Thursday June 22, 2006

I've Been Thinking:

I love it when sports mirror politics. Take, for example, the World Cup.

Iran has been eliminated from the world famous World Cup.
Three matches, two losses. 3-1 Mexico, 2-0 Portugal, a tie 1-1 with Angola.
It was embarrassing.
In the eight World Cup games Iran has played over the years, they won only once, in 1998, 2-1 beating out the USA in an intense match.

In true sportsmanship fashion, before the game against Angola, the Iranian team coach - a Croatian - announced that he was quitting.
He was a professional when you fail you take responsibility.

That's not enough for Iran. The Iranian Football Federation voted overwhelmingly to fire the Federation head, a politician named Mohammed Dadkan whose responsibility it is to provide the best facility, the best environment, the best conditions for the athletes.

The World Cup is a serious competition. Only one country wins.
Unlike Iran, other losing countries don't start firing before the games are over.

Losing in Iran has a price - getting fired is definitely better than being beheaded.