Burly

An apt description of Brazil and Real Madrid star Ronaldo: burly.

We found it in this Yahoo Sports article:

"But since Capello's arrival the burly Brazilian forward - famed for his scorching runs past defenders which usually lead to goals - has struggled to convince the Italian."

According to Answers.com burly means:

"adj., -li·er, -li·est.
Heavy, strong, and muscular; husky. See synonyms at muscular.
[Middle English burlich, from Old English *borlic, excellent.]
Characterized by marked muscular development; powerfully built: athletic, brawny, husky, muscular, robust, sinewy, sturdy. See strong/weak."

We have always seen Ronaldo as being "husky". Interestingly that in Old English the word meant "excellent". Ronaldo has certainly been the most excellent goal scorer in World Cup history...

Mischievous

Tottenham's Jermain Defoe on why he bit West Ham's Javier Mascherano:

"When the West Ham player fouled me, I reacted in a bit of a mischievous way - my character is a little like that at times." (BBC)

According to Answers.com the word means:

"adj.
Causing mischief.
Playful in a naughty or teasing way.
Troublesome; irritating: a mischievous prank.
Causing harm, injury, or damage: mischievous rumors and falsehoods."

Mascherano is now claiming that Defoe caused harm, while Defoe is steadfast in stating that he was only playing a prank...

Rampant

From a Yahoo Sports piece today, this title:

"Rampant Lyon crush Marseille with Juninho double"

Here's the lead paragraph in this story out of Paris:

"Two Juninho goals helped Olympique Lyon tighten their stranglehold on Ligue 1 with a crushing 4-1 win at second-placed Olympique Marseille on Sunday that took them eight points clear. "

Here is the definition from Answers.com:

"adj.

Extending unchecked; unrestrained: a rampant growth of weeds in the neglected yard.

Occurring without restraint and frequently, widely, or menacingly; rife: a rampant epidemic; rampant corruption in city government.

Rearing on the hind legs.

Heraldry. Rearing on the left hind leg with the forelegs elevated, the right above the left, and usually with the head in profile.

Architecture. Springing from a support or an abutment that is higher at one side than at the other: a rampant arch.

[Middle English rampaunt, from Old French rampant, present participle of ramper, to ramp. See ramp2.] "

I like the idea of Heraldry, the rearing on the hind legs. That's how Lyon is playing these days. Little wonder that so many are saying that they can win the Champions League...

By the way, Arsenal was also "rampant" today, disposing of Reading 4 nil...

...But the BBC chose to call it a "sparkling display" instead...

Shellshocked

England assistant boss Terry Venables says McClaren was astonished by the level of abuse he had endured after the defeat by Croatia.

"Steve was shellshocked by it," Venables told the News of the World. (BBC)

According to answers.com "shellshocked" means:

shell-shocked or shell·shocked (shĕl'shŏkt')adj.
Suffering from shell shock.
Stunned, distressed, or exhausted from a prolonged trauma or an unexpected difficulty.

Shell-shocked? McClaren was shell-shocked? Please. He's not new to the circus that is the England Team. The man could see the abuse coming from the moment that ball skipped over Robinson's foot for Croatia's second goal of the match. I don't think that Venables has chosen the correct word here to describe how McClaren felt. Far from leaving him stunned, the loss has simply fed into what got McClaren the job the first place: illusion. The man talked and acted and smiled his way into a job that he has no right to.

England need to bring in a man with brains and balls. But the FA isn't really interested in that are they?

Rollicked

England defender Rio Ferdinand on new manager Steve McClaren's frankness:

"Players should definitely be rollicked more often. That's the way I've grown up...Some players might not agree with that and might squirm at being rollicked...But I don't think there's anything better than hearing a manager be honest - either in front of the lads or to your face by yourself - and telling you where you've gone wrong and what you have to do to improve...It can only make you a better player." (BBC)

According to Answers.com "rollicked" is a verb which means: "To leap and skip about playfully: caper, cavort, dance, frisk, frolic, gambol, romp. See work/play." or "To take extravagant pleasure: bask, indulge, luxuriate, revel, roll, wallow. See like/dislike."

So I don't think that Ferdinand has used the word correctly. It's kind of like his miss-timed header against Reading which led to a goal against and 1-1 draw. I wonder which word he meant to use?

Rocked?

Does a player need to be rocked once in a while?

Assuage

Former France captain Marcel Desailly on the retirement of goalkeeper Fabien Bartez:

"We will miss him but in the mean time I am happy for him because he assuaged his passion." ( Yahoo Sports)

Answers.com shows that the word assuage means, "To satisfy or appease (hunger or thirst, for example)."

With World Cup, Euro Championship and Champions League wins, it does indeed seem he had a very satisfying career. We should all be so fortunate...