London #5 and a Small Soccer Primer

I am proud to announce that I have my first official American visitor...Jeff is coming over Thanksgiving...so I will send out a nice update of our exploits to all back home. Jordan's wedding is in Feb, so I am excited to a lot of you then as well.

In terms of me, the crazy thing is that I can't possibly include everything that is going on in my life...I think that is best kept secret to business school...and Robb, Achi, Jeff--my MBA mates back in the states at Kellogg, MIT, and Harvard can attest to---Basically, MBA Schools try to make your life as busy as possible...throwing about 1000 things at you on a daily basis...clubs, speakers, events, networking sessions, class, study groups---not even mentioning trying to have a social life or live in LONDON...to try to mimic a hectic business schedule..basically trying to make us all world class decision makers---so we shall see...I am trying my best to stay afloat as time flies by so fast that I constantly lose track of what day it is.

My next big announcement is that I am in the process of setting up a blog. Now...I am not that good, in fact, not good at all..so it is taking a long time...so Josh or Amy...perhaps you can lend me a hand...but my goal is to try to update the blog and you guys can then just pop on the blog, instead of my boring you with these emails. I will keep everyone posted on the progress of the blog and when it will go live...hopefully not too long from now, maybe another week?

In terms of LBS--here is what i have done lately...Went to a consulting panel with about 10 consultants from BCG, Booz, McKinsey, Bain, LEK, Marakon, etc. They all spoke for hours trying to convince us why consulting is the best career choice..and IT WORKED...i think at this point that consulting is my top choice...especially if I can get the LA office at Bain and do some cool Media consulting?...we shall see....if anyone thinks consulting will be the biggest mistake i have ever made...PLEASE chime in...More on the consulting front, that AT KEARNEY competition I wrote about a few emails ago is under way...we are trying to tackle the tele-communications industry...if anyone is specialist...also PLEASE let me know...We meet with the heads of AT KEARNEY London next week and interview them...I am excited!!

I am also now a proud statistical regression expert...Hopefully the teacher agrees and I can get my first official A at LBS. Now I am knee deep in Finance, Strategy, Accounting, Ethics, and Economics---so about as boring as you can get with a ton of work...but the professors are honestly world class---shockingly a subject like finance is interesting...we shall see if this continues.

On the social side, tonight LBS has its biggest party of the year, TATOO--a world and cultural extravaganza---our dean gave her final address this morning...she is leaving to become the top political advisor to Hillary Clinton for her 2008 Presidential Campaign. We get a new dean in 2 weeks and it is rumored to be the CEO and President of BP..which I think would be cool...Next weekend I am off on my next EURO trek...I am off to Dublin...I promise to have a pint of GUINNESS for each and every one of you..whether I make it back in one piece or not...well that is another story.

I am also proud to report that I have officially played my first round of golf in proper BRITISH weather conditions...basically rain, rain and more rain...Now...we won't comment on scores, but hey...that is not the important stuff. I also joined the LBS Ultimate Frisbee team...which is AWESOME...and the football team. Shockingly I have lost like 10/15 pounds since i have got here, and really feel like I am in somewhat good shape...DESPITE all of the drinking..:-)

Anyway..that is it for now...I hope everyone is doing well...and anyone who is on the fence about getting an MBA...Personally, I could not give it a higher recommendation. Without doubt it has been the best decision I have ever made...every day just gets better and better...now I could whine and moan if I dont get that dream job...but for now I shall be optimistic...


Now...some people have asked, and I thought why not...so below is a quick primer on FOOTBALL...(Alex and Dave and Boris..let me know what you think)---people who could care less about Soccer...don't read on....


FOOTBALL PRIMER as written by me...:-)

So, since i have not done this yet...I thought I would write about the game that captivates Europe, England, and the world--Football or Soccer--
It's fair to say that I consider myself a fan of the beautiful game--so I was extremely excited to come to the world class home of football and immerse myself in it...

So far, so good...It's amazing how much football is actually played--how the different styles permeate the games, etc. So...I think soccer can be compared to best to NFL...But..unlike the NFL..they don't play soccer only once a week...literally...there are games 4 DAYS a WEEK...Every Saturday and Sunday there are Premier League games...also...games from every league in Europe...Germany, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, etc. Now...Don't forget about the Champion's League---Played every Wednesday and Thursday---AND....lets not forget about EURO 2008---

Not for everyone that does not know..Euro is the next biggest tournament after the World Cup--Basically it goes like this:

1. World Cup - Every 4 Years
2. Euro - Every 4 Years--Only European Countries are allowed to play
3. Champions League - The top clubs from every league play
4. Uefa Cup - The next teams play
5. League Championships

So...bascially...at the end of the day...try to imagine NFL or College football games of the biggest magnitude playing at all times...A footballer's heaven...Every paper has pages and pages on football...basically in about 1 month...you can become a full expert...so now being an expert...here are my feelings after 2 months of League and Euro football:

Euro - After England's 0-0 tie...I have decided that national football is not nearly as interesting as League football...maybe it is because the games mean so much more, etc.--But teams refuse to take chances...The speed is not there..I don't know..I just don't like it nearly as much..

In terms of England--1. Wayne Rooney is OVER RATED--I have seen him in a lot of games now..and he just has not not done anything to impress me. People keep saying give him time...but I don't know...I think England's best player honestly does not exist--what I mean by that is everyone on England is good---but no one is amazing...the team lacks a leader to inspire them and hence the lackluster results...and to top it all of the new manager refuses to play or to even add David Beckham to the squad...to tell me the Beckham is not one of the top 23 footballers in England is ridiculous.

In terms of league ball---far and away the best player in the premiership is the guy i have written about before...Didier Drogba--The guy is amazing in every level...he is hungry for the ball...decisive, physical, can pass as well as shoot--just spectacular to watch. And unlike national games, league games are amazing to watch---so much more fast paced, lots of scoring, shots all the time...just awesome. Another one of my favorite players is Christiano Renaldo---I know I know--a lot of people are unhappy with him for what he did in the world cup--but watching him is simply mesmerizing...He has skills coming out of every pore in his body---he is selfish beyond a doubt..but if he grows into that and learns to be a better passer...watch out Ronaldhino...

Anyway..hope I did not prattle on too long about football..just wanted to give everyone a little primer on everyone here talks about at all times. As Scotland just shockingly beat France 1-0, A huge smile went on my face..I have had enough of the French...

England also is in an uproar after the PATHETIC 2-nil loss in Croatia---We shall see...but thankfully league ball is back and Man U is losing as we speak to WIGAN of all teams...Who knows how that shall turn out...

Be well everyone...