The Official Nonsense Thread

[Minty]

Good old Nelson Mandela - even in death he still managed to do great work by getting that awful Mrs Brown's Boys off the TV early!

Even though it was on the cards, it still feels so unreal that he's finally died. He may have left politics a decade ago, but he still had such a massive influence on all South Africa - there was still that sense amongst the political classes that they were expected to do "the right thing", & those who wouldn't like Eugene Terrablanche found themselves isolated & ignored (thank god that evil old swine is long dead).

But what now? Next year is the general election, & the likes of the Inkatha Freedom Party (Zulus) & the far right Freedom Front (Afrikaaners) that have been playing the political game nicely up until now may see no reason to continue now Mandela's gone. I hope this doesn't end up another Tito type situation where once the main man's gone it's every man for himself.

Elsewhere, Uruguay, Costa Rica & Italy for England in the World Cup finals. Costa Rica has been under achievers for a while but appear to have got their groove back. Despite what the pundits say, I think that group is for the taking, especially if England show no mercy to the Italians.

Those groups the Brazilians & Argies were given look as legit as a Scottish Cup draw with Celtic & Rangers still in the contest (bent as a banana!). Could they have had it any easier?

The US have a nasty group, but have a superb new team - I could see them going far. The Belgium vs Russia match should be a real goalfest considering how good both have become over the last few years.