A More Perfect American Union
I don’t know which was more anticlimactic, the Dems finally mustering the courage to pass healthcare legislation or the MLS Players Union and League reaching agreement and avoiding a strike. Both groups flirted with self-destruction, but elected to do the prudent thing and save their own bacon. Good move. It is best to live to fight another day.
Dirty Politics
While a fellow MP was decrying the inconvenience that would be caused if South Africa goes through with its plans to close several smaller border posts in order to boost staff at busier posts during the 2010 World Cup, Swazi MP Sicelo Dlamini’s went on a weird tangent and brought the following issue to the fore:
“Right now, you can hardly use the Ngwenya Border Post toilets, which are in a sorry state with cisterns not working. On the other hand, the South African side’s toilets are so clean such that you can even enjoy a meal while inside. What is the minister doing about such a sorry state of affairs?”
I surely hope the minister is tending to the MP’s grievances, but telling the world that he could have a meal inside a port-a-potty is sharing way too much.
Chinese Match Fixing Crack Down
In the wake of the China Super League match fixing scandal, Chinese Football officials have been cracking down on corruption. Officials recently arrested three referees on suspicion that they helped fix matches. One of the referees in question, Lu Jun, officiated two matches during the 2002 World Cup. The head of the Chinese Football Association, Wei Di, was quoted as follows: “I was really shocked and hurt when Lu’s name cropped up in the scandal.” “He is undoubtedly a first-rate referee in terms of working ability, but his morals are a far cry from his ‘golden whistle’ reputation.”
The Old Trafford Hostage Crisis
I wonder if the anti-Glazer movement realizes how silly it looks during games at Old Trafford? Nowadays, whenever United score, the crowd celebration is rich in irony. The anti-Glazer camp gets up and waves their yellow and green scarves jubilantly in support of the cause. Do they not realize that in the process of paying for the privilege to protest, they are enabling their captors to continue holding them hostage? Let’s be real, the Glazers have the United faithful between a rock and a hard place.
Just Don’t Do It!
Nike and Paris St. Germain Football Club are facing legal troubles for allegedly being involved in a scheme that used sponsorship deals to help Paris St. Germain avoid paying employment taxes on player acquisitions. Apparently, Nike helped attract star players like Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Augustine Jay-Jay Okocha to the Paris club and helped the club disguise payments to these stars. It is believed that the players involved and the team both stood to benefit from the tax fraud. Players take home pay is approximately one–third of their gross pay in France. If indeed there were payment made off the books, both club and players would have pocketed large sums of money. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out.
