Numbers' game

2-0 For Bafana Bafana's last German training camp game against Jamaica.

90th Spot-drop for Bafana Bafana on FIFA's world ranking list.

1. That's the new position for Brazil on that same FIFA list. They've overtaken Spain from the poleposition.

1-0 Victory for Barca but not good enough to overcome their 3-1 defeat in Milan last week. Inter will now face Bayern Munich in a classic champions league final next month in Madrid.

2 Goals. That's what Liverpool needs tonight against Atletico Madrid. If they get that and keep the visitors from scoring, then the Reds will play the Europa Cup final in Hamburg next month against either Fulham or Hamburg.

21 Degrees in Joburg today. That's what's promised. We need some sun to dry up the humidity.

42 Days to go to world cup kick off.

A dog's life

Wet and rainy Joburg makes it feel like October in Europe (but 8 degrees warmer!).

And for some dogs the wet weather is just a good excuse....

50 Is the new it

50. That's it. 50 days to funny madness, Vuvuzela noise, Messi's magic and Torres' goals.

50 Days. That's all. And then Soccer City will be full to capacity to see Bafana Bafana kick off Africa's first world cup football against Mexico. Let the game begin!

50 Days to the start of the world's most famous sport gathering. 50 Days to a rollercoaster month during which Mexico will face the Vuvuzela wall of sound; France will see if the 'hand of Henry' brought them any further luck (sorry Ireland!!); Uruguay will enjoy Greenpoint stadium blessings; both Koreas will make peace; Greece will forget its economic troubles; Messi will take Argentina to new heights; Nigeria will try to steal the African crown; England will bring some fever to sleepy Rustenburg; the US of A might surprise us as they did during the 2009 Confed Cup; Algeria will prove us why they kept African champions Egypt out of SA; little Slovenia will make itself known to the globe; the Blue Bulls home will host Serbia's experience against the youthfulness of the Ghana squad; mighty Germany will kick off its tournament in the beautifull new Durban stadium against the down-under Aussies; the Dutch will continue their good form; the vikings from Denmark will show off their game; Bloemfontein will welcome Japan battle it out against Cameroon; world champions Italy will proof they are not an old squad; Paraguay will do Latin America proud; the Kiwis' All Whites will take the spotlight away (for a little while) from the All Blacks; Slovakia will compete with strength; Drogba will lead Ivory Coast to new heights against Ronaldo's Portugal; Brazil's sambaboys will bring the crowds into delirium; Honduras and Chile will show Nelspruit some fine tricks; Torres and company will take the cup back to Madrid; and Switzerland will show they can do much more than make fine chocolate.

It's show time in 50 days. Let the vuvuzelas rule!



And also some vuvuzela birthday tunes to another 50 today. My sister-in-law.

Make some noise.

Knit for One

Got this in my inbox.....

For those with those needle skills, start knitting! It's for a good cause.

The clearly colder night last night is another writing on the wall that winter is coming. And thus those cute babies at Coronation Hospital in Joburg need something warm to face the coming temperature drop.

You can get more info at www.knitone2saveone.com

Ticket fever

You can't miss it unless you are detached from SA reality today. It's world cup ticket fever.

Tickets go on sale (last chance) across SA and football freaks have been waiting through the night in line outside a ticket office in Sandton or Maponya Mall in Soweto, or at any other world cup sales location.

The final on July 11 at Soccer City is sold out already. And I guess same thing for the opening game in same stadium on June 11: Bafana Bafana vs Mexico.

And I guess many Brazilian and English games are pretty full too. Wondering if anybody in those overnight queues are frantically trying to get a ticket for North Korea vs Portugal in Cape Town on June 21st; or maybe Honduras against Chile in Nelspruit on June 16; or maybe some are interested to witness the Kiwis vs Slovakia in Rustenburg on June 15.

Am curious to know which are the less-sold games. The ones the LOC will have to bus in people to fill up the stadiums. Good idea. Free entertainment for the poor.

I stick to my prognosis of a Brazil vs Spain final with the golden trophy catching a flight out of SA to Madrid on July 12.

Poster politics

I had heard about it some time ago but hadn't seen it yet.

Now a friend of mine from the eastcoast of the US sent me the picture proof.

Some company has paid for anti-Obama posters to be put up here and there across America. It's a crude way of politics but that's the way it goes I guess.



Wonder how the South African political class would react if some rich bloke decided to put up posters of Mbeki saying "Miss me yet?".... And it can be expanded to many non-political fields I guess. Poster boy Benni McCarthy saying "Miss me yet?" with Bafana Bafana colours. Or Clive Barker doing the same thing. Plenty of options here...

My American friend was wondering how he and his mates could take it down so they don't have to look at it on their way to work every day. They got a shock when they saw it for the first time as they knew about these posters in other communities but didn't expect it on their turf.

4am

Amazing chap. A unique species of mankind. Met him on Friday in Alexandra. He gets up at 4am and does taxi runs for a few hours, including taking kids to school. Then, till noon, he mediates in community disputes to avoid they clog up the legal system. At noon back to the school to pick up the kids and drop them at their respective homes. Then back some regular taxi runs (cause you need an income!). Home by 6pm to make dinner for his wife who gets there by 7.30pm.

And on weekends after dinner he is doing community safety patrols from 9pm to 3am through the township.

This guy is a saint!

Tick tock

Time is ticking this week into history tick by tock.

Worldcup tickets. Worldcup concerts. Bafana Bafana soon to Germany after their Brazilian camp. Barcelona's Lionel Messi kicking Arsenal out of the Champions League and then humiliating Real Madrid in Madrid a few days later. Liverpool ain't dead yet. European tabloids and their ridiculous worldcup fears. A murder, a court appearance and a funeral. BBC and Luthuli House. K's Choice and Echo Mountain. Rain. Dropping temperatures. JZ and his HIV test campaign. Don't touch me on my studio. You Tube. Electricity. Blackouts and cardgames. In 2 months it's showtime. Big showtime. Reality check. Where is that golden worldcup now? Alexandra (not refering to the cup here!!). Jeep Wrangler and mud. National flags on Mini's mirrors. Shout campaign. Australians and a Frenchman. Drinks. Pizza. No more Lie To Me on 101. Petomania in Manhattan's Lower East Side. Are the Bulls any closer to playing in orlando? Ajax and Chiefs clash in Durban and KC take the silverware up to Jozi. Cape Town's ETC have learned a lot from the Beastie Boys. George Benson jazzed Kaapstad into delirium.

Messi the magician

96 And still jumping jack flash. South Africa now also holds the world record of the oldest bungy jumper.

Mohr Keet from George jumped of the 216 meter high Bloukrans Bridge, which links the Western and Eastern Cape. Kick that!



Wow wow wow. It was magical. He was magical. That is Argentinian Lionel Messi outgunning the Gunners from London last night. Four goals from the young lad takes Barcelona into the semi finals of the Champions League. Next scalp is Inter Milan.

Messi is only in his early 20s but he has already made sure that the world has forgotten about Ronaldo. With Messi in magical form Argentina can go really far in the upcoming worldcup. And that showpiece is just about 2 months away only.

100%

South Africa has something with brutal murders of political figures on Easter weekend.

Communist leader Chris Hani in 1993 and now fascist Terre'Blanche in 2010. Strange co-incidence.

Amidst the political, emotional, racial rollercoaster of the last days at least this picture made me smile a bit. How the 100% Zulu from the JZ supporters in the lead up to the ANC Polokwane conference can take its twists and turns.

702, Liverpool, U2, and more

The week that was.

The 702 question if Paraguay vs Bafana Bafana was live on TV, or not. And then it was 1-1. Rain, rain and more rain. High Definition. The Tuesday that became the Thursday. U2 and Mary J. Blige. Great lunch at the Cape Town Fish Market in... Joburg. The Mac and the Lacie. Afrikaans, nukes and healthcare. Liverpool and the awful referee. Bayern’s revenge. The Barcelona blitzkrieg and the Gunner’s comeback. Limping Wayne. Durban and the French. Standard Bank stress. Medical Aid frustrations. Solar Power issues. Hot Water Music. Sarah Bettens, her brother and the others. The Haiti press conference and Iran’s nukes. The jet. Based on a true story. Gas station masturbation (title of an album!). Tax. Portia and Kabelo. Matt and Live on Lansdowne (St Patrick’s Day content). SAA. Succulent. 500 MB. That baby pigeon. Baby updates (not me). House buying (not me). Bono & Paverotti. Bono & Sinatra. Cesna crash. network@etp2115.etp.eu.blackberry.net. Wide screen. Pie. Public holiday. PVR activity. Van the man keeping it simple in 2008. And of course.... that March 2010 calendar page into the dustbin.