1
General Discussion / Re: Scheeeuuuupss
« on: June 28, 2010, 09:37:13 AM »
Really sorry Preacher. Wishing you and all of your family courage and blessings.
April 19, 2024, 08:25:30 PM
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2
General Discussion / Re: Pregnant children everywhere
« on: July 08, 2009, 09:47:08 AM »breds, the whole of trinidad gone in ruins BC of corrupted businessmen and elected officials, it really doh have nothing tuh do wid the state of mind of the ppl, but more so the neglect of the government.right here in foreign i does meet some yutes who just arrive, and the state of mind of these guys are shocking to say the least! these fellas could barley read and write, they don't know shyte about nothing, it's almost like they totally lost! imagine ah 20 yr old asking me what naive means.
the government is keeping the ppl ignorant for ah reason! my guess is to maintain the present power structure by minimizing the amount of opposition from the masses.
who raising dese yutes - de govt? some of dese yutes barely go to school - what interaction de govt have with dese yutes? why de govt responsible for de state of mind of de yutes?
if yuh waiting for de govt to do something about this, yuh gorn wait a long time.
Is always d govt. U know d govt dat give dem free education from nursery-tertiary. Who givin dem breakfast/lunch/books/tickets to go to school. Sports camp in d holidays but dey keepin dem ignorant.
It have free condoms/birth control. But I guess is mandatory sterilisation 4 poor peeps will solve d problem. Then d govt tellin u how much chirren to have.
The govt does do nuff crap but when it come to education and training who eh educated or eh have a skill is because dey eh want to b educated and eh want a skill.
Cosign.
JC, you are right in the sense that there are good, decent, productive citizens in the areas 'behind de bridge' (BDB)but the ratio of them to badboys that existed in your days is markedly different now. As fishs highlighted, a lot of them have moved out of the area and those that remain are either bent on doing what they can to follow suit or are dying out (natural causes). Mind you, a lot of the bad boys have moved out as well, infiltrating the areas you highlighted as not having the same negative stereotyping. It's the same people from BDB who were forced to shift operations because of the joint patrols over the last several years who are wreaking havoc in the suburbs.
You talk about your mother and her associates stopping the cycle and yes there are still pockets of that today but the fact is today, young mothers are telling their 12/13 year old daughters that they are big women now so they have to find a man to mind them. And some of those who don't have that mentality are too caught up in the rat race to have a greater influence on their children to conteract the pull of the environment in which they live. There are still success stories like Jamilia Edwards, I think that's her name, who won the President's medal at CAPE, but the fact that I can refer to her as a 'success story' says it all.
You can easily sit where you are and chastise (and I must remark, in the most puerile, petty terms) when you are not faced with the battalions of young males who are not interested in bettering themselves but only in making money by any means (not to sustain their families, but) to have rank and get the girls. And the swarms of young girls who have no sense of self-respect. You could pontificate that being a good citizen is doing something to effect change but you have to bare in mind that change can only happen is the subject wants the change and unfortunately in this generation there is a dearth of that. Main culprit, the abdication of parental responsibility for constructively molding the characters of their offspring.
I'm not advocating that we throw up our hands in despair. I think that our efforts would be better focussed on the primary school children but that's another discussion.
3
Football / Re: ONE KICK…..ENDS 2010 WORLD CUP DREAM???----
« on: July 01, 2009, 10:30:27 AM »
I stopped reading after,
"However, this is where it all went wrong, because that one point should have been three points and would have been the perfect start to the campaign. Instead on the night , that ONE KICK not only cost us three points , but it also caused Yorke to become so upset that after the match was blown off ..."
I hold no brief for the man as I can't count the number of times I well cuss him directly and indirectly but to my mind Stern is/was a good scapegoat for the outcome of that game. Never mind the many other missed chances from several culprits throughout that game and never mind the lack of fitness of the entire team that allowed the El Salvadoreans back into the game in the last quarter. Yes, if that penalty had scored there would have been no way back for the ES as their morale would have sunk irretreivably lower as it was already on the brink and the fact that it was missed gave them some hope and they built from there, but if any of the other chances were taken then that penalty would have been moot.
The other thing that galls me about this is the attempt to bring Yorkie's intemperate and ill advised remonstrations to the referee and his subsequent exclusion in the following wcq's as a direct result of the missed penalty. How retarded is that??!!? Are we to believe that Yorke , as town say, cuss the referee because his teammate missed a penalty that the same refereee awarded? That the 'cussing' had nothing to do with the unabated and unaddressed barrage of missiles thrown on the field throughout the game and/or the extra time that materialised out of thin air?
While I thought Disgruntled's homage was hysterical, I don't have time with the Stern bashing in this case and I definitely don't have time for Errol Andre Baptiste's pettiness.
"However, this is where it all went wrong, because that one point should have been three points and would have been the perfect start to the campaign. Instead on the night , that ONE KICK not only cost us three points , but it also caused Yorke to become so upset that after the match was blown off ..."
I hold no brief for the man as I can't count the number of times I well cuss him directly and indirectly but to my mind Stern is/was a good scapegoat for the outcome of that game. Never mind the many other missed chances from several culprits throughout that game and never mind the lack of fitness of the entire team that allowed the El Salvadoreans back into the game in the last quarter. Yes, if that penalty had scored there would have been no way back for the ES as their morale would have sunk irretreivably lower as it was already on the brink and the fact that it was missed gave them some hope and they built from there, but if any of the other chances were taken then that penalty would have been moot.
The other thing that galls me about this is the attempt to bring Yorkie's intemperate and ill advised remonstrations to the referee and his subsequent exclusion in the following wcq's as a direct result of the missed penalty. How retarded is that??!!? Are we to believe that Yorke , as town say, cuss the referee because his teammate missed a penalty that the same refereee awarded? That the 'cussing' had nothing to do with the unabated and unaddressed barrage of missiles thrown on the field throughout the game and/or the extra time that materialised out of thin air?
While I thought Disgruntled's homage was hysterical, I don't have time with the Stern bashing in this case and I definitely don't have time for Errol Andre Baptiste's pettiness.
4
Football / Re: Tickets for T&T vs. Costa Rica game
« on: May 25, 2009, 12:27:00 PM »
I hear that All Sports doing a charter to Tobago, plane leaving Trinidad early afternoon on Saturday and leaving 'bago around 11 o'clock in the night. Cost $380 airfare plus the cost of your ticket - they getting that for you. So anybody who's interested could give them a call to verify this info.
5
General Discussion / Re: Police Run over and kill woman,then dumps her body in a garbage heap like thrash
« on: May 14, 2009, 11:05:31 AM »
The Newsday that I read this morning said that the driver (a suspected policeman illegally using the PBR in his private vehicle) lost control of the car, slid off the road and into the lady who was awaiting transportation a few metres from her home, as a consequence of the impact her body landed on a nearby heap of garbage.
Don't know which version is the truth as I wasn't there but I prefer to believe this one.
Don't know which version is the truth as I wasn't there but I prefer to believe this one.
6
General Discussion / Re: This how they wreck cars in Trinidad now?
« on: April 23, 2009, 10:17:49 AM »
Actually the revenue stream is not as free flowing as one would think. As I understand it, it is a TT$100 fee to get back the vehicle, 80 goes to the wrecker and 20 to the treasury.
7
General Discussion / Re: Man jailed for peeing on woman on plane
« on: April 21, 2009, 02:12:50 PM »
You just hatta love this forum oui! Since yesterday this thread making my day. 
8
Football / Re: Allyuh see Birchall miss a pk...
« on: February 18, 2009, 08:01:29 AM »
In response to the title not the preceeding discussion; I ent see Birchall miss I see the goalie make a good save.
9
General Discussion / Re: Teen killed for laughing at gunman
« on: February 10, 2009, 02:11:57 PM »
The killer is just an insecure imps. He arguing with a big man, a teenager bus a laugh at the fatigue passing, he try to exert himself on the small man, as obviously the argument wasn't going in his favour, the small man gave as good as he got and to re-establish his 'respect' the killer comes back and shoots the teenager in his back?!!?!!! One set of excuses for man running around with access to a gun feeding their testosterone. What a sad place Trini is at the moment. I am so distressed at the plight of the young males in our society.
10
Football / Re: Maturana: No time to cry.
« on: December 04, 2008, 02:46:35 PM »
As Touches signature goes ... A for apple, B for bat, C for yourself.
11
Football / Re: Like father, like son
« on: December 04, 2008, 02:43:45 PM »
How many children Latas has? Doesn't he also have another one here in T&T? Do any of the others play the game? Anybody knows?
12
Football / Re: Under-20s go past Suriname 1-0.
« on: November 20, 2008, 08:59:16 AM »
Last night in the stadium I saw the Surinamese team so I asked one of the players what happen to the game. The man tief meh head and tell me that they won 1-0 eh man.
13
General Discussion / Re: OBAMA may visit T&T in April 2009
« on: November 11, 2008, 09:37:15 AM »
Doh bother to nice up anybody in the Hyatt Brownsugar. I think for security reason he wouldn't be staying there. You know anybody at the Hilton?
14
General Discussion / Re: Queen Macoomeh launches in Trini
« on: October 23, 2008, 11:12:03 AM »
Thanks breds. Obviously I missed that one. But I kinda glad as I got a lil rush in recognizing one of 'we own' getting big up.
15
General Discussion / Queen Macoomeh launches in Trini
« on: October 23, 2008, 08:30:36 AM »
Congratulations Queenie!!! I don't know if you let the board know that you were coming to town to launch your book but I was certainly surprised while reading the Express last night to see you starring.
I have to check the bookstores to get my hands on one.
Congrats again.
I have to check the bookstores to get my hands on one.
Congrats again.
16
General Discussion / Re: Hotels in Trinidad?
« on: October 23, 2008, 08:27:21 AM »
Check that Normandie rate again. They are usually the most economical of the traditional hotels.
How long are you coming for? You could check out Coblentz Inn (Cascade) it's a nice boutique property. Courtyard is an ideal location if you renting wheels but they pricey and you could also look into Kapok. I haven't been to Hilton since the renovation but before it was a little run down.
How long are you coming for? You could check out Coblentz Inn (Cascade) it's a nice boutique property. Courtyard is an ideal location if you renting wheels but they pricey and you could also look into Kapok. I haven't been to Hilton since the renovation but before it was a little run down.
17
Football / Re: D Touches Match Report TT vs USA...History has been written!
« on: October 16, 2008, 07:45:22 AM »
KND2 you have some valid points there but Weary right up with you.
I definitely don't agree with you were A. Edwards is concerned I thought he was awful. At first I thought it was nerves and that he would settle down and his confidence would build as the game progressed and it did somewhat in the second half but his passing forward and judgement left a lot to be desired. I don't know if the back passing was the coach's instructions but to me he looked out of his depth psychologically.
As for only spending money to see Yorke and Latapy play; I ain't shame to say that this is the first game of the campaign that I have been to. I said that I was not going to give Jack my money until he un-blacklist the blacklisted players and paid them their money. However, after the performance on Saturday and the importance of last night's game I thought that the team needed and deserved the home support more than I needed to hang on to my JW grudge. I wouldn't lie to say that seeing the 'lil magician' play live again was not a plus but it really wasn't a major factor. The whole point of this is just to say that there may very well be many reasons people came out in the numbers they did last night not only your take on it. And in any case, what's wrong with coming to see DY and RL play. Hardly anybody goes to the PFL games and look at the numbers that came out to see the English stars. Dwight and Russel are our stars and I have no problem with the public viewing and treating them as such. I understand your point that anyone who dons the red, white and black deserves our investment in them whether it be time or money but when you have jokey administration you will get jokey supporters and when you have jokey parents and a jokey society you will have jokey offspring and citizens.
I definitely don't agree with you were A. Edwards is concerned I thought he was awful. At first I thought it was nerves and that he would settle down and his confidence would build as the game progressed and it did somewhat in the second half but his passing forward and judgement left a lot to be desired. I don't know if the back passing was the coach's instructions but to me he looked out of his depth psychologically.
As for only spending money to see Yorke and Latapy play; I ain't shame to say that this is the first game of the campaign that I have been to. I said that I was not going to give Jack my money until he un-blacklist the blacklisted players and paid them their money. However, after the performance on Saturday and the importance of last night's game I thought that the team needed and deserved the home support more than I needed to hang on to my JW grudge. I wouldn't lie to say that seeing the 'lil magician' play live again was not a plus but it really wasn't a major factor. The whole point of this is just to say that there may very well be many reasons people came out in the numbers they did last night not only your take on it. And in any case, what's wrong with coming to see DY and RL play. Hardly anybody goes to the PFL games and look at the numbers that came out to see the English stars. Dwight and Russel are our stars and I have no problem with the public viewing and treating them as such. I understand your point that anyone who dons the red, white and black deserves our investment in them whether it be time or money but when you have jokey administration you will get jokey supporters and when you have jokey parents and a jokey society you will have jokey offspring and citizens.
18
Football / Re: Just stay focussed.
« on: September 05, 2008, 10:00:14 AM »
Both spellings of the past tense of the verb focus ie focused and focussed are acceptable in modern day English according to the Webster's Universal dictionary I just checked (printed in 2002).
19
Football / Re: Uprising El Salvador / Warriors Match Report
« on: August 15, 2008, 10:37:33 AM »
Thanks Wehitis for the pix. The videos gave a real nice taste of the vibes.
20
Football / Re: Noreiga on comeback trail.
« on: July 21, 2008, 08:21:07 AM »
Really happy to read that he is feeling good, back playing and looking forward to re-joining the NT.
But one thing I need to ask;
It feels normal and it’s glad to be playing again, helping my teammates to win and to better themselves.
Is this a typo? If not and he said this is he neurologically all there or is it just me?
But one thing I need to ask;
It feels normal and it’s glad to be playing again, helping my teammates to win and to better themselves.
Is this a typo? If not and he said this is he neurologically all there or is it just me?
21
Football / Re: Alvin Corneal...T&T football fans too bitter
« on: July 07, 2008, 02:40:21 PM »
By the by this is what I submitted to all three dailies (I followed suggestions and modified the final paragraph). Let's see which one prints it and or modifies it.
Dear Editor,
This is in response to an article written by the esteemed football coach, Mr. Alvin Corneal, in a daily newspaper which boasts of ‘democracy’ something with which the writer seems to be less than familiar.
Mr. Corneal Sir, you are quite right we, the die hard supporters of our national football team, are BITTER. A side of the level of Bermuda should be completely out of the game, every game we play them, by the interval.
Were you not one of the critics who came down on then national coach Rene Simoes when we lost to Martinique in the Gold Cup back in 2002? Now in 2008 you are going all out to defend this coach who shepherded us almost to the brink of elimination in the first round of World Cup qualification. We won’t bother to quibble as to whether it is the de facto or the de jure coach we are on about as it is plain to see that the rest of your article for the most part, apart from the headline, is a family matter.
It is a pity that the magnificent tactics and strategy referred to in your article are not evident in the recent home games, but are only on display at away games. As not all of us are privileged to be the beneficiaries of complimentary travel and accommodation to the games or lead professional lives which revolve around football the majority of us die-hards are not in a position to witness every single game played by our national teams home and abroad.
You also cited Brazil in an attempt to undermine the claims for the recall of the hard working ‘warriors’ of the 2006 World Cup Campaign and totally ignored the circumstances under which the Soca Warriors were disbanded. As if it was some kind of conscious decision to wave them goodbye because they weren’t performing. FYI Mr. Corneal, the difference between Brazil and the Soca Warriors is that the Soca Warriors’ exploits in Germany were viewed as extraordinary and a success. On the contrary, Brazil's 2006 adventure was a downright failure hence the need for their revamp.
Mr. Corneal, by no stretch of the imagination do we, the die hards, consider ourselves football experts, however we are passionate about our country of birth and everything therein INCLUDING our national football team and fair play.
With that in mind, when we see T&T lose to Bermuda and barely beat them in the second game, we have to wonder why this is so. We look at the events regarding the national football team that have unfolded since World Cup 2006 and wonder where do the accountability and responsibility lie. So who, we ask, should be accountable and responsible for the poor performance against Bermuda?
1) The players?
2) The Fans?
2) The Management?
Obviously, from parts of your commentary, the die hard fans are the ones to blame because we do not support the team. Yeah, right!!! Perhaps the management should do some navel gazing and realize that something has to change to stop the insanity that seems to prevail in the upper echelons of the TTFF.
Mr. Corneal, Sir, as devoted and loyal fans of T&T football who have seen our beloved country produce so many talented players like yourself, it is very disheartening to see the self-serving, divisive “commentator” you have become. We support all of our national football players; red, white and black-listed as we have the interest of our football, its development and that of the country’s football reputation at heart.
Die-hard football supporter.
Dear Editor,
This is in response to an article written by the esteemed football coach, Mr. Alvin Corneal, in a daily newspaper which boasts of ‘democracy’ something with which the writer seems to be less than familiar.
Mr. Corneal Sir, you are quite right we, the die hard supporters of our national football team, are BITTER. A side of the level of Bermuda should be completely out of the game, every game we play them, by the interval.
Were you not one of the critics who came down on then national coach Rene Simoes when we lost to Martinique in the Gold Cup back in 2002? Now in 2008 you are going all out to defend this coach who shepherded us almost to the brink of elimination in the first round of World Cup qualification. We won’t bother to quibble as to whether it is the de facto or the de jure coach we are on about as it is plain to see that the rest of your article for the most part, apart from the headline, is a family matter.
It is a pity that the magnificent tactics and strategy referred to in your article are not evident in the recent home games, but are only on display at away games. As not all of us are privileged to be the beneficiaries of complimentary travel and accommodation to the games or lead professional lives which revolve around football the majority of us die-hards are not in a position to witness every single game played by our national teams home and abroad.
You also cited Brazil in an attempt to undermine the claims for the recall of the hard working ‘warriors’ of the 2006 World Cup Campaign and totally ignored the circumstances under which the Soca Warriors were disbanded. As if it was some kind of conscious decision to wave them goodbye because they weren’t performing. FYI Mr. Corneal, the difference between Brazil and the Soca Warriors is that the Soca Warriors’ exploits in Germany were viewed as extraordinary and a success. On the contrary, Brazil's 2006 adventure was a downright failure hence the need for their revamp.
Mr. Corneal, by no stretch of the imagination do we, the die hards, consider ourselves football experts, however we are passionate about our country of birth and everything therein INCLUDING our national football team and fair play.
With that in mind, when we see T&T lose to Bermuda and barely beat them in the second game, we have to wonder why this is so. We look at the events regarding the national football team that have unfolded since World Cup 2006 and wonder where do the accountability and responsibility lie. So who, we ask, should be accountable and responsible for the poor performance against Bermuda?
1) The players?
2) The Fans?
2) The Management?
Obviously, from parts of your commentary, the die hard fans are the ones to blame because we do not support the team. Yeah, right!!! Perhaps the management should do some navel gazing and realize that something has to change to stop the insanity that seems to prevail in the upper echelons of the TTFF.
Mr. Corneal, Sir, as devoted and loyal fans of T&T football who have seen our beloved country produce so many talented players like yourself, it is very disheartening to see the self-serving, divisive “commentator” you have become. We support all of our national football players; red, white and black-listed as we have the interest of our football, its development and that of the country’s football reputation at heart.
Die-hard football supporter.
22
Football / Re: Alvin Corneal...T&T football fans too bitter
« on: July 04, 2008, 08:35:07 AM »
Ok fellas, I've put together a response for the newspaper. It is an amalgam of your reactions. Let me know what you think, make suggestions and give permission to use your words and sentiments.
"Mr. Corneal Sir, you are quite right we, the die hard supporters of our national football team, are BITTER. A side of the level of Bermuda should be completely out of the game, every game we play them, by the interval.
Were you not one of the critics who came down on then national coach Rene Simoes when we lost to Martinique in the Gold Cup back in 2002? Now in 2008 you are going all out to defend this coach who shepherded us almost to the brink of elimination in the first round of World Cup qualification. We won’t bother to quibble as to whether it is the de facto or the de jure coach we are on about as it is plain to see that the rest of your article for the most part, apart from the headline, is a family matter.
It is a pity that the magnificent tactics and strategy referred to in your article are not evident in the recent home games, but are only on display at away games. As not all of us are privileged to be the beneficiaries of complimentary travel and accommodation to the games or lead professional lives which revolve around football the majority of us die-hards are not in a position to witness every single game played by our national teams home and abroad.
You also cited Brazil in an attempt to undermine the claims for the recall of the hard working ‘warriors’ of the 2006 World Cup Campaign and totally ignored the circumstances under which the Soca Warriors were disbanded. As if it was some kind of conscious decision to wave them goodbye because they weren’t performing. FYI Mr. Corneal, the difference between Brazil and the Soca Warriors is that the Soca Warriors’ exploits in Germany were viewed as extraordinary and a success. On the contrary, Brazil's 2006 adventure was a downright failure hence the need for their revamp.
Mr. Corneal, by no stretch of the imagination do we, the die hards, consider ourselves football experts, however we are passionate about our country of birth and everything therein INCLUDING our national football team and fair play.
With that in mind, when we see T&T lose to Bermuda and barely beat them in the second game, we have to wonder why this is so. We look at the events regarding the national football team that have unfolded since World Cup 2006 and wonder where do the accountability and responsibility lie. So who, we ask, should be accountable and responsible for the poor performance against Bermuda?
1) The players?
2) The Fans?
2) The Management?
Obviously, from parts of your commentary, the die hard fans are the ones to blame because we do not support the team. Yeah, right!!! Perhaps the management should do some navel gazing and realize that something has to change to stop the insanity that seems to prevail in the upper echelons of the TTFF.
Mr. Corneal, Sir, as devoted and loyal fans of T&T football who have seen our beloved country produce so many talented players like yourself, it is very sad to see that you, one of our greatest players on the field, have grown so miserably into becoming one of the worst ambassadors of the sport and our country. We are disheartened to see the selfish, self-serving, divisive, “commentator” you have become. Please go, quietly live out your remaining days in St. Clair Medical Centre, take your spawn along for company. Jack will pick up the tab for you both. "
"Mr. Corneal Sir, you are quite right we, the die hard supporters of our national football team, are BITTER. A side of the level of Bermuda should be completely out of the game, every game we play them, by the interval.
Were you not one of the critics who came down on then national coach Rene Simoes when we lost to Martinique in the Gold Cup back in 2002? Now in 2008 you are going all out to defend this coach who shepherded us almost to the brink of elimination in the first round of World Cup qualification. We won’t bother to quibble as to whether it is the de facto or the de jure coach we are on about as it is plain to see that the rest of your article for the most part, apart from the headline, is a family matter.
It is a pity that the magnificent tactics and strategy referred to in your article are not evident in the recent home games, but are only on display at away games. As not all of us are privileged to be the beneficiaries of complimentary travel and accommodation to the games or lead professional lives which revolve around football the majority of us die-hards are not in a position to witness every single game played by our national teams home and abroad.
You also cited Brazil in an attempt to undermine the claims for the recall of the hard working ‘warriors’ of the 2006 World Cup Campaign and totally ignored the circumstances under which the Soca Warriors were disbanded. As if it was some kind of conscious decision to wave them goodbye because they weren’t performing. FYI Mr. Corneal, the difference between Brazil and the Soca Warriors is that the Soca Warriors’ exploits in Germany were viewed as extraordinary and a success. On the contrary, Brazil's 2006 adventure was a downright failure hence the need for their revamp.
Mr. Corneal, by no stretch of the imagination do we, the die hards, consider ourselves football experts, however we are passionate about our country of birth and everything therein INCLUDING our national football team and fair play.
With that in mind, when we see T&T lose to Bermuda and barely beat them in the second game, we have to wonder why this is so. We look at the events regarding the national football team that have unfolded since World Cup 2006 and wonder where do the accountability and responsibility lie. So who, we ask, should be accountable and responsible for the poor performance against Bermuda?
1) The players?
2) The Fans?
2) The Management?
Obviously, from parts of your commentary, the die hard fans are the ones to blame because we do not support the team. Yeah, right!!! Perhaps the management should do some navel gazing and realize that something has to change to stop the insanity that seems to prevail in the upper echelons of the TTFF.
Mr. Corneal, Sir, as devoted and loyal fans of T&T football who have seen our beloved country produce so many talented players like yourself, it is very sad to see that you, one of our greatest players on the field, have grown so miserably into becoming one of the worst ambassadors of the sport and our country. We are disheartened to see the selfish, self-serving, divisive, “commentator” you have become. Please go, quietly live out your remaining days in St. Clair Medical Centre, take your spawn along for company. Jack will pick up the tab for you both. "
23
Football / Re: Anyone know the Pro League results from yesterday ?
« on: June 25, 2008, 08:05:19 AM »
Not too sure about the scores but the talk in the Stadium last night was the Petrotrin lost.
24
Football / Re: Happy Anniversary
« on: June 10, 2008, 01:59:33 PM »
Thanks Ryan. Since sometime ovver the weekend this date in my head and I brushed it off as just being a friend's b'day, but it popped back up sometime later so I say, oh yes is another friend's wedding anniversary, but it kept popping up and I thinking that it is just to remind me to send greetings to the respective people (which of course I am still to do) only to log on at the almost end of the workday 'cause I packing up for the day to see this thread.
Still pore raising after two years.
Still pore raising after two years.
25
Football / Re: As tickets scandals mount, FIFA boss Jack Warner’s son Daryan goes missing.
« on: June 10, 2008, 01:53:12 PM »
No TVF, the point the man making is that there were tickets available from Warner's son's business enterprise when it had been announced that all tickets were sold out. The US$100 tickets mentioned were for the covered stand. Jennings not mixing up facts, he is stating facts as he has them.
26
General Discussion / Re: How far would you go before turning back ?
« on: May 29, 2008, 10:33:36 AM »
If I was mad enough to attempt it at all, I was turning back by the first pipe. Looooocooo!
27
General Discussion / Re: Help with a little trini legal advive plz
« on: May 27, 2008, 11:39:29 AM »
Love is timeless and limitless. Revel in the love of your mother and the love you have for her. Draw strength from that love and the love of your family and all those who love and were loved by her. But don't deny yourself your time to grieve. Continue the legacy of her love through Evan(s) and all of your mother's offsprings.
You are in my prayers.
You are in my prayers.
28
General Discussion / Re: Help with a little trini legal advive plz
« on: May 13, 2008, 10:00:52 AM »
I thought that if you die intestate your assets, shared or sole, are to be divided equally among your children. In this case, that would mean that your mother's share of the land would then be the property of her children. But better safe than sorry organize that attorney.
Keep strong Q.
Keep strong Q.
29
General Discussion / Re: is this Prom Dress too Skimpy?
« on: May 13, 2008, 09:55:05 AM »
WC, I feel sorry for her 'cause to me she must have a very low sense of self worth to want to dress like that. She probably has a healthy self image to know that she could carry off a dress like that but to have that dress made reeks of wanting focus to be drawn on you and to be remembered. But to think that one would objectify oneself to be remembered leads me to believe that she does not rate her characteristics as being the things that she could be remembered for.
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General Discussion / The History of Adidas and Puma
« on: April 15, 2008, 12:42:19 PM »
A Tale of Two Sneakers
The family fight that created Adidas and Puma.
Jennifer Barrett
Newsweek Web Exclusive
Updated: 6:26 PM ET Apr 14, 2008
Adidas and Puma may be among the most recognized brands in the world, but neither might exist if not for a bitter rivalry between two brothers from a little-known village in Germany. In the 1920s, Adolf (Adi) Dassler, a soft-spoken sports fanatic who spent hours working on shoe designs in his workshop, and Rudolf Dassler, a gregarious salesman, started a small shoemaking business in the Bavarian enclave of Herzogenaurach, focusing primarily on hand-sewn athletic footwear. But as their business took off, the two brothers grew increasingly frustrated with each other. They disagreed on everything from politics, the future of the company and one another's choice in wives.
Finally, in the mid-1940s Rudolf left in a huff and set up a rival shop across the river, while Adi remained in the initial plant. His company was renamed Adidas, and in 1948 Rudolf registered his new company, Puma. NEWSWEEK's Jennifer Barrett spoke with Barbara Smit, author of the new book "Sneaker Wars" (Ecco; $26.95), about how a family feud spawned two of the biggest brands in global sports. Excerpts:
NEWSWEEK: Most people wearing Pumas or Adidas today likely have no idea that two estranged German brothers founded the companies. How did you become interested in their story?
Barbara Smit: I didn't know it either, actually. I'd been wearing Adidas all my life and had no idea. But I was sent to Herzogenaurach, Germany [where both companies are based] by a French magazine to write a feature ahead of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. I began to find out more about this story of the two brothers, [and it had] all the elements of what makes a good story: family drama, the intimate rivalry between the two brothers in a very closed setting, two international brands, and all of it set in the world of sports.
What was the extent of the brothers' involvement in the Nazi Party, and how much of a role do you think that had to do with their split?
It was very difficult for any German company during those times to continue to operate without having some kind of links with the party, especially if it involved sports, which was very much at the heart of the Nazi propaganda machine. The Dasslers had ties with the sports hierarchy … It certainly helped in gaining access to the Olympic grounds in 1936 when they had this superb linkup with Jesse Owens.
That was a real coup for their shoe business, but it must have been a controversial decision at the time to pursue an African-American who was competing against the Germans for the gold.
Adi just had this obsession with sports at the complete exclusion of anything else. He just picked Jesse Owens out because he was a fabulous athlete. But in the end the entire environment of the war and politics really tore the brothers apart, and the involvement of their wives [who did not get along] brought it to a boiling point.
When each decided to form his own company, the original names were created by using the first two letters of the first names: Addas and Ruda. How did they become Adidas and Puma?
There was actually a children's shoe brand with the name Addas, so Adi added an i. In Rudolf's case, his marketing flair and his assistants probably told him that Ruda wasn't very inspiring. So he changed it.
Adidas quickly became a much larger company than its rival. Where did Puma go wrong?
One of the critical failures for Puma was that Rudolf had an argument with the coach of the German soccer team, and that allowed Adidas an opening before the 1954 World Cup, where, completely against all odds, West Germany won against Hungary … Adi Dassler was in all the [newspaper] pictures; he was everywhere. And the Adidas black boots with the stripes were on all the players. From that moment on they received letters from around the world from people wanting to sell Adidas in other countries. As good as the Puma boots were, it would take many years to build up its international business.
In many ways the rise of Adidas as an international company is the story of the rise of sports as an international business. How big a role do you think Adidas played in the growth of the sports industry?
Undeniably, when Adidas came along, sport wasn't a daily pastime. It was seen as frivolous and Europeans concentrated on just a couple of sports—particularly gymnastics and soccer. Today sports participation is huge and part of the global lifestyle, not to mention that we're wearing sneakers to go buy groceries. The whole practice of sports has been woven into weekly if not daily routines. The other aspect I find perhaps even more fascinating is how Horst [Adi's son] sold sports events as an advertising platform. He sold sports, not just sports apparel. He made contracts with sports federations and the Olympic committees and was involved in selling the World Cup [to sponsors].
I know Horst died prematurely. Now only one family member remains involved in either company, right?
Frank Dassler, the grandson of Rudolf Dassler, is the only one. At one point he was head of Puma USA, and he's now been appointed head of legal affairs at Adidas.
He crossed the river!
Yes. It caused a bit of a storm. But it really symbolizes that things are a bit more rational these days.
Do any remaining family members regret that they're not more involved now?
The comments I heard were that they wanted to put it behind them. It was such a struggle. They were constantly fighting. There was so much unpleasantness in the family between the brothers and between Horst and his parents and sisters. It was such a tense family environment that they were eager to just let it rest. There's bitterness among [Adi's children] that they sold in a rush, because they believed that Adidas in the late 1980s was really threatened.
Adidas is now the second-largest sports apparel company in the world, and owns Reebok, but at one time it lagged way behind Reebok. How did it turn around?
Adidas made the terrible mistake of saying it was not interested in jogging, and then aerobics became huge and Adidas and Nike both made the mistake of saying they were not interested in aerobics. They completely missed out on these trends, but Reebok didn't. Within about three years Reebok went from revenues of a couple hundred million to several billion. It continued on that way for years. But then Reebok lost its way. And Adidas, for all its mistakes, never lost its way as badly as that … Through it all, Adidas has remained in the consciousness as a solid sports brand. Reebok doesn't have that, either as a sports or lifestyle brand.
How are Puma's prospects now? The French conglomerate PPR, which owns Gucci, has now acquired it. A few years ago it was being sold in bazaars and people had declared it dead, and it is now being named in the same breath as Gucci … That repositioning will probably be taught to MBA students for several years.
As a business case, what are the most important lessons we can draw from the history of Puma and Adidas? What has made them such enduring brands?
At the beginning of the story, there's always a great product. Puma has survived its worst years because it had a great soccer boot. It's the same story for Adidas; it just makes great products. Another interesting lesson is that you need great enemies. I don't think either company would be where it is today if it hadn't been stimulated by the rivalry with the other.
The family fight that created Adidas and Puma.
Jennifer Barrett
Newsweek Web Exclusive
Updated: 6:26 PM ET Apr 14, 2008
Adidas and Puma may be among the most recognized brands in the world, but neither might exist if not for a bitter rivalry between two brothers from a little-known village in Germany. In the 1920s, Adolf (Adi) Dassler, a soft-spoken sports fanatic who spent hours working on shoe designs in his workshop, and Rudolf Dassler, a gregarious salesman, started a small shoemaking business in the Bavarian enclave of Herzogenaurach, focusing primarily on hand-sewn athletic footwear. But as their business took off, the two brothers grew increasingly frustrated with each other. They disagreed on everything from politics, the future of the company and one another's choice in wives.
Finally, in the mid-1940s Rudolf left in a huff and set up a rival shop across the river, while Adi remained in the initial plant. His company was renamed Adidas, and in 1948 Rudolf registered his new company, Puma. NEWSWEEK's Jennifer Barrett spoke with Barbara Smit, author of the new book "Sneaker Wars" (Ecco; $26.95), about how a family feud spawned two of the biggest brands in global sports. Excerpts:
NEWSWEEK: Most people wearing Pumas or Adidas today likely have no idea that two estranged German brothers founded the companies. How did you become interested in their story?
Barbara Smit: I didn't know it either, actually. I'd been wearing Adidas all my life and had no idea. But I was sent to Herzogenaurach, Germany [where both companies are based] by a French magazine to write a feature ahead of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. I began to find out more about this story of the two brothers, [and it had] all the elements of what makes a good story: family drama, the intimate rivalry between the two brothers in a very closed setting, two international brands, and all of it set in the world of sports.
What was the extent of the brothers' involvement in the Nazi Party, and how much of a role do you think that had to do with their split?
It was very difficult for any German company during those times to continue to operate without having some kind of links with the party, especially if it involved sports, which was very much at the heart of the Nazi propaganda machine. The Dasslers had ties with the sports hierarchy … It certainly helped in gaining access to the Olympic grounds in 1936 when they had this superb linkup with Jesse Owens.
That was a real coup for their shoe business, but it must have been a controversial decision at the time to pursue an African-American who was competing against the Germans for the gold.
Adi just had this obsession with sports at the complete exclusion of anything else. He just picked Jesse Owens out because he was a fabulous athlete. But in the end the entire environment of the war and politics really tore the brothers apart, and the involvement of their wives [who did not get along] brought it to a boiling point.
When each decided to form his own company, the original names were created by using the first two letters of the first names: Addas and Ruda. How did they become Adidas and Puma?
There was actually a children's shoe brand with the name Addas, so Adi added an i. In Rudolf's case, his marketing flair and his assistants probably told him that Ruda wasn't very inspiring. So he changed it.
Adidas quickly became a much larger company than its rival. Where did Puma go wrong?
One of the critical failures for Puma was that Rudolf had an argument with the coach of the German soccer team, and that allowed Adidas an opening before the 1954 World Cup, where, completely against all odds, West Germany won against Hungary … Adi Dassler was in all the [newspaper] pictures; he was everywhere. And the Adidas black boots with the stripes were on all the players. From that moment on they received letters from around the world from people wanting to sell Adidas in other countries. As good as the Puma boots were, it would take many years to build up its international business.
In many ways the rise of Adidas as an international company is the story of the rise of sports as an international business. How big a role do you think Adidas played in the growth of the sports industry?
Undeniably, when Adidas came along, sport wasn't a daily pastime. It was seen as frivolous and Europeans concentrated on just a couple of sports—particularly gymnastics and soccer. Today sports participation is huge and part of the global lifestyle, not to mention that we're wearing sneakers to go buy groceries. The whole practice of sports has been woven into weekly if not daily routines. The other aspect I find perhaps even more fascinating is how Horst [Adi's son] sold sports events as an advertising platform. He sold sports, not just sports apparel. He made contracts with sports federations and the Olympic committees and was involved in selling the World Cup [to sponsors].
I know Horst died prematurely. Now only one family member remains involved in either company, right?
Frank Dassler, the grandson of Rudolf Dassler, is the only one. At one point he was head of Puma USA, and he's now been appointed head of legal affairs at Adidas.
He crossed the river!
Yes. It caused a bit of a storm. But it really symbolizes that things are a bit more rational these days.
Do any remaining family members regret that they're not more involved now?
The comments I heard were that they wanted to put it behind them. It was such a struggle. They were constantly fighting. There was so much unpleasantness in the family between the brothers and between Horst and his parents and sisters. It was such a tense family environment that they were eager to just let it rest. There's bitterness among [Adi's children] that they sold in a rush, because they believed that Adidas in the late 1980s was really threatened.
Adidas is now the second-largest sports apparel company in the world, and owns Reebok, but at one time it lagged way behind Reebok. How did it turn around?
Adidas made the terrible mistake of saying it was not interested in jogging, and then aerobics became huge and Adidas and Nike both made the mistake of saying they were not interested in aerobics. They completely missed out on these trends, but Reebok didn't. Within about three years Reebok went from revenues of a couple hundred million to several billion. It continued on that way for years. But then Reebok lost its way. And Adidas, for all its mistakes, never lost its way as badly as that … Through it all, Adidas has remained in the consciousness as a solid sports brand. Reebok doesn't have that, either as a sports or lifestyle brand.
How are Puma's prospects now? The French conglomerate PPR, which owns Gucci, has now acquired it. A few years ago it was being sold in bazaars and people had declared it dead, and it is now being named in the same breath as Gucci … That repositioning will probably be taught to MBA students for several years.
As a business case, what are the most important lessons we can draw from the history of Puma and Adidas? What has made them such enduring brands?
At the beginning of the story, there's always a great product. Puma has survived its worst years because it had a great soccer boot. It's the same story for Adidas; it just makes great products. Another interesting lesson is that you need great enemies. I don't think either company would be where it is today if it hadn't been stimulated by the rivalry with the other.