Not Football Crazy?

The ravaj has noticed that there have been quite a lot of sporting posts recently, especially football ones. She is sorry if that turns you off the blog and would like to say that the season ends on 8th May so not long to go now. She would like to say that, but in fact it probably has less to do with QPR doing so well for the first time in over 15 years and more to do with the world outside being in such a sorry state. This evening's news included:

The father of a young woman whose body was just found after she had been missing for 10 days. She was naked and in a shallow grave and the minicab driver who allegedly murdered her appeared in court today. Meanwhile, the father made a statement to the press on camera. Why did he have to do that?

Interviews with pro and anti Gaddafi fighters with explosions and shots going on in the background.

The latest on the torso of an African child found floating in the river Thames that may have been part of a ritual killing.

The Royal Wedding - how the police may use that as a reason for greater powers to stop and search individuals.

And let's not talk about the drama re the England football team captain position! So, you see, recently I have needed to focus on less terrible events. I try my best to contribute to making things a little better. But sometimes, it is too awful out there. Back asap. Shalom.

Cheeseheads Rejoice!

A touchdown for the Green Bay Packers, who have just beaten the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Superbowl. The aunt of ravaj, who has lived in Wisconsin for 60 years, is elated.
the friend of ravaj who is a Pittsburgh fan is sad.

The thing is - the Packers are owned not by some magnate or other, but by the fans. So this is an excellent result. Hurrah.

And so to bed.

we are the rangers boys (& girls of course)

first photo of fantastic 'r's footy today. josh was out of town, so i got to watch the whole thing live via slingbox on my computer. luckily the housemates were out, as i was yelling a lot, since we scored 3 goals and they got none. the thing is, though, the first half was magnificent. it is so long since i watched a qpr team that played such beautiful football. ball to feet, one-touch passing, speed, energy and creativity. even the commentators were praising us! *sigh* queens park rangers three, top of the table until they lost today stoke city nil.

supreme schadenfreude

eli manning after completing the winning touchdown pass
you have no idea what it is like to live in boston and its environs if you are a sports fan but not a boston sports fan. add to that being a new yorker, or at least someone who was born there and chooses to identify as one ... people here are fanatical and loud and fanatical and mean and fanatical. it is with great joy, therefore, that i noticed the final score in the superbowl this evening - patriots 14, ny giants 17. huzzah!

readers' response to ravaj

now and then we here at your_ears_should_hear like to share with you what we have heard about what you have thought about what you have read. this week, for your edification and entertainment, we present some commentary regarding the nature of football from continent to continent. a couple of days ago we received the following message:

"Protest of Anglo-centric reportage!

Dear Ravaj,

As a regular reader of your otherwise lovely blog I must protest your sports reportage!

All we see is pix of English "footballers"! Yesterday our Patriots (who play football, be-emmet) won the AFC playoffs and their 18th in a row! Not a word from you! Can this be a not-so-subtle attempt by a Yankees fan (FEH!) to undermine the morale of us locals here in Red Sox Nation!? As a "resident alien" you ought to have more respect for those of us with resident (more-or- less-permanent) status!

Sincerely yours,

S. Anthony A-----, D.D. (Hon.), Emeritus-in-Exile"

delighted that we have a reader (we have a reader!), we felt we should write a thank-you note, including in it some points of clarification:

"dear anthony sir

despite the aberrant fact of my birth occurring in manhattan, new york (thus making me no less alien than your good self), i have had the advantage of growing up in an environment where the queen's english was spoken. i therefore point out, with all due respect, that the game that i live and die for aka football is the one where the players use their feet (hence 'foot'ball, since they usually use one at a time). it is not the strange tribal war game in full body armour where players throw with their hands and catch with their hands and only use kicking with their feet as a last resort (either for the extra point, a field goal, or in anger).

with regard to this american version of football, may i also note that my favourite aunt, who hopes to become 83 this year, nearly had a heart attack whilst watching her beloved green bay packers last night. i fail to see why i should condone a (so-called) sport that besides being erroneously named is also a danger to the health of my loved ones.

yours sincerely
- dame ravaj of shepherds bush.

ps what the heck - go giants!"