It’s my Parting Shot for my Monday Musings…..

For several years, the debate was, who was the best contemporary soccer player in the world? Lionel Messi (pictured) or Cristiano Ronaldo?! What made Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Brady, etcetera, the greatest of their respective sports at the height of their athletic prowess was that they won championships! As a result, with Argentina winning the World Cup yesterday, Messi is the greatest today. But, France’s Kylian Mbappe will likely strip that title away come 2026 in North America when the next World Cup of Soccer is held!

Following a late night, early morning arrival home Saturday into Sunday from Regina with the Blades, I woke up Sunday morning to turn on the T-V just in time to catch all the drama of the World Cup final. It was the 74th minute and Argentina led France 2-0 and I thought it was match over. Yet, there I was sitting on the edge of the couch for the next hour and a half, witnessing some incredible highs and lows and ups and downs that only sport can provide!

By the way, the final score wasn’t 4-3 for Argentina. Soccer matches that go to penalty kicks means that sportscasters and reporters can’t write or say a simple score line as we do for all other sports. In yesterday’s case, Argentina and France tied 3-3 through regulation and extra time with Argentina coming out victorious 4-2 in penalty kicks. You can’t shorten that up!

The N-F-L tried to upstage the World Cup with some of the crazy comebacks and finishes on Saturday and Sunday. There’s my Vikings coming back from a 33-0 deficit at half-time to beat Indianapolis 39-36 in overtime, Dallas blowing a lead and losing 40-34 to lowly Jacksonville and the Raiders blowing another lead only to win when New England chose not to play overtime and literally lateralled the game away to Las Vegas! All I can say is, thank goodness for my P-V-R!!

That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again!…..