28 March 2011
How to Speak Well and Confidently
Are you very shy when it comes to new surroundings, such as starting a new class or moving to a new area? Sometimes, it is necessary to overcome your shyness and speak confidently. By doing this, it can help you not only to share your ideas properly to others, but also to learn communicating with others. Here are a few steps to consider when speaking with confidence.
Steps
- Learn how to have conversations with people. Your ideas or opinions may not always be accepted by others, but this is nothing unusual. Open your mouth, express your beliefs! This will improve your courage.
- Don’t be afraid and speak loudly. If you speak in a low voice, not only will others not be able to hear what you say, but you will also portray a submissive demeanor, which suggests the opposite of a confident one.
- Make eye contact when you speak. For one thing, it is polite for others. Also, eye contact will help others to listen to your thinking carefully.
- Praise yourself everyday! This will promote your own confidence, which is important when you speak. With more confidence, people will take your thinking more seriously.
Tips
- Don’t be nervous when you make mistakes. Human error is far from being a new concept — nobody is perfect! It is normal for everyone to make mistakes. Just calm down and keep speaking bravely.
- Try and try again! This may be difficult for a shy person at first, but you need to force yourself to speak, and not seclude your thoughts. If you have some ideas, then try to speak out! Don’t just keep them in your head.
- If you have self confidence issues, try to think that you are the only one who has sound knowledge about the topic. Then go ahead and impart your knowledge to the audience in an effective way.
- Remember that there is a fine line between confidence and arrogance. Don’t portray an exaggerated amount of confidence, or you will come off as arrogant, believing that your ideas are better than the ideas of everyone else.
27 March 2011
INCREDIBLE JAPAN - 10 LESSONS TO LEARN FROM A GRIEVING BUT GREAT NATION!
1. THE CALM!
Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.
2. THE DIGNITY!
Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.
3. THE ABILITY!
The incredible architects, for instance. Many Buildings swayed but didn't fall.
4. THE GRACE!
People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.
5. THE ORDER!
No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.
6. THE SACRIFICE!
Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?
7. THE TENDERNESS!
Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.
8. THE TRAINING!
The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.
9. THE MEDIA!
They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.
10. THE CONSCIENCE!
When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly.
Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.
2. THE DIGNITY!
Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.
3. THE ABILITY!
The incredible architects, for instance. Many Buildings swayed but didn't fall.
4. THE GRACE!
People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.
5. THE ORDER!
No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.
6. THE SACRIFICE!
Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?
7. THE TENDERNESS!
Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.
8. THE TRAINING!
The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.
9. THE MEDIA!
They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.
10. THE CONSCIENCE!
When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly.
LET'S ALL SALUTE THE SPIRIT OF JAPAN AND HER PEOPLE! THEY ARE IN OUR PRAYERS!
INCREDIBLE JAPAN - 10 LESSONS TO LEARN FROM A GRIEVING BUT GREAT NATION!
1. THE CALM!
Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.
2. THE DIGNITY!
Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.
3. THE ABILITY!
The incredible architects, for instance. Many Buildings swayed but didn't fall.
4. THE GRACE!
People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.
5. THE ORDER!
No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.
6. THE SACRIFICE!
Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?
7. THE TENDERNESS!
Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.
8. THE TRAINING!
The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.
9. THE MEDIA!
They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.
10. THE CONSCIENCE!
When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly.
Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.
2. THE DIGNITY!
Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.
3. THE ABILITY!
The incredible architects, for instance. Many Buildings swayed but didn't fall.
4. THE GRACE!
People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.
5. THE ORDER!
No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.
6. THE SACRIFICE!
Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?
7. THE TENDERNESS!
Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.
8. THE TRAINING!
The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.
9. THE MEDIA!
They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.
10. THE CONSCIENCE!
When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly.
LET'S ALL SALUTE THE SPIRIT OF JAPAN AND HER PEOPLE! THEY ARE IN OUR PRAYERS!
Somethings not to do
Don't attempt to run from the past, it is always behind you.
Don't be afraid of opposition; Remember a kite rises against, not with the wind.
Don't be afraid of tomorrow, for God has already been there.
Don't be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.
Don't be angry at a friend who told your secret, for neither could you keep it to yourself
Don't be concerned others not appreciating you. Be concerned about your not appreciating others (Confucius).
Don't be irreplaceable -- if you can't be replaced, you won't be promoted.
Don't be so Heavenly minded that you do no earthly good.
Don't control, be in control.
Don't count the days, make the days count. (Mohammed Ali)
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.
Don't ever slam a door- you may want to go back.
Don't fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things.
The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have,might have, and should have.
(Louis E. Boone)
Don't get good at doing something if you don't like doing it.
Don't get married only because of the money. You can borrow it cheaper.
Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.
Don't just get something out of church, put something into it.
Don't kill the dream - execute it!
Don't learn the tricks of the trade, learn the trade.
Don't let anybody walk through your mind with dirty feet. (Gandhi)
Don't let people drive you crazy when it is within walking distance.
Don't let time take control of your destiny.Let your destiny take control of your time.
(Ulrick Ricardo Milord)
Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
(John Wooden)
Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future.
Don't limit your challenges - challenge your limits.
Don't listen to what I say; listen to what I mean.
Don't love the things! you own, lest they own you.
Don't measure your life by how many breaths you take, measure it by how many times you get
your breath taken away.
Don't pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger people.
Don't be afraid of opposition; Remember a kite rises against, not with the wind.
Don't be afraid of tomorrow, for God has already been there.
Don't be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.
Don't be angry at a friend who told your secret, for neither could you keep it to yourself
Don't be concerned others not appreciating you. Be concerned about your not appreciating others (Confucius).
Don't be irreplaceable -- if you can't be replaced, you won't be promoted.
Don't be so Heavenly minded that you do no earthly good.
Don't control, be in control.
Don't count the days, make the days count. (Mohammed Ali)
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.
Don't ever slam a door- you may want to go back.
Don't fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things.
The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have,might have, and should have.
(Louis E. Boone)
Don't get good at doing something if you don't like doing it.
Don't get married only because of the money. You can borrow it cheaper.
Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.
Don't just get something out of church, put something into it.
Don't kill the dream - execute it!
Don't learn the tricks of the trade, learn the trade.
Don't let anybody walk through your mind with dirty feet. (Gandhi)
Don't let people drive you crazy when it is within walking distance.
Don't let time take control of your destiny.Let your destiny take control of your time.
(Ulrick Ricardo Milord)
Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
(John Wooden)
Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future.
Don't limit your challenges - challenge your limits.
Don't listen to what I say; listen to what I mean.
Don't love the things! you own, lest they own you.
Don't measure your life by how many breaths you take, measure it by how many times you get
your breath taken away.
Don't pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger people.
indian cricket team : joke
Really Good one!!!!
There was a couple married for quite some time and they had a boy some 5-6 years old. The relationship b/w the couple was turning sour.
There was a couple married for quite some time and they had a boy some 5-6 years old. The relationship b/w the couple was turning sour.
So finally it reached such a stage that they thought it was better for them to be divorced than carry on such a relationship.
So they consulted a lawyer. But the big question was who would have the kid. In the hearing in the court. It was decided that this choice should be left on the kid. So the judge asked "Son, would you like to stay with your mummy?"
Kid said,"No, mummy beats me" :(( So the judge asked "Then, would you like to stay with your papa then ?" Kid said, "No, papa beats me" :(( Now the judge was in a dilemma and was not able to decide what to do... after pondering for some time he smiled with the ideas he had in his mind about the child......
And he gave the judgment that the kid would stay with......
any guesses????????
come on I know you can make it......
ok here goes the answer
The kid would stay with the Indian Cricket Team because they
NEVER BEAT ANYBODY!!
20 March 2011
Sharks: Cruise Missiles of the Deep
They are perfect, relentless and always hungry. They never sleep and prowl the seas like nuclear-powered torpedoes. That would be a pretty bad rap for anybody, even though few sharks would attack a human without being provoked. Scientists claim that sharks kill without ill will or premeditation and thus cannot be labeled 'malicious'.
(Click to View More!)
Great White (and Smirking) Killing Machine
These guys hang around the shores of South Australia, South Africa and often approach divers with a friendly nuzzle and a line "Are you talking to me?" -
(image credit: Sue Hickton)
Such images lend themselves very well to Photoshop:
These sharks have reputation as vicious predators, yet they are not unsystematic "eating machines". They attack from below in order to investigate what is floating on the surface.
(image via)
(image via)
(image credit: David Doubilet, National Geographic)
Great white sharks not only swim, they FLY!
See more pictures of the amazing hunt of great white sharks for seals in False Bay here.
(image credit: Eric Cheng)
This is definitely going to increase your confidence at sea: the enormous monster breaching the waves and flying at you with bloody dripping jaws. OK, it may not happen with such vivid color, but still....
(image credit: Lars-Gunnar Svard)
The Tiger shark is the fourth largest predatory shark. This shark is a solitary hunter, usually hunting at night. Its name is derivative from the dark stripes down its body, which grow fainter as the shark matures. It is infamous for attacks on swimmers, divers and surfers in Hawaii and is often referred to as "the wastebasket of the sea".
(image credit: Lars Kirchhoff)
Make way! The Boss is coming -
(image credit: Christie Fisher)
The tiger shark with a little "afternoon snack" -
(image credit: Christie Fisher)
Bull sharks often cruise through shallow waters and can suddenly burst into speed and can be highly aggressive. They are extremely territorial and will attack other animals and humans that enter their territory. Bull sharks are among the four species considered to be most dangerous to humans.
(images by wiki and Joe)
Here is a bit more aggressive photography:
(images via)
The first image shows the Shortfin Mako shark, one of the species that's officially responsible for eight unprovoked attacks on humans with two ending in fatality and twenty boat attacks.
In terms of size though, even the largest shark found on Earth today looks simply microscopic, compared to the size of prehistoric monsters, such as this Liopleurodon:
(image credit: Mark Witton)
Note that close to Liopleurodon's mouth is not a shark, but a huge plesiosaur, in itself the size of medium boat.
A few amazing facts about sharks: - via
- A shark does not have one bone in its body. Its skeleton is made up of cartilage. Cartilage is a tough material, like the material that shapes your ear.
- The Swell Shark, found in New Zealand, barks like a dog.
- Weird things have been found inside a shark, such as a bottle of wine, a treasure chest, a suit of armor, a drum and a torpedo.
- A shark’s skin is covered with denticles, which are small, razor-sharp teeth.
Not all huge sharks live in the warm or tropical waters. There is a shark species (still in many ways a mystery to biologists) that lives deep in the Artic water - sometimes as deep as 600 meters:
Greenland Sharks Lurk Beneath the Arctic Ice
The sleeper shark.... the "gurry" shark: the largest of Greenland sharks are comparable in size with the great white shark, although there is no record of them ever attacking humans. Check out these teeth though: small but razor-sharp -
(images by Nick Caloyianis National Geographic, and Canadian Shark Research Lab)
"Forget the cold. I kicked my fins and swam toward the shadowy figure. It turned and began moving toward me. I was face-to-face with a Greenland shark. I’d seen drawings and paintings of the fish, but this was utterly different. It was ghoulish. Its nostrils were the largest I had ever seen on a shark. They reminded me of a giant double-barreled shotgun. Its mouth was slightly open, revealing rows of small sharp teeth. Its eyes looked fogged over, like those of a dead fish, and from each one dangled a tasseled parasite." (Nick Caloyianis)
These guys are nearly blind, but they have a mouth big enough to eat a full-grown seal as some kind of muffin. There are also stories of these sharks attacking caribou as they drink from the mouths of rivers... and eating polar bears. So here you go.
OK, I am sure you are wondering by now, which shark has the biggest mouth and what exactly size of prey it can swallow. Check this out -
A Megamouth Shark!
This extremely rare (only a few have been seen so far) deep water shark has an enormous mouth with big flabby lips... Not just enormous, but freaking ILLUMINATED mouth (to attract some plankton to the light). Read more info here, it seems it's more of a relative to the ancient Coelacanth than normal sharks.
(image via US National Archives)
(images by Tom Haight, B. Hutchins, Marylin Baldo)
This is a species we did not know existed until 1976: only 41 such sharks have been found so far.
(image credit: Steve, Bruce Rasner)
These guys hang around the shores of South Australia, South Africa and often approach divers with a friendly nuzzle and a line "Are you talking to me?" -
(image credit: Sue Hickton)
Such images lend themselves very well to Photoshop:
These sharks have reputation as vicious predators, yet they are not unsystematic "eating machines". They attack from below in order to investigate what is floating on the surface.
(image via)
(image via)
(image credit: David Doubilet, National Geographic)
Great white sharks not only swim, they FLY!
See more pictures of the amazing hunt of great white sharks for seals in False Bay here.
(image credit: Eric Cheng)
This is definitely going to increase your confidence at sea: the enormous monster breaching the waves and flying at you with bloody dripping jaws. OK, it may not happen with such vivid color, but still....
(image credit: Lars-Gunnar Svard)
The Tiger shark is the fourth largest predatory shark. This shark is a solitary hunter, usually hunting at night. Its name is derivative from the dark stripes down its body, which grow fainter as the shark matures. It is infamous for attacks on swimmers, divers and surfers in Hawaii and is often referred to as "the wastebasket of the sea".
(image credit: Lars Kirchhoff)
Make way! The Boss is coming -
(image credit: Christie Fisher)
The tiger shark with a little "afternoon snack" -
(image credit: Christie Fisher)
Bull sharks often cruise through shallow waters and can suddenly burst into speed and can be highly aggressive. They are extremely territorial and will attack other animals and humans that enter their territory. Bull sharks are among the four species considered to be most dangerous to humans.
(images by wiki and Joe)
Here is a bit more aggressive photography:
(images via)
The first image shows the Shortfin Mako shark, one of the species that's officially responsible for eight unprovoked attacks on humans with two ending in fatality and twenty boat attacks.
In terms of size though, even the largest shark found on Earth today looks simply microscopic, compared to the size of prehistoric monsters, such as this Liopleurodon:
(image credit: Mark Witton)
Note that close to Liopleurodon's mouth is not a shark, but a huge plesiosaur, in itself the size of medium boat.
A few amazing facts about sharks: - via
- A shark does not have one bone in its body. Its skeleton is made up of cartilage. Cartilage is a tough material, like the material that shapes your ear.
- The Swell Shark, found in New Zealand, barks like a dog.
- Weird things have been found inside a shark, such as a bottle of wine, a treasure chest, a suit of armor, a drum and a torpedo.
- A shark’s skin is covered with denticles, which are small, razor-sharp teeth.
Not all huge sharks live in the warm or tropical waters. There is a shark species (still in many ways a mystery to biologists) that lives deep in the Artic water - sometimes as deep as 600 meters:
Greenland Sharks Lurk Beneath the Arctic Ice
The sleeper shark.... the "gurry" shark: the largest of Greenland sharks are comparable in size with the great white shark, although there is no record of them ever attacking humans. Check out these teeth though: small but razor-sharp -
(images by Nick Caloyianis National Geographic, and Canadian Shark Research Lab)
"Forget the cold. I kicked my fins and swam toward the shadowy figure. It turned and began moving toward me. I was face-to-face with a Greenland shark. I’d seen drawings and paintings of the fish, but this was utterly different. It was ghoulish. Its nostrils were the largest I had ever seen on a shark. They reminded me of a giant double-barreled shotgun. Its mouth was slightly open, revealing rows of small sharp teeth. Its eyes looked fogged over, like those of a dead fish, and from each one dangled a tasseled parasite." (Nick Caloyianis)
These guys are nearly blind, but they have a mouth big enough to eat a full-grown seal as some kind of muffin. There are also stories of these sharks attacking caribou as they drink from the mouths of rivers... and eating polar bears. So here you go.
OK, I am sure you are wondering by now, which shark has the biggest mouth and what exactly size of prey it can swallow. Check this out -
A Megamouth Shark!
This extremely rare (only a few have been seen so far) deep water shark has an enormous mouth with big flabby lips... Not just enormous, but freaking ILLUMINATED mouth (to attract some plankton to the light). Read more info here, it seems it's more of a relative to the ancient Coelacanth than normal sharks.
(image via US National Archives)
(images by Tom Haight, B. Hutchins, Marylin Baldo)
This is a species we did not know existed until 1976: only 41 such sharks have been found so far.
(image credit: Steve, Bruce Rasner)
Bananas
This is interesting. After Reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.Bananas . Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression : According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS : Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure : This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure.
So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke
Brain Power : 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation : High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help
restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers : One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels,while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn : Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness : Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites : Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
hours to keep levels steady
Ulcers : The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal
disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal = Affective Disorder (SAD) : Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6,B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress : Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the
heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be balanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes : According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine,"eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"
Here are 10 players that may provide some compelling stories during and after the upcoming World Cup
Marvin Andrews
Last spring "Marvelous" Marvin rejected medical advice and chose not to have his injured right knee operated on. Rather, he opted for the power of prayer and in the process he has astounded the medical establishment. The powerfully built defender had moved from his native Trinidad in 1997 to join Scottish club Raith Rovers.
He then moved to Livingstone and turned down a move to Dundee United saying that God had told him that it was not the right move. In 2004 he joined Glasgow Rangers but before his first season was up he suffered a serious injury to the cruciate ligament in one of his knees.
Putting his trust in a greater power Andrews was back playing before the end of the season and he continues to be an important part of the Rangers defense. When he isn't stopping the opposition he spends much of his time as a preacher at a church in Kirkcaldy, Scotland.
Ronaldinho
In the history of world soccer, a select few names will stand the eternal test of time — Pele, Maradona, and Beckenbauer come to mind, but a new phenom from Brazil is giving the legends a run for their money. His name is Ronaldinho.
The dentally-challenged Brazilian superstar has already won a World Cup in 2002, and then added the world's most prestigious club title to his resume this month by winning the European Champions League with FC Barcelona at the Stade de France in Paris. His mastery of the ball at pace or simply standing still is awe inspiring, and there's not a single move he makes without an enormous grin on his face, as if he's in on the biggest secret in the world and no one else knows a thing about it.
lthough his wizardry with the leather is known the world over, the line was drawn when it was verified (by Ronaldinho himself) that a video stunt of the midfield maestro repeatedly passing a ball off a crossbar back to himself without it ever touching the ground was nothing more than a cleverly staged trick.
But few doubt that he won't provide some magic in Germany.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The Swedish forward will never be considered a shrinking violet. He has been described as egotistical and arrogant with a hair-trigger temper — and these are some of his good qualities!
Zlatan Ibrahimovic plays with the ball before a friendly match against Finland
After a tough match against England in 2004, a reporter asked him, "You have some scars on your face there — what happened?"
"Well, I don't know. You'll have to ask your wife about that," Ibrahimovic responded.
The tall striker with the light touch took Italy's Serie A by storm after he arrived from Ajax in the late summer of 2004 after a series of impressive performances at Euro 2004. He scored 16 goals in his first season but the just completed campaign has seen his form dip and his scoring rate drop off. For Sweden to prosper at the tournament Ibrahimovic has to step up.
Luca Toni
Toni is a consummate late bloomer. During a career in Italy that has seen the 6-foot-4 Toni play for nine different clubs, it is only in the last three seasons that his goal-scoring exploits have singled him out as one of most dangerous strikers in Europe.
Luca Toni's movie star good looks should make him a fan favorite in Germany
Over his first nine seasons he managed just 64 goals in league play; in the last three seasons with Palermo and Fiorentina he has scored over 80 goals. This past season he became the first player to score more than 30 goals in Serie A since 1958-59 and finished as the winner of Europe's Golden Shoe.
With his movie-star looks he could become one of the most photographed players of the tournament and a reason why wives and girlfriends may take a sudden interest in when Italy play's next.
Oguchi Onyewu
Team USA's 24-year-old defender earns his living playing for Standard Liege in the Belgian league. After progressing through various U.S. age-group teams he first moved to France four years ago before settling in Belgium. He made his full international debut against Panama in the fall of 2004.
At 6-foot-4 he is hard to miss on the field and has become a firm favorite with American fans. If the USA is to progress to the knockout stage at this World Cup then the charismatic "Gooch" is likely to play a big part — literally and figuratively.
David Beckham
Arguably the most recognized footballer in the world, the devilishly handsome Beckham, who made his name with Manchester United in the English Premier League, is as famous for his exploits off the field as his performances on it.
Never one to shy away from an opportunity to increase his own brand or start a new trend in hairstyles, Beckham is a P.R. dream for any company or agency fortunate enough to have the cash to splash for his endorsement services.
When Beckham moved with Spice Girl wife Victoria to Spain in 2003 after signing for powerhouse club Real Madrid, the first-day sales of Beckham jerseys came out to nearly $1 million dollars, before he ever kicked a single ball.
Ronaldo
The birth certificate says that he is 29 but his body would disagree. Ronaldo was part of the 1994 World Cup-winning Brazil squad but he was taken to the USA mainly to gain experience. At the next tournament four years later he arrived as the best player in the world but left with a mysterious seizure just hours before the final. It's something that has yet to be fully explained.
A series of injuries put his career into doubt let alone an appearance at World Cup 2002. Brazil — and Ronaldo — arrived with few people picking them to do well after a largely lack luster qualifying campaign. They left as the winners and the best team in the tournament by a country mile. In the process Ronaldo reestablished himself as one of the world's top players by winning the Golden Shoe after scoring eight times including a final game double against Germany.
A transfer from Inter Milan to Real Madrid followed and although club success has largely eluded him over the last three seasons Ronaldo retains a talisman-type quality for the national team.
Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba signs autographs for fans
The former midfield player converted to striker moved from Marseilles to Chelsea for $42M in the summer of 2004. Although his performances for Chelsea have failed to substantiate the transfer fee Drogba's performances for the Ivory Coast rank him as one of the most dangerous forwards in Germany this summer. His value to the "Elephants" is almost immeasurable both as a goal scorer — nine in World Cup qualifying — and as a leader. Back in the Ivory Coast a particularly strong one-liter beer is known as a Drogba and this summer he will be featured in an advertising campaign throughout Europe that promotes the use of cocoa produced in the African nation.
Paulo Wanchope
One of Costa Rica's greatest soccer exports Wanchope can look like one of the world's great players one moment and the next look like an absolute beginner.
He is still remembered for a spectacular solo goal that he scored on his debut for Derby County against Manchester United in 1997. After a spell at Derby he moved on to West Ham United and Manchester City. Two years ago he was transferred from City to Malaga of the Spanish league.
He has represented Costa Rica over 60 times and is Costa Rica's career goal-scoring leader. Even though he has bounced from club to club Wanchope is not yet 30 years-old and he has the ability to breakdown even the most organized of defenses with a style that is often awkward looking but one that can be extremely effective.
Goleo
The lion is the latest in a line of World Cup mascots that started in England in 1966 with "World Cup Willie".
Unfortunately, the 2006 mascot that was designed by the Jim Henson Company has so far proved to be a bit of a bust, particularly for a German toy company called Nici. The company supposedly paid out the equivalent of the price of a world-class striker for the right to manufacture a number of "Goleo" toys in Europe.
Sales have been disappointing and the company was forced to file for protection from creditors just a few weeks ago.
Marvin Andrews
Last spring "Marvelous" Marvin rejected medical advice and chose not to have his injured right knee operated on. Rather, he opted for the power of prayer and in the process he has astounded the medical establishment. The powerfully built defender had moved from his native Trinidad in 1997 to join Scottish club Raith Rovers.
He then moved to Livingstone and turned down a move to Dundee United saying that God had told him that it was not the right move. In 2004 he joined Glasgow Rangers but before his first season was up he suffered a serious injury to the cruciate ligament in one of his knees.
Putting his trust in a greater power Andrews was back playing before the end of the season and he continues to be an important part of the Rangers defense. When he isn't stopping the opposition he spends much of his time as a preacher at a church in Kirkcaldy, Scotland.
Ronaldinho
In the history of world soccer, a select few names will stand the eternal test of time — Pele, Maradona, and Beckenbauer come to mind, but a new phenom from Brazil is giving the legends a run for their money. His name is Ronaldinho.
The dentally-challenged Brazilian superstar has already won a World Cup in 2002, and then added the world's most prestigious club title to his resume this month by winning the European Champions League with FC Barcelona at the Stade de France in Paris. His mastery of the ball at pace or simply standing still is awe inspiring, and there's not a single move he makes without an enormous grin on his face, as if he's in on the biggest secret in the world and no one else knows a thing about it. lthough his wizardry with the leather is known the world over, the line was drawn when it was verified (by Ronaldinho himself) that a video stunt of the midfield maestro repeatedly passing a ball off a crossbar back to himself without it ever touching the ground was nothing more than a cleverly staged trick.
But few doubt that he won't provide some magic in Germany.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The Swedish forward will never be considered a shrinking violet. He has been described as egotistical and arrogant with a hair-trigger temper — and these are some of his good qualities!
Zlatan Ibrahimovic plays with the ball before a friendly match against FinlandAfter a tough match against England in 2004, a reporter asked him, "You have some scars on your face there — what happened?"
"Well, I don't know. You'll have to ask your wife about that," Ibrahimovic responded.
The tall striker with the light touch took Italy's Serie A by storm after he arrived from Ajax in the late summer of 2004 after a series of impressive performances at Euro 2004. He scored 16 goals in his first season but the just completed campaign has seen his form dip and his scoring rate drop off. For Sweden to prosper at the tournament Ibrahimovic has to step up.
Luca Toni
Toni is a consummate late bloomer. During a career in Italy that has seen the 6-foot-4 Toni play for nine different clubs, it is only in the last three seasons that his goal-scoring exploits have singled him out as one of most dangerous strikers in Europe.
Luca Toni's movie star good looks should make him a fan favorite in Germany
Over his first nine seasons he managed just 64 goals in league play; in the last three seasons with Palermo and Fiorentina he has scored over 80 goals. This past season he became the first player to score more than 30 goals in Serie A since 1958-59 and finished as the winner of Europe's Golden Shoe. With his movie-star looks he could become one of the most photographed players of the tournament and a reason why wives and girlfriends may take a sudden interest in when Italy play's next.
Oguchi Onyewu
Team USA's 24-year-old defender earns his living playing for Standard Liege in the Belgian league. After progressing through various U.S. age-group teams he first moved to France four years ago before settling in Belgium. He made his full international debut against Panama in the fall of 2004.
At 6-foot-4 he is hard to miss on the field and has become a firm favorite with American fans. If the USA is to progress to the knockout stage at this World Cup then the charismatic "Gooch" is likely to play a big part — literally and figuratively.
David Beckham
Arguably the most recognized footballer in the world, the devilishly handsome Beckham, who made his name with Manchester United in the English Premier League, is as famous for his exploits off the field as his performances on it.
Never one to shy away from an opportunity to increase his own brand or start a new trend in hairstyles, Beckham is a P.R. dream for any company or agency fortunate enough to have the cash to splash for his endorsement services. When Beckham moved with Spice Girl wife Victoria to Spain in 2003 after signing for powerhouse club Real Madrid, the first-day sales of Beckham jerseys came out to nearly $1 million dollars, before he ever kicked a single ball.
Ronaldo
The birth certificate says that he is 29 but his body would disagree. Ronaldo was part of the 1994 World Cup-winning Brazil squad but he was taken to the USA mainly to gain experience. At the next tournament four years later he arrived as the best player in the world but left with a mysterious seizure just hours before the final. It's something that has yet to be fully explained.
A series of injuries put his career into doubt let alone an appearance at World Cup 2002. Brazil — and Ronaldo — arrived with few people picking them to do well after a largely lack luster qualifying campaign. They left as the winners and the best team in the tournament by a country mile. In the process Ronaldo reestablished himself as one of the world's top players by winning the Golden Shoe after scoring eight times including a final game double against Germany.
A transfer from Inter Milan to Real Madrid followed and although club success has largely eluded him over the last three seasons Ronaldo retains a talisman-type quality for the national team.
Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba signs autographs for fans
The former midfield player converted to striker moved from Marseilles to Chelsea for $42M in the summer of 2004. Although his performances for Chelsea have failed to substantiate the transfer fee Drogba's performances for the Ivory Coast rank him as one of the most dangerous forwards in Germany this summer. His value to the "Elephants" is almost immeasurable both as a goal scorer — nine in World Cup qualifying — and as a leader. Back in the Ivory Coast a particularly strong one-liter beer is known as a Drogba and this summer he will be featured in an advertising campaign throughout Europe that promotes the use of cocoa produced in the African nation. Paulo Wanchope
One of Costa Rica's greatest soccer exports Wanchope can look like one of the world's great players one moment and the next look like an absolute beginner.
He is still remembered for a spectacular solo goal that he scored on his debut for Derby County against Manchester United in 1997. After a spell at Derby he moved on to West Ham United and Manchester City. Two years ago he was transferred from City to Malaga of the Spanish league.
He has represented Costa Rica over 60 times and is Costa Rica's career goal-scoring leader. Even though he has bounced from club to club Wanchope is not yet 30 years-old and he has the ability to breakdown even the most organized of defenses with a style that is often awkward looking but one that can be extremely effective.
Goleo
The lion is the latest in a line of World Cup mascots that started in England in 1966 with "World Cup Willie".
Unfortunately, the 2006 mascot that was designed by the Jim Henson Company has so far proved to be a bit of a bust, particularly for a German toy company called Nici. The company supposedly paid out the equivalent of the price of a world-class striker for the right to manufacture a number of "Goleo" toys in Europe. Sales have been disappointing and the company was forced to file for protection from creditors just a few weeks ago.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)