Ive Sobered Up

But Im not apologising. I stand by my comments.

What i was trying to say early on was we shouldnt conform to something just because everyone else is doing it. The examples i used were to show that same things go by different names depending on where you are. A bit like every country having its own language. So what if its called soccer here? Its what we know it as just like we know footy as Aussie Rules. Just like the Irish have Gaelic footy and the Americans American footy. We have Aussie Rules footy. Footy is the number 1 sport in Australia and will probably remain that way for many years to come. Soccer is on the increase but it will take a while before it overtakes football, if it ever will.

Perhaps I was a bit harsh with the go home if you are not going to barrack for Australia comments. I half wrote it knowing I would get a response (which it did…nothing like a bit of racial banter to stir up feelings). The other half I wrote out of anger because there has been all this hype about Australia finally making the world cup and some people I know were slagging the aussie team cause they (in their opinion) arent going to do well so they are going to cheer for their country of heritage, all so they can dump shit on us when “their” team does better, which i doubt they will even do. I just find that appalling. Here they were cheering on Australia to beat Urgay and how soccer is the greatest sport in the world (their opinion, not mine) and how soccer in Australia is now going to take off. And now they don’t want a part of it. I coach (assistant) an under 15 footy side – 3 weeks ago we lost by 40 goals, 2 weeks ago by 35 goals. Both games we only just had the number of players to field a full side. Last week we didn’t have a full team but they didn’t want to forfeit, they wanted to play. And we only lost by 20 goals. They turn up and train every week and eagerly await the game. If it weren’t for illness keeping a few players out we would have given the other team a good run for its money. Its called spirit. Something this person obviously doesn’t have. Not surprising considering they are a soccer fan.

As for footy commentators, couldnt agree with you more Rob. Todays commentators are shit. The only reason they have the job is because they used to play the game or have one-liners (eg. "cenimetre perfect - Dennis Commetti). Most are in fact quite boring and give no real insight or passion to the game. Expert or special commentators my arse. They have simply tried to imitate the American style of commentating which is to provide entertainment. Gary Lyon is the only TV commentator I enjoy listening to. Dennis Commetti is good but has been influenced over the last dew years by his channel 9 counterparts and has slipped. Anthony Hudson provides passion but it sounds forced or trying at times. The radio is a much better alternative, although biased. Passion is certainly not lost. Next year Bruce McAvaney will grace our screens and the worlds greatest commentator will again be ours to listen to.

Hoogster, I wouldn’t wipe my arse with the page of the paper cause you cant wipe away shit with shit. Take the poll in Adelaide last September a week before the Crows played the Power in the Semifinal. A much different result it would have been (Probably about 90%-10% in favour of footy). Take it in this September, a different result again. Take it in 5 weeks and the soccer percentage will probably be higher. And who says Victoria is the home of AFL? Maybe they do and maybe they used to be. But not anymore. It is truly a national game. In the last 10 years, 7 grand finals have been won by a team outside of Victoria. Also, where was the last Australian soccer match played? Victoria. All that hype will have influenced the result. Im not saying soccer isn’t interesting. Because it is. Do you forget the star striker of our year 7 team? There has been a lot of talk about the negativity of footy these days. And maybe half the games are “boring”. But what about the other half. Nothing has been said about the Collingwood v Bulldogs game last week. It was a beauty. And in all fairness it is hard to call the Australia v Greece game interesting. I don’t know what the fuck you were watching. Spectacular goal and Australia were tactically brilliant but I found the FA cup final was a lot more exciting even though I couldn’t care who won that. And what you talk about with astute coaches can be said with the AFL. Richmond (paying $5.75) beat Adelaide (paying $1.20) through a plan the coach devised and the players carried out to perfection. It’s the same with all sports.

And here’s something to make the world cup a bit more exciting. Im willing to wager with you all that my country of heritage (Australia) will make it further than yours. If each put in, say $10, winner to take all who’s in? Nick, you have the dutch, Emil the croats, John England, Rob Italy and anyone else is welcome. Except Shaun. Sorry mate but India didn’t quite make it.

Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

I may currently be a little drunk but i feel that if i dont say it now then i probly wont.

Soccer in Australia is called soccer and SBS and other European fags should stop trying to call it football. There is only one footy in Straya and that is Aussie Rules. "But football is the international name" i hear your dirty scum say. NOT IN AUSTRALIA ITS NOT. Its called soccer. Why should we call it football just because most other places call it so? We call lollies lollies. England call lollies sweets. The United States call lollies candy. I dont see you European 'i tripped over my own feet im going to hold my head' faggots winging about lollies being changed to an international name. And what about the yiros? Its called a kebab in the eastern staes! If we cant give a tasty 4 am food snack the same name in our own country there is no reason we should change soccer to football. We already have a football and its the best darn sport on this planet and any other planet that may or may not have (are you a scientologist?) life on it. And we're call ed the Socceroos. Lets just change the whole fabric of sport as we know it just because others call it something else. I dont think so.

With the wold cup coming up I expect all to barrac k for Australia and Australia only. If you are going to barrack for your "home" country then pack your bags and go home. You are now an Australian and anything else will not be tolerated. Sure you can, like me, watch and be interested in the other games but John if I hear one positive remark about the English soccer team (Rooney - Waaaah Im not going to miss a dick like him) I will disown you as a friend and report you to imigration. The same for you Nick and the dutch, Emil and the croats and any other of you guys (whch seems to be most of you) that claim to have overseas heritage. If you dont like Australia then get out the country. Pack your bags and leave, we will be better off without you. Ill wave goodbye from the beach.

Im Going To Europe In The Back Of A China Plane!

Thats right folks, it has finally been done. Myself Hoogster and Phatty T are of to a land of mystery and adventure. And you know what that means....massive going away party!!!!

It has long been a dream of mine to just pack my bags, jump on a plane and backpack the culturaly rich continant that we know today as Europe. Why Im not really sure. Ill probably end seeing the Mona Lisa but to me its just a painting. I may have slept through the history lesson (dreaming of Lisa moaning) where it was explained why that painting is famous but its just a woman painted by Leonardo the Ninja Turtle so why the fanfare? The same with that naked statue of David painted by Michaelangelo the Ninja Turtle. Im not going for the culture. I want to see the Alps, the Tour de France, that light effect in the sky in very Northern Norway. And along the way if I see German boobs, Danish boobs, Norwegian boobs, Swedish boobs, Finnish boobs, Polish boobs, Czech boobs, Austrian boobs, Swiss boobs, French boobs, Belgium boobs, Dutch boobs, Luxemberg boobs, English boobs, Scottish boobs, Irish boobs, Spanish boobs, Andoran boobs well thats just a bonus. I would also like to place $1 in a Swiss bank account just so I can say I have a swiss bank account.

I love camping and have travelled most of Australia in doing so. Most of that has been with good mate and long time good guy Hoogster. Now its time for me to spread my wings and see the rest of the world (Ive never been overseas) and Hoogster is the obvious mate to do it with. Phatty is also a very welcome addition as 3 makes it a party. It also comes at a good time as I guess Ive spent the last 2 years treading water in what i want to do in life. Last year was a struggle for me to finish uni (we had this one major assignment that most the people spent 5 weeks doing 50-70 pages of work on. I, in true Samadoochi fashion, spent one night working on it producing a final copy of 30 pages, including about 10 of those containing full page diagrams/tables) and this year Ive tried to do a lot of soul searching in what I want to do. Ive ended up as a meter reader for ETSA.

But at least Ive got a fair idea of what I want now. I want to go to Europe and just have 3 months of non stop fun with good mates. After that I want to go to Africa (I saw this great documentary about this guy raising ophaned cheetahs and I thought that would be awesome - the African wildlife has fascinated me since I could walk) and after that the Amazon. Those 2 places really show the beauty and wonder of Mother Nature and it would be amazing to be able to go over and live/study for a while. They may be dreams, big dreams, but without dreams we have nothing to strive for (write that last one down kids thats a good one).

Hmmm, ive seem to have rambled on a bit. This was supposed to be a short, quick one. I guess the point is IM GOING TO EUROPE!!!!!!!!!! We leave July 1st so you dont have long to get your goodbyes in. Lucky we are planning a 'see ya in 3 months' party. June 24th looks like the best time for it so keep it free and watch this space.

P.S. Also watch the local messenger...ill be in it!!

P.P.S. For all those who have asked for my exerise scientist expertise, become a meter reader. Ive lost 5kg since the start of the year and now weigh in at a lean yet muscular 74kg. And when I flex my calf muscles with my leg tilted just the right way there is a clear distiction between the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles rather than the 2 moulded into one. And with my torso/midriff/abs of steel looking better than ever (you can almost make out the beginnings of a 6 pack) this man is feeling fit!