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A New Blue Hue for You to View
The digitization of Henry Ford’s Model T is seeing an illuminating next chapter.
And it’s quite a sight.
Cars are (as has been written about many times on Jimmy’s Daily Planet) increasingly being designed and built as supercomputers. Tesla is the best practical evidence in 2016 of this burgeoning reality with the Model S, Model 3 and Model X. No, the price point for these three car models have not dropped into mainstream affordability, but the availability is there nonetheless. That’s impressive, even if it’s an expensive alternative. An encouraging note is the Tesla Model 3 is trying to crack the Lexus and Mercedes consumer market with a tax credit/incentive in the thousands that makes people take a second glance at the electric automaker beyond its sleek lines and quiet, yet powerful engine.
For many of the major car makers, their giant leap from the engine and functionality from the 20th century to the computerized innovation in the 21st century won’t be comprehensive. That’s impractical and foolish. At some point, perhaps in half a century, but that’s still a ways off…
Thankfully, as is the natural consequence of innovation, engineers are constantly conceptualizing that manageable next step.
“Powerful batteries will give the SUV a driving range of over 300 miles.
It will be priced like a “reasonably equipped Mercedes GLC.” At today’s prices, that would be around $50,000.”
–Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN Money
Visitors of the 2016 Paris Motor Show were recently privileged to an exciting first glimpse of the Mercedes-Benz Generation EQ imagined for modern roads. While the cool blue design is a concept, there doesn’t appear to be too many far-fetched ideas in the video above. Yes, it’s a promo made by and for the German car giants, yet this engineering dream looks like a realistic ambition for a few years down the road. However, one small speed bump may be that, as clean and appealing as the white interior shows in HD, perhaps the final call should favor dark blue or black (from experience, bright white leather may not pair well with dark jeans or clothing with indigo or black dye).
That’s the only grilling the EQ warrants. Speaking of which, that new grill is hot.
Red Blue-hot.
Pep’s Boys Won, Yet Lost
(Pep Guardiola)
“I’ve done the best I can do,” said the Bayern Munich manager, searching for the best way to convey his feelings after his side were eliminated from the Champions League by Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. “I don’t have any regrets. I’ve done my best and, I don’t know — that’s what I would like to say.”
–ESPN FC, Nick Ames
There is some disillusioned beer drinking occurring in Bavaria tonight.
Despite a spirited, thrilling second leg of Bayern Munich’s Champions League semi-final against Atlético Madrid (one missed penalty by both teams at the same end shooting to the same side), the Bavarian kings could not score that necessary third goal. Though Thomas Müller had his shot/PK.
Rightly or wrongly, the fact that Pep Guardiola went 0-3 for winning the Champions League will define his mostly successful, victorious venture in Munich.
“In his first campaign he collected the UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, German Cup and, with a record seven games to spare, the Bundesliga title. He secured his second successive Bundesliga title by ten points the following season…”
–UEFA
Even with all of this, Pep’s time at Bayern Munich will be viewed by many as a losing campaign. The German giants won a lot throughout the past three years, but they lost the most important games with the acclaimed Pep Guardiola as the manager.
The coaching mastermind behind Barcelona’s epic run from 2008-2012 could not defeat Spanish sides Real Madrid, Barcelona or Atlético Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals during his three years coaching Bayern Munich. If it weren’t for Mr. Guardiola’s public intention to sign with Manchester City this upcoming season, the cliché “3 strikes and you’re out” would be an aptly borrowed metaphor from the sport’s baseball counterpart.
In Pep’s case, trying to craft a winning strategy for his third consecutive Bundesliga title and a German Cup championship is what remains as achievable goals this season. For most, that would be enough. Most, however, are not named Pep Guardiola.
The expectations for Pep moving to Munich, Germany after his yearlong break following his exit from Barcelona were sky-high. Actually, if there’s a place above sky-high, that would be more appropriate.
Pep’s spell at Barcelona has been labeled as one of the greatest club teams in history with one of the best players in history being Lionel Messi. Everyone knew Pep would win in Germany, but people expected him to win everything with soccer itself gasping for air at his conquests wearing sharp suits (and lederhosen for beer drinking). Granted, Jupp Heynckes didn’t do Pep any favors by leading Bayern Munich to the prized treble (included the Champions League title) literally before his arrival in Bavaria.
Mr. Heynckes sort of served his successor a championship team on a platter.
Each coach has different tactics that require different types of players, so maybe Mr. Heynckes did or didn’t leave Pep with everything he needed. That’s a debate that will continue. In the macro, Pep’s inability to win his first season with a remarkably similar squad was disappointing, but understandable if his style of play and injection of “his” players led to a championship(s) down the road.
Sadly, those two subsequent titles never arrived, which means Bayern fans never got to enjoy the immediate or prolonged Guardiola magic in Champions League. This is a failure that will not soon be forgotten and incoming manager Carlo Ancelotti (56) will be tasked with solving this puzzle with one of the best rosters on the planet.
The young innovator makes way for the elder statesman.
Pep Guardiola was hired to win trebles. Yes, that’s trebles plural. Fair or not, that’s the truth. The pain, suffering, talent, patience, resilience and magic-in-a-bottle needed to win one treble qualifies for a lifetime of glorious storytelling and recounting in your local pub.
Just ask Jupp Heynckes.
For loyal Bayern Munich fans, like myself, the pain of today’s 2-1 win at home at the Allianz Arena in front of 75,000 fans (but 2-2 aggregate loss to Atlético Madrid) in devastatingly heart-pounding fashion will not heal for some time. The infinitely popular question, “how did they not win?” will not merely focus on this season, but will fiercely grab onto the past two seasons of mirror image outcomes and never let go.
Some may argue that Pep can finally breathe a little easier now. The German press will continue to crush him, sure, but the pressure has been eased a bit.
Quite the contrary.
If Man City pulls off a miracle and wins the Champions League this year, Pep will experience precisely the same high-pressure situation in England, except to a harsher extent. Even if Man City fails to pull off said miracle, the situation is practically identical. He won the biggest prize at Barcelona and not at Bayern Munich. That’s resulted in a knock to his other-worldly aura. If he cannot deliver the biggest prize at Man City, then it’s probably fair to anticipate another sabbatical.
Pep Guardiola is a world-class manager and a brilliant tactician, but he now finds himself in a concerning loop of Champions League semi-final shortcomings to Spanish squads.
And the only way out, at this point, looks as trying as breaking through Atlético Madrid’s back line for goal number three.
It’s as Hard as 1-2-3
How do clubs like Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid consistently remain as a few of the top performing clubs in the world?
Where to begin: Players, coaches, tactics, history, stadiums/infrastructure, determination, experience, youth, money and passionate fan bases. These attributes certainly help in distinguishing the best soccer clubs from their league and continental challengers. However, the “it” factor for these players, it can be argued, is their rejection of the famed Allen Iverson Principle that slams showing up to practice and singularly promotes showing up for the game.
“…Not the game that I go out there and die for and play every game like it’s my last. Not the game, we talking ’bout practice, man. I mean, how silly is that? We’re talking about practice.”
–Allen Iverson
The timelessness of the old adage, “Practice makes perfect” reminds us that beginner’s luck runs out and that there is someone better out there. We must always remain dedicated and proactive with our craft and passions.
Certainly, Bayern Munich players know how to juggle a soccer ball. They’ll throw in tricks here and there for fun and for bragging rights among their teammates. Unsurprisingly, juggling a soccer ball between four players can present a bit of a challenge.
Now, add two more soccer balls into Route 1’s path and it becomes a worthy TV-interrupting zigzagging high-speed chase.
Soccer players, at the top of their game, burnishing their skill-set while preparing for the decisive Champions League quarterfinal match at Benfica illustrates the importance of practice. Plus, the Bayern Quattro on the pitch (Audi is a club sponsor) reveals the day-to-day mentality that helped the German giants defeat Benfica and qualify for the Champions League semifinal (opponent to be determined Friday morning). Each day is an opportunity to improve.
I’m talking about practice.
The same practice that leads to championships.
P.S. Of course Bayern Munich has a Biergarten at their practice facility. Add that to the list.
April Madness
What’s Cinderella in German?
Maybe it’s VfL Wolfsburg.
(The literal answer is Aschenputtel, as an FYI).
The reason for comparing the club that’s currently sitting quietly at 8th in the Bundesliga standings with the honor of the college basketball darling this time of year is based on the aforementioned team’s shocking performance against one of the top clubs (and brands) in the world. For context, VfL Wolfsburg’s opponent in the first leg of its Champions League quarterfinal match was Real Madrid. For greater context, Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 at the Nou Camp this past Saturday in El Clásico.
The game today was a classic, but not for the Spaniards…
(Click Play, then “Watch this video on YouTube” and Return to Read the Rest of the Blog!)
2-nil is the worst lead in soccer, so when Real Madrid cannot even get one goal back against an admittedly lesser opponent, that’s a seismic statement and final result for the determined German club. VfL Wolfsburg not only held its own in front of their fans in the Volkswagen Arena, but the VW-branded team surprised the Spanish giants by playing in and excelling in 4th and 5th gears to open their quarterfinal home-and-away series in the 2016 Champions League.
Next Tuesday, in the return leg in Madrid, the world will discover if they need to learn more about what VfL Wolfsburg is and why Volkswagen’s comeback may not involve cars.
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