that this was a story about redemption, this was a story about reconciliation etc. Sorry Phil… I think this is a story about Lakers owner's daughter Jeanie Buss who has been the love of Jackson's life for some time. This must be the Jeanie Buss FACTOR

It is doubtful that Kobe Bryant and Jackson can coexist after Jackson blasted Bryant in his tell-all book. The team is not good. They are more than a point guard away from returning to respectable winning squad. But this return of Jackson.... Hmmmmm!!!

Jackson had a more promising offer to coach LaBron James and a promising young Cleveland Cavaliers team. He turned it down.

He said the return to the Lakers is not about the money. Question??? What does Jeanie Buss have? She won the Miss Pacific Palisades contest over 25-years ago? This must be the Jeanie Buss FACTOR.

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