Mr. Henry, Can You Give Us a Hand

I don't know how many of people in the US really care about international soccer, but on Wednesday an atrocity occurred in the Stade de France. I know this story is really played out, but I just want to stress one point. Thierry Henry has been clamoring about how he is not a cheat. Well, Mr. Henry, I bet that Roger Clemens or Barry Bonds don't believe they cheated either, but they did. They call soccer "a gentleman's game played by hooligans", and Mr. Henry you played right up to that stereotype. In a game where players will kick the ball out of bounds if one of their opponents is hurt, you, Mr. Henry committed probably the most atrocious act since Maradona's "hand of God" goal. Yet, you still say you are not a cheat. You say that you want a replay of Wednesday's game, and you try to push all the blame on to the officials. If you knew it was a handball, why not stop playing the ball. 

First, you deliver a cheap shot to knock down your opponent by controlling the ball with your hand, but then you kick him while he is down, saying you want a replay, knowing full well that could never occur. Mr. Henry, you say you are not a cheat, yet you celebrated like nothing was wrong with your goal. You say your not a cheat than why not clear things up with the official after the goal was scored. Mr. Henry, my parents always told me that one's actions speak louder than words. In the case of Wednesday's game, and your belated outcry for justice, you keep speaking words of fair play, and equality, yet you act like there are no rules or consequences for your actions. Argentina has not won a World Cup since their fated run in 1986, when Maradona's "hand of God" goal occurred in the quarterfinals match against England. Argentina has fallen on hard times, even with the talent pool that includes some of the best players in the world. Ever since that one fateful game in 1986, Argentina has had nothing, but bad luck. For you, that may have no consequence, but for your country, it may be a sign of things to come.

Mr. Henry, I hope you enjoy this last trip to the World Cup. Because of your age, this looks like it may be your last turn, and maybe that's what caused you to commit such an atrocity, but that still doesn't make it okay. You robbed a nation of its' pride. To Ireland, my condolences on the way you had to loss your World Cup bid the way you did. It would have been better to lose on an own goal than by losing on a handball. To Mr. Henry, what goes around comes around...