We're all about Time Inc these days after they published our fantasy preview in their Unofficial World Cup 2010 Guide, so here's a shout out to them for naming Didier Drogba one of their 100 most influential people in the world.
Imagine the body of an NBA star with feet as nimble as a prima ballerina's. When the World Cup kicks off in South Africa in June, he will carry the hopes of a continent as Africa's best-known soccer star. (West African fans will toast him with a beer glass called the Drogba. It's nearly twice the size of a normal mug.)He's certainly on our short-list of fantasy players of the year (other suggestions are welcome in the comments) and this is another nice feather in his cap. To which, he'll likely be adding another Premier League winners medal this weekend. And good luck to him in his pursuit of Jules Rimet.
No one knows the rickety and high-spirited but often heartbreaking touring bus that is African soccer better than Drogba. At the 2006 World Cup, his homeland ravaged by civil war, he organized a statement from the Elephants, as the Ivorian national team is referred to, calling for peace. Many credit the ensuing calm for allowing reconciliation to begin. At a match last March, 22 Ivorians were killed in the crush to see their beloved heroes play. After the game, Drogba resolved to donate every dollar he earns from endorsements to a charity he set up to build new hospitals in the country.
UPDATE: It's a two-fer as Drogs also graces the cover of Vanity Fair in his skivvies.
I would agree that Drogs is FF player of the year. Having him on my team since day 1, a turning point to keep him or get rid during the ACN was pivotal.
ReplyDeleteHonourable mention to Gareth Bale. Buying him at 2.65 is like taking candy from a kid.
Agreed. The big decision this year has been who to keep at discount. I didn't keep Drogba and I reckon it's cost me about 2000 places at least. I also binned Vermo and that defender from Everton too soon. Equally keeping Gareth Bale at 5 has been a great decision and I dropped Arteta at the right time.
ReplyDeleteThe big plus others have had over me is that at 10 points can afford Drogba and another player. It's like giving all your opponents Frank Lampard.
Fantasy squad of the year:
ReplyDeleteGiven
Vermaelen; Bale; Baines
Arteta (last weeks); Lampard; AJ (for the price); Fabregas
Rooney, Drogs, Tevez
Good FF players:
Hart
Johnson; Alexander; Collins
Gerrard; Milner; Malouda; Duff
Torres; Diamanti; Bent
Not just looking at averages there. I also loved the picks of Mancienne, Fox, N'Zogbia, Etherington and Carew, but they were inconsistent...