Mad Brit Diary

Maybe it's time to give Alpay a break.

(Saturday, October 18, 2003) -- Let bygones be bygones. It's time to relieve the pressure off Turkish and Aston Villa star defender Alpay Ozalan, the man who recently caused a riot in the players tunnel at the half-time mark of England's Euro 2004 tie at Turkey.

Alpay has an attitude problem, that's for sure, and he make up stories, but this is soccer, a contact sport, and there are plenty of targets out there to pick on if we wanted to. Are you listening Roy Keane, Martin Keown, Vinnie Jones, Julian Dicks, John Terry, Diego Simeone, Lee Bowyer, etc.? And just think of all those hypocritical English hooligans, the scum of the earth, who have bloodied many innocents in their time. How dare they criticize the Turk?

Let's not make Alpay the latest hate figure. Look in the mirror, England, we have our fair share of brutes. Sadly, Alpay is face becoming the most vilified player in England. The $9.3 million defender may be on his way to back to Turkey to play for Galatasaray. That would be sad. What ever happen to forgiveness?

The Mad Brit has laid into Alpay for childish ways -- sticking his finger in David Beckham's face and saying things about his dear mother -- but it's time to move on. Somehow we have to fix Turkish and English relations. Hey guys, World War I and Gallipoli was a long time ago. Maybe Blackburn goalkeeper Brad (Istanbul) Friedel, who has played in both nations, could mediate at the United Nations or something. Hey, who's going to argue with big bad Brad and the 1st Armored U.S. Division?

The Mad Brit roomed next to a Turk at college and he was the nicest man ever. And another thing -- the press have been camped outside Alpay;s house for days now in Brummie Land and it's been bugging those who live nearby, like the MB's old gym teacher who lives a few doors down from the Villa defender. Now the MB's teacher -- and he was the greatest of teacher's -- says Alpay's house has been besieged by reporters and TV crews, with large trucks with rooftop satellite dishes, for three days. One photographer camped out outside his house for the entire day from 8 a.m. to 6 pm "without even leaving to use the bathroom."

Aston Villa has told Alpay who, by the way, earns $36,803 per week, to take some time off -- compassionate leave. The Turk said he was sorry, but then started reeling off some nonsense this week that he was trying to be a peacemaker when he poked Beckham in the face. "On the way to the tunnel I tried to tell him to behave in a sportsmanlike way," he said. "I know this sounds strange, but my finger would not even have touched him if he had not rushed towards me."

Oh, come on, Alpay. Admit you were wrong and take it like a man. We know you're not the devil. You have no red cards in the Premier League and you don't play for Arsenal. Seventeen yellow cards is not too bad. You're not Gary Lineker, after all. Who could be? We can live with that.

You probably even make a good cup of Turkish tea. You keep your garden in good shape. Your wife is stunning and you jog in Sutton Park. You even feed the ducks. You're human. But you laid a finger on the Divine -- Beckham, that is -- and that's just a big no-no from Manchester to Madrid. Posh Spice has lots of connections in the media and long nails too.

"In footballing terms, I may be an enemy, but in fact I am not your enemy," Alpay said. "I have not fouled. I have not committed a crime and I have not broken anyone's leg on Saturday night."

Actually, Alpay has got a good point. He isn't actually a real nasty player, like Keane, Eric Cantona, Harald Schumacher, Dennis Wise, Dema Kovalenko, John Fashanu, Peter Storey and other notorious soccer -crazies out there. In fact, Alpay sounds like a good-hearted guy who went just a little astray.

"Ask David James whether I greeted and hugged him before the match. Ask Wayne Rooney whether we laughed and joked together. Ask Darius Vassell whether I called him my brother when he came off the bench."

So guys, let's loosen up and move on. We're not Chicago Cubs fans who want to kill some poor fan who couldn't control his instincts and tried to catch a baseball. Life's too short to hate.

A few parting thoughts on the Women's World Cup -- three cheers to the ladies. While the United States team didn't make the final game, the Women's World Cup was a great success. Most games were highly entertaining with the final between Germany and Sweden was sheer brilliance, producing a dramatic close to a great tournament.

The final goal was a classic. In the end I suppose Germany deserved it. Fans voting on FIFAworldcup.com chose Germany as the "Most Entertaining Team" of the finals.

And Kudos to ESPN2. The recent "Road Trip with Team USA" documentary on the U.S. women which took you behind the scenes, giving us a comprehensive look at these great ladies was some of the best sports TV ever done. You just have to love these girls. We will really miss them.

There personalities were so unique, bubbly and infectious. Mia, Julie, Kristine and Joy, thanks for the memories.

FIFA boss Sepp Blatter would like to see the women's league in America, the Women's United Soccer Association, up and running again. Says Blatter: "Let us be honest -- if the likes of Birgit Prinz, Marinette Pichon and Homare Sawa have inspired their sides to heights hitherto only scaled by the Americans, Norwegians and Chinese, they can thank WUSA for helping them to hone their skills. I therefore hope WUSA will soon get back on its feet. Just like the women's football movement as a whole, WUSA can count on the support of FIFA."

Former U.S. men's star Eric Wynalda is not shy with his thoughts concerning the women. In a column for MLS.net, Wynalda wrote that he believes the Americans lost against Germany in the semifinal because captain Julie Foudy, should have been replaced by Aly Wagner. He also suggested that coach April Henrichs should be fired.

Says Wynalda: "I can tell you what was wrong with the team -- it is run by four individuals who have nothing to do with the coaching staff. Good coaches have to make the tough decisions. You must question how some players got the start in this World Cup."

Those four players Eric, are you talking about Mia Hamm, Foudy, Joy Fawcett and Kristine Lilly? Let's face it, Eric, Hamm played well, Fawcett fared better, Lilly scored two great goals. Only Foudy looked a little tired and suspect in the Germany game.

And the ratings! An average of 10.37 million viewers in Germany watched the German women beat Sweden 2-1 in the World Cup title match last Sunday. The German men drew an average of 10.36 million viewers in their 3-0 win over Iceland in a friendly the previous day.

A quick note: Keep 'em short lads and ladies, so we can get more of them in.

Ramon E. Creager writes: "Dear Mad Brit, with regards to the difference in gamesmanship between the women and the men, I could not agree with you more. Is it because of the relative lack of maturity and big money in the women's game? I don't know. Based on my own experiences as a player, coach and, most recently, as a high-school level referee, I would guess it's something more fundamental than that, and for the sake of the women's game I hope I'm right.

"Though I do an equal number of both, I much prefer assignments to referee women's games over men's games. When refereeing for the young women, I hardly have to call fouls, and almost never have to pull out a card. If I have to admonish someone for some particularly bad infraction, I almost invariably get an apology. When one player fouls another, she usually can be heard asking that player if she is OK. Overall, it is a positive, even enjoyable experience. (How many refs do you know who can say that?!)

Eric Hilf writes: "How come you didn't write this column (about how David Beckham was taunted after missing a penalty kick) a short while back after Arsenal players taunted and even bumped Ruud van Nistlerooy of Manchester United after he missed a penalty? That incident was just as prominent as the one involving Beckham."

(Eric: I did write on this issue ust a few weeks ago.)

Lonnie Barton writes : "(Sportswriter Mark Madden) is obviously an idiot and has no idea what he is talking about. Pele,we all know, was the greatest male player of all time and Mia is the same in the female ranks. Is it her fault that some of the other countries are behind the U.S. and should she not score goals for that reason? She's played at the top levels since she was 15 and I'm sure Mr. Madden is a heck of a fantasy league player and highly qualified to comment. Stupid people should realize they are so and keep their mouth shut!"

Tom Emerson says: "I'm not sure whether the writer (Madden) was referring to the Pele of his playing days or the 60-something of present. Doesn't really matter -- he's probably right either way!"

Dan Koop Leicty says: "Hello MB, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the Women's World Cup. It reminds me of why I prefer watching women's ice hockey played at the highest level more than men's. It's about skill and finesse more than brute strength. Beyond that, I was a bit amused to see that the German women had three stars on their shirts. I'm assuming that since this was the case, the men will now have four on theirs.

Tumelo Branch writes: Mad Brit, you have to admit. . . Carlos Ruiz (of the Los Angeles Galaxy) could play fantastic football. Can you see that lad play for a club like Liverpool F.C. or play in first flight football? Moreover, I have been following my team Real Madrid, so I am convinced enough Beckham is great. I love the fact he plays center midfield and he looks comfortable at Real. I'd love to see him eliminate Manchester United from the Champions League, but Tim Howard has to be "Man of the Match for Man. U."

Wijit Siripun says: "Dear Mad Brit, I appreciate your article about the Beckham\Alpay incident. This is just one example of men soccer that is really ugly. As a fan of the sport for more than 30 years, I still hate the aspect of the game that players often pull their opponent shirts, using elbows when heading, diving. FIFA has a new Constitution, but I do not have any hope that the Constitution will improve any of these ugly parts. My hope is that the men's game will be as clean as women's game one day."

Heard a rumor, have a gripe or a tip? Feeling lonely? E-mail the Mad Brit at themadbrit3@aol.com.