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Paul Mason's Idle Scrawl

The handbags are out for Ronaldo

  • Paul Mason
  • 5 Jul 06, 03:59 PM

I received the following chainmail in my inbox today - evidence of a concerted campaign of revenge against Cristiano Ronaldo for his alleged role in getting Rooney sent off (thus sabotaging Newsnight's "Vibe Rooney's Boot" Campaign). I feel obliged to share it with you...

I am not bitter! There is a very real danger that Cristiano Ronaldo will be voted the fans'
best young player at the World Cup despite his pouting, cheating, diving, pretty boy antics designed mainly to get himself a lucrative transfer to Real Madrid and thus avoid the good kicking he deserves from Wayne Rooney at Manchester United training.
He is currently 1st in the FIFA voting just ahead of Luis Valencia of Ecuador. Please can everyone go to
and do the decent thing by voting for Valencia. It doesn't matter who you
support or if you haven't seen them play, just stop Ronaldo.
You know it makes sense...

However, having shared it, I feel obliged to disagree. I think trying to rig online polls is one of the saddest activities on earth - it never works because too few people are inclined to waste a valuable left mouse click on a tactical vote. That's why, to my bosses' great consternation, Karl Marx won the 大象传媒 online vote for the greatest philosopher ever, despite the combined efforts of the to get a tactical vote going for the frankly un-epoch making David Hume.

On this principle I will continue to support the player who, for me, lit up the telly every time he got the ball - including the time he inadvertantly took a free kick before the whistle, thus getting himself carded and missing the next match: .

As for Ronaldo - he does remind me of a kid I knew at school, and of several other kids I had to teach when I was unlucky enough to be trying to run an under-11s school rugby team in the age of "I'll get my mum on you". However, so does Rooney. And if you want my honest opinion it takes the Rooney-kids and the Ronaldo-kids of the world to lift a school, a football team, a television programme or even a political party out of the grey mediocrity of life lived perpetually in the One-Nil and shut up shop zone. My only complaint about Cristiano Ronaldo is that he is so mercurial.

Anyway, get stuck in to voting for who you really thought was brilliant. And don't write this off as trivia till you've compared it to the big issue dominating my bosses' blackberries and the blogs all today: Prezza, his alleged philandering, and the great will-he-won't-he resign rumour mill.

Comments  Post your comment

I think that what happened in England was sad. All of you have my sympathy. I also know people who are better philosophers than Karl Marx. Many of these people are the 大象传媒 Journalists who have provided stability and objectivity in an increasingly schizophrenic world.

Tottally agree, there seems to be a tendancy to look for someone to blame whenever England fail to perform. I place the responsibility for Rooney's sending off on his head alone, what he did was deserving of a red card and there can be no complaints.

Also I have loved watching Ronaldo play, there have been few players in this tournoment who have played as enjoyable football. Even on the much anticipated Brazil side.

My thoughts on that last matter Paul:

Why have English fans become such bad losers? Sure, Ronaldo can be extremely tiresome, but if England's lack of progress is down to him, it's because he was the most skilful player on the pitch and knows how to take a high-pressure penalty.
I'm not sure Ronaldo is as good a philosopher as Karl Marx (who is?), so I won't be voting for him.

hello

  • 6.
  • At 02:54 AM on 19 Oct 2006,
  • Jay wrote:

English fans have become such bad losers because the beautiful game has become the only game in the world were it is acceptable to cheat your way to victory.
We accept players diving and rolling around in agony with one eye on the referee, awaiting a favourable decision.
We accept players trying to influence the referees decision, imitating the action of showing a red card.
We now have to accept a new form of cheating, given acceptabillty at the recent world cup, a form of cheating that the continental style of football has pounced upon, turning a form of good sportsmanship into a way of stopping the game to their advantage. Now, when an attacking player goes down he stays down, and as the defending team now formulate an attack, the opposing players stop playing and point to the touchline signalling to put the ball out of play, leaving the attacking team in a predicament that always results in them kicking the ball out of play, quickly follwed by the injured player suddenly rising to their feet.

What a vile sport this has become!

Although every British football fan gringes with embarrassment whilst constantly witnessing this sacrifice of dignity, there is nothing more embarrassing in witnessing one of your own players attempt such an undignified action, with red faces all around when we fall on the excuse of "Well, they do it".

They is no denying that England are s**t, but to face blatant cheating at all international games is something that FIFA need to stamp out and bring the game back to its roots of been hard but fair.
Awarding players who blatantly cheat their way through a game, but is capable of doing a fancy flick, is not the answer.

FIFA, who over promote to the extremes fair play within the game, with captains now having to address the crowds on liberal issues, handshakes for all before the game, and fair play banners all around the ground, then do absolutely nothing as 90 minutes of do what you can to win unfolds in front of their eyes.

What a bunch of idiots!

there's only one ronaldo, and man utd need him, boo him if you want to we domnt give a stuff, and nor does ronaldo
manchester loves you ronny x x x

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