Cruel To Be Kind?

I have been pondering on one of the comments made in response to one of my recent posts that football is like a soap opera (thanks paul coombes!)

If I'm honest, true to my girlie nature, it was probably those soap opera qualities that drew me into football. It was my entry point really.

But there have been a number of events recently that have made me think beyond that. One was actually another comment on this blog by Mrs Dowie ,when I had been unkind about Iain Dowie, in which he talked about a kind act by the former Coventry manager. Another was the Eduardo/Taylor incident and all the aftermath.

Football is a soap opera. There is no doubt about it. Larger than life stories that take you to the fringes of belief. The madness of life in the fast lane. The bizarre coincidences that could never happen in real life.

These events, though, have reminded me of the difference between the two. Because although there is an element of the characters 'acting', in that they project a public persona (David Beckham can't possibly look that gorgeous all the time can he?), behind the soap opera are real people with real lives. And feelings.

And the whole world is their judge and jury as they live life in the spotlight.

So my feeling when I read tonight of the generosity of spirit of Eduardo and how it is bringing comfort to Taylor, was one of warmth towards two other human beings, touched by tragedy and digging deep to recover from the wounds it has left - physical and psychological.

I have resolved to try to always bear in mind that when I am considering delivering biting satire at the expense of some hapless victim, that what I say could be hurtful.

Except, of course, in the case of Leeds United, when cruelty is entirely justified.

Are You A Fox Or A Hedgehog?

If Football was a work of literature, what genre do you think it would be?

Perhaps horror. After all that is the label that has been attached to the Taylor tackle on Da Silva. And it is by no means the first.

Comedy maybe? Or a tragedy.

Something to touch the heart? Or a little bit sexy?

I think, though, it is probably a fable. Which means you need to decide whether you are a fox or a hedgehog.

What am I? Well girls, there are no spikes on me. I'm as foxy as they come.

Sometimes Things Just Happen

I have to say my heart goes out to both Eduardo da Silva and Martin Taylor today.

Da Silva is facing a nine month gradual return to fitness in the aftermath of his injury. He will miss this summer's European Cup, where he was due to play for Croatia and will have months of rehabilitation ahead of him.

Equally, from what I can gather, Taylor is distraut about what happened on Saturday. Voices speaking up on behalf of him are adamant that he is a gentle giant who would never execute a malicious tackle, let alone deliberately break someone's leg.

To be fair, his statistics support that. No yellow cards and only one red in his career. And Eduardo is not blaming him either.

Awful to think, then, that he is receiving death threats.

Sometimes these things just happen.

Maybe both of them can take some comfort that there is always someone worse off - leastways if this is to be believed.