Tuesday, August 23, 2011

The cost of watching football

Post 107 Why world class footballers are expensive?

I was told through email by my Malaysian friend who is now residing in Germany on his football experience. As a student in the UK in 1964, he paid 3 Shillings (RM 1.50) to watch Arsenal against West Ham at Highbury. Watching Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium could now cost football fans a small fortune this season with the most expensive ticket priced at £100 (RM 500).

In contrast, one can buy a ticket to see Blackburn for as little as £10 according to a BBC survey into the cost of watching football. With Blackburn's cheap seats one can get in and buy a £3 programme, a pie and cup of tea, all for £17.50. However, with Liverpool's cheapest seats costing £39, the same package rises to nearly £ 47. If one likes Toffees, also known as Everton, it is slightly cheaper at £42. Spurs are also expensive to watch and fans have to pay £82 for the best seat. How much will the entrance tickets cost be for such matches in 2020 also depends on the price tags of future players.

It is a wonder that billions of people will glue themselves to TV for live telecasts of premier matches during the World cup. One politician was quoted to have said: “Why should people watch in such fervor 22 players chasing one little ball?”

Indeed interest knows no bound.

23 August 2011

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Character building

Post 106 An admirable personality

A person with an admirable personality has a very charming disposition. He or she is a person with a spark, who possesses exemplary character, good appearance, good education and best upbringing. People with a spark manifest their unique charisma which can only be achieved through character building.

The learning of academic subjects, music, sport and arts nurtures learners to be scholastic, have appreciation of fine arts, self-discipline, concentration, team work, fair play, and intrinsic values like integrity and compassion. The dynamic spark of a person makes people want to be with him because the synergy obtained through such association stimulates them to emulate his example.

There are many politicians but statesmen are very few and far between in many countries. Any country which wants to be a respected nation must have a wide base of citizens who are of good character and possess the required positive traits. They must not only be literate but educated. Only from this broad platform will there be more options for the selection of world class leaders with wisdom and integrity. The rule of mediocrity spells disaster for the nation and the people.

Character building must begin from home and continue in institutions of learning. They are the moral habitats for the nurturing of admirable personalities.

16 August 2011

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Never give up

Post 105 Many a little makes a mickle

When I started writing this blog, I planned to do it weekly for three years. As there are 52 weeks in a year, 104 weeks will make up two years. This post is therefore the beginning of my third year of writing the blog. Each short blog may take only 15 minutes or so to write, it represents my belief that little stroke fell great oaks. If many a little makes a mickle, at the end of this third year, I shall have 156 blogs in my account. The message that I want to carry is that the singleness of purpose can make things happen.

The blogs written are intended to be short and concise. The world has become so compact that very few people seem to have time to read for leisure especially great classics of literatures. It is hoped that some readers who happen to cross the path of this blog may pick up some pointers in life here and there. In fact the little minutes which we spend daily in reading over a few years will make a mighty impact on our outlook of life.

I shall always remember a primary school motivational story of a cicada which wanted to learn to fly from a bird. A cicada is a tropical insect with large transparent wings that makes a high singing noise. After a few days of learning how to fly, the cicada gave up for lack of perseverance. One day the cicada was struggling to climb a tree. It was panting and sweating profusely. The tree then told the cicada that by having the ability to fly it could fly over the forest and from tree to tree. The cicada was moved and returned to the bird for more lessons and succeeded. It became the world's first flying cicada.

Never give up on your goals in life!

9 August 2011

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Forget not an old friendship

Post 104 Old is gold

Having been on retirement for the last eight years, I have been attending numerous gatherings for old boys and old college mates. For once or twice I also joined in for my wife’s old girls’ gathering. During those gatherings, the halls were full of laughter and everyone was in jovial mood.

On two different occasions, I felt the loss of two good friends who were with me during the previous gatherings prior to their passing away. One was an outstanding footballer and hockey player; while the other friend was excellent in his technical skills.

As years go by, the number of participants in our gatherings gets smaller for obvious reasons. For those who are still healthy and active, they are the regulars. They are also the ones who can eat what is served on the table. For those who are suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes, and other old age illnesses, they refrain from eating certain dishes. They are there for the sake of reviving old friendship of which we appreciate very much.

Old is gold. A page from my primary school graduation autograph album in the late 1950s contains these words: “Make new friends but keep the old; for one is silver and the other is gold.” It is good to have bosom friends whom we can share our thoughts.

“Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don't say.”
-- Anon

2 August 2011