As an example of how rugby has got bigger, faster and nastier (and therefore more exciting and yet more dangerous) I love this video showing the All Blacks' haka evolving from a quaint bit of fun, to a genuinely terrifying war dance by enormous men (esp if you are the opposing team)
1) It's amazing it ever kept going in the first place
2) Hakas are great to kick off sporting contests, and more sports should do something similar
3) Is there some 'cultural appropriation' movement seeking to get them to stop doing it?
Yes Yes No - it is a Maori dance and the All Blacks are an evermore Maori/Polynesian team because their physique and attitude fits rugby so well. Maoris are proud of it.
Glad to hear it. Cultural appropriation is taken to some ludicrous enough places already.
Fair warning, I have adjusted my green House of Representatives Majority book to halve my payout on a Dem win and treble my payout on a GOP hold/draw.
I don't see the need, the Dems should take the house fairly easily. The question is how big the victory. A big one and it's gridlock and impeachment time, a narrow one and there won't be enough fight.
On the size of sports people, I won a last goal scorer bet at Bolton in April 2008. I had to go round to the front entrance to claim my winnings and by the time I'd got them the Arsenal players were starting to make their way out of the ground. Fabregas and Walcott came over and posed for pictures with some of the fans. They are absolutely tiny.
As an example of how rugby has got bigger, faster and nastier (and therefore more exciting and yet more dangerous) I love this video showing the All Blacks' haka evolving from a quaint bit of fun, to a genuinely terrifying war dance by enormous men (esp if you are the opposing team)
1) It's amazing it ever kept going in the first place
2) Hakas are great to kick off sporting contests, and more sports should do something similar
3) Is there some 'cultural appropriation' movement seeking to get them to stop doing it?
Yes Yes No - it is a Maori dance and the All Blacks are an evermore Maori/Polynesian team because their physique and attitude fits rugby so well. Maoris are proud of it.
Glad to hear it. Cultural appropriation is taken to some ludicrous enough places already.
On the size of sports people, I won a last goal scorer bet at Bolton in April 2008. I had to go round to the front entrance to claim my winnings and by the time I'd got them the Arsenal players were starting to make their way out of the ground. Fabregas and Walcott came over and posed for pictures with some of the fans. They are absolutely tiny.
I remember seeing Michael Owen for the first time and thought he was one of the kids that are match day ball boys. And at that point he was in his mid 20s.
I was rather amused to note you had actually commented on the post that got him banned - without realising it!
Posted from Terminal 2 at Lisbon Airport.
It's Mike's site so he's free to choose who comments BTL. But I think it's a shame that the people who get banned all seem to come from one side of the political spectrum.
The reason I got hooked to this site was the diversity of opinion. You might not agree with the analysis presented by @archer101au, but I think his contributions were interesting to read.
Good point - is there a reason why it's always the swivel-eyed loons that get banned?
Fair warning, I have adjusted my green House of Representatives Majority book to halve my payout on a Dem win and treble my payout on a GOP hold/draw.
I don't see the need, the Dems should take the house fairly easily. The question is how big the victory. A big one and it's gridlock and impeachment time, a narrow one and there won't be enough fight.
It's very noticeable that almost all of Trump's very considerable campaigning effort has been focused on the Senate which would, of course, form the Jury should the Dems ever try impeachment.
As we have all seen this man knows how to stack a court!
I was rather amused to note you had actually commented on the post that got him banned - without realising it!
Posted from Terminal 2 at Lisbon Airport.
It's Mike's site so he's free to choose who comments BTL. But I think it's a shame that the people who get banned all seem to come from one side of the political spectrum.
The reason I got hooked to this site was the diversity of opinion. You might not agree with the analysis presented by @archer101au, but I think his contributions were interesting to read.
Good point - is there a reason why it's always the swivel-eyed loons that get banned?
On the size of sports people, I won a last goal scorer bet at Bolton in April 2008. I had to go round to the front entrance to claim my winnings and by the time I'd got them the Arsenal players were starting to make their way out of the ground. Fabregas and Walcott came over and posed for pictures with some of the fans. They are absolutely tiny.
I remember seeing Michael Owen for the first time and thought he was one of the kids that are match day ball boys. And at that point he was in his mid 20s.
That's exactly how I felt when I first saw Sam Curran.
Just imagine how good he will be when his balls drop.
On the size of sports people, I won a last goal scorer bet at Bolton in April 2008. I had to go round to the front entrance to claim my winnings and by the time I'd got them the Arsenal players were starting to make their way out of the ground. Fabregas and Walcott came over and posed for pictures with some of the fans. They are absolutely tiny.
I remember seeing Michael Owen for the first time and thought he was one of the kids that are match day ball boys. And at that point he was in his mid 20s.
That's exactly how I felt when I first saw Sam Curran.
Just imagine how good he will be when his balls drop.
On the size of sports people, I won a last goal scorer bet at Bolton in April 2008. I had to go round to the front entrance to claim my winnings and by the time I'd got them the Arsenal players were starting to make their way out of the ground. Fabregas and Walcott came over and posed for pictures with some of the fans. They are absolutely tiny.
I remember seeing Michael Owen for the first time and thought he was one of the kids that are match day ball boys. And at that point he was in his mid 20s.
That's exactly how I felt when I first saw Sam Curran.
Just imagine how good he will be when his balls drop.
Keaton Jennings drops balls with monotonous regularity, and he doesn't seem to be any good yet.
I was rather amused to note you had actually commented on the post that got him banned - without realising it!
Posted from Terminal 2 at Lisbon Airport.
It's Mike's site so he's free to choose who comments BTL. But I think it's a shame that the people who get banned all seem to come from one side of the political spectrum.
The reason I got hooked to this site was the diversity of opinion. You might not agree with the analysis presented by @archer101au, but I think his contributions were interesting to read.
Good point - is there a reason why it's always the swivel-eyed loons that get banned?
On the midterms, I’m starting to think we’re going to see an extreme result. The turnout factor might skew what the pollsters have been saying. At this moment in time I can see a Dem tsunami (big gains in the house and maybe even a tie or better in the senate) OR a rep hold of both houses. I’m not sure I see the oft-predicted modest dem gains to get a small house majority, coupled with a GOP narrow senate hold.
IF (planet-sized if) the Republicans do OK, then the Dems are going to be utterly shell-shocked going into 2020. They won't know who to pick - or how to campaign.
The problem the Dems have is shared with a number of centre-left parties, to some degree or other, throughout the West. A fixation on social liberalism which whilst in many ways is commendable has the effect of crowding out the bread and butter issues that their traditional core used to vote on.
Just watched the video, reminded me of when Jonah Lomu burst on the scene no matter who he was playing against it looked like a man vs boys, who were playing as backs. In today’s game, sure he would still be among the biggest, but there are now plenty of backs well over 6ft (and built like brick shit houses) in the international game.
@SeanT - I'd guess Dom Raab is 5' 10", perhaps slightly taller (and certainly more so than Sajid).
I promise not to abuse my position of influence. Peerage for me, probably for Mike S (but the LibDemmery is problematic), GCMG for TSE hailed-on, but others will have to pay the going rate.
Fair enough. He must have been standing next to some supertall politician, in a photo, for me to assume he's a bit of a half-pint.
In my experience politicians in the flesh are often surprisingly small OR surprisingly tall, just like Hollywood actors.
A few years ago I was in the breakfast queue at the Radisson in Leeds between Stuart Broad and Steven Finn. I honestly felt like a midget. It was quite disturbing. TV gives you no idea how tall these people are.
My biggest shock was finding myself in a bar with the entire England rugby team in the triumphant Woodward/Dallaglio era. There were players you expected to be tall and beefy, like Martin Johnson, but even Guscott was over six foot and massive.
In the bar that nid idea. Just saying.
It's actually brican Football. I don't see any alternative.
I was talking abouand the danger level increased exponentially.
Great video. Has the increasing numbers of Maori players influenced that perhaps? Those pre-war players really don't look very comfortable do they?
No. As kle says it must have come close to dying out, the white guys looked so awkward and even embarrassed (and English).
Then sometime around the 80s and 90s the All Blacks realised the haka was an ADVANTAGE, and could be made properly menacing, to spook opponents. This must have coincided with the influx of Maori and Polynesian players.
Its interesting to speculate what would be a similarly intimidating English alternative. Clearly a Morris Dance would not work.
But the fact is the English are the global conquerors, par excellence, and the warrior island to end all warrior islands. e.g. it wasn't the Maoris who came and trampled all over London, was it?
How do you express this in a pre-match environment. Perhaps we should simply parody their ludicrous leaps and tongue waggling, then sing God Save Your Gracious Queen.
That would hurt, and no doubt be banned by Guardianista types.
As a Times journalist myself, I did warn her, and then she stopped, I think.
The Times and Sunday Times are very litigious about this shit. Their successful paywall model depends on it not being breached.
I think that's true, my constant linking to interesting Times stories in my WhatsApp group has got some of them to subscribe.
Combining those two themes, my Telegraph subscription is due to the number of links Plato used to post (often, I suspect, without herself having read much beyond the headline). The Telegraph does seem to have declined markedly in the last few months, but perhaps it is me.
@SeanT - I'd guess Dom Raab is 5' 10", perhaps slightly taller (and certainly more so than Sajid).
I promise not to abuse my position of influence. Peerage for me, probably for Mike S (but the LibDemmery is problematic), GCMG for TSE hailed-on, but others will have to pay the going rate.
Fair enough. He must have been standing next to some supertall politician, in a photo, for me to assume he's a bit of a half-pint.
In my experience politicians in the flesh are often surprisingly small OR surprisingly tall, just like Hollywood actors.
A few years ago I was in the breakfast queue at the Radisson in Leeds between Stuart Broad and Steven Finn. I honestly felt like a midget. It was quite disturbing. TV gives you no idea how tall these people are.
My biggest shock was finding myself in a bar with the entire England rugby team in the triumphant Woodward/Dallaglio era. There were players you expected to be tall and beefy, like Martin Johnson, but even Guscott was over six foot and massive.
In the bar that nid idea. Just saying.
It's actually brican Football. I don't see any alternative.
I was talking abouand the danger level increased exponentially.
Great video. Has the increasing numbers of Maori players influenced that perhaps? Those pre-war players really don't look very comfortable do they?
No. As kle says it must have come close to dying out, the white guys looked so awkward and even embarrassed (and English).
Then sometime around the 80s and 90s the All Blacks realised the haka was an ADVANTAGE, and could be made properly menacing, to spook opponents. This must have coincided with the influx of Maori and Polynesian players.
Buck Shelford revived it.
To be honest now amongst many rugby fans the many variant NZ hakas is now seen as completely overblown and ridiculous. The throat slitting shit is grotesque - it's just a game of rugby mate.
As a Times journalist myself, I did warn her, and then she stopped, I think.
The Times and Sunday Times are very litigious about this shit. Their successful paywall model depends on it not being breached.
I think that's true, my constant linking to interesting Times stories in my WhatsApp group has got some of them to subscribe.
Combining those two themes, my Telegraph subscription is due to the number of links Plato used to post (often, I suspect, without herself having read much beyond the headline). The Telegraph does seem to have declined markedly in the last few months, but perhaps it is me.
On the size of sports people, I won a last goal scorer bet at Bolton in April 2008. I had to go round to the front entrance to claim my winnings and by the time I'd got them the Arsenal players were starting to make their way out of the ground. Fabregas and Walcott came over and posed for pictures with some of the fans. They are absolutely tiny.
I remember seeing Michael Owen for the first time and thought he was one of the kids that are match day ball boys. And at that point he was in his mid 20s.
This is one huge, primary reason why soccer is THE global sport, and American Football, Basketball, Rugby, Cricket, Baseball, whatever, will never come close to its enormous popularity.
You can be bloody good, and do very well, as long as you are fit and talented, whatever your natural size.
For this reason alone soccer will always prevail. I predict that someday it will even be the number 1 sport in the USA, the final frontier. Mums don't want their sons dying of brain injuries.
Cricket more so I'd have said - there have been truly great players almost seven foot and others borderline midget.
My biggest shock was finding myself in a bar with the entire England rugby team in the triumphant Woodward/Dallaglio era. There were players you expected to be tall and beefy, like Martin Johnson, but even Guscott was over six foot and massive.
In the bar that nid idea. Just saying.
It's actually brican Football. I don't see any alternative.
I was talking abouand the danger level increased exponentially.
Great video. Has the increasing numbers of Maori players influenced that perhaps? Those pre-war players really don't look very comfortable do they?
No. As kle says it must have come close to dying out, the white guys looked so awkward and even embarrassed (and English).
Then sometime around the 80s and 90s the All Blacks realised the haka was an ADVANTAGE, and could be made properly menacing, to spook opponents. This must have coincided with the influx of Maori and Polynesian players.
Its interesting to speculate what would be a similarly intimidating English alternative. Clearly a Morris Dance would not work.
But the fact is the English are the global conquerors, par excellence, and the warrior island to end all warrior islands. e.g. it wasn't the Maoris who came and trampled all over London, was it?
How do you express this in a pre-match environment. Perhaps we should simply parody their ludicrous leaps and tongue waggling, then sing God Save Your Gracious Queen.
That would hurt, and no doubt be banned by Guardianista types.
One thing I feel we often miss with these national stereotypes is that they are based on characteristics that no longer exist.
The past is indeed a foreign country, and today's England is not the empire-building England of the 18th century nor are the current English any longer the "global conquerors, par excellence, and the warrior island to end all warrior islands". Compare the way the country reacted to a) the Blitz and b) Princess Diana's death less than 60 years later.
It is surely incontrovertible that the 'greatness' of nations or peoples ebband flow over time. If not, whay are Egypt, Greece and Italy not great powers these days? Why aren't the Arab countries great centres of science and mathematics as the were in the middle ages?
@SeanT - I'd guess Dom Raab is 5' 10", perhaps slightly taller (and certainly more so than Sajid).
I promise not to abuse my position of influence. Peerage for me, probably for Mike S (but the LibDemmery is problematic), GCMG for TSE hailed-on, but others will have to pay the going rate.
Fair enough. He must have been standing next to some supertall politician, in a photo, for me to assume he's a bit of a half-pint.
In my experience politicians in the flesh are often surprisingly small OR surprisingly tall, just like Hollywood actors.
A few years ago I was in the breakfast queue at the Radisson in Leeds between Stuart Broad and Steven Finn. I honestly felt like a midget. It was quite disturbing. TV gives you no idea how tall these people are.
My biggest shock was finding myself in a bar with the entire England rugby team in the triumphant Woodward/Dallaglio era. There were players you expected to be tall and beefy, like Martin Johnson, but even Guscott was over six foot and massive.
In the bar that nid idea. Just saying.
It's actually brican Football. I don't see any alternative.
I was talking abouand the danger level increased exponentially.
Great video. Has the increasing numbers of Maori players influenced that perhaps? Those pre-war players really don't look very comfortable do they?
No. As kle says it must have come close to dying out, the white guys looked so awkward and even embarrassed (and English).
Then sometime around the 80s and 90s the All Blacks realised the haka was an ADVANTAGE, and could be made properly menacing, to spook opponents. This must have coincided with the influx of Maori and Polynesian players.
it's just a game of rugby mate.
That's why such displays are fun and more should so something like it - because whatever intensity there is it is just a game and it's a way of getting pumped up, and given it is a bit ridiculous it feels like it should not actually upset or intimidate people.
Your analysis is correct, your solution wrong. Total team weight limits is the solution.
Makes sense, given the humungous amount of doping in modern rugby. They're carrying so much weight at greater speeds than ever before - look back at players from 30 years ago, it's like a different species.
It is not just size. Since rugby union became a professional, summer game, standards of play have risen immeasurably. Look at decades old footage of overweight bankers and doctors dropping catches in ploughed fields and it is almost embarrassing how bad some of it was.
On the size of sports people, I won a last goal scorer bet at Bolton in April 2008. I had to go round to the front entrance to claim my winnings and by the time I'd got them the Arsenal players were starting to make their way out of the ground. Fabregas and Walcott came over and posed for pictures with some of the fans. They are absolutely tiny.
I remember seeing Michael Owen for the first time and thought he was one of the kids that are match day ball boys. And at that point he was in his mid 20s.
This is one huge, primary reason why soccer is THE global sport, and American Football, Basketball, Rugby, Cricket, Baseball, whatever, will never come close to its enormous popularity.
You can be bloody good, and do very well, as long as you are fit and talented, whatever your natural size.
For this reason alone soccer will always prevail. I predict that someday it will even be the number 1 sport in the USA, the final frontier. Mums don't want their sons dying of brain injuries.
There was a trend in football 10 years ago for physically bigger players. Brazil in particular thought that was what was required to compete with the worlds best going forward. A number of African teams were thought to be good shouts for WC progress again in part to this.
The like of messi etc have shown that isn’t how it works. The biggest physical advantage in football is acceleration over 5-10 yards.
On the size of sports people, I won a last goal scorer bet at Bolton in April 2008. I had to go round to the front entrance to claim my winnings and by the time I'd got them the Arsenal players were starting to make their way out of the ground. Fabregas and Walcott came over and posed for pictures with some of the fans. They are absolutely tiny.
I remember seeing Michael Owen for the first time and thought he was one of the kids that are match day ball boys. And at that point he was in his mid 20s.
This is one huge, primary reason why soccer is THE global sport, and American Football, Basketball, Rugby, Cricket, Baseball, whatever, will never come close to its enormous popularity.
You can be bloody good, and do very well, as long as you are fit and talented, whatever your natural size.
For this reason alone soccer will always prevail. I predict that someday it will even be the number 1 sport in the USA, the final frontier. Mums don't want their sons dying of brain injuries.
Dunno, 90% of football players outside of goalkeepers seem to be absolutely tiny. Not too many players carrying more than about 12 stone lol
That's why such displays are fun and more should so something like it - because whatever intensity there is it is just a game and it's a way of getting pumped up, and given it is a bit ridiculous it feels like it should not actually upset or intimidate people.
The thing that rubs me up the wrong way is how NZ act so precious over it. See the farce of the "Haka in the shed" when Wales wanted to sing their national anthem after the haka rather than before.
And the protection it has been given by world rugby, demadning opposition teams stand a certain distance away etc. makes it so ridiculously ridiculous that I just find it utterly tiresome.
It was fun back in the 80's and early 90's but it has got completely up itself and has the whiff of Adidas marketing bollocks all over it.
@SeanT - I'd guess Dom Raab is 5' 10", perhaps slightly taller (and certainly more so than Sajid).
I promise not to abuse my position of influence. Peerage for me, probably for Mike S (but the LibDemmery is problematic), GCMG for TSE hailed-on, but others will have to pay the going rate.
Fair enough. He must have been standing next to some supertall politician, in a photo, for me to assume he's a bit of a half-pint.
In my experience politicians in the flesh are often surprisingly small OR surprisingly tall, just like Hollywood actors.
A few years ago I was in the breakfast queue at the Radisson in Leeds between Stuart Broad and Steven Finn. I honestly felt like a midget. It was quite disturbing. TV gives you no idea how tall these people are.
My biggest shock was finding myself in a bar with the entire England rugby team in the triumphant Woodward/Dallaglio era. There were players you expected to be tall and beefy, like Martin Johnson, but even Guscott was over six foot and massive.
In the bar that nid idea. Just saying.
It's actually brican Football. I don't see any alternative.
I was talking abouand the danger level increased exponentially.
Great video. Has the increasing numbers of Maori players influenced that perhaps? Those pre-war players really don't look very comfortable do they?
No. As klGod Save Your Gracious Queen.
That would hurt, and no doubt be banned by Guardianista types.
England's an island now?
Oh god yawn, Either you are proud of Scotland's role in the empire, under the "butcher's apron", or you aren't, and the English are all to blame. Just make your tiny fucking tartan mind up. Scot Nats are becoming VERY boring.
Always available to prick bloviators about 'English' global conquerors & warrior islands, and other such self salving bollox.
Your analysis is correct, your solution wrong. Total team weight limits is the solution.
Makes sense, given the humungous amount of doping in modern rugby. They're carrying so much weight at greater speeds than ever before - look back at players from 30 years ago, it's like a different species.
It is not just size. Since rugby union became a professional, summer game, standards of play have risen immeasurably. Look at decades old footage of overweight bankers and doctors dropping catches in ploughed fields and it is almost embarrassing how bad some of it was.
Indeed. The professional game is infinitely superior to its amateur predecessor, it is a different game.
On the size of sports people, I won a last goal scorer bet at Bolton in April 2008. I had to go round to the front entrance to claim my winnings and by the time I'd got them the Arsenal players were starting to make their way out of the ground. Fabregas and Walcott came over and posed for pictures with some of the fans. They are absolutely tiny.
I remember seeing Michael Owen for the first time and thought he was one of the kids that are match day ball boys. And at that point he was in his mid 20s.
This is one huge, primary reason why soccer is THE global sport, and American Football, Basketball, Rugby, Cricket, Baseball, whatever, will never come close to its enormous popularity.
You can be bloody good, and do very well, as long as you are fit and talented, whatever your natural size.
For this reason alone soccer will always prevail. I predict that someday it will even be the number 1 sport in the USA, the final frontier. Mums don't want their sons dying of brain injuries.
Cricket more so I'd have said - there have been truly great players almost seven foot and others borderline midget.
Gavaskar and Tendulkar are 5’5”, Vishwanath is 5’3”... ’Tich’ Freeman, the only man to take 300 wickets in an English season, was 5’2”.
That's why such displays are fun and more should so something like it - because whatever intensity there is it is just a game and it's a way of getting pumped up, and given it is a bit ridiculous it feels like it should not actually upset or intimidate people.
The thing that rubs me up the wrong way is how NZ act so precious over it. See the farce of the "Haka in the shed" when Wales wanted to sing their national anthem after the haka rather than before.
And the protection it has been given by world rugby, demadning opposition teams stand a certain distance away etc. makes it so ridiculously ridiculous that I just find it utterly tiresome.
It was fun back in the 80's and early 90's but it has got completely up itself and has the whiff of Adidas marketing bollocks all over it.
Agreed. It takes a lot to make me sympathise with the French, but fining them for confronting the haka before the 2011 World Cup final was beyond ridiculous.
On the size of sports people, I won a last goal scorer bet at Bolton in April 2008. I had to go round to the front entrance to claim my winnings and by the time I'd got them the Arsenal players were starting to make their way out of the ground. Fabregas and Walcott came over and posed for pictures with some of the fans. They are absolutely tiny.
I remember seeing Michael Owen for the first time and thought he was one of the kids that are match day ball boys. And at that point he was in his mid 20s.
This is one huge, primary reason why soccer is THE global sport, and American Football, Basketball, Rugby, Cricket, Baseball, whatever, will never come close to its enormous popularity.
You can be bloody good, and do very well, as long as you are fit and talented, whatever your natural size.
For this reason alone soccer will always prevail. I predict that someday it will even be the number 1 sport in the USA, the final frontier. Mums don't want their sons dying of brain injuries.
Dunno, 90% of football players outside of goalkeepers seem to be absolutely tiny. Not too many players carrying more than about 12 stone lol
Just checked, Drogba is 188 cm tall. He always looked like an absolute giant particularly next to the Spanish midgets. Football seems to skew to the teeny tinys.. Drogba would look small on an NFl, rugby or basketball pitch
On the size of sports people, I won a last goal scorer bet at Bolton in April 2008. I had to go round to the front entrance to claim my winnings and by the time I'd got them the Arsenal players were starting to make their way out of the ground. Fabregas and Walcott came over and posed for pictures with some of the fans. They are absolutely tiny.
I remember seeing Michael Owen for the first time and thought he was one of the kids that are match day ball boys. And at that point he was in his mid 20s.
This is one huge, primary reason why soccer is THE global sport, and American Football, Basketball, Rugby, Cricket, Baseball, whatever, will never come close to its enormous popularity.
You can be bloody good, and do very well, as long as you are fit and talented, whatever your natural size.
For this reason alone soccer will always prevail. I predict that someday it will even be the number 1 sport in the USA, the final frontier. Mums don't want their sons dying of brain injuries.
Cricket more so I'd have said - there have been truly great players almost seven foot and others borderline midget.
Gavaskar and Tendulkar are 5’5”, Vishwanath is 5’3”... ’Tich’ Freeman, the only man to take 300 wickets in an English season, was 5’2”.
Fair warning, I have adjusted my green House of Representatives Majority book to halve my payout on a Dem win and treble my payout on a GOP hold/draw.
I don't see the need, the Dems should take the house fairly easily. The question is how big the victory. A big one and it's gridlock and impeachment time, a narrow one and there won't be enough fight.
It's very noticeable that almost all of Trump's very considerable campaigning effort has been focused on the Senate which would, of course, form the Jury should the Dems ever try impeachment.
As we have all seen this man knows how to stack a court!
No, it's about appointments. Even if the Dems won every single Senate seat up this year they couldn't get the 67-seat supermajority to convict on impeachment. If the GOP can keep 50 Senate seats, they can ram through approval for any appointment with Pence's casting vote.
I should say that both my wife and I have fallen under a rather nasty respiratory infection that has been with us for over four weeks and has utterly drained us. I did see the doctor yesterday but we agreed it is best at this stage not to have anti biotics.
This, alongside my disinterest in US politics, ( though I would like to see Trump shackled ) has led me to post less. I still read the comments but tire easily
I am also less concerned over Brexit, as little I say will change the course of events
That's why such displays are fun and more should so something like it - because whatever intensity there is it is just a game and it's a way of getting pumped up, and given it is a bit ridiculous it feels like it should not actually upset or intimidate people.
The thing that rubs me up the wrong way is how NZ act so precious over it. See the farce of the "Haka in the shed" when Wales wanted to sing their national anthem after the haka rather than before.
And the protection it has been given by world rugby, demadning opposition teams stand a certain distance away
Yes, those examples are ridiculous, but not in a good way, they could stand with remembering it is all in good fun.
I should say that both my wife and I have fallen under a rather nasty respiratory infection that has been with us for over four weeks and has utterly drained us. I did see the doctor yesterday but we agreed it is best at this stage not to have anti biotics.
This, alongside my disinterest in US politics, ( though I would like to see Trump shackled ) has led me to post less. I still read the comments but tire easily
I am also less concerned over Brexit, as little I say will change the course of events
I probably missed it upthread, but what's the reasoning behind the weird forecast from Hayfield? Dems falling so far short in the House but advancing in the Senate is a pretty unusual prediction
On the size of sports people, I won a last goal scorer bet at Bolton in April 2008. I had to go round to the front entrance to claim my winnings and by the time I'd got them the Arsenal players were starting to make their way out of the ground. Fabregas and Walcott came over and posed for pictures with some of the fans. They are absolutely tiny.
I remember seeing Michael Owen for the first time and thought he was one of the kids that are match day ball boys. And at that point he was in his mid 20s.
This is one huge, primary reason why soccer is THE global sport, and American Football, Basketball, Rugby, Cricket, Baseball, whatever, will never come close to its enormous popularity.
You can be bloody good, and do very well, as long as you are fit and talented, whatever your natural size.
For this reason alone soccer will always prevail. I predict that someday it will even be the number 1 sport in the USA, the final frontier. Mums don't want their sons dying of brain injuries.
Dunno, 90% of football players outside of goalkeepers seem to be absolutely tiny. Not too many players carrying more than about 12 stone lol
Some defenders are quite hefty, I wouldn't want to try to stop Harry Maguire, but I agree there are few mutants like in Basketball or Rugby.
I should say that both my wife and I have fallen under a rather nasty respiratory infection that has been with us for over four weeks and has utterly drained us. I did see the doctor yesterday but we agreed it is best at this stage not to have anti biotics.
This, alongside my disinterest in US politics, ( though I would like to see Trump shackled ) has led me to post less. I still read the comments but tire easily
I am also less concerned over Brexit, as little I say will change the course of events
Get well soon Big_G and Mrs Big _G!
Yes ditto to that - hope you are both feeling better soon.
I should say that both my wife and I have fallen under a rather nasty respiratory infection that has been with us for over four weeks and has utterly drained us. I did see the doctor yesterday but we agreed it is best at this stage not to have anti biotics.
This, alongside my disinterest in US politics, ( though I would like to see Trump shackled ) has led me to post less. I still read the comments but tire easily
I am also less concerned over Brexit, as little I say will change the course of events
Hope you both get well soon Big G. In many ways you are the backbone of PB.
I should say that both my wife and I have fallen under a rather nasty respiratory infection that has been with us for over four weeks and has utterly drained us. I did see the doctor yesterday but we agreed it is best at this stage not to have anti biotics.
This, alongside my disinterest in US politics, ( though I would like to see Trump shackled ) has led me to post less. I still read the comments but tire easily
I am also less concerned over Brexit, as little I say will change the course of events
Get well soon Big_G and Mrs Big _G!
Thanks - we are working on it but it is just so persistent
I should say that both my wife and I have fallen under a rather nasty respiratory infection that has been with us for over four weeks and has utterly drained us. I did see the doctor yesterday but we agreed it is best at this stage not to have anti biotics.
This, alongside my disinterest in US politics, ( though I would like to see Trump shackled ) has led me to post less. I still read the comments but tire easily
I am also less concerned over Brexit, as little I say will change the course of events
As a Times journalist myself, I did warn her, and then she stopped, I think.
The Times and Sunday Times are very litigious about this shit. Their successful paywall model depends on it not being breached.
I think that's true, my constant linking to interesting Times stories in my WhatsApp group has got some of them to subscribe.
Combining those two themes, my Telegraph subscription is due to the number of links Plato used to post (often, I suspect, without herself having read much beyond the headline). The Telegraph does seem to have declined markedly in the last few months, but perhaps it is me.
It has been in decline for years.
I was reading a piece on the back of the financial section today about China and it was so bombastic and badly written I just assumed that the writer was AEP but no, it was someone else aping his style. It's really sad.
RE Rugby. The problem with RU is the ludicrous number of replacements allowed. Basically a half a new team comes on in the second half. That and the length of time to set scrums and line outs, Ditto treatment for injuries. Giving everyone a chance for a breather. All of these, as well as "enhanced" growth measures are leading to bigger players. Solutions. 1 4 subs only. Once off you can't return. Exception for genuine blood bins. 2 No breaks for injuries. Unless serious, play continues. 3 Shot clock for line outs. 20 seconds to throw it in. 4 Same for scrums. No resetting. Penalty or play on.
All of these would lead to players with greater anaerobic fitness and smaller players.
Re Haka. It was Howie Tamati of NZRL, in the 80's, and an actual, genuine Maori chief, who introduced it as a culturally meaningful ceremony, and therefore intimidatory, rather than part of the pre-match entertainment. It was part of his traditional duties and role out with the rugby field. Edit: he was a candidate for Maori Party at GE 2017, and has been an elected councillor.
I should say that both my wife and I have fallen under a rather nasty respiratory infection that has been with us for over four weeks and has utterly drained us. I did see the doctor yesterday but we agreed it is best at this stage not to have anti biotics.
This, alongside my disinterest in US politics, ( though I would like to see Trump shackled ) has led me to post less. I still read the comments but tire easily
I am also less concerned over Brexit, as little I say will change the course of events
Hope you both get well soon Big G. In many ways you are the backbone of PB.
I should say that both my wife and I have fallen under a rather nasty respiratory infection that has been with us for over four weeks and has utterly drained us. I did see the doctor yesterday but we agreed it is best at this stage not to have anti biotics.
This, alongside my disinterest in US politics, ( though I would like to see Trump shackled ) has led me to post less. I still read the comments but tire easily
I am also less concerned over Brexit, as little I say will change the course of events
I should say that both my wife and I have fallen under a rather nasty respiratory infection that has been with us for over four weeks and has utterly drained us. I did see the doctor yesterday but we agreed it is best at this stage not to have anti biotics.
This, alongside my disinterest in US politics, ( though I would like to see Trump shackled ) has led me to post less. I still read the comments but tire easily
I am also less concerned over Brexit, as little I say will change the course of events
Get well soon Big_G and Mrs Big _G!
Yes ditto to that - hope you are both feeling better soon.
@SeanT - I'd guess Dom Raab is 5' 10", perhaps slightly taller (and certainly more so than Sajid).
I promise not to abuse my position of influence. Peerage for me, probably for Mike S (but the LibDemmery is problematic), GCMG for TSE hailed-on, but others will have to pay the going rate.
Fair enough. He must have been standing next to some supertall politician, in a photo, for me to assume he's a bit of a half-pint.
In my experience politicians in the flesh are often surprisingly small OR surprisingly tall, just like Hollywood actors.
A few years ago I was in the breakfast queue at the Radisson in Leeds between Stuart Broad and Steven Finn. I honestly felt like a midget. It was quite disturbing. TV gives you no idea how tall these people are.
My biggest shock was finding myself in a bar with the entire England rugby team in the triumphant Woodward/Dallaglio era. There were players you expected to be tall and beefy, like Martin Johnson, but even Guscott was over six foot and massive.
In the bar that nid idea. Just saying.
It's actually brican Football. I don't see any alternative.
I was talking abouand the danger level increased exponentially.
Great video. Has the increasing numbers of Maori players influenced that perhaps? Those pre-war players really don't look very comfortable do they?
No. As klGod Save Your Gracious Queen.
That would hurt, and no doubt be banned by Guardianista types.
England's an island now?
Oh god yawn, Either you are proud of Scotland's role in the empire, under the "butcher's apron", or you aren't, and the English are all to blame. Just make your tiny fucking tartan mind up. Scot Nats are becoming VERY boring.
Always available to prick bloviators about 'English' global conquerors & warrior islands, and other such self salving bollox.
Again, dull. You guys have lost your edge. I guess Brexit has stolen the Sindy thunder? You guys won't get a vote again til the mid-late 2020s, earliest. Must hurt. Sympathies.
That's been your standard 'Seany drops the mic' response for years. In definite need of a whetstone.
For Rugby union I'd like to see a couple of changes. 1) Penalties need to be dropped to 2 points. The enormous kicking distance combined with the ludicrous ease of giving away a penalty is the reasoning. 2) Introduction of a free kick instead of a penalty for more minor infractions. 3) Up tries to 6 points whilst we're at it.
Being able to win a game with barely getting into an opponent's 22 is an abomination.
For Rugby union I'd like to see a couple of changes. 1) Penalties need to be dropped to 2 points. The enormous kicking distance combined with the ludicrous ease of giving away a penalty is the reasoning. 2) Introduction of a free kick instead of a penalty for more minor infractions. 3) Up tries to 6 points whilst we're at it.
Being able to win a game with barely getting into an opponent's 22 is an abomination.
Reducing the points for a penalty would just further encourage the opposition to kill the ball at the breakdown. The key is to get rid of the kicking, which is tedious anyhow and terminates promising attacks: 1 point per penalty conceded in your own half, then play resumes with a free-kick.
With the Premier League came the change from the players stubbing out their fags underfoot as they jogged onto the pitch to them being super-athletes often clocking Olympic-qualifying times on the flat.
Comments
I expect the Dems will be encouraged by that!
As we have all seen this man knows how to stack a court!
Good night.
Just imagine how good he will be when his balls drop.
It is a good job I cleaned up on the Trump nomination before hand otherwise I would have had no bankroll left.
They call it Chinese Chequers!
(I thank you!)
You can see why David Davis fecked up Brexit.
To be honest now amongst many rugby fans the many variant NZ hakas is now seen as completely overblown and ridiculous. The throat slitting shit is grotesque - it's just a game of rugby mate.
The past is indeed a foreign country, and today's England is not the empire-building England of the 18th century nor are the current English any longer the "global conquerors, par excellence, and the warrior island to end all warrior islands". Compare the way the country reacted to a) the Blitz and b) Princess Diana's death less than 60 years later.
It is surely incontrovertible that the 'greatness' of nations or peoples ebband flow over time. If not, whay are Egypt, Greece and Italy not great powers these days? Why aren't the Arab countries great centres of science and mathematics as the were in the middle ages?
The like of messi etc have shown that isn’t how it works. The biggest physical advantage in football is acceleration over 5-10 yards.
My only red line is no deal
And the protection it has been given by world rugby, demadning opposition teams stand a certain distance away etc. makes it so ridiculously ridiculous that I just find it utterly tiresome.
It was fun back in the 80's and early 90's but it has got completely up itself and has the whiff of Adidas marketing bollocks all over it.
No posts for years but it tracks and displays her recently read sites.
Drogba would look small on an NFl, rugby or basketball pitch
This, alongside my disinterest in US politics, ( though I would like to see Trump shackled ) has led me to post less. I still read the comments but tire easily
I am also less concerned over Brexit, as little I say will change the course of events
Don't tell anyone but it made me cheer for France in the 2011 World Cup Final.
Lovely part of the world that really felt like you could have stepped back in time 50 years.
Highly recommended as an alternative to the usual Cotswold/Peak District tourist traps.
NEW THREAD
For comparison, their final poll had 30% strong-approve, 9% moderate appr, 45% strong disapprove, 10% moderate did, 6% no opinion.
All of these, as well as "enhanced" growth measures are leading to bigger players.
Solutions.
1 4 subs only. Once off you can't return. Exception for genuine blood bins.
2 No breaks for injuries. Unless serious, play continues.
3 Shot clock for line outs. 20 seconds to throw it in.
4 Same for scrums. No resetting. Penalty or play on.
All of these would lead to players with greater anaerobic fitness and smaller players.
Re Haka. It was Howie Tamati of NZRL, in the 80's, and an actual, genuine Maori chief, who introduced it as a culturally meaningful ceremony, and therefore intimidatory, rather than part of the pre-match entertainment. It was part of his traditional duties and role out with the rugby field.
Edit: he was a candidate for Maori Party at GE 2017, and has been an elected councillor.
1) Penalties need to be dropped to 2 points. The enormous kicking distance combined with the ludicrous ease of giving away a penalty is the reasoning.
2) Introduction of a free kick instead of a penalty for more minor infractions.
3) Up tries to 6 points whilst we're at it.
Being able to win a game with barely getting into an opponent's 22 is an abomination.
With the Premier League came the change from the players stubbing out their fags underfoot as they jogged onto the pitch to them being super-athletes often clocking Olympic-qualifying times on the flat.