Congratulations to the Nederlands Football Team

[Graeme]

...., while people don't automatically assume that you're interested in astronomy .........

What!!!! Some people are not interested in astronomy????

[GeoffW]

No, I don't believe in star signs.

[Graeme]

No, I don't believe in star signs.

There was a question on Tipping Point yesterday under the heading "Astrology", "What is Bellatrix, also known as Gamma Orionis - A, a star. B, a moon or C, a planet" I was heard screaming at the telly, "It's a blue giant on Orion's left shoulder and what has that got to do with astrology!!!"

[stuck]

...To me football is like domesticated war.

Peter Gabriel got there first, back in 1980:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Games_Wit ... ers_(song)

"Games Without Frontiers" is a song written and recorded by English rock musician Peter Gabriel. It was released on his 1980 self-titled solo album, where it included backing vocals by Kate Bush. The song's lyrics are interpreted as a commentary on war and international diplomacy being like children's games. The video includes film clips of Olympic events and scenes from the 1951 educational film Duck and Cover, which used a cartoon turtle to instruct US schoolchildren on what to do in case of nuclear attack. This forlorn imagery tends to reinforce the song's anti-war theme

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xZmlUV8muY

Ken

[LineLaline]

Oh, thanks, I didn't know this. It is different but I see a similarity!

[ChrisGreaves]

Am I the only one here who frankly doesn't give a damn about football?

Now let's be fair here. There is something for everybody in The World Cup, even for querulous old geezers like me.
Where else can you get photo captions that read "The unfortunate fan was cared for by those around him." (third image down from the top) and a stunning image of a DEC PDP-6 computer (third image down from the top) and something called a ghost goal (best played at 0.25 normal speed on You Tube)?

I'm just sayin' ...
Cheers
Chris

[LineLaline]

Okay, that computer photo is fab

[GeoffW]

It's all over for another four years. It was a good final. I didn't watch it myself, I don't understand the game, but I kept a tab on the result.

I'm suitably chastened, it seems that sport is as much a taboo topic in the lounge as politics. The general camaraderie of the Lounge on almost all topics doesn't appear to apply to sport.

[HansV]

Sport isn't taboo at all - you're free to discuss it. It just happens not to interest me personally, but that doesn't mean others aren't allowed to!

[ChrisGreaves]

It depends where you live.

Thanks Geoff; excellent summary.
BTW, did Australia end up winning the trophy?
Cheers, Chris

[stuck]

...The general camaraderie of the Lounge on almost all topics doesn't appear to apply to sport.

Sorry, I'm not ignoring everybody. It's just that, like Hans, sport doesn't interest me.

As for the offside rule, it's just

Ken

[Graeme]

IMHO football is a sport with no sportsmanship! I followed football as a kid in the 70s as a Chelsea supporter after the nail-biting Chelsea/Leeds 1970 FA cup final but in football today, if the ball is knocked off the pitch, they all put their hand up to claim the throw in, corner or goal kick! Where's the sportsmanship in that? Any contact at all is portrayed as a vicious attack irrespective of reality in an attempt to get a free kick! Where's the sportsmanship in that? It reminds me of the old Saturday afternoon World of Sport wrestling matches! Who remembers Les Kellett?

Snooker I like. Those players are honest, skillful, gentlemen. Selby just won the English open, it was a pleasure to watch.

Regards

Graeme

[ChrisGreaves]

Snooker I like. Those players are honest, skilful, gentlemen. Selby just won the English open, it was a pleasure to watch.

Hi Graeme, I shall spend half the night working out how to have a snooker match with eleven players a side; 22 players crowded around the billiard table, each with a wooden cue, contemplating how many of them would be gentlemen at the end!
Cheers, Chris