Happiness
This is interesting. Freakonomics writers discussing how money can make you happier.
Did you catch White Lines on footballers’ salaries? Have a read.
I was going to do a long bit about a BBC3 documentary I saw last night about sweat shops (workers in some do 18 hour days for the equivalent of a pound a day), but probably best to pass on that.
Great stuff from Colin at Championship at Best. He shows how Fulham have paid more per appearance for their purchases than Arsenal have for thiers. Ye gods.
re-white lines’ article. equating squad training sessions and match days to the totality of the work week is a little naive. This is assuming that players don’t hit the weight room, attend team community relations functions, participate in EPL/team sponsored charity work. All of this brings to mind the tendency on this side of the water to look at the length of the school day, look at the length of the school year, and then tell teachers how little they work and, considering they only work 9 months a year, how overpaid they are.
On the Arsenal/Fulham spending comparison, my only question was over how long a stretch was this comparison made. Aside from that, I thought the observations were spot on. The idea of shopping for footballers in North America and Australia makes a lot of sense. There don’t seem to be a lot of lazy and unfit Yanks, Canadians, and Aussies in the top levels in Europe.
I think that Arsene Wenger is a good yardstick for comparison. Over the last 10 years or so, I can only think of one of his purchases that I considered a donkey [Pascal Cigan if I must name names]. He finds these talented kids, teaches them his game and plugs them in. It is, however, patently unfair to blame others for not doing the same. Wenger sees things that others don’t. HE is the special one. Blaming others for not being as good is like complaining that McBride and Crouch aren’t as clever on the ball as Ronaldihno and Cruyff.
Thanks for all the good, provocative stuff, pard.
HatterDon
25 Apr 08 at 1:15 pm
It`s a sobering thought that Fulham have spent the equivalent of two-thirds` of Arsenal`s budget!
I`m afraid I don`t share this enthusiasm for North American and Antipodean players. Yes, there are cultural and linguistic pluses but it`s on the field that it really counts. For every Brian McBride there is an Eddie Johnson or Eddie Lewis. And exactly how many Australian or New Zealand players have made into the first team?
Wing Half
25 Apr 08 at 4:53 pm
Sorry this doesn’t flow, but I wrote it for the official message board and I couldn’t get it to paste
The BNP are Nazis, remember them, the people who murdered six million Jews and
reduced London to rubble. Also remember the Nazis were smart, many of the furhers henchmen were PhD’s – they knew how to exploit an economic downturn and prey on the panic and the misery that ensued.
Also don’t be fooled – the leaders of the BNP may wear suits, but many of them have convictions for violent crime. Stephen Lawrence was one of a number of murders that took place in south London 15 years ago when the BNP set up their ‘bookshop’ in the area.
If the vote is low on Thursday the BNP will do well and London will suffer and be shamed.
We should be proud of multicultural London – how can any football supporter today possibly support the BNP – it makes as much sense as when Le Pen in France attempting to turn the nation against Les Bleus.
Thirty years ago we showed the NF up for the racist filth they were at the ANL concert in Victoria Park – be there on Sunday for the Love Music Hate Racism concert and enjoy what makes London great – people of all races enjoying themselves.
As far as all extremists being the same – rot; I am proud to be a member of the SWP; if it is extremist to be against racism, poverty, war, exploitation and climate change, then I am also proud to be am guilty.
- it’s very sad that so many people can support a black and white football team, but have such a blinkered view of the world:
Red S
25 Apr 08 at 8:28 pm
Red S. Thanks for responding to all my observations and questions in such a clear and consise point-by-point manner.
Now where did I set my pint?
HatterDon
25 Apr 08 at 10:16 pm
Red S - that’s an unusual post for this site, but I’m with you all the way. I read my booklet about the London elections today and the BNP, by virtue of having a candidate whose name begins with the letter B, are on the second page. Their message is carefully camouflaged hatred. They use an Irish person as an example of someone who wants ‘indiginous’ people looked forward before immigrants. The Irish, of course, have never travelled the world looking for a better situation for themselves and their family…
Anyway, with you all the way, every word you say.
weltmeisterclaude
26 Apr 08 at 9:05 am
[...] I was going to do a long bit about a BBC3 documentary I saw last night about sweat shops workers ihttp://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2008/04/25/happiness/Capello: The first interview Guardian UnlimitedSport: Tim Adams interviews Fabio Capello and finds [...]
footballers salaries
2 Jun 08 at 9:56 am