Susan Hated Literature

*Auto post no 2*

The World Cup is almost here. Football is going to dominate all the newspapers and tv coverage. The whole world will go football crazy. Well, parts of it will.

We didn’t qualify. So instead of looking at our prospects I’m going to look back at “The Saipan Incident” of 2002. Because it still causes arguments you know. Who’d believe that a footballer could do almost as much damage as a civil war?

A bit of background; First we have Roy Keane. Footballing god, not for his talent because there are others with more natural ability. but for his sheer determination and desire to win. Alternatively we have Roy Keane, footballing thug and person to avoid. A man who’d want to win at any cost.

And then there is Mick McCarthy. Manager of the Irish team during this time. A previous Captain Fantastic in his own right, Mick never escaped the shadow of previous manager Jack Charlton^[1] Nor did the team really live up to expectations.

And of course we have the FAI. Footballing Association of Ireland^[2] The people responsible for the administration of the sport in Ireland. They had clashed with the players before, over issues such as seating arrangements on planes, and the condition of training facilities.

Let us also state that Roy Keane, captain of the Irish team had never really gotten on with Mick McCarthy.

Now the stage is set.

Whatever exactly happened in Saipan doesn’t really matter. like all these “defining moments” it is all down to interpretations of the events, because we’ll never know the truth. Emotion played too large a role.

Did Roy Keane question Mick’s Irishness? Did he call him an English cunt? He denies it. No one has ever come out straight and said it, but the whispers are there.

Did Mick McCarthy insult Roy by insinuating that he used his injuries as excuses not to play friendlies?

Whatever happened the result was all that matters. Roy Keane walked out on his team. On his country. That’s what some people say, but they won’t then go on to say that he changed his mind. That he agreed to stay, until another bust-up had him sent home. Sent, not walked out on^[3]

And all across the world Irish football came under the spotlight. Most British journalists rushed to condemn Roy. To show the world that this thug couldn’t even be loyal to his own country.

Others were more balanced, giving reasons and excuses.

Some blamed Mick McCarthy. Other blamed Roy. I’m sure sales of newspapers sky rocketed as everyone back home wanted to know what was going on. Not only sports journalists were involved, but we were treated to an extended interview with Roy Keane on the telly, as he was asked “would he not go back, for the children Roy. For the children.” ^[4]

He didn’t. He wouldn’t play again for Ireland under the management of Mick McCarthy.

And all across the country people took up sides in the Roy Keane war. Families and friends divided. Nothing had divided the country like it since the actual Civil War^[5] and we all know how that ended for one famous Corkman.

Personally, I think that both Roy and Mick were in the wrong. But it was really the fault of the FAI. Mismanagement how are ye.

Roy had his principles, and I don’t think that anyone can be asked to be blindly loyal to anything, person or country, and go against their own beliefs. That is where loyalty turns into stupidity. But there is also the fact that his temper got the better of him.

Perhaps when Keane had got his concerns off his chest in this newspaper there was no need to have it out with him in front of the other players. Keane has a tripwire temper and a hard streak of meanness in him, a trait which makes him the player and competitor he is, but which also means that any reaction from him was likely to have been of such vehemence that it left no exits open apart from his own

But back home you had to take a side, in this war between the old “sure aren’t we lucky to be here” attitude and the now, more professional, more demanding attitude of Roy Keane. Both sides have their good points. The desire to win at all costs is not a good thing. But neither is it right to just show up and hope for the best. You have to prepare, you have to work.

And despite the fact that after Mick McCarthy was replaced by Brian Kerr, and that Roy came back to play for Ireland the controversy still lingers. Roy Keane’s recent testimonial showed how many people love and admire him as a footballer, but his reputation is forever tarnished because he was the man who walked out on his team. And letters to various papers int he aftermath of his testimonial showed that there were many who were very willing to bring that up again. Almost four years on, the arguments may have died down but they haven’t gone away.

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Auto blog post while I’m away #1

Wherever you go at the moment you can’t avoid seeing references to the Da Vinci Code. It is everywhere. The past few years have been bad enough with the book appearing in commuter hands all across the country, but now with the film being released the whole hysteria has creeped up a notch.

And I’m ever so bored of it. Ever so.

I haven’t read the book. I tried, it was crap, I tossed it. I haven’t seen the film. The trailers put me off. they’ve been showing for how many generations now? Every time I’ve gone to the cinema over the past 10 years it seems like I’ve seen that trailer. At first the teaser trailer was okay, fine, and I even thought that maybe the book could make a good film. I’ve heard it is a thriller-type and often not-so-good books make great films. The Godfather anyone? but then it was on again, and again, and again. And then they started showing the real trailer. This was back in 1066 or so. They really wanted to build publicity you see.

And ever so quickly I grew ever so fatigued with it^[1] With its pointlessness and overhyped music and proclamations that it would shake the very foundations of humanity.

Honestly, do you really think that anything possibly could shake the foundations of humanity? Human belief systems, yes that could happen. But a theory shaking the actual foundations of humanity. Chance’d be a fine thing.

So I decided I wouldn’t go. Not unless I was stuck for something to see and wanted to waste some time. But then the reviews started coming out from Cannes. Reports of critics laughing at pivotal scenes. I got curious. See, I don’t actually read reviews before I see a film. But I’ll skim headlines and, in all fairness, it is pretty hard to miss hearing how much the world either hates or loves the Da Vinci Code. And then I read FM’s review.

I’ll have to go, it sounds so terrible it may just be watchable. Popcorn will be required. But I think I’m going to give it a go, it’ll be hanging around in the cinemas for ages anyways, won’t it. So I’ve plenty of time.

I still haven’t seen MI:3 either. I’ll have to increase my kino-ing.

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Last post before I head home, and Luna Nina says:

1. Bounce ::
2. Wasting time ::
3. Utility ::
4. London ::
5. Pregnant ::
6. Cranberry ::
7. International ::
8. Disappointment ::
9. Sponsor ::
10. Second ::

Continue Reading »

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This week had been so very very slow. I’m not the only one who feels this way am I?

Mon and Tues draaaged by. As though they were never going to leave. I didn’t really mind at the time. Monday I was still on my rugby high, but by Wed I wanted the week to be over.

Course this may have more to do with the fact that I’m outa here for an entire week now. here being work. Actually more than a week, as Mon the 5th is a bank holiday so I’ll have that off to. Yay for days off work. nothing like them.

I’m heading up to Sligo either tomorrow or Sun. That depends on the parentals. They may be around in Dublin over the weekend and if they are it means I can use their transport as opposed to the train. Which’ll be nice.

And work seems to be getting a little busier again. So maybe by the time I come back I’ll actually have enough to keep me going for the whole day. The different courses will be up and running properly at that stage, so maybe we’ll get more than students just looking for the internet in.

I did have an interesting visit this week. From a Russian, by way of Turkey. She was over researching libraries, presumably there was some other reason too, but I’m not sure. And someone told her she should call in here. So I gave her the tour and explained about the LMS^[1] Her library is just thinking about getting a management system so she was quite interested in ours. Although I wouldn’t recommend it to her. It isn’t that great.

Anyways, I’ll probably be around tomorrow, but may not so in case I’m not I thought I’d say “see you later”

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Dir: Paul Crowder & John Dowder
Writ: John Dowder & Mark Monroe
starring as themselves:

• Pelé
• Franz Beckenbauer
• Giorgio Chinaglia
• Carlos Alberto
• Rodney Marsh

In the late 70’s and early 80’s there was an attempt made to launch football in the United States of America. Ultimately, it failed, but for a few years the [tag]New York Cosmos[/tag], a team owned by Warner, fielded some of the world’s greatest football players including Pelé and Franz Beckenbauer. And for a brief few years it seemed as though football really would take hold in the US.

This documentary traces the rise and fall of the New York Cosmos, as they started out life playing on terrible pitches. When Pelé first made his appearance the mud on the pitch was painted green so it would look good on the telly. In a few years they would be selling out Giant Stadium and be watched by tens of thousands of people. But this was a team that had no real development plan. It was entirely dependent on the money from Warner to keep it afloat. Pelé was offered around 4 million to play in America, much, much more than the major baseball players of the time. And when the money ran out, so too did the good times.

If you are a football fan then this is a film worth watching, if only to see those clips of Pelé and his teammates. But it is also interesting as a look at how money really can’t buy success. More and more money was pushed on the team, buying in famous names and players from across the globe. Many football stars using the American league as a handy way to earn some cash in their final years of the sport. But there didn’t seem to be any money spent on developing the sport at grass roots level. Maybe it simply wasn’t mentioned in this film though, as it focused so much on the New York Cosmos and their few years of glory.

Overall this is a very entertaining and enjoyable documentary. Plenty of laughs provided by the Italian who spoke English with a Welsh accent Giorgio Chinaglia, who comes across as a person you really don’t want to know.

Obviously made for the home market of America, all the players are careful to call football soccer, and correct themsleves whenever they slip up. The narration is also a little annoying, as it is slightly “movie-trailer-ish”. And the cutting/editing style while obviously chosen to create a 70’s atmosphere was over the top and intrusive. Still worth watching though.
The biggest laugh of the film came at the end, when a sentence designed to show how US football has grown flashed up on screen, informing us all that the US team is now ranked 8th in the FIFA rankings. I’m sure that is true, but the dogs on the street know how unreliable those rankings are. Does anyone think that the US are really the 8th best soccer team in the world? I doubt it.

IMDb | New York Cosmos | Talking Pish | Tribeca | Scotsman

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Although I continue to be delighra and exi’ra^[1] over Munster’s win, it has had a negative impact on my life. Well, a positive and negative. See publicity for Munster means that people are searching for Munster related stuff on the net, so some find their way here. Which is good, although they do all seem to be the silent type. But it means that my stats are so boring. All they say is search strings for Paul O’Connell^[2] or Peter Stringer^[3] although I did get one mildly amusing one which was, and I quote “Ronan O’Gara what does he do”

He plays rugby.

What, you were expecting more? If so go to wikipedia for a look at their definition of a Fly-half, although seeing as he plays in Ireland Ronan is actually an Out-half. Don’t worry, its the same position, just a different name. Basically that means he does all the kicking. And organising. And he scores many many points. He is the highest scorer in the European Cup as well. Which is nice.

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Gaelic Sport in Ireland
Author: Tom Humphries
ISBN: 0297835661
796.33

The waves are hissing the secrets of winter. They arrive here bearing a wind which has lost no sharpness since it left the west coast of Scotland. The roads are empty and frosted tonight. The moon is timid in a louring sky. The dressing room lights are off. The floodlights have yet to be cranked up. The pitch is fringed with frost. There is nobody here. Why would anyone come?

Tom Humphries is a sports writer here in Ireland, and a very good one at that. Always entertaining and readable every week in the Irish Times, but this book isn’t the greatest example of his writing.

Green Fields starts off with a training session in early February, the start of the GAA year when all teams are equal. When all have a chance to win the All-Ireland. When players are unfit after their winter off, and when the evenings after work seem to dark to head out training. GAA players are all amateurs you see, and this is a book that points out how important the Gaelic Athletic Association is in Irish life. And how unique.

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