June – The Plate Full of Poo (Morning Thread)

I should be grateful we only had two absolute hellfire hot days this week.  It’s The South, things will only get worse.

But fuck me, I am already over it.  My cervical spine is being a bigger asshole than usual.  Thus, I just can’t get comfortable.  Reading, Footy Manager, even TV watching.  Just can’t find the right position (PHRASING).

Especially, I shouldn’t be bitching and moaning when The Little Nation-State That Could (UKR) is fighting for its very existence.  It was heartening to read about their midweek triumph in Scoot-lund, bring them 90 minutes from a luxurioUs Qatar vacay,  Excerpt:

In sporting circles, we sometimes speak of teams who are simply happy to be there and enjoy an occasion.

But for many Ukrainians in Glasgow on Wednesday, this was the overwhelming sensation.

One supporter, Yuri, had travelled from the United States for the match. “It’s the biggest game I have ever attended,” he said. “The winning or losing is not the big thing. It is all about offering escape, a boost to morale back home, but also ensuring more people understand what is happening to our people.”

What followed at Hampden, therefore, must go down as one of the great sporting performances.

Ukraine, managed by Oleksandr Petrakov, outplayed their hosts and merited even more than their 3-1 victory.

“We played for those fighting in trenches, who fight for their last drop of blood,” Petrakov said. “We played for Ukrainians who suffer every day. We did everything for the people back home. For the armed forces, this is our victory for them.”

His eyes moistening, he added: “I hope this never touches you, but you just have to think of the women and children dying every day, the women being raped and gang-raped.”

It was a moving and invigorating riposte but Ukraine’s performance was also notable for the poise and maturity they showed in clinically dispatching a Scotland team unbeaten at home in 12 matches — their best run for 44 years.

This, we should also remember, is a Ukraine side for whom six starting players had not played a competitive football match for club or country since war curtailed the domestic league at the end of February.

The people of Scotland sound like they were righteous as fuck about the whole thing.  Good natured about the feelings involved, good sports in defeat.  Let’s hope Wales can say the same come Sunday, especially the defeat part (11:30, ESPN).  I mean, should the Ukes defeat Princess Leia and sheep-shagging pals…there will actually be a side to actively root for in the Axis of Evil Group!  With apologies to Iran, who I was gearing up to support.

But that’s tomorrow.  I got a fat heap of nothing for ya today.  June, blech.