31 August 2007

David Dein Redux

Like a bad penny, Double D is back. Well to be honest, I didn't think he was going to roll over and die ... but really don't 'call a dog a monkey' to us, we can see through your veneer of hastily applied Arsenal club loyalty. At least the imminent take-over bid from Red & White Holdings Ltd is not like tomorrow:
Dein will spearhead plans to increase its stake in Arsenal, although he insists there is 'no current intention to make a takeover offer'.


Dein sells Arsenal shares to Russian billionaire soccernet.com

Gunners MD plays down Dein news soccernet.com

Red and White Holdings Ltd now own 14.58% of Arsenal
arseblog.com

27 August 2007

Wenger Humour

'When I saw my Dutch striker step up to face Schmeichel from the penalty spot, my memories went back to Dennis Bergkamp and an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United back in 1999,' said the Arsenal boss with a chuckle. 'Then Schmeichel saves again. I just hope I don't have to meet his grandson in 20 years time.'

soccernet.com

25 August 2007

Arsenal 1 - 0 Manchester City

Infact! I no know say Schmeichel picken don reach to dey keep o. The boy do well sha, even im papa no fit stop Fabregas shot so ...

The boys were looking good today, I expected a bit more from Manchester City with their 3 game unbeaten record and all but you know they are our 'wife'. I must say I was a lot more comfortable with Almunia in goal ( I can't believe I am actually typing this!) and he did have one or two saves didn't he? Lehmans Achilles injury could not have resurfaced at a better time although one can only wonder if this was a real re-occurrence of said injury or just a way for him to take some much needed time off to get himself together. Either or I wish him 'soonest recover'.

Match Report soccernet.com

22 August 2007

Che che colé

Che che kole
Che che kofiza
Kofi salanga
Kaka chilanga
Ayeiyeee

Ladies (and some gentlemen), does anyone remember singing this song during break in primary school? I know it involved clapping and in typical African fashion, caller response but I can't for the life of me remember if it involved dancing ... Sigh the good ol' days when I didn't have bills to worry about and my only responsibility was finishing my breakfast.

Anyway so there I was jejely easing into the days work. I have switched from listening to celebrity gossip on WBLS courtesy of Wendy Williams (How u doin'?) actually I think the incessant speculation about everybody and anybody's sexuality tired me more than the gossip ... I now listen to my very own radio station on Yahoo (Launchcast?. Its so much fun to not be 'responsible' for the selection of music you listen to well this is not exactly true, you can (and are encouraged) to rate genres, artists, songs, albums, etc and based on these Yahoo makes selections on your behalf. Of course you still get some strange music filtering through no matter how diligently you rate (I guess Yahoo has to make money somehow) ... SO I am listening to my radio, I had been welcomed to work by Sting, Seal, Tupac and Heatwave (in that order) then like some 5 more songs after the unmistakable percussion of latin music, 'e don tey when I listen to Buena Vista o, e be like say time don reach make I give 'Heavier Things' a rest' I thought as I 'tuned' in then I heard it:

Che che colé, (que bueno e’………)
Che che cofriza, (muerto e’ la risa……)
Coqui saranga (ay viene la malanga……)
Caca chilanga, (viene de catanga……)
Ayeiyeee, (a ver e’ tu lo ve………)
Are you kidding me?!

You mean that 'sensless' chanting I did in Staff School wasn't that at all? You mean it was a song, a real song I was singing? OMG! Who is singing this song o? Kia I checked it was Marc Anthony, the sing is titled ' Che che colé' and it is on the soundtrack from the movie 'El Cantante'. Wonderful! The song was apparently originally performed by Héctor Lavoe on whose life the movie was based. I had planned to see this movie but somehow it slipped off my radar. Okay make I no lie, the prospect of being introduced to a 'new' artist and his music was enough to ensure that the movie would never leave my radar. However the fact that I would have to suffer through a J-Lo performance seemed to high a price to pay. I promised myself I would go to B&N and go take a listen to the soundtrack and possibly make a purchase. Now on the strength of this one song and all the warm memories it has unearthed for me I will be buying it.

The Internet is a wonderful thing o! Apparently Osibisa had a song in the 70's titled 'Che Che Kule'. Perhaps this is the song that crept into our playtime repertoire?

19 August 2007

Blackburn 1 - 1 Arsenal

Interesting to note that the two goals scored came 18 mins into the game and 18 mins from the end of regulation time. Again, Lehman was credited with an assist on the opposing teams goal. I think Arsenal played a better game than they did last weekend although one could also say I was able to focus more on this match seeing we took the lead early on. Either or we had no business sharing the points, I really hope we are not once again towing the line we did last season.

Many thanks to Chxta for this info, I was able to watch the match live as opposed to waiting till 11 to watch it (recorded) on FSC.


Match Report soccernet.com


14 August 2007

John Mayer

I recently rediscovered John Mayer. I found his sophomore album 'Heavier Things' on sale in Target and bought it like two weeks ago and I must confess that it bumped 'Lost Highway' (the new Nashville inspired effort from Bon Jovi) from its position as most played recently acquired cd. By the way for all you Bon Jovi fans out there, this is no Dolly Parton album, yeah its a bit more 'stringy' with more pronounced fiddle, banjo, mandolin etc parts but thats it. Jon's tenor is still rich and slightly rough and the bands sound is essentially the same. Go get it if you haven't already.

Back to Mr Mayer, my favorite on 'Heavier Things' is 'Home Life' followed by 'Something's Missing', 'Split Screen Sadness', Clarity', 'Bigger Than My Body', 'New Deep', 'Come Back To Bed', 'Only Heart', 'Wheel' and 'Daughters'. I like the lyrics for 'Home Life' (see lyrics below) although it was his Sting sounding vocals on that particular track that initially caught my attention.

Think I'm gonna stay home

Have myself a home life
Sitting in the slow-mo
And listening to the daylight
I am not a nomad
I am not a rocket man
I was born a housecat
By the slight of my mother's hand

I think I'm gonna stay home

I want to live in the center of a circle
I want to live on the side of a square
I used to be in my M-Z now
You'll never find me cause my name isn't there

Home life
Been holding out for the home life
My whole life

I want to see the end game
I want to learn her last name
Finish on a Friday
And sit in traffic on the highway
See, I refuse to believe
That my life's gonna be
Just some string of incompletes
Never to lead me to anything remotely close to a

Home life
Been holding out for the home life
My whole life

I can tell you this much
I will marry just once
And if it doesn't work
Giver her half of my stuff
It's fine with me
We said eternity
And I will go to my grave
With just the life that I gave
Not just some melody line
On a radio wave
It dissipates
And soon evaporates
But home live doesn't change

I want to live in the center of a circle
I want to live on the side of a square
I'd love to walk to where we both can talk but
I've got to leave you cause my ride is here

Home life
You keep the home life
You take the home life
I'll come back for the home life
I promise

12 August 2007

Arsenal 2 - 1 Fulham

(I am trying to write this post and my STUPID Bayern Munich fan friend is guffawing in my ear!)

As I was saying ...

80 mins into the game I had already composed this post in my mind - Same ole same ole, it seems the only thing Arsenal is committed to this season is to continue the losing to/drawing with soapy teams. Then Toure managed to get a penalty which Van Persie scored superbly and Hleb ensured we didn't lose our opening game. Big up to the Fulham keeper (I think he did well considering 10 mins to the start of the game he didn't know he would be starting) As usual one can only hope Lehman is back on his meds!

Match Report soccernet.com

Match Report arsenal.com

08 August 2007

Results!

I was beginning to think I was loosing my 'edge'

Finally someone hit on me at the gym and just when I am finally seeing the results I have been waiting for! There I was jejely doing my cardio in my Technotronic (Pump up the Jam) induced zone and all. I thought I saw this guy saying hello ... I wasn't wearing my glasses, he could have been (or not) saying anything to anybody. I hit the 25 min mark and I am now psyching myself to finish the last 12 min when I notice the same guy in different clothes walking towards the elliptical machine and I am thinking 'oyinbo funny sha, this guy has different clothes for different exercises in the gym, he must not mind doing laundry' imagine my brief shock and long lasting pleasure when he drops his business card in front of me on the elliptical machine he had written the following note on the back:

Hi My Name Is Mark I Think You Are A Very Beautiful LADY If You Are Single and would Like To go out for Dinner Please Give Me a Call 123-456-7890 OR 234-567-8901 MARK


This is not a bad looking guy, he doesn't look young (as in early to mid 30's) but with oyinbo's I find it hard to tell (my oga at work is only 30 and I could have sworn he was like 35-36). I am however suspicious of anyone who can manage to write such a long sentence without at least 1 comma, and in sentence case no less; what will conversation be like? I will be the first to admit though had he worked for BMW as opposed to Mercedes-Benz all this wouldn't matter a hoot!

01 August 2007

My mummy is golden!

Princess sent me a birthday card. It took a week (I checked the postmark) and N330 (I added the value of the stamps). I am glad to see that something actually still works in Nija believe me Nipost not dropping the ball is something worth celebrating especially seeing that the 'cargo' is so precious. I don't think I have fawned more over pieces of paper. I guess knowing they came from so far away, that Princess and Bee touched them (yes I miss them) and that Princess didn't wait for someone coming over to deliver them (like I did last year although posting them just goes to show how old school she is) is making me all sentimental, a tear escaped my eye when I recognised her handwriting on the envelope. I miss my mummy