Alexander Hawkins

This certainly sounds plausible. I've never found this, although he's less than popular with some people for 'status' reasons...

FWIW, I've always played it a perfect 4th up from here...can't find the album right now to check out the original key!

Unlawful Noise is brutal! Bennink's on board as well, IIRC?

Wilkinson Blades Reuben Blades Earl of Sandwich Tiger Woods Woody'n'You Dizzy Gillespie

Yeah...It just seemed to - at the risk of sounding pretentious - kill the narrative of the game. Individual battles; one player overcoming the next by being fitter; one finally outfoxing the next (Pele managing to beat Moore *just that once* in 1970 etc.)... I suppose that's why they only give boxers a minute, rather than a week, between rounds. edit: well, that and it would piss off the crowd

Bo Diddley The Fiddler on the Roof Dirk Diggler

Unlimited subs, whilst it was permitted, absolutely killed many a friendly... I like the idea of limitation, because it really tests the manager. Sven, for example, routinely failed. Mourinho, love him or loathe him, is, by contrast, a genius in this respect.

...drumming not being one of them As someone who doesn't read that forum at all, Crouch just comes over as a twat. I'm almost with Larry...could it be for real a guy playing the 'do you know who I am'/'look at what *these* famous people think of me' card?

Peter Benchley Paul Harvey Kitten Natividad Top Cat Kit Kat Smelly Cat

Shane - I take the point...but I would say who cares now about Germany's third in 1990? Who cares about Brazil's frankly tedious 4th in 1994? Or, for that matter, their only slightly more entertaining 5th 4 years ago? I do accept the point to an extent, like I say, but I do think there have been more World Cups than truly great players... And I should have put it differently - I don't begrudge the Italians the victory in the slightest. Sure, I was supporting France, but the Italians were a good side, and one of the sides which could be said to have been deserving, over the course of the tournament.

I don't believe anyone who knows the game will regard Zidane's reputation as in the slightest bit tarnished. We've all seen him head-butt before, and it's hardly unusual to see disciplinary abhorrences like this on the pitch week in week out from one player or another. What we will appreciate is his mastery with - and, equally, without (see how he draws players) - the football, which has been unequalled since late 80s Maradona. And Zizou was certainly more serene on the football than Maradona. Who cares that Italy have the trophy? Italians I guess. But that'll go away in 4 years, for sure. Zidane will be remembered as a legend of the game for as long as the game itself exists.

Thanks for these pointers! I have the Brownie already - wonderful stuff, of course!

Oh my. That is a special performance. I know very little Sarah Vaughan - could anyone recommend an album to try out from around this period? Very nice comping from the piano player. p.s. in the right hands - e.g. these, or Bud Powell's, etc. - this is a wonderful tune!

The Abbey Lincoln version on 'That's Him' is gorgeous!

Not quite. He has been given a two-game ban with the second game suspended, period. Whether Germany qualify for the final or not is not relevant for the suspended game. Ah - I hadn't appreciated that Hans. Slightly more understandable this way!

Somewhat puzzling, I believe that Frings has actually been given a two game suspension - but the second game will be postponed should Germany make it through to the final. I can't decide whether this is or , morally speaking!

I'm very worried about that to. Not so much for ZIDANE. Like everybody he can do bad fault (and not specially clever one) but he can behave himself better than anyone in the field when, he MUST do it. Of course, the possible provocation from PORTUGAL's players, the traditionnal diving that do EVERY players since a quater of century now, is something that can trick any refeere about any player. I'm more afraid about the back. Imagine than SAGNOL, THURAM, VIEIRA or MAKELELE get a yellow and bye bye FRANCE. Even if they qualified (who's far to be done, even if I'm quoite confident), you don't rebuilt a defense with players who has ZERO minutes play in the legs (CHIMBONDA, BOUMSONG) or les than a handfull of minutes (DIARRA, DORHASOO) to front the FINAL GAME. And, without them, aniway, it will not be the team that we've liked to watch during the two last games. As PORTUGAL is concern, I'm not so negative about the way they behave, anyway. NEDERLAND has started the brutal playing (the treament that the "Little Pisser" receive after seven minutes of playing. Against ENGLAND who will never makes it as it seems, they plaid very borderline, but IMO, "The little Pisser" (who shot a masterfull PK, by the way) was less annoying than his friend, from "MU", the terrible Mr ROONEY who is full of blood and nerves but who have to learn fast and deep that he can't BEHAVE the way he does when playing at this level. Never think, by the way, than ERIKSSON was a good choice to lead this team. And to lead it so long. I'm afraid that the trainer they choose as succesor, is not the guy who can bring an answer to the sole and only question that he should solve: why a team full of great players like ENGLAND disbanded so tragically everytime that they must really GOING ON and SHOWs WHO THEY ARE. Nothing to add from me - I think you've nailed it !

I wonder about that too. There were quite a few horrid games during the current World Cup, but I've also seen a lot of German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A, Spanish La Liga and Premiership games (all these leagues are shown on Dutch TV) that were unbelievably bad... For sure; although around relegation time, there're always those matches falling into the 'so bad, they're good' category ! I suppose it's an apples and oranges type question in the end. So...predictions for the semis? I'll have Germany 2 - 0 Italy and Portugal 0 - 1 France. Scores are just an outside guess really. Fluke of flukes if I get them right. But I'm fairly sure about the winners of the games. I can't see the Germans not beating Italy, especially being the home team etc. And Portugal really didn't trouble the England goal in the QF, and I wouldn't really back them against an 'on-song' France.

Sorry, but I strongly disagree. I think Lampard is nothing more than a "good" player, who should indeed be grateful for the presence of Makelele. On an international level, against strong opponents I've never seen Lampard play as good as he does in the Premiership. He had an extremely poor World Cup, there's no denying that. He also, it's true, disappointed against Barcelona in the Champions' League. However, he is without a doubt - I include Gerrard, Fabregas, etc. in the reckoning - the finest midfielder playing in this country. He scores more goals than any other midfielder I can think of in Europe (equalled this season by Gerrard, but only by 'virtue' of the fact that Gerrard scored a hatful against frankly dreadful teams in Champions' League pre-qualifying). [Mourinho rates him as the best in the business, but I accept - he would say that !] In recent games (pre-WC), he has been England's leading midfielder - at times when Gerrard and Beckham, as is their wont, 'went missing'... BTW - I wonder (I'm not sure what I think myself) - if the top domestic leagues aren't of a higher standard than World Cup football, by and large? Different, as well, of course, but (Henry is a prime example), I sometimes have limited truck with 'can't pull it off at international level' arguments...

MAKELELE is one of the great midfielder of the history of the soccer. I don't think so, aniway, than ZIDANE would be "a shadow of himself" if the little man wasn't backing him. But, true, the pairing of the two is something special. When you think than REAL MADRID has let him go because they didn't want to raise his salary to the level of the top players of the team... They never win much after his departure and nothing on the european scene anymore. Aniway, the great man of the french team is not for me MAKELELE or the mesmerizing ZIDANE but the one and alone VIEIRA. He has kept alive the team when they nearly drown in front of SWITZERLAND and COREA. Win the match all by himself when fighting TOGO. Organised the play against SPAIN et was the TRUE leader of the backs when fronting BRAZIL. Playing the role of the libero IN FRONT of his backs, closing back every door possible when a "jogador" from BRAZIL try to open it.. In this tournement, VIEIRA is a MONSTER. You could feel than ARSENE WENGER, who plays consultant for the FRENCH TV when FRANCE is playing, is still full of regret to have not been able to keep his midfielder at ARSENAL, a year ago. Fair enough - I suppose it was harsh to say that Zidane would be a 'shadow' of himself without Makelele... simply that Zidane is marginally(!) less mesmorising IMHO without the safety net of Makelele. No coincidence, I feel, that Frank Lampard has become one of the world's top midfield players since he began lining up with Makelele. Claude is an absolute icon amongst Chelsea fans, FWIW! Interesting what you say about Vieira...there was a strong feeling in the French press (and amongst the fans) that he should have been dropped for the South Korea game. But you're right - Wenger must be furious that he let him go (even if Fabregas is showing signs of maturing into a very decent player, much as it pains me to say as an avowed Arsenal hater )...

Cristiano Ronaldo? I agree, a lot of flash etc. - and the guy is FAR from being a favourite of mine, and I should do penance for mounting even a weak defence of a United player - but he is a competent wing player. I think the point is that he's not the wonderkid (new George Best, as the horrifically awful James Lawton writing in the Independent after his first Premiership appearance, suggested) he's cracked up to be. He would, truth to tell, start for a great many international sides. p.s. I won't blow my own trumpet too much here - and will readily admit that my impression was somewhat sentimentally clouded - but I've never had the French written off at any stage, and fancied them against the Spanish.

For Brazil/Brazilians, subsititute England and English and the statement remains valid. By the way, who didn't realise they were there for the taking from a VERY early stage? Perhaps even as early as the start of their qualification campaign?

Lots of great players on show at this year's Cup - Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Figo, Lampard, Ballack, Rooney, Nedved, Crespo, Riquelme, Thuram, Raul (granted that very few of these played to anything like their potential - but only one true genius - Zidane. Zidane is the ONLY one who will be mentioned in the Pele, Garrincha, Eusebio, Platini, Cruyff, Moore, Beckenbauer, Maradona, Puskas, Di Stefano breath in the future. The most underrated player in this tournament (and in the world) - IMHO, of course! - is Makelele, without whom Zidane is only a shadow of himself. These two are one of the greatest midfield pairings ever to play the game.

Did someone mention a football match?

Ummm... I think I need this, as a collector of all things Earl Freeman. By the way, ep1str0phy's review of the Isipingo at AAJ is nice! It's nice - check it out! Thanks for the tip about the review - I'll have a read.