respect

It's no secret that I have what some may call a man-crush on Kanye West. His beats are good, his lyrics are some of the best, he's got an ego, and the fact that he's from the Chi helps too.


As a football (soccer for y'all) goal keeper, though, Gigi Buffon personifies what I want to be when I grow up.


I felt nostalgic when we played Saturday at el Retiro with some new people. It reminded me of street soccer with my cousins in the rain, soccer games during recreo, high school tryouts, penalty shootouts... I was dead tired after the game, but it reminded me of how fun it is and how much work it takes to play well. I have to emphasize playing well because what's the point of simply playing? Anyone anyone can play, but anything worth doing is worth doing right. Fortunately, I should get plenty of chances to play right around here. I watched the Italy-France match at an Italian bar and it was awesome to be surrounded by people so passionate about football again.

Sometimes, since coming to Spain a strange feeling overcomes me. Even though I'm halfway across the globe from home, I feel like it's a homecoming of sorts.

Sometimes.

[Lupe Fiasco - Hustlaz Song]