doing my bit for society

Anyone who knows me would know that futsal and I are synonymous. And those who know me well would know that I truly believe we have tremendous talent in this sport that’s just waiting to be discovered and polished, if only Azalina would bloody well do something about it.

Well, to wait around for any menteri to actually practice what she preaches about "developing futsal at grassroot level" is like waiting for khinzirs to fly, for serious. And so to not waste any more time just hoping on our behinds, a few of my fellow Wildcatz plus a good futsal mate from Carroad ventured early on Saturday morning to SM Bandar Utama, with the objective of teaching some wide-eyed teenage chicas to play ball.

There were five of us, 29 of them, and only 12 balls. A rather dodgy equation, this we were fully aware of, but hey the show had to go on!

We started with the boring-but-vital basics—make sure your ankle is locked, use the side of your foot to pass, stop the ball with the sole of your foot, etc.

We let them get comfy with the ball and taught them very basic movement with it (We said, "Imagine that it’s your little sister; you gotta make sure that she’s always with you—don't let her get in front of you, nor behind. You gotta always be in control." Their response? "Ahh, we’ll treat it like our boyfriends." Cheeky lot!)

We tortured them a little (heh) with sprints. And tormented them (heh heh) by playing "monkey."

And finally, we divided them into four teams and watched while they went wild against each other.

Gotta say that all the delight and excitement on their faces more than made up for me having to wake up at ungodly hours that morning, for serious.

One-up to us—you ain't got nothin' on this, Dato'!

*Note: the obvious discontentment with the Sports & Youth Ministry stemmed from the cancellations of major sporting events in KL (namely the Asian X Games and especially the KL World 5s) for the lame-ass reason of "these events take up too much money; money that would be better off spent for developments at grassroot level." What development?!

disappointing

Did you see Datuk Siti's outfit at the Grammy's? Though it was a lovely ensemble, I can't help but rant a little on it.

I mean, come on... Call me old-fashioned but when you've been given the rare honour of representing Malaysia at such a major international event, shouldn't you promote our very own beautiful batik and gorgeous, intricate kebaya?

After all, if we don't show off our heritage, who will innit ;)

the haze is going, the drought is gone

Wayne Rooney gifted himself with the sweetest 21st birthday pressie by ending his goal drought in superb style. Contributing to Man United's first, second and final goal in tonight's 4-0 thrashing of Bolton, Rooney crushed the "fortress" of the Reebok and reminded his fans of that sweet victory in Europe when he made his first-ever appearance in a Red Devils shirt a memorable one by scoring a hat-trick.

Anyways. As they say, after a drought, it will usually flood. Hear hear! Oh, how good it feels to be on top ;)

mr big

Does anyone remember them? Their hits included tunes like "To Be With You," "Green Tinted Sixties Mind" and my all-time favourite...

"Just Take My Heart"

It's late at night and neither one of us is sleeping

I can't imagine living my life after you're gone

Wondering why so many questions have no answers

I keep on searching for the reason why we went wrong

Where is our yesterday

You and I could use it right now

But if this is goodbye

Just take my heart when you go

I don't have the need for it anymore

I'll always love you, but you're too hard to hold

Just take my heart when you go

Here we are about to take the final step now

I just can't fool myself, I know there's no turning back

Face to face it's been an endless conversation

But when the love is gone you're left with nothing but talk

I'd give my everything

If only I could turn you around

But if this is goodbye

Just take my heart when you go

I don't have the need for it anymore

I'll always love you but you're too hard to hold

Just take my heart when you go

pride | stupidity

I think it’s high time I break the three-month silence, and what better reason than to bitch about the idiocy of McClaren’s England.

Last Saturday, I witnessed as the world’s top individual football greats tremble against Macedonia. Three of the globe’s best midfielders were struggling for their right to shine in their area of expertise, and as the world knows, three’s company—Carrick was found wanting, Gerrard reduced to less-than-ordinary, and Lampard… well, I’ve never thought much of the no-skills-can-only-capitalise-from-a-deflection player, anyways.

Next up: a trip to Croatia. They with a vicious team who (1) have never lost on home soil, (2) have fans who will cheer them on and jeer their foes to the end, and most importantly, (3) were psyched up after seeing England struggle with Macedonia.

Of course, England failed. So easily, at that. Shapeless and in a shambles. I laughed my heart out while the so-called “world’s greats” fumbled and stumbled.

I could almost see the headlines of tomorrow. “Bring Becks Back!” it will shout. By those who wanted him out in the first place, no less. I mean, for serious, putting aside my undying love for the former captain, no one can deny that with Beckham back in the team, a whole world of difference it would make.

Why McClaren has omitted the ex-skipper is beyond me, really. There’s no great reason nor benefit for leaving him off the list. Heck, other than Lennon, Becks was the only one who performed at Germany’06, for crying out loud! Oh, wait. Here’s one: Stevie is an egotistical fool who refuse to have any association whatsoever with his predecessor’s favourite so he won't be caught dead following the latter's footsteps.

Fool, I still say, because as bad as Sven was, it took him a healthy four YEARS before his first defeat. As opposed to Stevie’s lame five MATCHES.

With that, allow me to throw this to you: if McClaren wasn’t English, and he’s displayed on a shelf side-by-side with Eriksson, would the powers that be even look at the former?