This week’s blog is “cheating”…

I don’t have much to talk about… Here’s a photoshopped Pokémon card in the form of ‘Justin Beaver’

As much as I’ve been trying to live on a self-imposed budget in this time of austerity (failing miserably), it means I’ve been dialing back on the “interesting” events and sporting matter to blog about recently. I’m not as out-and-about as I used to be as I’ve decided on seeing things a bit differently and just curbing it, that’s actually a blessing in disguise as you’ll all soon enough see. No NFL, no Six Nations, recovering from an International Football Week, what the heck is the point of television at the moment as my need for a sports-wise Nicotine Patch is starting to show. The main thing I’ve been doing this week is helping to plan out a Heritage 2 Health event for the end of May between Marble Hill and Ham House, consider this moment in time as one for mentioning those general musings and refering to the official H2H blog site – I’m so happy I’ve found that organisation as it does a world of good for any individual “overcoming a life-altering event”.

Find out more about H2H here, this blog is done for a week… I’ll have more when it comes… Honest!

Here Comes The *Silence*

Nothing more to say than this whole “staying-in” lark isn’t half an interesting slant on a life, though manageable it seems one of the toughest things a 20-something year old male could do. Between manflu and generally watching the pennies it means for a more low-key weekend as for a Saturday Night I found myself watching a DVD my sister was done with. A weekend without the NFL, Six Nations, or club football was brutal, yes England Mens Football Team got eight but International Football just isn’t the same is it? As much as I consider myself a supporter of a crazy number of sports I only consider myself a fan of a mire handful so it really was tough for me to even get inspiration for a blog, this one only came to me at Sunday Morning (you don’t want to see what I had in the drafts since Wednesday, you do?) It simply meant time for my PS3 (oh my priorities have changed somewhat since “this”, I used to enjoy it), watching a DVD – personally there never seems to be anything on the telly and though I should be reading a good book, they don’t account for manflu and films are great for such an occasion.

Besides typing the odd piece I’ve been watching my xmas present, it should be part of the NHS to state that the patient should watch it. Had a meet up with H2H on Wednesday, I have another next week and though I’m good enough to meet a handful of people I had an exercise class in Richmond last Monday (revisiting the ol’ rehab centre was like a human MOT) but a “weekend environment” just wasn’t going to cut it. Hence my Saturday Night was watching the 2010 “mediocre” film Knight And Day – Quite a good Black Eyed Peas theme song, but this is where I have to admit that though my passion for all films as well as my quest for a quality film can sometimes be seen as too deep for some it could be seen as too shallow for others – Its impossible to please everyone so just be yourself – This is a great subject and lists always seem to ignite discussion though they could be seen as overdone in modern-day blogsbut to be honest I saw it as a personal challenge as I keep saying to people “I love this film, I love that film”, well here’s an attempted list:

Alex’s Top 10 Movies (In No Particular Order)

The only surefire #1 in this list has to be The Departed, it feels funny stating that this film was released in 2006 as it feels like its been out longer than that as I’ve watched it time and time again as 1. Martin Scorsese finally got his Oscar – long overdue. 2. Leonardo Di Caprio “owns me” since Titanic in 1997 (I went to the cinema and everything). 3. Matt Damon – I bet most reading this post couldn’t read that name without putting on “the voice”. 4. If Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, and Mark Wahlberg are “merely” secondary characters in this remake of 2002 Hong Kong crime-triller Infernal Affairs, then colour me sold. 5. Its set in Bahston. After watching this I (WARNING: Bit of swearing) double-dare anyone to say that they didn’t like it – If this is you… Fair play ^_^

2. The Shawshank Redemption – This was released in 1994, even more crazy to me than ‘The Departed’. To think the black/white divide, the rich/poor divide, the smart/stupid divide all mean “Sweet Football Association” when in prison. All of this is questioned, all of this is tackled, all of this leaves the audience wanting more (not literally speaking as it wraps up amazingly, well done Stephen King… “Go Sox“!).

3. The Matrix – This was 1999, if it stayed with its original and didn’t churn out The Matrix Reloaded and especially The Matrix Revolutions I’d have been happy but “it flew too close to the sun” and it got burned as each instalation seemed to water it down. (personally speaking – Which is a shame as ask anyone in college and they’ll say how I used to love it. Not as far as the coat, boots and shades, but still)

4. Pulp Fiction – This was 1994 as well, I’m sensing a linear line between two of the four films mentioned so far *sarcasm detected*. Speaking of linear, <Insert typical “black expression” here> as I love me a non-linear narrative along the lines of TV Programmes ‘How I Met Your Mother’ – Second paragraph and be nice, one of my first blogs and ‘Family Guy’ – Tangents with a meaningful point are amazing (to me).

5. Fight Club – This was 1999, to produce it just before the 2000-millennium was an amazing one, I’m by no means Guy Fawkes (watch V for Vendetta – I didn’t like it but same idea) or some form of militant leader with guerilla tactics but what an amazing time to convert Chuck Palahniuk’s popular book into a more popular film?

6. Back To The Future: Part II – IMDB had the first “BttF” in their top 250, I’ve always preferred part two. Ironic as I’ve always preferred certain aspects of society’s past, but then again I think that is society’s music and words etc not trying to be some low form of historian. I’ve always been “a bit geeky” so this prospective of the future and question “what if” but it doesn’t look like that hoverboard is going to happen. *sad face*

7. The Green Mile – This was 1999 as well, a real linear line forming. It’s made even more sad that Michael Clarke Duncan (The focus of the whole dang film) sadly passed away on 3rd September 2012 so if a film could touch the audience’s hearts any more than it already had (yet another Stephen King adaptation) then that’s how to do it. Then add a small door mouse and the truly horrid little creature that is “Sam Rockwell’s character” in it and it all just adds to an amazing ride for any person chosing to watch this film as time seriously just flew by.

8. Goodfellas – The line I always tell my family and friends is great if you don’t have the patience or tolerance for The Godfather Trilogy (434 minutes – 7 hours and 14 minutes, weird as I watched The Lord of the Rings Trilogy in one sickday – 558 minutes – 9 hours and 18 minutes) watch this 1990 film that has all of the intrigue but none of the toilet breaks. Both feature Robert Di Niro (well Godfather Part II does) and though I’m a little bit older and wiser so I’ll give The Godfather another “stab” some time soon, but ever since I first watched Goodfellas, I loved it.

9. (500) Days of Summer – This film was released in 2009 so it may lose some points as it gets closer to 2020 (“see” the pun? 20/20, Justin Timberlake wasn’t involved with this “joke” or reference to the vision). This film was instantly unforgetable (to me) and has quickly become a staple for Valentines Day as I think the idea if you haven’t got someone on this day it makes you feel worthless simply isn’t right, can’t people see failed relationships and being “single” as a situation someone needs to be in their life before it happens for them? This film paints a very realistic and important picture of things.

10. Forrest Gump – OK! EVERYONE HOP INTO A TIME MACHINE, 1994 WAS A BANGIN’ YEAR FOR FILMS!
In this film is the definition of its not what you have, its what you do with it. In my 27 year life I’ve NEVER seen a more inspirational film in my life (in my opinion). I’m not going to say that there were no other inspirational moments in humanity (the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa – laters apartheid) or people (who’s John Lennon or Mahatma Gandhi? *sarcasm detected again*) but fictious or not, this film made a stroke survivor want to lift a car but I have a 99.9% chance to failing to do so.

Thanks to IMDB as my brain goes sometimes, I had to cross-reference from time-to-time as I remember when I see the name of the film but the list looks a lot like “a given” looking at it now.

Honourable Mentions

Nick And Norah’s Infinite Playlist – I can be a bit of a soppy romantic sometimes and this film about a couple of late-teens and their story in the adventure playground that is New York City in quest of a hidden gig by a popular local band. Did I forget to mention it boasts one of the best soundtracks for an indie-rocker in modern-day cinema (in my opinion – Always 0pen to other suggestions).

Offside – I recommended it to a friend a while ago, one of the best and most underrated sports films that come to mind, I somewhat appreciate sport – *sarcasm detected* but I don’t love foreign films. But add the sports quality to a foreign film and it soon becomes interesting (to me). A film shot like a documentary (though fictious – I think it still happens, so much so the film’s banned in it’s origin Iran) about how women try to catch an Iranian home match for the 2006 (Football) World Cup Qualifiers, not as easy as it sounds.

The Truman Show & Eternal Sunshine Of A Spotless Mind – So let me get this straight, Jim Carrey in two films that seemed to depict things not being what they seemed? I’m thinking that’s the best Jim Carrey could aim for without the film being seen as a “bust”, his “kooky nature” sits well with me a lot better than Robin Williams‘ but both of these films push the mind and people that personally know me know how that aspect is well and truly up my street.

Requiem for a Dream – To think that before ‘30 Seconds To Mars‘ Jared Leto was a boss actor, one of the most underrated actors going but then he went back to his “first love” and so came “The Justin Timberlake Issue”, soon enough he’ll hopefully return to acting as “J.T’s” gone back to his music. A great film that depict various levels of drug-dependancy in various forms as well as outcomes, if anyone ever needed a “Mr Mackey Moment that works”.

These are 2010’s so I really don’t know yet.

50-50, The Hunger Games, Inception, Silver Linings Playbook, Scott Pilgrim vs The World, The Kings Speech, Shutter Island, Pitch Perfect *recommendations welcome*

I’m sure there are always others but this is a bit of personal fun as it’s a challenge for myself, you guys should try it.

DAVID BECKHAM: Before the hysteria starts

If you can’t respect D.B’s career, then you don’t understand football (in my eyes)

In little under two months and two weeks time (26th May) an away match against Lorient will more than likely mark the last professional football match in David Beckham’s illustrious footballing career. It was only on a walk back from the local Tesco to buy some Wasabi Peanuts (quite an awesome sinus-beater when battling manflu) did I dwell on such a career and as much as I wrote about his move to PSG – third paragraph – I have to see this as the ‘Return Of The Jedi‘ to the ‘Empire Strikes Back‘ (I’m such a geek) move to America as “Brand Beckham” had no better home than “Tinseltown”. Where I have to cut David Robert Joseph Beckham some slack, this man is the living-breathing example of “doing the most with what you’ve got”. Football gets a horrible reputation for churning out a certain “type” of player but I remember Gordon Strachan mention on Football Focus one week that its only applicable to some 5% or something small of that nature.

David Beckham is human as he’s had his on-field issues with red cards, off-field issues with alleged affairs, but then all of that seems to somehow fade into the background as all of the good he’s done with his “celebrity status” is just unreal. The typical template of the career as one of a member of Sir Alex Ferguson’s “Kids” philosophy so timelessly mentioned by Alan Hansen – love it – but this is only the start with that “clean image”. In the aspect of “the kids”, it started in 1992 and there was somewhat of a reunion last summer for Gary Neville’s testamonial in 2012, no better example of time waits for no man. To mark my appreciation for this one footballer vs. Wimbledon on 17th August ’97 with such cheek and audaciousness I just knew that there was something special about him and though 11 years old at the time and just about to start secondary school I just knew I was right- I even went as far as buying this as mark of it.

1999… Eep

Though the marriage to Victoria Beckham nee Adams (in 1999) somewhat “killed” my appreciation levels as I was “mancrushing” talent before it was cool *sticky out tongue* – My problem was how the marriage quickly thrusted him into the public eye for reasons not football related, as much as I may not have minded listening to the Spice Girls growing up (my sister loved them) if it’s not football-related why would most Manchester United supporters care? Fast-forward four years and after a bit of “no player is bigger than Manchester United”, Beckham transferred to Real Madrid (in 2003) where now “Brand Beckham” was anywhere but in the UK, the news seemed to die down, that transfer to the LA Galaxy (in 2007). Then there were the loan moves to AC Milan (2008 & 2009) and very soon ten years (2009) had gone by since his marriage. A solid temporary home in America and “Becks” is taking one “final step” as he’s opted for a five-month deal to PSG and donating his wages to charity, he didn’t have to and yes he is already worth millions. This and many other things in his time means that he’ll most likely get a knighthood but long story short is David Beckham has done more than enough to warrant one. I think the saddest thing missing from the resume was that spot on the Olympic GB team as I think David Robert Joseph Beckham has done everything right with his professional footballing career and people need to put their hands up and admit as much.

All the same I think this manflu hasn’t got the better of me but at the same time it’s definitely put a spanner in the works of my a blog post on the Friday – “Give or take” well it that’s a miss then I’m more than adamant on submitting an entry a least once a week since 2010, though again I’m sure I’ve missed a couple of those deadlines as well – but come on, cut a poorly guy some slack.

Easy to guess this final table! – Said no-one EVER!

p.s. England Men’s Rugby Team makes me upset, England U20’s Rugby Team makes me happy – Massive props to Ireland Women’s Rugby Team and of course THE MIGHTY QUINS, on their way to a treble trick!

# It’s The Penultimate Countdown – Plus More

Going into this penultimate 2013 Six Nations weekend (9/10 March), this is how it stands!

With this being the second to last week of the 2013 Six Nations, the table is primed for England as I’m sure all of the talk has to be about the bid for a first Grand Slam since 2003 (that was a nice orderve for the RWC win) I’m on the edge of my seat. We all know by now I see the Six Nations as a “Nicorette Patch” but though people look forward to the offseason moves in the NFL like notable events, I simply can’t.

I can see how people interested in the back story of each NFL prospect may be interested, but seldom does it point to a “sure-fire” pick for the NFL Draft.

One “notable” offseason event was the NFL Scouting Combine, an event were the premiere college-leaving NFL prospects are invited to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana – The home of the Indianapolis Colts – In order to be graded on athletic ability ahead of the NFL Draft at the end of April. Being invited as one of the 330+ players from the NCAA programme is no small thing, the NCAA is made up of 1,281 institutions so imagine how many players have to be whittled down. The biggest talking point had to be how though not “the main” NFL Scouting Combine, kicker Lauren Silberman (WARNING: British POV i.e. Not great regarding American Football) went to a regional scouting combine – Something I didn’t even know about until this story broke. These regional combine’s started in 2011, and if the participants are successful at a number of regional locations they are then invited to The NFL Super Regional Scouting Combine at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan – The home of the Detroit Lions.

Everybody’s favourite NFL Network host, Mr Rich Eisen. Everybody’s favourite part of the Combine, Eisen running the 40-yard dash!

This may be seen as “the long way around in a game of snakes and ladders” but for some players it is the best they can hope for without being considered for the NFL Supplemental Draft in which 1) It presents less of a guarantee for the players to enter the NFL 2) It comes at quite a hefty price for the NFL franchise willing to take a chance on them, the most notable player of the modern-era to emerge from it has to be Oakland Raiders QB Terrelle Pryor. Though Pryor (drafted in the 2011 edition) is due his shot in the coming 2013 season which starts in August, its one that only presented itself as he must be given a chance as “the Carson Palmer experiment” seems to have bottomed out.

FOR HUMOUR, BE’AVE!
REPORTER: Lauren Silberman, not to be mistaken for comedienne Sarah Silverman’s real-life sister ‘Laura’. So Lauren you duped half of the English speaking world, what are you going to do now?
LAUREN SILBERMAN: I’m going to Disneyland

Well laying the back-drop of the hurdles Lauren Silberman would have had to overcome just to get into the NFL, it’s depressing after watching her attempts at the New York Jets practice field last week. I’m not saying I know everything about the NFL but that performance had to be hell on anyone’s eyes – Injury or not, cringe. I hand on my heart can’t recommend any female NFL reporter any more than I do Aditi Kinkhabwala. Anyone that knows me knows I’m most likely the least sexist male in the typical all men are the same style herd so when I say something like that makes me feel like the women’s movement is a case of one step forward and two steps back. Women can be given the same rights as men, of course they can, but then some form of logic needs to come into the equation as now she’s a laughing stock. I’m not female so I shouldn’t have a say and I’m not but I’ve always been an empathetic soul so not to say I know exactly, but my opinion is different from my judgement on the matter but no better judge than her fellow female kicker. Though the main NFL Scouting Combine pulled in record viewer numbers, I wasn’t one and we can all thank the Six Nations for making rational thought of the sporting world, how a glorified P.E. class gets people pumped is beyond me but that’s neither here nor there.

To win it all would be called The Uncle Dolph, don’t ask.

Either way roll on the Six Nations as this weekend will be Scotland vs Wales opening up things and Scotland have already shown with wins against Italy and Ireland that home-field advantage can be telling. Then it’s Ireland vs France, can’t say more than France are yet to win after 3 rounds of play, Ireland on the other hand are in the negative side (1-2) of the mid-way point. Then that Sunday match between England and Italy, I may have already said a thing or two about it (look at first paragraph) so throw in Mother’s Day (going to make a homecooked meal, then put on a DVD) and Manchester United vs Chelsea (Not before going over to my uncles and watching it with him), my mum is going to hate me. Did I forget to mention the lads have actually agreed to play for Terry Crews (and friends) this weekend so I’m seriously starting to live a bit less out on the weekends as that used to be a prerequisite before “this” so roll on the adjustments in my life.

A great read considering as I’m sure 99.9% of football supporters can relate!

Hynd's Blog

With a cold beer in hand I sit down on a plastic chair behind rows of chattering men. Glancing around, I see that almost everyone is wearing an Arsenal shirt – not an unusual sight in Uganda. The sun is setting and I think to myself I that I cannot imagine anywhere I’d rather be watching this north London Derby, a thought that would soon disappear.

I sit taking sips of beer and listening as people chat noisily in Luganda. With the exception of a few words I struggle to make out what people were saying so I happily sit back and let the atmosphere wash over me. The big screen is on and sit half watching the match build up and half watching the people around me chat and laugh.

I am deep in thought about how different watching football in Kampala is compared to my old haunt of the…

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27 on the 27th

Wednesday was my birthday, this is the first time I’ve actually said it/typed it/pointed it out, whatever – It feels weird, do I now have to act my age? I feel so. Either way I spent time with my sister as we saw ‘A Good Day To Die Hard‘ (which helped show my age – When the original Die Hard released in July 1988, I was 2 years, 4 months, 18 days old. That Die Hard 5 wasn’t as bad as everyone said, it simply doesn’t have a patch on the first 3, I see it as a 2nd trilogy now), she’s still a great gift-giver as this had to be my favourite, then I went to ‘The Fighting Cocks‘ as it’s quickly becoming somewhat of a local for me (though I don’t drink alcohol), I really like the music and the atmosphere. I blame the friends I made at Brooklands methinks but in one thing that may make me older than how I act is that I try not to make a massive deal about birthday’s anymore, or at least won’t do until I have something big to celebrate again, watch this space.

DIEGO – Top Goalscorer + TERRY CREWS – Tournament Champion + PETER SHILTON – Least Goals Conceded =  THE UNCLE DOLPH!

Last weekend was a good one though as I finally gave the Christmas present I bought for ‘The A Team’ and came out of the weekend with the picture everyone was dreaming of. We all played The Expendables 2: The Video Game, which turned out quite the laugh as I believe it was only after considering how this crazy group came about and with it came a crazy (but safe) appreciation for Terry Crews. We ended up watching ‘13‘, had pizza, watched ‘Le Crunch‘, a real “Lads Weekend” as it directly contradicts my age somewhat, putting some questions about my sexuality to an end as well. All jokes aside, not a day goes by that I don’t thank my lucky stars I met Dan while I worked at Sports Direct – Staines, the worst thing about my tenure-ship there has to be that from now until either I die or it goes out of business but it screams “bittersweet” feeling for me. I was watching BBC News earlier in the week and they were talking about Mike Ashley, his decision regarding company shares as well as his tactics for reaching company profit, very bittersweet indeed.

13 was an underwhelming film as though displayed as an action film there was little of that as it was basically a drawn out game of Russian Roulette featuring the scientists with more money than sense, and guinea pigs that found themselves playing the game for various reasons – some electing to play and others not so much. Either way it was a good catch up with the guys as always because though we never got down to business, it’s always a smile spending the weekend with both Tom and Dan – Dan’s girlfriend Danielle tolerated us which I thank her for. No Terry Crews but it churned out a chance to actually use some of my life and educational experience as I helped Danielle update her phone, smartphones can be very daunting for a first time user as I locked myself from mine not before learning the ropes.

Another rest weekend for the Six Nations so I’m going to crack on creating a Powerpoint presentation due for next month, I’m giving a talk to a bunch of student nurses next month. Though it’s a month away I really want to be ready for I’m going as far as to scan copies of old weekly rotas from The Wolfson, pictures of my rehab; the general help that I received along the way from hospitals, The Wolfson itself, H2H, and Different Strokes. Juggling that and my friend’s birthday in Vauxhall, sounds fun and I wish her well but I’m thinking this is me acting my age, and watching my wallet.