Is controversy always required to sell a good book- Graham Henry

First topic message reminder :

Henry has his lates book out this week and I've already pre-ordered.

Tonight on 'Sunday' lord ted comes out with the 2007 debacle presumably the same as in this article:

http://www.worldcupweb.com/rugby/news/viewarticle.asp?id=36036

We've heard all this before- the forty unawarded penalties. I'm glad he didn't pursue it at the time as it would have got him nowhere and its credit to the man that he didnt.

Just wonder if rehashed controversy is always necessary to kickstart a book sale as it always seems to happen.

Biltong

I dont recall where Bryce Lawrence has critcised another International referee. my point was not only directed at Andre Watson.

No Biltong. Wayne Barnes and Lawrence are in a league of their own

I thought England's scrum dominance was negated by Watson's refusal to penalise Australia though so it kept them in the hunt a bit.

As often happens, it tends to depend on who you support. I wasn't too happy with Watson in the 2003 final but don't have too much problem with either Lawrence or Barnes (especially the former).

England were good enough to win despite the ref though so maybe that's why I feel different.

sugarNspikes wrote:As often happens, it tends to depend on who you support. I wasn't too happy with Watson in the 2003 final but don't have too much problem with either Lawrence or Barnes (especially the former).

England were good enough to win despite the ref though so maybe that's why I feel different.

This is probably Henry's point if he has one. Barnes isnt usually as pathetic as he was in the one match and the quoted stats would have any side asking questions but they havnt had to, because they havnt had stats anywhere near that match. Its the distance from the norm that raised the question.

What about the story that Barnes was upset because NZ object to him appear in the match? I believe different referee was scheduled and Barnes to take the other side of the draw, but he was moved last minute because ENG beat AUS, and it left one referee short. Apparently if both teams objected he could not referee the match. France said OK and NZ said they prefer someone with more experience...

If you are look for a motive, look no further.

biltongbek wrote:You're not seriously comparing Andre Watson in 2003 to Lawrence in 2011?

Biltong, everyone is tired of you and your beef with Lawrence, get over it.

mowgli wrote:

biltongbek wrote:You're not seriously comparing Andre Watson in 2003 to Lawrence in 2011?

Biltong, everyone is tired of you and your beef with Lawrence, get over it.

Mowgli you are so intent on commenting on my post that you forgot to read the comment in context to the thread mate. As for you speaking for everyone, well done, you are assuming and your posting history suggests your premature judgement of situations are still safely in tact.

Yeah we are all tired of you, Biltong you WUM

eirebilly wrote:Yeah we are all tired of you, Biltong you WUM

Morning Billy, what's up mate?

Good day gor GB in the Olympics yeasterday and KP having a great knock.

All is good here Biltong, hope you and yours are well

KP was sublime yesterday but it only changed the result from a SA win to inevitable draw.

We're all fine mate, I don't think SA will be unhappy with a draw.

Good to hear. I think that they will be given the conditions, just the series win will see them go to #1

biltongbek wrote:

mowgli wrote:

biltongbek wrote:You're not seriously comparing Andre Watson in 2003 to Lawrence in 2011?

Biltong, everyone is tired of you and your beef with Lawrence, get over it.

Mowgli you are so intent on commenting on my post that you forgot to read the comment in context to the thread mate. As for you speaking for everyone, well done, you are assuming and your posting history suggests your premature judgement of situations are still safely in tact.

don't flatter yourself that I am intent of commenting on your posts! this is a forum about rugby not Bryce Lawrence and despite your vanity I am just bored of reading your opines about Lawrence whenever his name pops up. YAWN. As for my posting history clearly you have read them all and hopefully you have learned something. BTW intact is one word As in Bryce Lawrence's reputation is intact

A little help here, opinion.

My vanity is fine thanks for asking, how's yours?

Mowgli, it's a pastiche. Biltong even knows that entirely the blame isn't Bryce Lawrence, but he had a bad game as referee and is some way to process frustration to making the running gag about it. The funny is that there ARE so many posts about it exactly the same. You are supposed to just have a little wry grin and move on and not getting so upset and take so serious. It's not a real opinion so you can't argue against and changing the mind. Relax fella or you will get a hernia and blood pressure medicine.

biltongbek wrote:A little help here, opinion.

My vanity is fine thanks for asking, how's yours?

oh dear oh dear, no understanding of the Queen's English at all....an opine is the expression of an opinion....something you do a lot!

From that I assume there is nothing wrong with your vanity then?

Good set up for the drive there biltong.

Nice try Biltong good to see you exercising that over inflated vanity again, you are such a dullard when it comes to Lawrence. Get over it, move on, no one cares.

Look out biltong, the abusive PMs will come next. Unless you want some entertainment from some grumpy old man who needs a clear break from his computer.

I expect I will start getting mine again now. Ah well, I could use a laugh.

haha here he is of course up pops Rory.....you two are like Batman and Robin!!!!! The Cape Crusader and his Boy Wonder, what a surprise Boy Wonder that you leap to the defence of your BFF, very touching

Can I be Batman please?

No Rory, for various reasons you will always be Robin.

Hope that lycra isn't chafing too much.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Can I be Batman please?

I was thinking more like he fantastic four, with my vanity I should at least be two Heroes, I expect Rory you as well.

Together we can fight the good cause.

mowgli wrote: Nice try Biltong good to see you exercising that over inflated vanity again, you are such a dullard when it comes to Lawrence. Get over it, move on, no one cares.

There must be something wrong with your theory when you obsess so much that you mentioned his name more in this thread than I did.

Indeed, fighting against grumpy people on the internet who are easily wound up!

biltongbek wrote:

mowgli wrote: Nice try Biltong good to see you exercising that over inflated vanity again, you are such a dullard when it comes to Lawrence. Get over it, move on, no one cares.

There must be something wrong with your theory when you obsess so much that you mentioned his name more in this thread than I did.

Oh dear here he goes again, well Biltong it is you with the obsession and in order to call you on it I have to use the name don't I?

You certainly have the brain of a bat, but clearly not the reflexes.

mowgli wrote:

biltongbek wrote:

mowgli wrote: Nice try Biltong good to see you exercising that over inflated vanity again, you are such a dullard when it comes to Lawrence. Get over it, move on, no one cares.

There must be something wrong with your theory when you obsess so much that you mentioned his name more in this thread than I did.

Oh dear here he goes again, well Biltong it is you with the obsession and in order to call you on it I have to use the name don't I?

You certainly have the brain of a bat, but clearly not the reflexes.

Mowgli, anytime you want to banter or take me on I welcome that, however if you retort to personal name calling and insults you show the signs of running out of smarts and are losing the contest.

HI,Biltong Dark Man Rising?

Sorry Mowgli, but you're going to have to be the Joker in this one

*zap*kapow*Ouch!!!

emack2 wrote:HI,Biltong Dark Man Rising?

No mate, I was polite throughout.

biltongbek wrote:

mowgli wrote:

biltongbek wrote:

mowgli wrote: Nice try Biltong good to see you exercising that over inflated vanity again, you are such a dullard when it comes to Lawrence. Get over it, move on, no one cares.

There must be something wrong with your theory when you obsess so much that you mentioned his name more in this thread than I did.

Oh dear here he goes again, well Biltong it is you with the obsession and in order to call you on it I have to use the name don't I?

You certainly have the brain of a bat, but clearly not the reflexes.

Mowgli, anytime you want to banter or take me on I welcome that, however if you retort to personal name calling and insults you show the signs of running out of smarts and are losing the contest.

holy beef jerky Batmam, how can it be personal if i am comparing you to a bat, why would you take that to heart? stop taking yourself so seriously and being so defensive, get a sense of humour man!

mowgli wrote:

biltongbek wrote:

mowgli wrote:

biltongbek wrote:

mowgli wrote: Nice try Biltong good to see you exercising that over inflated vanity again, you are such a dullard when it comes to Lawrence. Get over it, move on, no one cares.

There must be something wrong with your theory when you obsess so much that you mentioned his name more in this thread than I did.

Oh dear here he goes again, well Biltong it is you with the obsession and in order to call you on it I have to use the name don't I?

You certainly have the brain of a bat, but clearly not the reflexes.

Mowgli, anytime you want to banter or take me on I welcome that, however if you retort to personal name calling and insults you show the signs of running out of smarts and are losing the contest.

holy beef jerky Batmam, how can it be personal if i am comparing you to a bat, why would you take that to heart? stop taking yourself so seriously and being so defensive, get a sense of humour man!

Ah, Mowgli, humour is more complex than suggesting someone has a brain of a bat. You need to use wit, irony and an ability to recognise your audience. You can't force humour, it has too flow naturally, even when dry and slightly off the mark. But keep trying, you'll get there. All it takes is practice.

biltongbek wrote:

mowgli wrote:

biltongbek wrote:

mowgli wrote:

biltongbek wrote:

mowgli wrote: Nice try Biltong good to see you exercising that over inflated vanity again, you are such a dullard when it comes to Lawrence. Get over it, move on, no one cares.

There must be something wrong with your theory when you obsess so much that you mentioned his name more in this thread than I did.

Oh dear here he goes again, well Biltong it is you with the obsession and in order to call you on it I have to use the name don't I?

You certainly have the brain of a bat, but clearly not the reflexes.

Mowgli, anytime you want to banter or take me on I welcome that, however if you retort to personal name calling and insults you show the signs of running out of smarts and are losing the contest.

holy beef jerky Batmam, how can it be personal if i am comparing you to a bat, why would you take that to heart? stop taking yourself so seriously and being so defensive, get a sense of humour man!

Ah, Mowgli, humour is more complex than suggesting someone has a brain of a bat. You need to use wit, irony and an ability to recognise your audience. You can't force humour, it has too flow naturally, even when dry and slightly off the mark. But keep trying, you'll get there. All it takes is practice.

of course you're right Bat tongs, i ought to have known you would be an offiicianado on humour as well as absolutely everything else

shame you don't know what opine means though, keep trying you'll grasp the English language eventually, it just takes practise

well done for not mentioning Bryce Lawrence for at least 5 posts

It's all part of my therapy Mowgli, there were necessary steps to go through, the aim was always to get to the acceptance stage.

Once I got there my therapist told me to talk about him without being derogatory which is where I am now.

She also said some people will test me, taunt me by mentioning his name in polite conversation.

At first it was hard, I developed a nervous twitch every time his name was mentioned and a few times I bit off pices of my tongue, but now it has all been stitched up and I can safely say there is barely a ripple of emotion when his name is mentioned.

As for the English language, I am trying my utmost to get to grips with the different variations of how the English language is being used.

I find it gratifying that you could teach me that you could use opine in a sentence. Absolutely wonderful.

anotherworldofpain wrote:Could the moderators and Mowgli please stop destroying this fantastic interesting and relevant thread with this petty bickering about what constitues humour. For the record Mowgli is correct about the word "opine" and Biltong is correct about everything else.

Sorry AWOP, I consider myself severly reprimanded, I'll get back on topic.

Controversy sells.

anotherworldofpain wrote:Could the moderators and Mowgli please stop destroying this fantastic interesting and relevant thread with this petty bickering about what constitues humour. For the record Mowgli is correct about the word "opine" and Biltong is correct about everything else.

Of course he is, Biltong is ALWAYS right (except about opine)

anotherworldofpain wrote:Could the moderators and Mowgli please stop destroying this fantastic interesting and relevant thread with this petty bickering about what constitues humour. For the record Mowgli is correct about the word "opine" and Biltong is correct about everything else.

I see you've been on an English language course recently AWOP, excellent work.

Thanks AWOP

Could you (or anyone else) tell me that if we have an opine (as stated by Mowgli) can we have two opines?

No, then you have opium and that would be bad, or good depending on which side youre on.

anotherworldofpain wrote:...this fantastic interesting and relevant thread.

Cool...never wrote one of these before

anotherworldofpain wrote:Could the moderators and Mowgli please stop destroying this fantastic interesting and relevant thread with this petty bickering about what constitues humour. For the record Mowgli is correct about the word "opine" and Biltong is correct about everything else.

No one has said this yet, but good moderating there AWoP Reckon you'd be a good moderator if you ever decided to take it up. Just my opine.

I'm pretty sure you should say just opining rather than just my opine.
To opine or not to opine; that is the question?
Though I'm not sure the semi-colon is right, or that hyphen for that matter.