Romário, the back-bencher

Brazilian soccer legend, Romário, has racked up a modest legislative record and near perfect attendance since being elected to Congress in 2010. The outspokenness from his days on the pitch remains.

Beware FIFA's Creeping One-World Government

Brazil, host of the 2014 World Cup, and FIFA are at an impasse over beer sales inside World Cup stadia. Brazil has banned alcohol at its soccer matches since 2003 to counteract violent, drunk fans.

National sovereignty and self-determination aside, FIFA General Secretary, Jerome Valcke, says, "alcoholic drinks are part of the World Cup, so we're going to have them. Excuse me if I sound a bit arrogant but that's something we won't negotiate."

Budweiser-sponsored black-hawk helicopters should be flying over Corcavado any day now.

Just about all you need to know about Macri

La ciudad de Buenos Aires votes today for su jefe de gobierno. La ley seca is in effect. Clubs and bars closed at the stroke of midnight, which is to say they probably didn't open at all, and no alcohol will be sold today. Running for a second mandato, is Mauricio Macri, son of one of Argentina's wealthiest developers, kidnapping victim, and enemy of contemporary art. The video above, from the program, Caiga Quien Caiga, may be all you need to know about the man.

Macri got his big break when his dad, who had millions of dollars of business with Boca Juniors, helped his son get elected as president of the club. From there he sprung into politics and was elected mayor in 2007. He has been implicated in an enemies list spying scandal which was conducted by his appointed chief of the metropolitan police, Fino Palacios. Palacios in turn, has been implicated in and prosecuted for various crimes, including a cover up related to the 1994 AIMA bombing which killed 85 people and the extrajudicial killings of protesters during the civil unrest of December 2001.

Other than that, Macri is known for his deep-seeded rivalry with CFK, especially over control of security forces in the city, his conservative base of support, and his battles against unions and residents of the villas.

La Casa Rosada is hoping that Daniel Filmus, current federal senator and former government minister, academic, and communist activist, can draw Macri into a second round run-off.

River Update

River lost on Sunday. And when I say they lost, I mean they lost in spectacularly abysmal fashion. Belgrano scored a valid and beautiful goal off a set piece only to have it called back, and River took a 1-0 lead into halftime. It appeared that the prayers of River's massive fan base could will the team to victory.

Due to the outcome of the first match, River needed to win by 2 goals to stay in Argentina's premier division. They came out flat in the second half. Belgrano scored on a counter and then their keeper stuffed a River penalty kick that was dubiously awarded. The game ended 1-1. River al decenso.

River's hooligans, known as barrabravas, didn't wait for the final whistle. Fires were started, objects thrown, and water cannons were sprayed onto fans trying to 'sack the castle' and jump down the ramparts in 39 degree weather not counting the wind chill within the vast Estadio Monumental. Tellingly, US friends who registered with the US Embassy in Buenos Aires received an email last week to stay clear of the stadium and surrounding area.

The most disappointing outcome of River's collapse is that for at least the next year, and maybe longer depending how long it takes them to climb out of la segunda, there will be no superclasico, the River/Boca match up that is among sport's most passionate rivalries.

And River's prospects for a speedy recovery don't look certain. Daniel Alberto Passarella, River's socio-elected president has said he won't resign even while the coach stepped down on Tuesday. And River will find it hard to raise money as ticket prices will have to lowered and television deals will be "reexamined."

Ultimately, River's decenso is bad for Argentinean soccer. Plenty of taxistas have told me that the level of play keeps falling as home grown stars are pocketed earlier in their careers by the likes of Inter, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Manchester City. They called this tournament the worst ever. No beauty, they complained. With River in la segunda, interest across the league will drop as fans stay away. To use a baseball analogy, the Yankees draw a much larger crowd on the road than say, the Kansas City Royals do.

In the meantime, Argentina can't turn away from daily reports on River's troubles. While Boca fans and others smile with self-satisfaction (like my host family's son), River fans are trying to put on a brave face on the cold streets bundled up in their red and white winter gear. But a quick River return would be best for the league and the nation's ego.

In the meantime, the Copa America starts on Friday and Argentina's hosting. The home team is among those favored to win. A footnote, the only call up to the national team to come from an Argentinean club is River's keeper, Juan Pablo Carrizo.

River Stares Into The Abyss

One of South America's most venerable soccer clubs is heading to the 2nd division for the first time in its history. That is, unless, they are able to pull off a win this Sunday by 2 or more goals. How did such a prestigious club, 33 times the AFA champion, and nicknamed "los millionarios" find themselves so close to complete humiliation?

An awful season, a 2-0 nothing loss in the superclasico versus Boca Juniors, and a particularly horrendous finish.

A win here or there at the end of the season would've been enough to stave off relegation. Instead, River took the pitch last night against Belgrano in Cordoba, the top team of this season's second division, to kick off a 2 game playoff to determine if they will swap places. Final score? Belgrano 2, River Plate 0. At one particularly tragic or utterly comic moment during the second half, depending on your allegiance, River militantes broke through the perimeter and spilled onto the field. There, they taunted their fallen heroes and literally smacked them around. The game was suspended for over 20 minutes. After the game militantes amassed outside the team's hotel and hurled insults skyward, demanding to meet with players and management. The chaos will not die down today as River returns to Buenos Aires under police escort and socios will march on the Monumental demanding the team's president be sacked.

Can River save some face, defy the stacked odds, and win on the aggregate at home? Stay tuned.

Why is Brasil so cool?

Wilson Simonal's version of Jorge Ben's Pais Tropical

Seriously, what other country has inspired such a cool song? Set to some incredible goals by A Seleção.

Moro num país tropical, abençoado por Deus
E bonito por natureza, mas que beleza
Em fevereiro (em fevereiro)
Tem carnaval (tem carnaval)

Tenho um fusca e um violão
Sou Flamengo
Tenho uma nêga
Chamada Tereza

Sambaby
Sambaby

Sou um menino de mentalidade mediana
Pois é, mas assim mesmo sou feliz da vida
Pois eu não devo nada a ninguém
Pois é, pois eu sou feliz
Muito feliz comigo mesmo

Moro num país tropical, abençoado por Deus
E bonito por natureza, mas que beleza
Em fevereiro (em fevereiro)
Tem carnaval (tem carnaval)

Tenho um fusca e um violão
Sou Flamengo
Tenho uma nêga
Chamada Tereza

Sambaby
Sambaby

Eu posso não ser um band leader
Pois é, mas assim mesmo lá em casa
Todos meus amigos, meus camaradinhas me respeitam
Pois é, essa é a razão da simpatia
Do poder, do algo mais e da alegria

Sou Flamê
Tê uma nê
Chamá Terê
Sou Flamê
Tê uma nê
Chamá Terê

Do meu Brasil

Sou Flamengo
E tenho uma nêga
Chamada Tereza
Sou Flamengo
E tenho uma nêga
Chamada Tereza