Sporty Blog.

Here we are once more, talking about yet more sport, but it does play a huge part of my life and always has, so it's no shock to see me discussing it. Today I'll address the two big loves, hockey and football.  

Now let's begin with hockey, congratulations go to the LA Kings, for winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in it's 45 year history.  That's a long wait for any club, in any sport to win a cup.. Now I do struggle with them as a club as such, not because of who they are, in fact out of all the Southern Californian clubs I'm happiest to see them win it.  The newer upstart franchises have been able to throw money or have got very lucky previously.  However that's another debate.  No, I struggle with them because of THE trade, as it's known.  Any club taking the best player ever away from MY team will always reside in a dark place within me.  When they traded for Wayne Gretzky back in 88, they took the jewel in the crown of the NHL and took him to a market not known for it's hockey, and whilst that trade almost single handidly built hockey in the sun belt of America, it left a big, big hole in Canadian hockey.  So I dislike the Kings, it's not as if they are a rival to the Oilers, no the biggest and closest rivals are Calgary and Vancouver, to whom in football would equate to being what City and Liverpool are to United.  So that would make LA to me anyway say the equivilent of say a Bolton perhaps.

That brings the hockey season for this year to an almost end, we have the draft to go next a week or so time.  The Oilers yet again have first pick, though they have to choose a new coach soon.  I'm not so sure who it will be.  I've heard rumours and seen the names Brent Sutter and Jon Cooper discussed as possible choices.  Well Sutter last coached Team Canada in the World Championships, to no real distinction, and prior to that had coached the Calgary Flames.  There you see the name Calgary again...  I know his reputation is OK, and he's not a bad coach, but his connections with our local rivals really should count against him in the running for this post.  Jon Cooper has just taken his AHL team to it's championship, including a run of 43 wins in the last 46 matches.  However, he's not coached at the top level and would be a gamble.  That maybe why the Oilers re-employed one of it's former coaches as vice president of hockey operations Craig MacTavish yesterday.  I'm certainly no fan of his in terms of coaching, though he did take us to game 7 of the Stanley Cup in 06, his subsequent and preceeding performances around that year was abject to poor.  As a club we are now only just recovering from his time behind the bench.  Yet, I suspect he may have been brought in to assist in some capacity a new rookie coach.  

If it is a rookie coach which fits the billing for Cooper, that would also bring into contention Todd Nelson the coach of the Oilers farm team, and he himself performed wonders at the back end of the season.  They just ran out of gas in the AHL conference finals.  It's hardly a suprise that this happened. Taking into account all the call ups to the big club through injuries etc. it's taken it's toll on those who had to cover as well as the extra travel that half the players had to make.  Promoting Nelson, like appointing Cooper would be a gamble, and one with a flux of very high end talented young players that constitutes a risk.  However, I think it's a risk worth taking to move the club forward.  Bringing fresh idea's to the league can help move it forward from the basement dwellers we've been for the past 3 years into mid league contention and perhaps even close to the play-off's next year.  It would be something to make me smile when thinking about my beloved Oilers.

Wow, I didn't expect to go on so much about hockey, but now I turn my attention to football and the Euro 2012 championships.  It's been widely reported in the media about the racism and the crowd violence surrounding the championships and it's hosts.  However, yesterday the authorities in the Ukraine did football proud.  I don't care what others may think of me for saying this, but by not allowing the "England Band" to play in the stadium prior, before or after the game was a blessing.  

Perhaps I've said this before in another rant, but the very idea that we need a band in the crowd to prompt the fans into singing is infuriating.  The fact that they follow England every where and still play the same 3 or 4 tunes for the past 20 or so years is unreal.  It's a horrible side effect of the Sky era of football.  I am not blaming Sky for this, as such, but we didn't have people taking drums, trumpets etc. into games prior to them covering the games.  OK, I tell a lie you did, but they were the local brass band, or Salvation Army band playing tunes before kick off or at half time.  Not in the crowd trying to create an atmosphere.  I first encountered something like this when at Old Trafford watching a game between United and Sheffield Wednesday.  It was the single most annoying thing I'd experienced at a game.  I don't know what it is with anyone who thinks playing the Great Escape over and over is good for the game.  

My hope is that the authorities continue to keep them from playing in the Euro's and that grounds around the world continue to ban them.  It isn't part of the game, it isn't part of the traditional fan culture.  We don't need it, we don't want it.  Kick Racism out, Kick Homophobia out and kick the band out of football.....  Come on Uefa you can do it.

It was cold, wet and fun...

Having suggested that I'd write about Wednesday's swimming experience, and not done so it is time for me to recount the trip.  I got wet, it was cold, I got dried and then came home. Simples!! ( I would add that silly noise the merkat makes, but I'm not sure how one spells it

Being serious I actually enjoyed Wednesday than the previous trip, I think I sort of knew what was coming and was a little better prepared.  I made sure that we got used to the cold water, avoiding any cold shocks that I probably suffered last time. We set off at our own pace as opposed to the rest of the swimmers.  It felt like two old grannies with zimmer frames running a 100m against Usain Bolt, but I don't care I was enjoying.  My friend didn't make the whole circuit of the course and I only did the short course, though I probably did far longer than the 400m it's advertised to be.  That is besides the by, this time I swam and didn't feel in trouble, I didn't get a sore back and I didn't have to struggle.  Now OK, I've still got a long way to go before I can contemplate doing a mile, and one in a less restricted bit of water, but things are going slowly.

It was fun catching up with an old friend, chatting away about anything really, it was unfortunate that we couldn't get into the BBC to get her picture taken with the Tardis or Daleks, but I'm sure she'll get that done sooner rather than later.  We did look at the Blue Peter garden which is a lot smaller than I imagined it would be.  However there isn't a lot of it needed due to the amount of times it's used and a big garden would be pointless to keep and film in for so few occasions a year.

Since Wednesday I've suffered with my back slightly, but I'm not sure if that's not something other than the swimming.  However, I didn't feel that tired either on Wednesday night, so I may be getting fitter I don't know.  I know we are looking at going again some time soon, which should be fun and hopefully I'll swim a bit more than I did this time.  The weather though has turned since Wednesday and it's grey and miserable.  In some parts of the country we've got severe weather warnings out. High winds, heavy rain etc.  I'm sort of glad I'm not going swimming in the morning, but after Wednesday I've sort of caught the bug again to swim more and more open water swimming.  As daunting as the course looked once I got going it wasn't too bad.  

Now we progress towards the European Championships, or simply the UEFA Euro's as the marketing men like it to be known.  It's the continental championship for national sides.  England are in it this time, but I'm not overtly confident in the chances.  As much as people are trying to play them down, as opposed to the over hype they normally receive, the squad is simply too bland for me.  I know that obtaining a winning mentality is important and one way of doing that is grinding out simple 1-0 wins, but to win the competition like that you've got to have a lot of luck, and to simply put it, Greece stole all of it when they did just that 8 years ago.  

The 3 countries that are amongst the favourites for me, are Spain (the holders), Holland and Germany.  Spain are current holders and also the holders of the World Cup.  They are a very good team based upon the wonderful Barca team.  However the question has to be be asked if they are up for the task.  A lot of the Barca players have seemed to run out of steam towards the end of this past season, having being playing near enough none stop for the past 3 or 4 years.  Will this tourny be a bridge to far?  I don't know, I wouldn't want to bet against them, but would I bet for them?  I just don't know it all depends on if they are indeed tired and have no running left in the legs, if they haven't then they can be got at, and beaten.

Holland were beaten by Spain in the World Cup final 2 years ago, most of the team is still around, they seemingly produced a great team every few years the Dutch.  If they can get Robin Van Persie scoring and avoid the infamous infighting they should go far.  They are in a difficult group though and a slip up could prove costly.  In part because of the history of the Dutch national side since the mid 70's I've a soft spot for them, and would like to see them win, but it is really down to the day with them, and how they arrive for the game.  They either explode or implode and you can never tell which it's going to be.  

Germany on the other hand, are the regular achiever in championships.  They have a young team that exceeded expectation at the World Cup a couple of years ago.  This time people will be a bit wiser to them, but will they be able to do anything about it?  It's rare for anyone to be able to do anything about it.  Being in the same group as the Dutch, they to have the potential to slip earlier than normal, but I can't see it. Once in the knock out stages, they'll be a force.  They will have the traditional traits of the German national side, plus the care free attitudes of youth.  

Any of those 3 sides can win this tourny, naming one that will is difficult, it wouldn't shock me to see 2 of them in the final against each other and then it's all down to the luck of the day.  

I just hope that the tourny passess without incident, the UK press are really playing up the social issues in Ukraine and also Poland where the Euro's are being jointly staged.  I'm not sure how the rest of Europe is reporting it, but all I want is a good tourny, with plenty of enjoyable football.  Football doesn't have to be good to be enjoyable.  Yest, the better the quality the more thrilling it can be, but a tense, 0-0 can be just as good, with crazy defending, inept finishing adding to the fun.  I'm sure that should we get that the pundits will go over board, moaning about it, but if it's fun to watch, just say so.  Sometime the analysis can be over complecated.

Those were the days

Gazing out of the window, pondering how to start I'm trying to work out what the weather is trying to do today.  It's flirting between ominous dark clouds and a breeze to wonderful sunny conditions, not to warm, but not cold either.  I mention this as later on I'm going swimming down in the local Quays as I did last year.  I'd rather it be warmer than colder out, as that will drop the temperature right down.  However all in the name of fun, fitness and health.  

One will write up if I can get past the 400m mark from last time, but I doubt I'll be able to do that, I'm not sure I'm any stronger than last time.  Let's wait and see.  I'm going along this time with someone else, an old friend of mine who I used to work with.  It suddenly dawned on me it's been ages since we last saw each other last night, just about the same time I spotted someone on facebook with whom I've had little contact with for years.  It brought back many happy memories of time gone by when perhaps I was a little more care free, and not as introverted as I am now.  

I shouldn't look back at those time, as much as I was less introverted and more out going, I think I was over compensating and whilst I'd like to think that they were enjoyable in many respects, I know I wasn't happy through those times..  However, some of the memories of some of the stuff we got up to, sticks with me, and I don't want to forget them.  That's the strange thing with life I guess, that in the darkest corners of our lives we find some really enjoyable moments which stick with us, more than say any other enjoyable moment.  Is it because that is stronger as it's cutting through the torridness that is life at that point?  

What ever it is, to those that suffered with me, laughed with me, and at me, those that watch me suffer and cause hurt and pain through my actions, thanks for being there at that moment in time.  Maybe we'll be able to sit down and catch up one day with a drink and a meal.  Oh those were the days as the song went.

Not A Word

As the light drags on outside, time passes by slower by the day.  Maybe it's me I don't know, however over the past week or two the days seem to be getting longer and longer.  OK, I know that is factually correct as we move towards the summer equinox and the longest day of the year, but it feels so much longer of late.  

I'm finding myself more and more bored as the night passes and so I'm going to have to do something about it, I'm not sure what but I will.  By writing tonight I'm going fill about 20 minutes or so, I don't plan what I write, if I did it wouldn't work, so tonight is a filler entry as such one to fill time.  It isn't working as I'm finding myself trying to think of what to write.  

Here's something I hadn't realised, I've spoken a word to anyone today, and not even said anything out loud to myself.  That is sort of odd, as I normally say something at least once all day.  I'm now sort of wondering do I say something or not?  Shall I break the silence or attempt to go a day without saying anything.  It feels odd though, it really does and it's making me feel rather isolated as now I've identified it, it's playing on my mind.  How could I alter this? Well by going to the shop to pick up anything just to get me into someone's company, but you know I don't know if I want to do that just to alter that.  It is a very strange place i find myself in with this. 

With the drop in temperature I've pulled my window closed as well, and that's heightened the sense of silence as I can't hear anyone on outside, not that they would be in the rain.  Yet, all I've got is my room. Self motivation is required I guess, but it isn't in bucket fulls, and that's seen through out this blog is it?

It's now June, half way through the year, and it's flown by in many ways, we've still got a long way to go but crimes in just over 3 months time it's going to be my birthday again.  It's flying by, in 3 months time the Olympics will have been and gone from the UK.  I've waited all my life to see them on British soil and I can't afford to go.  It's sort of soul destroying, every 4 years I have watched them as much as I could, 24 hours wall to wall sport, and the one time I can go in the flesh I can't afford it.  The closest I'll get is seeing the torch pass through Salford and Manchester.  Maybe, maybe I'll find a job soon, or win the lottery.  If that's later is the case then I'll be off to Russia in 2014 for the winter games, getting tickets if I can for the ski jumping, ski and board cross and of course the hockey.  It's a dream I guess, but if one can't dream then one shouldn't be around.