sport

What ‘culture’ do you do?

Brum is, as you’ll no doubt be aware, is bidding to be UK City of Culture 2013. The final bid has to be in in May and getting a full picture of what culture is for Birmingham is and important part of it. We’ve already had Cliff Richard and heavy metal ballet suggested — but what do people actually get up to? One idea to capture that is to let everyone contribute to a one day celebration of all Birmingham’s cultural activity. For 24 hours from midday on Friday 23rd April to midday on Saturday 24th anyone can blog anything cultural they’re doing on the bid website (it’ll be at http://birminghamculture.org/blog) — you contribute via email. Anything sent to blog@birminghamculture.org will make the site — pictures video or audio included. I think this is the opportunity to show all that stuff that’s going on that doesn’t usually get publicity — culture is a pretty wide thing; are you watching football and singing? In a book club, out doing some parkour? All three at the same time? From the grottiest punk gig to the, er, soppiest punk gig, it’d be good if someone was there and recording it in some...

The story of Superprix is told in many ways: hushed whisperings in council cloisters whenever anyone comes up with something monumentally odd, in flowers along Bristol St every spring, and now in a book, Superprix: The Story of Birmingham’s Motor Race. “The idea of a motor race in the heart of England’s motor city (to emulate the Monaco circuit) had been mooted as early as 1966. In the end, the city’s arterial roads round the Bull Ring and the city centre provided one of the most exciting racing events ever staged in the UK.” Sample pages are available on the publisher’s website.

I was watching and saying manly things when Birmingham City almost beat Man Utd on Saturday, but first, a story; When I was younger I was deemed shy and somewhat bookish, if you would have asked me at the time I probably would have more described myself as “mysterious” or “a lone wolf” proving not only was I a bit socially awkward, but also a bit of a tool. The cure for this, my matriarchal Nan decided, was to get a job in a pub as soon as I was old enough. The pub was, and by all accounts still is, quite rough. When I arrived for my first shift the manager, a lurching ex-police officer, took me to one side and explained that the pub was mainly a Zulu* pub and if there was any trouble I should just go get him, referring to a group of blokes in the corner he said: ‘See the big one?’ ‘Can’t miss him’ I said ‘He’s one of the Lieutenants give him whatever he wants and I’ll square it with him later’ ‘OK’ I said ‘See him’ pointing a particularly violent looking one with a fist full sovereign rings ‘he’s a...

Load of balls?

All the stars; Mike Whitby, Paul Tilsley, Martin Mullaney, Cameron Jerome and Martin Taylor and avid Blue nose, comedian Jasper Carrott. Former Villa player, Ian Taylor, current Villa defender Carlos Cuellar, arch Villans, Phil Etheridge lead singer of Birmingham based indie rock band The Twang, and Birmingham Royal Ballet dancer, Kit Holder. Birmingham City FC Ladies Team Centre Forward Cristina Torkilsden as well as Jabbar Khan manager of Lasan Indian Restaurant were out in Victoria square today to promote “backing Birmingham” as a host city for any potential 2018 World Cup in England. Um, like it wouldn’t be anyway? A World Cup requires — FIFA say —12 to 18 stadiums capable of seating at least 40,000 spectators each (England are going for 11 cities, 12 stadiums). Only one city is allowed more that one stadium — and we’re betting that’s London (come on, sure we are). So perhaps Birmingham might well be in with a shout — consider that there are only ten football grounds that would be able to host a World Cup were it tomorrow: Three – Wembley, Arsenal’s Emirates and Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge are in London, two are in Manchester, two are in Liverpool. Which actually...

So sang Frank Skinner on Fantasy Football, but with “big money men” coming in to buy Blues and promising £5m (about enough to buy Julian Lescott’s haircut) to save the team it’s feeling more and more like Ken Wheldon is about to come back albeit dragging Steve Mcmanamanaman with him. Good time for the Mirror to open up search of their football archive, not that much stuff there at the moment – but a quick treat for Blues, Villa, or even Albion fans.

Runners, look what’s going to be there, perhaps

Over on Brumblr it’s been noticed that the route for this year’s Brum Half Marathon has been released. It’s flatter and therefore faster (in keeping with it being part of an official championships) and this time mainly does the Perhsore Road rather than any part of North Brum. What’s odd (apart from irrelevantly calling it the “race against climate change” again) is the addition of “visitor attractions” to the map. Are the runners likely to care? Landmarks for navigation I could understand. But even if you think that the attractions are for the benefit of spectators, the addition of the “visitor attraction” which is the site where building hasn’t even started to begin, that’s still a car park and some shrubs: Uploaded with plasq‘s Skitch! Come, it says, gaze at our future through tired eyes. You too can squint at the badly jpeg compressed text served up as a PDF on the race website.

Dear Martin – an open letter

Martin Mullaney has taken over the position of City Council Cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture. That puts him in charge of swimming baths, football pitches, and even (in theory) Central Library. Whatever you may think of Cllr Mullaney, I personally like him but political people attract opinion, he’s an opportunity to have a fresh approach to all sorts of things. So here I present an open letter to our new cabinet member, to which you’re invited to add to (or argue with) in the comments — what should he be thinking of, who should he be talking to or listening to, what should he be doing? Dear Martin, I’m quite pleased to hear of your new appointment, a new broom has the opportunity to sweep that little bit harder and in different ways. As my local councillor I’ve always been impressed by your attitude to “getting on with” campaigning, your forthright manner, and even your honesty in admitting you’ve changed your views (on graffiti especially). These are qualities I think can make a contribution to leisure, sport and culture in Birmingham. Here’s a little bit of friendly advice from some people off of the internet. Please keep...

Marky Lil has a stunning set of parkour photos taken in Suton up on Flickr . Like this one: Gainer, originally uploaded by Marky Lil.

everyone jump into field after game, originally uploaded by 511823. First this lovely picture from a nice tourist “everyone jump into field after game, crazy football game” — who has a hard time understanding the Football Offences Act of 1991, (an offence to trespass onto the pitch or its surround) . Then the bizarre story of Blues midfielder Oliver Kapo giving the apprentice that cleans his boots his car as a tip. Nice, but doesn’t indicate that he thinks he’s coming back to Brum after his holidays.

Page 1 of 2

1 2 »

Recent Comments

Archives

Is Brum Happy?

Birmingham's emotional wellbeing* on Saturday 11th of February 2012 17:23: 54.1 % (average)

sport

What ‘culture’ do you do?

Collection of Prix

Danny Smith: Blues and me

Load of balls?

Old football was rubbish

Runners, look what’s going to be there, perhaps

Dear Martin – an open letter

Sutton, home of parkour

End of season football round-up

@onBirmingham – Breaking Brum News on Twitter