NOTE FROM IAIN: The Predictor League for Liverpool on Saturday is now open HERE. Entries can be submitted until 3.30pm on Saturday.
Good Tuesday! (almost Wednesday for our friends closer to the international date line!) :-)
Well, I’m checking in, hoping all are doing well, I must correct myself, I believe I identified Sir Trevor Brooking as a “prolific striker” for West Ham United, where I meant to say “goalscorer” was indeed, a midfielder!
Nerves….. I’ll tell ya…..for unfortunately, some issues in the “Big Match of Life” are conspiring against me, poor timing, karma, just the way it is, mostly, however, it does frustrate me cos as racked up with nerves I can can let myself be overcome by from time to time, it’s reminding me a bit of how I’d feel before I’d go on stage with a guitar….. (yep, rockers get scared too) :-)), however, it’s not unlike what ours, and other football players go thru before they take the pitch, usually, after the first words, chord, or tackle, it usually knocks the over load of cortisol, and adrenaline right into line, at which such a point, those very chemicals that were just giving you that sick feeling in your stomach, are now helping you to get the job done.
Of course, this happens to everyone, especially when you wake up, and realize you have something to do that day that has you missing the other type of nervous that even I get when our lads and ladies are gonna take the pitch that day.
I suppose I’m writing all this for a bit of explanation, but it did bring an interesting idea to me, just as I was typing, on how one topic we could explore is how do you think those playing at the highest level of football in the world, can deal with the “hyperpressure” that I’m sure is exerted on all pro footballers on a day to day basis, how we may feel, and how much it may play into bogey clubs, grounds, even dates. Of which, if I could sit down and tell you how certain numbers and dates actually have repeated themselves over my life, for both good and bad, it may have one Googling “numerology” for example, 10th of May, a huge date historically, especially for West Ham United, the biggest, imho, would be the 1980 FA Cup final, personally, it’s the birthday of a ex girlfriend, a current fellow West Ham mate over there, John Simon Ritchie (better known as “Sid Vicious”) and Paul Hewson (even better known as Bono) both were born on that date, in 1957, and 1960 respectively.
O.k, before I become to side tracked, our Mens first team played quite a match against one of the “Big Clubs” in Manchester City, who for me, personally, seems like our biggest ask of all the Big Clubs, as of recently, anyway. Right now, a 1-1 draw is a solid result against the “Citizens”, for where circumstances beyond my control, forced me to miss the match, so I can speak to extensively on it, however, from all accounts, aside from a few yella cards, and 30 odd % possession (which means sod all if you can’t get in there for a host of reasons). :-))
Therefore, while I still come up with a more cohesive column theme, I will wrap this up to let the “freeform” flourish. Where I do agree, a consistent theme is usually one of a few hallmarks of any work of “written word”, I also believe spontaneity has a unique quality of its own.
I wish we could all hang out in person, more often, this is definitely more than just a blog, it can be therapy (in a very interesting way) :-)) I suppose the above is a perfect example of this, there are so many interesting people here, and as I look forward to cultivating a better column for everyone, I can rest assured that as long as the awesome folks who keep it up and running, keep on "truckin’, we all have a sounding board.
Well, “keep talking amongst ya-selfs” (Coffee Talk. Mike Myers. Saturday Nite Live, circa 1988-92), and I look forward to being back sooner than later, as I really look forward to taking on Liverpool this Saturday!
Love You All
Jimmy