Bend it like... Felipe!

I just bought tickets for the Phoenix vs LA Galaxy clash at the 'Ring of Fire' in December. Stoked.

Great marketing again by the Phoenix - great idea to include the A-League game against Adelaide in the Galaxy ticket (buy one get one free type deal).

Wellington has been a stunning football success with, on average, ten times more people at Phoenix home games, than there were for the Auckland Knights.

The atmosphere is completely different to Rugby, with no stupid pumping music - the crowd makes the noise. In many ways it reminds of the good old days (pre-Police-pressence) at a One Day Cricket International at the Basin Reserve.

My favourite chant has to be the "what the fucking, what the fucking, what the fucking hell was that? What the fucking hell was that?" In response to Perth's pathetic attempts on Goal. Although the "We're not Auckland, we're not Auckland, we're not Auckland any more! We're not Auckland any more!" is also quality.

Now I wonder - has Angus got tickets? Maybe he doesnt need them as he's seen Beckham play before? He is supposedly Beckham's biggest fan, and owns all sorts of homoerotic biographies and posters... Oh no, thats right he isnt in NZ so misses out... ohhhh... nevermind

How good is the Phoenix?

Yet to even play a proper A-League match, the Phoenix has (according to todays Dominion) booked David Beckham and the LA Galaxy to play an exhibition match in Wellington in November.

After spending stupid amounts of money on getting Beckham, the Galaxy are taking him on a world tour playing exhibition matches to make some dosh. One of their first stops is Sydney, to play A-League side, Sydney FC, and apparently Wellington legend Terry Serepisos has jumped on this and is in talks to chuck in a Wellington leg. By "in talks" I mean theyre determining how much cash the Phoenix will have to stump up.

What better way to promote football and the Wellington Phoenix, than getting David Beckham to town? Fantastic. This is great for football and great for Wellington.

This is all the more better as the biggest Beckham fan that I know, wont actually be in New Zealand. As Cartman would say - Oh your tears, they taste so good!

Harry is a Horcrux

What ever could that title be in reference to?

Virtual insanity

Well the State Virtual Cricket finished with the World Cup final on the weekend and it turns out that in the Virtual Sports world, I may have found my niche.

After all those years losing bets (I owe Nath roughly $300 - if he thinks im honouring those bets he can think again! lol) on the Virtual Rugby (Super 14 and NPC) Ive finally come through with a half decent result.

50th in New Zealand in the State Virtual Cricket, and frankly I owned Dinah and her shambolic selections.

Now while far less people play the Cricket than the Rugby - Im still pretty happy with the result. Not to mention the fact that this builds on the Football slaughtering of Angus "Mr Football" White last year! (had to get that in there)

PS. Yes, yes everyone is kicking my arse in the Virtual Rugby again.

By the power of Greyskull!!

What a weekend - well what a Friday and Saturday morning. As I said earlier, Hot Fuzz was having its NZ premiere in Wellington - and it was free for like 200 people who turned up at the right time.

After knocking off work at 3pm and standing in a queue for three hours (taking the piss out of the PR "guru" from Universal and discussing League of Gentlemen, Spaced etc with fellow queue-ers) - there was no holding me back baby. I'll put it out there - It fuckin ruled. Peter Jackson spoke briefly about his cameo and then introduced Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and the Director Edgar Wright, who all spoke briefly. It was great.

There isn't a lot to say about the film other than my rating - ***** (thats right the big 5!). Edgar Wright described the film during his intro as "If you ever watched Heartbeat or Miss Marple and thought there should be more shit blowing up - this is the film for you." Which basically captures the film. As funny, if not funnier than Shaun of the Dead - definitely check it out.

As for Saturday morning... the signing session... (pics below) Hell yeah - I got them to sign my 3 disc set of Spaced DVDs - I got them to sign one disc each, and Nick Frost wrote my favourite line from Hot Fuzz across the inside cover.

All in all - couldnt have kicked much more arse if we tried!

Review: Lord Don't Slow Me Down

Well I have literally just watched the New Zealand premiere of Oasis's doco - Lord Don't Slow Me Down, as part of C4's Music Doco series - The Cut.

It's not bad and serves as a reminder of how great they were and still are - at times.

Their career to date has been bookended by great albums, my opinions on their other content is well known so there is little point going on. But what I will say is that I still feel some kind of ownership of Oasis, so when I criticise them, its almost like arguing with your family.

There is little new in the film for fans of Oasis, and the doco Live Forever is far better in terms of examining their impact, but this is still fun. There isnt the wheels falling off of the Metallica/Dandy Warhols doco kind's (usual arguments are present of course!) but what stands out for are the live snippets of the Definitely Maybe back catalogue - best album ever!

If I was reviewing any other band's doco this would get a 3/5 but this is Oasis.....

****

(PS. Note my kick ass perspex christmas trees in the photo - my first decorations for years! Oh and on another note Ive sent cards out this year - another first!)

(PPS Yes Angus just like Return of the King..... before you Angus, before you.)

WRX - Caravaners car of choice!

Subaru may have failed to win the WRC since last century, but they've got something to show for their work.

The WRX has been voted 'Towcar of the Year 2007' by the Caravan Club of the United Kingdom.

Hell yeah!

I imagine its rather like being crowned a Lego champion - not exactly something you're gonna note in your CV is it?