Sunday, December 30, 2007

Motherwell skipper O'Donnell dies

Its a sobering end to 2007. And it puts United's defeat to the Hammers in perspective.

Its been a year of ups and downs. A roller-coaster really. Where there have been many good things to be grateful for, there have been nearly just as many things to regret. But I'm not one for spending too much time looking back at what cannot be undone. The prospects for the year ahead are unclear, but its also a year in which change, change for the better, can come about. Here are just some ideas for a better year ahead:

1) Crackdown on drug cheats
In a year in which we've seen the ugliness of sport through Marion Jones and Floyd Landis, its time that all sports take a hardline stance against drug cheats. The IOC and other sporting organisations shouldn't be afraid of banning disgraced athletes for good. Athletes all over the world are viewed as role models for youngsters, and its time that they live up to that responsibility. Cut them loose from sports, cut out the vermin.

2) Saner football calendar
As I have always said, there's too much football. Some athletes easily play up to 60-65 games a year, or a game every 5 days, without breaks. Its just too much. Cut away the competitions that do not matter. Kill off the Intertoto Cup, Confederations Cup, the English League Cup, and cut down on the number of teams that can participate in continental competitions too. Reduce the number of competitions, and the number of teams that take part in the remaining competitions, and perhaps finally, we'll see teams that fight hard to win in every single game. And an end to the football deaths too.

3) Cleaner & Greener
Lets finally see countries actually hammering out enviroment accords that do make a difference. The world's dying, and we should do our very best to reverse that process. Climate change can, should, and must be stopped. And the only way to do that is to create a new accord with teeth to replace the toothless and dead-as-a-salted-fish Kyoto Protocol.

4) World Peace
Corny, yes, but it is after all, a time for looking forward. As improbable as it may be, I do hope, with all my heart, that the conflicts that we have all over the world come to an end. And none too late too. Gosh, I sound like a beauty pageant contestant. Bleagh.

Ah well, enough with my far-fetched hopes for 2008. Here's to wishing all of you a Happy New Year!

i heard the crickets at 12:43 pm

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