To recap: In a match against Ireland, Frenchman Thierry Henry, who thought the soccer ball was actually a baby falling to the ground, reached out and accidentally grazed the ball with his hand. One thing led to another, Henry controls it, crosses, teammate Gallas heads it, bing-bang-boom, ball is in the back of the net, France is in the World Cup, Ireland is out. No biggie. This incident is now being dubbed The Hand of Frog. (If by frog, they must mean Kermit the Frog, because Kermit was one cool frog who likes saving babies)
The Hand of Frog is of course in reference to a similar and no less heroic play, known as the Hand of God, in which Diego Maradona cleverly used his hand to punch the ball in the goal and seal a victory for Argentina over England in the '86 World Cup.
All this brings to mind another superstar hand gesture that had a major impact on his team's fortunes. Yes, we've all seen MJ's last jump shot to beat the Jazz for the NBA title, and the blatant push-off with his off-hand over Byron Russell to create said shot. So I say, if MJ can do it, why not Henry?
The Hand of Kermit the Frog
The Hand of God
The Hand of MJ
couldn't find a youtube, but there's also the "Hand of D-Hards," where he used the same hand to punch all 21 other players on the pitch, including his own norwegian countrymen, within 45 seconds.
ReplyDeletei'm pretty sure that is on the Greatest Moments in World Cup History DVD
ReplyDeleteas soon as Norway replaced selfish, overrated striker Patterson with Haller off the bench, I knew thy were destined for great things
ReplyDeleteHaller!
Haller! That man is an animal on the pitch.
ReplyDeletePatterson became a team player though after he took one for the team by going in at goalie.