Li'l Thug Chronicles

Li'l Thug's are not a new phenomenon. You've probably seen them. They are everywhere. How do you spot them? They probably roll in their fly gear, hiphopped out, they hang around in packs, is allergic to using headfones on their mp3fones, and worst of all, they think they are gangsters. Well, they are gangsters, literally, as they do move around in gangs, but they are not exactly that in reality (i might have hurt one's feeling now).

London has these micro-mini-thugs aplenty, like Sania Mirza has pimples, and like them they do scar an otherwise enjoyable fare. I've got this friend who runs a local shop in a fairly peaceful neighbourhood, where I used to reside in. Now, there are these bunch of said mini-thugs that stroll around in the week-end afternoons. After a while once all the members have reported they start feeling invincible. This is when they decide to raid the local shops and show off their thuggery. When they reach my friend's shop, what they find entertaining is to send him to his wit's end by mocking his accent, intimidating him with bottles and stealing candy or beer, whichever is at hand's reach. Their Don was called Smokey, this burly fellow. Strikah was like the capo, this skinny kid with a bull-terrier (gotta admit that was a fierce animal).

One fine day I was hanging out with my friend in his shop, cuz I had nothing to do, plus he had a new delivery of porn magazines(kidding!). Smokey somehow reported to duty earlier than his members. He walked into the shop too, this time to legitimately buy something. But somehow, probably due to the absence of the other hyenas from the pack, he was calm and controlled. So cease the moment, right? My friend came out of the counter, locked the door. This another guy who ran a chinese joint next door, who had a reputation for his temper, was with us. Now Mr.Smokey smelt trouble once he saw the doors being locked and panicked. The chinese guy already had trouble with the gang before and couldn't wait to jump him and plant one foot right up the young thug. Me, trying to play Mr.Neutral, wasn't doing my job well and soon young thug was flying all over the place. Finally he was let out with a warning of never to been seen around. Now that a few months have passed I wonder if homeboy is working on taming his new territory or if he's helping his grandmother back in the kitchen, being an apple in his mama's eye, as he's nowhere to be seen. Young Thug Clique, we miss you!

Cease Fire before a European Battle? A Distant Preview of Euro'08 - Part.1

Summer 2006, just before the FIFA Germany'06 was underway, I visited a local tattoo parlour in Ealing, got a tricolore 'Italia' inked along the back of my left arm. I've only vague memories of Italia'90, but a painful climax to USA'94 and 5 more major disappointments are still etched in my mind, permanently, just like a mental version of this tattoo. Another disappointment is not gonna make me love them any less, but a victory this time around would be the most appropriate. It would not only give the long waiting fans, moments to cheer, but clear the black clouds hanging around the boot of Europe, after the Calciopoli. The rest is history. 

Fast forward to almost-spring 2008, just around the corner to the European Championships, and something says I cant be as confident as I was during the summer, a couple years ago. For real? 

Not only has Marcello Lippi made way for Roberto Donadoni as coach right after the WC success story, but the whole look of the team is now different. Although a  stuttered start had stained his reign Donadoni has managed to successfully qualify the Italians to the Euros, but in the process had used the services of some 40 plus players, among them are many debutants. There were success stories(Quagliarella, Di Natale), the regulars stand up guys (Toni) and disappointments (Lucarelli). One freedom Donadoni had was to rotate the squad as much as he wanted to. But, thats not a possibility with the Euros, as experiments are no longer the way to go when you're heading into a championship and what Italy so far hasn't been is a well rounded, solid team. Though Italy won its qualifying group, they scored only 22 goals. And its not the same scene in Serie A as it was pre-WC'06. None of the top 3 league scorers are Italian and there are only 5 in the top 10. Out of this Borriello, currently top Italian scorer, has not really featured on international campaigns, Totti is retired and Alex Del Piero is not a favorite with Donadoni. Outside of Serie A Toni, at Bayern Munich, is the only one to have settled well with his club. Lucarelli and Bianchi have returned back into the peninsula on loan after being named(rightfully) as flops at their respective clubs. To make matters worse, Italy was named into the death group alongside WC finalists France, Holland and Romania. 

With some heavy responsibility on his shoulders, Donadoni needs to look and observe a little deep if he wants to seriously contend for the trophy thats been elusive for 46 years. What does his eyes see?

(will hopefully continue with what my eyes see, soon)

Stia bene,

AG.