Arash Madani

Living the dream.

Believe in the Vikings and never Kirk Cousins. Jade's uncle. Losing parlays since 1998. Host of 'Flutie vs Stegall' on YT, Apple & Spotify

[Arash Madani @ArashMadani]

'A Turning Point?' with @hbryant42, John Carlos et moi on @Sportsnet --

https://t.co/9u11TI21MX

*Produced by Reeshma Sud. Edited by Bryan Johnson and Jesse Rubinoff.

[Arash Madani @ArashMadani]

I am here for all of this.

[Nico Cantor @Nicocantor1]

I’m not here to discuss whether or not the right call was made. With the tools at the disposal of FIFA referees, they made the correct call.

I’m here to discuss whether or not THIS is upholding the spirit of football.

To the naked eye it’s impossible to tell with absolute certainty whether Matanović (20) touches the ball therefore creating a second action which would deem Pašalić (15) in an offside position. There were countless replays shown and not a single one could determine with unequivocal evidence that Matanović was in contact with the ball.

Then came the “heart beat graph”. The y-axis showing force onto the ball measured by a chip inside the ball. It shows a touch. Where? Hair? Head? Not sure. But if the chip is calibrated correctly, contact exists. As a collective we are forced to blindly trust the technology.

Is this football spirit? Having to agree on something not a single person on Earth could see?

VAR and technology feels like the antithesis to the nature of football. Like a foreign pathogen corrupting the rhythms and flows of a game that is extraordinary.

Football is great because it is imperfect. It pits emotion, determination and skill of 22 players against each other. It forces three referees to make brave judgment calls when margins are razor thin. Of course, human error has produced extreme controversy. Enter VAR.

VAR was introduced to correct the “clear and obvious”. But it has invaded the game and taken control. It’s now rewriting the “microscopic and imperceptible”.

That is not football. Because in the football pre VAR the Croatia goal yesterday would’ve stood. The assistant referee never raised his flag. And we’d be endlessly replaying this goal to search for the Matanović touch we could never truly find.

In our reality, though, Portugal is through. Croatia’s goal was offside.

And in our reality, VAR is holding football hostage. And if we settle for that, the technology will kill football. From experts to former footballers, people that lived and breathed for this sport don’t like it. They see that even with technology, justice fails when VAR was pitched as infallible.

Reform shouldn’t be a thought. It should be a non-negotiable demand from everyone. From former players to current ones. Presidents of federations to managers. As the tide of our world is on the edge of shifting towards a future primarily dictated by artificial intelligence and evolving tech that we might not even comprehend, the time is now.

It’s our only hope.

[Arash Madani @ArashMadani]

As you get ready for tomorrow's historic Canada match against Morocco, my piece for @onesoccer on the triumph and tragedy of our country's newest sporting superstar.

[Arash Madani @ArashMadani]

A win for Canada. A win for the Eustáquio family.

My piece for @onesoccer --

[Arash Madani @ArashMadani]

Terrific news for Canadian tennis fans, and especially those in the Montreal area: Gael Monfils, the showman who is such a crowd favourite, will compete at @OBNmontreal this summer as his farewell run continues.

Monfils brings the goods and usual terrific theatre on-court.

[Arash Madani @ArashMadani]

The plot has fully been lost with VAR.

[Arash Madani @ArashMadani]

How do you overturn this??

[Arash Madani @ArashMadani]

This Portugal-Croatia show has lived up to every bit of the billing. Outstanding theatre.

[Arash Madani @ArashMadani]

Royalty in the house: Shai Gilgeous Alexander at BMO Field/Toronto Stadium to watch Ronaldo.

Game watching game.

[Arash Madani @ArashMadani]

CR7. Ball don't lie.

[Kara Lang Romero @Kara_Lang]

Couldn’t love this more. Antonio Freeman did it right. 🥹

[Arash Madani @ArashMadani]

The Celtics are becoming the Red Sox.

Common denominator: private equity entering the ownership equation.

Timely reminder that good ownership wins.

[NBACentral @TheDunkCentral]

Giannis Antetokounmpo was ready to sign off on a trade to Boston, but the Celtics refused to give him the three-year max extension he wanted and were only willing to offer two years, per @BillSimmons

(h/t @Savageboston )

[Arash Madani @ArashMadani]

Three Canadians on Canada Day talking about one of the fastest growing baseball podcasts out there, @GetItDoneShow

Thanks to Dan and Joe for the plug and for 55 for being 55.

[Joe Siddall @SiddallJoe]

great to be joined by @russellmartin55 on the #CanadaDay 🇨🇦 broadcast #bluejays @BringerOfRain20 @GetItDoneShow @ArashMadani

[Arash Madani @ArashMadani]

Arguably the match of the tournament, this Senegal-Belgium knockout stage get together.

And an added bonus to have Craig Forrest on the call from Seattle.

[Arash Madani @ArashMadani]

Lee is a national treasure.

[Lee Kormish @LeeKormish]

I want to treat one person to the World Cup experience. Hotel and ticket on me. You’ll sit beside me at the match. Direct message only
#canmnt #fifaworldcup

[Arash Madani @ArashMadani]

On this Canada Day, the story of Leamington, Ontario's Stephen Eustáquio , who *chose* to wear the Maple Leaf. And then came magic, amidst anguish.

My piece for @onesoccer -

[Arash Madani @ArashMadani]

Who else but Harry Kane?

[Arash Madani @ArashMadani]

Looking for some baseball audio on your Canada Day, if you're at the beach, dock or backyard?

Here's the latest @GetItDoneShow with @russellmartin55 + @BringerOfRain20 where Donaldson shares a golf outing with Ross Atkins that began his Toronto exit - https://t.co/FLN86POvov

[Arash Madani @ArashMadani]

On this Canada Day, the story of Leamington, Ontario's Stephen Eustáquio , who *chose* to wear the Maple Leaf. And then came magic, amidst anguish.

My piece for @onesoccer -

[Arash Madani @ArashMadani]

@hockeyrep Appreciate that!

[Arash Madani @ArashMadani]

@thirstyco Thank you!

[Arash Madani @ArashMadani]

@VicArtsMrktg Appreciate the kind words!