Thursday, January 7, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Dare to Dream
"It is better to fail aiming high than to succeed aiming low. And we of Spurs have set our sights very high... so high, in fact, that even failure will have in it an echo of glory!"
Bill Nicholson
Bill Nicholson
A large proportion of the Spurs faithful dare not admit the possibility of CL qualification and who can blame them after the disappointment of Lasagne-Gate?
If we raise our expectations then our dreams may once again be cruelly shattered. But, let us not forget, 'To Dare is to Do', so shouldn't we Dare to Dream? . and I'm not talking about 4th place, I'm talking about the ultimate prize.
With all the top sides dropping points, and no sign of Man U or Chelsea kicking on, it seems that everything is up for grabs. We have all the raw material as well as the opportunity to make a real challenge. We have one of the strongest squads; Our first team is littered with match-winners; We have a solid back-four and a world-class goalkeeper; We have a great team of coaches led by Harry; and our support at times can be a '12th man'.
The new kid on the block, Mancini, has dared to say that he can challenge for the title with a side that we recently gave a 3 - 0 drubbing to. It is no coincidence, that the top four are there because they are always challenging for the title - You could not imagine 'ole red nose or Ancelotti settling for a top four and even Rafa has only recently adjusted his target.
Forty nine years of 'hurt' have taken away the Spurs 'swagger' - We lost this to Man U and then they added insult to injury by stealing our song too. I believe there is a fine opportunity now to reclaim our rightful place. I know most will say we should walk before we run, but I think we should forget about 4th and declare our intention to challenge for the title. Dare to Dream!
Friday, January 1, 2010
Ignorance and Defending a belief
I'm not talking about religion, well not really. Its about my biggest short coming, my addiction to soccer. I guess it is a religion for me seeing how I am not a religious person, I mean I was never christened and in Christianities eyes am already going to hell. (might as well enjoy the ride, thats neither here nor there...)
Getting back on topic, I was out with my friends watching some ball games, be more exact Arizona vs Nebraska and the announcers were talking about this defensive linebacker who was really talented and how he played soccer a lot when he was a kid. One announcer then decides to share his ultimate wisdom with the rest of the world and says "He wouldnt be making millions playing soccer." As if the highest paid soccer player makes less then a million dollars. This is on ESPN, the network that will be hosting the biggest sporting event in the world and commentators dont even know how big soccer is worldwide. If anything its the other way around with players making more in soccer especially with no salary cap. It just annoys me when people are extremely ignorant and it also pisses me off when they try to spread their ignorance to other people who will easily believe what they hear....say like the everyday American. No wonder Americans hate the game of soccer...Also on that note, ESPN (again) had a new years special where they looked back at what happened over the year/decade. ESPN thought a good idea to have someone say what he believes would happen over the next 10 years and one of them were "Fifa finally realizes why soccer is not popular and raises the crossbar a foot to make it more entertaining because there will be more goals. Close to 1,000 goals were scored in the EPL alone. That is not enough goals for you? Really? you want more? Maybe we should just make the goals be like 7 points, then you would be happy? you would watch it? ARE YOU THAT STUPID? Yeah, NFL games finish 28-26 or something like that, but realistically all that is is 4-3 if touchdowns were one point. Its completely idiotic and just goes to prove that ESPN/most of America do not actually watch the game. More ignorance, also, the USA only makes up 4.52% of the world, why would FIFA change the rules for 4.52%??? Everybody else thinks the game is entertaining. The entire world does, except the USA....I bet its because of the revolutionary war or some stupid thing like that. No wonder everyone hates the USA. Its ignorant.
One more fun quote from ESPN: "Now its time for the Wolverhampton Wanders to take on The Manchester City Premiership." The US media is crap and it rubs off on its people, now i know why I keep my British passport next to my heart and my American one in a drawer. I am embarrassed to be part of the close minded ignorance.
Rant over.
Getting back on topic, I was out with my friends watching some ball games, be more exact Arizona vs Nebraska and the announcers were talking about this defensive linebacker who was really talented and how he played soccer a lot when he was a kid. One announcer then decides to share his ultimate wisdom with the rest of the world and says "He wouldnt be making millions playing soccer." As if the highest paid soccer player makes less then a million dollars. This is on ESPN, the network that will be hosting the biggest sporting event in the world and commentators dont even know how big soccer is worldwide. If anything its the other way around with players making more in soccer especially with no salary cap. It just annoys me when people are extremely ignorant and it also pisses me off when they try to spread their ignorance to other people who will easily believe what they hear....say like the everyday American. No wonder Americans hate the game of soccer...Also on that note, ESPN (again) had a new years special where they looked back at what happened over the year/decade. ESPN thought a good idea to have someone say what he believes would happen over the next 10 years and one of them were "Fifa finally realizes why soccer is not popular and raises the crossbar a foot to make it more entertaining because there will be more goals. Close to 1,000 goals were scored in the EPL alone. That is not enough goals for you? Really? you want more? Maybe we should just make the goals be like 7 points, then you would be happy? you would watch it? ARE YOU THAT STUPID? Yeah, NFL games finish 28-26 or something like that, but realistically all that is is 4-3 if touchdowns were one point. Its completely idiotic and just goes to prove that ESPN/most of America do not actually watch the game. More ignorance, also, the USA only makes up 4.52% of the world, why would FIFA change the rules for 4.52%??? Everybody else thinks the game is entertaining. The entire world does, except the USA....I bet its because of the revolutionary war or some stupid thing like that. No wonder everyone hates the USA. Its ignorant.
One more fun quote from ESPN: "Now its time for the Wolverhampton Wanders to take on The Manchester City Premiership." The US media is crap and it rubs off on its people, now i know why I keep my British passport next to my heart and my American one in a drawer. I am embarrassed to be part of the close minded ignorance.
Rant over.
Monday, December 28, 2009
2010 doesnt have the same ring to it.
I can see the moon from my bed, its really small...
Dont know what to really write anymore. I guess the new year is coming, maybe think about 2009? Hmmm, the year started out pretty good. Laid back, senior year and was able to really relax. I remember I went skiing and almost died, I fell enough times for everyone on the mountain that day. Kicked ass in soccer, except for our one loss, and our tie. Okay seriously though, our one loss came to the other team fighting for first place, we had to reschedule the game, and our coach decided to reschedule it to a date where we could only conjure up 9 first team players and 2 kids from a lower team. Meanwhile, the other team had their entire roster there, it was a majority Brazilian team but I think if I had a defense then I could definitely of stopped them cold. The tie, oh dont get me started with that, We were 3-0 up, probably 10 minutes to go and the ref gives 3 PK's in the box in fast sucession. All 3 were BULLSHIT and it still gets me fired up. The three times the kid (same defender, never carded or talked to. One sign that the ref is complete shit) got the ball, and the attacker tripped after the ball was kicked away ( the ball ended up taking a 90 degree path to the right by itself, as the ref would want us to believe). RAWR, that pissed me off, and we were all pissed off, and...getting off that. Summer was fun, Oceancity with my friends, horrible city, but pure beauty to a handful of over-privileged kids with pocket money and a Mercedes. (spent the last of my savings on that trip). It was fun, the part that wasnt fun was the 11 hour drive back and then 3 hours of sleep and then 2 hour drive to orientation to play 'ice-breaker' games. I was not the happiest camper, and I was in bed by midnight. Fun times with my first experience of my college. Rest of the summer was okay, was in Maine and realized that I sucked at starting fires (got over that). The end of the year could have been better...start a school which I quickly realized that I dislike, am stuck there for the year...and a friend died which sucks and probably could of dealt with that better. One of life's many surprises I guess, and that's that.
Oh and Tottenham is fucking awesome. Yep, oh and I also realized that I am in the wrong place. Oh I long for the day to go back to London and fit in with all the other crazy fans. One day I will, one day.
Dont know what to really write anymore. I guess the new year is coming, maybe think about 2009? Hmmm, the year started out pretty good. Laid back, senior year and was able to really relax. I remember I went skiing and almost died, I fell enough times for everyone on the mountain that day. Kicked ass in soccer, except for our one loss, and our tie. Okay seriously though, our one loss came to the other team fighting for first place, we had to reschedule the game, and our coach decided to reschedule it to a date where we could only conjure up 9 first team players and 2 kids from a lower team. Meanwhile, the other team had their entire roster there, it was a majority Brazilian team but I think if I had a defense then I could definitely of stopped them cold. The tie, oh dont get me started with that, We were 3-0 up, probably 10 minutes to go and the ref gives 3 PK's in the box in fast sucession. All 3 were BULLSHIT and it still gets me fired up. The three times the kid (same defender, never carded or talked to. One sign that the ref is complete shit) got the ball, and the attacker tripped after the ball was kicked away ( the ball ended up taking a 90 degree path to the right by itself, as the ref would want us to believe). RAWR, that pissed me off, and we were all pissed off, and...getting off that. Summer was fun, Oceancity with my friends, horrible city, but pure beauty to a handful of over-privileged kids with pocket money and a Mercedes. (spent the last of my savings on that trip). It was fun, the part that wasnt fun was the 11 hour drive back and then 3 hours of sleep and then 2 hour drive to orientation to play 'ice-breaker' games. I was not the happiest camper, and I was in bed by midnight. Fun times with my first experience of my college. Rest of the summer was okay, was in Maine and realized that I sucked at starting fires (got over that). The end of the year could have been better...start a school which I quickly realized that I dislike, am stuck there for the year...and a friend died which sucks and probably could of dealt with that better. One of life's many surprises I guess, and that's that.
Oh and Tottenham is fucking awesome. Yep, oh and I also realized that I am in the wrong place. Oh I long for the day to go back to London and fit in with all the other crazy fans. One day I will, one day.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Procrastination
I am writing my bloody 13 paper for my Gender and Ethnics class and we watched a film called Jodhaa Akbar. Which is a historical film about Akbar, the muslim king of the Mughal empire which ruled India in the 16th century and his marriage to Jodhaa, a Hindu princess from the Rajput empire. Well anyway, its really just this video I keep watching...which is really catchy like a lot of the songs from other films ive watched in the class.
anyway enjoy (sorry, cant embed)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf8XilsCnUc
anyway enjoy (sorry, cant embed)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf8XilsCnUc
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Two opposites
Kids running to fight:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8398555.stm
and kids escaping the fight:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8395828.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8398555.stm
and kids escaping the fight:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8395828.stm
Famagusta: The foribidden city
This has a lot of history, scroll down to pictures if you want to read about the ghost city.
Famagusta is located on the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean, it is South of Turkey, and West of Israel. During the early 1950's, a guerrilla movement is started called the EOKA, they fight against the British rule and want a unification with Greece. In retaliation to the movement, the British forced on the annexed island, arm a paramilitary force comprised of Turkish Cypriots. This, is the start to the main division on the island. (Greeks have always hated the Turks, and still talk about retaking Constantinople (Istanbul)). Cyprus is granted independence in the 1970's, and the Turkish Cypriots withdraw to enclaves around the island, and in 1974, the military junta of Greece backs a Greek Cypriot coup of the Turkish Cypriot leader, hoping to make Cyprus part of Greece which many Greek Cypriots want.
Within two days, the Turkish army invades. (Just shows, the Turks had an invasion plan of the island, and had troops and resources in place to put the invasion into place). The Turkish Army, landing in the Northern part of the island, steam rolls over the small Greek Cypriot force defending their land. The Invasion makes Greek Cypriots who lived in the North refugees in their own country, the UN intervened creating the ' Greenline'. Turkey controls the Northern 1/3 of the island. It is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and is only recognised by Turkey itself as a country. Turkish citizens flocked to the island to steal the Greek Cypriot refugees land who were forced to flee to Southern Cyprus.
Famagusta was a thriving tourist city on the Northern part of the island. Hotels were being built and it was a great source of income for a newly developed country. When Turkey invaded, they surrounded the city, and enclosed it. Nobody has been allowed in since the 1970's. Within the city limits, hotels stand rotting, streets overgrown. Houses and stores were looted by Turkish soldiers as they pushed their invasion further and further inland. It is said that there are car dealerships with cars fro the 1970's still standing, and furniture stores filled with old retro furniture and electronics. By now the large hotel rooms are rotten, many of the glass windows broken, cranes still standing and houses still empty. Turkey does not allow anybody to photograph the city, and no Greek Cypriots are allowed in Northern Cyprus.
These are some pictures, the reason I care is because my family had land in Famagusta and Turkey illegally invaded and murdered hundreds. Many Greek Cypriots who were not able to escape went missing, and many were shot because the Turkish forces labeled them as guerrilla's. The war in Cyprus is not know by many, many do no know where the island is. Its just another war in history that nobody will pay attention to.
This is also the reason I do not like Turkey.
Famagusta is located on the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean, it is South of Turkey, and West of Israel. During the early 1950's, a guerrilla movement is started called the EOKA, they fight against the British rule and want a unification with Greece. In retaliation to the movement, the British forced on the annexed island, arm a paramilitary force comprised of Turkish Cypriots. This, is the start to the main division on the island. (Greeks have always hated the Turks, and still talk about retaking Constantinople (Istanbul)). Cyprus is granted independence in the 1970's, and the Turkish Cypriots withdraw to enclaves around the island, and in 1974, the military junta of Greece backs a Greek Cypriot coup of the Turkish Cypriot leader, hoping to make Cyprus part of Greece which many Greek Cypriots want.
Within two days, the Turkish army invades. (Just shows, the Turks had an invasion plan of the island, and had troops and resources in place to put the invasion into place). The Turkish Army, landing in the Northern part of the island, steam rolls over the small Greek Cypriot force defending their land. The Invasion makes Greek Cypriots who lived in the North refugees in their own country, the UN intervened creating the ' Greenline'. Turkey controls the Northern 1/3 of the island. It is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and is only recognised by Turkey itself as a country. Turkish citizens flocked to the island to steal the Greek Cypriot refugees land who were forced to flee to Southern Cyprus.
Famagusta was a thriving tourist city on the Northern part of the island. Hotels were being built and it was a great source of income for a newly developed country. When Turkey invaded, they surrounded the city, and enclosed it. Nobody has been allowed in since the 1970's. Within the city limits, hotels stand rotting, streets overgrown. Houses and stores were looted by Turkish soldiers as they pushed their invasion further and further inland. It is said that there are car dealerships with cars fro the 1970's still standing, and furniture stores filled with old retro furniture and electronics. By now the large hotel rooms are rotten, many of the glass windows broken, cranes still standing and houses still empty. Turkey does not allow anybody to photograph the city, and no Greek Cypriots are allowed in Northern Cyprus.
These are some pictures, the reason I care is because my family had land in Famagusta and Turkey illegally invaded and murdered hundreds. Many Greek Cypriots who were not able to escape went missing, and many were shot because the Turkish forces labeled them as guerrilla's. The war in Cyprus is not know by many, many do no know where the island is. Its just another war in history that nobody will pay attention to.This is also the reason I do not like Turkey.
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