Tag: England

  • OASIS Reunion: Take My Money

    Hey Everybody! OASIS is getting back together!!!

    This news was such a big deal that I got an alert on my phone from The New York Times.

    And when we all say that OASIS is getting back together, what they mean is that Noel and Liam Gallagher are getting back together. I am sure that Paul and Paul, Tony, Alan, Gem and Andy are wondering if this includes them.

    I’ll be honest, I didn’t think Noel and Liam would ever get back together. They just seemed like John Fogerty types. You know, complete assholes, but really talented assholes. The type of assholes that would refuse to reunite just to piss the other one off, even though deep down, they really wanted to get back together.

    I’ve already texted friends this morning, asking that if OASIS comes to the US, who would be interested in going to see them. I got one yes, so far.

    My first concert was OASIS; It was 1996 at the Bronco Bowl in Dallas, TX. See, I have personal history with them.

    I had got their first album when it came out. I liked it, it wasn’t a classic or anything, but I played that album often. Then, and I don’t remember how, magazines or MTV News, but I started getting word that OASIS was recoding a new album, out in the Fall of 1996. I kept scanning the radio, and record stores trying to find out when this album was coming, and what the first single would be. Something about this time in my life, I was very locked into bands. One of the record stores I found had CD singles imported from England, and I gobbled up as many as I could get my hands on. Then, finally, the “Wonderwall” single came out, and I got the George Harrison reference. I bought (What’s the Story) Morning Glory the day it was available. I listened to that thing pretty much non-stop. I made my friends listen to it non-stop. I bought the CD singles so I could have the bonus B-side singles that were just as good as the album tracks, but these were songs that would never make it on any album.

    And then the concert tour was announced, and my best friend got us tickets. We sat on those tickets for like four months. I circled the date on my wall calendar, April 20th.  And I kept my ticket in a ziplock bag, which I kept in my dorm room desk drawer. I would look at that thing daily. Counting down until when I would be in the presence of one of my favorite bands.

    Then there was the fact that me and my best friend made a whole weekend out of it. I stayed with him in Dallas, we drank a little too much. The anticipation of the day of the concert. The waiting in line to get into the venue. Getting to our seats, but standing the whole time. Then the lights went down and everybody lit up; cigarettes and joints all over the place. And just being on this completely euphoric music high, present with 5,000 other people who loved this band, the songs, and their attitude.

    Now, I’m not stupid here. There is no way I will ever get that feeling back. It is a great memory that lives in my past, and it is great to reminisce with my best friend about going there, and doing that. It was a moment in time that is cherished, but ultimately just that; a moment.

    Besides, let’s see if the Gallagher brothers can make it through these shows in 2025 without killing each other. That’s the real question.

  • ODDS and ENDS: Vacation, Euro Final, and The End of the World

    (And I knew there was no turning back…)

    I had been out of town for the past week and a half. You could call it a vacation, in the sense that I left the place where I lived and went someplace new. I was Texas, but it was a new town in Texas that I had never been to before. It was Sanger, TX which is small town country Texas. It had been over twenty years since I had been in a region of Texas that was so far removed from everything else in the world. Though that far out in the country is not a place I would like to live (I am a City kid, after all) having grown up in Texas, there is something comforting and reassuring about being in that world of Texas. Not that I even spent a huge amount of time in the country, but if you dive an hour in any direction from the DFW area, you hit flat land, dusty winds, and a feeling that the world goes on forever. I enjoyed my time in Sanger. Yes it was small, but it was small town friendly, and a good place to have a wedding. (I was there for a wedding, if I didn’t say that yet.) It was also fun to show my daughter, who is a real City Kid, what the country is really like.

    And as I was in Texas for a wedding, I wasn’t able to finish my Euro Cup observations. Well, though I was rooting for England, I never really thought they were going to win. Spain just looked dominating, and they seemed destined to win it all. Now, I will say that England put up a hell of a fight (at least that’s what the highlights I saw showed) and it was entertaining, but England will always be the bridesmaid of international football. England had better players, but Spain was the better team. I have a very odd feeling that this was Harry Kane’s last international tournament. With Southgate resigning, which was expected win or lose, I don’t see Kane wanting to stick around. Not that Harry wouldn’t make the squad, but something strikes me that Kane is ready to pass the torch, so to speak. Botton line, I thought the Euro Cup 2024 was exciting and fun and well worth paying the cable fees so I could watch all the matches.

    I don’t like being this guy, but lately, it does feel like the world is coming to an end. Hopefully, it will pass after November, 5th.

  • Euro Cup 2024 – A Casual Fan’s Impressions – Round of 16 Day 1 and Day 2

    The Group Stage was fun, but the Knock Out Rounds is why were all here. The best players step up, and the drama! So much drama!

    Day 1

    Switzerland v Italy

    I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t that Italy would play so flat. The Italians played like a team that snuck into this round, while Switzerland behaved like they expect to make a deep run.

    Germany v Denmark

    I do have a soft spot for Denmark, but there was no way Germany was going to lose this match. Yeah, Germany clearly thinks this is their tournament.

    Day 2

    England v Slovakia

    Now, here was your drama match. Won’t lie, I was pulling for England, and for 80 minutes, they were playing to lose. England may have better players, but Slovakia was the better team. And yet, when England needed them, the better players showed up and have four amazing minutes. Bellingham and Kane are two dangerous players, and you can never count them out, or forget about them on the pitch. A goal in the last thirty seconds in stoppage time. A goal in the first few minutes of extra time. Slovakia played a better match, but games like this are why international tournaments are so much fun. Drama, drama, drama!

    Spain v Georgia

    For a few minutes, it looked like this might be a huge upset, and then Spain started playing. There really wasn’t much Georgia could do to stop Spain. Yeah, Spain is planning on winning this whole thing.

    Thoughts:

    Well, the England win was tons of fun, but I don’t think they will get by Switzerland. England has a couple days to figure out how to play like a team, and if they don’t Switzerland will pick them apart

    And Spain against Germany might just well be the match of the tournament; who wins this one will most likely win in all. I’m clearing my calendar for this one.

  • Euro Cup 2024 – Day 8 to Day 13 – A Casual Fan’s Impressions

    I keep thinking that my life slows down when Summer rolls in and the kid gets out of school. No, I am a foolish man. Issues and projects pop up, and kid get sick, but through it all I kept watching matches, or watching highlights late at night on YouTube. Either way, this is what I saw…

    Day 8

    Slovakia v Ukraine

    Nice flash of aggressiveness in Ukraine to fight back and win this one.

    Poland v Austria

    Austria was in control of this match, and I couldn’t help but feel bad for Poland.

    Netherlands v France

    Two heavy weights going at it. I couldn’t shake the thought that France doesn’t have the players to make up for Mbappe’s absence due to his broken nose.

    Day 9

    Georgia v Czechia

    I wasn’t expecting much from these teams, but it was a fun match to watch.

    Turkey v Portugal

    Portugal was not messing around, and Ronaldo played like a team leader out there – unselfish play, pulling the defense away from the ball.

    Belgium v Romania

    Hey! Belgium showed up and played like the Red Devils.

    Day 10

    Switzerland v Germany

    Germany was on autopilot for this – they could have played harder. That’s not to say that Switzerland wasn’t out to win, but Germany didn’t look dominate.

    Scotland v Hungary

    Poor Scotland. Poor, poor Scotland. This match broke my heart for the Scots, but you want drama in a tournament, and that’s what happened. Poor Scotland.

    Day 11

    Albania v Spain

    Spain is here to win. Anything less than the Cup will be a failure to them.

    Croatia v Italy

    Another super dramatic heartbreaker. Croatia did everything right up until the last thirty seconds, and they let Italy take this from them. This is what makes the Group Stage so much fun; it’s not over until it’s over.

    Day 12

    France v Poland

    With Mbappe not at 100%, he is still crazy dangerous out there on the pitch, but again I was left feeling that he doesn’t have the support behind him. And again, Poland played well, but just couldn’t get over the hill.

    Netherlands v Austria

    Wow! This was a match, and another reason why the Euro Cup is so completely exciting. I knew the Dutch were always contenders, but Austria (who I am not familiar with) who had some luck, skill, and played like the wanted it more.  

    England v Slovenia

    Well… England won the group. The Three Lions played better, but they still don’t look like a solid team out there. Getting a little worried that they will be bounced in the first round of the knockout.

    Denmark v Serbia

    A pretty solid draw. Serbia fought for it, and Denmark wasn’t messing around either. Another really fun match in the tournament.

    Day 13

    Ukraine v Belgium

    Belgium played to not lose, and Ukraine tried.

    Slovakia v Romania

    This is the only match I didn’t get a chance to see, nor catch the highlights. Sorry guys, no offense.

    Czechia v Turkey

    This Match was CRAZY! There should be a rule that when a match starts to spiral out of control, that the game takes a 15-minute timeout, and a new official is brought out on the field. I know the ref is getting the majority of the blame for this match being a dumpster fire, but what I saw was two desperate teams out there willing to do anything to win – they both had chips on their shoulders.

    Georgia v Portugal

    At least the Group Stage ended on a high note, with Georgia achieving a major upset. I will agree with Ronaldo that he was completely manhandled and fouled relentlessly, and never got a call. That was some bad officiating. Yet, I don’t want to take anything away from Georgia’s win, handedly, over a Portugal team that should have crushed them.

    Overall Thoughts:

    And we are now to the Knock Out Round. I still feel like Spain and Germany are playing the best, and there is a good chance they will meet on July 5th in the Quarterfinals. France and Belgium looks like a good match up, and I have no proof of this, but I have a hankerin’ that Switzerland and Italy could also be exciting. As for England, the team I am supporting, I have a feeling that they will be upset by Slovakia.

  • ODDS and ENDS: HEATWAVE!, England, and Pools

    (Tried to give you consolation…)

    It’s hot in New York. That evil Heat Dome, which normally sits over Texas and the Southwest this time of year, has parked itself on the Northeast. High heat and humidity, and everything in the City feels like it’s melting. In all honesty, this weather is about two weeks early, but what is missing is the rain that should follow every five to seven days. The dome is stopping any Canadian cold fronts from coming in, which makes the heat feel unending. I have been trying to run away from Texas summers for the past twenty years, but they keep finding me. I thought we’d have to make to New England to escape this, but now, we may have to head farther north. Like the Pole…

    So, England is playing inconsistently at the Euro Cup and the British press and fans are losing their minds! Are the expectations too high? Oh, you bet’cha! Is England still in a strong position to break out of the Group Stage? Of course they are. It’s not that bad. But I will say, the England team doesn’t look very unified out there, in the sense that they don’t look like they are executing a game plan. There is still time to correct this, so don’t give up the ship yet… But this might be Southgate’s last tournament if England doesn’t do something spectacular.

    I’d like to swim in a pool right now. That’s it.