I warned all my Collingwood Pie friends (I confess I do have some) not to watch the Preliminary Final. I'm sure they regret ignoring the man in the know, Ernest U.
Followers of the game knew it was going to go pear shape when the coach tried to play mind games, always the last refuge of the desperate.
Showing posts with label Collingwood FC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Collingwood FC. Show all posts
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
How good is footy?
Here's a question I'm often asked:
"Ernst, How good is footy?"
Last night, tired & emotional at the 'G, I had an answer:
"Not that good!"
One shocking quarter and big team wide dose of the kicking yips did all the damage.
I found some consolations:
*The Dons are young and the lesson will do us good
*The Pies are actually pretty good, so not too much shame in losing
*Didak is in my fantasy footy team,
But still it hurt (though not as much as ANZAC Day hurt your pie fan!)
"Ernst, How good is footy?"
Last night, tired & emotional at the 'G, I had an answer:
"Not that good!"
One shocking quarter and big team wide dose of the kicking yips did all the damage.
I found some consolations:
*The Dons are young and the lesson will do us good
*The Pies are actually pretty good, so not too much shame in losing
*Didak is in my fantasy footy team,
But still it hurt (though not as much as ANZAC Day hurt your pie fan!)
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Frolicking with the footy gods
I don't believe in God, the one who loves me and has a personal plan for my salvation, but is quite happy to send me to eternal damnation if my reason (given by Him) leads me to conclude that He doesn't exist.
I'll believe in the footy gods though; they love no-one but the game, they are as capricious as the bounce of the Sherrin. They love the great spectacle, but understand that it must be given sparingly. I give praise that they bestowed a spectacle yesterday, and wore a red & black scarf whilst they did so!
They slew Hille in the opening minutes then steeled Ryder with the spirit that the day is about, to step in for a fallen comrade. They slighted Rocca, then took the dream of a boy called Zakaharis and made it true.
All to the good, but a small god took the time to play a little trick on Boarking, who thought himself 5 out of 5, after tipping all yesterday's upsets, who thought himself on for 8, a collection of the work comps' $250 jackpot, and the kudos of tipping 8 when few can. But the little god has messed with his tips, or else he forgot to save his changes, and finds he hadn't tipped the tiggers after all. Amid much gnashing of teeth, there was a powerfull whiff of deja vu.
Oh well...
Some bemoan the mixing of footy with the ANZAC sacrifice, and the depiction of players antics with the terminolgy applicable to real soldiers in real wars. I don't mind. Football and other team sports were founded in the English public school system as a preparation for war. I, for one, am quite happy when sport becomes a replacement for war.
I'll believe in the footy gods though; they love no-one but the game, they are as capricious as the bounce of the Sherrin. They love the great spectacle, but understand that it must be given sparingly. I give praise that they bestowed a spectacle yesterday, and wore a red & black scarf whilst they did so!
They slew Hille in the opening minutes then steeled Ryder with the spirit that the day is about, to step in for a fallen comrade. They slighted Rocca, then took the dream of a boy called Zakaharis and made it true.
All to the good, but a small god took the time to play a little trick on Boarking, who thought himself 5 out of 5, after tipping all yesterday's upsets, who thought himself on for 8, a collection of the work comps' $250 jackpot, and the kudos of tipping 8 when few can. But the little god has messed with his tips, or else he forgot to save his changes, and finds he hadn't tipped the tiggers after all. Amid much gnashing of teeth, there was a powerfull whiff of deja vu.
Oh well...
Some bemoan the mixing of footy with the ANZAC sacrifice, and the depiction of players antics with the terminolgy applicable to real soldiers in real wars. I don't mind. Football and other team sports were founded in the English public school system as a preparation for war. I, for one, am quite happy when sport becomes a replacement for war.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Don't pay out before correct weight
It seems a long time ago now.
Round one and one of those nasty Collingwood types down the pub goaded me into accepting a $20 wager on whether Pies or Dons would finish atop the home&away ladder. The Dons had started brightly but little was expected of them whilst much was expected in Pie-land.
----
At around round eleven the season was going to plot and then some; the Pies were on fire, polishing off the mighty Cats by a 14 goal margin before following up with a shellacking of the Eagles; the Dons, meanwhile, had lost 8 on the trot including beltings by such powerhouses as Richmond, as well as an ANZAC Day to forget (fortunately, due to my alcohol consumption that day I largely had).
Well, I was heartily sick of the subject of this wager by this stage of proceedings and insisted against strong opposition on paying out my twenty in a vain attempt to put the matter to bed.
----
Now it is haunting me.
The Pies are losing games and players, off-field dramas suck their morale and President Eddie has jets of steam exiting his ears. Whilst Essendon are coming home with the wet sail, four point and percentage behind the disintegrating Pies with four games to go.
Back in June you'd have got about 1000/1 with a bookie on our wager, now it is probably at about evens.
----
It is to my eternal shame that I will never get that $20 back, nevermind the $20 I might yet win, at least in an alternate universe where I am a man of faith.
----
What of this weeks tips you ask: Cats & Hawks, of course; Port to upset the Blues; Saints over the Collywobbles; Swans over Freo possibly; North over the Dogs (who are in September mode); Crows & Dons to finish off.
Round one and one of those nasty Collingwood types down the pub goaded me into accepting a $20 wager on whether Pies or Dons would finish atop the home&away ladder. The Dons had started brightly but little was expected of them whilst much was expected in Pie-land.
----
At around round eleven the season was going to plot and then some; the Pies were on fire, polishing off the mighty Cats by a 14 goal margin before following up with a shellacking of the Eagles; the Dons, meanwhile, had lost 8 on the trot including beltings by such powerhouses as Richmond, as well as an ANZAC Day to forget (fortunately, due to my alcohol consumption that day I largely had).
Well, I was heartily sick of the subject of this wager by this stage of proceedings and insisted against strong opposition on paying out my twenty in a vain attempt to put the matter to bed.
----
Now it is haunting me.
The Pies are losing games and players, off-field dramas suck their morale and President Eddie has jets of steam exiting his ears. Whilst Essendon are coming home with the wet sail, four point and percentage behind the disintegrating Pies with four games to go.
Back in June you'd have got about 1000/1 with a bookie on our wager, now it is probably at about evens.
----
It is to my eternal shame that I will never get that $20 back, nevermind the $20 I might yet win, at least in an alternate universe where I am a man of faith.
----
What of this weeks tips you ask: Cats & Hawks, of course; Port to upset the Blues; Saints over the Collywobbles; Swans over Freo possibly; North over the Dogs (who are in September mode); Crows & Dons to finish off.
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