Which person do you think about the most? Living or dead.

Well, yourself. Of course.

How about, after yourself, which person do you think about the most?

Family & friends, loved ones. This is just as obvious.

Let me rephrase once more: Which person do you think about the most, which is not yourself, family member or friend?

I think my answer is Santiago Cañizares, a football goalkeeper who played for Valencia and Spanish National Team in the 90’s and 00’s.

Before you start to thinking I’m a crazy person, let me give you an explanation:

Cañizares was a terrific goalie and won many club titles. In the national team however, he was unfortunate enough to have his career sandwiched between goaltending giants Zubizarreta and Casillas. In 2002 Cañizares got his big break. He was the first choice keeper for the upcoming World Cup.

Just weeks before the competition, disaster struck! Cañizares severed his tendon in a freak accident, involving broken glass from an aftershave bottle. The result: Goodbye World Cup & hello surgery.

(I read years ago that he dropped the bottle and tried to stall it with his foot, but couldn’t find any information about this)

So, ever since the early summer of 2002, everytime I grab that aftershave bottle to disinfect my face after shaving, I think of Cañizares, and act very carefully. And I do shave quite a bit, so that’s a lot of thinking of a particular retired football goalie!

It’s a pity that Cañizares never played for any team called UNITED. That would’ve been a nifty segue for todays tune.