20th June 2005
Hi all,
Typical - I plan on writing a nice piece for Father's Day, in honour of my step-father, and what happens? Yep, the whole world goes to pot, meaning that I'm not doing my duty by not reporting on it. I'll keep the father's day idea for next year I think, although perhaps the time between now and then will mean I forget the joke I was going to make in regard to my actual Dad and pancuronium bromide (probably not a bad thing).
Starting in Indianapolis, where fourteen Formula 1 cars made the US Grand Prix a great deal more interesting by coming in at the end of the parade lap and not even starting the race. "Fantastic!" as Murray Walker would say. Only the second start of a Grand Prix that I've bothered to watch all year, and certainly one of the most interesting. To be honest I can't make jokes about it, because the whole thing is just too easy. If the people who run Formula 1 were in government they'd be booted out after losing a vote of no confidence. Utter shambles.
Solutions to avoiding the problem were:
1) Letting Michelin ship out a whole new batch of tyres.
2) Put in a temporary chicane to allow the batch of Michelins in Indianapolis to work safely.
3) Don't put in a chicane, let the Michelin runners either pull out or risk a massive crash in turn 13.
Let's guess what they chose to do.
And yes, I know it was a bit more complicated than that, but the fact is the worst thing that can happen to a sport is to have a high-profile farce like this (e.g. the NHL lockout). To add insult to injury about fifteen laps from the end the coverage played a radio clip telling the two Ferrari drivers to hold station, meaning that anyone who was still watching had no further reason to watch. Lucky for me I was just channel-hopping.
Meanwhile on NASN there was a NASCAR race (the "Batman Begins 400" - I kid you not)featuring packed grandstands and 43 well-matched cars. Hmm, I wonder which had a bigger appeal to the American audience? I would have picked the NASCAR race even if I hadn't have seen Brian Vickers hysterically spinning his car into the pit wall.
I have no further comment. Seriously.
Speaking of people who make themselves look stupid last Monday saw the end of the Michael Jackson trial. As a matter of fact for Lorraine and I we thought we were going to hear the end of the trial rather than see it, as I picked Lorraine up from work that evening. Just before 10pm I flicked onto a station which I knew would have a news bulletin at the top of the hour. As it turns out instead of a news bulletin they had a news reader sit in a studio, repeating information about the trial. The poor girl was dying on the air, it was just excruciating to listen to.
We finished listening when we got home at about 10.10pm. As it turns out the verdicts weren't announced until about 10.30pm, so I hope that the radio station in question didn't leave the news reader there to fill for all that time. Pity the thought.
When the verdicts were being read out we were watching Sky News, making a double whammy for Lorraine (who was watching "Big Brother") and myself (hoping to watch the final of "The Contender"). Wunderbar. So instead of watching our respective favourite shows we were listening to a voice from a courtroom saying the words "not guilty" repeatedly, while a bunch of idiotic fans were cheering outside. I couldn't get over them, especially the one who was releasing the doves after each verdict was announced. What would have happened if any of the verdicts had been guilty? Was she going to start biting their heads off? Very strange.
I have to admit I don't understand the whole "wait outside a courtroom and show your support" thing. For these people it wasn't like they were Ron Goldman's family back at the O.J. Simpson trial. Very strange to see.
And does anyone come of the trial with any credit? The Arvisos are considered liars, Michael Jackson is considered even more of a weirdo, the prosecutor is thought to be obsessed with Jackson and even Martin Bashir (without whom none of this would probably have happened) might have some charges to face. Everybody loses, except the lawyers (naturally).
One last thing on the subject - the media is reporting Michael Jackson is apparently in debt to the tune of $300M. How on earth do you end up $300M in debt? Even my Dad couldn't manage that (correction - he hasn't managed that, YET). What on earth is his bank manager on? "Mr Jackson, your overdraft is a little bit troubling..." Are they expecting him to suddenly get a bumper payday next month or something? Very, very strange.
Finally this week everyone lately seems to have taken up a new sport - bashing Tom Cruise. Should I join in? No, because that's just following everyone else on the matter, not a good enough reason in the absence of any other reasons. Of course I had actually hoped that Katie Holmes would end up meeting and marrying one of my friends. No such luck it seems.
Anyway, good luck to them. Apparently Miss Holmes dreamed of marrying Tom Cruise when she was a child. Of course I can't help but wonder when this notion began. Was it when she saw "Top Gun" (aged 7), or "Born on the Fourth of July" (aged 10) or even "Days of Thunder" (aged 11)?
Nice viewing for kids there. I wonder what Mary-Kate and Ashley have been watching the past few years? Actually given the sort of things that people leak on the internet that is probably a question I don't want an answer to.
Have a good week!
Tony
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