fpb: (Default)
fpb ([personal profile] fpb) wrote2005-02-10 08:07 am

Slightly weird... but I guess I like it...

Sir Alex Ferguson, for the Americans among you, is Britain's finest football (soccer) manager (except perhaps for Alan Curbishley). He a Scot from a very humble mining background, who clawed his way to the top and was knighted after managing to win both main domestic competitions and the main European title at the same time. Now, Sir Alex is a great manager, but he is also little short of a scoundrel. He intimidates referees, ignores or defends foul play from his players, hires players (such as the notorious Roy Keane) who are pure thugs. Anything to win.

However, when questioned about his religion, it turns out that he is a fervent believer, says his prayers every night, but would never pray to the Lord to let him win a match. That, he thinks, would be wrong.

I guess that is what they mean by a strange Presbyterian conscience. He is willing to stretch any human rule to get where he wants, but not to ask God to favour him. I don't find it very easy to unravel.

[identity profile] goreism.livejournal.com 2005-02-10 09:43 am (UTC)(link)
We know who Sir Alex Ferguson is, you know. Not all Americans are stupid insularniks.

Just kidding, never heard of the guy.

[identity profile] fpb.livejournal.com 2005-02-10 10:47 am (UTC)(link)
Well, one of you does... Malcolm Glazer, he of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is moving Heaven and Earth to buy Manchester United, the team Sir Alex manages, because it is a money-making machine - thanks largely to Sir Alex' genius for soccer.

off-topic

[identity profile] rfachir.livejournal.com 2005-02-14 05:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Are you OK? You're unusually quiet. I hope it's because you're up to your neck in RL fun and just don't have time to post. Happy Valentine's Day.

Re: off-topic

[identity profile] fpb.livejournal.com 2005-02-14 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
I've been spending a few days with my nephew, my sister and my mother. I have also been working on a couple of personal projects. But don't worry... the next post is going to be a stonker (as they say this side of the pond).