Does Colour still matter ??

First topic message reminder :

I grew up in the early 80's where we had the limited but explosive Gerry Cooney making millions out of being a White Heavyweight. Obviously his Irish heritage helped him too.....Harry Arroyo used to get lot's of ink even though he had the poor-at-the-time IBF light strap....His successor the black Jimmy Paul was INVISIBLE!!

How far have we moved on since then???............Does Colour still matter?? Does a good white fighter have more marketing potential than a good black one??? If it does ... Is it the case that there are more quality BLACK fighters... so that is what makes a WHITE fighter have more appeal. Or is it more basic???

Does colour still matter??? I think unfortunately it does!!............

Atila wrote:

Imperial Ghosty wrote:You keep naming fighters from a fair time ago, which current boxers are there?

Old age must be getting to me too. For some reason I think of Gerry Cooney as being a recent fighter also. I guess it's because I was following boxing at the time he fought Holmes.

OK, so you want more recent fighters. Hmm, what about Ricky Hatton? He had this image as being a "man of the people". I doubt he would have had this image if he wasn't white. I doubt no matter who Amir Khan fights and how good he looks doing it, whether he could ever have the kind of fanatical following that Hatton had.

Kelly Pavlik is another one. HBO promoted this guy like he was going to be the star of boxing and I never really though he was that good. He always looked a little clumsy to me.

Joe Messi is another.

None of what you have said has proven that colour plays a part in a boxers success. You are just making wild assumptions with no factual backing. Yes Hatton had a large fanbase but I doubt it was just because he was white. Plenty of white boxers who have a small fan base eg Fury. Hatton was liked because he would sit in the pub with his fans and have a pint and that he was a working class boy. Also a large support from manchester due to his connection with man city. David Haye is non-white yet over 15,000 Brits went to germany to support him against the white Klitschko.

There is no evidence to suggest one colour gains more success than the other apart from wild accusatons which as you highlighted usually end up being 'well if hatton was not white he wouldn't have as much support' or ' if Khan was white he would have more supporters'. None of which has any evidence to suggest is true.

Go away you pathetic little wum......Want serious posters on my threads...

Mummy is calling..

Atila wrote:

OK, so you want more recent fighters. Hmm, what about Ricky Hatton? He had this image as being a "man of the people". I doubt he would have had this image if he wasn't white. I doubt no matter who Amir Khan fights and how good he looks doing it, whether he could ever have the kind of fanatical following that Hatton had.

I'd say Ricky Hatton's 'man of the people' popularity was more to do with his appeal to the working class man. He was a 'work hard/play hard' type who drank pints and had good banter. That made him appeal to a huge cross section of casual boxing fans. No doubt there's a definite overlap with the stereotypical white working class 20-35 year old male, but as others have said, there's just too many factors to somehow claim it was his race that made the difference. As far a him being more popular than Khan. You could just as easily argue that Ricky's more engaging personality made it that way. Also Khan's perceived glass chin doesn't endear him to those fans who want to see 'tough' boxers. I don't know how anyone could really single out colour as a major factor in that comparison.

Is colour still a factor in determining popularity of boxers? No doubt it is a small element (or a major element for a small prejudiced minority) for some people. It's a natural thing for humans to want to support those they see themselves being aligned with - whether this be in terms of race, social status, class, nationality, personality, education, working background, or a mix of some of all of these things (the word for this is 'homophily'). But I'd argue that for the most part skin colour a minor factor when compared to other reasons.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Go away you pathetic little wum......Want serious posters on my threads...

Mummy is calling..

you're the one claiming colour is still an issue yet you cant name any recent cases. Your thread failed miserably.

You make an interesting point with regards to Hatton, someone with his man of the people stance could only ever be white but I don't think there were any racial undertones to his popularity.

Colour does matter! an ugly truth but Truss is absolutely right to raise this. As someone who was there the night they pelted the greatest middle of all time Hagler with all manners of crap because he dared to beat the crap out of Minter (the racist) I fear times have changed and mostly for the better but colour bar is still at work to some effect!

What examples would you give of the colour bar having effect? I cant really think of any nowadays.

I think using the word 'colour bar' in boxing today is pretty ridiculous, to be frank. There aren't any black fighters being held back these days on account of their colour, and I don't particularly think that the backing of the likes of Pavlik by HBO had anything to do with him being white, either. He didn't receive any notable hype on the way up and, once he upset Taylor, are we to expect the likes of HBO to ignore him completely? He got airtime after that because he was a young, heavy-handed fighter who'd just scored what was, at the time, a big upset. No more, no less.

Hatton garnered a massive following and captured the affections of the public, but then again, so did Bruno. Likewise, we had two outstanding fighters, much better than that pair, in Calzaghe and Lewis who never really captured the hearts of the UK and again, one was white, the other black.

I tend to think that, when boxing fans start bringing race, religion etc in to it, they're confusing problems which exist in general society and mistaking them, be it deliberately or not, as problems existing within boxing. I just don't see it anymore.

Perfectly said, Chris. Zoomy, it's easy to forget that Minter-Hagler was more than 30 years ago, a time when race was a really thorny issue in large swathes of Britain and casual racism, as well as the institutionalised variety, was the rule, rather than the exception.

I may be missing something, but I don't see it now, and I'm damn sure that there would be hell to pay if it reared its head in boxing, whether covertly or overtly. "Does colour matter?" Not to boxing fans, I would like to think, and not to those that run the sport either, whatever their other manifold faults. The world hasn't suddenly become perfect, but most people seem to see fighters as "our man" from a national viewpoint, rather than through the prism of their ethnic background.

In terms of fans the football crowd that follow some fighters are hooligans. We see at football matches that racism is still overtly displayed by some fans.

Watching middled aged men run across the hall as fast as they could to deliver abuse to a knocked out Harrison at the Price fight in Liverpool was a reflection of some of the idiots that find their way into boxing halls. I would be very surprised if Harrison did not receive some racist abuse that night.

Id be very surprised if Harrison did receive racial abuse. Hes unpopular, but not because of his skin colour.

Whilst it would obviously be a little mischievous and plain wrong to suggest colour has not been an issue in the past in the sport and one would lose count keeping track of all the great fighters denied a chance at the title through their skin colour it should also not be forgotten that the picture has frequently been worse in other sports.

Before Joe Louis there were 11 or 12 black world champions (depending where you stand on the Dixie Kid’s claims), by no means a massive number and there were certainly a good number capable of boosting this total denied the chance of doing so but 12 is a damned sight more than the number of blacks permitted to play in Major League Baseball. Jackie Robinson was some way away from kicking that door down.

Am not suggesting boxing is perfect or ever has been but as others have said I don’t see it today. The top two fighters and I dare say earners have in recent years been a black guy and a guy from south east Asia, does suggest boxing fans on the whole don’t care in the slightest anymore.

Colour matters in as much as racism and other forms of prejudice still exist in society (whether to the less common overt degree, or the more common sub-conscious discrimination/stereotyping). But, to say that it's notably prevalent in boxing to the point where it's having either positive or negative impacts on the careers of current boxers? I just don't buy it. There's far too many highly successful and popular boxers from all walks of life to refute that.

As Chris says: discrimination on grounds of colour is a societal issue, but it's not one that's any worse within boxing. If anything popularity and success of diverse races is probably more common in boxing than in many other fields/sports/etc.

The examples from the 80's don't help here either. Hagler-Minter was what 32 years ago? The Cooney example is nearly as old as well. Hardly representative of whether colour still matters.

manos de piedra wrote:Id be very surprised if Harrison did receive racial abuse. Hes unpopular, but not because of his skin colour.

Racial abuse in sport is generally aimed at a sportsman who is very good or very bad.

That was a nasty crowd in Liverpool that night.

This debate seems to be focusing on whether colour still matters and solely looking at whether being white acts as an enabler for a boxer's career whilst being non-white acts as a barrier. I ask the question does being not-white act as an enabler for a boxer? Would pacquio be as popular in asia if he was white?

Does being black give a boxer an advantage(especially a HW boxer)? The majority of past HW champs were black so does this play on the minds of trainers when taking on new members who want to train as boxers? Will they subconciously favour the black HW member as opposed to the white due to the majority of previous hw champs being black which may leave an imprint in their minds that black people are naturally the better HWs?


I don't believe there have been any signs of racism amongst professionals or top amateurs because money talks. But I do think that the majority of 'racism' comes when unknown starters sign up to gyms. if you have two 14/15 year old potential HWs, one is white the other is black, it is easy to say that the trainer would give both equal attention until one turns out to be better than the other. But does that actually happen or is one colour favoured over the other?

Should think personality is a big deciding factor as to who gets the most attention most of the time........

However considering there were Black cinemas in America going crazy with delirium in New york when the OJ simpson decision came in (first one) forgetting the fact two innocent people were slain and the overwhelming evidence pointed to him!!

It's inconceivable to think at least in America color helps in some sports...

Less so over here perhaps..where it is less insular..

Strongback wrote:

manos de piedra wrote:Id be very surprised if Harrison did receive racial abuse. Hes unpopular, but not because of his skin colour.

Racial abuse in sport is generally aimed at a sportsman who is very good or very bad.

That was a nasty crowd in Liverpool that night.

any Audley crowd is nasty. The only reason people watch him is to see him knocked out. I dont think it neccessarily means its race based.

Plus given the endless opportunities and re-emegences of Audley I dont think hes been hindered in any shape or form because he is black.

manos de piedra wrote:

Strongback wrote:

manos de piedra wrote:Id be very surprised if Harrison did receive racial abuse. Hes unpopular, but not because of his skin colour.

Racial abuse in sport is generally aimed at a sportsman who is very good or very bad.

That was a nasty crowd in Liverpool that night.

any Audley crowd is nasty. The only reason people watch him is to see him knocked out. I dont think it neccessarily means its race based.

Plus given the endless opportunities and re-emegences of Audley I dont think hes been hindered in any shape or form because he is black.

I don't agree. Booing a fighter who is prone on the ground unconscious is pretty despicable no matter who they are. That crowd behaved like a thug football crowd.

Grown men in their 50's tearing across the hall to shout abuse into the face of Audley Harrison as he was taken to the dressing room is not reflective of any of the boxing fans I know. It was a drunk crowd containing football hooligans.

If you think that behaviour is acceptable when a fighter is lying out cold on the canvas then you'll never understand my point.

Worst British crowd at a fight last year.

Who's saying it's acceptable? Nobody. Who is condoning it? Again, nobody. What people are trying to point out is that, while the treatment of Harrison by many crowds - not just that Liverpool one - is wrong, it's not down to the fact that he's black.

Strongback wrote:

manos de piedra wrote:

Strongback wrote:

manos de piedra wrote:Id be very surprised if Harrison did receive racial abuse. Hes unpopular, but not because of his skin colour.

Racial abuse in sport is generally aimed at a sportsman who is very good or very bad.

That was a nasty crowd in Liverpool that night.

any Audley crowd is nasty. The only reason people watch him is to see him knocked out. I dont think it neccessarily means its race based.

Plus given the endless opportunities and re-emegences of Audley I dont think hes been hindered in any shape or form because he is black.

I don't agree. Booing a fighter who is prone on the ground unconscious is pretty despicable no matter who they are. That crowd behaved like a thug football crowd.

Grown men in their 50's tearing across the hall to shout abuse into the face of Audley Harrison as he was taken to the dressing room is not reflective of any of the boxing fans I know. It was a drunk crowd containing football hooligans.

If you think that behaviour is acceptable when a fighter is lying out cold on the canvas then you'll never understand my point.

Worst British crowd at a fight last year.

Where did I imply it was acceptable? My point was the abuse Audley gets is not race based in my opinion. Can you point to an example of where Audley has been racially abused or suffered as a result of his race? I dont think I understand your point, are you saying Audley being black has held back his career, denied him opportunities or is the reason of his unpopularity?

manos de piedra wrote:

Strongback wrote:

manos de piedra wrote:

Strongback wrote:

manos de piedra wrote:Id be very surprised if Harrison did receive racial abuse. Hes unpopular, but not because of his skin colour.

Racial abuse in sport is generally aimed at a sportsman who is very good or very bad.

That was a nasty crowd in Liverpool that night.

any Audley crowd is nasty. The only reason people watch him is to see him knocked out. I dont think it neccessarily means its race based.

Plus given the endless opportunities and re-emegences of Audley I dont think hes been hindered in any shape or form because he is black.

I don't agree. Booing a fighter who is prone on the ground unconscious is pretty despicable no matter who they are. That crowd behaved like a thug football crowd.

Grown men in their 50's tearing across the hall to shout abuse into the face of Audley Harrison as he was taken to the dressing room is not reflective of any of the boxing fans I know. It was a drunk crowd containing football hooligans.

If you think that behaviour is acceptable when a fighter is lying out cold on the canvas then you'll never understand my point.

Worst British crowd at a fight last year.

Where did I imply it was acceptable? My point was the abuse Audley gets is not race based in my opinion. Can you point to an example of where Audley has been racially abused or suffered as a result of his race? I dont think I understand your point, are you saying Audley being black has held back his career, denied him opportunities or is the reason of his unpopularity?

My point came about because the Minter v Hagler fight was raised as a dirty old relic of the past. My view is the same type of football hooligan crowd still exists in boxing even after all this time. This football crowd regularly prove they are racist.

An obvious one was the Hatton fans booing the American national anthem at the Mayweather fight.


As an aside I remember Audley accusing the BBC of being an 'Institutionally racist organisation' who held back his career.

Strongback wrote:As an aside I remember Audley accusing the BBC of being an 'Institutionally racist organisation' who held back his career.

Yes, very true. However, I'd counter that with the fact that Audley was evidently talking a load of Sandra Bullocks when he came out with that. So swings and roundabouts!

88Chris05 wrote:

Strongback wrote:As an aside I remember Audley accusing the BBC of being an 'Institutionally racist organisation' who held back his career.

Yes, very true. However, I'd counter that with the fact that Audley was evidently talking a load of Sandra Bullocks when he came out with that. So swings and roundabouts!

Yep, being paid a £1M for his first few fights is a real crippler to anyones career!! With hindsight, he must agree that the main impediment to his career was himself.

Strongback wrote:

manos de piedra wrote:

Strongback wrote:

manos de piedra wrote:

Strongback wrote:

manos de piedra wrote:Id be very surprised if Harrison did receive racial abuse. Hes unpopular, but not because of his skin colour.

Racial abuse in sport is generally aimed at a sportsman who is very good or very bad.

That was a nasty crowd in Liverpool that night.

any Audley crowd is nasty. The only reason people watch him is to see him knocked out. I dont think it neccessarily means its race based.

Plus given the endless opportunities and re-emegences of Audley I dont think hes been hindered in any shape or form because he is black.

I don't agree. Booing a fighter who is prone on the ground unconscious is pretty despicable no matter who they are. That crowd behaved like a thug football crowd.

Grown men in their 50's tearing across the hall to shout abuse into the face of Audley Harrison as he was taken to the dressing room is not reflective of any of the boxing fans I know. It was a drunk crowd containing football hooligans.

If you think that behaviour is acceptable when a fighter is lying out cold on the canvas then you'll never understand my point.

Worst British crowd at a fight last year.

Where did I imply it was acceptable? My point was the abuse Audley gets is not race based in my opinion. Can you point to an example of where Audley has been racially abused or suffered as a result of his race? I dont think I understand your point, are you saying Audley being black has held back his career, denied him opportunities or is the reason of his unpopularity?

My point came about because the Minter v Hagler fight was raised as a dirty old relic of the past. My view is the same type of football hooligan crowd still exists in boxing even after all this time. This football crowd regularly prove they are racist.

An obvious one was the Hatton fans booing the American national anthem at the Mayweather fight.


As an aside I remember Audley accusing the BBC of being an 'Institutionally racist organisation' who held back his career.

Well I think this goes back to the point made earlier about racism being a social problem in parts rather than being in any way significant in boxing.

Ive no doubt there are boxing fans that are racist. I dont think its a prevalent issue however. We cant start labelling every bit of abuse put in someones direction as being a direct response to the colour of their skin. Audley is unpopular and Audley is black. I dont think there is a significant direct link.

Audley has been given loads of opportunities and made loads of money on the back of generally stinking places out and being rubbish. My sympathy for the guy has become increasingly limited with every other pitstop hes made in the last chance saloon. At some point Audley has to accept some responsibility himself.

My point came about because the Minter v Hagler fight was raised as a dirty old relic of the past. My view is the same type of football hooligan crowd still exists in boxing even after all this time. This football crowd regularly prove they are racist.

An obvious one was the Hatton fans booing the American national anthem at the Mayweather fight.

Football crowds, no matter how rowdy, are distinctly non-racist in this country. There may be one-off exceptions (that Swansea fan making monkey gestures in a recent game) but they are hardly indicitive of the crowd as a whole. It's why it comes as a shock when British black players are subjected to racist chanting when they play in certain countries.

Booing a national anthem isn't a racist act and anyone who thinks it is, is being overly precious.

Anyone who thinks booing an opposing fighters national anthem isn't racist obviously doesn't understand the definition of the word racism.

Its the worst kind of jingoism. Despicable to most people except some English football fans.

captain carrantuohil wrote:Perfectly said, Chris. Zoomy, it's easy to forget that Minter-Hagler was more than 30 years ago, a time when race was a really thorny issue in large swathes of Britain and casual racism, as well as the institutionalised variety, was the rule, rather than the exception.

I may be missing something, but I don't see it now, and I'm damn sure that there would be hell to pay if it reared its head in boxing, whether covertly or overtly. "Does colour matter?" Not to boxing fans, I would like to think, and not to those that run the sport either, whatever their other manifold faults. The world hasn't suddenly become perfect, but most people seem to see fighters as "our man" from a national viewpoint, rather than through the prism of their ethnic background.

Im sorry Catain, whilst i respect your views I do still think Truss raises a very true picture, if uncomfortable. Lets be real here and ask the uncomfortable questions if we think race plays no part in British boxing. Is it just me or do you not get that uncomfortable feeling too often that the bile directed at Amir comes form a place in some degree where his race and religion plays an intrusive part over and above the obvious flaws in his character!!!! I said it....

Im sure there are racists who dont like Khan. But again, this more of a wider social issue. In boxing terms is there any evidence Khans race has held him back in any shape or form? He doesnt struggle to get fights, hes been on ppv even for rubbish fights, even in a post 9/11 U.S he still doesnt struggle for opportunities or coverage.

Big difference between jingoism and racism and in any event, booing an anthem (or flag for that matter) is neither. It's done to wind people up - no more, no less. Clearly (like almost everything else seems to) it works on you.

superflyweight wrote:Big difference between jingoism and racism and in any event, booing an anthem (or flag for that matter) is neither. It's done to wind people up - no more, no less. Clearly (like almost everything else seems to) it works on you.

If you have a racist friend does it make you a racist.


Booing a national anthem is both racist and jingoistic. Ask the countries how they liked their national anthem being booed. Its mainly the English that do it. Look at the American reaction to Hatton fans booing the Star Spangled Banner, disgusted wouldn't be close to the indignation they felt that night. Have a little look at fight on youtube when you get a minute.

Not per se.

Possibly but Superflyweight is in no danger of guilt by association.

superflyweight wrote:Not per se.

Ever hear of The Specials. They wrote a little ditty on it.

Strongback wrote:

superflyweight wrote:Not per se.

Ever hear of The Specials. They wrote a little ditty on it.

Yes, and so what?

My original point that booing an anthem is not racist stands. If you disagree, fair enough.

What race are national anthems?

P.S. the reaction doesn't determine whether it's racist or not.

If someone wants to take offence at the booing of their national anthem, that's up to them. I prefer to live life at a lower base level of indignation - particularly over something as meaningless as a national anthem.

superflyweight wrote:

Strongback wrote:

superflyweight wrote:Not per se.

Ever hear of The Specials. They wrote a little ditty on it.

Yes, and so what?

My original point that booing an anthem is not racist stands. If you disagree, fair enough.

Tolerating racism makes a person part of the problem.


Jeering at a person or group because they are ethnically and culturally different is racism. When England soccer fans sing Rule Britannia there is an arrogance to it that goes back to the days of the Empire. Back to the days of slavery and exploiting people in less developed countries. The booing of national anthems feeds into the belief that some English people have that they are superior to other countries. Most of these football hooligans have pea sized brains in fairness. It's all wrapped up in jingoism and racism. There is a reason the English aren't popular around the world.

Personally if somebody booed my national anthem at a football match I would punch them in the face without hesitation. I took great delight in the Irish police force cracking open skulls and spilling the blood of Combat 18 football hooligans that came to Dublin in 1995 to start a riot at a Ireland v England friendly.

Got to say Strongy wish you felt as strongly about generalising as you do about racism.

I personally don't think it matters all that much anymore.
the highest paid american sports stars are black apart from payton manning.

the most popular track athlete in the world by FAR is Bolt. People just see his talent, not his sin colour. The fact he has charisma helps a lot.

In this country - racism is still more of an issue (although i think the deep south racism of the states is FAR more extreme). I think Khan's religion and ethnicity stops him making casual fans, but it hasn't stopped him being very successful and a household name.

Being white does not make you more popular in sport, but i'd say in some respects it makes it a little easier.

However being black in a predominantly white sport - Tiger Woods, Lewis Hamilton etc can be an advantage.

Rowley wrote:Got to say Strongy wish you felt as strongly about generalising as you do about racism.

Is this specific enough.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RplzKlSlbR0

Not sure I denied fans booed the national anthem. I was there so don't really need to watch a link to know it happened. Was more the assertion that "When England soccer fans sing Rule Britannia there is an arrogance to it that goes back to the days of the Empire" Is possible some are just singing as they are either trying to support their team or out of a feeling of national pride rather than some dewy eyed nostaligai for the days of the empire.

Personally could not give two figs if someone boos my national anthem, don't really get that hung up on the something as arbitrary and lucky/unlucky as which piece of turf I happened to fall out of a woman's lady bits.

Rowley wrote:Not sure I denied fans booed the national anthem. I was there so don't really need to watch a link to know it happened. Was more the assertion that "When England soccer fans sing Rule Britannia there is an arrogance to it that goes back to the days of the Empire" Is possible some are just singing as they are either trying to support their team or out of a feeling of national pride rather than some dewy eyed nostaligai for the days of the empire.

Personally could not give two figs if someone boos my national anthem, don't really get that hung up on the something as arbitrary and lucky/unlucky as which piece of turf I happened to fall out of a woman's lady bits.

Arent you from Lancashire?

ShahenshahG wrote:

Rowley wrote:Not sure I denied fans booed the national anthem. I was there so don't really need to watch a link to know it happened. Was more the assertion that "When England soccer fans sing Rule Britannia there is an arrogance to it that goes back to the days of the Empire" Is possible some are just singing as they are either trying to support their team or out of a feeling of national pride rather than some dewy eyed nostaligai for the days of the empire.

Personally could not give two figs if someone boos my national anthem, don't really get that hung up on the something as arbitrary and lucky/unlucky as which piece of turf I happened to fall out of a woman's lady bits.

Arent you from Lancashire?

Bit too near Truss' neck of the woods for my liking Shah.

Rowley wrote:

ShahenshahG wrote:

Rowley wrote:Not sure I denied fans booed the national anthem. I was there so don't really need to watch a link to know it happened. Was more the assertion that "When England soccer fans sing Rule Britannia there is an arrogance to it that goes back to the days of the Empire" Is possible some are just singing as they are either trying to support their team or out of a feeling of national pride rather than some dewy eyed nostaligai for the days of the empire.

Personally could not give two figs if someone boos my national anthem, don't really get that hung up on the something as arbitrary and lucky/unlucky as which piece of turf I happened to fall out of a woman's lady bits.

Arent you from Lancashire?

Bit too near Truss' neck of the woods for my liking Shah.

A rather gentler response than I was expecting. I reckon youve crushed the arm of your chair with your teeth to dispel some of that red mist.

Rowley wrote:Not sure I denied fans booed the national anthem. I was there so don't really need to watch a link to know it happened. Was more the assertion that "When England soccer fans sing Rule Britannia there is an arrogance to it that goes back to the days of the Empire" Is possible some are just singing as they are either trying to support their team or out of a feeling of national pride rather than some dewy eyed nostaligai for the days of the empire.

Personally could not give two figs if someone boos my national anthem, don't really get that hung up on the something as arbitrary and lucky/unlucky as which piece of turf I happened to fall out of a woman's lady bits.

The English National soccer team tends to attract the BNP/Combat 18 type who have their agendas. It doesn't take much for the generally reasonable English fans to start behaving like neanderthals in the heat of the moment. I think there is an issue there. It appears UKIP are taking over from the Tories in the polls, its not like I haven't heard some choice nationalistic rhetoric from that lot.

Personally I would never boo the national athemn of another country. I think this is seen as a disgusting act by people around the world, really low.

It appears from a distance that hate driven nationalism is rising in the UK and most people aren't bothered.

Strongy - are you related to Alan Green from 5live. You both seem to have your pointless indignation levels set to 11.

You seem to be suggesting that in not objecting to someone booing an anthem means that I'm part of some kind of racist problem. That's utterly ridiculous and I would suggest that overt nationalism and hyper sensitivity is a greater problem.

Strongy does seem to be getting feisty in his old age!!

Glad I stuck to Smith machine squats all these years!!

When you're coming across as the calm one when you and him cross swords Truss you know things are getting bad.

[/quote]


Personally I would never boo the national athemn of another country. I think this is seen as a disgusting act by people around the world, really low.

It appears from a distance that hate driven nationalism is rising in the UK and most people aren't bothered.[/quote]


Above quote sounds like a contradiction to me. National anthems are created due to nationalism. They are also booed due to nationalism.

Rowley wrote:When you're coming across as the calm one when you and him cross swords Truss you know things are getting bad.

Bit of naughty comment for an administrator that! Surely!!!