<![CDATA[SHANE STAY

<![CDATA[SHANE STAY - Blog]]>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 22:49:52 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Miscarriage made me Stronger]]>Wed, 27 May 2026 02:49:40 GMThttp://www.shanestay.com/blog/miscarriage-made-me-strongerSince my miscarriage I've joined many others that have encountered difficult situations.

In high school there were two friends of mine that died early. There was someone else, very nice, that died early as well. I'm sure others have experiences like that. For whatever reason it happened. Then you have to move on. Still though, regarding two high school friends, for example, I've visited their graves multiple times over the years. From that, maybe I gained strength.

I'm guessing there are others that have gone through something similar. Advice? For me, tough times only make me stronger.

ADVICE?

I often seek advice from others. From time to time, others have sought advice from me. Why, I have no idea.

Some people experience difficult situations and still find others out there making life difficult for them. We can call them "people with opposing ideas" saying misleading things during tough times. Isn't there an easier word for that btw? Maybe we'll address it in a minute.

For example: There are always "people with opposing ideas" to yours even if they're wrong. I embrace it, always have. They only make you stronger and more successful. Yet, often, they don't really know that.

You can ignore your person of different ideas.

Other legal options...

Legally and publicly challenge the person that causes you issues. Don't get in a street fight, those are dangerous. Been there, won all my street fights btw. They were maybe against a group of senior citizens, very organized, disciplined, resolute; they started it; it was them or me kind of thing.* Am I bragging when I say I'm undefeated? Well, you be the judge.

Legally and publicly challenge your opposing person to a debate.
If your "opposing person" hides, there you go.

Other Advice?
I could quote Ezekiel all day. I like him.
There's also Buddha.
Why stop there?
We have the Bhagavad Gita with Krishna, Arjuna.
Don't forget Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), Shiva (destroyer). One could argue you need all three for balance in the universe. Like a grand cycle.

Nonetheless, you have to follow your path, work hard, and stay focused.
Years ago, I'd work extra at night. Then I'd get up around 3:30-4 AM, drive in the dark to North Salmon Creek Beach in Bodega Bay where Alfred Hitchcock filmed The Birds. There I'd run sand hills. For maybe 15 minutes, it was quick. That was near the house of Tom Waits, a regular at my restaurant for a while. (A good customer, good hang.) Bodega Bay, what's it good for? T-shirts, sandwiches, sand hills.

BORING! Let's talk soccer.

Point is, for the advice part: Maybe you can...I don't know. I forget.
I'm ready for the World Cup, that's one place to start.

* Disclaimer: There was no such thing with senior citizens.

QUICK NOTES:
(As World Cup 2026 Progresses!)

Group Stage
6-17-26

Portugal vs. DR Congo
1-1

A quick start for Portugal saw it get a 1-0 lead.
Better short passing from Portugal than years past; it's a team that is much-improved with poise, organization, and patience. Perhaps Portugal can get a World Cup. Is that in its near-future? Found at center forward, Ronaldo is seen doing one-touch passes that keep the flow going; he's been criticized in the past for demanding too much time on the ball; perhaps things have changed.

When DR Congo drew even at 1-1 you may have thought the game was a tie and it was.
A good result for DR Congo. As for Portugal, who was expected to win, a strategy moving forward might include a few lineup adjustments to enhance its attack.

Englad vs. Croatia
4-2

Big win for England. Off to a good start.
Croatia has some questions to answer. Is it the same Croatia we've seen in recent years or is this the end of an era? Croatia will need to present solutions in its second game, a big one if it wants to advance to the elimination rounds.

Ghana vs. Panama
1-0

Panama has a nice touch, Reebok uniforms. You don't see that too often these days.
Ghana has Puma uniforms.
There was a time the NFL was sponsored by Reebok and Puma.
As for soccer, I'd like to see more Lotto and Diadora.
In terms of this particular game, which ended 0-0 at half, it ended up being a lively affair that saw Ghana earn a 1-0 victory. The yellow jerseys got an important win, one that I expected from the outset. I'm not super-psyched about Panama's chances in general as I've watch it over the years in CONCACAF attempt to earn respect against the likes of Mexico, Jamaica, and the United States. While Panama can be feisty, you'll tend to see half-chances on goal and missed opportunities. All the same, Panama is a side that might have an upset in store. However, Ghana took advantage of the situation and got important points.

Colombia vs. Uzbekistan
3-1

At the very end, with what seemed like a foul, the play continued, a Colombian winger gathered himself quickly and sent in a cross that scored on a header giving Colombia a 3-1 lead. With time running out, an Uzbekistan player absolutely crushed a one-time shot from outside the box that splattered against the crossbar...had to be the strongest shot of the tournament.

Excerpt
"US Has a Challenge with Australia"
Published with Cardinal Publishers Group
By Shane Stay

The upcoming game for the US against Australia will be telling. June 19, 2026. That’s a big one. The place will be rocking as it takes place in Seattle, one of the best (and loudest) places for a game anywhere in North America...

]]><![CDATA[india's: bindiya ke bahubali]]>Sun, 17 May 2026 22:27:40 GMThttp://www.shanestay.com/blog/indias-bindiya-ke-bahubali

I'm happy for my man Raj Amit Kumar. This picture is many moons ago in Chicago around the time we wrote a move script together about Cricket (it's waiting to launch).

Amit's new show Bindiya Ke Bahubali.

Is India in my book? Maybe. India needs the right soccer coach.

]]><![CDATA[american soccer: embrace the underdog]]>Sat, 16 May 2026 02:19:34 GMThttp://www.shanestay.com/blog/american-soccer-embrace-the-underdog

It's an exciting time to be an American soccer fan.

At some point, American soccer fans have to realize, accept, and embrace the fact that America is an underdog in the 2026 World Cup.

That's a fact. A lot of people have given into that and it's turned into a great aspect of American soccer.

Guess what? It's the only sport America is the underdog!

It's exciting to finally be an underdog in a sport. Americans aren't used to that. Therefore, this might be the biggest story in American sports history if and when the USMNT finally wins the FIFA World Cup.

What should you do if the USMNT loses this World Cup? Don't fret. It's a big maybe. We don't know, technically. What we don't know is something that, technically, hasn't happened yet...that being a distinct possibility the USMNT won't escape its group. In a sense, this awkward admission that it's up in the air is what we're used to. We've embraced that we're an underdog, whether we know it or not. It's been going on a long time, this realization, this acceptance.

Over the years: Do we have great American players? Yes. Pat McBride, Al Trost, Ricky Davis...let's jump ahead...Clint Dempsey, Christian Pulisic. A lot.

DO I THINK THE USMNT WILL WIN THE WORLD CUP SOMEDAY? YES. Just maybe not today. How can we win the World Cup? What can we do? Make me coach. I keep saying that. Is anybody listening? I will win the World Cup for America. I've been saying it for years. I'll tell you what, the team would look a lot different, that's for damn sure. You would see me at various places for new recruits. I know they're out there. By the way: I haven't wavered. My assistant coaches are mine and mine alone. No one can choose them. They are Shaquille O'Neal and Owen Wilson. It's been that way for a long time, I'm not changing. Shaq would double as backup goalie. Practices? When and where is up to me, not the system, man. Now stay with me here: The majority of practices would take place inside a basketball gym, at night. I'm not a morning person. There's a reason for that, actually. The court not nighttime. It fine-tunes your skills as a player. With the right focus, it brings together better dribbling and passing that can transcend to the outdoor field. See Why American Soccer Isn't There Yet. Futsal was great for my development as a player. Futsal, practicing on a basketball court, the right way, would only benefit American soccer. There exists a right way. I, with Shaq and Owen Wilson, will deliver a championship. Just not this World Cup for obvious reasons...that being I'm not coach yet.

But get ready for a great World Cup and maybe the biggest story in American sports history: the saga of the USMNT trying to win a World Cup. The last sport we have for our trophy case. Imagine that.

]]><![CDATA[World Cup 2026, a milestone]]>Sat, 09 May 2026 15:24:50 GMThttp://www.shanestay.com/blog/world-cup-2026-a-milestone

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is gearing up to be epic. A milestone. Bigger than ever. It has to be: There are 3 hosts. That's a first.

Predictions? Some are in the book.

A top 5 right now:

Brazil
Argentina
England
France
Germany

Also included: star players, team histories, strategies, stadiums, and more.

Much more around the corner!

Books available with:
Meyer & Meyer Sport (Europe)
Cardinal Publishers Group (United States)
Waterstones
B&N

]]><![CDATA[Italy out again]]>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:46:59 GMThttp://www.shanestay.com/blog/italy-out-again2018, 2022, 2026: Italy doesn't make the FIFA World Cup.

Italy's a four-time World Cup champ, an all-time great.
This is a tragedy.

What's the best chance for Italy to get back in the World Cup?
Putting in a bid to host.

Solution:
Get rid of Adidas.
It just doesn't look right.
I like Adidas, it's just not working for Italy.
Get back to your roots.

1. Lotto
2. Diadora
3. Maybe Puma

Let's start there.

Italy out again. Wow. Enough said. I'm a big fan. I love some Italian soccer. Who doesn't? There might be a few. But there aren't that many haters. Italy is the quintessential World Cup favorite. It was. This is crazy. Literally crazy. Italy is fighting to make a World Cup? Do you hear yourself? Does that even make sense? Of course not. Italy is struggling, big time. This is odd. It's beyond odd. At this point, there's a problem. Italian fans have something to be concerned about. Because, for the most part, I thought for the last two World Cup failures (2018, 2022) Italy was just going through a bad streak like Brazil taking a 7-1 pounding in 2014 by Germany. It happens. No one's perfect. But now we're talking about three World Cups in a row for the amazing Azzurri which is something significant. Two was significant. Three is alarming. Three in a row is very un-Italian. Go figure. You know I look out for Italian soccer fans. I got your back. But this is pathetic. Do I have Italian coffee right now? Prefer French but, yeah, I have Italian right now. French is better. Still though, I'm gonna drink the coffee cause it's good. I should clarify: this is Starbucks Italian vs. Starbucks French. So it might be different with another brand. That's something that very well could be pointed out and was just pointed out. Forget about it, moving on. I love all things Italy. But I get the feeling this might not be over. Italy needs a generational shift in talent. Players like, I'm not mentioning Baggio because he's too obvious, Signori. That was a talent. You need that again, Italy. Find that times six. You need six guys on the field, like Signori, at once. Not one or two...six. The United States has a similar problem, for generations. The USMNT has always fielded two or three very talented players with the wrong dance partners. It's not a fair comparison, however, in terms of "fielding talent" there's a slight parallel in that Italy, like the US, needs to focus on shiftier, craftier, skillful, dynamic players that showcase dribbling skill that makes fans want to watch. Period. It starts with dribbling. Get to that and you'll be ok. For now, Italy is in a world of hurt with a need retuning in order to get its Ferrari revving again, which it's more than capable of.

]]><![CDATA[2026 world cup final qualifications]]>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:16:37 GMThttp://www.shanestay.com/blog/march-25th-2026FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifications

The final 22 teams.
Only 6 will qualify.
Essentially, we have the following...

UEFA Playoffs
(Europe)

March 26, 2026 March 31, 2026

Wales
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia
Italy Italy
Northern Ireland

Ukraine
Sweden Sweden
Sweden
Poland Poland
Albania

Slovakia
Kosovo Kosovo
Turkey
Turkey Turkey
Romania

Czech Republic Czech Republic
Republic of Ireland Czech Republic

Denmark Denmark
North Macedonia

Inter-confederation Playoffs
(North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Oceania)

March 26, 2026 March 31, 2026

New Caledonia DR Congo DR Congo
Jamaica Jamaica

Bolivia Iraq Iraq
Suriname Bolivia

Qualifications for the FIFA World Cup can be extremely complicated.
The process has been simplified above.
There were many rounds leading up to this point.
From these remaining 22 teams, 6 will go to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
For paperback and eBook, the qualification process has been included in Your Guide to the 2026 World Cup.
(Subject to change. As games take place, check here for updates.)

My personal choice: New Caledonia.
I doubt they'll win but I want them to. Let's go!
...News flash: New Caledonia lost.

]]><![CDATA[kjff radio...100 american soccer legends, "galaxy spiral theory"]]>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 21:30:32 GMThttp://www.shanestay.com/blog/kjff-radio

Image courtesy of Ryan Reinheimer.

"Galaxy Spiral Theory"
By
Shane Stay
First heard on KJFF radio, 1-27-2026
In studio | Festus, Missouri | the Heartland

By studying pictures from Hubble, other, it becomes clear, here it is. (Starting from small upwards.) (1) Thanks to electromagnetic forces and gravity, during a proton-photon collision in a lab, strange little spirals occurred. (2) When water goes down your kitchen sink it goes in a spiral. (3) Tornados go in a spiral, hurricanes go in a spiral. (4) The planets in the solar system spiral (revolve) around the sun. (5) Our star and the others go in a spiral around the center of the galaxy. (6) My addition, the galaxies themselves go in a spiral. They go in a grand spiral. To what, that’s still a mystery, and I’m not at liberty to discuss it here. The galaxies seem to have separate groups that go in spirals; perhaps together, as a whole, they're all going to the same place. Though, all the little things we see, such as tornados going in a spiral, seem to be re-enacting how galaxies were formed, and so on. How did I come up with that? That’s aside the point.

Good time on KJFF, with Ryan Reinheimer, discussing a number of things, such as 100 American Soccer Legends, This Is Our CITY, the 2026 World Cup, Cahokia Mounds, galaxies, sports and more.

Italy
Incidentally, when Italy is in the FIFA World Cup things seem to "spiral" around it. Italy is a grand unifying force in the world of soccer. Hopefully the Italians are back in the World Cup. Stay tuned: In late March 2026 we'll know!

USMNT players
A few players covered: Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Christian Pulisic, Ricky Davis, Mike Sorber, Taylor Twellman and many more.

]]><![CDATA[the 2026 fifa world cup cities]]>Sat, 03 Jan 2026 06:20:50 GMThttp://www.shanestay.com/blog/excerpt-from-the-2026-fifa-world-cup-citiesA Brief Excerpt
('Things To Do List': Share this map!)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup cities map. Check out the middle part ;)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup Cities
Published with Cardinal Publishers Group, January 2, 2026

By Shane Stay

Here you go soccer fans, the 2026 FIFA World Cup map:

The 2026 FIFA World Cup could be the best one ever, literally. I’m looking forward to it. Over a billion—people and maybe well-trained pets—are looking forward to it. Hold on a sec. Let’s just go over a quick little slight thing…It’s just a second, it really won’t be that big-a-deal.

It goes without saying, there’s something interesting with this map. Why’s there only one in the middle? Yeah, right. There’s 3 on the East Coast, where Bob Bradley is sipping tea, Princeton sweater on, with a painting of a yacht on the wall. Listen, listen to me yacht fella, put your tasty beverage down. “What?” Did you say what? Say what again! Say what again! I dare you, I double…And those 3 are right next to each other? Huh? What? You can scratch Boston or Philly from that list, duh. New York, Philly would work. Atlanta, yes. Miami, yes. Dallas and Houston? Pick one. I’d go with Dallas. Seattle, yes. SF, where I owned a restaurant, sure, I guess, it gives me a chance to mention Vine & Barrel. LA, where I grew up—in part—with family, I guess. But let’s go to the middle bit. Just Kansas City? Really? Really??? No Detroit, Chicago, or St. Louis as a second? Oh ok, yeah that makes sense. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense, no, I get it: Because St. Louis and Chicago have nothing to do with the history of soccer in America. They really don’t. Everyone knows that. Especially St. Louis, the capitol of soccer in America. Realistically, delete Houston—they might not notice—from the list and add either St. Louis or Chicago. No, I’m not saying this as a native of St. Louis and one who’s lived in Chicago. For argument’s sake, let’s just say I live in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I don’t but just imagine maybe I do…right by the place where Rockefeller had secret UFO meetings. When I buy groceries, I say hi to all the locals. Over there. Even then, I’d still be noticing one in the middle, because…it’s weird. As someone else told me, it’s weird. Only one in the middle?

More at Cardinal Publishers Group.

]]><![CDATA[32]]>Sun, 14 Dec 2025 05:57:22 GMThttp://www.shanestay.com/blog/3232]]><![CDATA[the pixies]]>Sun, 07 Dec 2025 03:41:45 GMThttp://www.shanestay.com/blog/the-pixiesThe songs start out simple and addictive, talky, childlike, then it gets out of their control with mad scientist brilliance but completely in their control as they navigate through a masterpiece.

I'm a music critic now? What decade am I in?
Who's next, Sting?

Sting, technically sound like a studio musician, perfect. Live? Sounds like you're in the studio.

I'm told I'm the best DJ around. For more, see Song of the Day. Martha Quinn eat your heart out. Next up: EPMD, "B.E. the Green-Eyed Bandit." Something like that.

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