‘Cos I certainly am.
And that’s not just because of last night’s debacle at the Oval where Paul Collingwood dropped right out of sight in my respect league by asking for Elliott to be ruled “run-out” after they took him out with a body slam in the middle of the track! And what’s with the empty apology afterwards?
Actually, have you noticed how amazing world sport seems to be when the English national team aren’t involved? This is coming from an (embarrasingly) loyal England supporter in all forms of sport from the rugby, to tennis to athletics to whatever else takes your fancy. Note the following:
- The IPL was incredible stuff. No English teams involved.
- The English Twenty20 Cup is lame. Only a few minor exceptions of Englishmen (well done Napier for your moment of fame).
- The English ODI and Test scene is boring, dull and depressing. And cheating with a lack of sportsmanship to boot. And any exciting or innovative play will come from those who have been assimilated into Englishness: Pietersen, Mascharenas, Shah etc!
- World cricket has been invigorating, fast, and to the point. Wherever the English are, you’ll find all the moaning going on, whereas everyone else just gets on with it. Well, minus the Aussies sometimes.
- The Euros Football Championship has been mesmerising. Ooh suprise surprise, no England national team.
- The Premier League is great thanks mostly to our foreign imports of Ronaldo, Torres, Tevez, Drogba, Fabregas, Adebayor, Ballack, Berbatov, Santa Cruz et al.
- The Ryder Cup is great. Only a few English players involved. The Americans bring the jazz.
- We blagged it to the Rugby Union World Cup Final and were put in our place by the Springboks.
- Lewis Hamilton is worshipped at the altar. Well they had to choose another loser after all previous English has-beens.
- Watching and even listening to Andrew Murray is sporting torture. Where would Wimbledon be but for the quality and character of Federer and Nadal?
To be honest I might have been a bit general and unfair here but you can’t deny that this year’s sporting thrills have been provided by anyone but the English. And then last night’s humiliation of Collingwood was the last straw, especially for someone like myself who was so supportive of his recall to the Test team a few years back.
Perhaps its time to ditch the our Blighty loyalties for greener pastures. To hell with Tebbit.
Turkey anyone?
