'The Simple thngs in Life'Written by mark.j.stevens
Continued from page 1
Then there was another scream from my living room, my friend was jumping around I came in quietly and Liverpool had scored. It was Steven Gerrard, change in tactic had worked, Liverpool seemed more up for this game now and players looked different somehow but Milan remained confident then two minutes later game turned on its head, ball was played to Vladimir Smicer and he drilled ball home from 20 yards and Liverpool where back in game, I came running into room screaming with joy at what had just happen. The air was electric once more, I could not leave living room and all of a sudden game changed again. The Milan players looked shell shocked because within a few minutes Liverpool was on level terms. Gerrard dashed into Milan’s penalty box and was fouled. It was a certain penalty, at this point I was on my knees yelling at ceiling. I am sure my neighbours could hear everything. Even my friend was jumping for joy shouting, I told you, I told you!!! She was right! She proved one thing to me and that was all Soccer Pundits and I knew nothing about Football! Could they do it, could they actually win this match? No team had ever come back from three goals down to win a Champions League Final. I had to stop cooking at that point and told her that dinner will just have to wait and so we drank more wine and watched rest of match with our hearts in our mouths. It seemed that both of us had turns in screaming at TV and this would continue right up until that now famous Jerzy Dudek ‘Hand of God’ save which denied Shevchenko winner for Milan in dying seconds of extra time. We were both quiet and I had my head in my hands at that moment…The referee blew for full time and game was over. At that point I had to get up and walk around house, nervous like hell! I walked back into living room, listening to commentator remarking about how Liverpool had won on a penalty shoot out against Roma in 1984 and our goalkeeper at time Bruce Grobballar saved two penalties by putting off Roma players as much as he could and now it had almost seemed like deja vous. Who would be villain and who would be hero, it was now a lottery! I needed more wine so I opened up another bottle, my friend could not drink no more she was just adamant that Liverpool would win. She remarked, look at Milan Players they don’t look happy! I had a look and noticed same thing!They seem beaten before first spot kick. She was right, our goalkeeper did everything he could to put off Milan’s first spot kick taker Serginho and it worked! He missed, blazing ball high over bar. It was our turn next and I was not worried because it was our Germany International Dietmar Hamann and as predicted he scored. I was calm but still nervous, it was their turn once more, surely they would score but once again Jerzy Dudek’s antics on goal line did job and he saved very easily. We would be now 2-0 up if French International Striker Djibril Cisse would score and after suffering a broken Leg and missing most of season he shows his class and calmly placed ball to right of Milan’s Goalkeeper Dida’s goal giving him no chance. It was in our hands now, just two more spots kicks and we would be Champions of Europe. Kaka would score from his spot kick...then our hearts were in our mouths when our left mid-fielder John Arne Riise missed his spot kick, it was now 2-1 but still in our favour and before we knew it, Danish international Jon Dahl Tomasson made it 2-2. So up stepped Czech Striker Vladimir Smicer, playing probably his last game for Liverpool FC and his best game ever in my mind for team, he calmly slotted ball past goalkeeper to make it 3-2 to us…My friend and I was so tense, room was silent apart from TV. Then Milan’s leading goal scorer stepped up to plate, Andriy Shevchenko, man who was denied winner before end of extra time. As he approached Dudek threw him ball, he look anxious and nervous and did not look confident. Somehow I knew he would miss and he did…For a split second my heart had stopped and I sanked to my knees and just started to scream with ecstasy, my dream had come true, Players dreams were for filled! My football team had won. Life could not be any better…I was emotionally drained by it all and was sure all people in stadium, viewers and all millions of people around world were too. My friend and I were just hugging each other and kissing. I kept saying, that its time to get drunk and forgetting that I was suppose to be cooking dinner for both of us! So we continued to watch rest of coverage on box and as Steven Gerrard lifted trophy and commentator shouted out ‘Liverpool Are Kings of Europe’ a tear came to my eyes. In that moment I was in wonderland just like those players. As far as I was concerned they were Legends now no matter what they did for rest of their lives, from this moment on they would always remember and treasure. I started to also think about all those who had lost their lives going to see Liverpool play, all disasters that had occurred during football matches. My heart went out to them…its moments like this that makes it possible to see just why football is so important to man and woman on street. We relate to it in so many ways. We support our teams because we choose to and win, lose or draw all emotions that this sport and all other sports may muster are worth it for moments like these. So when it was all over and as I tried to figure out what had just happened, one thing dawned on me and that was it’s Simple things in Life that I cherish most and watching my team play is one of them.2005-06-04
a new writer from london..mjsmusic@hotmail.com
| | Mini Moto Madness!Written by Matt Tong
Continued from page 1
Despite size of these little wonders adults are getting them for their kids but more commonly, for themselves. Normal models can regularly go 35mph, all though parents can set them to max out at much slower speeds or … modify them to go faster. Moreover, models with more powerful engines are available. A GRC RX with 15hp 50cc engine by GRC Moto can be purchased for a mere £1999. The Mini Moto explosion shows no signs of ending anytime soon and MM racing leagues have been in practice in UK for around seven years now. The Mini Moto Racing Association offers following categories for you to test your Mini Moto. Junior Lights (4.2 hp) Age 6 - 15 up to 35.9 Kg Junior Cadets (4.2 hp) Age 6 - 15 over 36 Kg Junior Production Age 9 - 15 no weight limits Lightweight Production Age 16 + up to 74.9 Kg Senior Production Age 16 + over 75 Kg 4.2 Senior Age 16 + no weight limits Supers Age 16 + no weight limits Race meeting are held around to country at Go Kart and Mini Moto Tracks. There are also many ‘Arrive and Drive’ practice sessions hosted by tracks around UK.
Matt Tong has been riding and importing Mini Motos for over two years. For expert help and advice please visit http://www.minimotosandmore.com
|
