Is it really only June - man; I'm so bored, when is the season going to start again..?
There’s always Euro 2008 – but, well – I’ve never really enjoyed that competition since 1996. That was the last time I thought we were really in with a shout. Since then it’s always been inevitable that we wouldn’t win – and now we aren’t even in it and even if we were, we still wouldn’t win it.
Talking of which, I actually met Terry Venables shortly after Euro 96 in the infamous Scribes night club. This bloke I knew was a sports psychologist for the England team (he advised against the Southgate penalty) and got us in... Gazza was passed out in a sink full of sick in the bogs; I walked passed him and sidled up to the adjacent urinal to El Tel, whipped it out and as my lager fuelled stream hit the porcelain; I told him he had a nice place and that he gave the nation back some hope in the game with Euro 96.
(I was pissed)
He said that hearing that sort of thing from the members of the public made it all worth while.
(He was pissed)
He shook his old fellah off, zipped it up, washed off his hands in the sink next to the mumbling Gazza and left him there like it was the most normal thing in the world.
...That’s what playing for Spurs does for you I suppose...
When I got out, after gingerly poking Gazza a few times to try and wake him up, he was up on the karaoke machine singing ‘That Old Black Magic’. I followed it up with ‘It’s Not Unusual’ and blew him off the stage.
Take that El Tel you Tottenham scumbag!
I wonder what ever happened to Gazza... and what is it with footballers and addiction? Does it come with the pressure of fame or do they just have the compultion to excel in whatever they are good at... be that playing football, drinking away their lives or gambling away their financial security?
It's not all glamour.
[30/05/2008 13:49:04] dhjackal says: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/7427380.stm
[30/05/2008 13:49:10] dhjackal says: they're fucked
[30/05/2008 13:49:28] dhjackal says: he's their best player
[30/05/2008 13:49:39] DogFace says: They were fucked the second Thaskin took over.
[30/05/2008 13:49:56] DogFace says: Relegation next season?
[30/05/2008 13:50:07] dhjackal says: no
[30/05/2008 13:50:10] dhjackal says: unfortunately
[30/05/2008 13:50:22] dhjackal says: the 3 teams coming up are going straight back down
[30/05/2008 13:50:30] DogFace says: No manager, no captain and a loony at the wheel?
[30/05/2008 13:50:48] dhjackal says: still better than stoke, west brom and hull
[30/05/2008 13:51:10] DogFace says: Come on - West Brom would give them a run :)
[30/05/2008 13:51:19] dhjackal says: Mmmm
[30/05/2008 13:51:55] DogFace says: It depends on what happens to Thaskin - if he gets into shit in Thailand then they are fucked.
[30/05/2008 13:52:28] DogFace says: If Air Asia stops sponsoring the refs then they are fucked.
[30/05/2008 13:52:42] DogFace says: So - they are on shaky ground.
[30/05/2008 13:53:23] DogFace says: I would hate to be a City fan.
[30/05/2008 13:54:21] DogFace says: Are you selling Ronaldo then?
[30/05/2008 13:55:31] dhjackal says: no
[30/05/2008 13:55:35] DogFace says: I would for the cash that's on offer... he’s not worth that much - unless you can get more out of him through ‘media rights’?
[30/05/2008 13:55:40] DogFace says: ...shirt sales...
[30/05/2008 13:55:43] DogFace says: etc.
[30/05/2008 13:55:50] dhjackal says: typical Arsenal mentality
[30/05/2008 13:56:03] dhjackal says: got a good player
[30/05/2008 13:56:06] dhjackal says: i know
[30/05/2008 13:56:08] dhjackal says: sell him
[30/05/2008 13:56:14] DogFace says: That's exactly what we DON'T do.
[30/05/2008 13:56:31] dhjackal says: No?
[30/05/2008 13:56:35] DogFace says: Although some players are greedy and chase the $.
[30/05/2008 13:57:33] dhjackal says: A job's a job
[30/05/2008 13:57:44] dhjackal says: if your employer isn't prepared to pay you enough
[30/05/2008 13:57:48] dhjackal says: you leave
[30/05/2008 13:57:51] dhjackal says: like most things
[30/05/2008 13:57:56] DogFace says: Typical Man-u mentality!
[30/05/2008 13:58:05] dhjackal says: fortunately we can compete at every level
[30/05/2008 13:58:12] dhjackal says: both on and off the pitch
[30/05/2008 13:58:13] DogFace says: A vocation and a job are different things.
[30/05/2008 13:58:29] DogFace says: You spend - yes, I'll give you that.
[30/05/2008 13:58:35] DogFace says: money, money, money
[30/05/2008 13:58:43] DogFace says: ...but is it sport?
[30/05/2008 13:58:53] DogFace says: :^)
[30/05/2008 13:58:57] dhjackal says: isn't it sport?
[30/05/2008 13:59:01] DogFace says: Not really
[30/05/2008 13:59:03] dhjackal says: no?
[30/05/2008 13:59:08] DogFace says: Hmmm...
[30/05/2008 13:59:09] DogFace says: ...no.
[30/05/2008 13:59:10] dhjackal says: only cos you can't compete
[30/05/2008 13:59:13] DogFace says: hahah
[30/05/2008 13:59:25] DogFace says: *whatever*
[30/05/2008 13:59:32] dhjackal says: champions
[30/05/2008 13:59:38] dhjackal says: champions of europe
[30/05/2008 13:59:45] dhjackal says: U
[30/05/2008 13:59:47] dhjackal says: N
[30/05/2008 13:59:47] dhjackal says: T
[30/05/2008 13:59:48] dhjackal says: I
[30/05/2008 13:59:48] dhjackal says: E
[30/05/2008 13:59:50] dhjackal says: D
[30/05/2008 14:00:08] dhjackal says: We won the league by being better than everyone else
[30/05/2008 14:00:23] DogFace says: Sport has rules that are followed otherwise you are disqualified.
[30/05/2008 14:00:23] dhjackal says: you didn't
[30/05/2008 14:00:24] dhjackal says: cos your not
[30/05/2008 14:00:51] DogFace says: Your team cheated because they are too shit to win a competition by the rules.
[30/05/2008 14:01:07] dhjackal says: now now
[30/05/2008 14:01:10] DogFace says: It’s more business than sport.
[30/05/2008 14:01:15] dhjackal says: C
[30/05/2008 14:01:16] DogFace says: C
[30/05/2008 14:01:17] dhjackal says: H
[30/05/2008 14:01:18] DogFace says: H
[30/05/2008 14:01:18] dhjackal says: A
[30/05/2008 14:01:19] DogFace says: E
[30/05/2008 14:01:20] dhjackal says: M
[30/05/2008 14:01:20] DogFace says: A
[30/05/2008 14:01:20] dhjackal says: P
[30/05/2008 14:01:21] DogFace says: T
[30/05/2008 14:01:21] dhjackal says: I
[30/05/2008 14:01:22] DogFace says: S
[30/05/2008 14:01:22] dhjackal says: O
[30/05/2008 14:01:23] dhjackal says: N
[30/05/2008 14:01:25] dhjackal says: S
[30/05/2008 14:01:50] dhjackal says: I seem to remember Pires diving every time someone touched him
[30/05/2008 14:01:54] dhjackal says: and cole
[30/05/2008 14:01:58] DogFace says: You have nothing to gloat about - nobody believes it anymore.
[30/05/2008 14:01:59] dhjackal says: and you talk about us cheating
[30/05/2008 14:02:06] DogFace says: ha ha ha
[30/05/2008 14:02:13] DogFace says: Is that what you call cheating?
[30/05/2008 14:02:13] dhjackal says: pot and kettle
[30/05/2008 14:02:17] DogFace says: HA – Seriously?
[30/05/2008 14:02:27] DogFace says: Is that what you call cheating?
[30/05/2008 14:02:27] dhjackal says: CHAMPIONS
[30/05/2008 14:02:33] dhjackal says: CHAMPIONS
[30/05/2008 14:02:34] dhjackal says: CHAMPIONS
[30/05/2008 14:02:35] dhjackal says: CHAMPIONS
[30/05/2008 14:02:37] DogFace says: You ‘influence’ the officials – hardly the same as taking a dive... by the way – how many penalties did you get this season?
[30/05/2008 14:02:40] dhjackal says: get used to hearing it
[30/05/2008 14:02:45] DogFace says: That's proper cheating!
[30/05/2008 14:02:51] dhjackal says: we'll be singing it at the airport soon
[30/05/2008 14:03:11] DogFace says: Why don't you all wank each other off at the same time?
[30/05/2008 14:03:23] DogFace says: ...because nobody else gives a shit.
[30/05/2008 14:03:29] dhjackal says: correction
[30/05/2008 14:03:35] dhjackal says: everyone else gives a shit
[30/05/2008 14:03:40] DogFace says: Really?
[30/05/2008 14:03:41] dhjackal says: including you
[30/05/2008 14:03:45] DogFace says: Not really.
[30/05/2008 14:03:47] dhjackal says: you just like to think you don't
[30/05/2008 14:03:52] dhjackal says: but you do
[30/05/2008 14:03:59] DogFace says: I give a shit that you are so deluded that you think I give a shit... is that the same thing?
[30/05/2008 14:04:04] dhjackal says: otw you wouldn't bother renewing you ST
[30/05/2008 14:04:11] DogFace says: And I give a shit about corruption in the game... what’s me renewing my season ticket got to do with your murky operation?
[30/05/2008 14:04:22] dhjackal says: yadda yadda yadda
[30/05/2008 14:04:25] dhjackal says: rant rant
[30/05/2008 14:04:27] DogFace says: Do I give a shit about man-u buying a trophy or two..?
[30/05/2008 14:04:28] DogFace says: ...no.
[30/05/2008 14:04:31] dhjackal says: we've been robbed
[30/05/2008 14:04:38] dhjackal says: we've been robbed again
[30/05/2008 14:04:43] dhjackal says: we were the best team
[30/05/2008 14:04:46] DogFace says: You give a shit that I don't believe and, it seems, that we play better football that you.
[30/05/2008 14:04:48] dhjackal says: yawn
[30/05/2008 14:04:55] DogFace says: ha ha
[30/05/2008 14:05:07] dhjackal says: -)
[30/05/2008 14:05:14] DogFace says: Now you know how everyone else feels when a man-u fan opens his mouth!
[30/05/2008 14:05:47] DogFace says: quite apt though... as you do need to wake up.
[30/05/2008 14:06:30] dhjackal says: (yawn)
[30/05/2008 14:07:41] DogFace says: Truth hurts?
[30/05/2008 14:12:37] DogFace says: Hey, check it out: One of England's most popular footballers - a Premier League star and England international - owes a staggering £1m in gambling debts. (Daily Express)
[30/05/2008 14:12:47] DogFace says: Hmmm....
[30/05/2008 14:12:52] DogFace says: ...wonder who that is?
[30/05/2008 14:13:35] dhjackal says: Owen?
[30/05/2008 14:14:10] DogFace says: Nah - he's too wiley.
[30/05/2008 14:14:51] DogFace says: Rooney?
[30/05/2008 14:15:43] dhjackal says: whatever
[30/05/2008 14:15:53] DogFace says: We all know he likes a flutter!
[30/05/2008 14:16:07] dhjackal says: so do 99.9% of other football players
[30/05/2008 14:16:08] DogFace says: He probably owes it to Owen (rofl)
[30/05/2008 14:16:40] DogFace says: Ahhh... "so do 99.9% of other football players" - the figure isn't that high but you are on the right track.
[30/05/2008 14:17:10] DogFace says: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/46184/England-star-owes-bookies-1million
[30/05/2008 14:18:00] DogFace says: “Both names have been leaked to the Daily Express, together with a firm proviso that neither player is identified until bookies are given one more chance to retrieve their debts.”
[30/05/2008 14:18:15] dhjackal says: anyway it's up to them how they spend they're hard earned
[30/05/2008 14:18:23] DogFace says: WTF - I think the paper should just fucking report it if they know... rather than being the bookies heavies.
[30/05/2008 14:19:16] DogFace says: Actually - I don't think that they are allowed to bet on EPL games.
[30/05/2008 14:19:42] DogFace says: "he has splashed out on crucial games in both the Premier League and the Champions League"
[30/05/2008 14:21:16] DogFace says: Shame it wasn't mid season - otherwise he could have just 'got himself sent off' or scored an own goal or something similar.
[30/05/2008 14:21:42] DogFace says: If England were in the European Championships I bet the bookies would be his best mate rather than threatening to out him!
[30/05/2008 14:22:17] dhjackal says: maybe
[30/05/2008 14:23:16] DogFace says: “All I’m prepared to say is that I’m aware of one bookmaker who has taken big bets from both these players. One of them owes a lot of money – around £1m. Maybe a bookmaker will end up taking him to Tattersalls Committee, who settle horse-racing betting disputes of this nature.
“I’d be disappointed to see it going that far, as he’s such a big name in football, and it could cause him no end of problems.
“The other player owes in the region of £100,000, but he’s also proving difficult to pin down.”
[30/05/2008 14:23:33] DogFace says: man - this is a big story! Why isn't it all over all the papers?
[30/05/2008 14:24:32] DogFace says: All we got is shit about John Terry being really fabulous and brave and... whatever.
[30/05/2008 14:27:08] dhjackal says: they're both shit stories
[30/05/2008 14:27:19] dhjackal says: John Terry is a whinging cunt
[30/05/2008 14:27:35] dhjackal says: and this one about the player owning money is just rubbish
[30/05/2008 14:27:41] dhjackal says: i could have made it up
[30/05/2008 14:30:48] DogFace says: Anyone could have made it up as it's so likely to be true... if anything I reckon that half a dozen players owe this much and this is an effort to scare the lot into coughing up.
[30/05/2008 14:31:19] dhjackal says: maybe
[30/05/2008 14:31:36] dhjackal says: it'll only take him 10 weeks to pay it
[30/05/2008 14:32:21] DogFace says: Well - there is tax to be taken into consideration and the funding of whatever lifestyles they choose to lead...
[30/05/2008 14:33:17] DogFace says: ...if owed 3 months wages to the bookies then I would have to concede that I had a problem.
[30/05/2008 14:35:09] DogFace says: Actually - if I owed a day’s wages to the bookies then I would be taking a long hard look at my gambling habits.
