Tragic

A lot has happened in the football world over the last few days. First and foremost the shocking news that the Togo team bus was attacked at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament, resulting in the tragic death of three people and the subsequent withdrawal of the team from the competition. It is an unbelievable thing to have happened and with the amount of conflict in the area I can see why some people, including Clarence Seedorf, think that the competition should be cancelled.
I don't think that it will be because of the amount of money involved but with the likes of Didier Drogba still participating the risk to not only their families but to their clubs is huge.
With so many games cancelled recently the sports news pages have been filled with alternative topics over the last few weeks, namely debt, and namely Man Utd's debt. I would guess that after this season Sir Alex may, for the first time in a long time, consider retirement, after all even Sir Alex needs money to spend to stay at the top.
Changing the subject dramatically I recently watched Grant Mitchel's (I mean Ross Kemp of course!) two incredible documentaries highlighting the ongoing and bloody war between Palestinians and Israelis. I cannot believe how complicated it is between the two religions, Jewish and Muslim. It is a complete and utter mess there. Gaza, Jerusalem, Israel, Arab, Jew, Muslim, a 400 mile wall, the breaking of the Geneva convention, smuggling through tunnels, car bombs, suicide bombs, whatever it may be, and yet most people spoken to, on both sides, want peace and think that they can live in harmony together. Having been at war for sixty years, sadly, it seems unlikely.
Again changing the subject, but staying with TV, I watched 'Elvis with the Presley's' on Saturday morning - I allowed myself a whole fifty minutes of time to watch it but I paid the price with a subsequent 'Wife strop' and 'Children strop' in the process. Note to self, when I am not playing on a Saturday I must not relax!.
Anyway, what a brilliant show. He was the ultimate performer and he lived the ultimate rock and roll life. Together with Priscilla they were one great looking couple, who had everything, but with Elvis's relationships with his 'boy's', his manager Colonel Parker, and with the army of his fans, in the end it was too much. It was incredible to see how upset his family, fans, and friends still were when talking about him after all these years. He died at the age of Forty - two having been addicted to prescription drugs for at least ten of those years. The fact that he had been forced to 'play' Las Vegas, for 837 pretty much consecutive shows, certainly didn't help his health. At the time his shows were raking in 100,000 pounds a week and the run lasted for a whole five years. After every one of those shows the whole top floor of the Hilton Hotel, which was home on and off for the duration, there was a party and he was the host.
Seeing his daughter and ex wife talk so fondly about him though, of how generous and kind he was, as well as watching him perform, you couldn't help but be moved by the show. Well that is unless you have an irate wife crashing dishes about and abusing the hoover, and three children panting at the door to be let out and taken sledging!.

Now back to reality and what a breath of fresh air it was today. We trained on Torquay's seafront, complete with oncoming tide and bemused onlookers. It was a great laugh though and by the time we had finished, one of 'Charns' misdirected passes was on it's way to either France or America depending on the current, Elliot was last seen trying to dribble through the waves, and a local fishing boat was now the proud owner of a T.U.F.C football thanks to a Chris Zebroski shot! More of the same tomorrow, so if you fancy a laugh we are the ones on the beach with the shrinking pitch and the floating footballs.

CH