Actually ex-deputy, I think.
But modesty is my middle name anyway,
I know the story of the kidnapping. It has been disputed, but I guess itâs true, but if it took place shortly before the tournement, it at least wasnât the only reason for not going to Argentina. Like I said he had announced that he wouldnât go much earlier, and repeated it several times, also on television. I remember the night of the qualification (after a 1-0 win over Belgium): the reporter asked him if he would go, and he said: No, I did everything so that others can go, but Iâve always said that I wonât go and I wonât change my mind. (I donât know if that were the exact words, but that more or less what he said). The kidnapping might have influenced him, of course. I guess it did.
There was quite a lot of pressure on him. A well-known singer, Vader Abraham (of the Smurf song) recorded a song called âTrek Cruyff over de streepâ, which means something like 'take care that Cruyff goes (to Argentina)" and half a million autographs were collected by a newspaper and delivered at his house in Spain with a plea for him to, please-please, go to Argentina. Itâs said that even the queen asked him to play in Argentina, but that has yet to be confirmed âŠ
As for Germany: Yes I think they couldâve won the tournament if Beckenbauer, MĂŒller, Grabowski and the others would have played. But what their exact age? Stielike and Breitner were young enough (after all they played in '82), but the others? Holland started with a team that was too old (some players were clearly over their peak) and they were nearly eliminated in the first round. The coaches then made a few changes - they brought younger players - and everything fell in its place.
Of course Beckenbauer wasnât the youngest, but Beckenbauer was still Beckenbauer, and he had the authority to be the leader, with which the actual captain Vogts did struggle, and it seems there was a lot of bad tension between the actual players.
MĂŒller was of course past his prime, but still a great goalgetter. Even if for that position there were already 2 very good ones with Fischer and Dieter MĂŒller. But actually Fischer played a lousy tournament and Dieter MĂŒller had maneuvered himself in the position of a problematic outsider, who thereafter never again played for Germany.
Both MĂŒllers shared btw the top scorers position in the Bundesliga in 1977/1978.
Grabowski was very strong then as a midfield playmaker, and played on a high level till a bad injury ended his carreer in 1980. Actually he was asked to return for the WC by the coach, with support from the press. But refused after a short time to think it over.
Funnily Germany made their best game in that tournament against the Netherlands, and nearly won it.
And the French team showed in 2006 that experience that comes with age can make a team strong, and not only lame and saturated.
I remember that Holland - Germany game well, yes. One of the best games of the tournament. I saw it in Germany actually. I did my military service around this time and we had a military exercise in the north of Germany at the LĂŒneburger Heide. There were Germans, French and British regiments and I watched the game with a guy from Köln who worked - like me - as an interpreter on the premises. Nobody was interested in our services that night, because everybody was watching the game. He went crazy when MĂŒller (not Gerd, the other one) scored 2-1, a quarter or so from the end. All seemed lost and then RenĂ© van de Kerkhoff scored 2-2 and we were in pole position again. It was a draw but for us it felt like a win (we stayed ahead of Germany and Italy).
Sad news about the passing of Ronnie Corbett today aged 85. He was a little man, but a giant in the comedy world. Hope the two Ronnieâs are reunited and making people laugh in heaven.
TBH, I preferred Ronnie Corbett to Ronnie Barker, whom I only really liked in Porridge. Mr. Corbettâs rambling shaggy-dog stories were always a highlight of The Two Ronnies.
RIP
Liked Corbettâs monologues and the mastermind sketch was one of my favourites.
RIP John Ireson. Whose John Ireson? Well you probably knew him better as one-half of the Wilder Brothers singing group who composed the score for âThe Cold Killerâ but probably best remember him for the vocal to Johnny Yuma. John was born on September 24, 1937 in Smethport, North Carolina and passed away on Tuesday April 6th in Lexington, Kentucky. He was 78. Along with his singing partner Wayne Parham who died in 2007, their voices were an intricate part of the Euro-western sound weâve all come to love. Along with Peter Tevis they are probably the most well-known American singers of the genre. To read the complete obituary click on the link to my Boot Hill blog. https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=714670647903891935#overview/src=dashboard 
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Love that Johnny Yuma song.
Merle Haggard. He epitomized the âBakersfield soundâ of country music. He passed on his 79th birthday. Quite a life. RIP.
Maybe not SW related but certainly gritty and sun-scorched.
And here are the lyrics for both songs:
Lanky Gunman
A lanky gunman aims at your reward
Tonight he rode in town, so I am told
Ride away before itâs too late
A lanky gunman knows how to play his own game
And when you meet, youâre bound to die
People say heâs a killer
A killer he well may be
Lanky gunman is a killer
A killer like you and me
A lanky gunman aims at your reward
Tonight he rode in town, so I am told
Ride away before itâs too late
The lanky gunman knows how to play his own game
And when you meet, youâre bound to die
Johnny Yuma
Wherever thereâs a road, he rides
Wherever with his horse he rides
Blue skies or a starry night
Are better than a warming home
Johnny Yuma, donât go!
Johnny Yuma, stay here!
What do you think youâll find beyond the mountains?
But Johnny is a reinless horse
Tomorrow heâll be far away
Wherever thereâs a road, he rides
Let him ride, he will return
Johnny Yuma, donât go!
Johnny Yuma, stay here!
What do you think youâll find beyond the mountains?
But Johnny is a reinless horse
Tomorrow heâll be far away
Wherever thereâs a road, he rides
Let him ride, maybe heâll return
He will return
He will return
He will return
Terrible lyrics, terrible songs. And an absolutely worse start for both films.
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R.I.P dudeâŠenjoyed the songs.
R.I.P. Gareth Thomas - Died: April 13, 2016 (age 71) in UK
Magnificent Welsh actor, who is probably most famous for portraying the main character, Roj Blake, in the classic 1970âs BBC Sci-Fi series, âBlakeâs 7â⊠which was one of my favourite childhood memories.
Gareth Thomas also starred in TV adaptions of âChildren of the Stonesâ; and the 1975-1976 TV adaption of âHow Green Was My Valleyâ, which also starred the late, great Stanley Baker, in the lead role.
R.I.P. Gareth Thomas.
RIP Ilija Ivezic. Croatian stage, film and TV actor Ilija Ivezic died on April 14th. He was 89. Ivezic appeared in over 70 film and TV programs in his 60 year career. Ivezic appeared in nine Euro-westerns including eight Winnetou films such as âThe Treasure of Silver Lakeâ (1962), âApache Goldâ (1963), âFrontier Hellcatâ (1964), âRampage at Apache Wellâsâ and also in âHellhounds of Alaskaâ (1972).
Joanie Laurer aka Chyna, found dead at her home yesterday. She was the epitome of D-Generation X just as they were the epitome of The Attitude Era. I know not many have too much sympathy for Joanie for the choices she made since leaving the WWE but Chyna was a fantastic character who, under better circumstances, shouldâve been a bigger lock for the WWE Hall of Fame than most of the guys already in there (I still hope she makes it). And everybody makes silly mistakes; weâre none of us saints. She was 46.
RIP
RIP Guy Hamilton, director of Goldfinger (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), Live and Let Die (1973) and The Man With the Golden Gun (1974). He was 93.