It was June 14, 1970 and the entire Iranian nation was glued to their TV’s watching the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Mexico. Satellite ground station in Asad Abad, Hamedan was installed the year before and for the first time we could watch the international events like the moon landing or the World Cup live in our living rooms.
In Leon, Mexico, in a rematch of 1966 World Cup final, England was playing West Germany. The German stars like Franz Beckenbauer, Gerhardt Muller, Uwe Seeler and Overath were household names in Iran and had a large following. In the TV studio, Mr. Roshanzadeh and Mr. Behmanesh were providing the play-by-play, while a young and relatively unknown Manook Khodabakhshian chimed in with expert analysis.
Fifty minutes into the match, the English were comfortably ahead 2-0 and the German offence was completely ineffective. At that point, Manook expressed his opinion that the German coach Helmut Schoen should bring in Jurgen Grabowski to get the offence moving. To our utmost surprise, a few minutes later, Grabowski was standing on the sideline ready to come in. It was as if Manook had taken over the management of the Germans. Within minutes with his speed and skills, Grabowski brought life to the German offence. Franz Beckenbauer scored for the Germans, Seeler tied the game, and Gerd Muller scored the winner in the overtime and with the 3-2 victory, the Germans advanced to the semis.
The next morning, the news in Iran was about Germany’s incredible comeback and more importantly about the genius of Manook Khodabakhshian who had predicted the right course of action for the Germans. Overnight, Manook became a clairvoyant and a national figure of immense stature.
Over the years, Manook had many original expressions, the most famous of which was:
این تیم دیگه حرفی برای گفتن نداره
Rest in Peace Manook
RIP
Our politicians had resisted pissing on the office of Presidency, tRump fixed that.
tRump is helping to make Russia great again
Reject occupation, If the bar code starts with 7 29 put it back on the shelf
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“The time is always right to do what is right” – Martin Luther King
Great man. He is gone but his dreams and aspirations of Iranian renaissance is still with us.
Strange, I remember watching his prediction that the Germans will bring in Grabowski but I think it was in 1974 World Cup since I didn't watch any live games of 1970 World Cup but the final between Brazil and Italy!
In the 1974 World Cup, Grabowski started all the group matches, one of the 2nd round matches and the final against the Netherlands.
In 1970, he was a sub that generally came in at around 50-60th minute. So in a way, Manook’s prediction in 1970 had more to do with him following the Germany matches very closely and anticipating a change.
The 1970 matches were live in Iran and generally ran late into the early morning hours. How could you forget that?
:)))) blame it on my advanced age. To my credit, we are talking about events some 50 years ago. People with much worse memory than mine are running this country
Here's something to refresh your memory:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWTFvEEJowM
The pace of the game, or lack of, compared to now days is simply amazing
Our politicians had resisted pissing on the office of Presidency, tRump fixed that.
tRump is helping to make Russia great again
Reject occupation, If the bar code starts with 7 29 put it back on the shelf
Buy American, say NO to Chinese madeTrump
“The time is always right to do what is right” – Martin Luther King
I remmeber both 1970 and 1974. We used to pay late night in our "koocheh" and then rush back into our houese around midnight to watch the 1970 games live (Mexico time was about noonish to accommodate Europe).
Another of Khodabakhshian's famous expressions was during 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, in the decathlon event of the Track and Field, when he called the American athlete and eventual gold medalist Bruce Jenner,
این ورزشکار مرد شش میلیون دلاری واقعی است. منظورش اشاره به سریال «مرد شش میلیون دلاری» بود. ه
Rest in peace. I didn't like he went into poltics and conspiracy theories, but he inspired me in sports and I appreciate his service big time.
I am wondering if Manook predicted that decades later, the 6-Million Dollar Man becomes Caitlyn Jenner!
Great point!! Decathlon is and has always been the toughest most grueling event in the Olympics. And decathletes are considered to be the toughest. Transitioning from that to Caitlyn is quite unbelievable.
Are you implying that he becoming a woman is inconceivable because women are considered to be weaker than men?! I hope not.
@Faramarz, I wonder if he said something about Bruce's gender change that happened a few years ago.
Dear Bavafa,
Received an email regarding comment made by you directed at some one. It was nice reading your comment! Believe there has NOT been a sex change done by Bruce aka Caitlyn Jenner, I think he is still a man but considered transgender.
Being a track and field fan, believe he was one of the greats! Bye!! Have a GREAT one!
@P_J, thak you for your clarification. I admit I am not up to date on the science and biologiy of sex change and gender transition. BTW, Caitlyn Jenner's Wikipedia page indicates that in 2017 she went through sex reassignment surgey. Anyway, for pre-rev generation, we remember Jenner as that decathlon champion, or as Mr. Khodabakhsian once said a true "six-million-dollar man."
Wikipedia Refs:
Sex Reassignment Surgey
Sex Transition
Caitlyn Jenner
Dear Bavafa,
Must admit my ignorance and queasiness regarding these complicated matter(s). Remember once watching a TV program when Bruce Jenner walked in, it preceded becoming Caitlyn, interviewer asked him point blank whether or not he will undergo a complete sex change surgery for full transition…he emphatically said NO! And that is the extent of my knowledge!!!
Undoubtedly, he was one of Track and Field’s better champions. Facts are that humans are the most complicated form of life/being.
PS: Great reading your blog!!!