Sports Fans

Continuing thoughts about sport, as the football season is almost upon us and tribal clashes will soon be the order of the day. I think I mentioned once before (maybe even more than once) the graffiti on road signs all along the ethnic highway and even all over signs on smaller roads, and some of it totally obscuring the sign, most of it meaningless though I am told, something cryptic like G13, also found as graffiti on once pristine walls, is the gate number at a stadium and is used by that particular tribe who feel they have to broadcast the fact to the whole world, senseless as it may seem. But then I doubt collectively they have much sense anyway. Certainly their behaviour indicates as much. I haven’t seen or heard much in the news for a while about football hooliganism in the UK but Greek football fans are prepared to go to quite a length to create merry mayhem, even so far as to letting off flares, throwing Molotov cocktails, setting fire to stadium seats and attacking anyone including police who try to stop them but at least, as far as I remember the last couple of seasons, there has only been one death, unlike Turkey where a football riot resulted in any number as did one in Egypt.

The Americans seem to have come up with a neat idea in an attempt to stop unruly behaviour. American football fans in the United States have been told they must take a four-hour online course costing $75 (£47) if they are kicked out of a game for unruly behaviour. The rules, which apply to most NFL teams, see those who fail to take the course, or achieve the 70% pass mark, arrested for trespassing if they are found at another game. One of the 14 topics of the course is entitled "skills for becoming less impulsive and improving judgment" and another five deal with alcohol. Dr Ari Novick, who developed the course and also runs one for Major League Soccer, has said “We're not trying to squash anyone's passion. We're just trying to say don't be violent.” Novick takes $55 (£35) for each test taken, with charities receiving the remainder. Daniel DeLorenzi, security chief of MetLife Stadium - the shared home of the New York Giants and Jets - also demands a letter of apology before allowing re-entry. He said: “Most of the time, they apologise for their behaviour.” Sample questions
Behaving badly towards other fans, such as fighting, swearing or threatening them, is OK as long as they deserve it. (Answer: False)
Every fan has a right to like any team they wish. Using abuse language towards fans who support teams you don't like will not be tolerated. (Answer: True)
I wonder if it would work in Greece.
I remember going to sports matches as a boy and never experiencing such bad behaviour among fans. Why has it changed so radically I wonder? There must be a psychological reason somewhere.
P.S. A couple more examples of Shakespeare’s dealing in business and real estate: ‘Bought from Walter Getley the copyhold of a cottage and about a quarter of an acre of land in Walker Street, Stratford.’ Sept. 28^th 1602.’
‘1605 July 24 Conveyance to Shakespeare from Ralph Huband of Ippesley of the moiety of an unexpired lease of the corn and hay tithes of Old Stratford, Welcombe and Bishopton, together with a moiety of the wool, lamb, and other small tithes of the whole parish of Stratford-on-Avon, for £440.’
Willy was certainly worth a bob or two. How much would £440 be in today’s money do you suppose? £90000? Or more?