Archive for July, 2006
Friday, July 7th, 2006
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| Leo Beenhakker |
Last night’s CNC3 newscast revealed that Trinidad & Tobago coach Leo Beenhakker had had talks with TTFF Special Adviser Jack Warner and that the details of those talks would be revealed to the public on Tuesday. In my own wild speculation on what decisions would be taken and why it would take till Tuesday, I came up with two possible scenarios. (Scenarios 3 through 5 were eaten by my dog and subsequently deemed irrelevant)
- Scenario 1: First they were going to wait till Tuesday to reveal Beenhakker’s decision because it would take them till then to work out the details of his new contract. The man is probably worth twice as much now on the coaching market now that he’s taken the smallest country to the World Cup. It’s obvious that his stock has risen. So he and Warner would have met after this weekend to hammer it out.
- Scenario 2: On the other hand, I surmised that Beenhakker was actually leaving. They decided together that Beenhakker wanted to move on and explore new options. Also some other country was offering him more money than we could. Warner was going to wait till Tuesday because he was he is going to be busy at the third place game and final on Sunday. He was also finding Leo’s replacement.
However, it may be that Trinidad is not waiting on either of these men. We may actually be waiting on Poland. Reuters is reporting that T&T may be losing Leo to Poland. Poland’s new head coach. Poland admits that Leo is actually on of their favourites.
Said he, “Beenhakker is a huge personality and he is our favourite.”
A Blow? I’m sure that if it does happen, it will be deemed to be a much bigger blow to Trinidad & Tobago football than it is in reality.
Personally I think that they should keep their grubby hands of our coach. But in the real world, it’s not “finders keepers”, it’s “spenders keepers”. Money, however, may not be the sole reason for Leo’s move if in fact he does leave. Who knows whether or not he actually likes it here; whether he wants to be closer to home or if he just wants a new challenge?
This is all speculation as we won’t know till Tuesday what that decision will be. However the news reports are that Poland’s football federation are expected to announce on Monday that Beenhakker will take control of their national team leading up to South Africa 2010. So, who knows?
I honestly hope that it’s all speculation and that Beenhakker does stay. I’m sure though that if it does happen, it will be deemed to be a much bigger blow to Trinidad & Tobago football than it is in reality. When I say that I mean that we don’t need “Beenhakker” per se. What we do need is a good football coach. And if it’s the case that Beenhakker thinks it’s time to move on, maybe we should hold our heads up high and pronounce “likewise”.
Posted in Football | No Comments »
Thursday, July 6th, 2006
You’d be frantic too if you left your magnifying glass at home.
Don’t worry Dr. Moonan. I know just because you have your eyes closed, it doesn’t mean you are asleep. And just because you have your eyes open, it doesn’t mean you are awake either.
Posted in PNM, Politics, UNC | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 5th, 2006
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| Dr. Shastri Moonan |
I’m sure there are other reasons why you shouldn’t give your drinking buddies senatorial positions, but I can think of not a one.
Posted in Politics, UNC | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 5th, 2006
I propose giving everyone a public holiday just for arriving on our shores. The only people who don’t get any are Eskimos and Sherpas.
Honestly it’s not that I don’t support everyone getting a day. My point is that everyone who is here arrived at some time or another. The only one who didn’t “arrive” were eventually killed off by the people who did.
But if we give one, we must give all.
Posted in Race | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 5th, 2006
Now, I dislike Sat Maharaj as much as the next rational-thinking, non-racists, anti-Jabba the Hutt man or woman (see previous post). Honestly I can’t stand the man. I have a reasonably good memory and I remember all the things he’s said about afro-Trinidadians.
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| Sat Maharaj |
But I am 100% happy that the Privy Council has ruled that he should get a radio licence. The Maha Sabha applied for a radio station seven years ago. Seven. And why was he refused? Apparently for no good reason – and I’m paraphrasing.
Have you realized how many radio stations there are in Trinidad? You have to turn the dial with yuh fingernail in order not to skip them. The Maha Sabha applied seven years ago and was turned down. Now the Government has lost their case and on top of that have to pay millions of dollars (our taxpaying dollars mind you) to the Maha Sabha as compensation. We pay because Patrick & Co. are dumb asses.
And my point is this: You don’t have to like the man to know that it’s only right to grant him the licence. You don’t have to agree with what he says. For example I think Sat should never talk about afro-Trinidadians ever again. I think that he is the worst religious leader this country has ever seen. I think that he looks exactly like Jabba the Hutt.
Let Manning Pay Why should we, the poor, hardworking taxpayers have to pay the judgement? Let Manning and John Jeremie and all those who decided to fight a losing battle pay.
Now I’m sure that Mr. Maharaj may not agree with all of these things, but that doesn’t mean that he shouldn’t have his licence. You would think that the Governemnt would try to cosy up to indo-Trinidadians by giving the Maha Sabha the licence. But of course the Government, just like Kamla & Co. doesn’t have it’s ear to the ground.
I’d like to propose that it’s not the taxpayers who have to fork out the money, but all the idiots who discriminated against the Maha Sabha in the first place. Why should we, the poor, hardworking taxpayers have to pay the judgement? Let Manning and John Jeremie and all those who decided to fight a losing battle pay. Honestly it sickens me to see it. This is an absolute waste of taxpayers’ dollars. Please Anand Ramlogan, look into suing the PNM and not the Governemt per se. The poor taxpayers of this country have absolutely no power over what the fools do when they put on their Balisier ties.
I would rather my money go to fixing roads or getting pipe borne water to people than
Misplaced Priorities I would rather my money go to fixing roads or getting pipe borne water to people than fighting the Maha Sabha over a stupid radio licence.
fighting the Maha Sabha over a stupid radio licence. I even supported fighting the Bajans in court over our fishing boundaries. How can the government now say that they are inclusive when they have been told by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council that they’ve been discriminatory in the granting of radio licences? They just don’t have a leg to stand on anymore. On top of this, it’s a shame that we still need the Privy Council to settle petty squabbles.
Exactly where are the Government’s priorities when T&T has so many demons to exorcise we instead waste time and money on a court case over the same inconsequential radio licence that everyone and their cousin already possesses.
Now the Government has promptly ordered TATT to “provide CBSL with a licence on an appropriate frequency to be agreed with the company” and I imagine soon enough they will also fork over our money to the Maha Sabha. And Mr. Manning won’t bat an eyelid, because he won’t suffer directly. To someone who is ready to spend close to a billion dollars of other people’s money on a sports stadium, a couple extra million is nothing; it’s the cost of a new kitchen. He will still make his salary and his wife will make hers. And they will build their mansion and live the lives of aloof rulers that they are. And when it’s all done, iz only we to ketch.
Posted in PNM, Politics, Race | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, July 4th, 2006
I have a question. You are a party in a country of two major races. One of those races has been continuously vilified by the leader of the Maha Sabha more fondly known as Sat Maharaj. And when I say “vilified”, I mean just the most hateful rhetoric anyone in an authority position in Trinidad has ever spewed. Every time I hear “Sat Maharaj”, I think “evil racist who vaguely reminds me of Jabba the Hutt”.
How could you, being the leader of a party, who coincidentally shares the same race as Sat Maharaj, then offer to bring him into your fold by offering him a senatorial position. What exactly do you say to the people of the other race who serve as targets for Mr. Maharaj? Are you trying to insult Afro Trinidadians? And where’s Jack Warner in all this? If that’s not the biggest “F.U.” in politics I’ve ever seen, I don’t know what is. This is yet another reason why Kamla & Co. are completely out of touch with reality. Is she really trying to take us down the road of unification? Because she missed Unity three turns aback.
Try to get past the fact that I said Sat reminds me of Jabba the Hutt. For those who can’t, this is for you:
Posted in Politics, Race, UNC | No Comments »
Monday, July 3rd, 2006
Prime Minister Patrick Manning met last week with US Vice President Dick Cheney and told him that we (T&T) need to be alerted as to the Trinidians being deported from the United States.
Ok we all know that that criminal deportees are a big problem in Trinidad. Guys are going to jail and are becoming even better criminals before being deported. They might as well come to Trinidad to serve their jail time because this thing about jailing and deporting is like musical chairs and Trinidad is the one left standing at the end of the all.
In any case, it’s wasn’t the meeting with Cheney or even the request that struck me. It was this here that I got off the Express:
So tell me this: How exactly are we going to go about tracking these deportees. When the U.S. hears “deportees” they think technology and FBI and all the things that Trinidad doesn’t have. What, are we going to track them by word of mouth? We will talk to they mammie or they cousin Fred? Everybody knows the criminals in our society, where the drugs are coming from and even who’s selling the drugs. Give any crackhead $50 and follow him and see where he goes. He’ll lead you right to them. Do we even track the criminals that are already here?
A waste of a trip. Begging for tires when we don’t have a car.
Posted in Crime, PNM, Politics, Social Issues | No Comments »
Monday, July 3rd, 2006
I looked up the word politics in the dictionary, and it’s actually a
combination of two words: poli, which means “many,” and tics,
which means “bloodsuckers.” — Jay Leno
Posted in Humour, Politics | No Comments »
Sunday, July 2nd, 2006
Soca Warrior Carlos Edwards has been named as one of the top six talents made for the Premiership according the Guardian. No, not that one, this one.
In columnist David Pleat’s breakdown, he picks the players “most likely to attract bids from leading English clubs” when it’s back to loserville for the other 31 teams.
And there right at the top of the list (which is in no particular order) is Carlos Edwards of whom he said, “Against Paraguay his second-half sorties showed intelligence, both in positioning himself to intercept and speed down the touchline as he saw space ahead and in giving the correct delivery.”
But everybody in Trinidad don.kno.dat.ah.redy. We know people was going to be talking about he since before anybody start talking about World Cup. Thank you captain Obvious.
We was just waiting for allyuh to see it.
Anyway I’m glad that people like Carlos Edwards will finally get the exposure they’ve needed. This I think is part of the reward for representing Trinidad in the World Cup. You get picked to be on the stage to have all your wares displayed. Which is part of the reason why Densill Theobald’s dad should shut up about the award already. (oh gosh look what I start now). Honestly I wasn’t coming here nah, but I just glimpse a story in the Sunday Guardian where Densill Theobald’s father Elano Theobald – whose 15 minutes of second-hand fame has surely by now been used up is bemoaning the fact that the Warriors only got $1 million. Said he,
“They should be given a house and a car or a house and a piece of land. The Government does not have to promote tourism any more; because of these boys, everyone now knows about T&T. And $1 million, that is all they get? That’s not right.
Hold on, it gets better. He goes on:
“These footballers have to thank all their friends and family, everywhere they go people expect them to hold a big party. That money is obviously not enough.”
I really want to resist the urge to make a comment here about the mentality of some people. By the way, did you know that you can rent an apartment on George Street for as little as $100 a month.
Something for Nothing So in the strong tradition of “something for nothing”, Mr. Theobald wants more that $1 million for relatively nothing.
That’s what Mr. Theobald is paying. The drawback is the steep rent increases the residents have to suffer. Imagine just 50 years ago it was $15. So in the strong tradition of “something for nothing”, Mr. Theobald wants more that $1 million for relatively nothing.
Before I go on, let me share this quote by Paul Miller. It goes, “Never pass up an opportunity to keep your mouth shut”. I, for one, second Mr. Elano Theobald’s call for more. For instance when the Warriors get into the second round in South Africa 2010, I propose that Trinidad be divided equally into 23 equal pieces and distributed amongst the Warriors. Give Beenhakker Tobago and give Repos Island, Carrera, Chacachacare etc. to the technical staff. Then if they think that it’s still not enough, by all means, offer them our souls. The politicians have ravaged them beyond recognition anyway. Surely if we still have our souls after the 2007 general election, please by all means offer it to them.
Opportunity Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work. –Thomas Edison
I think most Trinidadians are happy with the reward for a team that has in the eyes of have world have accomplished relatively little. However in our eyes, they have done us proud and that is why they have been rewarded. More than the $1 million, the Warriors got opportunity. If I had to chose between the cash, and the opportunity of playing football in front of every single manager in Europe knowing that they were watching the only game in the world being played (or at least the only one that mattered), I’d choose the exposure.
And that’s what people like Elano Theobald just don’t get. All they see is the short-term, and what they can get “now”. I guess this is the problem with the thinking in our country. To people like him, long-term benefits are too long. Everyday people get up wanting to win the lottery.
How many doctors, nurses and teachers go unheralded everyday? How many politicians (i.e. the 3 or 4 that don’t have rotten hearts) give so much to their countries? What do the intellectuals like V.S. Naipaul and Derek Walcott get? There are so many people in our country who have gone above and beyond and eh get nothing in the end. Now when you compare this to some guys who in reality played three games of football, of which none were won and zero goals were scored, $1 million and all the exposure in the world begins to look like a king’s ransom. But daiz jus me.
Posted in Football, Social Issues | No Comments »
Sunday, July 2nd, 2006
You can click on these first two to get just slightly larger images.
Ok I did slightly doctor this next set of pictures to make Bunji look a little bluer than normal. However, you have to admit that there is a resemblance in style.
Or maybe just separated at birth?
Posted in Humour, Soca | No Comments »
