“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”
Mark Twain
It’s a happy sixtieth birthday to a local character loved by many. As a modest tribute, I wrote this about Andy “Tubbs” Taylor in my second book in a chapter about White Bear FC.
The Great Tubbs Taylor
Although often our substitute, Tubbs was worth his inclusion in the squad as a dressing room raconteur alone. His many tales contained considerable wit and imagination, rivaling Enid Blyton. A strapping six-footer, he was injury-prone and ran like the Straw Man from the Wizard of Oz.
His career ended with a snap, crackle and pop of his hamstring as he attempted one mazy dribble too many; it was off to an arranged marriage never to be seen or heard of again.
The dressing room was much the worse off for no more Tales from the Great Man.
Happy Birthday to the inventor of the Pile Bar Shuffle…if only Michael Jackson had been as good on the dancefloor!
Have a great one Tubbs!
The Dark Side
Those who have followed the Yorkshire Cricket racism story as it has evolved will not have been surprised at recent developments in court concerning the merit and qualities of the central character, Azeem Rafiq.
Rather than take a settlement and be gagged former England physiotherapist and head of sports science and medicine at Yorkshire, Wayne Morton, is suing the club for breach of contract after he was one of 14 staff members sacked last December for signing a letter that questioned Mr Rafiq’s character and so-called “one-man mission to bring down the club”.
The story so far has been so one-sided as to defy belief; most who were sacked instantly by the governing body’s stooge – Lord Patel – have taken the money and moved on to try to rebuild careers. It appears – see this story – that Morton is determined to have his day in court.
This story is not about cricket but more about how, as a society, we have moved to treat the whole issue of racism – which is abhorrent – led by largely white, middle-class folk seeking merely to be seen to be doing the right thing.
In this case, the reaction of those in control has been so one-eyed as to push anybody with half an enquiring mind to wonder whether there may be an alternative side. The fact is there is.
Meanwhile, Lord Patel continues as YCCC Chairman seemingly untouchable despite the chaos that unravels daily, presiding over a club that now finds itself in the basement level of cricket.
The outcome of the current case will have many looking on nervously.
I Don’t Like Mondays
Miserable Monday signalled the start of winter this week as fog and rain gripped the neighbourhood. Seeking some early evening fresh air we somehow found The Scruffy’s welcoming door open and fell in as if in a trance. Soon, sedatives were placed in front of us and the fog was forgotten.
Inside the inmates were lined up like an identity parade all bemoaning their luck as usual as they cuddled their pints. The door was like a revolving presentation of those determined not to get mugged by the television and seek some real company.
This really was care in the community; long live the local.
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