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jolomo

Listed below are comments made by jolomo between Friday, 18th July 2008 and Sunday, 15th November 2009.

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'Crown jewels' list sets arguments raging 11:34am on 15 Nov 2009 To blame Sky etc for the down-turn in kids playing sports is a tad harsh. Cable TV in this country co-incided with the rise of the Internet, mass availability of the multitude of game stations, etc.
This & the lack of participation by teachers & parents in schools & clubs has had far more of an effect on the lack of kids playing any sports at all. Too many secondary schools don't have rugby, football or cricket teams. Can't have them being competitive as some of them might feel sad if they don't win.... I used to coach cricket at the local club & too many parents seemed to think it was nothing more than a cheap creche, yes some helped & were keen to drive to away matches but too many used the "oh if only you asked last week" excuse - forgetting that we had...

As far as the viewing figures on Sky for the recent 2009 Ashes series compared favourably with the 2001 series - which holds far more relevance to comparing it to one of the best series ever. Bit like comparing Chris Schofield to Shane Warne!!!
The rise of the English South Africans 7:37pm on 06 Nov 2009 The key question regarding the "Brit-Boks" is one of support.
Who was KP or Trott supporting when the Lions were giving the Boks a right good gubbing in 1997?? Johnno & the boys - not till the last test anyway.... Rugby is always the true compass for a Saffer after all.

With regards to Kieswetter - as a Scot I can guarantee his mother (she is from Gods own country!!) did not raise him, as he claims, to want to play for England. Like South Africa we only turn to England when we can't get into our own team!!
The rise of the English South Africans 09:14am on 06 Nov 2009 I have a number of complaints about the fact England use overseas players to fill the team. I am not bothered about Strauss, Prior etc. They could hardly turn round to their parents at the age of 6 and say no I am staying here in case I want to play cricket!!! However, KP, Trott & all others made a decision to leave their own country. Kp because at the age of 19 he was not guaranteed a place in the county team - who is? Vaughan spent a season in Yorkshire 2nd XI after playing for England U19.
Counties/States & National Boards spend a fortune on youth development to find that 1 player that goes all the way from U8's to the National team. There will most likely be 1000's of kids getting coached in Natal to find the half dozen or so that make it past the u19's each year. So what happens the counties say Ta much we'll have him. Its not as if you can target 1 kid at the age of 8 and only coach him all the to the National side.
However, the ECB development has been appalling - in the last 10 years batting-wise there has been Bell, Cook & Bopari. Who else has come through from the U19's (Strauss is 31 before any starts typing). Little wonder they are looking southwards
England discover ruthless streak 1:58pm on 28 Sep 2009 I don't think it was right or smart not to give Smith a runner. At the end of the day they have a lot of games to play in South Africa this winter does Strauss really want this to come back & haunt him??
What will happen when he or another batsman needs a favour from Smith - no chance. KP needs a runner, sorry mate its a recurrance of your injury. And for what? SA were struggling to keep up, never mind win & as you say runners cause havoc especially when tail-enders are in....
MP who complained MPs lived on 'rations' is demoted 10:50pm on 07 Sep 2009 The quote did not sound smart & was a headline grabber... However, that aside he was right in as much as without proper pay we are only going to get either a bunch of numpties. What sort of business leader, accountant, lawyer, etc will leave a high-paying job for £60k a year, life under a lens & dogs abuse at every turn.
They need a decent wage and we need people who have worked outside of parliament/politics for a good 10 years or so. Not some 25 year old with a CV including stacking shelves, barwork & summer job for an MP - friend of daddy(mp)....
Adopted Mason highlights question of allegiance 9:55pm on 23 Jun 2009 I think that people should not be allowed to change allegiance because it suits. Countries put a lot of money into finding talented sportsmen - you don't just grab an 8-year old kid and say right you are going to be the next Usain Bolt, Kevin Pieterson, David Beckham, etc. South Africa would have put millions into the training of the 1000's of kids across the country to whittle them down to the 1 or 2 the could make the grade. However, a quick flash of the cash - and thats all it was - he left for greener pastures.
Lets not kid ourselves no-one is leaving the UK to go and sprint for Kenya, play football for the Ivory Coast or cricket for South Africa. Why? Because the UK has discovered it is easier/cheaper to pay for atheletes/sportsmen once they are more or less developed than do it themselves.
Mind you, having walked along the local high street its hardly surprising when you see 13 yr old kids with cankles, coke bellies & moobs....
Ashes are still the ultimate, says Warne 7:29pm on 23 Jun 2009 1st of all if Fred makes the team why would he bat above Broad or Rashid (if he plays). Fred always takes an age & a day to get in form with the bat.
As for the bowling - what about Onions? Excellent in the Spring tests & has continued this for Durham.
For my money it should be:
1. Cook
2. Strauss (Captain)
3. Pieterson
4. Bopari
5. Bell
6. Prior
7. Broad
8. Flintoff
9. Swann
10. Onions
11. Anderson

Not sure about Bell though. KP needs to bat at 3 as no-one else looks capable Bell has generally batted better lower down & Bopari generally doesn't bat as high as 3 for Essex & lacks the calm authority of a classic no. 3.
Decent tail though
World Twenty20 team of the tournament 9:46pm on 21 Jun 2009 Gayle is a mince captain & other than his 88 against a poor Australian attack was only ok. Kallis 2nd highest run scorer at 2nd highest average, at a high strike rate & he bowled pretty well. De Villiers in for KP, as ever in this format KP has struggled to produce any big innings - only 1 fifty. Yes he should and poss could perform, but De Villiers did do the business throughout out and was awesome in the field.

The lack of captain would mean either bunging in Vettori who is an outstanding spinner or Sangakarra. The Choice is yours....
The scunner factor 6:04pm on 08 Jun 2009 Let's not get carried away. The SNP got 30% of the vote - well done. However, as less than 30% of the electorate bothered to vote hardly a big thumbs up them or for Europe (they are bragging because they got approx 8% of the potential vote!!!). I know someone who was at a polling station at a medium sized town in Scotland - don't want to name & shame - and they said only 10 people voted all day. It struck me as a bit depressing if nothing else.

What it really means is that Labour are about to enter the early 80's syndrome as there is no-one with any oomph on the front bench or in the vicinity. The Tories will take over & Cameron will no doubt try & avoid the mistakes that Brown did: avoiding Salmond, going on YouTube, crashing the economy & losing all semblance of control within his own party. The Lib-dem's for me did appallingly bad across the UK with all the problems going on in Westminster & with Labour they still failed to produce the goods. What next lose ground to the BNP......
Controversy reigns on opening day 8:36pm on 18 Jul 2008 For those of you complaining about amla bear in mind England tried similar last year against India with KP but failed to get the decision overturned - coach, players shouting from the balcony....
As for dodgy catches Vaughan today, G. Jones against Bangledesh in Durham, was it Hussain in Sri Lanka - there have been a number.

Anyway can England criticise anyone for gamensmanship, poor behaviour, etc. The jelly bean incident, the rugby tackle, collingwood mouthing off at warne in melbourne for no apparent reason, the list goes on.

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