It’s Just Not Cricket. Or is it?

Elvis craves some action

Nuns, Monks, Cockerels, Willy Wonker, Mr Invincible, Superman, Lifeguards, Pamela Anderson and Elvis Presley were all in attendance at Headingley on day 3 of the international test match between England and South Africa, but not too many eyes were directed towards the field.

As a cordial, yet skillful South Africa asserted their dominance over England in a slow non eventful affair, the West Terrace did a sterling job entertaining the masses with games of lob the chicken, balloon racing, Mexican waves and record breaking beer snakes, much to the frustration of the staid stewards.

As one close member in the Wintershed Upper observed, “this is classic English” – albeit with some irony as the comment was made during one of the many Mexican waves.

However, the comment was delivered with aplomb; it’s an accepted certainty that the English have many flaws, but a quality they possess in abundance is the ability to see the lighter side of dire circumstances; on this occasion those dire circumstances happened to be a cricket match in the north of England in unfavorable whether conditions with thinly spread moments of interest occurring on the field.

Off the field though, Pamela Anderson in Baywatch attire created merriment by simulating slow motion bouncers between the aisles, tossed rubber chickens bought excitable oohs and arrhs and the ebullition generated by the building of snake like shapes out of part-empty plastic pint glasses occupied cricket devotees from the Kirkstall Lane End and in the East Stand with this alternative form of cricket.

Just like the famous song, the English do try to All Ways Look on the Bright Side of Life and even though on this day, the circumstances wasn’t exactly finding laughter through tears, the theory of Python’s concept was most definitely applied; for though the game was uneventful, the experience was memorable.

Seeing the funny side of life

History Repeating?

Something about Ronaldinho’s transfer to AC Milan feels familiar, images of the Rossoneri venturing down the same uncertain road flash before me prompting the question whether Milan are trying to squeeze success out of the third of the three R’s?

In 2002, World Cup winner and former FIFA World Player of the year, Rivaldo, signed a three year contract with AC Milan on a free from Barcelona. At the time, bagging one of the three famous Brazilian R’s was considered a major coup and Milan duly went on and won the European Champions League that season, beating fierce rivals Juventus on penalties after a bore goal-less draw. So the signing was a success, yes?

The reality is more like a no. Rivaldo didn’t play in the Champions League Final and although he featured in 30+ games that season his contribution was as a sub than a star, showing almost no sign of his former greatness and consequently was returned back to Brazil at the end of the season.

In January 2007, the second of the three R’s, former Barca man Ronaldo; arguably the greatest player of his generation arrived at Milan in a pit of controversy from Real Madrid, but due to bad luck and injuries; one so serious, there’s an unfortunate question mark over whether the greatest World Cup goal-scorer of all-time will play again? Let’s hope that doesn’t turnout to be the case.

However, sentiments aside whilst Ronaldo’s time has been short at Milan, he’s failed to find the form that once elevated him to Golden Boot World Cup winner and FIFA World Footballer of the Year three times.

So in July 2008, Milan complete the set, the third R, Ronaldinho; World Cup winner and twice FIFA World Footballer of the Year arrives, once again, from Barcelona and once again showing signs of form in decline.

However it may turn out to be third time lucky for Milan, as on this occasion at 28, Ronaldinho has signed at a slightly younger age than Rivaldo and Ronaldo did and it’s possible last seasons dip in greatness was just a blimp, enough so for Milan to take the risk on him. In addition, Milan have a healthy Brazilian contingent; two precious treasures, Kaka and Pato, which just may contribute to helping Ronaldinho locate his missing magic.

The odds are weighted against Little Ronaldo being successful, on the football pitch, for Milan as on the surface it appears just like Ronaldo and Rivaldo, Milan have signed on hope and legend as opposed to form and potential and for the moment, in the words of Dame Shirley Bassey, is this all just a little bit of history repeating?

Milan unveil Ronaldinho

Has Friends Reunited Missed the Boat?

On first viewing it passes as a trailer for an avant-garde independent feature film doing the rounds from continental Europe; orange-tinted soft lighting, melancholy almost motionless characters clustered together in a variety of locations, it pulls at the cords of curiosity. However, as it reaches its conclusion the revelation is something quite unexpected:

Friends Reunited is now free!

The ad is of a stylised high quality; it has a The Man Without a Past pace and sombreness about it. Clearly the TV ad people at Friends Reunited are rightly influenced by cinema; a year or so back they ran a TV campaign that paid homage to Woody Allen’s Annie Hall; kids in the classroom stand to proclaim what they have become in adulthood, albeit in a diluted television version.

So Friends Reunited is now free was the revelation. Once the interest of the ad wears off a question may present itself; have they missed the boat?

When Friends Reunited burst on to the scene it was an instant success, taking social networking up a notch. In 2005, ITV purchased the site from its creators for a generous price and continued to grow the empire adding extras, such as genes, dating, military and so on. But in the world of IT freedom, expression and open source, Friends Reunited’s policy was to pay to find, which suppressed its purpose.

On lookers took heed, remodelled the idea and presented without charges, leaving the Friends Reunited Empire vulnerable. Its flawed pricing strategy hindered Friends Reunited’s potential and when something fresher, more organic appeared, Facebook, only then did the idea of social networking start to fulfil its real potential.

“it’s like Friends Reunited but better and free” one converter to Facebook told me once.

And since Facebook, Friends Reunited has fallen in to perpetual decline, regardless of the huge stated ’19m’ on the website, so much so in fact that now, just like its successor; Facebook imitated it, it now has imitated its successor by becoming free.

With a huge TV organisation behind them, advertising on tap, positions of influence to ensure prime time TV sponsorship and a redesign with flashy applications, Friends Reunited maybe hasn’t missed the boat, but whilst Facebook is cruising around the Med in a luxury yacht, Friends Reunited is rowing in circles in the middle of the North Sea.

Mad – Friends Reunited Relaunch

Is Pele the Greatest Ever Footballer?

Pelé, football’s greatest ever player, has advised Cristiano Ronaldo, football’s current best player, to stay put at Manchester United.

But who is this advice best served for; Ronaldo, Manchester United, Real Madrid or Pelé?

Seeing Ronaldo ply his talents at Real Madrid may enhance his world renowned status even further and in turn might lead to the question, Ronaldo the greatest ever? Does the insightful Pelé foresee this? Is his advice given to protect his brand against any suitors looking to remove his indeterminate crown?

Brand Pelé trades as being number one, but even in his homeland opinion is divided as to whether Pelé is the greatest, with some aficionados favouring Garrincha or Leonidas. Over the boarder Argentines strongly argue for Maradona whilst those a little further north in Ecuador champion Alberto Spencer.

The question of who is the greatest ever footballer is academic; the list of candidates is long and stretches over many generations, but for lovers of the game it conjurors fervent debate.

Pelé was a special player and since the end of his playing days Pelé has campaigned, albeit indirectly, on behalf of brand Pelé as footballs number one player of all time.

Although, how is it possible to judge the football merits of players from different generations? The ball may still be round but football today is a world of change from the game Pelé inhibited.

Pelé’s place in football history is secure, but does the question of the greatest ever player require modernisation?

Soccernet – Ronaldo should see out contract – Pele