20/06/2002 - Entry #2.
Entry number 2, then.
I'm absolutely knackered. After I wrote the last entry and uploaded it, I trotted off to bed. This would've been around 12:30 in the afternoon. I managed to sleep until 7:30pm, before my brother woke me up for dinner. Something is very very wrong with that sleeping pattern.
I have no idea when I'll be able to update tomorrow. I was recently offered a position working at Badlands Games which I'm rather excited about. I have an interview on Friday night, so tomorrow I'm going to do my best to make a model to show them. I've looked through the concept art for their latest project, so hopefully I might be able to make something out of it to show at the interview. Wish me luck on that one.
So the World Cup then, and Ahn Jung-hwan has been sacked from Perugia. This annoys me, for several reasons. See, one of the many things that I love so much about the World Cup, is the inherent nationalism of the tournament. It's obvious that when you pitch the national teams of 174 countries against one another you're going to instill pride, xenophobia and conflict. But there's a passion to football that doesn't exist in most other sports. Compare the dignified pomp of the Olympics, for example, with the 40% of the English workforce which took the day off work to watch our team play Argentina. Both the Olympics and the World Cup pitch countries from around the world against each other, but I don't recall a time when there was rioting in the streets after the Italians lost to Fatima Whitbread. Supporting your team and claiming your allegiance to that handful of men is half the reason I love football so much. People that say it's just a game clearly don't understand how it feels to win. Seeing your team lift the cup at the end of the season brings complete euphoria. Anyone who loves football as much as I do will agree with me on that. There's a vibrance to the game and to the supporters that really sets it apart from any other sport I know. I'll never tire of the collective roar of a crowd as their team chips one into the back of the net. Every single one of them, regardless of colour, class or creed, yell out as the ball crosses the line. The term "Leeds United" has never been more appropriate. The whole crowd celebrates as one. The whole crowd dismays as one. And the whole crowd rally against their opposition as one. Whether it's chanting about Matt Busby, writing disparaging comments on websites, or tearing up shops in South Korea, there's a heartfelt sense of factions that I can't help but like. Don't get me wrong, I don't for a second condone rioting and looting and the like. I think those fans bring the game into disrepute and needlessly tarnish the reputation of all the other supporters. But I do admire their fervour for the game. For anyone to feel so strongly about something that they'd get so swept up in the reaction, I can't help but respect their conviction. I just think they're channelling it in completely the wrong direction. But perhaps that's what separates football from 'Henmania'.
For anyone who doesn't know what I'm talking about, Ahn Jung-hwan is a South Korean footballer. He plays for Perugia, an Italian team. Two days ago Korea played Italy in the World Cup, and Ahn scored the winning goal which sent the Italians home. Following the result, Perugia have sacked Ahn Jung-hwan for "offending Italian football". He is no longer welcome at the club, and will have to seek a contract elsewhere. Coupled with the rioting that Italian fans have been involved in since the match, it seems they're taking the defeat pretty badly. It smacks of immaturity and spiteful vindictiveness to me, but again, I respect their conviction. Ahn was only on loan to Perugia (admittedly he's been on loan there for almost two years now), but he was still a relatively valuable player. Even more so after the World Cup. I disagree with their decision, but I can't help wonder how I'd feel if I were the Italian players. I mean, I have an intense dislike for the Argentinian side. How much of my hatred of them stems from Maradona's famous handball that sent England out of the World Cup in 1986? Irrational? Absolutely. I was 5 years old for goodness' sake. But wounds run deep in football, and so how would I have felt if I had to play alongside Maradona when the tournament was over? Again, I disagree with the decision to sack Ahn Jung-hwan, but maybe its my beloved passion for the sport that's to blame.
In other, heavily related news, apparently Ronaldo wants to play in the Premiership. He thinks English football has "a flair of its own", that outshines the European leagues. I'd have to agree with him, but that aside, FUCK OFF you fat-toothed twat! We don't want you playing for Man United! Go play for fucking Grasshoppers or something! We don't want you!
Oh well. Hmm, just found out that the Creative-Assembly are making a 'Medieval: Total War' game. The other game in the series, 'Shogun: Total War' was absolutely superb. I look forward to that one. Anyway, I'm going to see if I can fall asleep yet. Your guess is as good as mine. If I fail miserably I'll update again later and let you know how the Badlands model is going.
Please sign the Guestbook. For the love of God, sign it now.