Post by arf on Jun 13, 2013 18:17:58 GMT
A Rolling Stones Homage
Amidst the controversy of the SF match between Kent vs. Middlesex an amusing exchange of emails took place between your author and John Carleton.
“Anthony,
What a stroke of luck but you deserve it even if the team did not bring home the bacon. I shall be on yet another holiday [Thank goodness I hear you say, save me dropping him!] so will not be available for the final. Good luck to you and the good ship Middlesex on the fateful day. [...] Although I am aware that "You can't always get what you want" it would take a gang of "Wild Horses" to stop me urging the team to "Not fade away" on the big day and despite my clearly being a "Midnight Rambler" I hope it is not "The Last Time" I represent Middlesex. Regards, John” (10/6/2013)
John had not played against Kent in Dartford before so was tickled at playing at the Mick Jagger Centre named after one of Dartford Grammar Boys School’s most famous pupils. Sir Mick Jagger. If you have an opportunity to play there do ensure you go to bar area and look at the pictures of a young Sir Mick. John had cleverly included 5 Rolling Stones tracks in his email.
Dear Reader I issue you with this challenge. In replying to John your author also paid his respects to the Rolling Stones. On looking at their discography, singles, albums, etc, how many tracks of this iconic band can you identify in his reply?
“John,
I salute you!!!
You really worked hard on getting as many Rolling Stones tracks into your email in a 'natural' way! Loved it! ;D
I suppose I must now see if I'm up for the challenge!
I would have loved to see the team in action on Saturday but when captaining two successful teams, decisions has to be made which team to be with when both play on same day at different venues. It was a shock that both teams lost as on paper both were the better the teams. However there are no expectations as to who will be the victor when over the board play takes place. All I can say is that both Middlesex teams were beat, beat, beat, I wonder if the move from the dining hall to the music room as a result of the fire alarm test proved to be the flashpoint of the Open match as after all we were 3up? As a result of the double defeat I was expecting to be walking the dog and thinking to myself we must try a little harder in 2013-14.
I have to admit I have mixed emotions and plundered my soul about the Open affair as I thought to myself what’s it all about? Was the hand of fate intervening on behalf of Middlesex? I experienced doom and gloom on Sunday when completing clerical records and identified the error made by Kent. Internally I'm happy that we've made final but have to acknowledge I can’t get no satisfaction and it is too tough on Kent that the match is resolved by the rules rather than by what happened over the board. It would have been better for Middlesex to be winning ugly by demonstrating qualities of a street fighting man instead of getting to final by an oversight by my counterpart. This match will prove a salient warning to captains to finalise line-up including subs on eve of match so that way can ensure no problems arise. Certainly I burn the midnight oil when getting team together. Could you imagine the money that would have been lost if a professional outfit or in any other sporting endeavour!
If I could rewind I would have had more satisfaction if we'd won over the board to get to Final rather than this way but I'd be a fool to cry as we're off the hook and have received a gem of a chance to retain title at second time of asking. It turns out that Kent captain is not on web I'm sure I don’t know why as it would have ensured this oversight would not have occurred, I wonder if he will consider this his biggest mistake? One thing I can be confident about is he must be shattered at the rough justice Kent have gotten and he'll make sure it is the last time he makes an error of this sort although in actuality it is mistake no. 2 as the same error lapse of ECF Membership occurred in their QF match vs. Staffordshire. It is the fact a second error was made that means little by little I'm beginning to accept that unless divine intervention occurs Middlesex will be in Final so I'm now out of tears.
As the tears go by in the aftermath of the kerfuffle we will recognise the dirty work Alex had to do to overturn the match score which ultimately meant a sway to Middlesex. Yes the outcome is not always agreeable when the whip comes down but Alex has the stones to do it. I suppose it comes with the role as Controller as decisions like this is their bread and butter. But in making these decisions who would want to be stripped bare of their dignity as all they are doing is enforcing the rules? We are in danger of blaming the singer not the song, namely Alex for applying rules rather than the rules themselves. You have to have a heart of stone to be a Controller to ignore the derisory comments made about you and your decisions, comments such as look what you’ve done. Loose talk will go around and around on threads and blogs such as ECF Chess Forum and is easy to do but are those who do it willing to put their reputations on the line? I think not. Both Alex and Kent will emerge black and blue as a result of this. Equally it must be recognised that through no fault of their own Middlesex are caught between a rock and a hard place as they are damned if they do or damned if don't accept place in final. It's terrifying to think Middlesex will be considered Public Enemy Number 1 especially if they then go on to win title at Kent's expense. Would we be an exile in Main Street? We walk a highwire and have to try and emerge from this debacle looking respectable.
It is a pity you cannot make the Final we'll miss you. I'm sure it won't be the last time you represent Middlesex as I would say don’t stop but stay with me however I must recognise it is a case of when you're available to play. For the 2013-14 cycle I'll ensure you're kept updated of Middlesex's progress. You'll have received the fixture dates for Open so we'll see.
I'll let you know in due course how we get on once it is confirmed once and for all we're in final - I have to hang fire as until the result of any appeal by Kent is known Middlesex will be standing in the shadow. Kent though may be running out of time if they delay but we'll get ready in meantime on assumption they are unsuccessful. Although unlikely a bigger bang would occur if Kent is allowed to retain place in Final as it would be a rejection of the existing rules. When confirmed we're in Final I’m free to try and get strongest team together to challenge Surrey.
I'll be the first to admit it’s party time as we'll be out of our heads and out of control if we defeat Surrey thereby winning back-to-back titles and proving we are no jack flash; I hope those looking on will shout bravo instead of jeering. If latter it will be a repeat of the comments express in 1993-94 when Middlesex won Minor Title - Middlesex were despised! If winning, even in an insalubrious manner, it will certainly raise my profile as Middlesex captain and I can say hey you get off of my cloud. In doing so can go on to ensure Middlesex once again are considered the best of the best as we would continue adding to our milestones - 30th National Title a new record. If the Rolling Stones are considered legends in rock, Middlesex are legends in chess. In winning 3 titles in quick succession we could be creating a new golden age; there will be a way to before we emulate the great years of teams of the past but we'd be on our way. The 13th July will be a sad day though if we lose as defeat will see Surrey's sticky fingers nick title from our grasp and be Middlesex heart breakers! Once 13th July comes and goes it can be said that it’s all over now for the 2012-13 cycle! I will certainly get more satisfaction if I can lead the Open and u180 teams to a clean sweep of titles in 2013-14.
I think I'll give it a rest there and hope you enjoy your holiday with Angie if your wife's name happens to be Angela or Lady Jane if Jane or even Carol if Carol! Do you give your wife flowers not dandelion on a regular basis? I can almost hear you sigh as you think I'm sad, sad, sad as I'm now just overdoing it with reference to Rolling Stones tracks!
Take care and I'll speak to you soon. Tell me what you think of my effort.
Come on.” (11/6/2013)
Hint: There are 86 Rolling Stones tracks referenced in my reply to John. Can you recognise them all?
John replies
“Anthony, "We love you", you are definitely not "Under my thumb", so "Mercy,Mercy". "As Tears go by" I recognise that you are a "Star, Star" and when it comes to Stones' tracks you are the ["Street Fighting] Man". I know you used that one but in danger of a "Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown" I concede the superiority of your composition and can only admire it; I feel as though trampled by "Wild Horses". Cheers, John” (12/6/2013)
3 email exchanges between John and your author amass a total of 94 references (excluding repeats) to the Rolling Stones. Can anyone do better? How about another artist? Or even using a combination of artists?