Non-footie - what can we trust these days

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We all know how much it hurts to be constantly disappointed by your team. Sometimes it's a consolation, like on sunday, that at least they gave their all and it was just 'luck' against them.
But is it always just luck? Events with South Africa, although cricket related, start to nag away at the possibility that the whole thing is an elaborate charade. Personally I don't think the Premiership is effected, but I don't suppose many people dreamt that Hanse Cronje was on the take either. How would we feel if it was revealed that all our failings were rigged and contrived? If Alan Shearer was the ring leader? It doesn't bear thinking about, does it. You dispell it quickly from the mind, too horrible to even contemplate. And once you're suspicious, you could probably see demons everywhere - Given's non-save last night for instance.
One thing I do think, though, is that spread betting and betting on various esoteric outcomes rather than pure goals and results has become a danger. Players could, as Cronje seems to have done, reconcile with themselves that what they are doing as all right as long as they try to actually win the game itself. Obviously cricket is more prone to this type of thing, but something like the number of fouls could be influenced, especially if the ref was knobbled. It could explain a lot sometimes.

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2000

Answers

Hey don't blame spread betting.

I've somehow now had ten consecutive cheques from my bookies since I last had to send them one.

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2000


Interesting thoughts Windy though I can only advise you, having had the 'privilege' of visiting numerous psychiatric hospitals in previous jobs, not to 'go there' lest you end up a paranoid conspiracy theorist ! One of the truths of existence as a human being is that, throughout your life, people who are faceless and nameless (usually) and unaccountable (definitely) are constantly taking decisions that have an impact on our lives.

Whether it be in influencing where and how well you are schooled, what job opportunities are opened up to you, who you can vote for, whether you get to see your favourite team play in person, on TV, not at all ..... or even whether your team continues to exist.

The way I look at it, you've got one of three options. Either be a brain-dead 'slave to the system'. Secondly, you can try and fight it and become that paranoid conspiracy theorist. Or, thirdly, work out what you do have control over (quite a lot actually) and focus on them areas.

Somehow, I doubt very much that betting comes into that last category !

Hey - maybe I've discovered the secret to destroying The Matrix !!

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2000


Have any of you read; "And the truth shall set you free", by David Icke (ex. BBC documentarist), the mother of all conspiracy theorists?

A real eye-opener!

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2000


Didn't the former BBC luminary drop a few marbles somewhere along the track ? Where is he now ?

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

He returned to his first love which was goalkeeping. Of course all his silly mouthings meant he had to go incgonito, apparently he's now on loan at Cambridge.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000


Getting back to match fixing.
I watch quite a bit of Italian footy on 4.
I must have seen about a dozen games over the years that were fixed.
They must have been. If Newcastle played with as little interest or passion I'd do my nut.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

I'll be in my local tonight, keeping my eyes and ears open for tomorrow's "fixed" matches!

Only a small fee for info, ;-)

Bud Cronje, Singapore, 14.04.00

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000


I seem to recall that some Italian games have been fixed, whether opposing coachers agreed on a draw etc.

If the whole thing was contrived, you'd see the biggest and fastest gathered lynch mob in history, and there by nowt anyone could do about the hangings.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000


Paranoid conspiracy theorist? Or just stiring? Anyway, we know it happens, even in football (Grobelaar, Marseilles etc.), it's just a case of how often.
A thought on how to stop ref's being knobbled - have a monitored draw on saturday mornings as to who's going to ref each match. Of course it would be harsh on the ref's not knowing where they'd be travelling to..perhaps give them a day's notice. Steve jones (is that his name?) would probably still always claim to be injured though, each time he pulled out Newcastle. I wonder why??;-))

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2000

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