tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110521272024-03-07T18:47:00.954-05:00BeautifulgamerBeautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.comBlogger348125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-21840361484949318242007-11-04T07:48:00.000-05:002007-12-30T00:34:49.316-05:00Definition:beau-ti-ful-gam-er<br /><br />n. A footballer, soccer player who plays football/soccer and lives life in the spirit of "the beautiful game".<br /><br />v., -<a href="http://beautifulgaming.com/">gaming</a>, gamed<br /><br />Pele popularized the term "the beautiful game" as a means of setting soccer/football apart from all other sports. A beautifulgamer then is set apart from mere footballers.<br /><br />Usage: "Yesterday the little beautifulgamer took his ball to the school yard and joyfully kicked it against the wall for a few hours..."<br /><br />Assumptions: a beautifulgamer plays the game with joy, passion, integirty and skill ... and lives his life according to same criteria. This category of player is therefore higher than that of the<br />" <a href="http://www.beautifulplayer.com/">beautiful player</a> ", since the focus is on both the game and life...on playing and living combined...<br /><br /><br />----------------------------------------<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">The Beautifulgamers:</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Baggio, Roberto</strong><br /><br />"was the Divine Ponytail of Italian calcio. In his storied career, he only missed one penalty kick for Italy,and his legacy should not be defined by that famous incident." > <a href="http://clix.to/calcio">source</a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Best, Georgie</strong><br /><br />for giving himself completely over to the beauty of the game and life...<br /><br /><br /><strong>Camus, Albert</strong><br /><br />The great French-Algerian writer who turned to the power of words when his body would no longer permit him to play goalkeeper...<br /><br />"Plotinus can give us an answer in his admirable theme: the Beautiful, an Idea among Ideas, cannot be attained except by the person who contains the Beauty in himself. It cannot be attained by anyone whose eyes are obstructed by 'the yellow mucus of vice'." --From p.116 Youthful Writings<br /><br /><br /><strong>Cantona, Eric</strong><br /><br />for his eccentricity, his wonderous goal scoring and leadership abilities and for not allowing badly behaved fans to get away with things....<br /><br />"Eric Cantona swaggered into English football as a strutting artist-hero, despising the lesser beings who attempted to play without art in their souls. He put his art into every kick, whether relishing the paradox of the backheel or savouring the feel of boot against spectator." > <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/simon_barnes/article2410854.ece?Submitted=true">source</a><a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/simon_barnes/article2410854.ece?Submitted=true"></a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Clough, Brian</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />The legendary manager who led Nottingham Forrest to two consecutive European Cups.<br /><br />“Style mattered, and Clough fell into the category of high-minded aesthetician. It wasn’t enough to win—he wanted to win playing beautiful football.”<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0007247109?tag=beautifulgame-21&camp=1406&creative=6394&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0007247109&adid=0J8RG33SFPQ2QPNF8JZ1&">Source</a> ><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Cruyff, Johann</strong><br /><br />sublime skill; beautiful philosophical mind...<br /><br />When he joined FCBarcelona in 1973 he "told the European press he chose Barça over Real Madrid because he could not play for a club associated with Franco." > <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Barcelona">source</a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Galeano, Eduardo</strong><br /><br />for capturing the whimsy and the passion with his book Soccer in Sun and Shadow...<br /><br /><br /><strong>Henry, Thierry</strong><br /><br />for his style, his speed, his goals, his leadership, his words, his humanity...<br /><br />"It was definitely one of the things I considered when I left. With all due respect to other clubs who believe winning is everything, for me it's also how you win." The beautiful game? ''You can call it that. I'd just call it playing. I'm not saying it's the only way, because it's been shown on paper that you don't always win that way. But for me Arsenal and Barcelona are the two best teams in the world in terms of their approach to the game." > <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/10/14/sfnhen114.xml">source</a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Liedholm, Nils</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />He promoted the way of the beautiful game as both a player and coach.<br /><br />"A world-class footballer during his playing days at Milan, Liedholm famously went two seasons without misplacing a pass. When he finally did give the ball away the San Siro crowd offered him a five minute standing ovation...The Swede is also remembered for his humour and irony..." <a href="http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=471362">More</a> ><br /><br /><br />Lieholm was also a big ally to the beautiful game as a manager. For instance he offered a rare view of defending when he spoke of the modern player: "The only trouble is they do not do much to avoid fouling players...It is too easy to stop a player by fouling him. Proper training teaches you how to win the ball without committing a foul, which is much more difficult. I learned that as a youngster and that was why I was rarely booked or suspended." <a href="http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/articles/liedholmgg.html">More</a> ><br /><br />Known as "The Baron" for having married into the Italian nobility, Liedholm had a successful career outside of football as a winemaker. <a href="http://www.liedholm.com/">More</a> ><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Platini, Michel<br /></strong><br />whose grace and determination was at the heart of a legendary French team and Euro champions Juventus...<br /><br /><br /><strong>Ronaldinho</strong><br /><br />for his magic, his joy and of course his championships...<br /><br /><br /><strong>Santana, Tele</strong><br /><br />for daring to coach differently and creating the greatest team that never won...<br /><br />"I'd rather lose the game than tell my team to foul, kick the opponents or win with an illegitimate goal...Football is art, it's enjoyment and it's not about hoofing the ball upfield." > <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/4933184.stm">source</a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Socrates<br /></strong><br />a Brazilian who possessed unusual beauty on the pitch and continues to create beauty with his life, his ideas, his actions...<br /><br /><br /><strong>Wenger, Arsene<br /></strong><br />the Arsenal manager is the Premiership's protector of the Beautiful Game<br /><br /><br /><strong>Zidane</strong><br /><br />for exemplary skill, leadership and use of force in defense of the beautiful game when FIFA wouldn't do it...<br /><br /><br />-----------------------------------------Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-33980833939082139292007-11-03T09:48:00.000-04:002007-11-03T09:50:01.824-04:00Sir Alex and United Use and Abuse the Beautiful GameIs Manchester United a Beautiful Team?
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<br>Not on the basis of their first half behaviour against Arsenal today.
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<br>Their first offense is manager Sir Alex Ferguson's gamesmanship: he started to work on referee Howard Webb early when he made perfectly reasonable foul calls. Sir Alex was trying to create conditions not conducive to beautiful football, nor within the actual rules of the game.
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<br>The second offense is the fouling itself: Vidic fouled Fabregas in the penalty area, Evra received a yellow and Hargreaves a yellow for fouls. These fouls impede beauty.
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<br>The third is the poor sportsmanship of Andersson who dives and play acts in getting Fabregas a yellow card--who in fact pulled out of the tackle.
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<br>Terrible stuff.
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<br>Is Ferguson a fraud? Does he really protect talent and beauty?
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<br>It seems that he is not interested in the beautiful game at all and merely uses it.
<br>He simply does whatever it takes to win.
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<br>Playing attacking football and wanting only HIS skillful players to be able to play does not add up to the beautiful game, nor most definitions of beauty, as beauty is dependent on a core of goodness.
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<br>And goodness in the case of football begins simply with playing within the rules.Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-26435940026684374622007-07-29T19:57:00.000-04:002007-07-29T19:59:34.474-04:00Camus-Youthful Writings-P. 126"For a man a feeling--love, hate, sacrifice--is beautiful only if it is bathed in tears."Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-14030090069836978792007-07-20T08:50:00.000-04:002007-07-20T08:53:02.259-04:00The Joy of FootballA short story about a father, a son and the meaning of football.<br /><br />Read it and be inspired. Free. Online Only.<br /><br /><a href="http://thejoyoffootball.com/">http://thejoyoffootball.com</a>Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-2314137976707208552007-07-04T11:44:00.000-04:002007-07-04T11:44:42.335-04:00Joy and Ambition<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/6239286.stm">BBC SPORT Football Europe Liverpool complete Torres signing</a>:<br /><br />"I will arrive with a lot of joy and ambition."Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-75718415089438541912007-07-04T11:42:00.000-04:002007-07-04T11:42:39.997-04:00A Beautiful Adventure<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/6239286.stm">BBC SPORT Football Europe Liverpool complete Torres signing</a>:<br /><br />"A new beautiful adventure begins for me and I hope that with work and effort I can be among the best players."Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-44821119684310347912007-07-04T11:38:00.000-04:002007-07-04T11:39:59.238-04:00The Number Nine Jersey<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/6239286.stm">BBC SPORT Football Europe Liverpool complete Torres signing</a>:<br /><br />'The fact that Liverpool are giving me the number nine jersey just goes to show the confidence they have placed in me, when considering those who have worn that shirt before me,' said Torres. "Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-51783319751157115712007-06-23T08:34:00.000-04:002007-06-23T08:34:39.473-04:00Henry on Barcelona<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=txarsenalwenger&prov=st&type=lgns">Henry exit turns spotlight on Wenger - World Soccer - Yahoo! Sports</a>:<br /><br />"Barcelona are a wonderful club steeped in tradition and play beautiful football."Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-70397228157012963522007-06-13T14:04:00.000-04:002007-06-13T14:05:01.599-04:00MakeweightUnited have been linked with a number of high-profile forwards and Saha has even been mentioned as a potential makeweight in a bid to sign Tottenham's Dimitar Berbatov. <p>( BBC )Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-45570981869948362952007-06-05T08:24:00.001-04:002007-06-05T08:24:54.390-04:00A bureaucrat trying to take the pressure off himself"It's a classic case of a bureaucrat trying to take the pressure off himself. They didn't handle it right, they didn't have proper ticketing procedures and unfortunately there were counterfeit tickets."<p>( BBC )<p>-Liverpool owner Tom Hicks on UEFA's handling of the Champions League Final ticket and supporter problems.Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-69144317349714399472007-06-01T14:57:00.001-04:002007-06-01T14:57:37.690-04:00Warm-Ups"The teams have been warming up on the pitch. Plenty of stretching and short sprints for the England players, some more laidback passing and moving by the boys from Brazil." Andrew McKenzie, BBC Sport at Wembley --before their June 1 friendly.Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-40117467872607351172007-05-31T07:22:00.000-04:002007-05-31T07:23:04.167-04:00Why Ranieri Wants to Return to the Premier League<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=AjuWpIrqlmXRLnSZTKQ1lScXwLYF?slug=afp-fblengprmancityranieri&prov=afp&type=lgns">Ranieri wants Chelsea miracle at City - World Soccer - Yahoo! Sports</a>:<br /><br />"'Why England again? Because at this time, English football is a fascinating window that hypnotises you,' he said.<br /><br />'Some of the richest men in the world would do ridiculous things in order to buy an English club because the Premier League has become a luxury stage.<br /><br />'Here (in England), there are so many champions, seven or eight teams at the top level just as Italy had some time ago.<br /><br />'Unfortunately for us, Italian football, we are poorer, despite Milan's extraordinary victory in the Champions League.<br /><br />'To return to England means to be at the centre of something important.'"Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-84863017625149461192007-05-30T11:47:00.000-04:002007-05-30T11:50:21.535-04:00Childish Terry, Corrupt FA<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6703221.stm">BBC SPORT Football Retiring ref Poll hits out at FA</a>:<br /><br />"If you see an unruly child you don't blame the child you blame the parent,' he said.<br /><br />'In this instance to FA are the governing body, the custodians of the game, and it's their job to make sure their children behave themselves.<br /><br />'If they are unruly they should bring them back into line. "Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-34597066754249039492007-05-29T09:06:00.001-04:002007-05-29T09:06:49.123-04:00Platini in the Service of Football"I am convinced that you will hear this appeal, because it is being made in the sense of history, and with progress at the service of football in mind." <p>( BBC )Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-50779810935573459182007-05-29T06:20:00.000-04:002007-05-29T06:21:10.858-04:00The Rub of the Green<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/6694769.stm">BBC SPORT Football Championship Davies delighted as Derby cash in</a>:<br /><br />"A devastated West Brom manager Tony Mowbray felt his side did not get the rub of the green."Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-74328397308558882682007-05-29T06:18:00.000-04:002007-05-29T06:18:56.189-04:00Alcohol Problems and Bouts of Depression<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6698867.stm">BBC SPORT Football Gascoigne has emergency surgery</a>:<br /><br />"Gascoigne won 57 caps for England and scored 10 international goals but has had a troubled life since retiring from top-flight football, suffering from alcohol problems and bouts of depression. "Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-38534110060185303472007-05-23T13:35:00.000-04:002007-05-29T06:23:27.364-04:00An Excellent Modern PlayerKaka on Steven Gerrard: <p>"(He) is an excellent, modern player because he's a player who runs, marks, knows how to pass, cross, score goals and is a leader in the field for Liverpool." ( BBC )</p>Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-20147016442191290252007-05-16T07:46:00.000-04:002007-05-16T07:50:46.715-04:00Mourinho's Mental Health<strong>A prior search result regarding comments he made about Sir Alex Ferguson caused me to question Mourinho's sanity and now we have this:</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=afp-britaincrimefblengpr&prov=afp&type=lgns">Chelsea boss Mourinho arrested, cautioned over pet dog - World Soccer - Yahoo! Sports</a>:<br /><br />"Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been arrested and cautioned after an argument with police and a health official about his pet dog.<br /><br />Wednesday's edition of The Sun newspaper said the 44-year-old coach left the club's player of the year awards after a call from his wife that their Yorkshire terrier was being taken away.<br />On arriving at his Belgravia home he saw an official and two police officers who wanted to put the dog in quarantine, fearing it had been taken abroad without jabs.<br /><br />A spokesman for London's Metropolitan Police confirmed that officers went to an address in central London at 7:45 pm Tuesday with an officer from the Animal Health and Welfare Service.<br />'A 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of obstructing police and was taken to a west London police station,' he said."<br /><br /><strong>Having said all of the above this of course could also be a set up by rival fans who detest the eccentric Chelsea manager...</strong>Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-33570131495429799932007-05-15T21:25:00.000-04:002007-05-15T21:26:30.311-04:00Trafficked Footballers<a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/8495642c-f866-11db-baa1-000b5df10621.html">FT.com / Arts & weekend / Magazine - ‘I rescue trafficked footballers’</a>:<br /><br />"In the 1990s, when I was a professional footballer, young African players used to ask me for help. After I saw that desperate group in the Cameroon embassy, I toured the small pitches around Paris to find abandoned footballers. I asked them about their lives, how they had come to Europe and who had brought them here. I wrote their phone numbers in a little notebook. Since then, I’ve collected more than 700 numbers. There must be thousands of these players throughout Europe."Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-9717540369344158252007-05-14T17:43:00.000-04:002007-05-14T17:44:12.394-04:00The Elixir of Life<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6652279.stm">BBC SPORT Football My Club Man Utd Ferguson defends team selection</a>:<br /><br />"Winning is a fantastic elixir of life. It's gives you something extra and I think they will go on and do more next year. It is a fantastic achievement by the players at the club. We are the best team in the country and play the best football. When you see the trophy in our hands you really know you have achieved."<br /><br />-Sir Alex Ferguson after United are presented with the Premiership trophyBeautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-2243306145024846362007-05-14T17:34:00.000-04:002007-05-14T17:37:25.046-04:00The Intensity of Football<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/6653185.stm">BBC SPORT Football My Club Wigan Athletic Jewell resigns as Wigan manager</a>:<br /><br />"It is not an easy thing to walk away from somewhere and something which has been such a part of your life for so long. The intensity of football at the highest level, although completely addictive, is also draining. I feel I would be kidding the chairman, my players and the supporters if I was to carry on without being able to put in the energy and dedication I know is required to be successful at this level."Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-81326065227630276292007-05-11T11:41:00.000-04:002007-05-11T11:43:24.915-04:00Football is about competition<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-englandarsenal&prov=reuters&type=lgns">Wenger allows Muamba to leave, signs Polish keeper - World Soccer - Yahoo! Sports</a>:<br /><br />According to Arsenal's great manager Arsene Wenger:<br /><br />"Football is about competition and it is down to quality and performance and the rest is open. "Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-8317673137932580152007-05-11T06:41:00.000-04:002007-05-11T06:42:21.223-04:00Greek Football<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=afp-fblgreviolence&prov=afp&type=lgns">Greek football beset by violence and economic interests - World Soccer - Yahoo! Sports</a>:<br /><br />"Violence and economic interests are blighting Greek football according to a poll conducted by Tradelink for the Greek football league."Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-6100956810942821912007-05-11T06:22:00.000-04:002007-05-11T06:23:10.586-04:00The referees allow a lot<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-englandtevez&prov=reuters&type=lgns">No more English lessons as Tevez considers his future - World Soccer - Yahoo! Sports</a>:<br /><br />"In my opinion, it's the most difficult competition in the world. That maybe why so few people make it over here.<br /><br />'Every Saturday you get kicked and you end up going home with marks all over your body. They hit you hard, they hit you everywhere -- Premiership defenders are very strong individuals.<br /><br />'And the referees allow a lot. They don't interrupt the game as much as they do elsewhere. "Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11052127.post-53462972364250005072007-05-09T14:05:00.001-04:002007-05-09T14:05:48.378-04:00Perfect Wine"Carlo gave me a magnificent bottle of wine," Ferguson added. "But I immediately told him I would only drink his wine once I see him lifting the Champions Cup."
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<br>The United boss admits his team were outclassed in the second leg of their semi-final, which Milan won 3-0.
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<br>But Ferguson believes his side were tired from their efforts in the Premiership the previous weekend, which helped United regain the title for the first time since 2003.
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<br>"Milan's second-leg victory over us was stupendous, fantastic and extraordinary," Ferguson said.
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<br>"But I know we paid a high price for the Premiership fightback which we needed at Everton to turn a 2-0 scoreline into a 4-2 victory.
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<br>"Last week, Milan were fresher and better prepared tactically and physically.
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<br>"I'm still trying to analyse the factors involved. But the truth remains we faced one of the best performances in the history of AC Milan."
<br><p><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/mobile/bbc_sport/football/top_stories/663/66377/story6637733b.wml?suid=1154333478-7544782_rogerspush.gprs.rogers.com">http://news.bbc.co.uk/mobile/bbc_sport/football/top_stories/663/66377/story6637733b.wml?suid=1154333478-7544782_rogerspush.gprs.rogers.com</a>Beautifulgamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07135287356661208845noreply@blogger.com0