London 2012 was a celebration of new Britishness. We didn’t want the Games to stop. Let’s be honest, that’s why so many of us bought tickets for the Paralympics: to keep the good times rolling, to see the venues and take our kids, so they could say they were there.
Maybe, in our ignorance, some of us gave the impression that these tickets were a consolation prize for not being able to get in to see Bolt or Mo. But my children laughed in my face at that.
“Dad, the Paralympics are better!” said Josh, and his sisters joined in. “Yeah, these people are amazing. Yeah, they have to be amazing even to get there in the first place, have you seen them? And then they do amazing things as well!”
At first I put this down to youthful enthusiasm and propaganda – including that jaw-dropping Channel 4 advertisement for “The Superhumans”. Paralympians had visited schools. Children had played goalball or seated volleyball. They were way ahead of their parents in understanding the Games. But then I began to watch.
Excellent article by Cole Moreton in today's Telegraph.
ITV Anglia first met Jonnie back in 1999 shortly after he had to have part of his leg amputated because of meningitis. Even then as a six year old his determination to succeed was very clear. One of his teachers revealed how he took part in the school sports day perhaps even then, a shape of what was to come in 2012.
Hey kids, this is rock and roll. One of the great Letterman moments from earlier this week.
Silver Age, Bob Mould's new album is extraordinary.
It sounds like he's picked all the best sounds from his solo, Hùsker Dù and Sugar years.
Fabulous.
Not officially released in the UK until October but you can get it now from Merge Records.
Maybe it is because Early Doors is of a certain age, but there seems to be an inescapable sadness about Michael Owen. When his name flashes across Sky Sports News, or his latest tweet drops into a timeline, as the brain's synapses crackle in response a subliminal image recurs. It is the image of an 18-year-old with wide eyes and arms stretched even wider, a stadium in St Etienne erupting, Roberto Ayala and team-mates left strewn across the turf by Owen's five-second burst of brilliance. A moment when anything seemed possible.
Excellent article by Tom Adams. Bonus points for the Liam Gallagher analogy.