Coach insists Ronaldo doesn't dive...Yea right

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho came to the defense of his star, and internationally renowned playboy, Cristiano Ronaldo on Monday, claiming that Ronaldo "doesn't dive...on purpose." Mourinho, the self-proclaimed "Special One," insists that players who simulate diving get more protection from officials vs. those that actually are taken down by their opponents. Ronaldo has taken quite a bit of heat by soccer pundits over the years for his showmanship that is known by soccer fans all over the world as diving. This has become such an issue in the world of soccer that players can actually be awarded a yellow card for "fake-diving," which means that yes, it happens ALL THE FRICKIN' TIME.

You know you've seen it. You are sitting back, watching the defender pass the ball to the goalie, back to the defender, back to the other defender, back to the mid-fielder, back to the defender, back to the goalie, back to the...oh sorry, yea, that's pretty boring. But alas, a pass gets through the defense and bam, we have an actual scoring opportunity! Said striker magically flips the ball ahead with a one-touch, makes a move and then for no apparent reason, falls down. Not only does he fall down, but he is clutching his shin and writhing in pain. As a casual observer, you are thinking, "my god, this guy just broke his leg." But after play resumes, said player magically hops up to his feet and sprints down the field. "What in the hell just happened...I thought that dude broke his leg???"

Ronaldo has been a known-diver for years, though his coach insists otherwise. Mourinho credits Ronaldo's time in the English Premier League as the reason Ronaldo plays "clean ball," which in itself is ironic because half the EPL players are known divers (see Berbatov).

Chalk this up to just another attempt by Ronaldo fans to give credit when credit just isn't due. Sure the guy is magical from set piece situations. Sure he is a great player when he has other great players around him. But what did he do at the World Cup? NOTHING. Fans, coaches, and little girls all around the world will forever back their champion Ronaldo, but as far as I'm concerned, he's just another over-hyped, fake-diving soccer player. Give me Drogba any day of the week. He broke his DAMN ARM and still played in the World Cup.