The Shhhhhhhhhhh Word.

There is a word that, historically, is not discussed in the media. Its stigma is an ancient one. You can curse to your hearts content after the watershed but you'll never get this past the censors. The word is suicide. I heard reported on the radio on newstalk when I was driving today that there are more deaths in Ireland from suicide than fatalities on the road. That shocked me. Ireland, with it's gum ball rally roads that were sneezed onto an undulating landscape. A country where our politicians say a few drinks are grand and “ah, sure nothing wrong with it with getting into the car to drive home.” A country where you can fail your driving test with no driving experience, be certified dangerous on the road and then get in your car and drive home? This faraway land has more people killing themselves that the perverse concrete lottery scythes down? Wow.

I had to dig out some statistics. Here's a study done by Paul Corcoran and Ellen Arensman. Kudos. Yoink. 

http://www.nosp.ie/mortality_statistics.pdf

The Results showed that the number of suicides in Ireland doubled between 1987 and 1998. They appear to level off between 1998 and 2003 and per the Irish Association of Suicidology (yes, they exist) they seem to have stayed at this plateau. Their stats are here:

http://www.ias.ie/stats.htm

The statistics scared the shit out of me. For example there is a column for 5-14 year olds. As a father that column really scares me. 

Suicide is one of those weird things that we as mortal beings have to get our perverbial heads around. Whether we like to admit it or not we've all flirted with the idea. Don't believe me? Have a discussion over the water cooler with your mates on how they would like to die. Everyone has an opinion. Some are drowners, some are going to “in my sleep”, others, like myself, are the massive coronary heart attack thank you very much. We cannot go on burying our heads in the sand and pretending it doesn't exist. It's a human condition but suicide carries with it an enormous stigma. They cheated. 

The thing about suicide is there is no point trying to rationalise it. It's not rational. It's generally impulsive and its finality is probably not grasped by those that undertake it. It's perceived effects are the full myriad or human emotions. We see copycat suicides presumably by those that seek attention. Suicides that seek to hurt others but mostly suicide is undertaken by those that want a way out. The ultimate Zanax to make the pain go away. Fuck this, I'm outta here. But the thing is, when you're dead you're not coming back and all the supposed hurt and attention you were seeking to escape it's no longer yours. It's passed onto those that are left picking up the pieces and trying, and sometimes failing to emotionally glue them together again. 

When I started this article I thought I was in the red zone. The high risk 20-30 male, and all the intangible pressures that supposedly go with it but digging out the stats I'm only marginally at risk than the little old lady down the street. This affects all of us and shiney coloured pie charts don't dimish the real pain of said little old ladys kids when Mommy tops off after popping off to Bingo.

Suicide exists. It's been here for as long as humans developed self awareness. Putting our fingers in our ears won't make it go away. A culture of don't ask, don't tell is no longer acceptable. It needs to be addressed. It needs to be taken out of the veil of secrecy and mysticism. We need to talk about death and not glorify it. I mean, this is the week Republicans are celebrating the suicide of ten political prisoners who starved themselves to death. Is this the image we want to impart on vulnerable people of suicide? When we do not have public debate on the issues we do not have a balanced and educated view to form an opinion on. The study above was remarkable for two things that seem to have been lost on the authors. I'll quote

“Either-way decriminalization would be presumed to lead to an increase in suicide whereas the reported number of suicide deaths that occurred in 1993 was actually 10% lower than in 1992 a rare decrease”

What the authors didn't seem to appreciate is that the decriminisation of suicide brought it into the remit of public debate. People talked openly about it. The families of suicide victims spoke openly of the stigma and pain and suffering and whole hearted trauma of it all and 10% listened and thought better and then instead of learning from the experience we all went back to pretending again. 

The second point the authors missed, and this is obvious, is their own bigotry. Decriminisation would be presumed to lead to an increase? Are you mental? Oh, yipee I can kill myself and not go to jail. What? Do you think someone about to commit suicide gives a fiddlers fuck about the legal consequences of death. Sure, sue me. There is an inherent misunderstanding right there of the very nature of suicide and this from the authors of a study on same. It makes me wonder. 

And because I'm an unqualified half-wit who obviously doesn't know what he's talking about I'll reproduce the myths of suicide from the IAS webpage. Take care out there.

http://www.ias.ie/myths.htm

Myths About Suicide

Those who talk about suicide are the least likely to attempt it - NOT TRUE. About 80% of those who take their own lives will have talked about it to some significant other in the few months before hand. If someone is going to complete suicide they are going to do it and there is nothing you can do about it – NOT TRUE. The majority of those who take their own lives are ambivalent about doing so until the end. Most people who complete suicide do not want to die they just want to end their pain.  You can get a good idea how serious someone is about a suicide attempt by looking at the method used – NOT TRUE. Most people have little awareness of the lethality of what they are doing. The seriousness of the attempt is not necessarily related to the seriousness of the intent. If someone has a history of making cries for help then they won't do it for real - NOT TRUE. The group of people at highest risk for suicide is those who have attempted it in the previous year. Only the clinically depressed make serious suicide attempts - NOT TRUE People are also at risk suffering from other forms of psychiatric illness and emotional distress. Those with personality disorders attempt suicide to manipulate others - a commonly held belief. Many a patient is alienated and an ideal opportunity for therapeutic intervention missed because of the reception they receive in some emergency departments. If someone is going to commit suicide they will not tell anyone of their intentions and prepare well in advance - NOT TRUE. Many suicides are completed on impulse. Talking about suicide encourages it - NOT TRUE. Raising the issue of suicide with those who are depressed or distressed may open the door to therapeutic intervention. Suicide can be a blessed relief no just for the individual but those surrounding him or her - NOT TRUE. Bereavement by suicide is a very heavy cross to bear; those bereaved by suicide have special needs and need support. Bereavement by suicide is itself a risk factor for suicide.

Soccer Dictatorships- a New reign of Terror

Soccer Dictatorships- a new reign of terror?

We all remember staying up till 3 am with school the next day, hollow eyed addicts to a premiership manager game. “Just one more game”, we would cry, playing God in the transfer market and assembling a team that won the champions league final for some reckless underdog in a matter of 6 electronic seasons. For me it was Championship Manager 97 and I went all the way with Peterborough, dragging them from the pit of near extinction to Champions League glory.

This was all well and good in the electronic version with one omnipotent being but suddenly the premiership has turned into a playground for the rich and mysterious. Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man city have all fallen under the financial axe and been resurrected as playthings for characters as diverse as the owners of Monty Burns nuclear softball league. Arsenal plough a lonely furrow as the only one of the big 4 not under the iron thumb of a rich owner, but for how long? Salary caps and a fantastic manager and scouting network have helped them maintain their position but what happens when the genius of Arsene Wenger has moved on. This trend led to Portsmouth to issue the nonsensical press statement over the weekend that the club was “not for sale”, but they would talk to prospectors looking to mine it, “at the right price”. It doesn’t take an oxymoron to know that the directors have raised the white flag and are waiting for the Allies to come and rescue them.

Rather than go into the characters of the new owners and their tastes and favourite colours, their other playthings and their motives which has been examined in every tabloid in England since this whole football experiment started I’d like to see where this rabbit hole goes and you’ll bear with me while Alice tumbles.

The ridiculous spending in the premiership means that a Scottish goalkeeper- albeit a good one commands a £12 million fee a newly promoted side, of course this is Gordon in Sunderland. The following season they attempt buy over a third of Tottenham’s starting line up. Where did the cash come from? Were hotdogs suddenly £50 in the North? Why weren’t Newcastle made aware of this unique inflation? The answer we learn is that Niall Quinn and his silent consortium have a “sugar daddy” in the background dispensing sweets like a UK version of Paz who is coughing up this money no questions asked. Naturally these owners are looking to improve the standing of the clubs, to earn riches at the biggest sweetshop of the lot- The Champions League. Make no mistake Benetiz’s head was on the block if Liverpool and Kuyt hadn’t smashed in the winner with extra time ticking perilously and Reina getting ready to saddle up Silver to perform another Lone ranger miracle for the pool. 

But what happens when you have a premiership of 5, 10, 15 obscenely wealthy owners wriggling like eels in the Jacuzzi and all dropping pennies in the slot machine. What happens when the effects of all this money is cancelled out? Suddenly the soccer superstars have an option. Robinho goes to Man City, how much would you have gotten in Boylesports on that one last season? Or will they start outbidding each other for the worlds top talent ala Ronaldo and the £300,000 a week rumours with the agents and players delirious and rich and assured of a death by gout.

Will money eventually cease to matter and we go back to coaching and other methods to get ahead? 

There are a number of theories on this. Firstly, common sense will dictate that whoever has the most money can afford the top players and managers. However, the echelon of both these professions is a narrow pyramid. Once you have committed to a top manager you have committed to his vision at a club, which means his players which may not always be mutually exclusive. As Chelsea learned with the Shevchenko you cannot just start buying up players because you used have their poster on your palace as a child, you have to have a well balanced team. The Glaziers subscribed to this idea early and let Alex run his show. A double over Chelsea in the league and Champions league final has shown this to be a pragmatic and sensible decision. You cannot just “buy success” unless what you buy is the tool mason of a manager to do it. It’s like the old adage, money doesn’t buy you happiness, but it helps. It is no surprise that Mourinho’s departure took the title success with him. Hughes is a top manager for the premiership, but not yet world class and it’ll be interesting to see what develops of Man City and who he brings in January. I’d expect to see some quality defenders for a start.

Regardless of the manager, if you have far superior players you will win 98 times out of a hundred (the 2% is what makes sport great). The rolling out of the reserves as started by Ferguson has devalued the Carling/FA cup sure but Arsenal’s reserves nearly went the whole way. Try telling them that their victories were lessened against teams in the old fourth divisions that would knife their grannies for TV appearance money that may be the difference between their next buy, hopeful promotion or the abyss of relegation. 

Secondly the players are finite. There are not enough Ronaldo’s or Lampards to fill ten teams. This makes the scramble all the more interesting. I do expect to see bidding wars but there are other considerations. This is not fantasy football where players come willingly and not all players are mercenaries. Some players are attracted to clubs because they love them. For cultural reasons Barcelona and Real Madrid are dreams of many the Latin American or Portuguese and Spanish youngster. So too AC and Inter, Juventus and Roma stick in the heart for the Italians. No amount of money could prise these happy players away from their spiritual football homes and what’s the difference between £100,000 and £200,000 to the young who think that these days will last forever and the money will never dry up. Sure they might start getting old and will sell their reputation and name to an English club but will they sell their passion and hearts. How many Anelka’s do you want in your team? If they are not inspired how can they inspire in their football? When it just becomes another job for money, albeit monopoly money will they still pass go? Deco could fit in this category but I think Scolari had a lot to do with his move, though I’m sure the money helped.

If you build it, most will come, but not all and I haven’t even mentioned the weather!

The third consideration is the money itself. These investors did not start buying up these teams to catch a seat with a decent view or a nice spot to have a cocktail party. These clubs are businesses. For successful astute businessmen every venture is a business decision. Sure they can pawn it off as an emotional purchase to the fans who are mired in the mystery of their own club like a man who loves his wife and doesn’t care when she’s let herself go. There may not be enough carcasses for all the vultures though television money ensures that they will circle the carcasses long enough to find out. If money starts to negate money will the super rich look for other more equitable interests? Funnily enough with a recession looming a football club is an astute buy. People will always look to sport in times of economic strife, remember the 80’s? Also the sheer wealth of some of the new owners ensures they could afford if the clubs become money oubliette but not perhaps for Sunderland’s sugar daddy or Hicks and Gillete who must surely be walking the streets of New York in fishnets trying to whore Liverpool at this stage with all their cash tied up in now defunct US investments.

The last consideration is the equivalent of football socialism. The commoners revolt. Like the old Russians who overthrew the Czar before their decedents became one and bought Chelsea, and the French revolution no-one in England has modelled their club on the continental version of fans as the owners. Liverpool’s supporters are now trying desperately to emulate the model but the amount of cash they need to raise to overthrow Napoleon and the rest of the pigs in the farmhouse is absolutely obscene and far beyond the realm of the common farm animal, who generally has no pockets. The Barcelona and Real Madrid supporters got in before the boom and it might take a bust in Liverpool before they can stride through the wreckage but somehow I think the vultures will get their first. The European clubs liked to brag that this model was represented at each of the last ten Champions League finals. Well that argument is dead now with Chelsea and Manchester United contesting last years final

Where they may win the debate is that the fans aren’t going to pull the plug. What happens when Abramovich decides to walk away. Financial melt down and receivership is what. Sort of like what David O Leary did at Leeds, only 100 million or so times worse.

So where to from here? Thankfully nobody knows. Chelsea’s balance sheet shows that the seed capital needed to push a club into the realm of champions is immense pushing the club into the red but this itself will not guarantee success. Will this act as a deterrent to further takeovers? It doesn’t seem to matter. The hoard of Russian Mafioso on the stands of the Champions League final in Chelsea shirts means that Russia has adopted a new club. The revenue Chelsea generated in selling football shirts in eastern Europe with a quintessential eastern European celebrity, Shevchenko on the back of them probably made up financially for his football flop in the premiership. Not since Beckham fanatics in the Far East licking his toilet bowls have we seen a model for flogging merchandise so effectively. Real Madrid became the richest club in the world when they bought footballs most over-rated player almost overnight from shirt sales in the Orient. How long before an Indian or Chinese tycoon decides those markets are ripe to start buying football kits of their newly nationalised premiership team?  

We have entered a new golden age. Football has always been about tycoons and money, maybe it’s gone back to its roots. 

Back Home in Derry

Today is the 28th anniversary of Bobby Sands death. One year longer than he lived. I hadn't given it much thought at all until I clicked on a link in Boards and found my way to the lyrics of “ Back home in Derry”. Bobby Sands wrote that. I hadn't known until today. Maybe music draws on my heart more than politics on my mind but it made me re-examine my views or rather my lack of them on Bobby Sands.

Bobby Sands has become an icon. He is a lot of things to a lot of people. A terrorist, a poet, a criminal, an elected representative, a martyr, a freedom fighter, a fanatical political kamikaze breaking onto the bough of Thatcher's conservative government, but behind it all when you whittle away the romanticism, Bobby Sands was a person. A fellow human being who wrote that beautiful mournful lament and laid down his life for the courage of his convictions in the most agonising of ways. That takes a strength of will few of us could contemplate.

I wasn't even born when Bobby and his fellow nine dead hunger strikers took up their protest for political prisoner status. Their views seem as alien to me now as the Catholic civil rights repressions in the North that preceded it. Suffice to say they were a product of their interactions with their environment in much the same way their environment was to become a product of their actions. I'm not going into a subjective debate on the rights and wrongs, the scoring system in blood that has raged in the North since 1969. I'm simply not qualified. I'm trying to deduce, when they dust down the annuals of history what effect Bobby and his fellow hunger strikers had on the North and the rest of us that share this island. 

The immediate after effect of Bobby Sands and his fellow prisoner's deaths was polorisation. Riots, murders and anarchy reigned. Divisions were drawn that still exist to this day. However, what is more subtle and also more pertinent to this day is the democratic election of Bobby Sands to Westminster as MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Bobby's election gave the IRA a new weapon in the north. A democratic mandate. It is this weapon that has eventually usurped the rest of their arsenal and has give hope and peace to the North. It was in Bobby's election that many of the Nationalists cut their teeth in politics and they've been grinding them in a fury ever since. 

I'm drawn back to the lyrics of his lament. The story of the 1803 rising. Of prisoners brought to Van Halen's land in chains and lamenting their home. There are many that chose to leave the North during the troubles, but to many, it was, and is, for all its flaws, home. Home is a word that resonates in the heart greater than all others. I think of Bobby Sands writing those lyrics and contemplating leaving it behind. Leaving Derry for England to his young wife and son, but he chose to stay, and eventually, he chose to die. It is impossible to know what he would have made of the consequences of his actions. Only Bobby Sands would know that, but the political mediation infrastructure that was seeded in his election eventually bore fruit to the current assembly and brought hope to the North. It is a legacy few of us could have accomplished in 27 short years.

R.I.P

In 1803 we sailed out to sea
Out from the sweet town of Derry
For Australia bound if we didn't all drown
And the marks of our fetters we carried
In the rusty iron chains we sighed for our wains
As our good women we left in sorrow
As the mainsails unfurled our curses we hurled
On the English and thoughts of tomorrow

VERSE 2

at the mouth of the Foyle, bid farewell to the soil
as down below decks we were lying
O'Doherty screamed, woken out of a dream
by vision of bold Robert dying
the sun burnt cruel, as we dished out the gruel
Dan O'Connor was down with a fever
sixty rebels today, bound for Botany bay
how many will reach their receiver

Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry
Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry

VERSE3

I cursed them to hell as our bow fought the swell
Our ship danced like a moth in the firelight
White horses rode high as the devil passed by
Taking souls to Hades by twilight.
Five weeks out to sea we were now forty-three
Our comrades we buried each morning.
In our own slime we were lost in a time.
Endless night without dawning.

Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry
Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry

VERSE 4

Van Dieman's land is a hell for a man
To live out his life in slavery
Where the climate is raw and the gun makes the law
Neither wind nor rain cares for bravery
Twenty years have gone by and I've ended my bond
My comrades' ghosts walk behind me
A rebel I came and I'm still the same
On the cold winds of night you will find me

Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry
Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry
oh oh oh oh I wish i was back home in Derry