Wednesday, June 9, 2010

The People's Rooney

This is a stunning story about the North Korean soccer team. We already know what is supposed to be the main point of this story: North Korea is totally unpredictable.

But here are a few things I didn't know:
1. Their best-known striker is nicknamed "The People's Rooney."
2. Rewards are high but punishments are worse. From the story:

'With that honor comes pressure. Moon Ki-nam, a former national-level North Korea coach who defected to South Korea in 2004, said players are handsomely rewarded with coveted apartments if they win internationally but are punished, some sent to coal mines, if they lose.
Even some of the feted players from the 1966 team were said to have been sent to one of North Korea’s infamous labor camps for squandering a promising 3-0 lead to lose to a Eusebio-led Portugal in the quarterfinals.'

Check out the story here. I now officially hope the North Koreans get third in the World Cup. Behind the eventual winners USA and second-place Germany.

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