Something they're always banging on about in the DR is the 'uncompetitive' state of our game. Well, Aberdeen knocked Celtic out of the Scottish Cup and yet nobody lauds it as a sign of competitiveness. Instead it's question time for Celtic and how they 'should' have won etc etc. Of course, it's all down to complacency because Rangers are no longer there to provide a decent challenge. So if Celtic beat all comers it's uncompetitive because the league's missing Rangers, but if Celtic get beaten then it's because of their complacency due to not having Rangers around anymore. No matter what happens the DR will spin it to show how much Scotland 'needs' the Ibrox team.
There was a certain snideness about Keevins's piece. He says that the fans don't ask questions about Celtic's 'failures' because of what he calls 'Ticking the Begorrah box.' To illustrate what he's on about he cites this weekend's Celtic programme, which wished everyone a 'Happy St Patrick's Day.' In other words, Celtic just panders to what McMurdo et al call the 'Plastic Paddies.' Keevins hastens to add that his grandparents came from Ireland, just so you can't accuse him of racism or anything. No matter what he says, however, he's playing up to the anti-Irish element in Scotland, much more than the 'sooking up' he accuses Celtic of!
Regular readers will know my opinion about making a big deal over where you come from. I'm from Irish descent but I don't think it makes me any better than anyone else; it certainly doesn't make me any worse! I've got no problem, however, with those that want to celebrate their Irish heritage, which is especially poignant given the circumstances that most Irish had to leave their homeland under. My own great-grandfather had to move because, as a Catholic, there were no jobs available for him in Northern Ireland. The fact that I don't celebrate St Patrick's Day is because it wasn't such a big deal in my family. If I were somewhere else today, however, and there was a big booze-up going I'm sure I'd be in there with the best of them!
Keevins's slimy statement shows the undercurrent of feeling still extant in this country. Would he poke fun at black people in America celebrating their African background? Would he laugh at the Ulster Loyalists joining pipe bands and sending their kids to Highland dancing classes? Somehow I don't think so. It seems that being Scots-Irish is fine, even if your ancestors moved across the Irish Sea centuries ago. Being Irish-Scots, however, is a different matter entirely and, even though many can trace their ancestors coming to Scotland to only two or three generations ago, you are supposed to just ignore your Irish heritage. Hypocrisy doesn't even begin to describe it.
I wonder of Auld Shug will have anything to say when the next sickening, jingoistic display happens at Ibrox. What kind of 'box ticking' will he call that? Oh, I forgot, Ibrox has always had a strong link with the armed forces. That'll be why they all hid in the shipyards during the war!
I notice that McMurdo hasn't got as many contributors since he stopped talking about Rangers (sic). Only two people bothered yesterday. Maybe, however, that was because it was the Sabbath! A couple of bams surfaced today. One broke the startling news that St Patrick wasn't Irish. Gasp! Hold the front page! Somebody get the guy a chair while I impart even more amazing facts. St Andrew wasn't a Scotsman! St George wasn't an Englishman! Somebody fetch the smelling salts!
Another one of Merlin's Morons regales us with the news that some dinosaur jockey in Belfast is pushing for the Union Flag (aka The Fleg) to be flown on the Town Hall 365 days a year. Said dinosaur jockey argues that the constant flying of 'The Fleg' would show everyone's commitment to equality. No, me neither.
Sooperally, meanwhile, says that Bisto FC will be 'firing on all cylinders' tonight. They apparently want 'revenge'. In reality it's Albion Rovers that should be looking for revenge after being cheated! The Daily Record, of course, toes the party line: "Cliftonhill boss James Ward and his players have been talking up their chances after holding Gers to a 1-1 draw at Ibrox." For God's sake, Rovers didn't 'hold Gers to a draw' they BEAT THEM 1-0 and were then cheated by the referee. Maybe, instead of giving that money to Cash For Kids, the powers-that-be at Cliftonhill should try and outbid Bisto FC in the brown envelope stakes.
One major worry for Bisto FC is whether or not the Kids make it to the match. It's all over the DR that 'Rangers (sic) take on Albion Rovers at Cliftonhill tonight.' As folk keep posting on the forum, the match is actually at New Douglas Park. By God, the denizens of Coatbridge will need to stay indoors when a gang of angry, blue-card-waving Bisto Kids arrives on their doorstep!
I don't usually comment on English football, mainly because I'm completely uninterested. I'll make an exception, however, for Jose Mourinho, who takes moaning, complaining and blaming others to a level undreamt of even by Alex Ferguson. After having two players sent off, and being sent to the stands himself, against Aston Villa at the weekend, he's demanding that Chris Foy, the referee at the game, no longer officiate at Chelsea matches. It's not that long ago that he was praising English referees to the hilt when he was claiming that his Real Madrid team was being unjustly treated and that Barcelona were getting off with murder. For years he has accused other teams of being full of divers and has accused referees of being against whichever team he happens to be in charge of at the time. This is the guy, remember, who was the manager of Porto when they played Celtic in the UEFA Cup final in Seville! Some folk have extremely short memories and can never face up to taking responsibility. I wonder if Bisto could afford him?
Another in my frequent calls to purchase my books. The Big Button's staring you right in the face up there! Go and have a look and see what you think. I've decided to leave the links up for the free copies until the end of March, so you'd better get a move on!
Dave King enrolls the first Bisto Kid onto his scheme.
Is it just me...?
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