If you remember, I did threaten another column.
Today I'm in Milan (this is worse than than having a slide night when I get back) and I'm wearing a Sporting Lisbon top.
The best soccer news to come out of the weekend was Fulham's striking victory over Liverpool. Suddenly a foundation member of the Premier League's Big Four is on the floor.
To an outsider nothing could be healthier!
The same can't be said for Manager Rafa Benitez. Right now he's wearing Terry Wallace's aftershave - a situation that only highlights the similarities between games like soccer and Aussie Rules. "Down De Toilette" is a universal fragrance.
But back to my last blog.
In the words of Roy Keane, "Trust me, I'm comfortable not being pals with people."
Yet I was disappointed with the quality of the response. The might is right approach simply doesn't cut it.
I understand the AFL's place in world sport but a lot of my respondents don't seem to get soccer's place in Australian sport.
But perhaps the overriding feature of the responses was how soccer once again saw itself a victim. And that somehow, like Milwall fans on the terraces, the game is misunderstood!
Please understand this, my thoughts last Monday weren't "another attack on soccer", they were an overdue defence of the AFL (and the NRL) to any suggestion the nation's most popular sporting competitions simply nick off during a World Cup.
And although I don't like to single out my readers, just a word for Laurie, "diver" isn't spelt "diva" ... but I take your point.
Comments
Amen to Roy Keane words Mr. Cometti (although different context - we are not your players); nevertheless, a unique statement in your blogs I agree with. In any case - by the time the world cup comes to Oz in '18 or '22 - football will be the most popular code in the country anyway, so this discussion is purely for entertainment value only. :-)
Nov 2 07:30 amDennis, perhaps I have been overly critical of you. One of my sons tells me he has a lot of respect for your writing and comments , and he knows what he's talking about. Anyway, Dennis ... I suffer from high blood pressure ... but I've decided that it's ok to go and watch Perth Glory again, 'cause my doctor says all I've gotta do is avoid any excitement!
Nov 2 08:44 amDennis theres nothing wrong with standing up for the code you love. But I'm really suprised at your single minded attitude. I'm an AFL man first and foremost, but also a sport lover of everything from F1 to surfing, and yes even soccer, particularly our national team. The World Cup is one of the biggest events a country can host, second only to the Olympics. The entire country and its sporting codes should be generous with providing its grounds and facilities to help make this event hap
Nov 2 09:27 amNice Dennis, very nice.
Nov 2 09:44 amFreedom of speach is alive and well...
nuklearkebab: your dreaming. I suggest that you get your code sorted out (again) befoe you make outrageous statements. You have several clbs in dire financial strife, struggle to get a crowd and even have caps of 5000 at games to limit financial losses as the owner can't get enough to make it pay. What a joke. Your soccer world cup will not be played here so you'd better start saving your pocketmoney for overseas airfairs.
Nov 2 12:33 pm