Another Drive4show 'Anything goes' thread

[McLaren]

First topic message reminder :

Not had that much fun watching football for a while.

Robben taken the p*1ss out the spanish keeper and central defenders was literally hilarious.

[westisbest]

They do that in Rugby to.
Underneath the picture, shows age, caps, points scored.

Agree, not pathetic at all.

[super_realist]

In a scale of 1-10. Probably about a 0. Its not pathetic at all. Its just what sports shows tend to do. Similar happens in cricket and rugby I believe.

It's the laughable way they try to present every player as having this determined, serious, steely, edgy personality with an over-acted scowl on their faces. Just looks ridiculous and completely unnatural whilst the arms folding just tops off a ridiculous and already awkward and contrived pose.
As wooden as Joe Hart or Sturridges adverts.

As for any "data" it might present us with, who cares?

[Davie]

But s-r it's not just football (as others have said). I've even seen it on golf tournament coverage

Some of your rants are good. This one rates 10/10 on the scale of 10 to 10 on the poor scale

[westisbest]

Id say quite a few people care.

Can be quite interesting to see how many caps/points a player has scored.

[super_realist]

But s-r it's not just football (as others have said). I've even seen it on golf tournament coverage

Some of your rants are good. This one rates 10/10 on the scale of 10 to 10 on the poor scale

Yes, and it looks just as embarrassing for the players on every other sport too. Seems like superfluous fluff.

[SmithersJones]

Have to agree with s_r on this one, it's cringeworthy. Why not just show a still?

[Roller_Coaster]

Suarez utterly detestable. Great player. Idiot on the pitch. Don't care how many team mates come out and say he's a great guy, maximum ban possible. If that's only 2 years, change the rules. Make sure it's club as well as international ban too.

Saw on the beeb that if it was only international ban it might make him more valuable as he wouldn't have to go to south america for games all the time and so could solely be available for club games.

Also saw someone had him at 175-1 to bite someone at the WC netting him £1,600! Silly bookies...

[barragan]

On the pre match pictures of the players, how pathetic on a scale of 10 to 10 is the players turning to the camera and folding their arms?

 noticed they're doing it with the F1 too - pretty sad.

not as bad as all the facial expression slow-mo's we're exposed to during the matches - same at wimbledon too - soooooooo irritating. i think the slow-mo's are fantastic for showing the technique of the players, but using it to capture facial expressions is just lazy production

talking of laziness, is it just me, or are football commentators all now slipping into the habit of stating so and so 'should have scored [full stop]' all the time now, rather than so and so 'has missed a superb opportunity to score...' using the 'should have scored' line is such lazy commentry

[super_realist]

Clive Tildsley is by far the worst for being lazy

[Bob_the_Job]

Suarez utterly detestable. Great player. Cnut on the pitch. Don't care how many team mates come out and say he's a great guy, maximum ban possible. If that's only 2 years, change the rules. Make sure it's club as well as international ban too.

Saw on the beeb that if it was only international ban it might make him more valuable as he wouldn't have to go to south america for games all the time and so could solely be available for club games.

Also saw someone had him at 175-1 to bite someone at the WC netting him £1,600! Silly bookies...

I was going to respond with "innocent until proven guilty" until I saw THIS

[Diggers]

Found this quite interesting
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/basketball/28010185
Hard to imagine a guy taking less money to strengthen a team, not that's he a pauper but it does seem enough is never enough for sportsmen sometimes, look at Messi and Phil and their dodgy financial dealings.
I got to watch James play live when I was in New York, he was still playing for Cleveland then ad was the next big thing, one who actually lived up to the hype. Amazing athletes basketball players, very fun sport to go and watch and a brilliant atmosphere and really friendly fans. Just going to Madison Square Garden was great, one of the iconic sporting venues oft he world.

[navyblueshorts]

Suarez utterly detestable. Great player. Cnut on the pitch. Don't care how many team mates come out and say he's a great guy, maximum ban possible. If that's only 2 years, change the rules. Make sure it's club as well as international ban too.

Saw on the beeb that if it was only international ban it might make him more valuable as he wouldn't have to go to south america for games all the time and so could solely be available for club games.

Also saw someone had him at 175-1 to bite someone at the WC netting him £1,600! Silly bookies...

I was going to respond with "innocent until proven guilty" until I saw THIS

Yep. He definitely did it. That said, I cannot believe the pathetic over-reaction to this. TBH, I tend to agree with Joey Barton (there's a thing!) when he says he'd rather be on the end of a mild bite than a leg breaking tackle. Football has long had its morals completely fubar'd. Anything that thinks, for example, being gobbed on is somehow worthy of more punishment than, say, a pre-meditated Roy Kean leg-breaker, is seriously messed up.

[Diggers]

Must admit I'm not for a life ban or 2 years or whatever, that seems crazy to me. But I can see why they would kick him out of the tournament for it.
All sports have a few foibles when it comes to rules, rugby and cricket have plenty as well. Talk politely to the ref makes it OK to try and commit murder in the scrum for instance.

[Bob_the_Job]

A bite is not going to kill you or end your career..unless he's HIV positive.

[kwinigolfer]

For all those who reckon Defoe cooked his World Cup goose when he transferred to Toronto, there'll likely be more MLS players contesting the last 16 than Premiershippers, at least if the US advance, which they probably will.
 
PS: Suarez's bite is worse than his bark - and would think Fenway will tell Rodgers today to dump him at all costs. Three strikes and you're out, and all that.

[super_realist]

Is Mac on strike, or doing a double shift at the petrol station? Been quiet lately.

[kwinigolfer]

Probably gone walkabout in the outback . . . . .
He'll be back with a Doak (and I don't mean Fat Chris) revelation soon enough.

[incontinentia]

There must be something psychologically amiss with Suarez though, don't you think? something which makes him lose control in these matches. Biting the Italian player last night was such a dumb thing to do that I cant think of any other explanation

[Bob_the_Job]

There must be something psychologically amiss with Suarez though, don't you think? something which makes him lose control in these matches. Biting the Italian player last night was such a dumb thing to do that I cant think of any other explanation

No - he just gets really hungry during the games..

I think the polite term is nutter.

[incontinentia]

Bob- do you think there's a case for diminished responsibility on that basis?

[Bob_the_Job]

Either that or giving him a Snickers before he goes out to play.

[MustPuttBetter]

Yep. He definitely did it. That said, I cannot believe the pathetic over-reaction to this. TBH, I tend to agree with Joey Barton (there's a thing!) when he says he'd rather be on the end of a mild bite than a leg breaking tackle. Football has long had its morals completely fubar'd. Anything that thinks, for example, being gobbed on is somehow worthy of more punishment than, say, a pre-meditated Roy Kean leg-breaker, is seriously messed up.

Completely and utterly agree

[Diggers]

Its just funny because he is such a goofy kumquat. Its like he's though to himself, "I've got massive gnashers, I may as well use them."
I guess re the tackle thing, I do take the point, but its very hard to prove a tackle isn't just mistimed or poor, however obvious it may appear. Biting is just assault, plain and simple, you can't make a case for defending it.
Mind you probably the most horrible thing I've seen on a football pitch was Leonardo's elbow in 1994, and he got an 8 game ban for that. Seems to be a lovely bloke as well!

[super_realist]

Worse than Schumacher on Batiston?

[Diggers]

Id say yeah, because it was in such a nothing position, no goal threat and against a rubbish side. Just out and out assault. Not that Schumacher's wasn't diabolical as well.

[Hibbz]

I just posted the following on the massively dramatic football forum but I'm glad to see my "friends" on the golf board more in agreement with me about dear Luis.

"I'm intrigued as to whether people are genuinely outraged at this. Given that the World Cup is meant to be pure enjoyment for those of us not actually playing and given that none of us are the ones who've been bitten why would we really be that bothered?

The guy who's been bitten clearly hasn't been seriously hurt so isn't it just pretty amusing in the same way that Cantona's drop kick was very very funny?

Personally in terms of crimes against humanity it comes pretty low down."

[beninho]

The id rather be biten then have a leg breaker is a nonsense. As they are different things. Players do not set out to break a leg. Vampire luis clearly set out to bite him. He needs a 20 game international ban. Double up his last one for the same thing.

[MustPuttBetter]

I could show you 50 tackles on YouTube right now where people went into tackles clearly intending on breaking someone's leg, just in the same way as Suarez intended to bite.
I know which I'd prefer to happen to me.
That said, Suarez still needs a hefty ban

[Diggers]

I can't show you 50 biting incidents..but I can show you 3 from Suarez. If he's so dumb enough to do it, knowing the potential sanctions after previous bans, then the he deserves everything he gets.

[MustPuttBetter]

Oh agreed but it's still fairly laughable the fuss being made as if he's murdered someone

[kwinigolfer]

Suarez needs the book thrown at him - otherwise, where does it stop?
But also the flagrant elbows to the head that are so prevalent this World Cup - Sakho should have taken an early bath in the first ten minutes today. Hope justice is meted out equitably.

[MustPuttBetter]

That's kinda my point Kwini.
Two or three elbows in the France game tonight that will get next to no mention tomorrow in comparison to Suarez's nibble.... It's disproportionate to say the least

[raycastleunited]

I feel sorry for Suarez. That nasty Italian shoved his shoulder into Luis poor mouth and hurt his sensitive teeth.

[MustPuttBetter]

It is humurous that the Uruguayans seen intent on blaming the British media for the whole incident!
Poor old Luis just wants to live a quiet cheating, racist, cannibal life and the British media keep giving him a hard time...... Ha ha

[beninho]

The elbows in the france game where just gestures. A slight swing and no contact with the opponent. Not in the same ball park as actually biting someone. If the players had thrown a full on elbow and conected then thats a different matter. I have seen many reckless and rash challenges but barely any when you an see actual intent to harm.

Anyway still a very open world cup. The south Americans are doing well.

[Diggers]

If a dog bit someone 3 times it would be put down. Only fair we do the same to Luis surely ?

[Bob_the_Job]

Making him play a season wearing a muzzle would be a more visible and effective punishment in my opinion.

[beninho]

Stick on him one of those long cones the vet puts on a dog to stop it licking its balls after an operation.

[navyblueshorts]

The id rather be biten then have a leg breaker is a nonsense.  As they are different things. Players do not set out to break a leg. Vampire luis clearly set out to bite him. He needs a 20 game international ban. Double up his last one for the same thing.

Oh nonsense. Umpteen players have set out to go into a 'tackle' with the sole intention of making violent contact with the other player. They may not be actually setting out to break a leg but it's a pre-meditated, violent act which could end someone's career and earning potential. Being mildly gnawed on the shoulder is going to do no such thing.
While on the subject, why do the BBC and other media outlets persist in showing Chiellini's shoulder and saying it shows evidence of a bite? It shows no such thing. I know Suarez has interesting teeth but if that's a bite pattern, I'm the pope.
He should get a reasonable ban and be forced to take some serious psychological counseling but the huge over-reaction, particularly from the U.K. media who let's face it are simply selling papers, is a joke. Shut up already and talk about the football.

[MustPuttBetter]

The elbows in the france game where just gestures. A slight swing and no contact with the opponent.  Not in the same ball park as actually biting someone.   If the players had thrown a full on elbow and conected then thats a different matter. I have seen many reckless and rash challenges but barely any when you an see actual intent to harm.

What?!
Two of the elbows made very definite contact and as i said i could show you plenty - hundreds - of tackles where there is definitely a very real intention to do more harm than a bite on the shoulder

I'll bet if i bit you like Suarez did and then planted one of those elbows on you like in the France game and asked you to tell me which one hurt more i know what the answer would be.........

[beninho]

Isn't the world great when we all have different views?!!

The Uruguay FA are really making a mess up of the whole situation though, as are the Players. Now claiming the bite marks have been Photoshopped. And it also looked like Suarez had some make up on his eye when he gave his interview straight after the game.

[MustPuttBetter]

Agreed Ben that they are embarrassing themselves. Even the Lugano press conference was cringeworthy, claiming nothing had happened and the media were in some sort of conspiracy.......

I doubt there's much of an investigation needed to decide if he did it, just a decision on the punishment to be given out

[Roller_Coaster]

Yeah - christ, imagine how quiet this place would be if we all even nearly agreed.

It's not about the actual or perceived damage to the recipient though or the relative pain of a bite versus elbow versus stud rake versus <insert heinous act> is it? It is about an act that is so far outside the "norm"/"acceptable boundary" (which I know are subjective and so subject to debate) that it warrants additional attention. The additional fact that the same perpetrator has done it 3 times would surely warrant an escalation in punishment for that individual. How people express this attention or opinion on punishment may (or may not) be over the top (to some people) but it is an exceptional set of circumstances in a globally watched event and so worthy of attention.

IMO - only banning him for the rest of the world cup would be more ridiculous as it could merely be a 90 minute ban (as would not taking any action because it's not like he's, gasp, kicked someone).

And so they aren't fully separated, I'd advocate the same level of punishment for horrendous other acts that are proven to be pre-meditated such as the Roy Keane tackle/assault, where he admitted intent. They'd all fall into the same almost "gross misconduct" type category, and so even though they might not attract the same attention from onlookers they should be punished the same.

[MustPuttBetter]

It's a decent summary Roller and a sensible enough position to take, and i do agre that it's getting attention because how odd biting someone is.
That said, i don't really see that it's relevant, in my opinion. I'd say when judging on a punishment for a violent act the only thing to take into account is how violent that act was (as well as provocation etc).
I don't see that it's a rare violent act should be relevant. Every now and then you'll see a pulling of hair. Quite rare. It doesn't get a massive ban usually as it's just not very dangerous.

Alan Shearer was talking last night about how leg breaking tackles and elbows are just part of the game but you don't go on the pitch and expect to be bitten, and that's why it should receive a disproportionate ban. What rubbish.
Elbows are only 'part of the game' as they happen so much. I've never walked onto a football pitch expecting to be elbowed. I have been and was no less upset about it than had i been bitten.
If we've gotten to the point that elbows etc have been accepted as 'part of the game' then a) what a sad state of affairs and b) well, maybe so can biting be too.........

[Diggers]

MPB, have you been bitten on a pitch? I suspect not, possibly you've never been bitten in anger so how do you know how you'd feel?
To me its a bit like spitting at someone, it may well be harmless but it's disgusting and sets a shocking example.

[barragan]

our two year old often bites my shoulder when he gets himself into a scally wag frenzy, usually during rough and tumbles - our 1min timeout and a firm talking to doesn't seem to be getting through to him - perhaps an 18 month ban on play time is the way to go? 

[Diggers]

Yeah my kids have been bitten a few times...I blame the parents   

[MustPuttBetter]

Ha, i'm making an informed judgement based on how i've felt about a few thousand other things that have happened to me in the last 34 years to estimate how i might feel having been bitten on a football pitch.....

Yes of course it's a bad example, i have said it's not a good thing to do. I just think some perspective has been lost

[Diggers]

In my experience whenever I've elbowed someone they've generally been OK but after I bite them they go radio rental.

[beninho]

But she still married you hey Diggers?

[Sponsored content]