There has been a lot of chatter about the Australian Government’s dismal response to the arrival of refugees to this country. But I don’t think even then SIEVX experience can match what NATO units did to more than 60 African refugees off Libya recently. Continue reading
In Canada they are about to have an election. This post opened my eyes on one view of the ‘reign’ of Stephen Harper. There’s a lot to be said about his incumbent government and some Canadians reaction to it. I know politics is always polarising, but I’m finding in two party systems – which Canada quite isn’t, yet – the amount of bile and distrust seems to be growing ad-nauseum. Continue reading
When Manchester City striker Balotelli allegedly taunted the losers after yesterday’s FA Cup Semi Final perhaps that was unsporting. But the petty reaction of highly rewarded players like Anderson and Ferdinand was nonsensical.
Of course I agree players should go hard during the game, enjoy the rewards when they win, be gracious to the losers and walk away. But, if like me you experienced the snarling embodiment of disappointment that was Rio Ferdinand yesterday, it’s clear that the losers have a role to play in that.
As Ferdinand attempted to deflect from his own teams failings by crashing the celebrations of the winners, he reminded us how much worse a bad loser looks in comparison to any gloating by a winner. Losing means walking away, maintaining the rage and driving improvements to yourself and your team the next time around.
Ferdinand and his team failed at their own game today. Their job is to come back on Tuesday at Newcastle, like Manchester City did following their heavy defeat against Liverpool last week, and win again.
Update: It’s not as if this is new
Your right….I'm a bad loser, I can't help it…its 1 of my bad points. Congrats to Wolves—
Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) February 05, 2011
Much as I like being objective and rational about football I felt so much better as I shouted, at around 4.25am this morning, “Up yours money boy” to Torres as he sat forlornly on the bench when the camera switched to him following Meireles’ goal. Continue reading
I’d be quite surprised if anyone employed for any amount of cash a week, but especially a footballers wages, wouldn’t be, by default, complimentary not just of his club, but of the fans the city and everything else which is important to make him feel at home. Continue reading
I grew up looking down on other Football teams with disdain, especially supposed “big” clubs, for only being “Cup Teams”. That is those who usually had a cup run each season and whose pinnacle of success was lifting the FA Cup at Wembley in May. I always looked at the Cups (aside from the European Cup which back then only actual Champions could win) as being either the cream on the cake or something to have in a season you didn’t win the league.
As the last 20 years have progressed, Continue reading
I’ve just written about Wikileaks and Transparency. And just as the antonym of transparency is opacity, then perhaps the antonym of Wikileaks is FIFA. Continue reading
Just read a great article by Doreen Massey in the Guardian related to my recent post on Sustainability in Football. Continue reading
I grew up on a Rodgers and Hammerstein song being churned out by others and I, few of us who could sing. When I woke up this morning to catch up on yesterday’s Liverpool game, I watched citizens of the same country as those great Songwriters watch on as You’ll never walk alone Continue reading
I just read an excellent Article from Andy Green in the Guardian on the economics of Football clubs. Both he and David Conn have done a great job in exploring the failures of the recent takeovers of Football clubs in England.
Andy Green does however lend an ear to one salient point, which he then neglects to expand upon.
Such deals have proved a tragedy for English football as they have replaced community and success on the pitch as the priorities for clubs with the pursuit of profit.
Football clubs are not like traditional businesses, Continue reading
