Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

George Bush and Yale Rugby [Soccer-player Kerry nicknamed "the Diddler"]
http://timworstall.typepad.com/timworstall/2004/08/george_bush_and.html ^ | August 12, 2004 | Tim Worstall

Posted on 10/25/2004 12:19:15 PM PDT by syriacus

[J F Kerry] distinguished himself as a soccer star. At Yale, he made the varsity squad and even scored a hat trick against Harvard. So, why isn't Kerry juggling soccer balls or practicing penalty kicks for the cameras? Mr. Kerry, why are you running from your record?

One possible explanation is characterological. Four Four Two, a British soccer magazine, has investigated Kerry's soccer career. Unfortunately, it confirmed the worst stereotype about Kerry: He isn't very decisive.

According to classmates, Kerry preferred dribbling around defenders, rather than using passes to advance the ball. His school team's Scottish manager would urge him not to "diddle with the ball." Apparently, this exhortation stuck as a nickname, "the Diddler."

Others teammates, mostly Democrats, are more sympathetic. They describe Kerry as a good team player, but they still poke fun at his loping stride. His other soccer nickname is "the Camel."

Now, let's go right back to the beginning. GWB might have been putting the crunch in in a game of rugby, although I don't think he was. Various leftist commentators get the rules of the game wrong. JFK, at about the same time, is revealing his character in another game, being known as an indecisive show-off.

And who do you want running the country? I don't have the vote over there, so it's your choice. Me, given where I grew up, would always go for the rugby player. Don't worry though, you've got until early November to make up your mind.

(Excerpt) Read more at timworstall.typepad.com ...


TOPICS: Politics
KEYWORDS: bush; kerry; rugby; soccer
According to classmates, Kerry preferred dribbling around defenders, rather than using passes to advance the ball. His school team's Scottish manager would urge him not to "diddle with the ball." Apparently, this exhortation stuck as a nickname, "the Diddler."

I'm not surprised.

1 posted on 10/25/2004 12:19:15 PM PDT by syriacus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: syriacus

Wish I could remember some of the labels given to him at Yale as quoted in Celsius 41.11. One was "insufferable".


2 posted on 10/25/2004 12:21:34 PM PDT by sarasota
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: syriacus

Actually, I thought there were those pics of him on a tarmac somewhere squatting down with a goofy grin on his face trying to head a ball.


3 posted on 10/25/2004 12:22:34 PM PDT by Ex-Dem (AFL-CIO - Where organized labor becomes organized crime.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: eyespysomething

Aren't you glad your soccer player is so good at passing the ball? How many assists this year? How many times, just yesterday, did he move the ball downfield by passing?


4 posted on 10/25/2004 12:27:09 PM PDT by SittinYonder (Tancredo and I wanna know what you believe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SittinYonder

I'll save the pics for the 2044 elections!


5 posted on 10/25/2004 12:30:51 PM PDT by eyespysomething (Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality the cost becomes prohibitive.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: eyespysomething

I think it's because he's got such a good coach (hoarse from yelling 'Pass that ball') ... but I'm biased.


6 posted on 10/25/2004 12:37:02 PM PDT by SittinYonder (Tancredo and I wanna know what you believe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson