… Now What?

This is my past time, I honestly love blogging more than I love most hobbies in my life. It’s the most capable thing left I can do as I’ve recently had quite a rollercoaster time of it. But it’s been beyond character-building and I’ve met some great people along the way and even had some new experiences as a result. This means I’ve had to adjust as though I thoroughly believe in the current climate it’s easy just to give up, now more than ever. But its simply not an option, “get rich or die trying” per sé, well call this “Custer’s Last Stand” as I’m not licked yet. I find myself talking with my family so much more than I used to, my mum’s swell but lets be honest, the dynamic of this house and this family is a cray one, but it’s all very “damned if you do, damned if you don’t”. This means starting to embrace my parents and my ethnic origins a lot-a lot more. I know family is important but it’s only when something like this happens, do you realise just how important. I’m watched football with my dad, Swansea vs Manchester City, then it was Manchester United vs. Arsenal. I’m honestly not a big football fan for I prefer American Football as we all know but it’s all just a pause on life. I’ve never been a die hard, I’ve a life and I’ve had to realise that football is a nice getaway, but its simply not my life, doesn’t pay the bills.

Typical timetable

I tried college again after all of this; the blogs, the enrolling, the course, I loved it all. Unfortunately it all became very real but what can I say. I want to try another bite of the cherry. The support I thought I had has been somewhat flaky so I’ve had to find a new path to my vision. I can be a bit vague and a bit cryptic so I expect people to be a bit more “why?”, “how come?”, but they don’t and so assumption is just too nutty. I believe in “treat people the same way you want to be treated”, but some people just don’t have it in them, the world can be a bit harsh and cut-throat but I don’t know. Real friends can understand surely? Well “my bad”, I think Shrek had a great quote. Great metaphor. How can’t people understand that? That whole “what you see is what you get” isn’t me. I’d prefer a question or two for odds are it’s a GRAVE mistake and overreaction. But we don’t know if we don’t ask. Either way the psychosis of Alexander Adetokunbo Adeboye III Esq (the III Esq is a bad long-running joke, I wish they stood in my name though). Either way got informed of a Richmond AID “job club“, that’s a nice plan for a Tuesday. I like writing as my blogs show, its simply direction and passion that can fluctuate but I’ve had a bit to sportingly write about now. The fact England’s “Lionesses” are doing well and dumped out the host country… I can’t complain. And “my girl” Kadeisha Buchanan featured in the 2-1 England win, how that hair means she is typically “winning” in my books. Also best. site. EVER!

David Moyes, Manchester United, History and Common Sense.

What’s that Metallica song… ‘Sad But True’

A Triple Bill That’s Already Hurting

I only tweeted, Facebook statused, acknowledged, ordered a pizza with the knowledge… I now have reason to appreciate (American) Football now I’ve well an truly into it this season. I’m watching it and its like “Happy Thanksgiving”. I don’t do Turkey or Cranberry Jam, or Stuffing, or Pumpkin Pie etc. Some of the comments on the Metro’s article on U.S. Thanksgiving are just hilarious. The kind of reaction people give when you know they weren’t sitting with anyone that cares for the sport to help talk them through it. Instead, just bag on a sport because its different. I actually felt my IQ go down reading some of the comments, its like everyone is entitled to their opinion, only if its an opinion arrived and suitable for “The Adult Table”, am I that Americanised? *awkward face*

Hmmm, re-adjust them foo’s that cant “dig it”

All I know is I’ve loved the Packers for a while, more than any European football team for a while. Vets of my blogs know as “Americanised” as I may become, I’ve always called European Football/Soccer = Football, and then American Football/NFL = American Football. I haven’t fully turned my back on Football, but it doesn’t help itself is all with ticket prices, subscription costs, television rights etc. All too bureaucratic, American Football seems a bit less “merky”. Well Thanksgiving is the age old tradition of three NFL games back-to-back-to-back, from 5:30pm GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) / 1:30pm ET (Eastern Time) until past 1am GMT, I dont care to work out that time, maybe even later.

This was ’94 but seriously that was the high point. Don’t Google the final score!

I was only even interested in that first game and my goodness… The Packers let me down, call me a glory-hunter, call me a “homer for A Rod” but without the aforementioned Aaron Rodgers, the Packers aren’t the same team and are figuratively a pain to do so. I have to actually concentrate on the real world with no beautiful August-February distraction, grr.

Like A London Bus

Erm… Yeah… I think Barca are back now 😥 – Image

The way I’ve been bleating on in these entries like there’s no sport, that’s “hogwash” as theres the Confederation Cup (Yep) but in years gone by it’s been somewhat of a snoozefest. To think the “Next Big Thing” Neymar finally made his move from Santos (in South America) to Europe as for neigh-on five years this 21 year old has been seen as the world talent outside of the infamous Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo debate. Turns out Neymar has sense as yes the Premier League is more watched and more enjoyable, but La Liga is simply skill over power and that Brazilian flair can blossom there. I love how Neymar has the common decency to score two amazing goals within the first ’10 minutes or so of Brazil’s first two group games (Japan, ‘3. Mexico, ‘9) so interest is here to stay. All the best to Neymar – a Barcelona team with Messi, Xavi and Iniesta now makes the 2013 Champions League Final (beaten in the Semi’s) look like a temporary setback to their five-odd year strong dominance on world football. I believe even former Barca manager Pep Guardiola has his work cut out for him to keep Bayern Munich the constant force though they’re already added to their 2013/14 squad.

Well I currently find myself watching Italy vs Japan in the second Group A match of the day and its seriously more open and gripping than many could have guessed. This means time is just flying by at the “puck drops” at 1am (normally 1:30am). The football means I’m looking up from the screen every now & again so it looks like a 4-3 win for Italy but that scoreline doesn’t tell the story of the 90 minutes, first 30 Japan, then last 15 Italy, half time 2-1 to Japan (ironic of possession I suppose). The second half was Italy back in it but Japan held their own as though on the first foot Italy kept coming back and won it by a nose (a real Horse Racing Photo Finish kind of drama). All of this is simply amazing as though the main course is American Football I’m being spoilt by all of these starters that don’t touch the sides, but are doing a job.

This is finally going to end! And we are none the wiser which way it’ll go either! I’m intrigued – Image

No better example of this than the NBA Finals I mentioned last week, well low and behold its gone to a Game Seven and I can’t quote word for word but some of the quotes I heard as only a Spurs: W, L, W, L, W, L, [Game 7] has produced. I think its part and parcel of being a sports fan when people think the worst of the worst for their team so with this neutral – almost as if a commentator non-bias – this means I come across smug or some fountain of all knowledge when I quote Rocky “It ain’t over till its over”. I love how the Heat felt it as well, as forcing overtime and then taking it. I like how the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup Finals don’t step on each-others toes as its the “night-day pattern” of an NFL season but its not, well now its puck drop time so here we go.

Ermahgerd! #Lets Go Bruins! – Image

This flip-flop of NBA & NHL though doesn’t hold a candle to the NFL (in my mind) I said awhile ago how the lack of NFL games makes each game that so much crucial. At 2-1 its Chicago 4-3 Boston and following the puck has always been an issue for me so its in the background as I blog, this is now done so I think I’ll try and watch the 3rd period. We’ll see if my Saturday is an upbeat one as Game 7 in the NBA tomorrow (Thursday night/Friday morning). I’m seriously geared up for basketball now, when that’s finished it’ll most likely be the same for Ice Hockey as well, and the Confederations Cup isn’t too bad either as it looks like Brazil will play Spain in the Final on so Neymar will get a taster of Spanish Football.

This took me a while so I find myself in Overtime… This is the 3rd overtime now, lets go Bruins, 5-5 as well… Woah! – And just about to submit it… 6-5 overtime loss… DANG IT! – Well done Blackhawks! Major respect to my favourite WWE wrestler if I had to choose CM Punk, I suppose 😥

DEACON JONES: From a n00b

This is where I become honest for a while, well more honest than someone that lies all the time, not saying that I do; just follow this statement. Though I’m 27 years young (at the time of writing this), only picked up on the TV/Film cameos of certain NFL players back in 1999, started watching NFL games back in 2004, watched my first NFL Draft in 2006 and followed my first NFL calendar season in 2007, I still have an opinion.

This is no joke, but how weird is it the number “74” and “75”? – Image

Say if my opinion is greater or lesser than those individuals fortunate enough to have watched the man play on television or more so those that shared a stadium to view. The Los Angeles Rams (1961-1971), San Diego “Super” Chargers (1972-1973), and Washington Redskins (1974) were fortunate to “have” him, a career that spanned 13 seasons that gained him notoriety as “The Secretary Of Defense”. All of this people could find out in a wikipedia entry so let me break it down to something a bit more personal.

All my life I’ve preferred defence/defense (or D-Fence, I can’t find “the scene” but Any Given Sunday FTW), in the football/soccer terms when everyone was running playing football in the roads or in the school playground screaming “A” I was screaming “B”. How often I heard “I’m Eric Cantona”, “I’m Alan Shearer”, “I’m Chris Sutton” (ok, no-one screamed that), I can honestly say I was thinking “I’m Steve Bruce”, “I’m Gary Pallister”, “I’m Paul Parker”. Don’t get me wrong, we could go into a real “Sigmund Freud” about it but for the case of this blog it means I value that side of the game more than most. Translating Football/Soccer to Football/American Football and it means so much more as any player though favourited for their attributes they mean more as the individual “football” position calls for the best of the best. To think Deacon Jones retired from the NFL a good 12 years before I was born (1986), didn’t play for any of the teams I’m fond of and one relocated to St Louis for goodness sake. But when talking NFL defenses you better mention Deacon Jones as that is simply a name that can’t be ignored as time and time again it comes up in Top 10 Lists when talking about pass rushers. If sport bores you that much, take into account how people don’t need to appreciate any sport to know something about a sports person, if people look hard enough.

In this case I used to watch G vs. E (Good vs Evil), I’m not going to say it was the greatest programme ever as it wasn’t but in my teen years played “a part”. To think as a boss (BAWS) agent to two field agents on the side of Good, all very “blah-blah-blah” but just know that even acting as a boss, he was angry but I can’t help but think of (WARNING: naughty words) 21 Jump Street again. Either way all of this means though I never watched Deacon Jones play, I’ve seen him act, I’ve seen Top 10 Lists, I’ve heard/read great things, it all means that even this simpleton can applaud his life and simply say thank you Deacon Jones.

Nike England Kit Masterstroke?

For the purpose of this entry I require full silence as questions and answers etc follow the presentation but please wait until the end to pass judgement, I thank you.

Now and always but lets be honest… Club is kickin’ country’s arse from here to Mars! – Image

Don’t get me wrong I was as puzzled as the next Englishman when American clothing brand giants Nike unveiled their design for the 2013/14 England Home Kit. But this is where I don’t feel better or worse than society, I merely feel different – Instead of screaming that it was reminiscent of the 1966 and 1970 West Germany Kits (p.s. Germany are England’s arch-rivals at football if people didn’t know. I didn’t know until Friday that ‘WC’ on a toilet meant “Water Closet” – we’re all human) I simply said Its Nike, its England, its sold.

Last time I checked it doesn’t matter how a team looks, win the gorram match! – Image

If serious about this whole distaste for “ze Germans” its silly, I personally don’t hate anyone or anything unless it directly hurts my family, everything else is surely circumstantial? In a totally unrelated fact of poorly directed hate *coughs* homophobia *coughs* I went into Soho to spend my friend Kim’s birthday, awesome individual, all the best to a lovely lass, and it was all just ever so funny when on a Piccadilly Line Tube (I’ma Londoner). Not seriously “haha” funny but on the journey back myself and my best friends were welcomed by a sea of Yellow/Black (Borussia Dortmund – Yay!) and Red/White (Bayern Munich – Boo!) in the packed carriages, there was the  Champions League Final at Wembley after all so it all made sense. The vibe was anything but this, but that’s the inconvenient truth to football as its the act of a few that ruin it for the acts of the vast.

This new England kit seems to churn out “fans” that voice distaste but they will more than likely end up buying it anyway. Have a moment to take this in, the fact that Germans show displeasure as opposed to voicing it, learn from this example.

Pretty, don’t you think? Is the emphasis away and not home? – Image

This new kit will more than likely get people talking (NIKE/ENGLAND: 1, ENGLISH POPULATION: o), (NOT a smiley emoticon), and possibly no better advertisement of England’s attempts to open their arms to a “cosmopolitan and multicultural” world and “mend fences”. After the sad events surrounding Lee Rigby’s death in Woolwich and the effect on the Islamic faith’s image this is another case of people needing to see the bigger picture as it seriously is just a pocket few. Well the away England shirt is a lot a lot less fuel to the fire so has this kit launch got undertones of England are welcoming, more away than home, naff off BNP?

I don’t overly care, thanks to one Packer-Backer I now know the number of days until NFL season! >.<

QUESTIONS/ANSWERS/COMMENTS/ACCUSATIONS THAT I’M A WITCH…

Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, The Runaways, coincidence?

I can’t imagine another top-flight team I care about… Ok, that’s a lie. Erm… English club? That’s a lie as well. Look… I’ve loved them all of my life, leave it out – Image

When I first read reports of Sir Alex Ferguson retiring, I can hand on my heart say I thought Not Again? as more times than not Fergie has been rumoured to retire since the ’99 Treble. As much as I’m a Manchester United supporter (Football “fans” that are fanatical and follow them across the UK etc, I just “support” my sports teams, no personal dig but I just don’t see “it”, more power to those that do though) I didn’t read too much into this latest story, something felt different. The one I tend to do is follow the sources, I rarely bite at “hearsay” storylines anymore as no better example than Brek Shea at January Transfer Deadline, this and more just means that I’d rather wait until the last possible moment to believe a story hook-line-and-sinker. As a compromise I can say “prove it wrong” but to wholeheartedly believe most things in my life is simply an impossible dream I’m afraid.

Nice to see both actresses knowing that they need to move out of the easy “typecasts”, this is them kickin’ ass – Image

How did I come across the speculation you ask? For the craziest reason I was awake at 2am on 08/05/2013 after two or three hours sleep so being restless as hell I went downstairs to watch some TV. To be specific I looked through programmes and films recorded on the popular DVR service and I remembered I recorded The Runaways as it was on Film 4 two or three months ago so why not? A true story based on the 70s all-female rock band of the same name, Joan Jett along with Cherie Currie, Lita Ford, Sandy West, and Jackie West rounding the lineup I think their most successful chart song would have been Cherry Bomb. In a time without all-female rock bands and an industry generally asking female musicians to strictly play acoustic guitar, TGITR: Thank God Its The Runaways?

If you don’t know of The Runaways I don’t blame you. I know of Joan Jett, but yeah… Education!

I “said” it during the film while “live-tweeting” and I still mean it, yes I have no reason or hit back with a “I can totally relate” but I can get a 0.01% perspective as any battle boils down to one thing. The one I told my friend Tasha last Friday is yes the same event can happen to two people, but it’s more how that individual chooses to address it that is the real unique factor. Yes the film had the odd cliché but I’ve realised in the last two or three years that clichés aren’t a bad thing, they stand the test of time and are frequently used because its like hitting the nail right on the head.

One of the only things Arsenal has to lord over Manchester United nowadays – Image

To randomly be up at 2am-6am was rather weird as I’ve curbed my last nights somewhat but that Manchester United story, coincidence, often burnt by speculation. Its this cynicism that means I’ll only consider Manchester United’s future without Fergie when they unveil the new manager, until then stories like this irk me. People believe hearsay a bit too much for my liking, I’d rather go for hard facts hence though my Facebook is constantly churning “banter” against United (never seriously, good folks on my Facebook) I simply believe that until the new season gets underway it’s no persons place to comment. The way a number of Chelsea “supporters” dealt with Rafael Benitez was simply disgusting but I doubt Manchester United Football Club would have it in them to carry the same vendettas.

If I was born in February 1986, and “SAF” took over in November 1986, only 10 months of my life has been without Sir Alex as United manager… Weird. ALL THE BEST! – Image

All I can ever do is talk personally, but this is the day I’d always dreaded, the day I’d wish never came, the day that seemed so unfathomable I used to jokingly say Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson CBE would most likely die *touches wood* in the job. Well it’s all said and done so we’ll see what the future will produce, all I can say is a massive #ThankYouSirAlex, we’ll see what the future brings for this club I’ll admire until the day I die if their mantra continues as-is, all that matters to me.

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.