To my precious one

A dear friend wrote to me

اردشیر عزیزم

به شدت و خیلی به طرز خفنی از شنیدن خبر و دیدن عکس این موجود کوچک و نارنین خوشحال شدم. ان شاء الله که چشم بنده کف پای بانو کلاریس! حتما کار خوبی کرده اید که چنین گنجشک لطیفی نصیبتان شده چون شاعر می فرماید تو نیکی می کن و در دجله انداز، که ایزد در بیابانت دهد باز. این همان است که ایزد باز داده. می دانم که شما و خانواده به واسطه خبط سهم داشتن در تالیف قانون اساسی جمهوری اسلامی هر روز بر پشت دست می زنید و افسوس می خورید و آه می کشید، اما به دنیا آمدن همین طفل زیبا نشان از آن دارد که ظاهرا نیت همان کار هم خیر بوده و البته که نیت بر هر چیزی مقدم است. امیدوارم که طبق سنت ذکری چیزی در گوش بچه نگفته باشید؛ اگر خواستید بگویید به نیابت از بنده دو سه خطی ژیژک (همان Zizek خودمان) برایش بخوانید برای آتیه اش خوب است. فقط زنهار می دهم که مبادا چامسکی بخوانید ها! بچه چپی می شود، از فردا راه می افتد در کوچه و خیابان می خواهد در هر اعتصاب و راهپیمایی کارگری شرکت کند یا اینکه برود سوار کشتی های کمک رسانی به غزه بشود، حالا بیا و درستش کن. کشتی هم که هزار ماشاء الله کم نیست در این دوره و زمانه، سوار کدام کشتی بشود فقط خدا می داند. بدینوسیله به شما و بانو (که وجودشان تا پیش از این کاغذی که مرقوم فرموده بودید بر ما پوشیده مانده بود) تبریک می گوییم (خودمان یک نفری) و آرزوی صحت و عافیت برای هر سه شما، نوگلان باغ نبوت. باشد که این دختر ژان دارکی چیزی بشود و قومی را از عذاب نجات دهد. نگران این که "کدام قوم؟" هم نباشید؛ الحمدلله چیزی که در این دنیا زیاد است، قوم در عذاب. من باب تاکید و محض اطمینان عرض می کنم که اصلا این کتب ضاله چامسکی و امثالهم را اصلا منتقل کنید به پستو. دم دست بچه هم نباشند بهتر است؛ باعث فساد می شوند. اصلا چرا برویم سراغ فرنگی؟ یک جلد دایی جان ناپلئون و یک جلد هم "چنین کنند بزرگان" نجف خان دریابندری بالای سر بچه باشد، ان شاء الله که آسیبی به ذهنیاتش وارد نمی شود. زیاده گویی کردم، ببخشید. روی ماهت را می بوسم از دور، کلاریس و بانو را سلام برسان. به امید دیدار محمد تقی خان پسیان سوم حوت سنه 1289 شمسی

Clarice

After about 9 months of impatient wait, my little daughter was born on July the 22nd at 21:09. I really don't know how to explain my feelings as all has been mixed up to large extent. All I know is that I was drained emotionally during the labor which took some difficult time but that has been transformed to exuberant joy and astonishment. I really don't know what has happened and where does it come from but I feel an immense and unheard of amount love for this little one and that is somehow uncanny! Feels like the 'love' switch was turned on all of a sudden and it will never ever be turned off again. Finally, I have to say that I will bow humbly to my wife for not only doing a fantastic and beyond-imagination job but also for giving me this amazing gift and above all, the gift of never ending love. Words can't possibly express my gratitude to her.

Here's a song for my precious one:
Lyrics by Prince

"Could you be the most beautiful girl in the world?
It's plain to see you're the reason that God made a girl

When the day turns into the last day of all time
I can say I hope you are in these arms of mine
And when the night falls before that day I will cry
I will cry tears of joy cuz after you all one can do is die

Could you be the most beautiful girl in the world?
Could you be?
It's plain to see you're the reason that God made a girl
Oh, yes you are

How can I get through days when I can't get through hours?
I can try but when I do I see you and I'm devoured, oh yes
Who'd allow, who'd allow a face to be soft as a flower?
I could bow (bow down) and feel proud in the light of this power
Oh yes, oh

Could you be the most beautiful girl in the world?
Could you be?
It's plain to see you're the reason that God made a girl
Oh, yes you are

And if the stars ever fell one by one from the sky
I know Mars could not be, uh, too far behind
Cuz baby, this kind of beauty has got no reason to ever be shy
Cuz honey, this kind of beauty is the kind that comes from inside

Could you be the most beautiful girl in the world?
So beautiful, beautiful
It's plain to see you're the reason that God made a girl"

Last push

"I know there's something going on
I know there's something going on
I know it won't be long
Won't be long before you're [come]

There's something going on
There's something going on..."

Final notes on WC

Now that the WC hype has settled for about a week, while some are facing the post cup depression possibly due to heartbreak failures, one can look back and review the event more sensibly. Inspired by SI writers, here are my high and lows of this cup:

1. SA scoring an amazing goal in the opener and adds even more hype to the already popular "Bafana Bafana", a eye dazzling start for world cup and the goals to come.

2. Jabulani ball made by Adidas and all the keeper gaffs, the most notable one by Robert Green who handled the draw to US and put England team in more turmoil. Fifa (Blatter?) pigheadedly stuck with the highly criticized ball (simply due to hefty mafiosi deals between Adidas and FIFA according to me!) and created more controversy for the authorities.

3. The annoying, never ending sounds of vuvuzelas.

4. Switzerland upsets the European and would be champions in the opener.

5. Maradona show on the side line was quite a sight.

6. Portugal pours 7-0 on North Korea, I felt really sorry for all the Koreans who watched this game live on TV, one of a few games that were broadcast live in the history of that nation.

7. France: Disgrace and controversy all the way.

8. USA goal wrongly disallowed as they were on their way to become the first team ever to come from 2-0 behind.

9. New Zealand does not lose for the fist time ever.

10. US advances dramatically in the injury time.

11. Defending champions Italy crash out with 2 draws and one loss.

12. England denied an obvious goal in crucial match vs. Germany which could have impacted the flow of the knock-out stage encounter.

13. Argentina scores an offside goal vs. Mexico.

14. Brazil goes down in quarters vs. Netherlands while leading the first half by 1-0.

15. Ghana were handed a penalty at the last minute of extra time as Suarez stopped the ball on the line with his hands. Ghana misses the penalty and they crash out in the shoot-out, drowning the hopes of a continent.

16. Germany thrashes Argentina 4-0 at quarterfinals, Saint Diego just watched the game with his arms crossed and his face frowned.

17. Uruguay lose 2-3 in the battle for the 3rd place to Germany, Forlan's spot kick hits the cross bar in the last seconds of the game.

17. Yet another all European final.

18. The Dutch, the only team to have won all its games, put on a massive display of acting throughout the tournament.

19. Andres Iniesta scores with 4 minutes left in extra time and Spain became the champions for the first time ever.

20. On a personal note: I watched a couple of reportages from SA which aim to show the other sides of the country while all the focus has been shifted to the football event. In one of them, the reporter went to an orphanage outside Johannesburg. There were many lively African kids in there from different ages, some were very young and some interviews were conducted with the people in charge of that place and some children as well. A 4 year old boy was interviewed and he spoke for a few minutes on his love of football and etc. He was beautiful, loving and innocent with no parents and presumably no future. He stole my heart badly and I deeply wished, from bottom of my heart, that I could take him into my custody and be his father. Not because I felt sorry for him and many others who were there and I want to patronize them. No, I just fell in love with that boy...pure! That boy's name was 'Prince'.

Spain: 2010 FIFA World Cup Champoins

The exciting final took place last Sunday and Spain deservedly became the champion for the first time...just one of a few occasions that football proved to be fair game. Once again, I leave to the words of my favorite experts on the final:

Alan Hansen
BBC pundit on Match of the Day
Anyone with the best interests of football at heart would have been overjoyed to see Spain beat the Netherlands to lift the World Cup.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on Match of the Day
Not only were Spain easily the best team on the night, but they were also without question the best team in the entire World Cup.

Lee Dixon
Former England defender on Match of the Day

You have to put a performance on at this stage in the tournament but it was probably the worst defensive team performance I've seen. Quite frankly we were awful and we got ripped to pieces.

Graham Taylor
Former England manager on BBC Radio 5 live

Right from the start there was only one team who really wanted to win this match and that was Spain. So their victory over the Netherlands was a victory for football.

Mike Ingham
BBC chief football correspondent
The good news is that Spain are the champions and worthy champions, but the bad news is the biggest match in the world was soiled and stained and betrayed by the Netherlands.

Clarence Seedorf
Former Netherlands international on Match of the Day
I'm bitterly disappointed for the Netherlands but, based on the 30 minutes of extra time, Spain were the worthy winners.

Chris Waddle
Former England winger on BBC Radio 5 live

You associate beautiful football with the Netherlands and that was the first time I have ever seen them play like that.

A sign in SF

Welcome Roy!

I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome our new LFC manager Mr. Roy Hodgson who deservedly became the manager of the year after earning the respect of the likes of Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. I leave it to the extract from Phil McNulty's blog on this:

Hodgson perfect for Liverpool

As Roy Hodgson attempted to give his nomadic career new direction with a spell in the United Arab Emirates earlier this decade, the notion of Liverpool and England fighting for his services seemed a distant prospect. And yet, while Liverpool close in on Hodgson as Rafael Benitez's successor and the Football Association debates Fabio Capello's future as England coach, the 62-year-old Londoner has emerged as the prime candidate for two of the biggest posts in football.

Hodgson, barring a late FA intervention, is expected to be confirmed as Liverpool boss in the next 48 hours, mainly as a result of his outstanding work at Fulham, where a rescue from relegation months after his appointments in December 2007 was followed by a dream run to last season's Europa League final. Fulham's defeat by Atletico Madrid looks to have been his farewell to the banks of the Thames as he now prepares to move to Merseyside.

And while Hodgson's arrival may get a muted response in some quarters, Liverpool's current reality makes him the perfect appointment. There may be disquiet among some Liverpoopl fans that the romantic option of Kenny Dalglish's return has not been explored, particularly after one of Anfield's iconic figures made it clear he wanted to resume the job he left in 1991.

Hodgson and Dalglish have been friends from the days when Liverpool used to warm up for title-winning campaigns by playing Hodgson's Malmö side in Sweden, so the suggestion the Scot will sulk in the background as some laign influence after missing out is unlikely.

It has been a long road from Carshalton Athletic to Anfield for Hodgson, taking in Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Finland and the UAE - plus a spell at Blackburn Rovers - before reviving Fulham. He may not be the stellar name many on the Kop will have wanted when Benitez ended his six-year reign earlier in June, but Liverpool's reduced circumstances call for the sort of common sense management Hodgson can apply. The Reds can offer any manager a rich history but what they cannot put on the table is Champions League football or vast riches to rebuild a troubled team. The idea someone of Jose Mourinho's status may have been tempted to Liverpool originated in dreamland, even before the former Chelsea manager won the Champions League at Inter Milan and moved to Real Madrid.

Boring as it might sound to some, Liverpool need a pair of safe hands that will restore dignity and credibility to Anfield after times of turbulence on and off the field.

Hodgson is a deep thinker about football and other things besides, as an avid reader of Milan Kundera, John Updike and Philip Roth. Liverpool will hope he can apply the intelligence gleaned throughout a long career to rebuild one of the fallen giants of the game. A close study of his work at Craven Cottage confirms he fulfils all requirements at Liverpool.

There are other facets of Hodgson's character that will have appealed to Liverpool's power brokers as they drew up their shortlist. If he had any difficulties behind the scenes with Fulham's flamboyant chairman Mohamed Al-Fayed, he never chose to air them in public. In contrast, Benitez's tiresome politicking added to Anfield's instability at a time when there was more than enough to go around.

Hodgson will arrive at a delicate period for Liverpool, with the search for new owners ongoing and yet to bear fruit, leaving the dysfunctional tenure of Tom Hicks and George Gillett still in place. As someone with vast experience, Hodgson will know the obstacles that may await him at Anfield but his measured approach will suit the situation. And, crucially in Liverpool's financial state, Hodgson has shown a sure touch when working the markets without the aid of a plentiful budget and without complaint.

He mastered the art of renewing careers at Fulham, with Murphy, Damien Duff, Zoltan Gera and Bobby Zamora prime examples. Hodgson's eye for a bargain enabled him to sign Brede Hangeland relatively cheaply and turn him into one of the most coveted defenders in the Premier League.

Hodgson consoles his players after Fulham's defeat in the Europa League final. Photo: Getty

He has earned huge respect - and not only from those inside football. When Fulham beat Hamburg to reach the Europa League final, his arrival at his after-match press conference was greeted with the rare accolade of spontaneous applause from assembled journalists, such was the scale of his achievement. And Liverpool will embrace Hodgson's ability to do his job without fuss and fanfare, just like old times at Anfield.

One of my abiding memories of last season was watching Hodgson stroll across Craven Cottage with his hand in his pocket as the old place went crazy after the victory over Hamburg. He navigated his way through the throng of players, celebrating or otherwise, lying on the turf, stopping only to console Hamburg's stars on his way off. He will work with a small backroom staff, which Liverpool's hierarchy will find a refreshing change from the entire community that appeared to have been assembled by Benitez in his latter days at Anfield.

When Hodgson is appointed, he will need to work quickly to make changes to his squad. Fernando Torres and Steven Gerard are seen as easy targets, with Liverpool lacking in financial resources and the appeal of the Champions League. Persuading them to stay will be top of his list of priorities - or, if not, ensuring the best deal is done to allow him to fashion a new-look team to prepare for life without them.

Liverpool's hierarchy have been lampooned with relish amid their recent traumas but they have restored a measure of their tattered reputation with the swiftness of Benitez's departure and the good sense shown by installing Hodgson.

It ranks alongside Inter Milan as the biggest job in Hodgson's career - but his work at Fulham alone suggests he is up to the task.

With you I shall leave

"Con te partirò
Paesi che non ho mai
veduto e vissuto con te,
adesso sì li vivrò.
Con te partirò
su navi per mari
che, io lo so,
no, no, non esistono più..."


Words by Lucio Quarantotto.