Blog: The Tripwire

On the flight home from Texas yesterday, I watched FC Barcelona rough up Real Zaragoza. Lionel Messi was at his most breathtaking, bringing the English half of the commentary team to wax rhapsodic so forcefully you couldn't help but feel like you were witnessing miracles. At one point, after comparing the his gift (limitless) to the number of bubbles in a bottle of champagne (also limitless), he said something striking: while placing Messi on the same small planet as Maradona and Pelé and Johan Cruyff, he gave thanks and urged us to give thanks too. I sometimes wonder if that's [...]