I GOT an extra e-mail this week from my favourite big cousin in San Francisco. Raised within the sound of cheering from Tynecastle, the 60-years she has spent on the other side of the Atlantic have not eroded her love of the Jambos, although that love is now shared with the San Francisco Giants.
So, following the Giants' World Series win this week, life for her is good; she was very happy to learn about that corking last-minute Easter Road equaliser, too.
It's that "World Series" name I want to focus on here. To most casual observers of American sport, the term "World Series" seems to sum-up the praochialism of a huge nation, in which only a small percentage of the population possess a passport and ever sees the need to leave the Land of the Free and Home of the Brace. (Not of course the poor GIs of the USA's military-industrial complex, sent around the world to bring American standards of freedom and justice to the Third World, who, by and large don't want to know).
What, we ask, is the use of having a "World Series" in a sport played nowhere else in the world. It seems to smack of America's idea of being something special.
Of course, the annual play-off to find America's top baseball team is termed the "World Series", because it was the creation of the long-defunct New York World newspaper, which came up with the idea of a best of seven games series to decide which team was better, the American League or National League champions.
S0, not American over-egging of a small pudding, merely a terrific publicity opportunity which has now out-grown the original idea.
That said, in sporting terms, the USA is still ultra-parochial; but, that's a jibe we can also throw at Scotland, and Scottish football. Those arbiters of good taste and knowing what the public wants - the Scottish Football Writers Association, are practically wetting themselves at the prospect of a re-born Old Firm clash this season. They are desperately hoping that Celtic and the Tribute Act will be drawn together in the semi-final of whatever the League Cup is called this season.
I pray this doesn't happen, the anticipation might kill one or two of the mentally frailer members of the SFWA before the game. I suppose Police Scotland are also hoping the two sides are kept apart, they've had it easy since their formation, not having to deal with the regular inter-tribal spats between the Orange and the Green.
There is also the possibility, if they are drawn into separate semi-finals, that both lose!! So, peace is maintained until, maybe, next season.
The fact is, as they currently line-up, neither the Celtic squad, or the Tribute Act's, could be considered even good examples of squads wearing these particular strips. And, actually, if it comes down to a clash of the two teams this season, I rather fancy the Tribute Act might win - merely because they have more gnarled veterans of this particular little clan war.
A full stadium, giving full vent to the age-old tribal rituals just might be a case of squeaky bum time for some of da-doo Ron Ron's squad. And, there are only so-many occasions on which Craig Gordon can do his Superman act.
MEANWHILE, there has been some discussion in informed circles concerning the resignation of Mark Wotte from his post, whatever it was called, with the SFA.
It doesn't matter who the SFA appoint to replace him, until they take out and shoot almost everyone in an SFA blazer and do brain implants: (you cannot transplant what isn't there in the first place) on those left standing - we will never have a working grass roots development system in Scotland.
To paraphrase the late, lamented JoLa - The Scottish FA are not genetically programmed to think effectively.
I FORCED myself to watch the "Rangers" v St Johnstone League Cup tie this week, and was left shaking my head at Ally Mccoist's "tactics", or lack of them. The weakest part of Kris Boyd's game is his aerial work; so, why did they keep pumping high balls into him? That tactic worked for Bill Struth's great post-war side - George Young long ball to Willie Waddell, run to by-line, cross to Willie Thornton , header, goal. It doesn't work as-well today.
I reckon McCoist's "tactics" are aimed at deliberately starving Boyd of chances to get anywhere near the manager's tally of goals for the old club. Just saying like.
As to the game. The Tribute Act were bad, St Johnstone were worse. Our game is in a poor way.
No comments:
Post a Comment