A leGeNd Or WhAt………………

There is no one in the FoOtBaLl WoRlD who doesen't know his name.

He is none other than PELE.

Name : Edson Arantes Do Nascimento
Date of Birth: 23 October 1940
Birthplace: Tres Corações, Brazil
Brazil’s beautiful star  above all others

Pele. The God of football. "O Rei". Whatever the name, the memory is the same – of a world-beating superstar – a record-breaking footballing icon. Above and beyond his unequalled achievement in winning three FIFA World Cups™, Pele, was a genius who was constantly reinventing the game of football.

With every touch of the ball, every pass, every dribble, Pele was capable of coming up with something new – something the fans had never seen before. With a killer instinct in front of goal, an eye for the perfect pass and legendary dribbling skills, Pele was just about the perfect footballer. And if the "Seleçaõ" came to incarnate the "beautiful game" in the eyes of so many fans around the world, this can largely be credited to the breathtaking skills of their celebrated no10.

A star from the start

First spotted at the age of 11 by former Brazilian international Waldemar de Brito, he joined Santos at the age of 15, and had not yet turned 16 when he scored in his first official match against FC Corinthians, in September 1956. A legend was born.

In 1958, he played in his first FIFA World Cup™ at the tender age of 17. The world was amazed as this slight teenager emerged from nowhere to light up the tournament with his dazzling skills. In fact it was player power that earned him a place in the starting line-up for Brazil's third match against the USSR. Pele had been injured, but upon his return from the treatment room, the team closed ranks and insisted upon his selection in a forward trio alongside Garrincha and Vava.

He repaid his team-mates with a goal against Wales in the quarter-finals, and a hat trick against France in the semi. He was unstoppable, allying perfect technique with lightning speed, opportunism and intelligence. He oozed class, and rounded off his FIFA World Cup™ with two splendid goals against Sweden in the final. His first saw him have the audacity to pull off a "sombrero", lifting the ball over the last defender, before smashing the ball home on the volley; his second was a delightful glancing header past a spellbound Swedish keeper. Defender Sigge Parling later confessed: "After the fifth goal, I felt like applauding".

At the final whistle, Seleçaõ keeper Gilmar fondly remembers having to console the child genius as was carried off the field in tears on his team-mates' shoulders. Pele was to go from strength to strength in the years to come, tormenting defences and confirming his status as a footballing idol. He scored 127 goals in 1959, 110 in 1961, and carried off the Copa Libertadores twice (1961, 1962), two World Club Championships (1962, 1963), and nine Sao Paulo Championships.

Frustration and bliss

He arrived at the 1962 FIFA World Cup™ in Chile, ready to set the world alight again. This was the perfect stage to showcase his talents, but, tragically, Pele was injured in Brazil's very first game and did not reappear. He watched from the sidelines as his team-mates regained their world title. By now, Pele was a marked man – and the same unhappy fate awaited him in 1966 as he again left the field on a stretcher, hacked down in Brazil's third game against Portugal. This time, though, he was forced to watch from the sidelines as his team was knocked out of the competition.

The "black pearl" would have to wait until Mexico 1970 before reminding the world of his exceptional talents. Ably assisted by lieutenants Jairzinho, Tostao, Rivelino, and Carlos Alberto, the Sun King shone in all his glory that year. In the first FIFA World Cup™ to be broadcast around the world in colour, it was as if Pele was determined to give new meaning to the world's game. Highlights included his attempted lob from the halfway line against Czechoslovakia, a stunning header that brought an even more stunning save from English keeper Gordon Banks, and the unforgettably cheeky moment when he stepped over the ball, letting it run past the Uruguay ’keeper, before shooting narrowly wide.

Symbolically, it was Pele who scored Brazil's 100th FIFA World Cup™ goal in the Final in Mexico – a magnificent header after a typically athletic leap. "It was a special feeling to score with my head. My father once scored five headers in one match – that's one record I've never been able to beat" said Pele afterwards.

Tarcisio Burgnich, the Italian defender who had been handed the unenviable task of marking Pele in the Final was later quoted as saying: "I told myself before the game, 'he's made of skin and bones just like everyone else' – but I was wrong". Brazil won the right to keep the Jules Rimet trophy after winning it for a third time with arguably the greatest team of all time. Pele had become a living legend. The day after the final the Sunday Times headline summed it up: "How do you spell Pele? G-O-D".

Leaving a big footprint

Pele was indeed a legend, and he set some truly startling records in his long and distinguished career. His 1,000th goal came in 1969 in front of a delirious crowd at the Maracana stadium . He scored 5 goals in a game on no less than 6 occasions, 4 goals on 30 occasions and a hat-trick 92 times! In one game, against the hapless Botafogo in 1964, he hit the back of the net 8 times! In all, the great man notched up 1281 goals in 1363 games and picked up 92 international caps.

He quit what he called "the beautiful game" in 1974, before returning a year later to play for the New York Cosmos "to bring the world's game to the American public". He would hang up his boots for the last time in 1977. J.B.Pinheiro, the Brazilian ambassador to the UN was quoted as saying, "Pele played football for 22 years, and in that time he did more to promote world friendship and fraternity than any other ambassador anywhere". And who could contradict him? In warring Nigeria a ceasefire was declared when Pele came to play in Lagos in 1970. The President of Brazil declared him a "national treasure" to thwart any potential transfer to a European club. And in Santos, 19 November is forever "Pele Day" – to celebrate the anniversary of his 1,000th goal scored at the Maracana stadium.

Since his career ended, Pele has used his ambassador status to promote his country, the UN and UNICEF. "Every kid in the world who plays football wants to be Pele – which means I have the responsibility of showing them how to be a footballer but also how to be a man". But that's what gods are for isn't it?

Playing CareerInternational honours

• 92 International appearances, 77 goals
• 1958 FIFA World Cup Sweden™ Champion
• 1962 FIFA World Cup Chile™ Champion
• 1966 FIFA World Cup England™ first round
• 1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico™ Champion

Clubs

• 1956 – 1974 Santos
• 1975 – 1977 New York Cosmos

Club honours

• 1956, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1973 Sao Paulo Champion
• 1961, 1962 Copa Libertadores Champion (Santos)
• 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968 Brazilian Cup Champion (Santos)
• 1977 NASL Champion (Cosmos New York)
• 11-time Sao Paulo top scorer — 1957 (17 goals), 1958 (58), 1959 (45), 1960 (33), 1961 (47), 1962 (37), 1963 (22), 1964 (34), 1965 (49), 1969 (26), 1973 (11)

Other

• 1281 goals scored in 1363 total matches (record)
• International Olympic Committee Athlete of the 20th Century

LIGHTEN YOUR MIND

One is busy as one is wedged in a rat race. In a rat race, even if one wins, one continues to be a rat. Our hectic thoughts are looking out for peace and elation. In the state of deep sleep one experienced harmony and joy, where did it come from? Joy is within us. The empire of heaven is within us.However, because of our ignorance, we are busy searching for amity and pleasure outside and not within. It is like a man searching for teeth in a crow. Our search can be proficient if we do not trail mirages. On and off, we should stop and look within. We should edify ourselves to keep our mind silent. In the presence of calm mind, the dance of joy can be experienced.Unless one discovers oneself he remains in the fringe. The moment one discovers oneself then one has found one’s core. The interior is absolutely silent, an empty space. The periphery is packed with noise and rubbish. Even GOD would not want cross the threshold such a place.Be empty and find yourself filled with fragrance of a million flowers. You become a part of an eternal flow. You become a channel, a means to a divine flow. 

   Hey Suchi, I know u've already read it, but i wanted to publish it coz I felt it was worth it.

                       

 

Addiction……

Hols are here and I'm sure most of us are suffering under the monotony of this holiday (well almost a holiday).

So its time U get addicted to something or the other.

GET ADDICTED TO

• Books ¬ For the higher brains
• Comp. games ¬ who doese'nt like'em
• NET
• Soaps ¬ The traditional television company
• Comics ¬ how about it?
• Blogging

I know its boring and i too am feeling the heat. Can't think of anything else to write on.

BEAR WITH ME! 

SoMe WaYs To KiLl U’r BrOThEr

Ya u read right 10 ways  to kill u'r bro, specially like mine.

• Ok to start with u can push him off the building (lure him on by givin chocolate or somthin and then suddenly "heh heh" the fun.
• Another good one :: Some brothers like to have bath with hot water, sooooo probabally shot circuit the geyser or the water heater then as soon as he touches the water "aaaaaaaaaah" ( the old movie style)
• If u'r brother is alergic to something specially something like dust like my bro, u  are educated enough to know what to do.
• If u live in a city like Mumbai where there is "BHAI" rule, few thousand rupees will get u rid of u'r problem.
• One of the best ways is to poison his milk or juice or whatever he likes to drink often, then watch the fun the way he struggles (a bit brutal,I know)
• He will have a pet won't he ? if he doese'nt a wild dog or cat will do. Just send the Beast upon him.
• Or the best way is to read him our HISTORY textbook, before the end of the  first Chapter he would be dead.

People dont take all this seriously, its just for fun and if U have any suggestions Please do send.

Landmark::Heaven for books,CD’s…

I must say there is no other shop in Chennai like landmark. It is just the ultimate place where one can buy just any book not to mention any new PC game or a movie DVD. Some people will say that why not go to a library but I feel the atmosphere at  landmark is just great anyway people have their own point of views and lets not talk about that now.

I mean when U go there U are lost in the maze and believe me U’ll never want to be found out. This place keeps on growing, it was started as a simple bookshop but know as all we can see it is a shoppers delight.

Anyway this extravaganza will keep growing.

The 10 best movies to watch this summer (if not already)

1. Crash – didn't receive Oscar for nothing did it?
2. Brokenback mountain
3. Rang de basanti – Rox

4. Pattiyal – 4 Tamil dudes

5. Walk the line

6. Being Cyrus – a surprize

7. Goal – should be good (i've read the book)

8. Narnia - Fun to watch

9. Taxi no :: 9211

10. Mostly awaited, but releasing nex summer :: HP 5

Well….

As Wordsworth had said "when i first thought of writing I never thought, it was spontaneous"

I stand in a similar situation, but like wordsworth I dont have the talent nor the time.

Now lemme see this is my first entry for this blog so I can just say that it should be another experiance to remember.   

So a BIG HI to anyone who reads this.