Here is a little taste of the "favorites of" everything in several categories across entertainment. Not everything on this list necessarily came out in 2011--but 2011 is the first time I heard/read/saw the entertainment.
Be forewarned I am SO far behind on my TV shows, lol, so don't expect to see current favorites listed or current seasons.
Each category has my #1 favorite and a runner-up:
The French federation said Friday in a statement it had granted Blanc permission to suspend the players at the coach's request.
I understand Blanc's need to come into a team with disciplinary questions with a heavy-hand. But this decision by Blanc and the French Football Federation ultimately sends the same crossed signals the players were striking against during the World Cup and articulated so well by the French 'keeper, Hugo Lloris (before he was made to prostrate before the fed to keep his starting job): "Going on strike was the decision of a group that felt isolated, that felt no one had protected it, and that wanted to get a message across."
Right or wrong, the fact is that a private locker room spat was made public by the French media. Sending Anelka home in the manner they did--publicly embarrassing the player in front of his team, country, and world of soccer fans--was far more disgraceful behaviour than anything Anelka did. I have a feeling that it was the FFF's uncalled action against Anelka, and Domenech's coaching staff's clear endorsement of that action, that the players were striking against.
Where is the rebuke against the French media hurting their own national team at the start of soccer's biggest stage? Where is the investigation into who leaked Anelka's rant in the first place.
Domenech was a joke as Les Bleus' coach. Look who he had sitting on the bench in their opening match. Is it any wonder Anelka was frustrated? But of course, the FFF aren't going to discipline one of their own or take responsibility for such a terrible choice of manager. Instead it is the player(s) calling attention to that incompetence that made the French federation take such red-faced action. Afterall, this is the land of Napolean and Louis XIV, where subjects are not to criticize rulers.
French football is developing into a guilty pleasure of mine. (Afterall, England and Germany are the teams I fully support.) So personally, I like Blanc as France's coach as much as I couldn't stand Domenech. And maybe he felt somewhat obligated to the FFF to do what he did, afterall he is one of them now. (As an aside: I wouldn't be surprised if such a public disciplinary measure was their condition for him to get the job). But I hope Blanc isn't dumb enough to drag this drama out past the friendly against Norway on August 4.
All players want is a coach/manager who will stand up for them, and to reiterate to everyone that locker room drama is really of no business to anyone but the team.
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