[MizNelson]

It's not sad, it's downright pathetic. Oh, the number of worthy causes that money could be used for instead.

[Linkman]

Plus isn't the octopus estimated to have 6 months left?

[kurtsimonw]

6 months? Nah, he's only a baby, they get pretty big.

(IMG:http://www.lair2000.net/Mermaids_Retreat/Research/kraken.jpg)

[Protagonist]

I read something about that a while ago. Did Paul actually predict Germany would loose from Spain ?

If so, then good move (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Dracoris]

I read something about that a while ago. Did Paul actually predict Germany would loose from Spain ?

If so, then good move (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

he was 100%

[samira]

100 % WC and 80 in the Euros I think.

[kurtsimonw]

Emile Heskey Retires from International Football

Typical Emile, once again putting himself in the firing line to deflect it away from his teammates.

People joke about Heskey alot and it's pretty harsh (despite him at his very, very worst being 10 times better than us at our very, very best), but here are some facts.

*Heskey played twice in our disasterous Euro 2008 campaign, we didn't qualify. (we won both games 3-0 against Israel and Russia).
*Heskey played in 8 games in WC qualifying, we qualified with ease. (We won 7 of the 8 games Heskey played)
*With Heskey, England win 70% of games, without Heskey, England won 60% of games.
*Leicester City's only trophy was in 1964. Heskey broke into the team as a 17 year old, in the next 4 years Leicester were promoted to the EPL, never finished outside the top 10 and won 2 Cups.
*Emile Heskey joined Liverpool for the 2000/01 season, they finished 3rd and played in the European Cup for the first time since 1985.
*In Emile's first full season at Villa, we finished 6th and made 2 Wembley appearances.. this is only the 2nd time ever that Villa have made at least the SFs in both Cups and finished in the top 6.

But it's all just a coincidence, honest.

Oh, and of course, thanks for your part in one of the best nights ever.

(IMG:http://3five2.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/109heskey_468x697.jpg)
"5-1, even Hesley scored"

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Jul 18 2010, 05:29 PM

[Fishdoll]

I don't get why the English press dislike Heskey so. He's got an immense workrate and will actually sacrifice for his teammates (which some players don't do).

[kurtsimonw]

His goalscoring record makes him an easy target I think. He's not really outspoken either, so if something is said about him he'll just ignore it and move on.

[Fillipo Simone]

I used to admire Heskey a lot. He never was exactly a killer, but England never exploited his potential IMO. Only Capello discovered his full capacity, but he was a bit old then.

[CHU-LIP]

I read something about that a while ago. Did Paul actually predict Germany would loose from Spain ?

If so, then good move (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I predicted it too, but it's NOT what I wanted to see happen. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cry.gif)

[han2503]

I used to admire Heskey a lot. He never was exactly a killer, but England never exploited his potential IMO. Only Capello discovered his full capacity, but he was a bit old then.

Cappello just likes that type of player, hard working, doesn't have a big ego and a team player

[MizNelson]

Paul the Octopus dies in Germany

FRANKFURT, Germany -- Paul the Octopus, the tentacled tipster who fascinated soccer fans by correctly predicting results at this year's World Cup, died Tuesday.

Paul had reached the octopus-old age of 2½ years and died in his tank on Tuesday morning in an aquarium in the western German city of Oberhausen, spokeswoman Ariane Vieregge said.

Paul seemed to be in good shape when he was checked late Monday, but he did not make it through the night. He died of natural causes, Vieregge added.

Stefan Porwoll, manager of the Oberhausen Sea Life Center in Germany that housed Paul, said: "We are consoled by the knowledge that he enjoyed a good life here and that the care provided him by our dedicated displays team could not have been bettered.

"His success made him almost a bigger story than the World Cup itself. We may decide to give Paul his own small burial plot within our grounds and erect a modest permanent shrine.

"While this may seem a curious thing to do for a sea creature, Paul achieved such popularity during his short life that it may be deemed the most appropriate course of action."

After rising to global prominence during the World Cup in South Africa in June and July, Paul retired from the predictions business after the final between Spain and the Netherlands -- the result of which he also forecast correctly -- and returned to his prime role of making children happy.

The invertebrate was stepping "back from the official oracle business," Tanja Munzig, a spokeswoman for the Sea Life aquarium in Oberhausen, told AP Television News at the time.

"He won't give any more oracle predictions -- either in football, nor in politics, lifestyle or economy," she said. "Paul will get back to his former job, namely making children laugh."

Paul correctly predicted the outcomes of all seven of Germany's World Cup games. He made his predictions by opening the lid of one of two clear plastic boxes, each containing a mussel and bearing a team flag.

After his World Cup soothsaying skills were revealed, the English-born Paul was appointed an ambassador to England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup. He had English roots, having been hatched at Weymouth Sea Life Center on England's south coast in 2008.

Imitators sprang up all over the world, including Mani the Parakeet in Singapore and Lorenzo the Parrot in Hannover, Germany.

The latest was a saltwater crocodile named Dirty Harry, who predicted Spain's World Cup final win and called the result of Australia's general election by snatching a chicken carcass dangling beneath a caricature of Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Paul became so popular in Spain that a northwestern Spanish town tried to borrow him.

In response to hundreds of requests to bring Paul to Spain, the Madrid Zoo asked Sea Life if it would be willing to make a deal to bring him in as a tribute to the Spanish team's victory, either temporarily or for good. But the German aquarium turned down that offer, too.

Paul also had an agent and his name was used to help endangered turtles on the Greek island of Zakynthos.

(ESPN.com)

[Zed.D]

Oh NO!! (IMG:http://www.pic4ever.com/images/154fs232528.gif)


RIP Paul. you were seriously the true star of the world cup!

[Fishdoll]

*raises a fin*

Hey, for folks in North America (or with access to NA streams), ESPN Classic is replaying a whole bunch of world cup games today.