Persistent Infringement                [Part 2 of My Soccer Trilogy]

 

Statistics from the first match of 2018 FIFA World Cup showed that, of the 22 fouls earned by Russia, Aleksandr Golovin of Russia had 7 fouls, while Denis Cheryshev had 4 fouls, not including yellow cards.

A poem by Chrome Dome Mike Kimbro

 

Consider reading along to my Spoken Verse Performance.

 

 

VERSE 1

 

On a warm summer day,

 

Twenty grown men chased,

 

A ball, on the world's biggest stage.

 

 

But the style of play,

 

That the home team embraced,

 

Had this soccer fan in a rage.

 

 

VERSE 2

 

The worst offender,

 

Earned a yellow card,

 

And enough fouls to top the stats.

 

 

Imagine the splendor,

 

Yeah, I know it's kind of hard,

 

When clean soccer is "where it's at."

 

 

CHORUS

 

Persistent Infringers.

 

They're caught in the act.

 

Persistent Infringers.

 

Still, they argue the fact.

 

Give jerseys a tug,

 

Or play like a thug,

 

Then flat out lie like a rug.

 

Guilty of Persistent Infringement.

 

 

 

 

Photo of Vlad Putin of Russia and Sepp Blatter of FIFA.

VERSE 3

 

In my opinion, so humble,

 

"Get the ball or get the person!"

 

Being taught so early is lame.

 

 

Why do I constantly grumble?

 

Because I'm afraid it will worsen,

 

And scar the face the beautiful game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VERSE 4

 

When my children were short,

 

In basketball I coached them,

 

On the off chance it's played in heaven.

 

 

I realize that other sports,

 

Experience foul problems,

 

But no NBA player picked up seven.

 

 

VERSE 5

 

The prophets talk of "Thug Life",

 

In the hi-hop audio reports,

 

In which they celebrate the gangsta way.

 

 

But players who live the Thug Life,

 

Are common in contact sports.

 

They don't care about awards for fair play.

 

 

VERSE 6

 

So when you're out there,

 

On the football pitch,

 

Try hard to be resistant.

 

 

Know that some folks care,

 

When pro players get rich,

 

From fouling that is persistent.

 

Note the fouls and yellow cards awarded in this English Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, the Wolves, played on February 26, 2022, at a time when Wolves had 40 points, and West Ham had 42 points, so much was at stake.

 

VERSE 7

 

With stars in attendance,

 

They don't want to see a loss,

 

So foul play is what coaches insist.

 

 

Give your soccer transcendence.

 

Answer: "Not this time, boss!"

 

"All my tackles will be clean and crisp!"

 

 

 

CHORUS

 

Persistent Infringers.

 

They were caught in the act.

 

Persistent Infringers.

 

Still, they argue the fact.

 

Give jerseys a tug,

 

Or play like a thug,

 

Then flat out lie like a rug.

 

Guilty of Persistent Infringement.

 

 

 

Here's a photo from a 442 Magazine article about Scottish football.

 

 

The End

 

 

Copyright © Michael Kimbro 2018. All rights reserved.