Sep/091
Fabrice-Jean Picault Making an Impact Early in Italy
by Sean Heffernan
Young American, Fabrice-Jean "Fafà" Picault, has gotten off to successful start to the season with Cagliari in Italy's Primavera division. The Miami based striker is in his second year with the Sardinian club's youth system and has seen action in both of the squad's first two games. Picault was able to notch a goal in the first half of the club's season opener, but the Rossoblu fell 3-1 to Empoli.
Despite scoring in his first match of the year, Picault did not get the start the following game against Torino, but came on as a second half substitute with the game tied 1-1. The New York City born speedster made the most of his limited time on the field breaking away with the ball in the 67th minute and setting up team mate Mathias Gallon for the game winning goal.
Though U-20 head coach Thomas Rongen did not select Picault for the U-20 World Cup, the 18-year-old will be eligible to participate in the 2011 Youth World Cup for the United States.
"I will be eligible and it's always an honor to be able to represent my country on an international level. However, I will be about 20 years old by that time and God willing I am hoping to be at an even higher level with the national team, which depends on how soon I am inducted into the system" Picault told Soccer365.
The Miami native of Haitian decent speaks (in addition to English) some French, Spanish, and Italian. Picault is proud of his affinity for different languages saying, “My Italian is now better than my French in my opinion. I understand a lot of Spanish also. In my family many languages are comprehended and spoken due to our passion for different cultures.” Though his time in Europe his language skills the young footballer admits, “My brother is actually much better than me in all languages except for Italian.”
Cagliari is on the Italian island of Sardinia which is a major tourist attraction in the summer months. Growing up in New York City and Miami it took some time for Picault to adjust life in Cagliari, but he’s grown to enjoy his adopted home.
“I'm a city boy, but I am able to enjoy the calmness of this island. The people are very passionate about life and soccer of course. The food is also very good in Sardinia and I have been able to enjoy a few ‘home-sardo’ dishes”. Though he’s grown to enjoy his Italian surroundings Picault remains focused on his personal goals, “I am here on a mission and to accomplish my dreams so everything else comes after.”
On the pitch, Picault is typically used as one of two attacking forwards for Cagliari and is known for taking on defenders in 1-on-1 situations, using his speed on fast counter-attacks, and threatening opposing goalies as a target on corner kicks. Picault explains his role stating “When the game gets intense or it gets to be towards the end of a match, I usually try to take a bit more initiative and do anything in order to get a win.”
For his positive start to the season Picault credits the model set by one of the most successful American athletes of all time, Michael Jordan (who was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame last month), saying "I was recently inspired by Michael Jordan's acceptance speech and how great of a work ethic he had".
Fafà Picault hopes his hard work will continue to pay off in Italy this season and lead to bigger and brighter things for the American.
Sep/092
US Soccer Fans Need to Give Up On Firing Bob Bradley
For a USMNT manager one constant always seems to be that there will always be people on the Internet calling for your head at all times. People need to start facing facts about Bob Bradley. He's earned his shot with the US team for next year's World Cup. Bradley led the US back from the grave earlier this summer to the Confederations Cup final where they came close to beating a Brazil team featuring some of the world's best players. Right now the U.S. is on top of their World Cup group. Though people often cite CONCAF as a weak region, the U.S. has done what it needs to so far to make it to the World Cup. Look at world powers Argentina and Portugal struggling to get to South Africa. World Cup Qualifying isn't easy no matter where you play.
Sep/090
Mayweather, Boxing Still on Top of Fight Game
The weekend of September 18th, 19th and 20th may well have been the best for sport thus far in 2009. Penant chases all over Major League Baseball continued to burn while two of college ball's top 10 were upset and the NFL provided an exciting week two wrought with rivalries, surprises and the stadium of the century. But for all the highly publicized matchups this weekend, none were as highly anticipated for fight fans as Floyd "Money" Mayweather Vs. Juan Manuel Marquez and Boxing Vs. The UFC.
Sep/091
Miami Rolls Over Georgia Tech: ‘Canes Look Like Well Oiled Machine
- Are the Miami Hurricanes back?
by Jim March
The opening kickoff went out of bounds Thursday night, giving the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets the ball at their 40 to start the game. Tech had last year’s 472 yard rushing performance in mind when they carried the ball on all 12 plays of the first drive. For the first five minutes of the contest, it looked like the Yellow Jackets might be picking up where they left off the last time the two teams met. However, things didn’t work out the way they planned as the Miami Hurricane defense gained a great deal of confidence when they ended Tech’s 12-play, 60-yard drive. The drive chewed up almost seven minutes of clock, but Miami showed their grit with a third down red-zone stand forcing Georgia Tech to settle for a field goal. ...
Sep/090
Bears sign rookie CB, DeAngelo Smith, on Waivers
The Bears will be DeAngelo Smith's third team in his rookie season
After being waived this season already by the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys, first year defensive back DeAngelo Smith has signed with the Chicago Bears on waivers. The Bears, themselves, waived injured cornerback Trumaine McBride to make room for Smith (who was drafted in the 5th round this year by the Cowboys).
Who is DeAngelo Smith? He was three year player at the University of Cincinatti. He had a breakout season his junior year in college when he led the nation in interceptions with eight picks. His senior year he only had two interceptions, but helped the Bearcats to their first Big East Championship.
How will he help? Who knows? It's not good that the Bears's answer to a problem is to pick up a guy that has already been waived by two teams. That said, after Nathan Vasher's performance last Sunday against the Packers, GM Jerry Angelo needed to do something about the secondary.
Sep/090
The Word of the Day is… PANIC
Hit Me...?
Da Bears had their lunches handed to them. Jay Cutler looked Rextacular. Urlacher's done for 2009. The o-line looked like a set of turnstiles. The wide receivers are young. Forte couldn't get it going. It was the God Damn PACKERS!
Glad we got that out of our systems. We good? Everybody out of breath to stop yelling long enough for this?
Sep/090
The Horror in Green Bay
by Sean Heffernan
Prior to the Bears kicking off to the Packers last night there was a sense of optimism in Chicago about their football team that hadn’t been alive since the days of the ’85 Bears. By remarkable circumstances the Bears’ GM, Jerry Angelo, had scooped up disgruntled Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos. After years of wallowing at the shaky arms of terrible to mediocre quarterbacks for decades, Bears faithful now had a star thrower to lead their team to greatness.
Expectations for the 2009 season grew with each day drawing nearer where to September 13th where at Lambeau Field the “Cutler Era” would begin against their dreaded rival to the north. As Robbie Gould kicked off into the Green Bay night, Chicago Bears fans collectively breathed a sigh of relief as the most anticipated season in the history of the 90-year-old organization had finally begun.
That sigh was about all the relief Bears fans got last night.
Sep/090
Five Thoughts on the Beautiful Game
Who Will Make it to South Africa?
by Sean Heffernan
This week we saw all over the world a number of countries beginning to make their way toward South Africa, where in 272 days, World Cup 2010 will begin. The United States took two steps closer to qualifying with two hard fought victories against El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago. Many complained about the Americans difficulty defeating two teams who on paper were significantly inferior, but in World Cup Qualifying a win is a win. It was a great week in the Beautiful Game. So without further adieu here are my thoughts...
Sep/091
The Other Game Thursday Night
Georgia Tech and Clemson are for real
By Jim March
Last night, nearly every football fan in America watched as Pittsburgh and Tennessee kick off the NFL season. Here’s what you missed: an 82-yard TD run, an 85-yard punt return TD, two interceptions, and a 34 yard touchdown pass thrown by a kicker. That was the first quarter in Atlanta, as Georgia Tech fans welcomed Clemson to town with a white-out, and sent them home with a 30-27 loss to start conference play.
Sep/090
Jay Cutler, Lovie Smith, and Matt Forte Sound Off on Packers
- Bears looking forward to Saturday night's clash with hated rival Green Bay