PASSPORT

Passport Blog has moved

2010-04-12T00:13:00.000-07:00

Please visit us at our new web space at:

www.passportsoccer.com/blog

Nike NSW Brasil Black Pack Collection

2010-03-26T01:16:00.000-07:00

And the World Cup gear rolls out.

Via: Uncrate

Objectified

2010-03-23T23:02:00.000-07:00

Objectified is a documentary about the relationship between people and man made objects. Not only it's a good documentary, it is the 1st documentary I have ever seen on the subject.

Available at Amazon or click here for on line viewing.

Puma strikes again

2010-03-16T09:27:00.000-07:00

The following spot by Puma feels more like a tribute to the game than a commercial. The beautiful footage was shot on location in Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Angola by Syrup NYC. Aided by director Jakob Daschek they manage to capture the passion and love for the game in every frame.

PUMA - Journey of Football

Via: QBN

The Life Cycle of Football Boots

2010-03-07T03:31:00.000-08:00

Life Cycle of Football Boots from albert yih on Vimeo.

I believe it's important to understand the sort of impact our actions have on our planet. I too believe that whatever each person does about it it's their business. Just as long as we understand what we're doing. In the light of this video I do consider the words of S.F. from The Off Side Rules to be words of wisdom: "...you do realize what happens if we continue to poison the soil: a world with only Field Turf. And no one wants that."

Via:
The Offside Rules

IFAB rejects Goal line technologies

2010-03-07T00:03:00.000-08:00

Goal Line Technology consists of two solutions, the RFID chip equipped soccer ball and the Hawk Eye computer tracking system.

The RFID chip is a soccer ball with an enbedded microchip that sends a signal to indicate that the ball has crossed the goal line. The Hawk Eye is a computer tracking system that provides officials with a visual representation of the ball's most likely path.

This technologies were being considered by FIFA due to incidents such as the one in "a match on January 4 in which England's Tottenham was denied a clear goal against Manchester United when goalkeeper Roy Carroll dropped the ball behind the line while officials were apparently looking elsewhere."

In the case of the RFID microchip, this technology was reported to have been tested back in 2005 at the Under 17 FIFA World Championship in Peru. It is not clear what the results of that test were.

It should be noted that, at least the Hawk Eye technology has been used in Tennis and Cricket for years.

The interesting thing about the IFAB's ruling is that no rationale has been provided for their decision. The ruling has been received with frustration and anger by some managers. One thing is for sure, the IFAB's decision to reject these technologies guarantees a place for human error, needless arguments and disputes in soccer for many years to come.

Via:
M&C
Google News
USA Today
engadget

Nice commercial spot by Audi

2010-02-28T14:14:00.000-08:00

Something about this spot reminded me of the BMW - Audi billboard adds in Santa Monica last year. Created by Venables Bell & Partners this commercial strikes back at BMW with humor and elegance.

Audi TV Ad, Friendly Competition from GTspirit on Vimeo.

Nike commercial

2010-02-27T11:03:00.000-08:00

This spot was created by advertising agency Wieden + Kennedy for Nike.
Good work.

Via: monkeyzen

Harvest by haroshi "Skate and Destroy"

2010-02-27T02:49:00.000-08:00

Some of the sculptures on this exhibit are just incredible.
Japanese artists taking recycled art to another level:

Via: hypebeast

Agent introduces the CTRUS soccer ball

2010-02-22T23:35:00.000-08:00

A design studio called Agent intends to change the way we think about soccer balls. After looking at their home page the only thing I can tell about the Agent design group is that they are as talented as they are secretive.

Agent approaches soccer ball design from a different perspective in every level. From a functionality standpoint the CTRUS ball comes equiped with a GPS chip that communicates the position of the ball to sensors around the field. This technology intends to aid officials and put an end to disputed calls.

It is worth noting that a similar technology called the RFID chip was developed back in 2005 by Adidas-Salomon AG, Cairos Technologies AG, and the Fraunhofer Institute.

From a structural standpoint the design of the CTRUS is unlike anything in the market right now. According to Agent:
'CTRUS’ functional principle is based on the mechanical properties of its materials. it is composed by
an inner structure (skelle-core) and an outer net-embedded shell, made out of reinforced elastomers.
these pieces have different durometer according to its structural location. the flexibility provided by
its materials, emulates the bounce of an inflated pneumatic soccer ball, but offers the advantage of
not loosing air. CTRUS doesn’t need air in order to perform.'

From an aesthetic standpoint one of the most notable features of the CTRUS is its ability to glow and change colors. The color change feature is intended to "display the critical game situations, such as goal, offside, kick force, travel speed and if the ball is over the goal line or outside the field of play, via a GPS/RFID inner light." As far as I am concerned the W1 and B2 models are most easy on the eyes.

CTRUS Design Process from AGENT. on Vimeo.

CTRUS - Envisioned by AGENT. from AGENT. on Vimeo.

Via The Design blog, and Designboom, and AGENT.

FIFA slashes World Cup soccer ticket price to South Africans

2010-02-20T20:45:00.000-08:00

Security concerns vs. accessibility. It´s a balancing act for FIFA this summer.
Article.

The making of Jabulani

2010-02-19T00:03:00.000-08:00

This is some high tech production. Very impressive indeed.

Hipster Puppies

2010-02-18T20:33:00.000-08:00

Narcissist dogs and clever quotes will surely make this blog a favorite of many.

"falcor begrudgingly explained to his mom that wearing girl’s jeans doesn’t make him gay."

"lucky thinks this unagi is too salty, and he knows because he lived in japan for a month"

Lectures on line

2010-02-17T23:32:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things to seek out on line has always been lectures. Luckily there seems to be no shortage of lectures on all sorts of subjects. Here's some of the sites I visit when I'm looking for interesting and/or inspiring lectures:

TED
COFA talks
the 99%

Here´s one of my favorites

Another milestone for soccer in the U.S.

2010-02-14T02:05:00.000-08:00

"The European Champions League final, the world's most widely viewed club-soccer match, will be shown on U.S. broadcast television for the first time this year when it airs on Fox from Madrid on May 22. Various sports are seeking a wider global footprint: Sunday's Super Bowl was carried live on Britain's BBC. Fox had originally planned to air the match on its FX cable channel."

Yet another sign of the rise in popularity of soccer in the United States.

Die Antwoord

2010-02-08T00:15:00.000-08:00

I just came across this group from South Africa called Die Antwoord. Their website features what they refer to as "next level beats and gangsta skill lyrics". I love the photography work. Be sure to check out the secret chamber.

Puma commissions artist Kehinde Wiley

2010-02-02T00:44:00.001-08:00

From Puma Creative:
"PUMA commissions Contemporary Artist Kehinde Wiley to create portraits of African Football Players to Celebrate World Cup 2010 Campaign"

Checkout these beautiful limited edition kicks.

EJECT MEDIA - and the South African perspective

2010-01-31T22:57:00.000-08:00

The African continent is a place of extremes. It is extremely beautiful, extremely diverse, extremely complex, and in many ways extremely troubled. If I had to propose an antonym to the name Africa I would propose the word Boring.

This year Angola made the headlines as the host of the African Cup of Nations. After three decades of civil war this event was, to many in the country, an opportunity to show the world that the days of turmoil are behind them. Unfortunately the event was soon tainted by an attack on a bus carrying the Togo national team as it entered the Angolan enclave of Cabinda. The assistant coach and the director of communications were killed.

Despite the tragedy the tournament was not to end without glorious moments. Egypt emerged the champion after a 1-0 victory over Ghana. The goal was scored by a young Egyptian known as Gedo. Gedo scored a total of 5 goals, each of them after coming in from the bench as a substitute. Egypt's victory is more notable when we consider that they failed to qualify for the World Cup.

In a few months South Africa will host the biggest sporting event in the world. A country with its share number of problems has struggled to overcome crime, corruption, and many logistical problems.

As the African continent struggles to deal with its demons, past and present, there is a very palpable sense of excitement as the time for kick off approaches. Eject Media is a Broadcast design studio in South Africa who's doing a fantastic job at helping this excitement spread.

With teasers such as "Pull up your socks" and "Suppotas", they give us an glimpse into the lives of some hardcore African soccer fans. The footage in these teasers is beautiful, and feels very intimate. I hope these shorts are the precursor to a feature length documentary. I cannot think of any more fertile ground for content for a documentary as South Africa is about to become.

Thank you Eject Media for sharing these shorts with the world.

Pull Up Your Socks from Eject Media on Vimeo.

Baloyi in Cape Town from Eject Media on Vimeo.

Baloyi at Home from Eject Media on Vimeo.

Suppotas from Eject Media on Vimeo.

the fun theory

2010-01-26T23:09:00.000-08:00

This video made me wonder if architecture schools happen to have a class in their curriculum that deals with "fun" as a legitimate factor to be considered in design. I love the concept, and makes for a brilliant add campaign.

Honduras national hero Jonathan Bornstein

2010-01-25T00:45:00.000-08:00

This is a curious story. How does a gol by Jonathan Bornstein on Oct 4 2009, USA v. Costa Rica, propels him to national hero in Honduras?

Arash Markazi has the story.

MachoTailDrop is a movie about skateboarding

2010-01-20T00:46:00.000-08:00

MachoTailDrop.
The one thing that can be said about this trailer is that it was beautifully shot. I really hope the movie is as funny as its title.

Suppotas!

2010-01-18T22:06:00.000-08:00

Found via TheOffsideRules.

As ridiculous as this may sound, ever since I found this video I have not been able to stop playing it to myself multiple times over. Great montage of passionate and colorful South African fans. If anyone has a clue about who plays this track please please please let me know.

Suppotas from Eject Media on Vimeo.

sneak peak at Facebook offices

2010-01-18T20:44:00.000-08:00

I just ran into this article about Facebook's offices in Palo Alto CA. To say this is a nice place would be an understatement.

Eurosport rallies to collect funds

2010-01-18T11:47:00.000-08:00

100% of the proceeds will go to help earthquake victims in Haiti.

Please click.

Soccer in Africa

2010-01-12T19:32:00.000-08:00

My good friend David just emailed me this article about Soccer in Africa. The article is worth a read but if you don't have the time the photo gallery is a MUST see.

subterranean city

2009-12-15T23:54:00.000-08:00

This is fantastic.

Soccernomics

2009-11-05T21:09:00.000-08:00

"Soccernomics" by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski (Nation Books)

I keep seeing this book being reviewed everywhere.
Enough so that I now feel compelled to buy it.
Market place review
The offside rules review

Female wrestling in Bolivia

2009-11-05T01:08:00.000-08:00

Related to soocer? I just found out about a documentary titled Fighting Cholitas. Female wrestlers in Bolivia. The promo videos for the movie are amusing at the very least, and the girls seem to be having a blast. Check it out.

about running, and running barefoot

2009-11-01T19:11:00.000-08:00

Every so often at a pick up game I notice someone playing barefoot. Usualy the Brasilian guy. :) Unless everyone else is playing barefoot I think this is crazy. Christopher McDougall makes an argument for barefoot running, something I had never heard about. He touches on some interesting topics such as the zen of running, and running as a means of becoming a better person. Insert the word soccer instead of running and we are good to go.
:)

2009 homeless world cup limited edition tee

2009-10-18T14:13:00.000-07:00

The proceeds from this shirt will be donated to the homeless world cup. If you hit play on the audio button on the page you'll find an interview with Mel Young, founder and president of the homeless world cup.

The evolution of club team logos

2009-10-18T01:42:00.001-07:00

Scott Holt of Vital Design has a fantastic article about the evolution of club team logos over the years. I liked his post so much that I will post similar comparisons next time I run into one.