Nationalism And The England Football Team
I went to the England match against Ireland last night at Wembley and although it wasn’t the best of matches, a thought about the England team struck me, as I listened to the phone-in on Radio 5 about English Nationalism.
It is surprising how many of the England team, could have been eligible to play for other countries. For example, Wayne Rooney and Gary Cahill have an Irish heritage and Phil Jagielka has a Polish father and a Scottish mother.
On the other hand, I think at least one of the black players, was born in England to parents, who were also born here.
So nothing is ever what it seems!
I myself, have two strong immigrant lines in my genes; Jew and Huguenot, so when it comes for me to define what is Englishness, I can get rather lost.
Perhaps being of mixed genes is a requirement to being a true Englishman or Englishwoman. After all Churchill had an American mother, Brunel had a French father and Alan Blumlein had a German father, to name but three.
I often define myself as a London Mongrel and when asked to fill in forms about my race, if I think I can get away with it, I do.
Could it all be down to hybrid vigour? It’s proper scientific name is heterosis.
I also like this quote on nationalism by Albert Einstein.
Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind.
He is right!
I Know How Kevin Phillips Feels
It is being reported that Kevin Phillips penalty kick in the Championship Play-Off Final was worth £120,000,000.
I know to a certain amount how he feels today.
I was part of the team that sold Metier Management Systems to Lockheed for a similar sum in 1985., although with inflation it’s probably worth a lot more today.
As we went about the pre-sales process, we realised we had good methods and software, but everything was rather boring. So I was asked if I could create a version of Artemis with style and charisma. I did nothing else for six weeks, except write software, eat and sleep occasionally, but the result was that we received a lot more money, than we had decided we would accept.
It was the software and business equivalent of Kevin Phillips’s spot kick.
I also have two other characteristics that I share with Kevin. We’re both about the same height of 1.70 metres and we both performed our most important feats at just under forty years of age. He also is a man from North Hertfordshire, whereas I was brought up in that part of London, that used to have a Barnet, Herts postal address.
A Good Name For A Goalkeeper
Dortmund’s goalkeeper tonight is called Weidenfeller. Does that translate as Wide Fella?
Trafalgar Square In Yellow
Although last night was quiet, that couldn’t be said for lunch-time today.
but where were all the Bayern fans. Perhaps, as they have been described as the Manchester United of Germany, they were all in their hotels and restaurants, stuffing themselves with the German equivalent of prawn sandwiches!
What Is Royal Stag?
The New Zealand cricket team, seems to be sponsored by Royal Stag.
It appears it’s an Indian made whisky!
Enough said!
It Was Quiet Last Night
I went up to Trafalgar Square yesterday evening, as with 150,000 Germans supposedly in town, there might be something worth seeing.
It would appear that UEFA have chosen the wrong day for the Champions League final. It was a bit different to 2011, when Barcelona fans were everywhere, as this post shows.
Is There A God?
I was just twelve, when I watched Wolves beat Blackburn Rovers 3-0 in the 1960 Cup Final. Like many of the finals of that era, there was a serious injury to a player, which reduced Blackburn to ten men, as substitutes weren’t allowed. The Blackburn player was Dave Whelan.
Today, he was the Chairman and major shareholder of Wigan Athletic, as they beat Manchester City to win the FA Cup.
Either there is a God, or everything comes to those who wait!
Linford Christie Is A Gardener
This was flagged up by Katherine Merry on Fighting Talk this morning.
Gardening is one of my pet hates, so I do find Linford Christie’s apparent love of gardening, rather foreign. I like looking at nice gardens, but please don’t ask me to do anything. I would have thought, Linford could have been like me, as we both had other things to do, that are more important.
I checked to see if Katherine Merry was right and found this article in the Financial Times.
Two Days Junk Mail From Virgin Media
They may have been inefficient at fixing my phone problems in the past, but they certainly know how to get junk mail through my door.
Two Days Junk Mail From Virgin Media
I’ve also read, that they still haven’t concluded a deal with BT so that their TV customers can get the matches BT has the rights to.
Most of the junk mail was addressed to that person, who doesn’t live here, the Mr. D.E.A.R. Householder.
Anything, marked without my name is instantly put into the green sack for recycling. Perhaps I should hang one outside for the postman!
BT Are Making A Big Play For Customers
BT seem to be pulling out the stops to get customers to use their broadband services to get sporting TV, and especially football.
BT Are Making A Big Play For Customers
As I’m a customer of BT Vision, I don’t need to do anything.
The Anonymous Widower 