Putting Things In Perspective
Wrote Rob Green in The Independent last Saturday after his admirable charity mission to Africa:
'These people have nothing. They live in homes made from mud and faeces. They have no water, very little food, and not much hope for the future. But it meant everything to them to build a football stadium that they could be proud of. And they were proud of it. It was their life.
'Life as a footballer is self-focused. It can be easy to take for granted the life that you lead. Focusing on the negatives, not appreciating what you have, things that anyone in the western world could be guilty of. As a footballer you live on challenges, whether they are set by fans, managers, media, the opposition or yourself. This summer I wanted something to challenge the habits, thoughts, and beliefs that I had built into myself after 12 years of full-time football.
'For me, this was a culture shock on an almost indescribable scale. It was hard to take everything in. I found it a fight not to be sick from the smell. It was difficult to understand, and even harder not to be overcome, by the enormity of it all. This was an education. It took me some time to realise that at the end of a day the stench in the hotel was me and my sweat from the hours spent in such squalid environments.
'Mildred Kendi was a young lady who had overcome the stigma, discrimination, and physical difficulties of living with HIV as well as the general problems of living in the slum to become a vibrant, positive person who led groups set up to help others in the same way. It was wonderful to see someone so positive and happy regardless of her situation and surroundings. She didn't have money to pay the rent, she watched her neighbours scrub the communal bath after she had used it and wasn't allowed to use the same washing line as them, but she was genuinely happy.
'The next time I struggle to rise from bed for a 10.30am training session at West Ham, I will think of her.'
Needless to say, Mediawatch was a little shocked at such insight from a footballer, and is delighted that it has taken just six days for Green to come out in the press complaining that West Ham won't give him a pay rise.
Open To Everything
Says former Aston Villa and Wolves goalkeeper Stefan Postma:
"My first goal is a club outside of Holland. That is what tempts me. I had a great time in England, but I am open to everything now."
Given the infamous film of Postma receiving the backdoors attention of his girlfriend's rather large strap-on, we think it's safe to say he was open to everything before now.
Changing Times
Writes Oliver Kay in The Times:
'At times this summer Sir Alex Ferguson has been accused of fiddling while his outstanding player burns his bridges at Manchester United, but last night came reports of a dash to Lisbon to persuade Cristiano Ronaldo to drop his ambition to join Real Madrid.'
By 'at times', Kay presumably means this Monday, when the following was reported:
'Ferguson had planned to fly to Lisbon today in an attempt to clear the air with the Portugal forward, but instead the Manchester United manager will stay at home to focus on his attempt to sign Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham Hotspur, raising further doubts about Ronaldo's future at Old Trafford.'
The newspaper? The Times. The journalist? Oliver Kay.
Harsh But Fair Introduction Of The Day
'Gareth Barry was last night facing up to the sobering possibility of starting the season as an Aston Villa player' - The Guardian make friends amongst the Holte End faithful.
A Bridge Too Far?
Wayne Bridge has taken quite a bit of stick for his decision to carry on a part-time career at Chelsea rather than be a full-time footballer elsewhere. But then, maybe he's got other stuff to do - IMDB hands him 'special thanks' for his involvement with Sin City Diaries, dubbed 'Skinemax's Hottest Softcore Series'.
We're very confused.
For Your Licence Fee Today
Reports the BBC Sport website:
'Crystal Palace legend Dougie Freedman feels he has had an eventful time during his decade at the club.
'He joined the club in 2005 from Barnet and then left Nottingham Forest to rejoin the Eagles in 2000.'
To be fair, inventing time travel probably could be filed under 'eventful'...
Stick! No, Twist! No, Stick! No, Twist!
Robinho's agent Wagner Ribeiro, July 16: "What's making Robinho seriously consider accepting Chelsea's offer is that Scolari helped him a lot when he still wasn't very well known in Europe."
Robinho's agent Wagner Ribeiro , July 17: "Robinho has a contract at Real Madrid. And for that reason he is not looking to leave the club."
Robinho's agent Wagner Ribeiro , July 18: "It's only logical that a club like Barcelona want Robinho. He is also wanted by Chelsea and Manchester United..."
Davis And Mendes: Bargains
Reports the Daily Mail:
'Portsmouth defender Noe Pamarot has snubbed a move to Premiership newcomers Hull.
'The French defender cost Portsmouth £7m from Tottenham in 2006 but has fallen out of favour with manager Harry Redknapp.'
Now, correct us if we're wrong, but weren't Portugal-capped Pedro Mendes and former England squad member Sean Davis thrown in for that £7m as well?
Internet Football Fans: We're The Mutt's Nuts, Aren't We?
Mediawatch's finger is so far off the pulse that when someone invited us to check out The Foxes' gig this weekend we assumed they were talking about Leicester City.
And we're glad we did, because the proper Foxes are putting on more of a show than anything you'll see on Oxford Street this Saturday at 8pm sharp (excuse Mediawatch while we pocket these free gig tickets). Well, not the proper proper Foxes - they're too busy scrabbling for Paul Dickov's signature - but their fans, the current holders of the Internet Football Association Cup, who'll be defending their trophy on the luscious fields of Leeds University this weekend (excuse Mediawatch while we pocket this free honorary degree in groundskeeping).
The Leicester fans will be joined by more than 70 other teams, including representatives from RC Lens and Nigeria, and the action will feature an England v Scotland international which - and we're not sure about this break in tradition - is widely predicted not to end in fisticuffs. Unless we get there, that is! (Excuse Mediawatch while we pocket this free ASBO from West Yorkshire police).
Over to John Boocock, who hasn't let either his name or his supporting Leeds United stop him from enjoying as normal and active a life as possible: "The Internet Football Association was formed at the time of Euro 96, when the FA's Graham Kelly stated that English football fans would not get on with either each other or with visiting fans.
"We are living proof that this is not the case and week-in, week-out our teams meet up before the big match to play in our league and our cup competitions. Internet football is not just about winning. It's about taking part and building bridges between rival sets of supporters. We play real games with real results, the best of which is the friendship built up between those who love of the beautiful game."
All sounds a bit sissy, but then in this age of disloyal players, moneygrabbing agents and thousand-pound season tickets, maybe that's what we need. And Mediawatch of all people is keen to stress that football stuff on the internet is dead good (Mediawatch pockets free subscription to F365...actually, take that back) - indeed, with the Internetfoxes going from strength to strength and the real Leicester City on course to meet the likes of Cheltenham Town and Hereford United this season, who's to say the cyber-geeks won't have a better team than Milan Mandaric before too long? Power to the people!
You can join your local F365 football team right here...
Headline Of The Day
None of them. Not one. It's like people care more about golf and cricket.
Worst Headline Of The Day
'So Faroe, So Good For New City Boss' - The Daily Mail. Stick to getting them from here, chaps.
Quote Of The Day
"Messi, Arshavin, Henry?" - It's a shame Barcelona don't seem to want Andrei Arshavin as much as he wants them, but it's worth a try. Messi, Mediawatch, Henry?
Runner-Up
"I am not expecting him (Tim Cahill) to be fit for the start of the season. He is going over to Australia to see the specialist for a last check but it is so far, so good" - David Moyes actually sounds quite pleased that his best player is missing.
Rumour Of The Day
'A man has been arrested in south-east London after allegedly having sex with sheep at a farm. The 27-year-old was arrested during a raid on Thursday morning at his home in Dulwich, south-east London, on suspicion of bestiality. It follows several complaints about a man molesting sheep in Botany Bay Lane, Chislehurst, in May and June. Witnesses reported a man sexually assaulting sheep before running off, often leaving clothing at the scene' - The close season is hard for all of us, as evidenced by the BBC website.
Thanks to today's Mediawatch spotters: Conor Cooke, Mike Hall, Jonathan Ellenor and Peter Alexander. If you spot something that belongs on this page, drop us a line on theeditor@football365.com, putting 'Mediawatch' in the subject field.
