Japan coach Ivica Osim has proven as skilled with his rhetoric as with his tactics, outwitting the media with a tongue as ready to evoke fallen trousers as soccer.
Despite his failure to bring the Blue Samurai a third straight continental title, his soundbites from Asian Cup venues in Southeast Asia have revived sales of a collection of his quotations in Japan, his second home since 2003.
Humor was not lost on the 66-year-old Bosnian when Japan lost to South Korea 6-5 on penalties after a scoreless tie in 120 minutes in the third-place play-off.
It was the second time that Japan had squandered chances created partly because of numerical advantages.
In the quarter-finals, they could not break a 1-1 tie against a 10-man Australia before beating them 4-3 on penalties.
"This kind of metaphor may raise some eyebrows," Osim said. "But it feels as if I have pulled down my trousers twice and shown twice what I should not have shown."
When Japan lost 3-2 to three-time champions Saudi Arabia in the semi-finals, Osim pointed out that the Blue Samurai opted not to field an extra defender against the formidable Saudi strike force of Malek Maaz and Yasser al Qahtani.
Osim said he took the risk because a thicker midfield would allow a playmaker or a "beautiful player" to come forth.
"Isn't it more attractive that way? It makes the game more open and shows beautiful football that way," said Osim, who led the former Yugoslavia to the 1990 World Cup quarter-finals despite difficulty holding together a multi-ethnic side.
Osim, a fatherly figure who towers over anybody else on the team at 1.9m, avoided watching the penalty shootout with the Socceroos by retreating to the changing room.
"I don't want to die while I coach Japan's national team," he said. "I want to die in my hometown, Sarajevo. When I learned about the victory, I jumped for joy and almost bumped my head against the ceiling."
He has made it a rule not to watch any penalty shootout after his squad lost to Argentina 3-2 on penalties in the 1990 World Cup quarter-finals.
In exchanges with media, he has often called questions "not good."
"Don't go looking for an unborn rabbit in the woods," he said when asked if Japan wanted to finish at the top of their group so that they could avoid travelling to other venues in the tournament.
He has usually spoken in Serbo-Croatian with his words translated into Japanese.
His interpreter, Zen Chida, was reduced to tears when Osim dressed down his squad in an outburst of anger after Japan were held to a 1-1 draw by Qatar in their opening game.
"Don't be a bunch of amateurs. Finish where you must," Osim was quoted as saying by Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura.
"He [Osim] said he is ready to die in every game and that we must go out with the same feeling," Nakamura said.
But his pithy remarks have won the hearts of many Japanese since he arrived in Japan in early 2003.
The collection of his quotations, entitled The Words of Osim, has sold more than 400,000 copies since late 2005.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely