Thank you, science

My iGoogle page (which apparently is being retired, thank you very much Google... is filled with sciency nerd news and today this was one of the articles. As a physicist, at least, I enjoyed it. An interesting read, if not a little cheesy.

How to Bend It Like Beckham: Physics Students Calculate Perfect Soccer Ball Kicking Formula

Here's a link to the actual journal article, which is a bit better.

Journal of Physics Special Topics : How to score a goal

Yay nerds!



Seriously though, while I know players probably aren't thinking about things like air density and such when striking a dead ball, it takes massive skill to really pull off a Beckham style free kick and this made me appreciate it that much more.

LOLLA

Sure, MLS isn't the greatest league in the world, but where else can you see a red card, three goals in the last 20 minutes of the game to win it, and Pirate Beckham getting a yellow for a handball in the box to give up the tying goal on a PK. Great stuff from LA this week, and I love watching them fall to pieces.