Of Oligarchs and Sheikhs
As I sit here tonight, listening to Cindy McCain deliver the worst speech ever written -- seriously, no exaggeration, her speechwriter needs to be fired -- I find my mind wandering...wandering...and landing on football. I have been Alonso-blue since Monday, so I haven't yet commented on the Man City thing. Allow me to do so now.
I think we're losing the soul of football. The money, the media hype, the nothing-matters-but-the-win mentality. Part of the reason I love Arsenal is that all of this is just less with our team. We're not Chelsea, or Real Madrid, or Man United, and no matter how many trophies those guys win, I'm proud of that. I want to win, but I don't want to turn into Chelsea to do it. I wouldn't say that about Obama and McCain, but the fate of nations rests on this election; I don't care how Obama wins, as long as he does. But football -- even at its most heartrending, it's a game. A game. And the way we win matters as much as the victory itself. Or it should, anyway.
It makes me sad, and mad, when oligarchs, dictators and Arab sheikhs hijack our game. It's not just about the vast amounts of money -- though that is certainly a big part of it -- but rather where the money comes from. Roman Abramovich and Thaksin Shinawatra in are essentially really rich criminals -- not any different, really, than our friend Joey Barton. If we don't want Joey in the game, we shouldn't want Roman. And that's why I just don't get Chelsea fans.
And the new owner of Man City. I've been to and worked in the Middle East many times. Arab societies are rotten all the way through, and the money just makes it worse. So I worry about the infiltration of their money into our lives. I would say the same thing about Nigeria, and I do say the same thing about China. These are not places that share our values, our sense of morality, our notions of equality, fairness, freedom. I don't like that Abu Dhabi owns the Chrysler Building, and parts of iconic American companies like GE, and now Man City. Hell, I don't like it that Arsenal players walk around with "Fly Emirates" on their jerseys. And I certainly don't like trading Highbury for Emirates Stadium. I just don't like it, any of it.
I'm also worried about what Man City's money means for us, and the philosophy of Arsenal. I hear Benitez said the same thing about Liverpool. I think we'll be okay this season, but what about next? What club can realistically keep up with the inflation this will cause? £34 million for Robinho is just plain crazy.
FIFA needs to step in this summer or this game is just going to become a complete joke. Players like Cesc deserve better, and so do we.
I think we're losing the soul of football. The money, the media hype, the nothing-matters-but-the-win mentality. Part of the reason I love Arsenal is that all of this is just less with our team. We're not Chelsea, or Real Madrid, or Man United, and no matter how many trophies those guys win, I'm proud of that. I want to win, but I don't want to turn into Chelsea to do it. I wouldn't say that about Obama and McCain, but the fate of nations rests on this election; I don't care how Obama wins, as long as he does. But football -- even at its most heartrending, it's a game. A game. And the way we win matters as much as the victory itself. Or it should, anyway.
It makes me sad, and mad, when oligarchs, dictators and Arab sheikhs hijack our game. It's not just about the vast amounts of money -- though that is certainly a big part of it -- but rather where the money comes from. Roman Abramovich and Thaksin Shinawatra in are essentially really rich criminals -- not any different, really, than our friend Joey Barton. If we don't want Joey in the game, we shouldn't want Roman. And that's why I just don't get Chelsea fans.
And the new owner of Man City. I've been to and worked in the Middle East many times. Arab societies are rotten all the way through, and the money just makes it worse. So I worry about the infiltration of their money into our lives. I would say the same thing about Nigeria, and I do say the same thing about China. These are not places that share our values, our sense of morality, our notions of equality, fairness, freedom. I don't like that Abu Dhabi owns the Chrysler Building, and parts of iconic American companies like GE, and now Man City. Hell, I don't like it that Arsenal players walk around with "Fly Emirates" on their jerseys. And I certainly don't like trading Highbury for Emirates Stadium. I just don't like it, any of it.
I'm also worried about what Man City's money means for us, and the philosophy of Arsenal. I hear Benitez said the same thing about Liverpool. I think we'll be okay this season, but what about next? What club can realistically keep up with the inflation this will cause? £34 million for Robinho is just plain crazy.
FIFA needs to step in this summer or this game is just going to become a complete joke. Players like Cesc deserve better, and so do we.
Labels: Chelsea, Manchester City, Roman Abramovich
posted by FabFour at 2:01 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home