On the Beat

If Spurs draw - or win (ha!) - tomorrow, they will move five rungs up the table, either on goal difference (in a draw) or points (if they win).

If...

Spurs. Nuff said.

Still, us Hull supporters are on the up...

I have spent a lot of this week listening and watching football.

I hadn't intended to - indeed, I thought I wouldn't watch Euro 2008 at all, without England, Scotland or Ireland to entice me in.

But I have. Every evening. And it has been great.

Before the tournament started, my money was on Italy. (Nice wine, nice food, olive oil. Obviosu really.)

But frankly I would now bet on Holland. (No one seems to call them Netherlands. Don't know why.) or Portugal.

My last post was written when Spurs were languishing at one goal down to Chelsea in the Piss-weak beer Carling (League) Cup final.

I was listening on the radio; it wasn't a good match - shortly before Chelsea scored, the radio commentator, who spent much of his time talking about the fashions in the crowd and the pigeons (because there wasn't much to talk about going on on the pitch) announced that the best player on the field was the referee.

But it did improve greatly; Spurs got one back (a Berbatov penalty) in the second half which they dominated and forced extra time, and then in the first three minutes of extra time Woodgate snuck one past Cech. Spurs even defended well.

Their first trophy in nine years!!! Even if it is only the League Cup...

There has been a lot in the media about the Munich aircrash which devastated the Manchester United football team fifty years ago. I have read several articles in the press, and there is a programme about it on tv at the moment. (BBC Scotland; I think it was on Wednesday in England).

I have found it all very affecting; it is very moving hearing people hear how they felt, listening to the stories the survivors, and the fans, too.

It is very sad - what was lost, what they could have been.

I am not a Man United fan - indeed, most weekends I hope they get beaten. (I am most confused when Arsenal play Man U, obviously). But I think I will the minutes silence tomorrow, too.

And it seems fitting that it is City that United face tomorrow; some of the most moving stories have been how City rallied round to help their rivals in the aftermath of the crash.

I recently wrote about being a fan. I had been thinking about it for a while, although the immediate impetus was watching England playing in the rugby world cup.

There was a deeper prompt, too. F. had been saying how she supports whichever football team her partner supports. Plus, she keeps up with them - so she also supports teams her ex-partners supported (mainly Chelsea, but she's gone off Chelsea because they fired Jose Mourinho). She also supports teams her friends support, so she supports Villa, too.

So that is Spurs (for me), Chelsea, and Villa. And that is just the premiership!

She doesn't get it at all when I tell her that this isn't supporting, or being a fan; this is at best following, or maybe keeping an eye out - just having an interest.

Because supporting - and much less being a fan (I don't really consider myself a fan, for reasons I think I explained before - mainly because I haven't been to a football match in thirty years, and it isn't the end of the world if my team loses. Just as well since that team is Spurs. Although at least they didn't lose today. No, they drew. JFC!!!) - well, it isn't something you chose. You can't chose your team. This is why most Man U fans don't count.

The football team you support is something you have no option about. It isn't a rational thing - and it really isn't down to whichever is the best team at the time. You can't switch it on and off. It is an integral part of your being.

(Nick Hornby said all this a lot better in Fever Pitch. But then, he supports Arsenal.)

It is a bit different at an international level. Not in football - there is no way I could ever be anything than an England supporter (even if the team is a bunch of overpaid prima donna numpties who continually disappoint and underperform). But in rugby, I chose to support Scotland.

This is largely down to the crowing English media who assume that England have a god-given right to win, and are shocked when anyone actually makes a show of it. (British Broadcasting Corporation my arse.) Perhaps it is because there is a natural inclination to support the underdogs.

I am writing this as Scotland are playing Argentina in the rugby world cup. Argentina are winning, but Scotland are fighting back. I have a whisky in my hand, and a couple in my stomach.

And I am wondering about being a fan.

( ... On being a fan... )

Beckham moves to LA in a five year deal worth £128M.

That makes it about £500K a month.

Scary, scary, scary.

From the Daily Record*: "Celtic want Elvis".

Translation for anyone who isn't f4f3 or pshtaku: Celtic is a football club. "Elvis" is Steven "Elvis" Presley, who former captain of Hearts (another football club) who was fired this week by their megalomaniac chairman. Personally, I think he looks more like Reg than Elvis, but that's just me.

*And the Daily Record is a Scottish newspaper!