The Haitians Love for Brazilians (when it comes to the World Cup)

by today’s Urban Chameleon contributor

The only thing us Haitians like more than Haitians are Haitians but when it comes to the World Cup, we Haitians are all about Brazilians! For example, have you not seen this youtube clip featuring a bar full of Haitians dressed in the Brazilian colors?

To think that Haitians are just passionate fanatics of the Brazilian National
soccer team would be to overlook the innate connection between Brazilians and Haitian people. Both have in common tragic histories and glorified cultures. To be "pou Bresil" (for Brazil) in Haiti is a birthright and a way of life. And so today, as the Brazilians were handed a one-way ticket back to Rio as a result of the Dutch soccer win, Haiti is in mourning. For many Haitians, the Brazilian elimination marks the second "blow" of 2010. Haitian Facebook statuses read:

“First an earthquake, now this. What have we done to deserve such misery?”

Indeed, the start of the World Cup season and the hope that Brazil would win the cup restored a sense of celebration and excitement across Haiti. Amid crumbled homes and tent cities, the misery of the past six months seemed to fade under the roar of "ole, ole, ole!" So what gives? Well, the Haitian fascination with Brazil is hard to explain. Born in the hay days of the Brazilian soccer phenomenon, Pele, I suppose, Haitians' passion for Brazil can probably best be explained simply as a case of "rooting for your own" ... Or the closest thing to it! Without a qualifying National team of their own, Haitians find comfort in rooting for players who look like them, act like them, and grew up in similar circumstances from them. And so even though Haitians don't speak Portuguese, don't dance samba, and don't eat the Brazilian national dish, Feijoada, once Brazil steps on the field, green and yellow run through Haitian veins. Of course this explanation may be too romantic for some to swallow. Fore the skeptics, another answer may go down easier. Haitians are arrogant and they like to win.

Despite today's defeat, Brazil hold 5 world cup titles. Which means that for a middle-aged Haitian, she/he has had 4years worth of bragging rights 5 times over in their lifetime. That's 20 years of getting to tell the whole world that you’re better than them and for us Haitians (who have swallowed so much), that's a dream come true!

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In Celebration of the World Cup

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French Pair Set to Create Olympic History

Urban Chameleon news

VANCOUVER — French pairs skaters Yannick Bonheur and Vanessa James are set to create history on Sunday when they become the first black couple to compete in figure skating at the Olympic Games.

Getting to Vancouver has been a long journey for the duo who teamed up just over two years ago after Bonheur put an advert on the internet after splitting with previous partner Marylin Pla.

Canadian-born James' aunt saw it and convinced her niece,

who has lived in England since she was a child, to reply.

James, 22, arrived in France for a trial run and never left with the duo teaming up in December 2007.

"It's destiny and I'm very happy about it," said 27-year-old Bonheur.

"There's the grace and beauty of Vanessa and then my athleticism. And the fact that we're both black brings a pleasing visual harmony."

James previously competed internationally for Britain as a single's skater. She was the 2006 British national champion and 2007 silver medallist.

The pair moved to Indianapolis in the United States in August 2009 to train with Russian coach Sergei Zaitsev.

And last December they booked their ticket to Vancouver by winning the French nationals, a victory which enabled James to receive French citizenship.
Bonheur said they were determined that their Olympic experience will lay the groundwork for future successes, after they finished seventh at Europeans.

"This is just

the beginning. We want to make a name for ourselves so that they'll remember us for next season," he said.

Being tagged the first black pairs skaters is not a disadvantage, they insist.
"It's often been remarked that we look different on the ice. So we want to highlight that," said Bonheur.

"We want to climb the ladder to show that black skaters can stand on the podium."

Didier Gailhaguet, president of the French skating federation, added: "They have a really exceptional look about them."

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Russian's Aboriginal Ice Skating Routine Offends

Urban Chameleon news

Can't tell you the first thing about the Winter Olympics but this story (and picture!) caught our eye. Russians portraying the Aborigines on ice?

Russian ice dancers stage folk dancing cover-up

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Russians Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin added a few leaves to their infamous aboriginal themed costumes on Sunday but nothing could cover up the fact that folk dances could never be totally authentic on ice.

The world champions were accused by Australian Aboriginal elders last month of "cultural theft" in a routine where they wore dark body suits with white swirling patterns and performed ceremonial steps.

They dumped the patterns in favor of strokes of white paint, wore lighter suits, added some more eucalyptus leaves and did not paint their faces when they performed the original dance at the Olympics on Sunday after consulting experts.

"We did it more authentic and less theatrical. There are more leaves and fewer pictures," Shabalin, still sporting a red loin cloth, told reporters.

"It can't be 100 percent authentic because it's the ice and we have a lot of restriction in our costumes. I understand that they don't dance in pants ... but we are skating on the ice."

It remains to be seen how their costumes will be received by those who complained but there were plenty of other outfits on show that could get into trouble with the fashion police.

source from www.reuters.com

Below are the outfits they first wore before "toning it down." As you can see the man's outfit was darker and that apparently was REALLY inappropriate.

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NFL Star Chris Henry Dies After Auto Accident with Fiancée

Urban Chameleon news

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry died Thursday from injuries sustained in a Wednesday fall from the back of a pickup truck. He was 26.

According to authorities, Henry was involved in a "domestic situation" with his fiancée, Loleini Tonga, at a residence. As she drove off in a pickup truck, Henry jumped onto the bed of the truck, police said. At some point, Henry "came out of the back of the vehicle."

No charges have been immediately filed.

A fifth-year veteran of the Bengals, Henry caught 119 passes for 1,826 yard and 21 touchdowns during his tenure. He had been sidelined since Nov. 8 due to a broken arm.

read full article on www.seattlepi.com

Sports' First Billion-Dollar Man

Urban Chameleon news

Tiger Woods cracks the $1 billion mark in career earnings.

Tiger Woods has been making history on and off the course since he joined the PGA Tour in 1996. First up was a record $40 million contract from Nike. The following year he won the Masters by a record 12 strokes, becoming the youngest winner ever and first black player to take the title. His career has been packed full of accomplishments, including major titles (14), annual money titles (9) and Player of the Year awards (9).

Now Woods can add one more accolade to his trophy case: the first athlete to earn $1 billion. Our calculations show that the $10 million bonus Woods earned winning this year's FedEx Cup title nudged him over the $1 billion mark in career earnings.

Forbes has been tracking athlete earnings since before Tiger turned pro. Woods had earned a cumulative $895 million going into 2009, by our estimates, from prize money, appearance fees, endorsements, bonuses and his golf course design business. If you add his $10.5 million in 2009 prize money, the FedEx bonus and his take so far this year from his more than $100 million in annual off-the-course earnings, Woods' career earnings are now 10 figures.

Woods has only two real competitors when it comes to career earnings among athletes: the two Michaels, Jordan and Schumacher, who dominated their respective sports for nearly 15 years. Jordan's earning peaked during his last season with the Chicago Bulls (1998-'99), when he earned $69 million in salary and endorsement income.

Jordan continues to earn $45 million annually, almost entirely from Nike ( NKE - news - people ). We estimate that Jordan has earned $800 million since he entered the NBA in 1984. Annual sales of the Jordan brand are now $1 billion for Nike, so MJ should hit the $1 billion mark in career earnings in the next four to five years.

click here to read full article on forbes.com

South African Runner Caster Semenya Gets Make Over

Urban Chameleon news

If you aren't already aware South African runner Caster Semenya had to undergo gender testing after questions were raised when she completed what they ruled as an "unusually" strong finish in an 800-meter run at the track and field world championships in Berlin in mid-August.

Well honey there is no better way to come back at a b*tch then to get dress like a--

Fabulous glamorous looking woman and pose for South African You Magazine



I love it- did she call Tyra? Is she smiling with her eyes?

I'm not judging (or at least trying not to) but it's better than this look.



source from news.spreadit.org

South African Champion Runner, Caster Semenya Undergoes Gender Test

Urban Chameleon news

This South African woman, Caster Semenya who won the gold by a large margin in 800m dash has to undergo gender tests to prove she is a woman...it seems wrong. Okay so she has masculine features and may act like a tomboy but to call her out for pulling a Ms. Doubtfire or Big Momma on the field seems outlandish. It's not like she came out of no where and she has parents! Damn talk about pissing on someone's parade, can't a sista enjoy a win?

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/32477147/ns/sports-olympic_sports/

http://www.universalsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23000&ATCLID=204778051

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Dwight and Kobe Tonight…Right

by today’s Urban Chameleon contributor

After all the Lebron and Kobe hype it’s come down to Kobe and Dwight…tonight. This is when I get into a little bit of a “ha ha” media moment just because I am so sick and tired of media giving young people credit before they’ve earned it. I mean where is Dwight’s puppet and voice over actor? Where are those commercials? He did after all end up winning the Eastern Conference Championship. Sorry that my rant has to be at Lebron’s expense except for tsk tsk on you Lebron for walking off the court after losing the Eastern Conference with out congratulating the winning team. I mean $90 million dollars before you even played a game and you can’t find it in your heart or your manhood to shake a hand? Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit. However, I do have to remember that Lebron is a man child and so the maturity of a true competitor may just not be as developed as the size of his BODY! Seriously though, it’s absolutely unbelievable the size of this guy at only 24years of age, really any age, which leads me to Dwight’s shoulders. WHAT THE HOOTANANY! Have you really looked at Dwight’s shoulders? The fact that they expand beyond a medium close up shot of him hitting a free throw is incredible. For what ever reason Jordan back in the days didn’t appear this King Kongish. It’s just astonishing to me. Now someone who doesn’t astonish me is Kobe Bryant. I know all you guys love him and how he tears it up on the court but let me tell you he’s still rubbing women the wrong way. The four million dollar ring certainly didn’t win our hearts over and for 4 million dollars it should have. We instead still have bones to pick with his cheatin’ and cocky ass. So for this very reason I am rooting for Dwight’s shoulders. Go Orlando!

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