Topics

61

General Discussion / Ah pass

« on: June 15, 2006, 03:18:09 PM »

Despite spending all my time here, and loosing my paper, ah pass.
I get my MS, ah happy oui jus have to tweak my paper.
thks for the support Pt man, Organic and west coast in the chat room. all was not lost today

62

Football / Seattle man (Kirk Trotman) has serious roots in soccer

« on: June 11, 2006, 11:47:03 AM »

Seattle man has serious roots in soccer

By DAN RALEY
P-I REPORTER

New to Seattle, Kirk Trotman got a call at work the other day. Someone heard this unassuming family man played a little soccer. Trotman was asked to join a men's league team, and he accepted.


Kirk Trotman smiles as his 4-year-old daughter, Kara, waves the flag of Trinidad and Tobago
Chances are the person on the other end didn't fully understand who or what he just added to the roster.

Trotman, 34, doesn't flaunt the fact he once took the field in front of an overflow crowd of 76,000 in Argentina.

He doesn't run around telling everyone that he scored against Brazil's best, slapping in a deflected corner kick.

Or that he was a collegiate All-American and a professional player.

"I'm just going to have fun," Trotman said, before heading to his first game with his new team earlier this week. "I just want to play. I'm not going to showboat, by any means. I'm not about that."

However, if you want to see the real soccer animal in him -- providing he doesn't get a better offer and go elsewhere at the last minute -- all you have to do is stop by Trotman's apartment today, the one he shares with his wife, Natashia, and 4-year-old daughter, Kara. Say about 9 a.m.

That's when his native Trinidad and Tobago plays in the World Cup for the first time, challenging Sweden. Trotman will be in his full glory. It will be loud at his place, or wherever he is. He'll be the one doing cartwheels in front of the TV.

"This is once in a lifetime, this is a national holiday," he said, his voice rising as he considered this historic soccer match. "My country is going to be flipped upside down. When they qualified, there was three days of partying.



 "To be truthful, I wish I was back in Trinidad."

Trotman visits his island homeland only once a year now, and in February he took his annual trip through this tiny Caribbean country seven miles off the Venezuelan coastline, enjoying the traditional Carnival celebration and reuniting with relatives.

From ages 17 through 19, this Trinidadian was a junior national team member, a right fullback, teaming with the great Dwight Yorke, who still plays for Trinidad when Yorke's not in uniform for England's Manchester United.

Trotman has competed on English soil himself, as well as in Portugal, Mexico, Guatemala and throughout South America. In 1990, he stepped awestruck into River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires overrun with rowdy fans and was part of a Trinidad junior team that lost 2-1. A year later, he got his lone national team goal against Brazil, one that led to a milestone 4-2 victory in Trinidad.

He parlayed his international success into a college scholarship at three different small American schools, winding up at the University of Mobile in Alabama. He appeared once in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championship game and twice in the semifinals. He was a two-time team captain, all-conference, all-district and a second-team All-American.

Trotman played for pay for the Lexington Bandits and New Orleans Gamblers before retiring in 1996. With his business management degree in hand, it was time for him to settle down and raise children. He obtained American citizenship in 1998.

For the past 10 years, Trotman has worked for Freeman Decorating, a national company that supplies convention needs. Five years ago, he bought a house, content to live in the South until Hurricane Katrina destroyed it.

His home near the New Orleans airport needed to be gutted, but it was fixable. Yet last October, Trotman moved everyone to Seattle. His colorful cousin, Jubal Lindsay, or Jube, lives in the city. Trotman was able to get a job transfer.

"If you sit in New Orleans and look at it, it hurts you more," he said. "I just didn't want to put my daughter through that whole experience. I felt it was my duty as a dad to get everyone into a better situation.

"It was easy for me to walk away. I'm not from New Orleans. I'm from the Caribbean."

Things couldn't be better. There's rain but no hurricanes in Seattle. Best of all, his homeland is in the World Cup for the first time, playing a minimum three games, and he's ready to follow every Trinidad and Tobago pass, header and deflection from half a world away. The only thing that could be better is if this had happened 15 years ago, when he was in his prime and could be personally involved.

"I would like to see us win a game, win all the games, but you have to be realistic," Trotman said. "Still, you never know what will happen when the whistle blows."

A Seattle men's league team found that out this week.


FACTS


Official name: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago


Continent: South America


Population: 1.1 million, of which 50,000 reside in Tobago


Capital: Port-of-Spain


History lesson: Christopher Columbus landed on Trinidad in 1498 on his third voyage, and the Spanish settled the island a century later. Trinidad remained under Spanish rule until the British captured it in 1797. It was formally ceded to Great Britain in 1802. Trinidad and Tobago was incorporated into a colony in 1888.


Team nickname: "Soca Warriors." The team takes its name from "soca," a style of music that originated in the West Indies, especially on Trinidad and Tobago. It's a blend of soul and calypso. Today, soca is one of the most popular subgenres of calypso.


World Cups: 0


Coach: Leo Beenhakker


How qualified: Made finals as fourth team from CONCACAF after edging Guatemala and winning a playoff 1-0 with Bahrain.


Famous players: Angus Eve, Stern John, Cornell Glen, Shaka Hislop, Dwight Yorke.


Notable: Inhabitants of Trinidad are called Trinidadians. Inhabitants of Tobago are called Tobagonians. Lumped together, the nation's inhabitants are "Trinbagonians." About 8,000 of them booked passage to Germany. ... The government approved $45 million in assistance to the team to cover its World Cup preparations. The money was earmarked for bonuses for players and staff and the cost of training camps prior to the World Cup. ... Trinidad and Tobago is the least populous nation to qualify for the Cup finals. ... Although Trinidad and Tobago is playing in the World Cup for the first time, the country has won eight Caribbean Cups. ... The team is in Group B with England, Paraguay and Sweden

63

Football / Soca Warrior fan show his love

« on: June 07, 2006, 12:06:18 AM »

Drink up

64

Jokes / I have a drinking problem (error corrected)

« on: June 06, 2006, 11:40:15 AM »

65

Jokes / What he doing there ?

« on: June 03, 2006, 09:50:11 PM »

Umbro Add

66

Football / Best Football Dribble Ever

« on: June 03, 2006, 09:46:53 PM »

Am sure nuff man see this already

67

Cricket Anyone / Blame it on Bravo

« on: June 03, 2006, 07:14:01 PM »

Blame it on Bravo
The Verdict by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan in Antigua

June 3, 2006


Dwayne Bravo has been all over the Indians on the tour so far © Getty Image

If his email address is any indication, Dwayne Bravo is without doubt the next big thing in West Indies cricket. West Indians are pretty much reconciled to the fact that Brian Lara, or the "big dog", is on his final lap but, refreshingly, with every passing day, they are realising the worth of the "new big dog" - Bravo.


Growing up in Santa Cruz in Port of Spain, Bravo didn't need to look too far for a hero. Staying a few streets away was Lara, already dazzling the world with his wizardry. He began as a batsman who could bowl a bit but has gradually converted himself into a batsman who can perform the role of a main bowler. As if that's not enough, he's arguably the best fielder in world cricket with regard to ground fielding at least, and lifts the team morale with his light-hearted banter in the dressing-room.


For the last two weeks, he's haunted the Indians. Haunted them with yorkers, slower balls and even slower balls; haunted them with his acrobatic fielding at point; and with his assertive strokeplay. In his last three innings against them, he's managed three fifties. On the first day in Antigua, he had the best bowling figures. It won't come as a surprise if he keeps wicket in the next match and snaps up a record number of dismissals. He's in that sort of a zone.

Today, he came in with West Indies still 59 runs adrift of India's total, with Anil Kumble just having gotten rid of Ramnaresh Sarwan with the first ball after tea. At the other end, Shivnarine Chanderpaul had inched to 10 off 36 balls. This was India's chance to apply the brakes and winkle out one or two more. Bravo quietly reached double figures, off 14 balls, before Sreesanth, having already conceded 60 of his first nine overs, returned. The first ball was full and on the pads, the fourth was short and wide of off stump. Both were duly thumped for fours. Kumble's next over produced two more fours; Sreesanth's fourth over of the spell went for 12. In 45 balls, he'd moved from 10 to 50. The Indians could only watch exasperated. The lead was gone, the match threatened to go with it.

India might rue their selection of bowlers. Leaving out your most experienced new-ball bowler and premier offspinner might appear to be an attacking move; yet it appears a bit bizarre when you see how the rest performed. Sreesanth and Munaf Patel were playing in just their third Tests while VRV Singh was on debut. It came as no surprise when two out of the three had a bad day; what was surprising was that all three were playing together. When Virender Sehwag bowls 12 overs and manages turn, bounce and two wickets, you know that Harbhajan Singh could have been vital. Horses for courses is a valid theory, yet India might be better off having their best horses in the middle, irrespective of the courses.

Everytime India threatened to get a grip, West Indies found a batsman to take it away. When Munaf removed Ganga early, Gayle decided to go bananas; when Gayle and Lara departed in quick succession, Sarwan punched them out of trouble; when Sarwan got out first ball after tea, Bravo re-established their advantage. When Sehwag managed two wickets at the end, Denesh Ramdin and Ian Bradshaw consolidated. India were always playing catch up, not exactly advisable on the second day of a Test series. Now if only they could modify the rules and get Kumble to bowl from both ends.

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan is staff writer of Cricinfo

______________________________________________________________________________

When things look down, right around the corner, you find another remainder that for a small nation we produce top notch sportsman. Proud to be a Trinibagonian Now and Forever

68

Entertainment & Culture Discussion / Champions Music Video

« on: June 03, 2006, 04:06:34 PM »

Uncut Version

Special E-man Version

69

Football / The Time of Our lives - Offical FIFA WC song

« on: June 01, 2006, 07:59:34 AM »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVzkjXffAuU

I would say turn of the music and watch the clips in the video instead

70

Entertainment & Culture Discussion / The African Caribbean debate

« on: May 30, 2006, 11:17:58 AM »

The African Caribbean debate.


Lara and Mandela: a picture of African and Caribbean togetherness

The late reggae star Peter Tosh once sang " no matter where you come from as long as you're a black man, you're an African."
But a row between two black UK politicians has caused a dark cloud of doubt to descend over that sentiment.

A seemingly simmering rift between the UK's African and Caribbean communities apparently only needed a spark to ignite a full-blown raging debate on relations between the two.

It was triggered by a Jamaican newspaper article by British Labour Party MP Dianne Abbot raising questions about corruption in Nigeria.

Abbott - Jamaican roots

Dianne Abbott whose roots are Jamaican - she was born in London to Jamaican parents- has had to go to great lengths to defend and clarify the article.

It has incensed some in Britain's African community who say black people from the Caribbean and Africa are different.

This issue has pitted Dianne Abbott against Lola Ayorinde, a Nigerian-born British opposition Conservative party politician.

They are not Africans anymore.

Lola Ayorinde 

Mrs Ayorinde feels that for too long black people from the Caribbean have had the advantage over their African counterparts in the UK when it comes to access to social services, housing, and jobs.

"Anything that's supposed to go to us goes to the Caribbeans(sic). And the Caribbeans seem to be in charge of any resource that are available" she said on BBC television.

Differences

She also highlights 'differences' between African and Caribbean peoples in Britain.

"We know by heritage they were once Africans. But those of us who came from Africa we clearly are different from them in terms of the languages we speak,we are different in terms of the priorities for our lives too."

Dianne Abbott, who herself has been accused of stoking tensions between Britain's Caribbean and African communities, cautioned against divisiveness in the UK's black community.

 If you have a divided black community everybody loses, West Indians and Africans.
 
Diane Abbott

Writing recently in a London newspaper she declared:

Abbott comments

"As a child growing up in the tight-knit Jamaican community, I was taught as an article of faith that people from Jamaica were better than any other country in the Caribbean (whom my parents referred to as "small islanders") and that Caribbean people were infinitely superior to Africans, who lived in mud huts and did not know how to comb their hair.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, African children were being taught how superior they were to Caribbean people, who had been stupid enough to get sold into slavery and were all thieves anyway."
"In recent years", she noted, "some of the silly myths and antagonism have resurfaced."

Such references have angered Lola Ayorinde.

"We need first of all for the Caribbean blacks to acknowledge that we are not the same group as they are. They need to begin to learn about Africa, to begin to understand that even if they have the African heritage, they are not Africans anymore."



Africans and West Indians, united by history and culture, but now separated by more than the Atlantic?

Taken aback by fuss

Responding to the furore over her original article, Diane Abbott wrote that she was "...taken aback by the fuss here over a recent piece I wrote about Nigeria in a Jamaican newspaper.

Although I was anxious not to cause offence, I mentioned Nigeria's pervasive corruption and the tragedy of the Niger Delta, ravaged by pollution. The article enraged many Nigerians - partly because it touched on the raw nerve of African and Caribbean relations in this country."

Dianne Abbott, the UK's first black woman member of parliament emphasises: "I think it's very important that everyone is proud of their cultural identity. But if we allow white politicians to play divide and rule, amongst the black community, nobody wins."

The Black African population in the UK is larger than the West Indian, and by 2010, it is expected that Africans will be the single largest ethnic group in the UK.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

This in itself explains why the other islanders are somewhat apprehensive about JA.

This mentality is not only applicable to Africa, a colleague of mine from India said that he was taught in history class in India that East Indian Labourers were slaves.

Unfortunately all of us (including myself) have prejudices, and I will admit that I have my hang ups. But on a day such as today "Indian arrival day", I chose not to reflect on where my ancestors came from, because as the article pointed out and my experience has confirmed I am inherently different.  While appreciating this heritage  I will look to the a future built in a culture that is trinidadian, all i can hope for is a future where been of a certain heritage does not mean you are predisposed to playing a certain sport, occupation, or intellectual capacity, or hording money.  My  heritage does not define me nor does my ethnicity define my physical ability. ( I may have gone of topic but it needed to be said)

71

Jokes / If Trinis made American movies

« on: May 25, 2006, 07:43:30 AM »

If Trinis Made Movies Version 2
If Trinis Made American movies!

1.Dude, where's my Cortina?
2. Hari Pooran and the Obeyahman's Stone
3. The Lord of the Ganja Leaf: The Fellowship of the Herb
4. The Lord of the Ganja Leaf: The Two Spliffs
5. Along Came a Crablouse (Spider)
6.Crouching Tatoo Hidden Manicou
7. Me, Myself and Indira
8. Deep Brown Quinam ( Deep Blue Sea)
7. My Big Fat Grafton Wedding
9. Born on the 31st of August
10. Not Another Skettel Movie
11. Political Wars, Episode 1: The Phantom Panday
12. Political Wars, Episode 2, Patrick Strikes Back
13. Political Wars, Episode 3: Return of the Silver Fox (Panday)
14 Babylon Academy 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
15. Villa Capri (Moulin Rouge)
16. Broken Big Stone ( Broken Arrow)
17. If These Cane Fields Could Talk
18. Wild Wild Williamsville
19. Trinidadian Dhalpuri (American Pie)
20. Lagahoo in Woodbrook (Vampire in Brooklyn)
 
 
Trini Movies We Would Like To See:

1 I Know What You Did Last Dry Season
2 Four Prayers And A Puja
3 Men In Brown
4 There's Something About Primatee
5 How To Kill A Corbeau (Mockingbird)
6 Panorama (Titanic)
7 Republic Day
8 A Trinidadian Werewolf In Guyana
9 Biptee, The Soucouyant Slayer
10 Rumble In The Beetham
11 Lethal Cutlass 1, 2, 3 &4
12 Rubbing Wood and his parang side
13 Big Stone (The Rock)
14 Shanty Town Of Angels
15 Driving Miss Mazie
16 Pointless
17 Nightmare On Frederick Street
18 The Manicou King
19 Saving Ryan's Privates
20 Ramesh And Drupatee(Romeo & Juliet)
21 Pouff! (Gone With The Wind)
22 Home Alone 2 - Lost In Mayaro
23 Basdeo's Advocate
24 Fried Green Baigan
25 One Flew Over The Corbeau's Nest
26 Chadee's List
27 The PNM Strikes Back
28 The Silence Of The Goats
29 The Untouched-Doubles (Untouchables)
30 Breakfast At Chorros
31 Maxispotting
32 Escape From Guerra Island
33 The Birdman from Carrera
34 The Tattooslayer
35 Guess who's coming for roti?
36 Panday vs Panday
37 De Compere
38 Bridge over the Dry River


Source Unknown 

72

Entertainment & Culture Discussion / Soca Videos

« on: May 23, 2006, 06:26:18 PM »

Been around a while (approx 2yrs) but for the  foregin base a nice pick me up

mms://67.18.221.74/muzik/mvideo/escape 2_300k.wmv?sid=5ws1n8BG6z9NM18HDhV7FQ99DTF0qB1E

http://www.socawarriorstt.com/video/sharlene.wmv

http://www.toronto-lime.com/music/video/2005_bump.wmv

http://www.socawarriorstt.com/video/destra.wmv

73

Football / Following the Soca Warriors in Europe (BBC Caribbean)

« on: May 23, 2006, 01:27:31 PM »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2006/05/060519_socawarriorsabroad.shtml

On the road to Germany
 
By Franka Philip
Following the Soca Warriors in Europe
   
The countdown party for the World Cup started after Carnival
Today I got an email with the subject ‘Parties in Germany.’
I laughed because it’s so typical of Trinis, we haven’t even gotten our tickets for the World Cup games but we’re thinking about where we could party in Germany.


The countdown party for the World Cup started after Carnival

It will be interesting to see what the Germans make of the hundreds of people – myself included - dressed in red wining down to the ground, waving flags and singing ‘I’m a Soca Warrior!’

I guess that pretty much sums up the average Trinidad and Tobago fan’s view of the World Cup, it’s a chance to show the rest of the world how good we are at partying.

Just remember us!

We will be totally overjoyed if the Soca Warriors caused an upset and won a game but even if Trinidad and Tobago doesn’t make waves on the pitch, the Germans will certainly remember us for good jamming and wining.

Partying and liming aside, most of the Trinidadians I’ve spoken are just proud that they have the opportunity to be in Germany to support their country at one of the world’s biggest sporting events.


All to play for at the Kaiserslautern in Berlin

Some said they want to be able to tell their children and grandchildren about the goal Dwight Yorke scored against Sweden, or how brilliantly Kenwyne Jones dribbled past Steven Gerrard, Ashley Cole and Jamie Carragher of England.

Others like Avalon who isn’t a big football fan feels going to the World Cup is a matter of national pride.

"Don't about football"

“I have to pinch myself, can't believe I'm actually going to the World Cup. I probably would have gone regardless but the fact that T&T is playing I think it is my duty to be there. But don’t ask me nothing bout football!”

A number of Trinis who will be in Germany, have found it hard to ignore that country’s Nazi past, and with ethnic minorities being warned against visiting some parts of Germany, concerns about safety are understandable.

“I have heard other Trinis expressing a slight apprehension about how they will be perceived and welcomed by the Germans,” said Sean, a Trinidadian living in Sutton, Surrey.

“Of course, as ethnic minorities, we all harbour that little worry - no matter how small and unwarranted - about visiting a country that 60 years ago was preaching genocide and the birth of an Aryan nation.”

Wider Caribbean support

But the football fever isn’t only confined to Trinis as many of our Caribbean cousins living in London are also making the trek to support the Soca Warriors.


The Soca Warriors have support from the whole Caribbean.

Alex Jordan, the Bajan DJ who hosts the International Sounds of Soca on BBC 1Xtra is going to be in Nuremberg for the TT v England game as part of the 1Xtra team.

“As a Barbadian living in England, I am well aware how unusual it is to hear Trinidad & Tobago’s name mentioned alongside the worlds’ greatest footballing nations – and as we’re neighbours geographically and culturally, I feel as proud as if it were Barbados, ok not quite!” she told me.

“I’m so excited at the prospect of taking our island lightness of spirit and brightness of being to Germany. It’s almost better going in as such a huge underdog – you can enjoy it! Our victory is in our very arrival.”

I totally agree with Alex, Trinidad and Tobago’s qualification was an extraordinary story.

I can’t wait to get to Germany, yes to be a part of history and to see how the Soca Warriors acquit themselves on the pitch but most importantly to jam and wine with the rest of Trinis and show those Germans how to party in true-Trinidad style.

74

Jokes / One more time lets give it up for the Blondes

« on: May 22, 2006, 11:55:40 AM »

Blonde LOGIC

Two blondes living in Oklahoma were sitting
on a bench talking........

and one blonde says to the other, "Which
do you think is farther

away..........Florida or the moon?"

The other blonde turns and says "Helloooooooo,
can you see

Florida..."

CAR TROUBLE

A blonde pushes her BMW into a gas station.
She tells the mechanic it

died.? After he works on it for a few minutes,
it is idling

smoothly.    She says, "What's
the story?"

He replies, "Just crap in the carburetor"

She asks, "How often do I have to do
that?"

SPEEDING TICKET

A police officer stops a blonde for speeding
and asks her very nicely if

he could see her license.

She replied in a huff, "I wish you guys
would get your act together.

Just yesterday you take away my license and
then today you expect me to

show it to you!"

RIVER WALK

There's this blonde out for a walk. She comes
to a river and sees

another blonde? on the opposite bank. "Yoo-hoo!"
she shouts, "How can I

get to the other side?"

The second blonde looks up the river then
down the river and shouts

back, "You ARE on the other side."

AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE

A gorgeous young redhead goes into the doctor's
office and said that

her body hurt wherever she touched it.

"Impossible!" says the doctor.?
"Show me"

The redhead took her finger, pushed on her
left breast and screamed,

then she pushed her elbow and screamed in
even more. She pushed her knee

and screamed; likewise she pushed her ankle
and screamed.

Everywhere she touched made her scream.

The doctor said, "You're not really
a redhead, are you?

"Well, no" she said, "I'm
actually a blonde."

"I thought so," the doctor said.?
"Your finger is broken."

KNITTING

A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding
car on the freeway.   

Glancing at the car, he was astounded to
see that the blonde behind the

wheel was knitting! Realizing that she was
oblivious to his flashing

lights and siren, the trooper cranked down
his window, turned on his

bullhorn and yelled, "PULL   OVER!"

"NO!" the blonde yelled back, "IT'S
A SCARF!"

BLONDE ON THE SUN

A Russian, an American, and a Blonde were
talking one day. The Russian

said, "We were the first in space!"

The American said, "We were the first
on the moon!"

The Blonde said, "So what? We're going
to be the first on the sun!"   

The Russian and the American looked at each
other and shook their heads.

"You can't land on the sun, you idiot!
You'll burn up!"? said the

Russian.

To which the Blonde replied, "We're
not stupid, you know.? We're going

at night!"

IN A VACUUM

A blonde was playing Trivial Pursuit one
night. It was her turn.

She rolled the dice and she landed on Science
&Nature. Her question was,

"If you are in a vacuum and someone
calls your name, can you hear it?"

She thought for a time and then asked, "Is
it on or off?"

75

Football / Football Rumors

« on: May 22, 2006, 11:45:59 AM »

TERRY'S IN THE MONEY
John Terry will become the highest-paid player in the world this summer, according to The Sun. The Chelsea skipper is set to begin new contract negotiations, and is expecting to be offered a deal that will exceed the one offered to new signing Michael Ballack - who will be paid £20million over the next three years.

'Billionaire Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich wants to reward his skipper with a five-year deal topping £130,000 a week' announces the nation's favorite red-top. Of course, he might not be the highest-paid player in the world for very long, after the News Of The World's claim that Chelsea 'have opened talks to make Frank Lampard the highest-paid player in the world on £140,000 a week'.

To be honest, they're both likely to be making quite a bit.

AND SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT BE JOINING THEM
Man Utd fans will be hoping the club can avoid the potential nightmare aftermath of Sir Fergie's latest falling-out with a top player - Ruud van Nistelrooy joining Chelsea.

United want around £10million for the Dutchman - pocket change for Chelsea - and The Sun reckon that the Premiership champions are sniffing around. This follows yesterday's claim in the News Of The World that Chelsea's Peter Kenyon 'secretly met Van Nistelrooy's representative last week and agreed personal terms on a switch'.

Newcastle and Tottenham are also chasing Van Nistelrooy, who will be sold after falling out with Man Utd Golden Boy Cristiano Ronaldo. It is believed that Man Utd would prefer to sell their top-scorer abroad rather than to one of their Premiership rivals - and the two Milan clubs are leading the chase. But the Daily Mirror reports that 'Ferguson will agree to sell Ruud van Nistelrooy to Chelsea - as long as they give them Eidur Gudjohnsen in part exchange.'

Meanwhile, the News Of The World reports that Man Utd are ready to complete an £18m move for Lyon midfielder Mahamadou Diarra. Expect to see him sign for Chelsea tomorrow.

SIDWELL TO GO SPANISH
In the gossip column's favorite story of the day, the Daily Mirror claim that Villarreal are set to splash £4million on Reading midfielder Steve Sidwell. The Champions League semifinalists want the ex-Arsenal trainee to partner Juan Roman Riquelme in central midfield, and apparently have had him watched 'several times'.

In a comment that's apparently deadly serious, the Mirror reports that 'Villarreal narrowly lost to Arsenal in the (Champions League) semis and are keen to push on to the next level'.

AND THE REST
Manchester City are poised to re-sign Paul Dickov from Blackburn, while skipper Sylvain Distin and Andy Cole are set to sign new deals at Eastlands...Chelsea defender Robert Huth is a £4m target for Wigan...Chelsea are thinking of loaning out Shaun Wright-Phillips...Liverpool may offload defender Djimi Traore to Manchester City for £750,000, while the Reds are after a defensive midfielder to replace Didi Hamann...Sheffield Wednesday are stepping up their efforts to land Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson on loan next season with a view to a permanent transfer.

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5628860

76

Football / Terry backing for skipper Beckham

« on: May 22, 2006, 11:44:03 AM »

Terry backing for skipper Beckham


David Beckham has been backed to remain as England captain after the World Cup - by one of the men earmarked to take over from him.
 
John Terry has been suggested as a possible successor to Beckham, but the Chelsea skipper believes players are still learning from the Real Madrid midfielder.

Beckham will lead England at the World Cup next month but his tenure as captain has been questioned, particularly as his close relationship with boss Sven-Goran Eriksson will come to an end when the Swede stands down after the tournament.

Terry paid tribute to his England team-mate in a documentary on ITV1 called David Beckham: A Footballer's Story, which is screened on Tuesday evening.

"It's absolutely ridiculous, so many times you see it on the papers: should he be England captain?" Terry said.

"We've got the right man in charge, whether it be for another four or five years, he's certainly the man and an example to other players and we certainly learn from him."

Terry's performances as Chelsea captain has seen him tipped to do the same job at international level, while Steven Gerrard has shown his leadership qualities at Liverpool.

However, the 25-year-old Terry believes England have a real chance of glory at the World Cup in Germany with Beckham leading the side.

"It's such a massive World Cup and for Becks to be man leading us there with such a great squad of players, we've got a real chance," he added.

"He must feel that inside as well that you know that it's a chance possibly for him to lift the World Cup."

Beckham has played for England 87 times and has reiterated his desire to pass the 100-cap mark.

He added: "I want to carry on playing for the country and leading England out as much as possible and as many games as possible."

Beckham wants to pass the number of caps held by Sir Bobby Moore and Sir Bobby Charlton, which is 108 and 106 respectively.

"I'd love to get up to Sir Bobby Moore or Sir Bobby Charlton's record of caps. I would love to reach that," he said.
 
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5629280

77

Football / Soca Warriors star in Esquire magazine.

« on: May 21, 2006, 06:21:22 PM »

Soca Warriors star in Esquire magazine.
By: Shaun Fuentes.

Following qualification for the 2006 World Cup this country’s football profile has risen over the past few months with much interest being shown in the “Soca Warriors” particularly around their big match ups against England, Sweden and Paraguay.
They have been on the wanted lists of several top media publications both television and print and so far while there have been precautionary measures to ensure that the extra promotional activities in no way affects the team’s preparations, skipper Dwight Yorke and his teammates have done a fairly good job of keeping the team and by extent the country’s image alive.
Among the latest attractions has come in the form of an eight-page pull out in the established men’s magazine -  Esquire. The BBC and the Daily Record has some of the players doing World Cup diaries while Scottish drink Irn-Bru has Jason Scotland involved in an advertising campaign. E-Bay and Italian-based company Panini SPA have also signed deals to use the Soca Warriors as part of its World Cup promotions.
Following initial set ups through TTFF international relations consultant Mike Berry, players Dwight Yorke, Chris Birchall, Jason Scotland, Kenwyne Jones, Brent Sancho, Dennis Lawrence and stand by Hector Sam were all featured in the June issue. With England’s Joe Cole on the cover, the Soca Warriors also grabbed a sub heading “ Trinidad and Tobago –meet the minnows taking on the three lions”.
“This is all part of the exposure the boys and by extent the country has gained through their qualification and the fact is that everyone wants to know more about Trinidad and Tobago especially as we’re the smallest nation ever to go to the World Cup,” Berry told TTFF Media.
The players were all outfitted in designer wear for the photo shoot with Yorke sporting a Paul Smith wool suit valued at £500, Missoni cotton shirt (£155) and Canvas trainers (£30). Jones’ Ermenegildo Zegna wool suit was priced at £699 and Hogan trainers at £185 while Sancho’s Giorgio Armani wool suit and trousers came up to £940. Birchall, Jack, Sam Scotland and Lawrence also sported suits and other accessories from Hugo Boss, Armani, Polo Ralph Lauren, Burberry London, Gap, Missoni, Umbro, Puma and Adidas in the range of £700 and up.
With their profiles also printed on the pages, among the questions put forward to Lawrence by Esquire was how would he celebrate if T&T defeated England and his response couldn’t have been better than: “Just the same as if we beat Mexico or anyone else. The England game is not the only game we’re interested in winning. We want to win all the games we play.”
Berry went on to add that this was just part of what the team was picking up after booking their tickets to Germany.
“It’s not just Esquire but you realize that a lot of publications are interested in the guys and it’s a whole different type of opportunities for them. Obviously the main focus is to get ready for the World Cup and play your hearts out which is what the team is aiming for with all the preparations across here. But at the same time there are numerous bonuses for those involved within the set up,” Berry said.

78

Football / Fifa video game clip set to Maximus Dan

« on: May 21, 2006, 12:30:53 PM »

For those of us not into Video Games

http://www.toronto-lime.com/music/2006/fighter.wmv

79

General Discussion / Now that is good alcohol

« on: May 21, 2006, 07:53:22 AM »

A rum tale from Hungary
 
Builders who drank a barrel of rum at a house in southern Hungary had a nasty surprise when they got to the bottom and found a pickled corpse.
The man's body fell out when the workers tried to move the barrel after they had drunk it dry, a Hungarian police magazine website reported.

The website said the man's wife had stored the body in the barrel after he died in Jamaica 20 years ago.

A coroner's examination indicated the identity of the man.

The website said the woman had shipped her husband's body back home to the city of Szeged in the rum barrel to avoid the cost and paperwork involved in sending it back by official means.

Special taste

The workers said the rum had a "special taste" and had planned to bottle some.

The website said the builders made the grisly discovery six months after the woman, who was in her 80s, died.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2006/05/060505_rumtale.shtml

80

Football / From Strike Squad to Soca Warriors

« on: May 20, 2006, 05:44:47 PM »

From Strike Squad to Soca Warriors 
   
By Tony Fraser
          Correspondent, Port of Spain
 



When in November 2005, Dennis Lawrence strained all of his 6-foot 7-inch frame to nod in the qualifying goal against Bahrain, people of my generation felt relieved after the disappointments of 1973 and 1989.
That's when Trinidad and Tobago came oh so close to reaching the World Cup finals but, for different reasons, did not make it.

You would therefore have to excuse the likes of former national coach Bertille St. Clair and people like this writer when, having now qualified, our ambitions stretch no further than merely representing ourselves well on the fields of Germany.

When the red, white and black run on to the field we shall, in our various Trinbagonian ways: scream; take a “lil wine” (gyrate the hips), "break the seal and fire one" (open a bottle) and start to boast how we "go give Sweden five goal in dey tail” (beat by five goals).

Trinidad and Tobago's opening game is against Sweden on June 10.

It could have been me

But let me go back to come forward.

I remember as if it were yesterday, the 19th of November 1989, the day when the U.S.A. rained on our parade by scoring that fateful goal in Port of Spain that kept us out of the finals in Italy.

Microphone in hand and television cameraman standing by, I did not have the heart to approach the then T&T coach Everard “Gally” Cummings at the sound of the final whistle to ask him “what went wrong?”

It was for Gally a second disappointment as he had been the star of the 1973 team that had three goals disallowed in that bizarre qualifying game in Port-au- Prince against Haiti.


(Trinidad's misses
Haiti was the first Caribbean team to qualify for the World Cup in 1973. Jamaica was the second in 1998. )

Dwight Yorke, then no more than a 16-year old boy (his mother’s milk still on his face, still innocent to the world, as unbelievable as that may seem) came running to the father figure coach, holding on to the marginally older Russell Latapy, tears streaming uncontrollably down their faces.

The anguish of these young men mirrored that of the nation.

We had pumped ourselves up: a special national video and calypso, all our celebrations were pre-mature.

But I remember too, how the Trinbagonian spirit, after the heart-stopping shock, bubbled and lifted Gally, the team and the nation out of the depths of despair.

The tens of thousands of supporters at the stadium, having taken a moment to swallow hard, rose to their feet and called on their heroes to make a victory lap with shouts of “We Love you still Strike Squad”.

Here come the Soca Warriors

In many a country, such a defeat would have resulted in a riot: the American players would have had to be spirited away, the referee and his linesmen saved from being lynched, and the local players would have been banished forever to a Siberian wilderness.

But, on that day, we demonstrated to the world we knew how to take it flush on the jaw (forgive the mixing of the sporting metaphors), get up off the canvas to cherish our own and to live for another day.

That day has arrived.

 
Dwight Yorke is today T&T's most world famous player. 

Yorke and Latapy have survived as the senior players of the now re-branded "Soca Warriors" in the twilight of their careers to lead the new generation onto the fields of Germany.

The mood and state of the country today is different than in 1989 but there are striking similarities. Then, the oil bubble had burst, international prices had fallen to 9US dollars a barrel and structural adjustment had bitten deep into human flesh.

Worse was to come: a year later, a group of Black Muslim fanatics made a violent intervention, shot-up the Parliament and the Prime Minister and all but destroyed the commercial parts of the city.

Today, with oil prices reaching 70US dollars a barrel and a natural gas economy booming, there is no shortage of millions for the Soca Warriors effort.   
Today's Trinidad and Tobago enjoying an economic boom.

The Dutch-born coach, Leo Beenhakker and his staff are paid over 60-thousand US dollars per month. The former coach probably earned the equivalent of 3-thousand US dollars in the past.

A few thousand fans have already paid upwards of 6-thousand US dollars for airline tickets and entry to the games in the first round of Group B.

They would undoubtedly shell-out additional thousands if, by some stroke of divine intervention, the Soca Warriors make it beyond the play offs with Sweden, Paraguay and England.

To think beyond that would be to encourage total mayhem amongst my compatriots and the postponement of work and school for an indefinite period.

Port of Spain will not be able to hold us and those of you fortunate to be at the ground when that happens, you have our full permission to invade the field with your pans, bottle and spoon and iron - the Kaiser will understand.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2006/05/060516_socawarriorspos.shtml

81

Football / World cup quiz

« on: May 15, 2006, 02:01:19 PM »

A quiz from skysports with should be called World cup quiz on England

http://www.43plc.com/assets/gatewayPages/triviabox.cfm?link_id=264&partner_id=00&ref=planetfootball&quiz_id=31

82

Football / BBC Caribbean (The World Cup's smallest team)

« on: May 12, 2006, 09:03:32 PM »

if this has been posted before i apologize and I will delete it


The World Cup's smallest team
 
 
Trinidad and Tobago at the southern end of the Caribbean island chain
Trinidad and Tobago is the smallest country to ever qualify for the World Cup.
The twin-island republic's population of 1.3 million people has been preparing for this high-profile opportunity since the end of the country's annual carnival celebration in February.

Following their final home match, a friendly against Peru, which ended in a draw in Port of Spain, the Soca Warriors then embarked on a meet-the-people tour around the two islands.

During this, midfielder Silvio Spann, now exhilarating in this third time successful bid to go to soccer’s biggest contest, assured his alma mater high school students that he and the team “are like a volcano waiting to erupt in Germany.”

Europe training

The team will then train in Manchester in England before flying to Germany for their first game against Sweden on June 10.


 T 'n' T's Group B fixtures
Sweden - June 10 (Dortmund)
England - June 15 (Nurenburg)
Paraguay - June 20 (Kaiserlautern)

The team's Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker says the challenge will be to bring together a wide range of experience between those on English league sides and less experienced players.

"That's a very important week for us," Beenbakker told journalists in Port of Spain about the training in Manchester.


  The idea there is..in a physical way, in a mental way.. to bring the team together.

 
Leo Beenhakker, Trinidad's coach

"We have players who are arriving at this preparation with different luggage. Players have had a very tough season."

"We're going to do the same training and the same work as the other guys who have just started with the league who are not playing so many matches in the last season."

Yorke - Tobago's star

The most well-known T 'n' T player is Dwight Yorke, from the smaller island of Tobago.

 
Yorke - Tobago's most famous export

Yorke has played for England premier league sides Manchester United and Aston Villa.

For many in Britain, if you say Trinidad and Tobago, they'll say either Dwight Yorke or cricket legend Brian Lara. The two are longtime good friends.

Thanks to the British tabloid press, Yorke, who now plays for Sydney FC in Australia's A league, is also well-known for his off-pitch social life.

He is the father of a love child with glamour model, Jordan.

The Soca warriors get their name from the music genre, soca, an upbeat version of the islands' other musical creation, calypso.

Trinidad and Tobago might be the smallest team ever to qualify for the World Cup but the T 'n' T side promises to offer the tournament an interesting blend of vitality and skill.

As important, a few hundred “Trinis”, as citizens of Trinidad call themselves, have tickets, steelpan (another island creation), and an inexhaustible source of joire de vivre to lend very vocal and energetic support to their nation in Germany.

And while getting to the second round of the competition would trigger non-stop parties in this the home of carnival and partying, former national coach, Bertille St. Clair, captured the spirit wonderfully well when he “said all the boys have to do is play well and represent their country.”

 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2006/05/060511_tntleadpage.shtml

83

Jokes / Hazardous Materials Handle with Extreme Care

« on: May 11, 2006, 10:06:44 PM »

84

Jokes / Stupid videos

« on: May 11, 2006, 08:39:10 PM »

This is what you called been hard up
http://www.stupidvideos.com/animals/

85

Jokes / You can't get one up on a trini man

« on: May 11, 2006, 04:14:03 PM »

A Trini US Marine stationed in Iraq recently received a "Dear John" letter from his Trini girlfriend back in Brooklyn.

It read as follows:

Dear Leroy,

I cya continue we relationship nuh. De distance between we just too great. I ha tuh admit dat ah horn yuh twice since yuh gorn, and it eh fair tuh eeder ah we. Ah rell sorry.
Yuh could return de picture ah me dat ah did send yuh?

Love,
Gwendolyn



The Marine, with hurt feelings, asked his fellow Marines for any snapshots they could spare of their girlfriends, sisters, ex-girlfriends, aunts, cousins, etc. In addition to the picture of Gwendolyn, Leroy included all the other pictures of  the pretty girls he had collected from his buddies. There were 57 photos in that envelope... along with this note:

Dear Gwendolyn,

Ah rell sorry, buh ah cya remember yuh nuh. Please pic out yuh picture from de pile and den send de rest back tuh me
Tanks!

Take care,
Leroy

Never take the road most traveled, instead create your own path and leave your mark.

86

General Discussion / Harrisburg & Middletown PA (Penn State Area) info required

« on: May 11, 2006, 11:51:51 AM »

Since I know it have trini all over.

Any trini in the Middleton, Harrisburg PA areas I looking for some info

!) How is life in those places.
2) Cost of living.
3) Any info on accomodation is greatly appreciated. Where is a good location, how much can I expect to pay?
4) Where is the lime normally?

87

Entertainment & Culture Discussion / Sean-Paul like you have never seen him before

« on: May 03, 2006, 01:58:11 PM »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi3K32ZrSi8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGaZUNtATlo

for a intresting twist
Carlos Santana feat Joss Stone, Sean Paul - Cry Baby Cry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfbjpgrys2k

88

General Discussion / juss scary

« on: April 26, 2006, 09:50:09 PM »

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/68223/bouncy/

89

General Discussion / Fax to Email

« on: April 19, 2006, 01:35:58 PM »

For one of my class I need some information on how to receive a fax by email using a pre existing fax line. I came across some sights that require a monthly fee. But I more interested in a one time purchase. This is one of the recommendations that my group is proposing to improve office operations.

If you guys have any suggestion I will be extremely grateful. Thanks

90

Entertainment & Culture Discussion / What do you all think

« on: April 18, 2006, 07:00:53 AM »

http://music.yahoo.com/video/default.asp?vid=31636363