The Drovers Dog
Reserve Team
Mmm, an interesting opinion from a Leeds source.
Jan 08: Late this afternoon West Ham confirmed that Lee
Bowyer had completed his transfer to Upton Park and was likely
to be in the side for the Newcastle game. This morning's papers
had the inevitable batch of talking heads complaining about
Bowyer, accusing him of being a racist and generally ignoring
the fact that a jury who sat through several weeks of evidence
came up with a not guilty verdict rather than do as all the
hacks and knee-jerk anti-racism industry wanted and send him
down for life.
Needless to say, the joke rag Mirror - from
which stable came the incompetence and biased pre-judgement
that led to the abandonment of the first trial - was the
leader in this field, pulling out an article from an Asian
West Ham fan who seemed to have bought the "Bowyer is a
racist" verdict that the journos need us to believe in order
to sell newspapers.
I can't say I'm overjoyed to see such
a talented - but flawed - player leave Elland Road. Lee
Bowyer did much to contribute to the success of the club
on the field in his time with Leeds, and it's a great
shame that those achievements will always be overshadowed
by his inability to control his temper, and the failure
to follow club discipline - and basic common sense -
that led to his involvement in that incident in January
2000. And it's a bigger shame that the attitude of certain
people within the club did much to alienate Bowyer after
standing by him throughout the trial - if nothing else
he might have signed an extension and brought in a bit
more cash when he moved.
But the biggest shame of all is the continued damning indictment of the state of the press in this country when they feel they can choose to ignore a court's verdict and pursue a shameless vendetta accusing someone of racism two pages away from another tirade against the evils of asylum seekers and immigrants
and why this country shouldn't accept any more refugees
who have risked their lives to escape torture, oppression
and starvation. But I guess that would be the same press
that sees no irony in cheerleading the shooting and bombing
of foreigners while simultaneous getting indignant on the
increased use of guns over here.
Jan 08: Late this afternoon West Ham confirmed that Lee
Bowyer had completed his transfer to Upton Park and was likely
to be in the side for the Newcastle game. This morning's papers
had the inevitable batch of talking heads complaining about
Bowyer, accusing him of being a racist and generally ignoring
the fact that a jury who sat through several weeks of evidence
came up with a not guilty verdict rather than do as all the
hacks and knee-jerk anti-racism industry wanted and send him
down for life.
Needless to say, the joke rag Mirror - from
which stable came the incompetence and biased pre-judgement
that led to the abandonment of the first trial - was the
leader in this field, pulling out an article from an Asian
West Ham fan who seemed to have bought the "Bowyer is a
racist" verdict that the journos need us to believe in order
to sell newspapers.
I can't say I'm overjoyed to see such
a talented - but flawed - player leave Elland Road. Lee
Bowyer did much to contribute to the success of the club
on the field in his time with Leeds, and it's a great
shame that those achievements will always be overshadowed
by his inability to control his temper, and the failure
to follow club discipline - and basic common sense -
that led to his involvement in that incident in January
2000. And it's a bigger shame that the attitude of certain
people within the club did much to alienate Bowyer after
standing by him throughout the trial - if nothing else
he might have signed an extension and brought in a bit
more cash when he moved.
But the biggest shame of all is the continued damning indictment of the state of the press in this country when they feel they can choose to ignore a court's verdict and pursue a shameless vendetta accusing someone of racism two pages away from another tirade against the evils of asylum seekers and immigrants
and why this country shouldn't accept any more refugees
who have risked their lives to escape torture, oppression
and starvation. But I guess that would be the same press
that sees no irony in cheerleading the shooting and bombing
of foreigners while simultaneous getting indignant on the
increased use of guns over here.
\o