The On-Again, Off-Again Story of Neymar and Real Madrid (and Gabe's Logitech Wireless K250)

In my last update of the torrid romance between Real Madrid, Santos, and the brilliant-but-painfully-confused superstar-in-making Neymar (too many dashes?), I admitted that my report that the young Brazilian forward's transfer to los merengues was essentially a done deal was based on shaky sources...at best. Because of that, I had to do the unthinkable: I had promised the guys over at The Short Fuse (SBN's fantastic Arsenal blog) that I'd destroy my keyboard, and destroy it I did (video embedded after the jump if you haven't already seen it).

So today this aggravating story took an even more annoying turn: Wagner Ribeiro, Neymar's agent, and one of my least favorite sports personalities of all time (complete list after the jump) said in a press conference that,

"An agreement with Real Madrid would only be possible in 2012, never now. Anything that you've heard to the contrary is pure speculation. Before the 31st of August [the close of the summer transfer window] there is not an agreement, and there won't be an agreement. Forget about it. [...] But for 2012, anything is possible." Source: Real Madrid Fanboy Tabloid #1.

I've begun to actually feel sorry for the poor kid. He's under a tremendous amount of pressure, both from his team and their fanbase (who adore him), and from his agent and entourage; he's in a huge, career-defining pressure cooker...and he's only 18!

When some reporters asked him whether he wanted to "prove that he wanted come to Europe" in his upcoming friendly with the Seleçao, he responded, "I'm undergoing a lot of changes in my career. So no. I just play football. I don't want to prove anything." He genuinely sounds like a kid who's in over his head. So, here's my message to Neymar: head up, kiddo. You're gonna be fine. Everything's going to work out fine. Just listen to your gut, and do what you want, not what some idiotic, attention-seeking agent wants.

Alright, without further ado, my list of people I hate in sports (in no particular order):

• Alexi Lalas
• Brett Favre (I'm a Packer fan--represent!)
• Sepp Blatter
• Everyone associated with FIFA and UEFA
• Michel Platini
• Thierry Henry (sorry Gunners fans)
• Curt Schilling
• Lionel Messi, the infamous basketball player
• Shakira's boyfriend
• Wagner Ribeiro
• Those Barça fans who cussed me out when I was 8 and wearing a Real Madrid jersey
• Scott Boras
• Tim Tebow (I know this is gonna get me some hate)

And here's the video again. Lots and lots of credit to my brother Nat, and to my great (deceased) supporting actor, my Logitech Wireless K250: