The fix is in
Even if it requires heavy editing, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il will ensure that his country’s soccer team will at least appear to win the 2010 World Cup.
He has forbidden state-run TV from broadcasting all live World Cup games, a ban that also extends to games played by his own country. The Sun newspaper reported that the policy also includes North Korea’s matches until the highlights are “heavily edited to ensure that they look like the better team.”
If North Korea loses, author Mike Breen suspects Kim will suddenly stop taking credit for the country’s qualifying for the first time since 1966. The variation of the age-old question unsurprisingly relates to Kim: If the North Korean soccer team loses in the World Cup, but there’s no video evidence, did it really happen.
“Once North Korea is knocked out,” Breen said, “I would be amazed if there were any mention of the World Cup at all.”
The bigger question is, however, what will the dictator do to the athletes after they lose? Might be healthier to defect, than to return home to North Korea as losers.
PARTING SHOT
“Only the strong survive. But the strong still get their (butt) whipped and that was my message to the team.”
— Nick Saban
The Alabama coach relating what he told his players after the second-ranked Crimson Tide posted a 26-21 come-from-behind win over cross-state rival Auburn on Friday.
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