When Avoidance and Stupidity Kicks In

Berkeley, Monday, July 13, 2026

I have delayed and probably softened and added the first part of the title for a post, I was wondering to write or not for days.

It is true that self reflection might be placed elsewhere to fully express.

Here some topics that might have caught my attention. I hope I do not repeat them. A list of topics might aim to expand on some of them.

On June 20, I got a one month subscription to Fox One, because out of a working session, a friend and myself decided to watch part of the game between Ecuador and Curazao. I have paid a bit of attention since then to the world cup and several of the games. Mainly to the main actions, except that I watched the entire game Ecuador Germany, and most of Ecuador vs Mexico.

I have paid attention to what the reporters ask, what they say in their analysis, and what the coaches say.

I think Bielsa is misunderstood. In part is his self-reflective and harshly selfcritical, but also he is softly sarcastic at times, and people do not understanding me. Of course, who will listen to him the whole press conference. It is rather the main method to extract a short clip, and then place it in the narrative of a press or any human who share brief clips in any platform. A whole story might happen from that, and then those things might grow as a snow ball.

I went off topic. I wonder who to have the discussions about the coaches words. But for instance, Bielsa said no he dejado nada a seleccion de futbol, I am recalling those things from memory, that is one of the reasons I do not place quotations. He said, el tercer puesto en la copa america 2023 no significa nada, el cuarto lugar en las elimatorias no significa nada. Then when I listened or read the news, I only found the highlight: Bielsa dice que no ha dejado nada.

Of course, he might have been heart by the whole elimination, crisis in the locker room, at least as heard, or said by Suarez. Bad for the matador Suarez to come after Bielsa with the press tour against him. He might have lost more on it. But who knows.

In recent days I read a bit about the barras bravas. I wonder how things will work for the world cup 2030. The news about the barras bravas and ultras are quite negative. Definetely there is more about the 90 minute game.

Press asked to Scaloni about a message to nation ahead of the game against England: He said it is just a game. It is just a football match.

Wise words from, who seems to be an excellent person.

I have to mention something about Ecuador. We might have forgotten, and probably did not learn that it is just a game. And in true, what understand what one does, that applies to every aspect of life. The rest are noise of repetition of opinion, or forgetting about essentials.

Although, it is truly not just a game. I think the teams with the largest logistical squads were also more succesful. At least that is needed. I.e. traveling logistics, nutrition, anticipation of safety in the games. But it is true. It is a game. One have to feel its spirit to win. And quite often supporters are the ones who would pass that on the players, or make them remember that, and vice versa when one sees a fighting giving spirit.

I have seen that coaches who speak straightforward, and tell details, are also in the last four. That is a point to correct for Beccacece in his press conferences in his future. At the end either good or bad relationship with the press, that is a huge part of the job and of the game, of course if backed up with results. But the press would appreciate questions being answered directly or at least clearly. It should have been good for Beccacece to talk more about tactics and the game.

But if I haven’t said yet, I learned from him about an interesting rock band from Argentina: Pastillas del Abuelo.

Tuchel seems to be never satisfied or not happy. A difficult person. A perfectionist.

De La Fuenta is a clear mentor and professor. Not necessarily a tactical mind.

Deschamps really has the experience in his feet, more than Scaloni. Unfortunately, his mom passed away during this world cup.

France is the best team, and Argentina are now the least favorites of those four. However, and in contrary of what the media says, I think that the winner might come from the Argentina England llave. Forecast are silly to make. But in this, also who wants the most might win. I do hope that Spain gets to the Final. But it is a game, again. More forecasts? No I kept it. Argentina might win the whole thing, even if now has the lowest probability, particularly against France and Spain, which make sense by seeing their game. But who knows?

I only supported Ecuador in the world cup.

On other topic, I was recalling when I was in the pitch many years ago. In the stands I have to say. It was the presentation of the team Deportivo Cuenca, might be for the 1996 season. I recall the player Balmaceda. List of things now.

I listened to the president of the United States at Nato. I believe their meet in Akara, which was the place of the Galatians from the bible. Spain has stood up against some of the decision of the president.

It is interesting to see how President Trump calls up during press conferences to take questions from the press by pointing to them: red dress, tall guy, green dress etc. It is entertaining I have to say. It is made out of disrespect, but of course it can be taken out of context. I saw a picture of Cristiano Ronaldo at a press conference imitating that behavior, the finger pointing, to call for the journalist question. It can be coincidence, or a learned thing from the sportman.

I briefly saw the case of senate race candidate in Maine who dropped out from the race after allegations.

I listened to Cadena Ser, the tour of France. They have an excellent radio broadcasting, quite clear to make a picture of what is happening. I am recalling out of memory the names of the broadcasters: Iñigo (forgot his last name, sorry), Borja (also forgot the last name), and two former cyclist. I only listened for few minutes at the end of Sunday’s stage, stage 6 or 9? If I listen to it again or look it up, I would remember. I am working up my memory as well.

I saw a strange recent short interview, in terms of his unexpected attitude, between Carlos Vives and Marcelo Tinelli. Or I might have not seen Vives in another interview.

Two ecuadorians were present in the press conference room at Tuchel and Norway coach, I do not know his name (sorry), at the end of the England and Norway game. Good for the Pocho Harb, and his daughter to be there, learn if you will, and ask questions. I also listened to a question from Pancho (?) from El Universo. It should be also from Ecuador. That was at the Tuchel press conference. I did not listened the Norway press conference, but only briefly his summary, Pocho’s summary in his channel, Centro Mundia, which somehow is posted in his youtube account and not in the Centro digital account. I listened, and watched that on Sunday 7/11. I have not read the El Universo press piece about it, if any.

Too bad, I have not read in detail regarding the earthquake not too far from Caracas. But a geology friend explained me about the tectonics phenomeno.

I also recall the questions and answers from the paragraph above, but I am listing, might be the events, or my use of time :( here.

What else?

In Azteca TV, I listened, and watched to Iker Casillas talk about goalkeepers. There are moments of light, where the best of person comes to live, and particularly if the person knows the subject and has experience about it. Casillas was talking about the goalkeepers and also about his experience in the world cup 2010.

Valdano, el profe is also in that program. Both of them have been world champions. (I believe?) Casillas for sure in 2010. Valdano in 1986 (?). That would be something to check for the actual facts.

I listened a short clip of one of the programs from Tucker Carlson. But it have been a year or that I have listened to his show.

I listened briefly to after the whistle pdocast, and other podcast from the guardian football reporters (there I do not know their names).

I have listened to Cadena SER and el partidazo de Cope. El partidazo de cope has a great intro song from an rock artist called hueco(?).

And the account of things can go on.

Football is a game. The name soccer also make sense, and the American football name, it make sense as well. Rugby is a type of football. Futbol is a strange phonetic adoption from English to Spanish.

Is it a game? Yes. It is a game. Might be if one has an association football (soccer) ball at home could have more opinions, but there is an age also for that. Or if one has a pig bladder (vesicula?). Football, I think started like that with kids kicking that curated pig bladder, across the field. Of course, it can create emotions, if one understand the game, or the folks who represent your country or a country, or the beauty and continuous reinvention of the game. That effort really connects.

Not so long ago I used to have a soccer ball here, which I gave away because of space, and because was something I picked up years ago from street left overs from a house, which is common in Berkeley. So, I put it back to its destiny. Although, I placed first as an ornament in front of the house/building might be 10 months ago. But there is weather, and animals, or someone actually picked up, so it went back to a common destiny, or a folk doesn’t like to see those artistic features in front of the building.

I have fell behind on reading and prayer. And on routine.

So, a reason of the title is how one can disconnect from the world, routine, responsibility, things to do, for being up to date with world news, or some sport events.

Oh, as I listened to cadena ser, it also came to my curiosity the moto GP in Germany. I forgot the circuit name but I think is in the east. Tuchel was born in the Bravary region. I do not know how to spell that correctly. Another fact I learned, while I learned a bit more of Tuchel carrier. He was not coach of Bellingham at Dortmund. Bellingham arrived after he left. Regarding the Moto GP, Marc Marquez won it, for the tenth time.

I briefly watched the Wimblendon results. I was happy to reconnect to tennis after long time. I did. Then comes the part actual experience in an activity. In any case, Sinner (or Siner), his name I think is Janik, won to Zerev, I really do not know the last name of the German player, who is number 2 of the world, who comes from Russian ascendancy. The women final was between two Check players, (from Check Republic). I think check is wrongly spelled. I leave it for now. It seems that was an interesting match. I was a bit surprised to see another sport at quite an intensity of strokes in a grass surface. I mentioned the grass surface, since the world cup is happening now. The singular player intensity might be less, at least for some in the world cup. But, true, tennis have more breaks, but not peer support, or less changes to overturn things if it is not your day. Still soccer is good. Not easy. It is now a days, very strategic. Should I read about history of those sports? Might be one day.

Further, I think that is very stupid if a human live far from soil. Beyond the care giving of plants, the learning of soil it is necessary to our development. It is not always fault of the tenant. Most of the urban buildings do not consider it. and that is really a decline.

The topic of soil is a coincidence to yesterday’s gospel, and fr. X homily, if you check even I mentioned in a post about squirrels seeding function. Two days ago, I also took from my bookshelf the book the Growth of the Soil, by Knut Hamun. It is a Norway novel. Another coincide with the current novelty of the place. Happy to at least try it to read it now. For the first time in several years, I have been inconsistent with my daily reading.

I might need to redesign the placement of screens. So, the time in front of the screen might mean business, practice, art, for the most part. Of course, there should be an amount of consumption. Might be. Best to arrive on time. And arrive to somewhere. Home is also preparation.

Need to organize my place.

Something tells me to not post it, when I am about to do it.

I have not edited anything from its rough draft.

Another terrible thing of consumption in from a screen, which is not terrible bad. Is that one, might start eating in front of the computer screen, while watching either a game, a video, or reading the news. Terrible practice. One because one forgets to focus in what is eating. Bad also for memory. Terrible for the keyboard. Even if everything is clean, when eating, there is always a change something flies, some food scrap, even if tiny, without realizing. That might go under the keys. Then, the keyboard would need cleaning. I have a key that might be in that case.