Overeducated sports writers log

I used to love how shambolic Messi looked when he first turned up.

Federer's kind of goofy. Also Ronaldinho.

shaq was a little goofy in the face, the whole rest of him undermines that though

federer is too handsome. ronaldhino too freaky looking. Im looking for faces that defy all mythos about the athlete, antithetical to the ruthless competitor

Steve Smith, particularly the early years.

Linebaugh said:

I was told pele was the best

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Of all time? It's very hard to compare players across eras and across both international and club disciplines. Pele's peak was almost fifty years ago and football was a different game. I reckon a lot of people think that Maradona was better and I think that most now would say that Messi has played at Maradona's level or beyond for three or four times as long. The one question mark or failure in Messi's career is that he has not won the world cup - I mean lots of great players such as Giggs or Best never got near cos they were from minor footballing countries but Messi is from a strong footballing country and has had great players around him in the national side. Maradona according to popular myth (which ignores other genius level players like Caniggia who were in the Argentina 86 team) almost single-handedly dragged Argentian to the cup and lifted Napoli from a medium side to champions of Europe. Also Maradona did it with much more of a street fighting swagger which beguiled the pundits.
Personally though I'd say this era is unbelievable and to have two world beating giants of the game at the same time slugging it out and egging each other on to greater and greater feats has become something we've taken for granted over the last decade or so.
Some would also mention Zidane and the first Ronaldo as contenders for all time greatest I reckon. As I said above though, in terms of raw talent Ronaldinho might be the best.
I know it's just training but this seemingly impossible touch (before the casual flip-flap nutmeg) is just beautiful to me

Tiger Woods

Linebaugh said:

has there ever been an all time level athlete, in any sport, with a goofier looking face than messi?

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Most footballers?

He's a cricketer. I can't find a good photo that captures the quality thiugh

Linebaugh said:

federer is too handsome. ronaldhino too freaky looking. Im looking for faces that defy all mythos about the athlete, antithetical to the ruthless competitor

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Yeah there is something in that, he doesn't look like a killer... contrast with Maradona who may have been using cocaine at this point.

runs in the family

That's the biggest forehead I've ever seen.

Corpsey said:

Does goofy mean ugly?

Beardsley and Le Tissier spring to mind.

And there's that man united defender who does weird faces - Phil jones?

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No. It doesn't. It means something else. Something sort of unthreatening, a bit silly, cheerfully imperfect. I'm struggling to define it.

^
something just before ugly I think

My uncle used to make lots of football jokes... one of his favourite was about Beardsley.

After Newcastle are defeated 5-0 the team traipse dejectedly into the changing room. Manager starts having a go at them "There are gonna be some new faces around here!" - Beardsley pipes up "Can I have one?"

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Another one about (I think) Jim Leighton

United have lost again due to another goalkeeping fumble... Leighton comes into the changing room, puts his head in his hands and drops it on the floor.

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