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W/NW: World Cup Fever


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sp, look above, we're back at the bar..

 

As to how football is played... I myself hate diving and drama, but I think that in this world cup the refs were extra rigid. To those Englishmen who still remember Maradona's "Hand of God"... Cheers!

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<i>"Is there an official rationale for it?"</i> -- Yes, of course. Remove the offside rule, and every team would play like the English (who came to Germany with 4 strikers: One that recovers from a broken foot, the other cannot play more than 3 games without getting wounded, another is a kid who never played in a premier league, and the last one being Peter Crouch. Oh well).
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Jack Lo, I think the notion of 'fair play' was a relatively late Victorian concept ie after the

English had conquered as much of the world as they could. It tends to apply more to

cricket and definitely not to football.

 

"British sense of fair play. Hmmm. As exported to...India....Ireland....South

Africa...Scotland, Burma, Wales, etc."

 

Technically and pedantically speaking, the British cannot export to Wales or Scotland as

they are part of the British Isles or the United Kingdom. It's different for the dastardly

English, of course. Perfidious Albion and all that.

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Of course Andrew you must be aware that Scotland and Wales weren't <i> always</i> part of any "united kingdom". Thousands of Scots and Welshmen had to be slaughtered, castles demolished, wives forced into unwanted marriages, etc. I understand Britain just gave back that stone the Scottish kings were crowned on, the original humiliation having run it's course. Oh, and "The Prince of Wales"? At one time-if you can imagine this-he was actually a <i>Welshman. </i> Just imagine that. As for Ireland, well, there was <i> nothin' but </i> Fair Play going on over the centuries wasn't there in that country.
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I actually have no emotional involvement in this. I dream of visiting England and spending time at historical sites, going on hikes in the countryside, etc.

 

Last winter I read Simon Schama's three volume History of Britain-what a writer!- and I was blown away by the cruelty. George Bush will never equal some of the deeds and lies perpetrated by English kings, queens & protectors. Lucky Luciano was a sweet little nun next to those people.

 

All history now isn't it? The most they wanna do to each other now is kick a little ball past the other country's goaltender.

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The global "sports divide" is a curious thing. On the one hand you've got countries that like their team sports rough and their athletes tough -- Aussies, Canada, Kiwis, USA, etc., and then you have the soccer countries. I've always wondered why the UK was on the soccer side; it seems so out of character. Particularly when you consider the Irish and the Scots -- what's UP with that, dudes?
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Sorry Peter. I thought you were a big Ozzy 'Rugger Bugger'. I always assumed Rugby was tinged with an unhealthy dose of vigorous male sexual intimacy originating, as it does, from a top English public school. Brideshead regurgitated and all that.

 

I always wonder about these ultra male males who only hang out with males doing only male things. (Rugger, drinking, fighting etc They are always the loudest to protest there is nothing 'gay' about it and yet....?)

 

Hmmmm

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The problem arose because the earliest convict ships sent to Australia comprised of all males.

 

By the time the ships with all the women were sent to redress the inbalance it was too late and the die was cast.

 

The women very quickly asessed the situation upon arrival and became expert boatbuilders and left. They got as far as Vladivostok and settled. They built the first proper Russian naval fleet.

 

As a result all Australian women are descended from sheep.

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...and this just in:

 

Yet another American is leading the Tour de France.

 

So who knows, maybe we'll win the World Cup eventually. If we make sure all our college

players major in theater, we're bound to improve. :-)

 

Funny one, Eric!

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