World Cup 2010 Hall of Shame

Despite this entreaty, old habits die hard so I feel compelled to name and shame.

1. Luis Suárez - Public Enemy No 1
2. Rafik Saïfi (there's a reason you're languishing in Ligue 2!!) - I don't think any other player will stoop this low. It's an outrage and FIFA, the Algerian FA and the South African police should throw the book at this guy - sticks and stones will break your bones, words will never hurt - obviously Asma Halimi's pen is mightier than Rafik Saïfi's sword and she's got a mean jab too
3. Daniele de Rossi - the aristocracy were being well and truly shepherded, something had to give - his flippin' legs!!
4. Luis Fabiano - you don't need to tell us!! We saw it on our tv screens, why didn't you vehemently protest to the ref that you had use illegal means to control Jabulani?!
5. Patrice Evra - tais-toi!!
6. England - for flattering to deceive and for being a Hapless, Abject and Clueless (HAC) collective!!

The man IS for turning

Margaret Thatcher once said, "....you can turn if you want to, but this lady is not for turning"

After a contentious 24 hours on the pitch, with the HACs having a legitmate goal disallowed (as if it would have made a difference!!) and La Albiçeleste having an illegitimate goal allowed, FIFA's head honcho not only, shock, horror apologised to the English and Mexican FAs respectively, but he also announced that FIFA would have goalline technology on the agenda at next month's meeting.

More fool you!!

The prevailing misconception among the media (listen here) is that Diego Maradona can't really be coaching La Albiçeleste - this is doing a great disservice to the great man!! After all, how is it possible to have played the game the way he played without having a fundamental understanding of what football is about?!

Maradona's genius lay in his ability to elevate his teammates, at Argentina and Napoli, to his level for the time it took to convert a typically astute pass to a goal. Though his talent is innate, he was a very industrious player - he was the first one to training and the last one to leave. Now as manager, he conveys his reading of the game to his players, La Albiçeleste play in his image and on the pitch, Maradona's genius is equalled by Messi.

4 down, 3 to go

So even if Messi doesn't play, La Albiçeleste are still formidable. Let's be perfectly honest, Messi is yet to fully ignite, despite his armful of MoM awards. The inevitable is bound to happen and methinks de mannschaft will be on the end of a virtuoso Messi display as he continues to mirror Maradona.

They can't play in red either!!

So much for the flippin' shirt change. The Three Lion Kings have been forensically julienned by De Mannschaft with Teutonic efficiency - As for the disallowed goal, it's called karma. Theo, you should be pleased you were not party to such shambles.

To James, Terry, Upson, Johnson, A Cole, Lampard, Barry, Milner, Gerrard, Rooney, Defoe - you have been found badly wanting. 

The Holy Trinity

If you're expecting a biblical reference, then you've come to the wrong place.

La Albiçeleste have the best player in the world in the shape of Messi, the most inspiring manager in Maradona and now they have the master tactitian in Mourinho. This unlikely alliance (one likes to play football, the other likes to stop football being played) displays Maradona's willingness to do whatever is necessary to ensure he fulfils his promise to streak in Buenos Aires should his team hoist the Jules Rimet trophy on 11th July.

Hunger trumps mental strength

The thing about mental strength is that it can go AWOL when one is tired - hunger on the other hand is  relentless in its persistence.

Well done to the Black Stars, Uruguay await and Africa will once again expect - 1 billion vs 2.5 million are extremely favorable odds.

It's not enough to criticise

So the G8 have issued a statement criticising the Gaza blockade, whoopee!! The blockade has only been in place for all of three years, a form of collective punishment reminiscent of what European Jewry were subject to during World War II and illegal under international law - those who were oppressed have become the oppressors and then some!!

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing

Congratulations Dwain

Your time may not have been as impressive as your sub-10 second run in Bergen last week, but it's a W, a national title and it means you are Barcelona bound.

Good luck and watch out for the young Frenchman.

True Grit!!

He has heart!! He may have injured his left elbow and his right knee started acting up, but his desire to win through to the next round meant he was able to push the injuries to one side and focus on winning his match. He next plays on Monday so here's to hoping he'll have recovered sufficiently to beat Paul-Henri Mathieu as he continues his quest for a 2nd Wimbledon title.

Vamos Rafa!

Not quite total

While the Oranje topped Group E, they are yet to play the total football for which they are so renowned. That can only be a good thing as in Euro 2008, they total footballed Italy only to surrender meekly to Russia in the following game.

I fancy the Oranje against Slovakia because their injury prone talisman will be back and as he proved with his cameo against Cameroon, he gives them another dimension.

Sticking to their principles

Spain sent a clear message to the rest of the teams that they believe in their own ability and will not compromise their style of football a la Mourinho - thank goodness for small mercies.

Vamos Espagña!!

A continent vs a country

1 billion Africans vs 300 million Americans

Black Stars vs Stars n Stripes

Hunger vs Mental Strength

Prediction - hunger to win.

Afghanistan withdrawal

In Aravind Adiga's, The White Tiger, the protagonist writes a series of letters to a Chinese leader. In one of these letters, he mentions 3 countries that have never been conquered; China, Afghanistan and Abyssinia aka Ethiopia. An Afghani I spoke to was of the opninion Afghanistan would be fine if all the foreign armies left.

Azzuri, arrivederci!!

Justice has been served - let this be a lesson to Daniele de Rossi. Cheating doesn't pay, especially not in this World Cup.

bollocks

bollocks (also ballocks)   • plural noun Brit. vulgar slang 1 the testicles. 2 treated as sing. nonsense; rubbish.   — ORIGIN related to BALL1. To the clerk at Heathrow Underground,  my usage referred to definition number 2.

They don't know when to quit

The mental strength of the USA allows them to compete against more technically accomplished teams - their next opponents should bear this in mind.

I did say it was the shirt!!

They say clothes maketh the man, well it's certainly true of the men in red as opposed to their doppelgängers in white.

Black Stars, Africa expects

Dear Black Stars

As you know, Ghana was the first African country to shake off the yoke of colonialism when she gained independence in 1957. Kwame Nkrumah espoused pan-Africanism so I'm sure that 1 billion Africans will be rooting for you tonight. 1 billion vs 80 million is no contest - Africa expects, failure is not an option.

**Black Stars successfully fail and will meet the USA in the second round**

We remember your role in the struggle

Dear Winnie Madizikela-Mandela

As I feel the role you played in the struggle against apartheid has been downplayed (in the eyes of the western media), I've decided to redress the balance.

What is not widely known is how you kept Madiba's name alive throughout his imprisonment, at an enormous personal cost to yourself and your daughters. I'm not sure what you thought of Sophie Okonedo's depiction of you in Mrs. Mandela - I thought she did a remarkable job of conveying the harassment you were subjected to. I read your biography and I was struck by what your dedication to the struggle meant in sacrificial terms. I know you survived solitary confinement interspersed with interrogation sessions and a banning order, which undoubtedly left its mark - there's a scene in Mrs Mandela where Sophie Okonedo accurately portrays the inevitable transformation that took place.

Your courage, dedication, determination and sacrifice makes you a heroine in anyone's language. I do hope you've found the happiness you deserve and that you are at peace with yourself.

Yours in admiration.

Amandhla!

There's a tennis tournament going on

My predictions are as follows:

Winner of the appropriately named Venus Rosewater Dish - Venus Ebony Starr Williams aka V aka the Queen of Centre Court

Winner of the men's single's title: Rafael Nadal aka G.O.A.T

Place your bets!!

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail

would sum up the Super Eagles' World Cup 2010 tournament. As usual, the lead up to the tournament was chaotic, a recurring theme as far as Nigeria's preparation for major tournaments goes. Their current coach rued the fact that he didn't have enough time with his players - I wonder why the NFF continues to undermine the not inconsiderable talent at their disposal by shambolic management. Despite all this, Nigeria's destiny was in their own hands, but with the finishing line in sight, they fell agonisingly short.

It's time to fetch the steaks - 3 down 4 to go

Leo oversaw the Albiçeleste's serene progress to the second round and in so doing he became the youngest captain at the tournament. The extra responsibility was handled with his customary aplomb and did not stop him from earning yet another MOM award.

Diego's plan for the second round - it's time to fetch the steaks.

So near and yet so far

So they won, but in the end it wasn't enough. However they acquitted themselves a lot better than anybody thought they would before the tournament started - Bafana Bafana,

well done!!

I see your abject and I'll raise you

is what Les Bleus said to England. So this was ignored and this too execept for Hugo Lloris so all that remains is for me to say,

je m'en balance aussi!!

Rage against the dying of the light

Titi, I wrote this about you and I believe you owe us one last reminder of what you can do before you retire to NYC. So tonight, play as if it's your last ever game - jeux pour les tricolors.

Jouer ou ne pas jouer, c'est la question

C'est incroyable!! Les bleus sont sur la grève. Qui jouera ce soir, on ne sais jamais!!

Allez les bleus, allez!!

THAT'S how you respond!!

If you arrive at a football tournament as favourites and somehow end up losing your first game despite dominating possession, do you:

1. put on an abject display in the second game?
2. decide not to play for your admittedly wacky, astrology-consulting coach?
3. stick to the principles that brought your first major football tournament?

Fortunately, this was heeded and Spain are now up and running - they can only get better.

Vamos Espagña!!

20 years ago, the defending champions lost their opening fixture to an unheralded side, but the genius of Diego, once again inspired the Albiçeleste (who can forget that 2nd round match against the Seleçao  where they were effectively outplayed for 89 minutes, but Diego unlocks the Brazilian defence as only he can, fashions a pass to Caniggia who dispatches the ball with aplomb) to the final where De Mannschaft fashioned a win.

So to Ilker, Piqué, Puyol, Busquets, Xabi, Xavi, David Villa, David Silva, Cesc (if you play), Nando et al, please don't despair - just play the beautiful game that so enchanted us in Euro 2008.

Vamos Espagña!!

What's eating Kaká?!

The Seleçao are through to the next round after what was ultimately a straightforward 3-1 win over the Elephants, but in the light of Kaká's dismissal after the game had already been won, it does make one wonder about Kaká's frame of mind after what by his very high standards has been a largely disappointing and injury plagued first season with Real Madrid. He spoke about being content with his performance in the game against Korea DPR and he had a hand in 2 of tonight's goals. However, given the inevitable suspension that will follow his sending off, the jury is still out on whether he can inspire the Seleçao to a sixth World Cup trophy - he's feeling the pressure.

Yet ANOTHER team in white who can PLAY!!

The appropriately named All Whites in their first World Cup since 1982 summoned the spirit of the haka to hold the soon-to-be ex World Champions to a very creditable 1-1 draw - this result serves to illustrate just how much of a leveller sport can be.

Like a fine wine, he's getting better with age

So a former world junior record holder for the 100m has finally lived up to his potential by becoming the fastest European this year with this run in Norway yesterday. What's more he's done it in the face of enormous adversity. If the men in white on Friday had a quarter of Dwain's mental strength, then England would probably have 6 points instead of 2.

Dwain, I certainly hope you get to run in 2012 because without question, if you run the qualifying time, then you sure as hell will deserve to don the British vest and represent.

He blazed a trail in the NBA

With the untimely demise of Manute Bol, his family have lost a father, a brother, a son, the NBA has lost a trailblazer, Sudan has lost an ambassador and peacemaker, and the world has lost a humanitarian. He had a dream to build 41 schools across Southern Sudan and through Sudan Sunrise, he had started to see his dream come to fruition - it would be a fitting legacy for his dream to be realised.

RIP

Jeux pour les tricolors

 Chers les bleus

Je vous supplie de jouer pour la fierté, pour le drapeau et pour vous.

Titi, cela peut-être votre dernier jeu, nous donne ainsi quelque chose de spécial pour se souvenir de vous par.

Allez les bleus, allez!!

What an abject display!!

A defense attorney will his instruct his client to wear white, why? Because white has a way of making even the most vicious, cold blooded, murderous thug look as if butter wouldn't melt in their mouth - convincing the jury of their client's innocence is then easier to do.

Last night, the men in white played as if they were raising a proverbial white flag. Not a single player emerged with any credit and it remains to be seen if they will even qualify from their group. Between now and Wednesday, Don Fabio needs to let the players summon their inner Bulldog - he could start by letting them play in red.

They decided to stretch it out

Instead of sweeping Boston as I had predicted, LAL decided it would be more fun to play all seven games of the series.

Congratulations to the Los Angeles Lakers on validating your 2009 triumph!!

Ambivalent at best

For the first time in a long while, there's an occupant in the Oval Office who thinks the US-UK Special Relationship isn't all that and here's why;

• his grandfather was a cook in the KAR and there's no doubt he was subject to the indignities that were the order of day for African men in the British army.
• the British sowed the seeds of the tribalism that is prevalent in modern day Kenya by playing off one tribe against the other during their colonial rule - BO's grandfather was a member of the Luo tribe
• when Barack Obama Snr returned to a newly independent Kenya in 1965, his desire to function solely as a technocrat was thwarted by the politicians of the day - there is no doubt that tribalism played a part in this

They are starting to purr

The Albiçeleste have prepped the barbecue, laid out the condiments and stoked the coals - 2 down, 5 to go.

Je m'en balance

est ce qui Monsieur Domenech pensé avec zut alors et merde!!

A bad workman quarrels with his tools

which makes all those players complaining about Jabulani bad workmen. After all, if Leo can run with the ball like it's glued to his feet, I don't see why the rest can't do the same and if Vincent Enyeama can catch the ball like a human Venus fly-trap, I really don't see what the likes of Ilker Casillas, Gianluigi Buffon, David James, Mark Schwarzer etc are on about.

Depsite Jabulani having been made available by Adidas since last December, the English only got round to using it in May whereas the likes of Leo have been using since February - apparently Don Fabio made the decision not to practise with it.

Is this some kind of joke?!

75, 86 and 93 are the ages of the three wise men that Israel has appointed to probe their wanton act of piracy in international waters. To mollify the US, two relatively youthful international observers of 65 and 55 have been appointed to observe the farce, but as Bibi points out, they may as well not be there at all given they would not be able "to vote in relation to the proceedings and conclusions of the commission".  What's more when you read this, it does make you wonder why the international observers should even bother to show up.

Turkey should lobby the UN Security council to hold an inquiry that coincides with the Israeli one, especially since the Israeli one will whitewash the criminal acts of the members of the Israeli navy into the usual national security bullshit they peddle out all the flippin' time!!

The idea of cultural, economic and sporting boycott gains credence with each passing day after all if they don't want to engage with the international community, why should the international community engage with them?!

New kid on the block

With this leap, TT (or should that be T2?!) has announced himself to the world, in the same stadium where Usain Bolt first broke the 100m world record in May 2008. It remains a very real possibility that the world record of 18.43m won't be around for that much longer if T2 (way cooler than TT), Christian Olsson and Phillips Idowu continue to push one another.

1 Win, 2 Losses, 1 Draw

Bafana Bafana did the continent proud with their draw in the opening game, the Super Eagles acquitted themselves well, despite their chaotic preparation (plus ça change!!), against the tournament's likely winners, the Desert Foxes narrowly lost after another goalkeeping howler, but it's the Black Stars who have taken the continent's pride to stratospheric levels with their win - this was a nice touch.

Sanctions for Iran, what about Israel?

The IAEA is aware of Iran's nuclear ambitions because Iran has talked about them and she's a signatory to the NPT. This honesty has got Iran nowhere and the UN Security Council recently voted to impose crippling sanctions against the country. Their president has said that Iran will take its nuclear programme underground and who can blame him?

Perversely, Israel's nuclear weapons capability is an open secret, but because Israel hasn't come out officially about its nuclear programme, the IAEA's hands are tied. The man who shone the spotlight on Israel's illegal nuclear programme is under virtual house arrest in Israel - he sought refuge in a church on his release from jail, after converting from Judaism to Christianity.

When it comes to Israel, the following applies

all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others

Why?

Oops, ITV did it again!!

So ITV, pray do tell us why your HD viewers were left in the proverbial dark as Captain Marvel scored his goal. As I like my football advert free, I for one, won't be watching the final on your channel especially since you have form for this type of gaffe.

1 down, 6 to go

And so the little magician who captivated most of the world 24 years ago has let his little flea orchestrate the play, to the glorious benefit of the Albiçeleste - he and they can only get better.

The levels of condescension

In the lead up to the World Cup the press over here were full of negative stories about South Africa's preparations, the strikes, the level of crime, stadiums not being ready on time, ticketing problems, inadequate public transport, park and ride scheme not working properly.

So when South Africa staged a spectacular opening ceremony yesterday, in the calabash that is Soccer City Stadium in Jo'burg you could almost hear the incredulity in the broadcasters' voices. Lest the western world forget, South Africa staged an unforgettable Rugby World Cup in 1995, the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996 and they've taken on board the elements that made the 2006 World Cup in Germany such a success and added a uniquely South African flavour.

Bafana Bafana have surpassed people's expectations and the despondency of the players at the end of the game against Mexico told its own story.

Comme d'habitude

Les Bleus 0 Uruguay 0 n'est pas un mauvais résultat. C'est la même résultat que les Bleus obtenu en 2006 où ils sont allés entièrement à la finale. À Raymond Domenech, le début Titi pour le jeu suivant.

What we REALLY think of you

The Pentagon is getting its knickers in a twist because their full and frank assessments of Middle Eastern government's and their leaders may yet see the light of day. Well, it serves them right - if only there were more such soldiers who did not slavishly follow questionable orders. The Pentagon has lobbed the old national security chestnut to try and get Wikileaks not to publish the documents, embarrassment is the real reason - their founder is between countries as he tries to stay out of the Pentagon's reach.

Don't dishonour the integrity of the man who made it happen

Players, officials and fans,

If any of you are tempted to cheat, feign injury, get another player sent off, award dubious penalties, fix a result or riot, DON'T!!

Remember the extraodinary sacrifice Madiba made for South Africa along with Steve Biko, Ruth First, Chris Hani, Chief Albert Luthuli, Govan Mbeki, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Cyril Ramaphosa, Albertina Sisulu, Walter Sisulu, Jo Slovo, Oliver Tambo, Desmond Tutu, Donald Woods and countless others and, what that sacrifice cost him and his family.

Once the tournament is over, converge on the Waterfront in Cape Town and catch a ferry to Robben Island where Madiba spent eighteen of the twenty seven years that he was imprisoned. Once there, you'll be shown his cell and the narrowness of its confines will make you wonder how it was possible to retain one's sanity let alone one's humanity. You will also be shown the quarry where Madiba and others spent many hours chipping the limestone. You will be driven there in a bus with tinted windows, but even that won't stop the sun's glare from penetrating the air-conditioned interior and then you will understand why Madiba's eyesight is ruined. And after the tour is over, you will marvel at how one can experience all this and still retain one's humanity without bitterness or rancour.

So don't do anything to dishonour the sacrifice Madiba made, especially during this very tragic time - we all owe him that much.

Triumph marred by Tragedy

And so on a day that should have been about the world coming together to revel in the triumph of South Africa's big coming out party, tragedy has once again stalked the person most responsible for the World Cup being held in South Africa.

Today the sun will burn a little less brightly as we mark the passing of someone who died far too young.

However the show, as they say, must go on and I'm sure all South Africans will take pride in what their country has achieved. Likewise, I'm sure the rest of the African continent will bask in the glow of this real life feel good story. Not forgetting the rest of the world, but today belongs to the people of Africa.

Barack and/or Hillary

There are obvious parallels to be drawn between this and the duking that occurred as Barack and Hillary went toe-to-toe as they vied to win the Democratic Presidential nomination.

She is the first, black woman to contest the Labour party leadership and in recognition of this singularly groundbreaking achievement, I've coined the phrases, BamaTon and TonBama

Can't play, Won't play

So the Can't play, Won't play World Cup XI is made up of:

Andrea Pirlo

Arjen Robben

David Beckham
*David James
Didier Drogba
John Obi Mikel
José Bosingwa
Lassana Diarra
Michael Ballack
Michael Essien
Nani - was it worth it?

I would opt for a 4-5-1 formation, but given there's no recognised striker, it hard to see how this hypothetical team would progress - it has just occurred to me that Didier the Diver Drogba is a striker when he's in the mood to be.

*David James is carrying a knee injury, but because of his erudition and articulation, the senior England players have lobbied for him to start Saturday's opener against the USofA

Computer says....NO

There's a sketch in Little Britain which always ends with the character robotically saying, "computer says....no'. I had my own real life "computer says....no" moment in the offices of a well known high street bank on Friday afternoon.

I was applying for a credit facility and as my income over the past year had been fitful, I thought it would be better if I made my case in person. So I went along to the branch of my bank in central London, where I had opened the account, armed with documentary evidence to support my changed circumstances and someone who could vouch for the veracity of some of my narrative a phone call away. Despite all this, the computer said no to my application so I asked for human intercession. The human involvement took all of 10 seconds to reach the same conclusion as the computer.

With such pliancy, who will stand up to the computers when they eventually take over?!!

Land of the free?!!

As this so clearly demonstrates, criticism of Israel trumps the distinguished Helen Thomas' first amendment right to free speech. Given that Americans get hot under the collar when they believe their right to bear arms, as defined in the second amendment, is in jeopardy from forces imagined or real (normally the former!!), the fact that Ms Thomas felt she had to apologise first and resign second is indicative of just how much of a sacred cow Israel is.

The US kowtows to Israel in a manner that is sooooooooooooo obsequious one would think Israel was the superpower in question. The one sided nature of the US relationship with Israel is strikingly reminiscent of the the one-sided nature of the US relationship with the UK - the UK is the tail being wagged by the dog. The US should grow a pair of cojones and tell Israel where to go then we'll see just how brave Israel actually is without the back-up of the 1000 pound gorilla (no offence to gorillas is intended by this comparison).

And why is that the Israeli government spokesman, the current Israeli PM and ultra-Orthodox settlers on the remotest kibbutz have such apple-pie American accents?!

If Puerto Rico is considered to be the 51st State of the USofA, then surely Israel's got to be the 14th!!

5 out of 192

5/192 equates to 2.6% a relatively small number which would ordinarily be deemed insignificant. However the 5 refers to the veto-wielding permanent members of the UN Security Council who essentially promote their respective agendas at the expense of the other 187 members. For instance any UN resolution on Israel has seen the US always express the duality of abstain or veto.

While the presence of China, Russia and the US can be understood in terms of the influence they wield on the global stage, the influence of Britain and France on the global stage has declined quite considerably during the last 60 years. It therefore stands to reason that Britain and France's permanent seats should be merged to form one European seat, Africa should be allocated a veto-wielding permanent seat and one veto-wielding permanent seat should be created for Latin America.

It only took NINETEEN years

So after nineteen years of trying to get Israel's nuclear capability on the agenda, the IAEA meeting will finally discuss Israel's nuclear issue - it's about bloody time!!

It's time for a cultural, economic and sporting boycott

In 1968, the UN General Assembly proposed ending all cultural, economic and sporting connections with South Africa's apartheid government, but because of South Africa's strategic importance to the west given the fact that South Africa had the world's largest resources of uranium, a key ingredient in the manufacture of nuclear weapons, and it was the height of the Cold War, economic sanctions against South Africa were not implemented until the late 1980s - there's a long list of western companies who put profit before morals and continued to trade with the ostracised regime.

South Africa's state sanctioned policy of separate development aka apartheid is no different to Israel's modern day treatment of the Palestinians. The ritual humiliations meted out to the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories is on par with the debasement experienced by black/coloured South Africans under apartheid. The Occupied Territories are the modern day equivalent of the Bantustans. The apartheid South African government was dismissive of international condemnation of its policies just as Israel is dismissive of any international criticism concerning the collective punishment of the citizens of Gaza - what Israel is subjecting the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to is reminiscent of the treatment meted out to Jews in Europe during World War II.

If South Africa's apartheid government warranted a cultural, economic and sporting boycott, isn't today's Israel deserving of one too?

He is ONLY 24!!

Yesterday I was here and at the Menorca stand a very youthful Rafa beamed from the posters on display. I had followed the match while window shopping and it was while I was enroute to the Technology section that Rafa clinched his 5th Coupe des Mousquetaires. 

In the lead up to the final, I think Björn Borg was trying to gee up his fellow countryman when he predicted Robin would become the world no 1 - either that or his predictions are as way off as another former illustrious sports star because the Swede was truly diced and sliced!

ONE Australian Open, FIVE Coupe des Mousquetaires,  THREE Davis Cups, EIGHTEEN Masters' titles, ONE Olympic GOLD and ONE Wimbledon title is not a bad haul for someone termed a clay court specialist. With better management of his physical ailments and with his mental focus no longer in doubt, I am emboldened to predict he will go on to claim a second Wimbledon title and win his first US Open.

Did I mention he's just 24?!

It really IS this simple

In the never ending debate about the greatest football player EVER, it's normally whittled down to shootout between Diego Armando Maradona and Edson Arantes do Nascimento aka Pelé. It's time to settle this debate once and for all by answering the following questions:

If Pelé had replaced Maradona in the 1986 and 1990 World Cups, would he have been able to inspire Argentina to win the first and finish runner-up in the second? Also, would Pelé have been able to inspire Napoli to their first Scudetto win in 1987 and their second in 1990?

The 1970 Brazilian team is widely acknowledged to be the best ever team so one could reasonably suppose they would have won the World Cup whether Pelé was present or not - Pelé was the icing on the joga bonito cake. Without Maradona, Argentina and Napoli would not have won the prizes they did.

From England captain to discounted merchandise in 24 hours!!

How's this for a curveball? It was especially heartrending for him given his optimism that the worst was behind him. And as if he hadn't suffered enough, I was here yesterday and there was £5 off all merchandise bearing his likeness!!

One man's misfortune is another man's opportunity, so step forward Captain Marvel. He'll be the first to admit that his performances in the shirt of his country are not as consistently good as those in the shirt of his club, but the country will expect him to turn on the swashbuckling style that gave rise to the Miracle of Istanbul legend or the destiny of the 2006 FA Cup.

Pressure doesn't come much bigger than this!!

One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter

In the 1960s, Madiba was one of the founders of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the ANC, and his nom de plume was the Black Pimpernel as he managed to evade the state agents of the apartheid South African government until he was betrayed and captured at Rivonia Farm. In 2010, Madiba is the most venerated man alive.

Gerry Adams', longtime spokesman for the IRA, the armed wing of Sinn Féin, Irish brogue was banned from British news' broadcasts until very recently - his words would be voiced by an actor. Following the St. Andrews Agreement, Gerry Adams and Martin McGuiness were elected to Stormont. Here, Gerry Adams details the extent of the negotiating required to bring about a peace settlement.

Which brings me to Khaled Meshal, Hamas' articulate leader (you can listen to him on Al-Jazeera). In the west, Hamas is portrayed as a terrorist organisation. Despite this, the Palestinian electorate gave Hamas political legitimacy by voting them into power in December 2005, in elections that according to international observers were free and fair. Hamas' election victory meant the sidelining of Fatah, which in the eyes of the Palestinian electorate wasn't doing much for their cause and was beset by allegations of corruption.

Hamas' election victory did not sit well with Israel, the EU and the US and efforts to undermine Hamas' political mandate intensified. This culminated in a decisive split between Hamas and Fatah which was portrayed as Hamas seizing power in Gaza in June 2007 - as Hamas had the Palestinian electorate's mandate to govern, I don't see why the events of 2007 should be portrayed as a Hamas coup by the pro-Israeli western media unless of course it's part of well orchestrated strategy to vilify Hamas at every opportunity.

The Israeli Operation Cast Lead, which ostensibly was launched to stop to the firing of rockets into Southern Israel, of December 2008 was yet another opportunity for the Israelis to try and kill as many Hamas members as possible - they failed on both accounts. The Israeli incursion into Gaza saw Gaza's already traumatised citizens subject to the kind of aerial bombardment that the so called good guys inflicted on the citizens of Dresden in World War II. The IDF used white phosphorous (whose usage is banned in densely populated areas - the blatant disregard for international norms and conventions is a recurring Israeli theme). The IDF's attempt to defend the wanton destruction of a UN warehouse stocked with supplies for the Palestinians was seen in another light after Israel paid compensation to the UN. Despite the IDF's considered incursion into Gaza, between 1166 and 1417 Palestinians were killed, including 318 children. No doubt Mark Regev, the Israeli government spinmeister-in-chief, could engineer an plausible explanation as to how those dead children threatened Israel's national security as he did when the IDF bombed the UN facility - a UN report criticising the IDF's conduct was summarily dismissed.

In contrast, 13 Israelis were killed.

Operation Cast Lead strenghtened Hamas politically and morally because they were able to provide material relief to the besegied Palestinians of Gaza, despite the arrest of some of their MPs and attempts on the lives of others. What's more there was an unprecedented chorus of international opinion condemning Israel's heavy handedness.

Russia and Turkey have seized the initiative in the Israeli- Palestinian conflict and Dmitry Medvedev's face-to-face meeting with Khaled Meshal last month has sent a pointed message to Israel, the EU and the US that there can be no solution to the Israeli-Palestinian problem without Hamas.

Feliz Compleaños

Sorry I'm a day late, but things got kind of hectic yesterday and I didn't get round to posting like I thought I would. Anyway, by all accounts you had a good day and I know that the icing on the proverbial cake would be a straight sets demolition of the Swede on Sunday to lift your 5th Coupe des Mousquetaires and emulate Björn Borg.

My prediction: Straight sets win for Rafa

PS: Congrats to V & S (doesn't quite have the same ring to it!!) on their doubles' success - they have now amassed 12 grand slam doubles' titles

LAL sweep

The word on the street is that the Boston Celtics (Paul Pierce, I"m talking to you!!) haven't heard of the saying

"one can only beat what's in front of you" 

given the amount of trash talking they've been doing over LAL's NBA Championship win last year. Nothing would demonstrate LAL's superiority more than a clean sweep over the men in green and as this shows, LAL are doing their talking on the court.

So Andrew, Derek, Kobe, Pau and Ron, please get my summer of sporting predictions off to a good start - look forward to seeing y'all in October!!

Why it's not in the least bit surprising

Secret documents have revealed that Israel tried to sell nuclear weapons to apartheid South Africa in the 1970s. What is surprising about this revelation, is that it was orchestrated by an Israeli who is considered a dove, the current president Shimon Peres, who at that time was Israel's Minister of Defence. To put this in context, Ariel Sharon was a hawk and the same goes for the current Israeli Prime Minster and the Foreign Minster. And for those still unsure as to whether or not Israel has nuclear weapons, this provides irrefutable evidence that Israel does. That being the case, Mordechai Vanunu should now be allowed to leave Israel because Israel's secret is out!!

The parallels between Israel and apartheid South Africa are striking:

• a minority oppressing a majority
• us vs the rest of the world mentality
• flagrant violations of international law
• a chronic failure to learn the lessons of history

Apartheid South Africa was eventually ostracised by the international community, methinks it's time the international community ostracises Israel.

Hamstrung

His exit "speech" reflects the dignity of the man, but ultimately he felt the constrictions of having one hand tied behind his back. He's not short of admirers and if he does end up as the coach of Inter Milan, then I'm sure he will build on last season's unprecedented treble success.

We will always remember the "Miracle of Istanbul" and but for a few less draws last season but one, we would have enhanced our status as England's most successful football club.

Rafa, graçias, adiõs y buena suerte.

How can he NOT be in attendance?!

Given the symbolism and magnitude of the occasion and the fact that he invested his not inconsiderable charm in bringing Africa's first World Cup to South Africa, it would be hugely disappointing if Madiba did not grace us with his presence at the opening and closing ceremonies of the tournament. Granted he's very frail now and goodness knows, he's more than earnt his right to a quiet retirement, but we would hope that Madiba has the final say on his appearance next Friday.

Try Again

"If at first you don't succeed, pick yourself up and try again" and in your case, they are especially apt. Use this setback to spur you on to even greater heights, as your captain has done. While one of the people you admire won a World Cup Winners medal at the age of 20, your path to the summit has not run smoothly, but you'll get there eventually. You are only 21, your time will come and however well, England do in South Africa, you can be extremely proud of the role you played in getting them there.

Your manager believes in you, your family believes in you and in time your self-belief will return - see you in 2014.

Rogue State Alert! Def CON 6!!

Even by Israel's brazen standards, the commando raid on the Mavi Marmara, while in international waters, takes the proverbial biscuit! Apparently, the Israelis felt their national security was being threatened by a ship laden with electrical wheelchairs and so felt justified in launching a pre-emptive strike - if this were a movie, you would laugh at the ludicrousness of the plot! As usual, the Israeli spinmeisters have gone into overdrive, but even they can't defend the indefensible. International censure and sanctions MUST follow, the wanton slaughter of civilians demands nothing less.