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 23, 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
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
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
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
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
The waiting game
Post 103 Time cost
I casually asked a friend who is a businessman to sum up in a few words how his business was being operated. To my surprise he gave me the answer: business here is a waiting game. I did not press him for clarification but just gave him a smile. His time cost therefore depends on how long he has to wait and how urgent the matter is. For me lining up at shopping malls' pay counters is one of the reasons why I avoid going to those places during sales carnivals.
Attending wedding dinners is another test of patience when the waiting game can be a few hours during prime evening time. In a city like Kuala Lumpur, seasoned dinner guests do not even have to bother to look at the time printed boldly on invitation cards. When it says dinner will be served at 7.30 pm sharp, just add ++ to make it 8.30 pm and you will not be far off tangent. Occasionally when VVIPs who were the guests of honour came late, dinner would become supper being served at 9.30 pm.
There was a Punctuality Campaign organized by a Chinese-based political party in the 1980s suggesting that all wedding dinners should start at 8.00 pm and end at 10.00 pm. The rationale was that attending guests could still have quality time with family members at home after dinner. The proposal turned out to be merely a flash in the pan. Old Habits Die Hard!
The waiting game in life sees all of us as experienced actors and actresses wondering when the game would be over.
26 July 2011
I casually asked a friend who is a businessman to sum up in a few words how his business was being operated. To my surprise he gave me the answer: business here is a waiting game. I did not press him for clarification but just gave him a smile. His time cost therefore depends on how long he has to wait and how urgent the matter is. For me lining up at shopping malls' pay counters is one of the reasons why I avoid going to those places during sales carnivals.
Attending wedding dinners is another test of patience when the waiting game can be a few hours during prime evening time. In a city like Kuala Lumpur, seasoned dinner guests do not even have to bother to look at the time printed boldly on invitation cards. When it says dinner will be served at 7.30 pm sharp, just add ++ to make it 8.30 pm and you will not be far off tangent. Occasionally when VVIPs who were the guests of honour came late, dinner would become supper being served at 9.30 pm.
There was a Punctuality Campaign organized by a Chinese-based political party in the 1980s suggesting that all wedding dinners should start at 8.00 pm and end at 10.00 pm. The rationale was that attending guests could still have quality time with family members at home after dinner. The proposal turned out to be merely a flash in the pan. Old Habits Die Hard!
The waiting game in life sees all of us as experienced actors and actresses wondering when the game would be over.
26 July 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
A basketball match to remember for life
Post 102 Pandemonium broke out
In the early 1950s I sneaked out and walked about 15 minutes from my house one evening to a school basketball court. The basketball court in the rural area where I was staying was not paved with cement. When players ran around the court, one could see the red dust coming up from the ground. Nevertheless it was a match much awaited for, especially for a little boy of eight years old like me. My childhood friends told me the two teams playing were champions from neighbouring small towns.
Just as the game was about to end, with my favourite team leading by two points, I suddenly heard someone shouting “Red-head soldiers are coming! Red-head soldiers are coming!” followed by a pandemonium at the premises of the basketball court. I was disappointed that the exciting game had to be abandoned and I hurriedly weaved my way out through a panic crowd. When I was about to reach home, I heard my father yelling at me for he had been frantically looking for me. He dragged me to the house and asked me repeatedly whether I knew the great danger I was in.
I learnt in my growing years later that the much feared Red-head soldiers were from the Federal Reserve Unit or better known by the abbreviation as FRU. They were called Red-head soldiers because they wore red helmets. Its main duty is to disperse illegal assembly, riot suppression and to maintain public order.
I wonder who would have won had it not been for the appearance of the Red-head soldiers. I still do not know why they were there. At that particular moment when the game was stopped, I thought the Red-head soldiers were truly the wet blankets!
19 July 2011
In the early 1950s I sneaked out and walked about 15 minutes from my house one evening to a school basketball court. The basketball court in the rural area where I was staying was not paved with cement. When players ran around the court, one could see the red dust coming up from the ground. Nevertheless it was a match much awaited for, especially for a little boy of eight years old like me. My childhood friends told me the two teams playing were champions from neighbouring small towns.
Just as the game was about to end, with my favourite team leading by two points, I suddenly heard someone shouting “Red-head soldiers are coming! Red-head soldiers are coming!” followed by a pandemonium at the premises of the basketball court. I was disappointed that the exciting game had to be abandoned and I hurriedly weaved my way out through a panic crowd. When I was about to reach home, I heard my father yelling at me for he had been frantically looking for me. He dragged me to the house and asked me repeatedly whether I knew the great danger I was in.
I learnt in my growing years later that the much feared Red-head soldiers were from the Federal Reserve Unit or better known by the abbreviation as FRU. They were called Red-head soldiers because they wore red helmets. Its main duty is to disperse illegal assembly, riot suppression and to maintain public order.
I wonder who would have won had it not been for the appearance of the Red-head soldiers. I still do not know why they were there. At that particular moment when the game was stopped, I thought the Red-head soldiers were truly the wet blankets!
19 July 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Why?
Post 101 Why not?
I was asked to say some words of wisdom after giving a talk to a group of thirty graduates. I told them I have some to tell them, if I must.
“Do what you are interested in and good at, and excel in it. When others ask you why, tell them politely why not?”
When we are too concerned about the opinion of others, we lose our designated direction. There is a need for the nurturing of our critical thinking and the ability to make our own decision. All men are born equal but no two persons are alike. Hence it is wise for us to concentrate on only one career in our life and do it well. We know our own strengths, inertia and aptitude. Others do not.
A medical graduate told me in the 1970s that he was not interested to be a doctor. The logical question to be asked was why then did he take up the course? “I did it because my father wanted me to”, he said. He then enrolled for another course in literature. We met up 30 years later and I came to know that he did his medical practice three days a week. He spent more time now travelling with his writing and drawing. He knows what he wants in life.
As a rolling stone gathers no moss, do one great thing which we have a passion for. One is a greenhorn when one is young but becomes an authority in one’s field of study when one is experienced.
I feel good living my own life.
12 July 2011
I was asked to say some words of wisdom after giving a talk to a group of thirty graduates. I told them I have some to tell them, if I must.
“Do what you are interested in and good at, and excel in it. When others ask you why, tell them politely why not?”
When we are too concerned about the opinion of others, we lose our designated direction. There is a need for the nurturing of our critical thinking and the ability to make our own decision. All men are born equal but no two persons are alike. Hence it is wise for us to concentrate on only one career in our life and do it well. We know our own strengths, inertia and aptitude. Others do not.
A medical graduate told me in the 1970s that he was not interested to be a doctor. The logical question to be asked was why then did he take up the course? “I did it because my father wanted me to”, he said. He then enrolled for another course in literature. We met up 30 years later and I came to know that he did his medical practice three days a week. He spent more time now travelling with his writing and drawing. He knows what he wants in life.
As a rolling stone gathers no moss, do one great thing which we have a passion for. One is a greenhorn when one is young but becomes an authority in one’s field of study when one is experienced.
I feel good living my own life.
12 July 2011
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