Tennis is the new football? God I hope not...

Football? So England have crashed out of the World Cup. Again. Hardly surprising when you consider that the Premier League is the most commercially viable (and therefore most rewarding) league in world football. When you remember this, who would want to bother playing for their country? Clearly not those chaps who wore the 'three lions' on their shirts on Sunday. More apt would have been 'three lion cubs'... ignoring the goal that was(n't), the save and the ball hitting the bar... clearly boys were sent to do the work of grown ups.

And after all this... the guy I feel most sorry for isn't even English. Watching Fabio Capello today being interviewed on TV, after the disaster of his first tournament in charge of 'Football England', he was apologetic, humble... desperate. He said, (in broken English) that he wanted to stay in the job and put things right. (Cynics might suggest he's got '12million' reasons for staying in the job...)

Was it made clear to him at the outset 'the poisoned chalice' that the England football team has become? Was it in his job description that whatever the contest... England will win? No matter what and under any circumstance. But wasn't the target for this tournament the quarter-finals? With that sort of approach they didn't deserve to win... but they did only miss the target by one game. So through rose tinted spectacles... not that bad really?

But is it really possible for him to stay in the job? Sections of the fickle public have already made their minds up. Officially, he'll find out in a couple of weeks time when some people, who no one has ever heard of..., who run the English FA..., decide whether he is still in charge of the national team. HIDEOUS! This decision won't be taken by these people at all. The decision will be taken in the court of public opinion, championed by some sections of the press and these 'decision makers' will sack Capello in the hope that they will keep their own jobs and of course, their huge salaries.

Honestly, I am gutted for him, but I don't really see a way back for him from this. I hope I am wrong but if I'm not, who will replace him? Redknapp Senior? Beckham? Hodgson? God forbid, Shearer? The manager should stay and the manager's managers should go. Or at least some of them. Clearly the FA is now 'top heavy' and it is time to wield the axe... (The removal of the 'get rid' clause just prior to the start of the tournament demonstrates how inept they are. Doesn't it?)

Soundbites for the press followed by knee-jerk reactions are one thing; but if you take your eye off the ball (no pun intended), you may end up throwing the baby out with the bath water...

Up until two weeks ago, Capello could do no wrong. He had won trophies as a manager everywhere he went. He didn't win one here. It just happened to be at the World Cup... he just happened be in charge of England.

Not being a huge football expert, I have always said that a manager can only say so much. Once the whistle is blown it is up to the players. Sure the manager will shout instructions to his players... but can't the opposition hear them too? Just a thought...

And so to the tennis. And Andy Murray... isn't he doing well? The only guy to the quarter-finals without dropping a set and with some big fancies now starting to struggle, he should win... right?

But hold on a minute... here we go again! Andy Murray could become the first British Men's Singles Champion since 1936 and then again he might not. England could have won the World Cup a second time but they didn't. If Andy Murray fails, it won't be for the lack of trying. When England failed in South Africa? I think it was...

So what do we learn from all this? Looking backwards is not gonna win the next big trophy. England could be football world champions but aren't. Murry might win Wimbledon. That'll be up to him and his opponents. But the point is this; singing about the past will not get your heroes to the place you want them to be.

I think it is time some sports grew up. They need to stop banging on about the past. It was more than a lifetime ago in my case. The future is where new champions will appear from. And if the Dutch happen to appear as champions of football in a week or so... then so be it. I'll be gutted that England didn't win. But I will feel somewhat compensated by my own little victory. I backed the Dutch before the tournament kicked off to be outright winners. They have it all to do with Brazil as their next opponents but at least they have given me a run for my money which is way more than England would have done...

Something else we are crap at...

Tennis. The annual 'Let's put a ridiculous amount of pressure on the guy to win something' festival has started. Andy Murray is at Wimbledon again for another shot at the title and all of a sudden, everyone loves tennis...

Everyone that is... apart from me. He might win. I actually think he will ultimately win it one day. But having great auntie Maude shouting 'Murray... Murray... Murray...' from the queue outside is not going to help him win this year. It didn't help 'Henman... Henman... Henman... '

I'm actually enjoying the tennis at the minute. It makes me watch the other channels to see what else is out there. The Parliament channel for instance...

One thing that does annoy me about tennis in the UK is the people who manage it. They are 'disappointed' that only one Briton has made it through to the second round proper. Andy Murray actually went through to the third round yesterday so well done to him... But should we be thanking 'The Lawn Tennis Association' for this? Who is picking up the bill for all this 'disappointment'?

There must be something better than this ('The Lawn Tennis Association') to run Tennis UK. Who funds it? Because seriously, the LTA should thing about giving some of that money back. It just isn't working.

I have been trying to come up with an alternate name (using anagrams thereof) for 'The Lawn Tennis Association'... I could only come with 'sinister clowns' ignoring the fact that I haven't got the letter 'R'. I haven't got an 'H' either but that's a completely different word altogether. But who cares if my anagram is correct? Like the lack of Britons in the second round of Wimbledon... nobody will be too 'disappointed'. I'm not.

World Cup Latest!

Always a fan of history, me. But this is how the World cup is starting to shape up...

The French capitulate early in the tournament and are finished. We now get to take on the Germans while the US may or may not take them on at a later date? History repeating itself?

We'll know Japan's position later tonight.

It's been a while. Well about a week actually...

Where to start? What to type? I'll begin by announcing that I received a postcard from Finland (cheers Marika) in the post (where else?) this morning. With a Father Christmas on it. It's June! But I don't mind, a postcard always makes me smile... you can can read an earlier blog about it. If you like...

Sun's here today so I am letting some wet clothes from the laundry sunbathe outside. They are loving it. It'll be a nice change for them, as I regularly forget that I have washed them and they stay in the machine for a couple of days... resulting in bad smells and them having to be washed again. So to take advantage of 'global warming'; by only washing them once this time, I have done my bit for the environment as well. I'll be out there in a while but just having a little cool off at the minute while watching the Royal Ascot coverage from the BBC. Usually go (on the Saturday) but haven't bothered to get a ticket this year as I went to Cheltenham for the jumps festival instead. Brilliant... if a little cold. It was in March.

Luckily for me I went to an airshow last Saturday. Genuinely interested even though I don't like the flying bit. But it was too busy, too hot, too exposed and too damn noisy. Adequate burgers though...

The following day I went to Reading to watch some rowing. I'll be honest with you... I used to row and I miss it. I really do! Not just the racing but also the training, the early mornings and the sessions in the cafe after the outings. Never did a sausage sandwich taste so good...

Some rowing (at Reading)...

So Reading it was to get a rowing 'fix'. And it was lovely; I went on my own and it has really put me in the mood for a trip to the Royal Regatta at Henley at the end of the month. Hadn't arranged to meet anyone there and had a lovely day lazing by the river. But later... I went into Reading itself. Not so good...

J.K.J. got it so 'right' in his famous book. Read chapter 16... 'We came in sight of Reading about eleven. The river is dirty and dismal here. One does not linger in the neighbourhood of Reading...'

Not strictly 'right' in the truest sense of the word. The river is gorgeous. Clear, rubbish-free, overhanging willows in the margins etc... (see the picture below).

But the outskirts of the town? Truly grim, or at least the bit I found myself in; which wasn't all that far from the Reading central. And this was a shame because I'd been there before, (a stop-off from a very expensive trip to London on one occasion... but that's another blog for another day), and it is just not how I remember it. Maybe it is. Maybe it was always going to be a disappointment going back because I had always had so much of a giggle when I'd been there before. There was always a bar/beer involved at some point.

There was no bar or beer involved on this occasion and perhaps that is why I saw the place in a different light. I'm sure I'll go back again at some point... probably to watch some rowing races, but I don't think I'll look forward to it quite as much.

One thing I can say about my visit was that the burgers at the rowing club were more than adequate...

Apart from the football World Cup, the rowing version continues tomorrow from Munich. Watch here...

http://www.worldrowing.com/index.php?pageid=116

Something for the weekend...

I don't know what people are up to this weekend but I'll be having both a busy one and a quiet one. Let me explain...

A busy one because on Saturday I'll be going to an airshow. Lots of flying types, noise, aeroplanes and dodgy burgers. You  know the scene. On Sunday I am off to Reading Regatta. Haven't been there for years and quite fancy a day out watching some decent rowing and minding my own business. There. Busy.

A quiet one because Matt came over last night to visit, see the new house, catch up etc and ended up staying over. No problem there, but as I surveyed the numerous empty bottles in the kitchen when I got up this morning, I began to realise why I was the feeling the way I was...

1. Extreme tiredness.
2. Wuzzy tummy.
3. Feeling of light-headedness that persists even now.
4. Not really being in the mood today.

For a man who never suffers with a hangover, this is new territory for me. So there... a quiet one for me. I definitely think I've earned it. Oh yes...

And I quite fancy this too... so glad it is not this weekend. Never go for things 'Espana' as a rule but I think I'll be paying it a visit. Fingers crossed for the weather...

http://www.winesfromrioja.co.uk/tapasfantasticas/ 

Football? I really fancy the Netherlands to win the World Cup.

One wedding & a tutorial...

Well the summer has actually started and it is progressing rather well (if you ignore the forecast for thunder storms tomorrow), but to be totally honest... I don't really care either way.

This morning I completed my final tutorial for the summer. No more students. No more mathematics. No more physics. No more chemistry. No more biology. For a while anyway...

Today is the day of Emma & Dave's 'other' post-wedding thrash. And it promises to be rather good refreshing, relaxing... you know? Just like a day on the beach should be. However, being on the Chilterns beaches are few and far between. A solution? The beach (actually several bags of kiddies play sand) is coming to us. You just can't beat a sand castle, an ice cream, several beers and good company. Genuinely looking forward to it.

Only that is all happening later... and so is the Derby. Workforce all the way for me.

Today it will mostly be...

World Cup Champions 2010?

A short 'bolt-on' to my last blog. I have thought of possibly a worse situation that we might find ourselves in. Not that I hadn't considered it before, come July 11th? What if England make the final of the football World Cup and lose it?

On penalties?

That doesn't bear thinking about...

1966 and all that? Time for another beer...

For someone who doesn't really watch the 'National Game', you know? Football? The next few weeks are going to be hell. I am already fed up with the World Cup... (Notice that it doesn't need to specify the sport, unlike cricket and rugby union, I guess because it is so important).

The major supermarkets reported through the news over the weekend that they were anticipating bumper sales and profits from the World Cup. How (I almost hear you ask), are they gonna do that? Well, the obvious one is beer... Oh yes! It will soon pass into law that no Englishman can talk about, (let alone watch), a game of football without a beer in his hand. Either at home or in some pub. But the marketeers are planning a real assault on your wallets and purses by plugging into the nation's pride. Look around you. How often do you see a St. Georges Cross at the minute? They are on newspapers, TV, crisp packets, soft drink cans, silly flags you can stick on your car, facebook profiles... Everywhere! You name it... it'll have red cross on a white background (romantically fluttering in the breeze), even toiletries! But not just on my deodourant can. I mean real toiletries... children's disposable nappies! Yep! Flags on nappies. It must be true because I saw it on TV.

We compete in World Cups all over the world. Every year. We recently won a World Cup in cricket... only the shortened form of the game but still a WORLD CUP! This team got to go to Downing Street and 'everything'... it was on the news.

Last Saturday Britain's rowers (yes, not strictly English but some are...), won six World Cup Gold Medals (amongst others). All from different events. Did you see that on the news over the weekend? Thought not... you can read about it here...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/rowing/default.stm

They are off to Munich for the next round... so stay tuned, but not to the news.

But with football it's different. It would appear, to anybody who didn't know that the tournament was yet to take place, that we had already won.

And this gave me food for thought... I hope En-ger-land really do go on and win the World Cup. For one thing it'll stop 'us' banging on about 44 'years of hurt' etc... But what if we actually do win it? What will it be like then? (Have you seen '28 Days later'?)

The 'man on the street', (generalising I know!) has already started planning where he'll be watching the 'beautiful game'. Tesco's are asking us to buy a bigger TV! Sky are offering free HD boxes! Economists have even estimated how much it is going to cost industry through 'sickies' and people watching online at work. John Barnes is even trying to make us buy Mars Bars by singing!

But if we actually win the thing? How many equivalent 'days work' will be lost then? What cost to industry if the dream comes true? So cheer away and with a bit of luck, should we need it in the event of a penalty shoot-out, we will triumph. World Champions again! But be warned. The morning (and following weeks!), after the night of the final will be so much worse than the six months we have had to put up with already. And that was before the first ball of the World Cup was even kicked...