Great little town Oct. 28, 2006

I went to Burnley (v Preston) last night to remind myself of that great little town where my great Homes of Football tour began 16 Octobers ago.

And also to see the mini-war that is a football derby match in England.

Thank goodness how this mini-war is preferable to the real thing. I personally thank God (because I can’t think of everyone else particularly to thank) for football and I continue on my merry way with my pilgrimages to its passionate altars.

Where I really need to go to is the USA. See who is there. Remind me of all the good people there. All we see is Bush. George bleeding Bush. I must remind myself that Bruce Springsteen is still there. REM singer-bloke is there. Madonna is there. Actually no she is over here. James Stewart was there. As was Bill Clinton. Steven Spielberg is surely there. This is the nation that launched film careers and great music.

And sent three men to the moon. It’s interesting to note, as USA prepares to be surpassed by China economically and in whatever other ways, that Armstrong (first man on the moon) says that you can NOT see the Great Wall of China from the moon. Experts who have never been there now agree it is impossible. All this reminds me of how America thinks that it owns space – perhaps because they got there first – and that no other country shall be allowed munitions and ‘defence systems’ in space alongside theirs. And space is a big place. USA, as much as I love it, thinks it owns the place. I want to go over there and see if they even own their own minds. Any country that does not embrace football as the world game is somewhat suspect and out of order.