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04 uefa champions league - the players 10 ideas4talent issue 18 ideas4talent coaching program 24 adrian kiwy mountainboarding
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Ronaldo is the world’s most expensive player, Real having signed him for $131 in the summer of 2009. Prior to that he had been signed by Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon as an 18-year-old. They are two of the highest paid soccer players in the world game. Messi has a release clause of $400 million and his rise to the top could not contrast more starkly to that of Ronaldo. The Argentinean left Newell’s Old Boys for Barcelona when he was 13, with the club paying for treatment on a growth hormone deficiency that threatened to stunt his progress. Each player has won the FIFA World Player of the Year award once, and has scored in a Champions League final.
But who is the best? Messi vs Ronaldo: Finishing With Feet Messi is very much leftfooted and finishes most of his chances off on that side. He generally occupied the position on the right side of attack after Josep Guardiola took over as Barcelona coach in 2008, but has featured more centrally as time has gone on. Messi is outstanding in one-on-ones, capable of the subtle dink over an advancing goalkeeper, a
curled effort into the corner or a piledriver. So many chances come his way in a team that dominates most games that he will miss a few, but it is hard to find fault in Messi’s finishing. 9/10. Where Messi generally favors brains over braun when faced with the whites of the goalposts, Ronaldo more often than not, opts for sheer power. Unlike Messi, the Portuguese star is right footed, but is also adept at finishing on his weaker side. Can be guilty of profligacy, but his goals record speaks for itself. 8/10.
Messi vs Ronaldo: Finishing With Head Messi memorably scored the second goal against Manchester United in the 2009 Champions league final with his head. But that was the exception to the rule, and most of La Pulga Atomica’s (The Atomic Flea) goals come from his left foot. 6/10. Ronaldo scores far more goals with his head, not afraid to go in where it hurts. At 1.85 meters, Ronaldo is always going to be more effective in the air than Messi, who stands at 1.65.
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him past defenders, but his sublime technique, quick feet and balance. He is not the strongest or quickest player in the world, but relies on natural ability to take him past his man. 10/10. Few players can perform a step-over like CR9, and it is such skill that helps him beat opponents repeatedly. Ronaldo’s control is generally excellent, but he relies more on his pace to take him past players than his Argentinean counterpart. 9/10.
Messi vs Ronaldo: Skill & Technique
Ronaldo manages to apply great power to his headers and undoubtedly scores higher in this category. 8/10.
Messi vs Ronaldo: Free kicks Messi is capable of producing exquisite set-pieces that bend past opposing goalkeepers. His free-kicks are again more about finesse than brute force. He perhaps lacks the variation of Ronaldo. 8/10. Ronaldo’s swerving freekicks are a thing of beauty.
When playing for Manchester United, he revealed that he uses the technique of striking the ball on the valve to get more power and movement. He is also capable of the classic curling free-kick. 9/10.
Messi vs Ronaldo: Dribbling & Control Messi is the dribbler extraordinaire and there is no one better in the world at taking on and beating players. The beauty of Messi is that it is not just his pace that takes
Such is Messi’s skill that the ball can appear glued to his feet as he maneuvres himself out of tight situations and finds teammates when it seems he is surrounded. Messi, like Ronaldo, can use the backheel to great effect and also has a penchant for looping the ball over a defender and collecting it on the other side. 10/10. Ronaldo is more of a showman than Messi and can take the breath away with his array of stepovers and flicks. But in some matches, when the stepovers are taking him nowhere and he is attempting backheels that are not finding team-mates, Ronaldo stands accused of producing style over substance. He is blessed with tremendous
8 natural ability and when on song he is a joy to watch, but he has more ineffectual matches than Messi. 9/10.
Messi vs Ronaldo:Team Play One of the reasons Messi has been more successful at club level than international level is that he dovetails so beautifully with Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta. His chemistry with these two is a beauty to behold and there is no one at Barcelona who claims that Messi does not work hard enough or combine well with his teammates. 9/10. Ronaldo is a player almost beyond reproach but one of the gripes that some teammates have had about him -and certainly sections of the
Real Madrid support- is that he can be selfish and too obsessed with making the difference on his own. Ronaldo has been known to shoot from ridiculous angles and distances when teammates are better placed, and will often try to score when there is a superior option to his left or right. Some Real fans have made their frustrations known, and Ronaldo has actually been whistled at the Bernabeu for his individualistic approach. He also has a tendency to show his frustration and petulance towards teammates. 6/10.
Messi vs Ronaldo: Physical Prowess Messi is not a big man and can be knocked off the ball
by more imposing opponents. However, he is also well capable of holding his own in one-on-ones and often it takes a foul for a defender to knock him off the ball. 7/10. Ronaldo is a real specimen of a man and has previously claimed to do 1000 press-ups a day as he looks to maintain his washboard stomach. He is a physically imposing player with unquestionable fitness and professionalism in looking after himself. 9/10.
Messi vs Ronaldo: Stats A statistical comparison of club and country games, goals and assists since Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid in 2009.
9 Messi 2009-10 Games: 64 Goals: 49 Assists: 11
2010-11 Games: 61 Goals: 51 Assists: 22
Ronaldo 2009-10 Games: 39 Goals: 33 Assists: 7
2010-11 Games: 65 Goals: 56 Assists: 16
Messi vs Ronaldo: Goal Totals Over the past five seasons, the players’ cumulative goal returns for club and country have been similar. Ronaldo has moved higher up the pitch and into a more central position as his career has
progressed, while Messi is now commonly deployed by Barcelona in the position he can hurt opponents most: central attack. He, like Ronaldo, played deeper earlier in his career but coaches such as Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and Josep Guardiola realize that when you possess a player of the class of either of these two, it is wise to position them where they can do the most damage. 10/10 for both.
To sum it up Messi exerts more influence over more games. Ronaldo has been accused of being a ‘flat track bully’ in the past, effective in the lesser matches but disappearing when
it really matters. This may be a harsh assessment, but Messi has produced more performances in the biggest games. The Argentinean scores one more point than the Real Madrid man and edges the battle of Messi vs Ronaldo. Total: Lionel Messi: 69/80 Cristiano Ronaldo: 68/80 The question is: if they meat in the UEFA Champions League Finals, who will be the decisive player?
ARTICLE: Andrei Gherasim Source: worldsoccer.about.com
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Absolutely spectacular! The snow and the cold disappeared and the extreme sports came back in Romania. Children of all ages were in Youth and Herastrau Parks to train for the summer competitions. Maybe not everyone wants to participate, but I didn’t have a place to put my foot on without getting hit by a bmx, skateboard or roller.
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Talent is everywhere in sports, you just have to be careful and don‘t go look on the ground but above it!
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If you do them well you are rewarded with the extreme rush that comes with extreme sports. An element of danger is all part of the game. The desire, the need, to challenge yourself to the limit is all part of the ‘game’.
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The mentality is that people who are drawn to extreme sports are risk takers. It’s that they love to push themselves to the limit, physically, emotionally, and in every way possible. There is always another goal to be set and reached, and the bar just keeps inching upward. Each time they have a success they want to push themselves farther. Any great athlete tends to do that, but this is especially true in extreme sports. Once they accomplish something, they will start to lose the rush, so they have to push themselves harder and set the bar higher.
ARTICLE: Andrei Gherasim
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Ideas4Talent is the first romanian agency to promote and represent the underground talents. We believe in people’s value and are building together models of tomorrow. Ideas4Talent is building a strong community of talent and, on March 9 2012 we launched the training program, “Coaching for true champions.� We have in this program coaches with extensive experience in this field. These are professionals who understand that passion and talent have to be supported and valued.
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We thank the following coaches involved in this program: Andreea Voroneanu, Marius Berescu, Dana Burghel, Alex Molnar, Anca Petrecu and last but not least: George Visu. We are confident that this program will bring more value. In addition, thanks CROS for hosting the launch of this program.
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Among the objectives of the program I mention the following: • achieving the objectives based on the champion’s desires • the clarity of his mission and finding the tools for the champion, by which this mission is fulfilled • the awareness for the need of coaching in becoming the best • increasing the notoriety of coaching in the talent’s mind • forming a community of passionate people for coaching and providing value through new tools
Article: Alexandra Dragomir
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Mountainboarding is one of the world’s fastest growing extreme sports. It combines the carving and freestyle aspects of snowboarding, skateboarding and surfing with the trail and mountain riding aspects of mountainbiking and BMX. You can ride a mountainboard almost anywhere. In fact you really need only a 5 degree slope to have enough speed in which to carve. Generally grass hills are an ideal place to learn. Additionally you can ride on BMX tracks, dirt roads and pavement. The question is more “Where can’t I ride my mountainboard?” The answer is you can ride it almost anywhere you want.
Why Ride? You can ride anywhere, anytime. Ride the way you want on the terrain you like with the option of a brake. Very quick learning curve (minutes). Quick learning curve for anyone. Learn at your own speed sport (brake allows you to start slow or fast). Terrific thrills and wild spills. One board lets you jump, slalom, speed, maneuvers, get huge air, or pull off your favorite trick. Great outdoor summer family sport you can learn together. Quick fix sport -- keeps a mountainboard in your trunk -- pull it out whenever and wherever. Limitless places to ride -- mountain slopes, sledding hills, single track trails, BMX trails, paved roads, stairs, etc. No significant additional equipment or costs associated. Lots of places to ride for free.
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INTERVIEW
29 IDEAS4TALENT: Introduce yourself quickly to the world KIWY: 1.70, brunette, carry a big board with me. IDEAS4TALENT: With so much time spent in Bucharest, how did you get to practice Mountainboarding?
KIWY: When I reached the limit in skateboarding, I didn’t know in which direction to go. I felt limited by the asphalt. I tried alternatives, rolls, BMX, free running but nothing fit me. One day, inadvertently, I found a site about mountainboarding. I started looking for more information
until I found out they were a few boarders in Romania. I engaged quickly in this sport and after I got my first salary I bought my first board. It did not matter where I lived. IDEAS4TALENT: What and who inspired you to practice Mountainboarding?
KIWY: I knew about mountainboarding since I was little, but I never thought I will have the opportunity to try it sometime. I wasn’t confident at the time whether I should take the financial and moral risk and get down to a sport I had no tangent. It wasn’t an exercise of inspiration but a search of alternatives.
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IDEAS4TALENT: Can we be totally stupid and ask your how do you feel when you’re in the air with the mountainboard? KIWY: OOh, this will be a long answer. Have you noticed how someone does something exciting or is in a dangerous situation he can remember every last detail of what happened? Of course, except trauma. Imagine now that you can control the time and that state. You are aware of your position, of the surroundings, in two seconds you can see all the facial expressions of others. You feel your own body and the board’s moves. All the noise and voices are filled with silence as they are somewhere in the distance, and every movement that doesn’t belong to you, is seen slowly. Your whole body is tensed for impact and when you land, the world returns to normal, sounds are not far and you remember every moment. IDEAS4TALENT: Tell me what were the reasons you were so lucky to grow with skating. KIWY: Maybe I wanted to show off and stand out, or I wanted to feel special, or I wanted to find out I can do something out of the ordinary. Frankly, I do not know why, I just know that I didn’t want to stop.
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IDEAS4TALENT: Tell me who influenced you to do skate and mountainboarding. KIWY: I was 14 when I started to skate, and I did it because I wanted to impress a girl. At that time I didn’t even know how to sit on one. I skated increasingly more until it crystallized as a passion. For mountainboarding, my friends and girlfriend convinced, they didn’t bear to see me any longer as a spectator.
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34 IDEAS4TALENT: Some people do not really like what they do. Others love what they do. Why do you think this discrepancy even exists?
IDEAS4TALENT: Why would anyone learn this sport?
KIWY: I think it’s a matter of self-image: how do you see yourself, how you want to be seen by others and how others want to see you. For example, you want to belong to such a specific group to have
KIWY: Easy to learn (about 15-20 minutes), easy to practice, you can move on any terrain, there is no need to be athletic, it fits in the trunk of a car, the equipment is easy to repair and maintain and it can last for years. IDEAS4TALENT: How’s the city? From what I see, you do not want to stop for a picnic. KIWY: It has charm. I like contrasts. When I stop for a break, I love to watch people run in a hurry or being abstracted, as quickly pass along me. I try to imagine what their story. Then I’m back on the plate as quick as them. IDEAS4TALENT: In the last week I noticed about you only the pleasure you gain by enjoying mountainboarding. You said you are only 5 who practice this sport in Romania. What is your secret? KIWY: We are few, perhaps more than 5 now, but the atmosphere is very friendly and pleasant. It’s very nice to get out with someone who share your passion.
a certain status, but to fit in, you feel forced to work in a field that does not match your values, or you behave in a certain way to create a certain image about you. And there is a difference between what you do and what to do. It’s just an opinion. You should not take it seriously anyway.
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IDEAS4TALENT: How is your life now? KIWY: My life looks like the carousel. Today, maybe I can stay in the house, tomorrow at the same hour, I’m in a car to a location where I make a trick or I do something that I did not get to do. I’m not bored any second, but recently I’m looking for a little stability in some certain areas.
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IDEAS4TALENT; Who do you think makes mountainboarding cool? What do you like and what do you dislike at the locations where you skate? KIWY: Seriously? The boards seem pretty cool to me. You are a mountainboarder, you are interesting for all people who see you. At the moment, I only skate in Bucharest. For now just give me a Bucureşti. It’s like a great training camp for beginners. You have everything you need to learn but, gradually, there is a desire to try something else or to skate on something bigger. IDEAS4TALENT: How do you feel to be part of the first people who skate on these boards?
KIWY: You get to skate so many times alone, but at least you won’t lack people who are interested or reactions of any kind. I do not know how many times I’ve been asked what’s the name of the board or how did I build it. Very rare we have negative reactions, but those come from adolescents or adults trying to belong to a group. IDEA4TALENT: How often do you skate? With whom and where do you have fun? KIWY: Daily or every two days. Usually when I feel like I can skate. Alone or with friends. It doesn’t matter the place if you have good company.
IDEAS4TALENT: Where do you see mountainboard in 10 years? KIWY: I do not know. Now, I hope it will withstand for 2 years in our country. Outside, for several years it began to grow in popularity at a faster rate. IDEAS4TALENT: We’re at the end. Do you have special words for our readers? KIWY: I don’t know what to say. All people have a passion or a hobby. Some have forgotten, others may not have discovered. No matter what or how well you do, any person who holds her passion is an interesting one.
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Kiwy: Who knows where life will take you. When everyday you wake up can be considered a new adventure, why should you waste that time trying to fit in or trying to become something you’re not? Go be creative, so sing a song, start running or do a math problem for enjoyment. Because in the end, the only thing that will truly matter is how happy you are with yourself.
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