BJK&E

As the new football season is now upon us I find myself in the usual two choice conundrum between playing / watching football on a Saturday afternoon. However, as I move forward in my career there is a third option being thrown into the mix - the football jolly on a Saturday afternoon.

What to do - play, watch or attend a match? All are enjoyable and sociable activities to partake in of a weekend, two involve beer but…only one involves moving the 10 metres between bed and sofa nursing a hangover and still wearing my underwear.

I think we have a winner.

An example of the kind of fun we have during our lunch break here at BJKE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qlgn_mBbkcY

Patrick made light work of 5 caramel digestives, clearing the 2 & half minute time limit (also know as the Rocky II theme tune) with time to spare, meaning Matthew had to deposit £1 into the “Goldie pot.” The next challenge is double or quits (£2), but which brand / model of biscuits should we use……be imaginative with your responses…

The sun finally reared his/her beautiful head yesterday and I for one made full use of his/her life giving rays. Unfortunately we only had sun factor 4 in the house, so owing a duty of care to my pale skin I exercised constant application. However, like most people of sound mind who have better things to do than salaciously rub thick white gloop into their own buttocks, I missed a spot. Well, two spots. Hence I now have a line of pink humorously spanning the length of my nose. What’s not so funny, and extremely painful, is the sunburn running the entire length of my inside left leg.

Most of my body is radiating a healthy glow similar to that of a roast chicken which has just been removed from the oven, my leg and nose have a lobster hue. When does the sun go away?

Euro 2008 kicked off in earnest on Saturday and so far it’s been quite boring. No upsets thus far - the form guide being strictly adhered to despite the so called top teams not performing very well.  Germany and Portugal have the easy draw, will probably meet in the semi-finals and, for my money, the winner of that game will win the tournament.

Tonight throws up the first round of the group of death, and hopefully the first upsets. Having drawn Portugal, Holland and Croatia in work / home based sweepstakes I’m cheering on Romania and the amicable Dutch from Group C. My ideal final would be Portugal vs Holland with Ronaldo et al coming out on top.

Unfortunately the Portugeezers and the Croats will probably face each other in the Quarter finals meaning one of my runners falls at the second hurdle. Why have UEFA ruined such an entertaining tournament with a ridiculous layout?

In the early hours of Sunday morning Joe Calzaghe defeated Bernard Hopkins in a win that possibly ranks him as the greatest British boxer of all time.

In determining this claim we could examine the rather impressive stats of Calzaghe’s undefeated 15 year career… 11 years as WBO super middleweight champion (after defeating Chris Eubank in October 1997), 45 fights, 45 wins, 32 by way of Knock-Out (KO), Current WBO, WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine super middleweight champion and Ring Magazine light heavyweight champion after defeating Hopkins.

What the stats can’t show you is the heart and desire of the man. On Saturday night Calzaghe did not get off to a good start. Hopkins knocked him down with a right hand in the first round and began to get the better of Calzaghe on the inside. As the rounds went on, Calzaghe began to find his rhythm by landing combinations at close range. Hopkins’ key weapon was his right hand, but after a few rounds Calzaghe could see the right hands coming and blocked the shots with his glove. According to CompuBox, Calzaghe landed more punches on Hopkins than any of his previous opponents. In the end, judges Chuck Giampa (116-111) and Ted Gimza (115-112) scored the fight for Calzaghe, while judge Adalaide Byrd (114-113) scored the fight for Hopkins.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Calzaghe - cite_note-11 Following his victory, Calzaghe said, “I knew this wouldn’t look pretty tonight. He’s so awkward. He gave me some good shots. It wasn’t my best night, but I won the fight. The world title in a second division and a win in America is just icing on the cake for my career.”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Calzaghe - cite_note-12
To defeat an American, in America, with an American referee, three American judges, a partisan American crowd cheering on your opponent and after being knocked down in the 1st round is no mean feat. Though, with Calzaghe’s ability and record, should we be surprised? Or should we bow down and declare him the greatest British boxer of all time? I vote the latter…

Geeks. Is there an end to their abilities?  Some of the aforementioned persons of an academically inclined nature have created a MASSIVE robo-dog  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1czBcnX1Ww). As we sat watching, mutterings such as the following were raised…..”That’s great. It’s freaky looking, But what does it do?”. Upon watching to the end all questions of this ilk are answered by statements such as……”oh!” and “ah, that’s what it does”. The future is now people. Scary stuff, huh?

Changing Faces…

Spurs have nothing to play for, Newcastle are rampant, Arsenal are falling apart during the run in (but will definitely make the champions league final) and England can’t beat the French. Some things never change.

But things are changing here at BJK&E. Last week saw one of our team move onwards & upwards / down under. Carolyn is swapping England for Australia just when the southern hemisphere moves into winter, schoolboy error? Celebratory leaving drinks were had last Wednesday at Revolution bar in Soho. Screams of “Woo Woo” and ” is that a shot board?” were still ringing in the ears upon waking Thursday morning. Good times.

Carolyn’s cheery smile will be missed by everyone. Take care luvvy.