I read some daily sports news, and some of it just makes me dismayed. Lewis Hamilton - the guy everyone is talking about being the 'next big British sports icon' - has shown himself to me to be nothing more than someone who is arrogant and aloof and not grateful how lucky he is to have been brought up in an environment like he had. I thought I was the only one who thought so. Apparently not. His success seems to have 'polarized Britain' (amazing inflated language) according to Sportscenter, which I was pleasantly surprised to hear. But rightly so. His attitude and words have certainly tarnished many people's already bad impression of British as being a bunch of self-centred people who think, among other things, that winning football tournaments is their birthright because Britain is 'the home of football'. He had stolen the drivers' championship on the final lap due to a mistake (yes purely a mistake) by another driver. And his first words to the world, something along the lines of 'I'm amazed '(a la Ronaldo's "I always knew I would be the world's best I just didn't expect it to come so soon"), "Thank you team, thank you family", then "I'm gunning for more". Obviously, Felipe Massa was completely on the back of his mind.
Let's shift our minds back to wimbledon. 2007 - Federer beat Nadal in an epic 5-setter. Fed's first words - congrats Rafa, you could easily have won it. 2008 - Nadal beat Federer in an even closer 5-setter in what could well have been the best tennis match ever. Nadal's first words - "I want to congratulate Roger for playing such a great match", and Federer's first words in return - "Rafa's a deserving champion", which must have hurt his ego deeply. Tennis is so privileged to have 2 top-notch sportsmen at the top of their game (and I come to respect Rafa right up there with R Fed). I wonder if up-and-coming Andy Murray (another Brit) can match their humility. Golf has had Tiger. And if F1 is having Lewis, it is sad indeed.
Back to Lewis. I'm not even an avid follower of F1 or anything, but it is just so clear how pampered he is. With Alonso in the team last year, they both had feuds throughout the season and to be fair, Alonso is competitive but I don't think he for one went overboard. Yet through the British press, he was adjudged to be splitting Mc Claren apart and as expected, was asked to leave the team at the end of the season. Surprise surprise - Kimi Raikkonen won the 2007 championship but all everyone talked about was how "awfully close" Hamilton came. And I haven't even talked about Hamilton's on-the-track antics, he is one who drives like the track is made for one car only, but anyway, I think I've made my point. Let's look at Massa now. His first words were that the team did their best to support him and congratulations to Lewis. Very notably, he said "I know how to win and I know how to lose". Fair play to him, I think there is a lot more to be learnt from Massa's reaction, than from Hamilton setting his eyes on yet another milestone (that would be absolutely forgotten when I die). If you think about it, many sportsmen are remembered more for their character than their sporting feats. So too, will be how we would be remembered.
We have a lot to learn from people like Federer, like Nadal, like Massa, than from people like Hamilton. Losing reveals one's true colours, something I've been reminded of. Thinking of Arsenal now makes me sad. Sad at how weak the team is, as much as team spirit can make up there is no denying that. Sad at how Wenger, who has made so many right decisions during his legacy here, has made a big hash of it this time round. Yet, I think this is a time that people will see the true colours of Arsenal - and their fans too. As much as people complain about how the manager is not able to wake up to reality, we fans have to wake up too. Now is a time to see the true colours about everyone involved. Same thing too for anyone facing failure or disappointment, or even success or good fortune.
Will you be a Hamilton, or will you be a Federer / Nadal?
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Thursday, October 09, 2008
How far we've come.
Change of template is impending...Arsenal was and forever will be a big part of my life, but well, there are bigger stuff in store for me, and so I feel it should be reflected through my blog too. The team may be struggling on the pitch now, but the club still endears so fondly to me for one who sticks firmly to it's beliefs and philisophy, both in terms of football (joga bonito!) and in terms of the business side of the game-long term development, investing in youth rather than take massive debt to buy big-name players- and until that stops, Arsenal is the only club I truly support. (Btw, it has been reported that EPL clubs have amassed approx. 3b in debt. May not sound big but when you consider the most expensive transfer ever is still 'only' 34M odd for Robinho, you really wonder how on earth the debts came about!)
So anyway, this temporary skin of nothingness shall serve me for time being. When I look back, I will remember only the content, so let's focus on the content. Looking back on the year, time really flies. All those times I had pledged to myself that 'there would be sufficient time to brush up everything' - with regards to tidying up my room, arranging my notes, worksheets and other pieces of paper, getting myself fit and able to run faster (I haven't been able to), having a good grasp of most of the syllabus, backing up my files, and finishing the Bible - have all turned out to be empty talk. It's already October, in less than a month's time, 'A' levels will be begin; in less than 2 months' time, it will be over. So would the US presidency. So would (hopefully) the global financial-snowballed-into-economic crisis, and Arsenal's premier league hunt (hopefully not). It would seem that, the world would come to a standstill for many of us, very very soon. All the things we wanted to do, we would be able to finally do. Or would we?
Truth is, we never will. For it is human nature that makes us just always want to do that extra bit more, that time inevitably restricts. For the people in this world with 'good' time management, they manage to do a lot, and they will very likely achieve a lot, and they will be perceived as having been successful, when deep down, every one of them will have felt that there was that something extra that should have been done. I remember watching many people interviewed on TV programmes, mostly successful people, and when asked if there was something they could have changed about the way they spent their lives up prior to that day itself, there are of course the usual 'big mistakes' they made in the past, but by and large most of them would not change anything because of the experiences they have gone through, and the mistakes they've made have contributed to that experience. In a way, you have to agree with that - there is so much that can be changed, but if you had the opportunity to turn back time and change things, there would have been that extra thing that needed to be changed.
1. [Philippians 3:13] But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead
The past really doesn't matter as much anymore. I know of a lot of people who hang on to their past. If their past was bad, they always like to refer back to it and show how much they have grown since then. I think it's a great reminder and comforter when they need it, but really, we should always be looking ahead. Then there are people who have had an excellent past, and they pride themselves on it. It's perfectly permissible, so long as they themselves don't get caught up in it that it distracts them from looking ahead and striving for their best possible future.
Noticed I've used the word 'they' above. This has been something on my mind too, and admittedly I think I'm very guilty of both in various aspects of my life. I always think about when I had the first breakthrough in an area, and then think forward from there, and I realise that very often, nothing really follows it much. And in light of what I've said, I think it speaks of me being quite the hypocrite. Argh, placing God's agenda as my first priority seems to be a basic problem that always comes back to be something I'm guilty of. This month will be a good opportunity for me to tackle it head on again. Once again, being a CL has been such an undeserved privilege through these times, it has ensured that I'm very quickly put back on track everytime I lose my focus. I think a good judge of a leader is how one would react if he/she didn't have the position or isn't recognised as one. I'm pretty sure Gallas would sulk till the cows come home. Stefani Schaeffer did not, despite being on a show where it is so tempted to overdo things will attempting to impress your team and your boss. And because of that, she won the Apprentice. I think in the next month or do, as a j2 I will be given quite a lot of leeway. Studying will become a big part of my ministry, and I will very likely not be pushed or challenged as much as I have been. It is all quite scary, and I don't think past experience counts for anything. It will be an all new battle, and a very tough one. Inevitably, I will come out of saying I could have handled my time better during this period. But I don't want to be sorry to myself for bringing others down with me. It's really all up to myself now, and I'd best start preparing my heart right now.
I think my heart can be described as having goosebumps as I type this - a sense of anxiety tinged with that of thrill and excitement. It's like the day before an exam. You just can't get it out of your head that you can't bring yourself to do anything until it's over. So bring on the next month man!
**On a side note, here's another of the type of articles that really sparked my interest in economics, statistics, and to a certain extent, psychology. Whoever's reading this, let's not stop fighting the fight! Know what you're fighting for, be it As, uni stuff, NS stuff, outreaching, and forever remind yourself of it everytime doubt and/or the thought of giving up creeps in.
So anyway, this temporary skin of nothingness shall serve me for time being. When I look back, I will remember only the content, so let's focus on the content. Looking back on the year, time really flies. All those times I had pledged to myself that 'there would be sufficient time to brush up everything' - with regards to tidying up my room, arranging my notes, worksheets and other pieces of paper, getting myself fit and able to run faster (I haven't been able to), having a good grasp of most of the syllabus, backing up my files, and finishing the Bible - have all turned out to be empty talk. It's already October, in less than a month's time, 'A' levels will be begin; in less than 2 months' time, it will be over. So would the US presidency. So would (hopefully) the global financial-snowballed-into-economic crisis, and Arsenal's premier league hunt (hopefully not). It would seem that, the world would come to a standstill for many of us, very very soon. All the things we wanted to do, we would be able to finally do. Or would we?
Truth is, we never will. For it is human nature that makes us just always want to do that extra bit more, that time inevitably restricts. For the people in this world with 'good' time management, they manage to do a lot, and they will very likely achieve a lot, and they will be perceived as having been successful, when deep down, every one of them will have felt that there was that something extra that should have been done. I remember watching many people interviewed on TV programmes, mostly successful people, and when asked if there was something they could have changed about the way they spent their lives up prior to that day itself, there are of course the usual 'big mistakes' they made in the past, but by and large most of them would not change anything because of the experiences they have gone through, and the mistakes they've made have contributed to that experience. In a way, you have to agree with that - there is so much that can be changed, but if you had the opportunity to turn back time and change things, there would have been that extra thing that needed to be changed.
1. [Philippians 3:13] But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead
The past really doesn't matter as much anymore. I know of a lot of people who hang on to their past. If their past was bad, they always like to refer back to it and show how much they have grown since then. I think it's a great reminder and comforter when they need it, but really, we should always be looking ahead. Then there are people who have had an excellent past, and they pride themselves on it. It's perfectly permissible, so long as they themselves don't get caught up in it that it distracts them from looking ahead and striving for their best possible future.
Noticed I've used the word 'they' above. This has been something on my mind too, and admittedly I think I'm very guilty of both in various aspects of my life. I always think about when I had the first breakthrough in an area, and then think forward from there, and I realise that very often, nothing really follows it much. And in light of what I've said, I think it speaks of me being quite the hypocrite. Argh, placing God's agenda as my first priority seems to be a basic problem that always comes back to be something I'm guilty of. This month will be a good opportunity for me to tackle it head on again. Once again, being a CL has been such an undeserved privilege through these times, it has ensured that I'm very quickly put back on track everytime I lose my focus. I think a good judge of a leader is how one would react if he/she didn't have the position or isn't recognised as one. I'm pretty sure Gallas would sulk till the cows come home. Stefani Schaeffer did not, despite being on a show where it is so tempted to overdo things will attempting to impress your team and your boss. And because of that, she won the Apprentice. I think in the next month or do, as a j2 I will be given quite a lot of leeway. Studying will become a big part of my ministry, and I will very likely not be pushed or challenged as much as I have been. It is all quite scary, and I don't think past experience counts for anything. It will be an all new battle, and a very tough one. Inevitably, I will come out of saying I could have handled my time better during this period. But I don't want to be sorry to myself for bringing others down with me. It's really all up to myself now, and I'd best start preparing my heart right now.
I think my heart can be described as having goosebumps as I type this - a sense of anxiety tinged with that of thrill and excitement. It's like the day before an exam. You just can't get it out of your head that you can't bring yourself to do anything until it's over. So bring on the next month man!
**On a side note, here's another of the type of articles that really sparked my interest in economics, statistics, and to a certain extent, psychology. Whoever's reading this, let's not stop fighting the fight! Know what you're fighting for, be it As, uni stuff, NS stuff, outreaching, and forever remind yourself of it everytime doubt and/or the thought of giving up creeps in.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
A SAD, SAD DAY FOR FOOTBALL.
So today was transfer deadline day across European markets. And if anything it has really plunged football into deeper, darker realms. Contracts no longer mean much, player power has increased to an extent that is way too unhealthy. If there was anything that was positive about it, it is that Arsenal are not involved in any of this craziness.
Firstly, Berbatov, who was still contracted to Tottenham, insisted on a move to Man United. Make no mistake, I think it's great that a player has ambitions to achieve greater successes, but he should have considered that when he signed a contract a couple of years back. If a club wants a player, it's up to the club, not the player, to take the initiative. The player of course can express interest as well, but he should still always honour his contract at the same time. Drogba was stretching it when he kept insisting that he wanted to leave Chelsea, but at least he didn't let it affect his performances on the pitch - he got them to a champions league final. Berbatov however, was, as the press likes to use all too often, "unsettled". For a long time, Man United had been unable to match Tottenham's valuation of Berbatov. Yet, the constant speculation around it meant that Tottenham's plans were completely disrupted. Being the star player of the team, it meant that whether or not he would be playing for Tottenham next season would have a huge influence of the manager's plans and strategy. And it showed - 2 defeats in 2 against 2 teams that had far fewer quality players. As an Arsenal fan I'm laughing away, but as someone who respects the ethics of football I feel for them. And just today, Berbatov has left for Man United. Sure, they got the replacements in, they got the money too. All 30.5M pounds of it (which reminds me of Shevchenko). But it was because had they not made the deal, they would have been left with a useless and unmotivated Berbatov. The ridiculously huge amount paid is a sad thing in itself, what was worst was the way Berbatov acted throughout this whole scenario, and how his club was simply powerless despite the contract they had on him.
Berbatov is not the only one, of course. United's own Cristiano Ronaldo was subject to ridiculous treatment by the Spanish press and Real Madrid. The way the Spanish do it, is that they relay the news that they want a transfer for a player to the tabloids, and then let the tabloids do the rest - publish twisted translations of interviews, which results in a chain reaction of press speculation and unsettling of the players. Ronaldo isn't the only one. For years they tried the same trick on Vieira and Henry. Well Barcelona did get Henry in the end, but by then he was in decline already. It is just miserable the way the Spanish press do it, with regards to transfers. The fact that Ronaldo did not successfully move to Real Madrid delights me, ironically, despite the fact that he will rip premier league defences apart on the way another title. So, player power and influence is getting ridiculous now. It seems now player can be more important than a club, even for the biggest club in the world. That's sad.
I haven't even talked about the money. Clubs, agents are greedier now. That I can understand. But players now have fallen down that pathway. For them, ambition is now based on how much they are going to earn. Case in point no.1: Andrei Arshavin. He was a huge star at Euro 2008, and was wanted by top clubs in Europe, including Barcelona, Tottenham, and Arsenal. He had the choice to leave - his manager had let him. And yet, because he insisted on a transfer fee high enough that he would receive a significant amount of compensation from it, any move failed to materialize. And now, he is left with Zenit St. Petersburg which is no doubt a decent club, but his potential will never be stretched or realized compared to if he had joined one of those clubs above.
Transfer fees are now in excesses of 25-30M. This year it's shocking the amount some mediocre clubs have paid for mediocre players. Andy Johnson to Fulham for 13M, Jo for 18M, Robbie Keane for 20M odd, all sounds just utterly crazy to me. They are good players, but certainly no where near the amount the clubs have paid for them. And now there's a new player on the block. Just when we thought Man City would run of cash after the political trouble that Thaksin is faced with, in comes a UAE consortium and right away, money is being spent like Middle-East oil, like Beijing's fireworks. And they've got Robinho, who earlier in the day insisted he wanted a move to Chelsea (yet another case of player power). So much so for wanting to play for Scolari's new "samba-style" team when the money is put on the table. Of course the excuse of "Premier League experience being one that cannot be turned down" will pop up. This is exactly similar to Ryan Babel last year, who said he dreamed of playing for Arsenal, and would even wait till an offer is made for him, until Liverpool came in.
At the end of all this, I am glad to be an Arsenal fan. The supposed class that Manchester and Liverpool was assumed to have, that Chelsea did not seems to be eroding fast. While I am of course frustrated that the squad is severely weak, it was probably because there was no one which was available at a reasonable price. We might well finish 5th or 6th this year with the riduculous sums other clubs have spent, but at least we will have that surplus which will lead to good long-run growth. All this, while I am still waiting for a "tragedy story" to appear when one of these owners lose their patience when they realize there is no way that fans can be satisfied except for more and more big-money transfers. I read that for the first time on Sky Sports, fans are calling for Wenger to leave. So be it then, fickle-minded fans. We will have lost many supporters I feel, because of our transfer activity (or rather, lack of) this term, but at least we have stuck to the very principles and foundations that have brought us from a no-name club one that is top-8 in Europe and the one that reaps the highest year-on-year profits, even after excluding transfer fees.
On a final note, Fabregas has been a fine example for everyone. I don't know how significant his 8-year contract might be if one day, he decides he wants to move on, but for now, I think he deserves so much admiration and praise for the attitude and gratefulness he shows. The fact that he is one of the best midfielders in the world is but a bonus.
Firstly, Berbatov, who was still contracted to Tottenham, insisted on a move to Man United. Make no mistake, I think it's great that a player has ambitions to achieve greater successes, but he should have considered that when he signed a contract a couple of years back. If a club wants a player, it's up to the club, not the player, to take the initiative. The player of course can express interest as well, but he should still always honour his contract at the same time. Drogba was stretching it when he kept insisting that he wanted to leave Chelsea, but at least he didn't let it affect his performances on the pitch - he got them to a champions league final. Berbatov however, was, as the press likes to use all too often, "unsettled". For a long time, Man United had been unable to match Tottenham's valuation of Berbatov. Yet, the constant speculation around it meant that Tottenham's plans were completely disrupted. Being the star player of the team, it meant that whether or not he would be playing for Tottenham next season would have a huge influence of the manager's plans and strategy. And it showed - 2 defeats in 2 against 2 teams that had far fewer quality players. As an Arsenal fan I'm laughing away, but as someone who respects the ethics of football I feel for them. And just today, Berbatov has left for Man United. Sure, they got the replacements in, they got the money too. All 30.5M pounds of it (which reminds me of Shevchenko). But it was because had they not made the deal, they would have been left with a useless and unmotivated Berbatov. The ridiculously huge amount paid is a sad thing in itself, what was worst was the way Berbatov acted throughout this whole scenario, and how his club was simply powerless despite the contract they had on him.
Berbatov is not the only one, of course. United's own Cristiano Ronaldo was subject to ridiculous treatment by the Spanish press and Real Madrid. The way the Spanish do it, is that they relay the news that they want a transfer for a player to the tabloids, and then let the tabloids do the rest - publish twisted translations of interviews, which results in a chain reaction of press speculation and unsettling of the players. Ronaldo isn't the only one. For years they tried the same trick on Vieira and Henry. Well Barcelona did get Henry in the end, but by then he was in decline already. It is just miserable the way the Spanish press do it, with regards to transfers. The fact that Ronaldo did not successfully move to Real Madrid delights me, ironically, despite the fact that he will rip premier league defences apart on the way another title. So, player power and influence is getting ridiculous now. It seems now player can be more important than a club, even for the biggest club in the world. That's sad.
I haven't even talked about the money. Clubs, agents are greedier now. That I can understand. But players now have fallen down that pathway. For them, ambition is now based on how much they are going to earn. Case in point no.1: Andrei Arshavin. He was a huge star at Euro 2008, and was wanted by top clubs in Europe, including Barcelona, Tottenham, and Arsenal. He had the choice to leave - his manager had let him. And yet, because he insisted on a transfer fee high enough that he would receive a significant amount of compensation from it, any move failed to materialize. And now, he is left with Zenit St. Petersburg which is no doubt a decent club, but his potential will never be stretched or realized compared to if he had joined one of those clubs above.
Transfer fees are now in excesses of 25-30M. This year it's shocking the amount some mediocre clubs have paid for mediocre players. Andy Johnson to Fulham for 13M, Jo for 18M, Robbie Keane for 20M odd, all sounds just utterly crazy to me. They are good players, but certainly no where near the amount the clubs have paid for them. And now there's a new player on the block. Just when we thought Man City would run of cash after the political trouble that Thaksin is faced with, in comes a UAE consortium and right away, money is being spent like Middle-East oil, like Beijing's fireworks. And they've got Robinho, who earlier in the day insisted he wanted a move to Chelsea (yet another case of player power). So much so for wanting to play for Scolari's new "samba-style" team when the money is put on the table. Of course the excuse of "Premier League experience being one that cannot be turned down" will pop up. This is exactly similar to Ryan Babel last year, who said he dreamed of playing for Arsenal, and would even wait till an offer is made for him, until Liverpool came in.
At the end of all this, I am glad to be an Arsenal fan. The supposed class that Manchester and Liverpool was assumed to have, that Chelsea did not seems to be eroding fast. While I am of course frustrated that the squad is severely weak, it was probably because there was no one which was available at a reasonable price. We might well finish 5th or 6th this year with the riduculous sums other clubs have spent, but at least we will have that surplus which will lead to good long-run growth. All this, while I am still waiting for a "tragedy story" to appear when one of these owners lose their patience when they realize there is no way that fans can be satisfied except for more and more big-money transfers. I read that for the first time on Sky Sports, fans are calling for Wenger to leave. So be it then, fickle-minded fans. We will have lost many supporters I feel, because of our transfer activity (or rather, lack of) this term, but at least we have stuck to the very principles and foundations that have brought us from a no-name club one that is top-8 in Europe and the one that reaps the highest year-on-year profits, even after excluding transfer fees.
On a final note, Fabregas has been a fine example for everyone. I don't know how significant his 8-year contract might be if one day, he decides he wants to move on, but for now, I think he deserves so much admiration and praise for the attitude and gratefulness he shows. The fact that he is one of the best midfielders in the world is but a bonus.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
WIMBLEDON FINAL
WIMBLEDON FINAL.
It was for sure the most exciting match I've ever watched and probably the same can be said of most people in my generation. Whether it signals a changing of the guard in tennis remains to be seen, but the match has to be the focus now.
For one, it started at 9.30pm here (2pm in London), and ended at around 9pm in London (4am here). I did sleep awhile after the first rain delay, but thank goodness I suddenly woke up in time with the gut feeling that I was going to witness something special. I was rooting for Federer all the way, but towards the end, I was feeling sympathy for Nadal too, if he had lost he would have needed a long time to recover. As it was, Nadal won, but Federer showed his true colours and why I will continue to admire him.
He showed amazing grit and determination. At the first rain delay, he was 6-4, 6-4, 4-5 down with Nadal to serve. Nadal was playing fine stuff, but he had been completely out-of-sorts, the windy conditions wrecking havoc on his game. When he went in to the locker room, he could have just said to himself, 'I've blown my chance this year. No one comes back against Nadal from 2 sets down, I could just go out there and lose the 3rd set and the match in a few minutes time and reflect on what went wrong' But no, that was not Federer. He came back a changed man mentally, and he never once buckled under the immense pressure of losing one would be if he/she was on the brink of defeat in a final, as he was. Nadal was playing so well, he was overwhelming Federer. But Federer hung on. He struggled, but he struggled powerfully. He took the 3rd set by a whisker, and in the 4th set, produced some stunning shots in the tie-breaker to level the match at 2 sets apiece, including a graceful backhand pass on match point. He brought the match into a decider despite being totally outplayed on many rallies by Nadal. He was far from his best, but he never once doubted himself and used whatever form he had that day to the best of it. Pity there was no 5th set tie-breaker.
Federer was also very humble in defeat. Anyone could see after he lost that 5th set, that he was totally broken inside. Yet, he maintained dignity in defeat. There was so many things he could have blamed. The weather, the winds, they were against him. Towards the end the light was so bad, that surely would have affected him. Time after time Nadal took so much time in between points, more than the alloted 20 seconds, and it surely interrupted his momentum, but the umpire did nothing. If each of these factors had not taken place, he would surely have won. As it was, he never used any of them as an excuse. He praised Nadal and called him a deserving champion, something which, while many of us would agree, must have been hard for him to admit.
While Nadal would very likely take up the no.1 mantle soon, I think it's time people recognise Federer not just for the great tennis player he is, but the great person he is as well. History may remember him for winning 12 (and counting) grand slams, but I, and others who have witnessed his matches and post-match comments, would remember him for his gracefulness and humility.
I may not be able to emulate his tennis, but I would surely give my all to emulate his off-the-court qualities.
Well, that's it for tennis for now, until Australian Open and Wimbledon next year, as those are the only two tournaments where it is convenient to watch tennis. But wait, I won't be able to watch next year because of NS. Hopefully this year's spectacle will never be matched again. As for now, it's all geared on studying, serving, and sleeping 24/7. Until the BPL starts again. Thinking about it, the BPL would start approx. when the restructuring project reaches it deadline. Let it be a perfect way to reward myself.
It was for sure the most exciting match I've ever watched and probably the same can be said of most people in my generation. Whether it signals a changing of the guard in tennis remains to be seen, but the match has to be the focus now.
For one, it started at 9.30pm here (2pm in London), and ended at around 9pm in London (4am here). I did sleep awhile after the first rain delay, but thank goodness I suddenly woke up in time with the gut feeling that I was going to witness something special. I was rooting for Federer all the way, but towards the end, I was feeling sympathy for Nadal too, if he had lost he would have needed a long time to recover. As it was, Nadal won, but Federer showed his true colours and why I will continue to admire him.
He showed amazing grit and determination. At the first rain delay, he was 6-4, 6-4, 4-5 down with Nadal to serve. Nadal was playing fine stuff, but he had been completely out-of-sorts, the windy conditions wrecking havoc on his game. When he went in to the locker room, he could have just said to himself, 'I've blown my chance this year. No one comes back against Nadal from 2 sets down, I could just go out there and lose the 3rd set and the match in a few minutes time and reflect on what went wrong' But no, that was not Federer. He came back a changed man mentally, and he never once buckled under the immense pressure of losing one would be if he/she was on the brink of defeat in a final, as he was. Nadal was playing so well, he was overwhelming Federer. But Federer hung on. He struggled, but he struggled powerfully. He took the 3rd set by a whisker, and in the 4th set, produced some stunning shots in the tie-breaker to level the match at 2 sets apiece, including a graceful backhand pass on match point. He brought the match into a decider despite being totally outplayed on many rallies by Nadal. He was far from his best, but he never once doubted himself and used whatever form he had that day to the best of it. Pity there was no 5th set tie-breaker.
Federer was also very humble in defeat. Anyone could see after he lost that 5th set, that he was totally broken inside. Yet, he maintained dignity in defeat. There was so many things he could have blamed. The weather, the winds, they were against him. Towards the end the light was so bad, that surely would have affected him. Time after time Nadal took so much time in between points, more than the alloted 20 seconds, and it surely interrupted his momentum, but the umpire did nothing. If each of these factors had not taken place, he would surely have won. As it was, he never used any of them as an excuse. He praised Nadal and called him a deserving champion, something which, while many of us would agree, must have been hard for him to admit.
While Nadal would very likely take up the no.1 mantle soon, I think it's time people recognise Federer not just for the great tennis player he is, but the great person he is as well. History may remember him for winning 12 (and counting) grand slams, but I, and others who have witnessed his matches and post-match comments, would remember him for his gracefulness and humility.
I may not be able to emulate his tennis, but I would surely give my all to emulate his off-the-court qualities.
Well, that's it for tennis for now, until Australian Open and Wimbledon next year, as those are the only two tournaments where it is convenient to watch tennis. But wait, I won't be able to watch next year because of NS. Hopefully this year's spectacle will never be matched again. As for now, it's all geared on studying, serving, and sleeping 24/7. Until the BPL starts again. Thinking about it, the BPL would start approx. when the restructuring project reaches it deadline. Let it be a perfect way to reward myself.
Friday, June 27, 2008
It's only six weeks since the holidays, and two since camp, but boy oh boy has it been such a wonderful six weeks of growth for me.
If I could trace it back, there were two highlights - the JC district prayermeet, and camp (of course!).
During the prayermeet, I really felt God move in me as everyone prayed for the few of us to step up to be CLs. yeah. It was just so real, the way he pointed out that I would have to change so many aspects of my life. I went home, and for a couple of days after that, I really reflected on the prayermeet, and God really elaborated upon a lot of things. I drew up a list of things which I would need to improve on, which included ridding the predispositions I have of some people, better time management, and also outreaching more. It may sound like the typical stuff any average person could improve on, but the difference was that I had set many specific targets, and placed many light sticks to follow in order to tread the right path. And, most importantly, I was a lot more determined to do it, not because being a CL requires a lot more responsibility than just a seed member (which it does of course), but because God really spoke into me and placed a burden for many many of my weaknesses, with the need to improve them, as well as for other things of this world, people, events. what have you. It was building, I think. There was unit meeting about developing a vision and conviction, and I really wanted one, but it just didn't come to me explicitly in the few days after. But then, many things just came together in the few days after that district prayermeet.
And then there was OASIS camp. It was the first camp where I was able to attend all 4 days of it. And it was only after that I had realised how much I had missed out during the 4 previous camps. The 3rd night was indeed the climax, but it was only because the previous nights had praise and worship, sermons, prayer time, and most importantly response time, to establish the platform for the 3rd night. And this was what I had missed out, and why my 3rd nights at other camps wasn't as impactful. The heart, soul, and mind need to be built up strong.
Camp was also a time where we got to know new people placed in our caregroups due to restructuring, and also, being a CL. In a way, the more I think about it, the more it is apparent that all these roles are really privileges, and not by default, or based on any merit or skills, but really by God's grace. And I suppose, having reached that conclusion, there is no need to worry about it any more. Throughout the camp I have grown lots, be it from the praise and worship, the workshops, or the teachings. And, of course, the games as well. If it's something not apparent enough already in this world, it's the increasing enthusiasm and potential that the youth hold for the future, something displayed very clearly during the war games. Hats off to games comm. for their planning and improvising to enhance the experience of camp. Also, the games were the perfect example of 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 which was touched on 3rd night,about the importance of having a winning mentality.
Another thing I learnt was about the camp culture of staying up late, and having good heart-to-heart conversations with our fellow members of Hope. Okay, maybe night 1's fellowship by watching Netherlands beat Italy wasn't exactly appropriate, but the rest of the night time was really fellowship to the max as the schedule wrote. So, yeah, this is another aspect of camp I had never experienced before. And I find the time really flies in the night and before you know it it's almost 5. Inevitably, this meant sleepy moments but amazingly I was focused during the night teachings and response, and when we gathered as a caregroup, and then in our schools for sharing.
Finally, this camp has impacted many lives. I see very clearly how some people in the group have really changed. During camp, people are so open, so honest, and so willing to improve. But I have to be selfish here, I want to be able to proudly declare that I have grown more than them. Not for the sake of comparing, but because I think I warrant it. And such a declaration can only be possible if I'm not a hypocrite, if my actions live up to my promises.
So all in all, the next 58 days of this restructuring is going to be tough all the way. The days are evil, so evil, they are numbered. But through the camp-revitalized ca2, I see a group of people who are all on fire for cg08 already, with little problems of committment and priorities. It's just like 07-08's Man United, a team of not just 11 top players, but a bench full of quality and able to do just as well. And the thing about that team was, the captain's role was no doubt important, but not the main reason why they were successful. That accolade goes to the mutual competition that the squad had which drove everyone to keep doing better. This coming from an Arsenal pureblood.
The skills of group members will improve, but that comes naturally if everyone understands why they need to have those skills.
So, while I haven't had the best preparation for the just-finished CT2, and so my results would probably not match those of previous tests, that is not the concern because I've put in effort for the gold medal that lasts eternally and will not tarnish one bit. And I am sure because of this, the upturn will come as these achievements will become stepping stones for the vision that we have.
I was absolutely delighted when Arsenal completed a season unbeaten in 03-04, as when Federer beat Nadal in last year's Wimbledon. Even more delighted was I when I got back prelim results and O level results. But come the end of 58 days later, I think the delight I experience will top all that. Not because Arsenal would be top of the league, Federer won wimbledon again and I would be fully prepared to ace prelims (which hey, are already very likely...=the first two at least, haha), but because these 58 days are going exciting days of outreaching, outreaching, outreaching, discipleship, leading, and learning. And stepping way out of my comfort zone than I could ever fathom.
If I could trace it back, there were two highlights - the JC district prayermeet, and camp (of course!).
During the prayermeet, I really felt God move in me as everyone prayed for the few of us to step up to be CLs. yeah. It was just so real, the way he pointed out that I would have to change so many aspects of my life. I went home, and for a couple of days after that, I really reflected on the prayermeet, and God really elaborated upon a lot of things. I drew up a list of things which I would need to improve on, which included ridding the predispositions I have of some people, better time management, and also outreaching more. It may sound like the typical stuff any average person could improve on, but the difference was that I had set many specific targets, and placed many light sticks to follow in order to tread the right path. And, most importantly, I was a lot more determined to do it, not because being a CL requires a lot more responsibility than just a seed member (which it does of course), but because God really spoke into me and placed a burden for many many of my weaknesses, with the need to improve them, as well as for other things of this world, people, events. what have you. It was building, I think. There was unit meeting about developing a vision and conviction, and I really wanted one, but it just didn't come to me explicitly in the few days after. But then, many things just came together in the few days after that district prayermeet.
And then there was OASIS camp. It was the first camp where I was able to attend all 4 days of it. And it was only after that I had realised how much I had missed out during the 4 previous camps. The 3rd night was indeed the climax, but it was only because the previous nights had praise and worship, sermons, prayer time, and most importantly response time, to establish the platform for the 3rd night. And this was what I had missed out, and why my 3rd nights at other camps wasn't as impactful. The heart, soul, and mind need to be built up strong.
Camp was also a time where we got to know new people placed in our caregroups due to restructuring, and also, being a CL. In a way, the more I think about it, the more it is apparent that all these roles are really privileges, and not by default, or based on any merit or skills, but really by God's grace. And I suppose, having reached that conclusion, there is no need to worry about it any more. Throughout the camp I have grown lots, be it from the praise and worship, the workshops, or the teachings. And, of course, the games as well. If it's something not apparent enough already in this world, it's the increasing enthusiasm and potential that the youth hold for the future, something displayed very clearly during the war games. Hats off to games comm. for their planning and improvising to enhance the experience of camp. Also, the games were the perfect example of 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 which was touched on 3rd night,about the importance of having a winning mentality.
Another thing I learnt was about the camp culture of staying up late, and having good heart-to-heart conversations with our fellow members of Hope. Okay, maybe night 1's fellowship by watching Netherlands beat Italy wasn't exactly appropriate, but the rest of the night time was really fellowship to the max as the schedule wrote. So, yeah, this is another aspect of camp I had never experienced before. And I find the time really flies in the night and before you know it it's almost 5. Inevitably, this meant sleepy moments but amazingly I was focused during the night teachings and response, and when we gathered as a caregroup, and then in our schools for sharing.
Finally, this camp has impacted many lives. I see very clearly how some people in the group have really changed. During camp, people are so open, so honest, and so willing to improve. But I have to be selfish here, I want to be able to proudly declare that I have grown more than them. Not for the sake of comparing, but because I think I warrant it. And such a declaration can only be possible if I'm not a hypocrite, if my actions live up to my promises.
So all in all, the next 58 days of this restructuring is going to be tough all the way. The days are evil, so evil, they are numbered. But through the camp-revitalized ca2, I see a group of people who are all on fire for cg08 already, with little problems of committment and priorities. It's just like 07-08's Man United, a team of not just 11 top players, but a bench full of quality and able to do just as well. And the thing about that team was, the captain's role was no doubt important, but not the main reason why they were successful. That accolade goes to the mutual competition that the squad had which drove everyone to keep doing better. This coming from an Arsenal pureblood.
The skills of group members will improve, but that comes naturally if everyone understands why they need to have those skills.
So, while I haven't had the best preparation for the just-finished CT2, and so my results would probably not match those of previous tests, that is not the concern because I've put in effort for the gold medal that lasts eternally and will not tarnish one bit. And I am sure because of this, the upturn will come as these achievements will become stepping stones for the vision that we have.
I was absolutely delighted when Arsenal completed a season unbeaten in 03-04, as when Federer beat Nadal in last year's Wimbledon. Even more delighted was I when I got back prelim results and O level results. But come the end of 58 days later, I think the delight I experience will top all that. Not because Arsenal would be top of the league, Federer won wimbledon again and I would be fully prepared to ace prelims (which hey, are already very likely...=the first two at least, haha), but because these 58 days are going exciting days of outreaching, outreaching, outreaching, discipleship, leading, and learning. And stepping way out of my comfort zone than I could ever fathom.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
DRAWING PARALLELS.
Just read an article in SATURDAY. It was an interview with a Nobel laureate which was very insightful, it was a pity its title choose to emphasize the fact that he got a D in chemistry in class (like how uncommon is it to see successful people have a bad start, oh well).
Anyway, he is Professor Peter Courtland, and he is very passionate about promoting science among the young. Among his responses, he mentioned that he offered to trade in his Nobel Prize for two weeks on The Colbert Report. Why? Because the show is watched by throngs of people that he would have been able to give a great exhibition of science to the public, and dispel many predispositions which young people had towards science. He also said he considered running for the Senate in 2004, so that he could make a difference with such a position of influence. He also advised scientists who have already reached the upper echelons of science to have a go at politics, for similar reasons.
And throughout reading the article, Xiang's talk with the unit about a month ago was at the back of my head. For the professor, he wanted to use platforms where he could influence to make a difference, to show many people the side of science they never knew. Likewise, if God's people were to hold such positions of influence or publicize themselves through mediums which have very wide coverages, imagine what a difference they could make!
Regarding mediums which have wide reaches, there are many. There is MTV, which Xiang talked about in her vision. Of course, TV shows are one of the best examples of such mediums. Why was Singapore 's video clip to be shown before the IOC made their decision to give the 2012 Olympics to London treated so seriously? It was because virtually the whole world's eyes were on Singapore. Yes, eagerly anticipating that decision, but the fact that the clip was scheduled to be aired just before that made all the difference, with reports saying that the video clip is worth billions in advertising terms.
Of course, the medium which stirs up much interest in me is that of sports. In particular, soccer. Many of us just have an inherent liking for one sport or another. And even though we only get to watch it on TV, we are awed by it. For example, I probably couldn't stand a moment away from the TV if Arsenal were to be playing in the champions league final (which they SHOULD be, but nevertheless this is irrelevant here). And football stars are huge idols which people look up to nowadays. When Drogba told people in his homeland, Cote de' Voire, to stop the internal civil strife and unite as one to support the nation's football team, the people listened - and the conflict is now reduced dramatically. When Zidane delivered that shocking headbutt in the world cup final, people criticized him badly for the negative impact it would have on audiences. (and, people DO follow him, just look at what Nani did last week). And even more recently, in TIME magazines list of 100, there was but one footballer. It wasn't Drogba. It obviously wasn't Zidane, and it wasn't Cristiano Ronaldo either.
It was Kaka. And yes, he is indeed one of the most skillful players on the planet, but that wasn't the only reason he got into the list. It is his exploits outside of football, that he has used his status of being of the best players on the planet to achieve, that has got him onto the list. For one, he is an ambassador of the UN, influencing many people in poverty. And of course, he is a very evangelical christian. Apart from the joy of seeing Liverpool lose, I learnt so much more from last year's champions league final. After Milan won, he took of his shirt to reveal the words 'I belong to Jesus', and the following quote from a premier league player says it all:
Anyway, I have cited so many examples of people making the best of their status to influence others. And this is really something which I want to emulate. Right now, of course, my heart is saying football is the medium in which I want to cause much influence. But how? I have no idea. Obviously, I will not be a professional player, unless I do a Dave Kitson. Perhaps I could be Jose Mourinho's expansion pack with my sarcastic and critical tone. Now that would be the joke of the century. But oh well, whatever comes calling, be it in politics, business, or even in science, I really want to be able to influence others in the future. Right now, obviously I have inclinations towards certain areas, but the finish line is still an absolute blur. So please, pray that there will be signs for me, and that I would not be afraid to step out of my comfort zone in whatever I'm asked to do.
Lastly, to end of, I feel it is of course important to enjoy this journey. A couple of weeks ago on American Idol, one of the biggest shocks took place when Carly was eliminated despite producing at the very least, the 2nd best performance during the previous night. Well, that's democracy for you. Nevertheless, many have speculated that it was because of the song she sang, 'Jesus Christ Superstar', that caused her to lose votes from the people who do not have a personal relationship with God. And we will never know if it was because of that, or because ABC intentionally rigged the votes to make supporters even more fearful and so would end up voting more for their favourites and thus contribute more revenue to the company. The point was that Carly had no regrets with her song choice, unlike some other eliminated contestants who admitted they messed up their song choices. Carly was determined to use the opportunity she had on Idol. And she succeeded. She entertained, she enjoyed herself, and even Simon had nothing but praise for her. Never mind that she's out, she had no regrets and did not feel disappointed at all. God must have been so proud of her.
That's the kind of spirit that I want to have.
Just read an article in SATURDAY. It was an interview with a Nobel laureate which was very insightful, it was a pity its title choose to emphasize the fact that he got a D in chemistry in class (like how uncommon is it to see successful people have a bad start, oh well).
Anyway, he is Professor Peter Courtland, and he is very passionate about promoting science among the young. Among his responses, he mentioned that he offered to trade in his Nobel Prize for two weeks on The Colbert Report. Why? Because the show is watched by throngs of people that he would have been able to give a great exhibition of science to the public, and dispel many predispositions which young people had towards science. He also said he considered running for the Senate in 2004, so that he could make a difference with such a position of influence. He also advised scientists who have already reached the upper echelons of science to have a go at politics, for similar reasons.
And throughout reading the article, Xiang's talk with the unit about a month ago was at the back of my head. For the professor, he wanted to use platforms where he could influence to make a difference, to show many people the side of science they never knew. Likewise, if God's people were to hold such positions of influence or publicize themselves through mediums which have very wide coverages, imagine what a difference they could make!
Regarding mediums which have wide reaches, there are many. There is MTV, which Xiang talked about in her vision. Of course, TV shows are one of the best examples of such mediums. Why was Singapore 's video clip to be shown before the IOC made their decision to give the 2012 Olympics to London treated so seriously? It was because virtually the whole world's eyes were on Singapore. Yes, eagerly anticipating that decision, but the fact that the clip was scheduled to be aired just before that made all the difference, with reports saying that the video clip is worth billions in advertising terms.
Of course, the medium which stirs up much interest in me is that of sports. In particular, soccer. Many of us just have an inherent liking for one sport or another. And even though we only get to watch it on TV, we are awed by it. For example, I probably couldn't stand a moment away from the TV if Arsenal were to be playing in the champions league final (which they SHOULD be, but nevertheless this is irrelevant here). And football stars are huge idols which people look up to nowadays. When Drogba told people in his homeland, Cote de' Voire, to stop the internal civil strife and unite as one to support the nation's football team, the people listened - and the conflict is now reduced dramatically. When Zidane delivered that shocking headbutt in the world cup final, people criticized him badly for the negative impact it would have on audiences. (and, people DO follow him, just look at what Nani did last week). And even more recently, in TIME magazines list of 100, there was but one footballer. It wasn't Drogba. It obviously wasn't Zidane, and it wasn't Cristiano Ronaldo either.
It was Kaka. And yes, he is indeed one of the most skillful players on the planet, but that wasn't the only reason he got into the list. It is his exploits outside of football, that he has used his status of being of the best players on the planet to achieve, that has got him onto the list. For one, he is an ambassador of the UN, influencing many people in poverty. And of course, he is a very evangelical christian. Apart from the joy of seeing Liverpool lose, I learnt so much more from last year's champions league final. After Milan won, he took of his shirt to reveal the words 'I belong to Jesus', and the following quote from a premier league player says it all:
It is indeed so refreshing to see someone like Kaka. Now he just needs to make the decision to come to Arsenal, the team who plays football in its purest form. =p
I might question whether soccer stadiums are the right venue for promoting religion, but in an age in which many professional athletes care more about cars, women and controversy, it's refreshing to see one who is committed to having a positive impact on the world around him.
Anyway, I have cited so many examples of people making the best of their status to influence others. And this is really something which I want to emulate. Right now, of course, my heart is saying football is the medium in which I want to cause much influence. But how? I have no idea. Obviously, I will not be a professional player, unless I do a Dave Kitson. Perhaps I could be Jose Mourinho's expansion pack with my sarcastic and critical tone. Now that would be the joke of the century. But oh well, whatever comes calling, be it in politics, business, or even in science, I really want to be able to influence others in the future. Right now, obviously I have inclinations towards certain areas, but the finish line is still an absolute blur. So please, pray that there will be signs for me, and that I would not be afraid to step out of my comfort zone in whatever I'm asked to do.
Lastly, to end of, I feel it is of course important to enjoy this journey. A couple of weeks ago on American Idol, one of the biggest shocks took place when Carly was eliminated despite producing at the very least, the 2nd best performance during the previous night. Well, that's democracy for you. Nevertheless, many have speculated that it was because of the song she sang, 'Jesus Christ Superstar', that caused her to lose votes from the people who do not have a personal relationship with God. And we will never know if it was because of that, or because ABC intentionally rigged the votes to make supporters even more fearful and so would end up voting more for their favourites and thus contribute more revenue to the company. The point was that Carly had no regrets with her song choice, unlike some other eliminated contestants who admitted they messed up their song choices. Carly was determined to use the opportunity she had on Idol. And she succeeded. She entertained, she enjoyed herself, and even Simon had nothing but praise for her. Never mind that she's out, she had no regrets and did not feel disappointed at all. God must have been so proud of her.
That's the kind of spirit that I want to have.
Friday, April 18, 2008
THE END OF A BUSY WEEK.
Reprise is over, and with that much of RJGE.
All of SPA is finally over.
No more trips to NUS on Monday and Thurdays.
Ah, suddenly, I'm going to be so free. Next week will really be unreal. Yes, I'm lagging big time on the tutorials and stuff but boy, the thing I need now is sleep, which I'll finally be able to get after a week in which I was enervated more and more each day.
First, Reprise really turned out great, I think. To be honest I doubted ticket sales would be good, not just because of the weird day it was held but generally because I doubted guitar would be that popular among students. But we were able to get a sell-out, which was wonderful, and from what I've heard most people who attended the concert enjoyed it thoroughly, even though the main ensemble songs were kind of short. And the spongebob encore was really just funny.
I have to say that I was pretty slack in guitar last year, not really bothering to practise much at home and just attending pracs. for the sake of it. But at least this year, despite being unable to attend monday pracs. due to H3, I've put in a concerted effort to practise the concert pieces. And the feeling of being able to play it during concert was really just wonderful - that sense of achievement. Apart from the final set of chords for Grenada which I just cannot shift fast enough, I've been able to learn and play the the other 3 pieces well enough, at least in my opinion, and it's a good feeling to have.
Tomorrow I'll finally be able to go for service again and enough though it's like only a week it feels like a long long time since I've been able to attend a praise and worship session and boy do I miss that quality atmosphere that is unmatched in Nexus.
Anyway, one thing that is not over though is NAPFA, thanks to sit and reach, a station where few people have problems in general, and one area which I certainly did not expect to be my 'limiting factor'. But oh well, a lack of stretching and doing sit-ups and jumps before that can really be significant. I shall look to the improvement in pull-ups to inspire me to stretch more and overcome the pain barrier.
Football now, and we lost to united in a match which has been typical of our slump: dominance but with nothing to show for. We certainly had no one to blame but ourselves. We even had a huge slice of luck when Adebayor smartly stuck out his elbow to direct the ball into the net. But then just like the past few weeks going ahead was the cue to hit the self-destruct button, and so now we are left with 4 games with no pressure, and plenty of time for the disappointment to sink in. Nevertheless, credit united. If it is not Arsenal, then it has to be them, for only they play football anywhere near the way Arsenal play it, the way it should be played. As a pundit aptly described the Liverpool Arsenal match: Beauty and the beast went head to head and sad to say, the beast won, thanks to its reputation. I will have no favourites but surely if I could pick winners then I would certainly want united to do the double this year. (shocking?)
I guess this year is still a big improvement from last year, where we were in such a position in February. They had such a long time for the disappointment to sink in, and hopefully despite the shorter time they have this season they will still reflect and improve for next year.
Really glad to get through this week, and now for much needed sleep.
Reprise is over, and with that much of RJGE.
All of SPA is finally over.
No more trips to NUS on Monday and Thurdays.
Ah, suddenly, I'm going to be so free. Next week will really be unreal. Yes, I'm lagging big time on the tutorials and stuff but boy, the thing I need now is sleep, which I'll finally be able to get after a week in which I was enervated more and more each day.
First, Reprise really turned out great, I think. To be honest I doubted ticket sales would be good, not just because of the weird day it was held but generally because I doubted guitar would be that popular among students. But we were able to get a sell-out, which was wonderful, and from what I've heard most people who attended the concert enjoyed it thoroughly, even though the main ensemble songs were kind of short. And the spongebob encore was really just funny.
I have to say that I was pretty slack in guitar last year, not really bothering to practise much at home and just attending pracs. for the sake of it. But at least this year, despite being unable to attend monday pracs. due to H3, I've put in a concerted effort to practise the concert pieces. And the feeling of being able to play it during concert was really just wonderful - that sense of achievement. Apart from the final set of chords for Grenada which I just cannot shift fast enough, I've been able to learn and play the the other 3 pieces well enough, at least in my opinion, and it's a good feeling to have.
Tomorrow I'll finally be able to go for service again and enough though it's like only a week it feels like a long long time since I've been able to attend a praise and worship session and boy do I miss that quality atmosphere that is unmatched in Nexus.
Anyway, one thing that is not over though is NAPFA, thanks to sit and reach, a station where few people have problems in general, and one area which I certainly did not expect to be my 'limiting factor'. But oh well, a lack of stretching and doing sit-ups and jumps before that can really be significant. I shall look to the improvement in pull-ups to inspire me to stretch more and overcome the pain barrier.
Football now, and we lost to united in a match which has been typical of our slump: dominance but with nothing to show for. We certainly had no one to blame but ourselves. We even had a huge slice of luck when Adebayor smartly stuck out his elbow to direct the ball into the net. But then just like the past few weeks going ahead was the cue to hit the self-destruct button, and so now we are left with 4 games with no pressure, and plenty of time for the disappointment to sink in. Nevertheless, credit united. If it is not Arsenal, then it has to be them, for only they play football anywhere near the way Arsenal play it, the way it should be played. As a pundit aptly described the Liverpool Arsenal match: Beauty and the beast went head to head and sad to say, the beast won, thanks to its reputation. I will have no favourites but surely if I could pick winners then I would certainly want united to do the double this year. (shocking?)
I guess this year is still a big improvement from last year, where we were in such a position in February. They had such a long time for the disappointment to sink in, and hopefully despite the shorter time they have this season they will still reflect and improve for next year.
Really glad to get through this week, and now for much needed sleep.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)