Have you ever been in a room where the following things happened?
Except that anybody who has witnessed an actual Man Hug will immediately note this definition is far, far too tame.HAUL OF FAME: Steve Harmison (left) and Andrew Flintoff lift the Ashes Urn after winning the fifth Test in August4. Apples rolled off the counter and bounced around on the carpet like tennis balls?If his Test career has ended with him omitted this week from England's tour party for South Africa then there could not be a better moment for his own folk to pay their respects with a massive thank you.1. Framed pictures fell off the wall and crashed to the floor?6. Cracks appeared suddenly in the ceiling?I SPENT two arduous and seemingly endless years on the campaign trail with the Magpie Group.A donation will be made to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation from the dinner with tickets reduced this year to pounds 400 for a table of 10 (pounds 40 for individuals) to reflect the current financial climate.The parallels are obvious, yet the differences are significant.Nothing is impossible.There was much bloodletting, bitter recriminations and temporary frustrations - but in the end victory was theirs.The aim of the Trust is not to be solely a protest group against Ashley, however odious, but to make their presence felt long term - and they will not go away if a new owner was rushed through the revolving doors at SJP tomorrow. The Magpie Group fought under the banner Why Are We Waiting? Now the Trust logo is Yes We Can. Succeed they mean.It took two years for Hall to succeed. It could take a lot longer this time, with monies to be found and funnelled and then an owner willing or forced to allow fans to buy a portion of their club and sit at the top table.The only genuine comparison is that when Sir John tried to democratise the club and hand it back to the fans, they did not take up the shares offer.This week, 20 years on from the Magpie Group, I was present at the birth of a new uprising aimed at overthrowing a Magpie dictatorship.It is also why they need big business, unions, and politicians to climb aboard the gravy train about to pull out of the station. Business would provide the impetus.The Magpie Group were told they did not have the remotest chance of success, yet two years later were sitting on the throne.It is going to be an interesting journey!Take what happened in our family the other night. All of our grown sons had gathered for a special occasion and, when it was over, they leapt out of their seats and embraced.This can only mean one thing -- that somewhere dudes are hugging."Hey!" I said. "Stop smacking each other!"How fearsomely hearty was the slapping? Also pounding?What followed was one of the most glorious periods in United''s recent history, the Entertainers fashioned by Kevin Keegan with the smiling approval of new owner Sir John Hall.OK. I'm guessing THAT right there would be a big difference between sons and daughters. Not that I ever had a daughter BUT STILL. We women are not all about slapping each other silly when we hug, thereby knocking loose our expensive bridgework and so forth."Hey!" my oldest son said back. "It's not a real Man Hug unless it hurts!"Well. Let's just say this. As figurines flew off the shelves and ricocheted around the room, I started looking for a door frame to stand in.
e-mail: acannon@desnews.com
Author: Ann Cannon Deseret News
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