Carry on regardless with a satsuma and an orange ball
Published: 23 December, 2010
ARSENAL
BETWEEN ‘snowball’ and ‘snowdrop’ in the dictionary, these days you will find the word ‘snowbore’.
Definition: An adult who becomes overexcited about snowfall and acts disproportionately like a toddler who has never seen it before; somebody who posts endless pictures of their back garden covered in snow to Facebook thinking they are some expert photographer because everything is all white; somebody who shouts “it’s snowing” in the workplace at the first sign of flakes; somebody who is an idiot.
That’s how you define a snowbore and I hate them.
And are the snowbores happy now? That snow they love so much, that freezing cold, slippery snow – it wrecked everything this week. People couldn’t get home to see their families at Christmas. Presents got stuck in the post (no Arsenal mug for me this year, I’ll make do with a satsuma).
And, most importantly, the football got called off. A weekend ruined. For all of us. No jolly sleigh ride or sledge down Primrose Hill is worth that. That said, wouldn’t it have been fun if they had just played all of the matches whatever the grounds looked like. They tried it in the Ipswich versus Leicester match and the results were hilarious. Slipping, sliding, comedy errors, it was probably the most entertaining match Sky have broadcast this season. If the white stuff comes down again over Christmas, I say get the orange ball out and let’s carry on regardless. Together, we can beat the snowbores. They must not win.
RICHARD OSLEY
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
IN a week of match cancellations little, if any, compensation and inadequate customer service, I ask, what is your club doing for you?
There’s some great educational schemes being run in and around local teams but I want to see players and officials giving more of themselves.
Some months ago, I had the privilege of coaching the Spurs’ youth team on how to tell stories in the community. Throughout the session, I spoke to them about changing the landscape; about their privileged position and their potential to bring change. I also spoke to them about encouraging young people to do better and I gave them this classic example: when I worked for Sports Development in Camden we ran half-term and summer schemes. Youngsters could come and play a variety of different sports; learn about teamwork, individual achievement and all that good stuff! One cold, wet, muddy morning, Arsenal legend David Rocastle came to visit. Though not a goalkeeper and wearing white Reeboks in the mud, he stood in goal and allowed kids to take penalties against him. Afterwards he talked, posed for pictures, gave autographs and even had lunch with us all. He could have done the superstar thing: stay a while and leave. But he didn’t. An impromptu and unselfish sacrifice like this is the type of intervention I applaud and endorse. Rocastle made sure all who were present, would remember that day forever.
TONY DALLAS