Africa10 is an all-encompassing documentary film project, spearheaded by will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, that takes South Africa’s – and by extension, Africa’s as a whole – inaugural hosting of the 2010 World Cup as an opportunity to explore the cultures and struggles of African people through the ubiquitous presence of soccer (read: football) in peoples’ lives throughout the world. (An aside, for Americans: the World Cup is the Super Bowl of soccer, takes place every four years, involves the entire planet of Earth, and ignites the passions of billions of people the world over…save those married to our high-sucrose sports culture).

A synopsis of the film, from the Africa10 website:

“Africa10″ is the feature documentary that follows the lives of a group of Africans in the run-up to, during, and after the World Cup. From kids kicking a homemade ball in the street, to passionate fans, community activists, world leaders, aspiring young players and African legends of the game’s past and present, the film depicts the rich — and at moments heartbreaking — story of life and football in Africa. It is a kaleidoscope of modern Africa that many have never seen and few will soon forget.

The film will be fully completed only after the World Cup has taken place, beginning a week from this Friday, June 11th, 2010 and continuing through July 11th, 2010. Not to give away any surprises, but Africa’s qualifying teams are: Algeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa.

Here is the inimitably benevolent and adorable Archbishop Desmond Tutu on the prevalence of soccer in Africa:

You can find more information on Africa10, including a trailer, at their website.

Ice Cube actually helped popularize the Raiders as a member of NWA: the iconic rap group would wear the team’s hats and shirts almost as an extension of themselves, using the Raiders’ bad boy image send a message about NWA’s own rough and tumble approach. Actually, Cube’s rap career dovetails explicitly with the film: the title evokes NWA’s classic breakthrough album “Straight Outta Compton,” and he even wrote a rap track, “Raider Nation,” to go with it (sample lyric: “You’re in the black hole with the black beast . . . This ain’t black gold, this is black silver. Commitment to excellence we deliver.”) It’s clear from his statements and actions that “Straight Outta L.A.” is a true labor of love – he could’ve made another popcorn flick, or the expected gangster rap record, but he chose to do this (“Straight Outta L.A.” is part of an ESPN series where established directors – John Singleton, Barry Levinson – make documentaries on sports about subjects that are dear to their heart). Most of all, we’re excited because we know Ice Cube can translate the Raiders’ explosive, unpredictable essence onto film in the same way his best rhymes still shock and startle. As Dan Durbin, a USC professor, said in the L.A. Times piece, said of the team’s trademark style, “If they didn’t cheat, they came damn close to it. But the other thing was, they were an excellent team.”

More via LA Times

As much as FIFA do their utmost to protect the superpowers its good to see that a Switzerland or a Slovenia can still find a route to the biggest single sporting event on the planet, I get depressed if there isn’t a super tournament some summers, the Olympics, European football champs and World Cup take up 3 out of 4 summers but I’m sorry,as much asI love them, the world athletics just aren’t strong enough on their own for me to avoid a dose of sporting prozac.

Looking elsewhere in the World Cup qualifications there’s a possible big story in South America where Argentina find themselves in a perilous place – the game against Peru on Saturday is a must win for Diego Maradona and in Africa, Nigeria look lost. meanwhile the USA keep proving that football isn’t just a girls game by looking home and dry in the ’safer’ central American qualifying zone – I’ll miss Bruce Arena on the touchline in Johannesburg though!

On a slightly obscure one I have to admit to having checked a few of the under 20 World Cup matches in Egypt right now – I know, I’m sure there are other things I could be doing with my time but  there you go! and even though most of the European teams have sent their second or third string sides (due to most clubs not letting their quality youth out during the season) its Ghana that look hot to win the tournament – watch them!

but to finish off this blog, if you’re thinking of moving to a new land in the future and want to learn a new language then there’s only one choice – Brazil – wow! they’ve got the World Cup after South Africa and the Olympics after – don’t know about you but Rio seems like a good place to invest right now!

Such is love affair between American men and the NFL. Fueled by endless corporate dollars from a wide range of industries (although one wonders how the state of the auto industry, a long-time and prevalent presence is pro football, is going to affect that particular situation), beer and fast food, it is among the most “American” of all organized sports. Yes, even more so than baseball. NASCAR? OK, you might have an argument there. Still, I digress.

Given the vast culture of professional football, there are a million intriguing personalities swirling in its orbit. Like referee Mike Carey.

Carey has been calling NFL games for nineteen seasons now, including officiating the Super Bowl in 2008—the first African-American to do so. But that’s hardly Carey’s first groundbreaking NFL moment. In October of 2005, Mike and his brother Don Carey were the first brothers to officiate an NFL game together (it was between the Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers). Carey was also the official in the middle of what’s become known as “Spit-Gate” when Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor spit in the face of Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Michael Pittman. He ultimately ejected Taylor for spitting, while no action was taken against Pittman for retaliating.

But Carey is also an avid part of the snow sports industry, founding Serius Innovation, a company that produces a wide range of ski and snowboarding gear and accessories. He invented something called “Cat Tracks,” which are slipped over ski boots for better traction and to save wear and tear on the boots.

In 2008, Carey was rated the number one official by the NFL head coaches, narrowly beating out fellow referee OG Ed Hochuli.

The enclosed clip aired over the weekend on Britain’s Soccer AM which, for those American’s unfamiliar, is a Saturday morning sports show which features highlight football (soccer) footage as well as celebrity guests including footballers, TV personalities and sometimes musicians. This week’s guest was Calvin Harris, the Scotsman electronic producer who has taken the charts by storm since his debut I Created Disco and #1 hit with Dizzee Rascal, “Dance Wiv Me.” While this may not mean much to British audiences, the significance of this to US fans is like Danger Mouse doing a Q&A on NFL Today. Still I think it’s dope to see the mix of sports and good music for a mass audience. Good on ya, Soccer AM.

via Music Slut

1. France – Marseilles
2. Italy – Inter
3. Spain – Barca
4. Germany – Bayern
5. England – Arsenal

Yes, it all looks safe until Arsenal pop up, but I need the odds to be interesting don’t I? Otherwise, I suppose I can put Chelsea in on that bet and just do a  separate bet for just the Premiership where Arsenal are at around 8 or 9/1. Maybe its sad that I’m having to splash a bit of cash on the football to excite myself these days. In previous years there’s been no need to add to the excitement so what’s changed?

Well, the football has become a touch more predictable I suppose, and the overexposure probably hasn’t helped. From an Arsenal point of view I only went to one game last season - that was a Carling cup game where season ticket holders don’t get to go unless they buy separate tickets and I have to say the atmos was far better than on normal games. In fact, last season I rented out my season ticket as I wanted to experience a season without my walk to the Emirates.

The thing is I didn’t really miss it! I would never have predicted that but its the truth – I needed a break… but I’ll be back this season – and I’ll try and catch myself a few away ties too – they’re the best – the real atmosphere’s in the back of places like Everton or Aston Villa.. Yeh, I’m in the mood – bring it on!

I can’t say that I blame the NFL’s #1 draft pick for living large this summer. Such are the perks of signing a big-daddy contract for millions of dollars and the various spoils that come along with it, like an endless cavalcade of bikini babes eager to be your new ‘friend.’

But this series of pics that just hit the ‘net of Stafford partying like he just won the Super Bowl (complete with Detroit Tigers cap) are probably ill-advised at best.

Dude is just one in a seemingly endless procession of Great Young Hope quarterbacks that have been brought to the Motor City to help save the most flailing franchise in all of football.

Just look at the hell Lions fans heaped on poor Joey Harrington. The kid never had a chance. Thankfully, he never had a pics of him getting down like P Diddy on a good day to add fuel to the fire.

While Detroiters will surely give Stafford a pass at least for a couple of weeks (the power of a good-looking and talented white athlete in Detroit is beyond crazysauce. If the Pistons could ever find a white player along the lines of a Hedo Turkoglu, he’d have a statue in Hart Plaza faster than most fans would be able to figure out how to pronounce his name), unless he finds a way to deliver on the field, the backlash will be fast and furious, not to mention ruthless.

Good luck, Matt. You’re gonna need it.

meanwhile in sunny old England Mark Hughes and City are the ones free to spend spend spend this year … at least it’s not our neighbors from south London and at least City are winding up Alex Ferguson with posters of Carlos Tevez in blue and the strapline ‘welcome to Manchester!!! Mark Hughes has actually assembled a pretty good squad so far but I still think he’ll find it hard breaking into the top 4 – you never know though …

I’m pretty pleased as a gooner – I mean 25 million for Adebayor is good business – good riddance is what I say – to be honest I’d rather be mid table than cheer people like him on – that’s why Wenger will always have my support – he doesn’t tolerate assholes and they’re asshole agents – bring on the youth players is what I say!! watch out for Wilshire this season…as long as we don’t lose Fabregas its all good at the Emirates – Toure can go if he wants – he’ll get injured in the Africa Nations anyway so we might as well get 10 or 12 million for him now – anyhow Thomas Vermaelen looks a good buy and Johan Djourou is coming into his prime – I’d say all we need is someone fresh in the middle to boost and support Denilson and Cesc and maybe another full back, but if we can avoid heavy injuries and can rely on the likes of Rosicky and Eduardo we’ve got an outside chance of doing something this season coming. I know everyone’s putting Arsenal down but let me recommend a bet on them at 9/1 to pick up the  crown next May !

I don’t often bet but this year could be the turning point for Arsene’s men – I’ve got a sneaky feeling that the league is coming to Arsenal this year with or without Viera !

so the thought of catching anywhere showing the second day of the second test at Lords is the digital version of finding a needle in a haystack – I’ve got my computer though and will have to stay updated via Five Live sports extra. It’s also the second day at the British Open golf where 2 oldies are showing themselves up a bit – Sandy Lyle aged 50 something and Colin Montgomery (not much younger)…its all about captaining the Rider Cup team and throwing balls too far forward, ie cheating! just funny to listen to 2 highly respected old pros acting like spoilt kids!

Sandy Lyle - competing in the British Open

Similar runnings in the cycling where Marc Cavendish who keeps winning the sprints is really beginning to get up the nose of the French organizers – l’equipe’s now got in the act accusing Cavendish of dissing France at the airport !!! love that pointless stuff – I suppose they need to keep those column inches filled while the football’s still in pre season.

but its the cricket and the Ashes that’s got me the most right now. 5 days of patience, drama, weather changes, psychology, history and a bit of sport – I’ve written about this before but when it comes to poetry in sport it has to be 5 day tests. England looked like they were gonna make Australia look like England usually do after the first 2 sessions – Strauss and Cook putting on almost 200 for no wicket but then the bails started tumbling. England have a genuine chance of regaining the Ashes this year. It’s the poorest Oz team that I’ve seen for a long while, but the 3 Lions can’t keep throwing away the kind of openings they had yesterday.  Listen, if you have a few hours go find a screen and sit yourself in front of the cricket – you may very likely be seduced by a game that goes against every other lowest common denominator sport.

that’s it until next time and for my GP Worldwide runnings check here

1. Richard Ashcroft: Before he was singing bittersweet symphonies with The Verve, this psychedelic shaman was considered a top candidate for a pro football/soccer career. Apparently, he took part, albeit briefly, in the Legends football match against Germany in June.

“My leak was the football. To the age of thirteen years he was one of the best in the football team of the school. At the age of fifteen to being present at Soccer Bobby’s Charlton School. The football was replaced by another obsession: The music.”

via Myspace

2. Greg Dulli: This dark and stormy confessional rocker was a high school baseball and football hero before he became an anti-hero in the Afghan Whigs.

“I played basketball all through school and then even played in this 30-and-under league for a little while. It’s funny, as long as I’ve known him [Lanegan], I guess we’ve never been around a basketball court, but at some point this run [we should]. We threw a baseball on the last Twilights tour, in North Carolina, and my arm hurt for a week after that. But Mark pitched in high school.”

via Pitchfork

3. Scott Weiland: The STP/Velvet Revolver frontman wasn’t always a scrawny junkie – he once played basketball on his Orange County high school team.

“I started playing music as well and when I hurt my back junior year, it was right before the season started and I told the coaches that I didn’t think I was going to continue. So I said I think I’ll continue with my band, and I was in the Magical Ensemble, this top singing group in school. The varsity football coach and wrestling coach told me how I was going to ruin my life and I was letting everybody down.”

via  Journal Gazette

4. Rod Stewart: Mr. “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” was making his way up the ranks of junior soccer clubs before rock stardom struck.

Very early, Stewart realized that soccer was a chance for him to earn a good living. He practiced hard everyday, and in his late teens he signed an apprentice contract to play with the Brenton Football Club.

via Oral Cancer Foundation

5. Topper Headon: Few people know that the ‘Human Drum Machine’, drummer for the Clash was an ambitious footballer that seemed to come to music by fate.

This punk rock drummer who played for the Clash remains hugely underrated, so it comes as a surprise to learn that he arrived at the profession by accident. Aged 13, a broken leg put paid to his footballing ambitions and it was a doctor who suggested the drums as a way of venting his frustration. Within six months he was playing for a jazz band in a Dover pub.

Via The Independent

(via Wimbledon Gambling Guru Networks)

“The Rumble In The Jungle”

This heavily hyped 1974 boxing battle between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire was one of the sport’s greatest moments, but also a musical TKO. Ali and Foreman weren’t the only champions involved: following Ali’s “back to Africa” vibe, the event dreamt up by Hugh Masakela and Stewart Levine featured legends like James Brown, Bill Withers, Celia Cruz and B.B. King jamming to thousands at the top of their game, putting the “dope” in rope-a-dope. Soon-to-be-released feature documentary, Soul Power, based on the 12-hour, three-night long concert dubbed “Zaire 74″ is culled from outtakes from When We Were Kings shot by Albert Maysles, Paul Goldsmith, Kevin Keating and Roderick Young. As a document of this legendary musical event as well as all the events leading up to it equals magic.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Prince at the 2007 Super Bowl

Let’s face it – those overstuffed Super Bowl half-time music extravaganzas usually prove to be the best time to go to the kitchen and get more chips, or just downright disasters (Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction, anyone?). Leave it to an iconoclast like Prince to breathe life into the concept: with a set deliriously slamming from his own “Let’s Go Crazy” to idiosyncratic covers of everyone from Queen, Bob Dylan and, er, the Foo Fighters (!), Prince moved the goalposts for live TV performances in one fell swoop.

Click here to view the embedded video.

“Three Lions” by the Lightning Seeds

Before “Three Lions,” the Lightning Seeds were a fairly obscure trio of Liverpudlians coming out of the tail of ‘80s new wave. In 1996, however, their fortunes changed when their song “Three Lions” was chosen as the official anthem for England’s national football team as they soared into the European Championships. “Three Lions” went on to become the greatest football anthem ever, its catchy refrain of “football’s coming home!” still chanted by fans from the terraces today.

Click here to view the embedded video.

“The Super Bowl Shuffle”

Hip-hop and sports have always flowed together, but this song – a rap track recorded by various Chicago Bears to hype up their appearance at the 1986 Super Bowl – is the missing link between them. Gloriously ridiculous, “The Super Bowl Shuffle” set the standard for great players being not-so-great rappers, paving the way for future athletes to embarrass themselves on the mic.

“Basketball” by Kurtis Blow

Rappers think they’re basketball players, and basketball players think they’re rappers – and that lineage can be traced directly to this ‘80s hip-hop classic. An ode to classic b-ball stars like Dr. J and Moses Malone , “Basketball” proves silly yet sublime, representing a time when both rap and the game were more innocent and fun – well before Shaq and Ron Artest ever attempted to get on the mic.

Also
Jamie Foxx, “The Tennis Song”

In “The Tennis Song,” Jamie Foxx created probably the only tennis-based slow jam. This achievement has never been repeated since – but the game will never be the same. Foxx 6, tennis Love… You can find video evidence if you look hard enough.

Of my most constant challenges is finding feeds all around the world  to watch my beloved Arsenal whilst on my DJ travels – this has been made easier in recent times through the web and its countless links to ‘unauthorised’ broadcasts of live matches – this is still a last resort as you never know whether ‘justintv’ will actually have the link or not! so capturing the match in Havana or Hanoi still demands a certain amount of detective work…my failures have included being stuck up a mountain in the Engadine region of Switzerland and during a recent stay in the depths of the Japanese Fukui region – in fact following last years quarter final champion league encounter between Liverpool and Arsenal I could be found in a kitchen at 4am following regular updates on the BBC Sports homepage – so when it looked like Theo Walcott had put us through with 2 minutes to go scenes of sheer abandon never previously seen (apart from during a particularly successful ‘creme brulee’ episode) were followed by suicidal depths of depression when on the next update Steven Gerrard  had scored the penalty that would knock us out!

so whilst in at the Sunsplash Antalya festival this past Tuesday I made sure everything was in place hours ahead of the kick off of the semi final second leg against the old enemy that is Manchester United. I’d given the team a 20% charge of success as it began the match 1 nil down from the first leg – I still had hope though as we were playing at home and ‘you never know!’ but within 10 minutes it was all over…
Gibbs slips, Park scores and then whilst still in recovery Ronaldo shoots from about a mile off and the ball screams into Almunia’s near post – unbelievable downer – close to tears – not even a contest…please don’t attack Wenger – he has to have such philosophies of developing his youth – but you simply have to admit that even if  Clichy, Gallas and Arshavin had been on the pitch ManU would still have been the victors – they’re just too strong right now – and  you have to make them favourites against a Barcelona team that will be missing Alves, Marques and Abidal in its defence, for the final in Rome on May 27.
So the season seems over for Arsenal – Sundays match against Chelsea will probably end in a draw and our second to last match against Man U will ironically end in us beating them having settled for fourth place and United already

Big weeks in football don’t come a lot bigger than this ! – its champions league semi’s time and as with last season there are 3 English clubs. Barcelona represent the continent with the most attractive team but the lack of high level adversaries in the last few months (they haven’t had to face an English or Italian side so far) could work against them in their game against Chelsea – and the arrival of Gus Hiddink for the Londoners has certainly raised their fitness levels – I see Chelsea coming through this tie over two legs – I want Barca but, particularly as Chelsea play the Nou camp first, Stamford Bridge is a fortress when they need it – Chelsea in the final – Drogba’s back on  it and the midfield of Essien (best in the world in the enforcer role), Ballack and Lampard will suffocate the Catalans when it matters…
onto Wenger vs Ferguson – it was funny to see Ferguson being politely led to his seat at the Emirates yesterday – apparently, according to Wenger, they have a good selection of wines in the exec boxes – a comment you’d never have heard 5 years ago – was it tongue in cheek or has the bad blood been replaced by a kind of deep reverence – since the ‘pizza gate’ affair the likes of Benitez and Mourinho have arrived to wind the Scotsman up – so maybe now Alex Ferguson feels more at home in the company of our boy from Alsace – I once saw them at a charity event
and I have to say they seemed to be getting on very well – its just been a media sham all these years!
well we’ll see about that this Wednesday (29 April) – what a match in store – I can’t wait! its got to be United’s tie really -look at how they dispatched of Spurs in the second half on saturday – although that ‘non penalty’ penalty would have killed me if I’d been a Liverpool fan – and Tottenham  capitulated after – would Arsenal allow such a bad decision to upset their game – maybe – they are young – but maybe united have had their share of luck and something may go arsenal’s way. I hope so but if you look at the teams on paper their should only be one winner – specially as Arsenal don’t have Gallas, Clichy, van Persie or Arshavin and United only have issues at right back – but then again this is football not rugby and the underdog can slip through the back door and United are frightened of us…this is for a  champions league final place… we need it, Arsene needs it…if only to vindicate his critics and to prove the money men wrong…go Arsenal

Tickets for Gilles’ Worldwide Festival in Sete on sale now – do not miss this Classic boutique Festival !

thank the lord the internationals are over
how longgggg was that 10 days ? back to the proper football ….. champions league next week

please Porto knock the stuffing out of United ! it won’t happen though – shame…
so perhaps an Arsenal Man U semi, Pires might think different
is Cygan still playing for Villareal?

watch him at corners – would be typical Arsenal if he suddenly popped one in. lets not be too confident
- it took a Seaman penalty save in the semi 3 years ago.

yeh the Chams league gets serious now…

luckilly I’ll be around on Tuesday night for the games
Wednesday night I fly to Dubai though – but hey Chelsea Liverpool’s boring so no probs but:
Bayern Munich v Barcelona could be a German shock – hope so…

Henry should never have left – don’t need him scoring against us in the final. make sure I’ve got the wednesday May 27 free for the final in Rome. Arsenal will def be in one final FA cup or Champions League….I hope
Cesc should be back tomorrow and if Diaby can play more than 3 games in a row without hurting his big toe we could have a chance to win something

- remember Adebayor owes us a few goals, Eduardo’s back and Theo can sneak something through – just a shame Arshavin is cup tied – he’s a bad boy!

here’s my  football predictions for the weekend:
blackburn 1 tottenham 1
arsenal 3 man city 1
bolton 0 middlesbrough 0
hull 1 portsmouth 2
newcastle 1 chelsea 1
west brom 2 stoke 1
west ham 2 sunderland 0
fulham 1 liverpool 2
everton 1 wigan 0
man utd 1 aston villa 1

check back with me next week

interesting stuff as ever in the TENNIS
Nadal out Murray in Federer back to close his best. I think Murray will win the US open this year but meanwhile when it comes to the Slams …

a golden age though…

tomorrow’s the Grand National at Aintree – not a big Horse fan but always love a tipple in April
I’m going for: my will at 8/1 and brooklyn brownie at 33/1 – put 20 quid on each one and see me when you’re offering the drinks out later!

until next time

Gilles Peterson