04/26/24
May 20, 2004
Iraq destroys UK government.: Or: Iraq 11 Houseof Commons XI 0. Iraq's football team kicked off their UK tour by thumping a team of "old, fat and disorganised" ministers of Parliament. Iraq's German manager said, ""This game gives a good message. ... After so much horrible news in Iraq, it is good that we can come here and play football. That is itself a positive message to the world, and it is why we are proud to be here ... After the war, there was nothing left in Iraq. We have just one pitch, without grass, without water, and without physiotherapy. But we will never give up. We are one team, we have one goal - and that is to win our matches." This is so cool. I wonder if a buncha US Reps have ever done anything like this. I wonder if they would do it now.
posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 11:38 AM - 6 comments
I wonder if a buncha US Reps have ever done anything like this. I wonder if they would do it now. The short answer is: Not bloody likely. It's a nice story and all, but let me get this straight: The Iraqi national team played a bunch of aging non-athletes? I understand it's England, and one side grew up with a more organized version of the game, but man, it's a good thing they only lost by eleven goals. It's fine, I guess, as long as everyone was good natured about it. But still. It seems a little odd. Oh well. Awesome headline on that story too, by the way.
posted by chicobangs at 12:12 PM on May 20, 2004
chico, it was very good-natured from the look of things. And what was cool was that these were elected national representatives going out and playing and allowing themselves to be soundly beaten. This would be like, say, having a bunch of Reps from the House of Representatives playing basketball with the Afghani national team. I mean, this is the same country that stood arm-in-arm with the US in bombing your country, then allows you to come over to (somewhat) embarrass the members of the leading chamber of its legislature. I think it was awful big of the MPs to do this and a good show of friendship all around. The coach of the House of Commons team said, "The fact that this game happened is far more important than any result could be ... It is undoubtedly a good sign. "A while ago, I was asked to go and help organise a match in Afghanistan, at a stadium which had become infamous as a site of executions. "It was a team of forces of all nationalities against some of the area's footballers, and the place was absolutely packed. That showed that a bit of normality was returning to life, and since time immemorial it has been the case that sport brings people together." btw, the "old, fat and disorganised" comment was from one of the MPs who played. Sorry if I'm repeating the obvious. It didn't seem from your comment that you had read the article.
posted by worldcup2002 at 01:35 PM on May 20, 2004
It isn't all bread roses, at least one game, with Bristol Rovers, has been cancelled on security grounds. Call me a humourless old sod, but with the news from Iraq getting worse by the day and new scandals being uncovered by the chuffin minute, this really is a sideshow. Never accuse British M.P's of being unable to spot a photo opportunity.
posted by Fat Buddha at 02:56 PM on May 20, 2004
I would just note that the House of Commons has a football squad whereas the closest I know of in the US is a barber shop quartet.
posted by billsaysthis at 06:20 PM on May 20, 2004
Hahahahahaha. Brilliant. I see a new site: Ismygovernmentjockornot.com
posted by worldcup2002 at 08:24 PM on May 20, 2004
I'm not seeing anything when clicking on the link, is it using javascript or flash or something?