Dear Editor,
First of all, I wish to congratulate Germany on a well-fought victory in the final of the competition.
I learned this great lesson of life, and by extension sports, from my late great headmaster Douglas Forrest: "False friends are like your shadow, they stand close while you are in the sunshine but disappear once you cross into the shade."
Ever since I played Colts football in 1962, Brazil has been my team of choice, and I have grown to believe that a vast majority of Jamaicans would admit to this at the beginning of the competition. On the day of the semi-final, however, I agreed to meet some pals at a favourite elbow-bending spot on Belmont Road after half-time. I donned my Brazil T-shirt and, to my amazement, when I got there, if there was one other Brazilian supporter with a Brazilian T-shirt on my eyes must have been closed. With the team 5 goals down, I reflected on this real lesson of life on "false friends".
The World Cup football competition is such a spectacle that it must be true that only the strong survive. For any team to get to the semi-finals in this or any other competition, particularly where there are knockout matches — unless at least 26 of the 32 teams are exceptionally weak — that team must be darn good or exceptionally lucky.
When expectations are high, the only result that will satisfy those who can only write or speak is to
come first. Quite often there are mitigating variables that, in spite of our best effort, we will be beaten. Nevertheless, we must give of our best at all times.
"Farming appears to be mighty easy when your plough is a pen or a microphone and you are a thousand miles from the field."
Additionally, I heard a comment on a local television station by one of its commentators which included "Heil Hitler". I was just about to lose my cool when I remembered a line from Desiderata: "Even the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story." There are many bits of poetry that give me a measure of inspiration and some that allow me to remain calm when I listen to expressions by some experts in their chosen field. We must not forget the great cruelty that was displayed by the then leader, Hitler. Over six million Jews were slaughtered and many Jamaicans lost their lives in the ensuing war. Many serious things are said in jest.
Of note, though, I believe that the Brazilian team must be the only team in the world that could reach the semi-final of an international competition yet earn so much flack. Let's go to the Bible: "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required; and to whom men have committed much of him they will ask more." (Luke 12: 48)
Clive W Savage
Kingston 6
A few lessons from the World Cup
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First of all, I wish to congratulate Germany on a well-fought victory in the final of the competition.
I learned this great lesson of life, and by extension sports, from my late great headmaster Douglas Forrest: "False friends are like your shadow, they stand close while you are in the sunshine but disappear once you cross into the shade."
Ever since I played Colts football in 1962, Brazil has been my team of choice, and I have grown to believe that a vast majority of Jamaicans would admit to this at the beginning of the competition. On the day of the semi-final, however, I agreed to meet some pals at a favourite elbow-bending spot on Belmont Road after half-time. I donned my Brazil T-shirt and, to my amazement, when I got there, if there was one other Brazilian supporter with a Brazilian T-shirt on my eyes must have been closed. With the team 5 goals down, I reflected on this real lesson of life on "false friends".
The World Cup football competition is such a spectacle that it must be true that only the strong survive. For any team to get to the semi-finals in this or any other competition, particularly where there are knockout matches — unless at least 26 of the 32 teams are exceptionally weak — that team must be darn good or exceptionally lucky.
When expectations are high, the only result that will satisfy those who can only write or speak is to
come first. Quite often there are mitigating variables that, in spite of our best effort, we will be beaten. Nevertheless, we must give of our best at all times.
"Farming appears to be mighty easy when your plough is a pen or a microphone and you are a thousand miles from the field."
Additionally, I heard a comment on a local television station by one of its commentators which included "Heil Hitler". I was just about to lose my cool when I remembered a line from Desiderata: "Even the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story." There are many bits of poetry that give me a measure of inspiration and some that allow me to remain calm when I listen to expressions by some experts in their chosen field. We must not forget the great cruelty that was displayed by the then leader, Hitler. Over six million Jews were slaughtered and many Jamaicans lost their lives in the ensuing war. Many serious things are said in jest.
Of note, though, I believe that the Brazilian team must be the only team in the world that could reach the semi-final of an international competition yet earn so much flack. Let's go to the Bible: "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required; and to whom men have committed much of him they will ask more." (Luke 12: 48)
Clive W Savage
Kingston 6
A few lessons from the World Cup
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