Elliott Turner's Blog - Posts Tagged "content"

In the 20th century, the English did a great job of promoting soccer. Ex-pats spread the beautiful game throughout ports around the world. Thanks! However, many of the current soccer books on Barcelona & Real Madrid dwell on unsuccessful or much too short spells by English players & managers. In my book, expect little unmerited anglophilia.

Why couldn't Michael Owen crack Real Madrid's starting lineup? Did Jonathan Woodgate suffer from bad luck with injuries? I don't really care. Lots of good players have played poorly for both Spanish clubs. Lots of good coaches have jumped on the treadmill only to fall off after a few months or a year. Being from the UK does not merit a chapter, nor even probably a paragraph.

That being said, Englishmen played key roles in the formation of both clubs. They will get credit. A few coaches and players have enjoyed memorable spells. Still, part of writing about history is sorting the relevant from the not so relevant. Sorry Jonathan Woodgate. You may not make this edition.

So, I've blogged about this topic before, but I'm not a fan of the "stats as gospel" line of thinking. Why? Well, analytically, sample groups are easily manipulated to generate the results you already wanted. For example, you want to prove Spain is great. They don't score a ton of goals usually, so you concoct or emphasize a possession stat. At the other end of the spectrum, sometimes stats lead to such academic conclusions that they lose their tether to reality. In Soccernomics, it was concluded that Iceland (or one of those Nordic countries) watched or liked soccer the most. Really? Thus, between those two extremes, stats only reveal something useful about 30% of the time (feel free to cite that).

That being said, statistics are like a view from a mountain top - you can see the whole valley, even if you can't predict which direction a particular stream will flow in a year's time. I definitely will include basic stats in the book. Soccer is a game of scarcity, and goals still count for something. As do trophies.

However, the bottom line is not the finish line. My favorite soccer writing uses powerful prose to paint vivid pictures of players and teams. I loved the old "Tuesday Portrait" at the Run of Play. In the age of video and Youtube, perhaps such descriptions are becoming obsolete. However, analysis should not be confused with video watching paralysis - a writer's goal often is to help your better understand something you've already seen.

For example, Kubala scored plenty of goals for Barca, but I love the innate contradiction of his playing style: he invited defenders into his broad shoulders, then, after a bump, tip-toed around them with the grace of a ballerina. He was both bull and bullfighter.

And I promise that's the last and only "torero" reference you will see in this blog and in my book. I will keep the armchair sociology to a minimum.

Some folks love fiction, even in non-fiction writing. Most arguments go like this: (1) fact (2) assumption (3) conclusion. However, some people don't like to accept facts as they are. Rather, they like to look back at the past, imagine a twist in the tale, and then speculate on what would have happened. Thus, this argument goes like this: (1) fiction, (2) assumption, (3) speculation.

Guess which of the two argument formations I favor?

I favor the first. Why? Well, counterfactuals are indeterminate. They are an argument you can't win, and for novices, they are fun because you also can't lose. In the realm of Madrid and Barcelona, many ask: what if Barca had signed Di Stefano? However, Madrid offered Kubala a contract before Barca. What if Bernabeu had agreed to hire Kubala's relative as coach and signed Barca's idol? Or what if Kubala had died in a plane crash (it almost happened when he was touring Italy)?

Also, what if Franco had banned the Catalan XI, and promising forward Mariano Martin had not injured his knee during a Catalan XI friendly? Would he have set some records and won some trophies? What if Cesar Rodriguez had died during his military service in Southern Spain? What if the anarchists had killed Bernabeu during the Spanish Civil War? Would Real Madrid even exist?

The possibilities are infinite. Sadly, what we learn from the counterfactual exercise is finite: next to nada. It's fun, but not necessarily illuminating. Thus, my book will stick to the facts. Yes, debate exists about cause and effect. Some facts are murkier than others. However, don't anticipate a lot of "what ifs."

For the second book, my goal is to write as objectively as possible about Real Madrid & Barcelona. How can I do that? Honesty at the outset and during the creation stage.

In terms of personal leanings, I'm a lifelong Real Madrid fan, but have tremendous respect for the history, success, and institution that is FC Barcelona. Notice how I say "institution" and not just "soccer club." If Real Madrid is all about the W's, then FC Barcelona has always harbored a role in Catalan society beyond 11 guys kicking a ball. From the founding documents to Josep Sunyol's elegant essays (and tragic death) to later President's "mes que un club" proclamations, the club has bravely (and adroitly) navigated the tumultuous waters of local Catalan politics.

No book about Barcelona could or should ignore this.

In terms of content creation (and sites I adore), I love the website Deadpsin and their tag line: sport without spin. I won't replicate their delightfully snarky narrative voice in the book, but I promise little to "no spin." And that means no access and no favors.

Thus, I don't plan on contacting either club or visiting either club. Over years of blogging & writing, I have developed some contacts at both clubs. However, if you ask for favors, you have to do favors. You at least feel a tinge of obligation. My goal is objective analysis where my only debt is to you, the readers.

Expect no favors in my analysis. I won't pull any punches, but I'm also not looking to make any enemies. A few prior books on this topic have looked down the nose at one another. I am thankful for the hard work & research put into previous books, and don't feel the need to highlight and then toss mud at perhaps erroneous ideas and explanations.

My book will cut through the crap, but nobody will need any band-aids after reading.

Some folks love transfer rumors. Despite no factual support, hearing that X player may signed for Y team opens the ears, perks the tail, and sends hearts aflutter. Historical analysis has a similar flaw: the solidly factual from the sloppily factual. In my book, I promise to stay away from hearsay and unfounded rumors.

Here's an example. Barca legend Ladislao Kubala had a famous drinking problem. However, a rumor percolates that when he boarded a train to go and sign for Barcelona, he confusedly and drunkenly thought he was heading for Madrid. This is based on what a former Barcelona President says he heard from Barcelona's scout at the time: Josep Samitier. Thus, it's a shade of hearsay.

More importantly, several facts point to the reality: Kubala knew he was heading to Barcelona. First, he'd already rejected an offer from Real Madrid. Second, he got on a train with Barcelona's scout, Josep Samitier. Third, at the negotiations with Barcelona, he pulled out his contract offered from Madrid.

Several similar stories float about the history of Real Madrid & Barcelona. I think they're cute and quaint, but not worthy of serious consideration. I will rely on narrative to add power to my history book, not the equivalent of transfer rumors from yesteryear.

Remember that indie author who wrote that book and you signed up for his email and his emails only talked about his book? Remember that entire email dedicated to how his book was on iTunes and now you could give it a five star rating there?

Remember that other email dedicated to how his book was on Amazon AND Barnes & Noble and now you could potentially give it five stars at two entirely separate websites? Amazing!

I can understand the urge for self-promotion. I post links to my prior book at the end of blog posts and in guest articles. I've posted on my blog when it comes out on new ereaders. I also tweet about it from time to time. However, at some point, a content-creator like an author has to focus on writing the original content, not the marketing crap.

A blog post is less intrusive than an email. No need to unsubscribe. No spam filter box. You just click elsewhere. Thus, I'm glad I have GoodReads to keep people in the creative loop.

My writing process for books is incredibly boring. First, I get a general idea. Second, I do some research. Third, I sketch an introduction. I re-write the intro usually 2 or 3 times. If the intro can't grab me, then I say to hell with it.

In the case of my forthcoming book, the intro was fresh and the research showed a pretty big hole in the English language world on the Real Madrid & Barca rivalry. Julian Garcia Candau wrote a solid if winding Spanish language book, but English readers were excluded. Burns and Ball have good books looking at each club, but don't look at them both simultaneously.

I wrote an intro. It grabbed me.

Then, step four: I did (and do) an outline. This outline includes an approximation of the number of chapters, section divisions, and estimated length. Then I normally start to write as I research. I am a much better re-writer than writer. If you read my blog, you already know this.

Thus, I had sketched a portion of my second book before I realized: crap, I need some funds to get far away & out of print foreign books, pay Erik Ebeling to do some fantastic art, and also try to hire an editor or two. Hence, the successful Kickstarter campaign in May.

Right now, I'm close to finishing Chapter 8 [1970-1980]. This is the Cruyff arrives/Franco's death era of Spanish soccer. Keep in mind, this chapter and earlier chapters are only the first (very rough) draft of many. I prefer to complete a manuscript and then go back to revise content, re-work themes, unite split infinitives, tie together comma splices, unite even more split infinitives, and check on paragraphing.

I want to have a first manuscript done by the end of summer, and then have time to go back and tweak themes and sections. My thesis has already formed, and it's pretty solid and relies very little on armchair sociology (Spaniards run with bulls! Therefore, Real & Barca hate one another!). I also have exciting news about editors for the book. Who are they?

You'll just have to wait and see....

Hindsight is normally 20/20, unless you harbor prejudices. When looking back at Spanish soccer during the Franco era, one common complaint creeps up: biased refereeing. Here's the theory: biased refs caused Barcelona to experience a dip in trophies during the 1960's under Franco's rule.

Here are my thoughts.

1) Refereeing has always sucked. Soccer is a game of scarcity - goals are crucial yet criminally far apart. 11 people try to prevent you from scoring. Soccer is also a game of near constant movement: games go for 45 minutes with only a few stops normally for set pieces or throw-ins or goal kicks. This is unlike basketball. Soccer is a game of multiple moving parts: 20 players plus keepers roam the field.

So how can we expect one referee, even with assistants, to keep track of every call? For decades before the Franco regime, refs missed calls. The decades since? The same.

I have no doubt that refs blew calls in big games involving Barcelona. History shows a few such examples. However, this has also happened in the last decade. Thus, for somebody to prove a refereeing bias, they need some pretty solid proof.

2) This conspiracy theory lacks statistical and evidentiary support. Barcelona may have won less La Ligas in the 1960's than earlier eras, but they still competed and won some General's Cups. Nobody has shown substantial support that refs systematically ignored calls or made poor calls to Barca's detriment.

This is in contrast to the great work done by David Goldblatt in The Ball is Round. In the Soviet Union, lots of corrupt refereeing occurred. Evidence has come to light that supports this. In the case of Spain? Multiple hearsay and anecdotes.

3) This conspiracy suffers from bias perspective. Catalans were subjected to atrocities and real life persecution by Franco and Franco forces. Immediately after the siege of Barcelona ended, Franco's forces killed tens of thousands of individuals only because of their alleged association with leftists. This was and is horrific. I can understand suspicions and animosity towards Franco, but even comprehensible suspicions need supporting facts.

4) Barca's fall from grace has other explanations. The club had two directions at the end of the 1950's: ax aging Kubala and stick with legendary coach Helenio Herrera and native star Luisito Suarez Miramontes, or keep Kubala.

They fired double winning coach Herrera for losing to Madrid in the European Cup and he eventually plucked favored son Luisito Suarez to come and play for Inter. And Kubala? He left the club as a player in 1961. D'oh!

Also, Barcelona suffered from serious debt problems: the Nou Camp was grand, but they were unable to sell Les Corts for several years. Real Estate 101: don't buy until you sell your first property! Thus, their investment in players was pretty bad during this era.

Everybody knows that to become a respected writer, you must develop neurotic obsessions that cause you to procrastinate and blow deadlines. My book is due out next April, so I gave myself a good chunk of time to research and write. Nevertheless, I still have found (and find) ways to read novels & short stories instead of working on the book.

Here are the creative works I've been reading in lieu of writing my own creative work:

Drown by Junot Diaz.

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen.

The Complete Short Stories of Flannery O'Connor.

Norwegian Wood by Huraki Murakami

Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz.

In addition to reading, I do promise that I've put your Kickstarter dollars to good use. For example, I've withdrawn all $1200 from an ATM in twenty dollar bills. Each night, I spend about 5 minutes forming stacks of $100 on my desk. Then, after making stacks of $100, I turn on a fan and blow around the bills. Then, I make stacks of $200. Then, I turn on a fan and blow around the bills. Then....

You get the picture. On occasion, my wife knocks at the door to the study and asks if there's a problem and why am I turning on and off the fan so much? To which I reply - "Just putting my backers' dollars to work and stack'in d'em billz."

But seriously, I've finished 8 chapters, have 2 left, and the artist Erik Ebeling has submitted some amazing sketches for the artwork. I'm starting to get excited and we're still 6 months away from sending out the backer rewards (and the book comes out in April for backers, in May for the rest of ye).

No barren winters. No attacks from natives. No scurvy. No pox. My plan to colonize the history of Real Madrid & Barcelona slowly hums along. How much humming, you ask?

Well, the project covers the foundation of both clubs up until the year 2000 (the first 101 years technically). Right now, my original manuscript is mid-80's, just before Real Madrid elects Ultras Sur loving President Ramon Mendoza and the Quinta del Buitre takes full flight.

In sum, 1 and 1/2 chapters plus a brief conclusion remain. I'm pretty stoked and have already sent myself a MOBI version to proofread on my Kindle (e ink = easier on the eyes). Once I've finished the manuscript and proofread it two or three times, then I'll turn it over to the editors.

Then, you have to wait until MAY 2012 to read it, unless you backed me at Kickstarter. Don't you wish you'd backed me at Kickstarter? I wish you had. But you broke my heart.

As an American, I grew up with baseball, hot summer days, peanuts, and steroid-injecting muscle men. One of my favorite traditions from baseball is the 7th inning stretch, both a practical necessity and acknowledge of baseball's inherent lackadaisical nature. Just as the game reaches conclusion, everybody takes a break. Mascots run a rigged race around bases. Hats or shells move horizontally at a progressively faster pace in an attempt to conceal an object. No pitches are thrown. No balls are hit.

What's not to love?

Baseball has seeped into my writing habits. I am very good about: (1) Clear thesis, (2) Organized outline, and (3) Revision. However, I am absolutely awful when it comes to writing the last 15% of any book, blog post, or article. I don't know if it's a Seventh Inning stretch mentality or an Ingmar Bergman fear of death transposed upon the "end" of a writing project, but, shit, my brain goes jelly and my will power dissipates.

So, yes, I can see the summit of the end of my manuscript's first draft, but the trail to the peak is personally a treacherous climb. There's, like, moving ice bridges, backstabbing sherpas, subzero temperatures, and shifting 75mph Arctic winds. At least in my head.

My wife will ask me - have you been writing or playing Angry Birds? To which, defensively, I will reply: do not speak about Angry Birds in such a negative tone. Studies show computer games in healthy doses develop problem solving skills in grade school children.

Studies of adults remain sparse and generally inconclusive.