Brief Interlude In Which Barcelona's Good Start Is Discussed

Yes, under the sage guidance of Master Guardiola, the club has once again transformed itself into a clean and lethal strike force that sends fear into the hearts of even its allies. Yes, Samuel Eto'o maybe a temperamental son of a bitch who's prone to sulking and fits of blind rage, but he's also got the clearest vision and most precise technique of anyone you're likely to come across, and that includes that fairy Cristiano Ronaldo. Times like this call for un-liberal language, I'm afraid. The most telling result was not any of the humility-inducing thrashings of Atletico, Basel, Malaga or Almeria. It was the 1-0 win away at Bilbao. Why? Because Basques blow up trains, that's why, and they make goddamn sure that visiting clubs are aware of it. Athletic Bilbao, like Chivas, only signs players who are from their own little piece of the world. Some folks say, and I was guilty of romanticizing in it my younger and less aware years, that it makes them quaint and nostalgic but I say it makes them pseudo-fascist uber-nationalist pigs who want nothing more than to eradicate Africans and South Americans from football, and probably the world. Barca has its share of Catalans - including Pep - in its employ, but they also realize that being pro-Catalonia or pro-Barcelona is about your soul, not the place your mom was when she dropped you out. Lionel Messi and Rafa Marquez have blaugrana blood even though they were born in another hemisphere. Whereas Cesc Fabregas' credentials are under question. So, anyway, round about way of saying that going into the den of Basque nationalists and coming away with 3 points in the face of all that was astounding. This year, there's some depth to the character of the club. Getting Edmilson, Deco and Ronaldinho away was the key, of course, and getting Eto'o to see his role. Not many clubs improve simply by purging their Brazilians but Barcelona did just that, and I couldn't be prouder.