Sorry state of affairs...

Upon picking up today’s papers, I was again greeted by the familiar sight of new scandal revolving around celebrity love wrongdoing. Unsurprisingly, the latest to have committed wrongdoing is love-rat veteran Ashley Cole. His latest crime? Sending naked pictures of himself to a model – claims Ashley has swiftly moved to discredit....well....ish.

On the back of his affair with a local hairdresser last year, Ashley claims the latest set of photos were taken whilst goofing around at an England training camp, not deleted and ‘somehow’ found their way to the model. A solid defence I’m sure you’ll agree.

However these latest sets of allegations are only a drop in the ocean compared to what the past few months has presented us with. Tiger Woods, John Terry, Vernon Kay and even rumours of Brad Pitt have all circulated with great regularity. Seemingly these celebrity men are more intent on the conquests of young beautiful women as opposed to their highly successful careers. Admittedly, I would argue that a large number of the facts strewn across the pages of the daily papers are either severely twisted or distorted to a sizeable extent. But in my eyes, such accusations must have a layer or truth. Either that or the papers will be coughing up hefty sums of money for publishing fabricated stories.

It is my belief that these men partake in such wayward actions not solely because of their high profiles though. The current UK divorce rate is 1 in 2 marriages. This suggests that there is already a wealth of mischievous behaviour taking place among both men and women. As a result, it must be equally considered then that such behaviour would be equally common place among those living the high life?

Admittedly, they are in the public eye and role models for many people all around the world. And as a result, I would hope that they would be smart enough to not participate in such activities - conducting themselves as appropriate and amicable role models. But the truth unfortunately is that because of their high profiles, these people are targeted more than any others. Whilst some of the population inadvertently find themselves having affairs, these elite set of people are the targets of unparalleled numbers of people throwing themselves at them. Whether it be through affection for the person themselves, or just to make a quick few quid, it is irrelevant. These celebrity icons are only people just the same as the rest of us, and as a result a number (and it is only a very small minority) are unable to keep their emotions under wraps and their trousers around their waists – thus leading to the scandals we read about on a daily basis.

The media being the keen and unrelenting vulture that it is, has detected these indignant deeds and in doing so has struck a gold mine for their publications. By acquiring enough information to make such affairs public, they are able to shame and disgrace the perpetrators. This then allows them to clock up page after page of dubious claims, knowing that the readers will adopt what they say as truth. And now, having drummed up such an interest in the personal conquests of these men, it can be considered highly likely that we will not be seeing the end of such stories and speculation anytime soon.

For me, it is a sad sight to see these people plastered all over the front pages each and every day. Not just because I’d like to read about some actual news. But because these individuals are meant to be the most creatively / athletically talented people our world has to offer. I feel that they should know their responsibilities as such and be able to adhere to them. After all, it all comes with the job. But instead, I can see no end ever in sight. There will always be those celebrities who will do the naughty naughty with an attractive young model or the sorts. And equally there will always be an unhealthy thirst for such stories. Such is the unfortunate state of our celebrity obsessed society.

England captaincy one Bridge too far?

As England boss Fabio Capello prepares for emergency talks with England and Chelsea captain John Terry, I can gauge a nation on tenterhooks as to the outcome. Regardless of what is announced come Friday evening, there will be serious implications for the England football team, John Terry himself and perhaps equally as worrying, the extent to which sportsmen can push their luck and live their frivolous lifestyle.

With today’s meeting, we will learn alot about both John Terry’s moral integrity and the extent of Fabio Capello’s no tolerance regime. It has to be considered that Capello is a man who has been married to his childhood sweetheart for the past 40years. It also has to be considered that in his very first press conference, he said “no one player is untouchable”. Yet you have to wonder what speaks greater volumes; Capello’s morals, or his burning desire to win the World Cup.

As the story behind the affair has grown momentum it has almost ascertained the persona of a footballing trial. With Capello as the judge, Terry the offender, Bridge the victim and an entire nation making up the world’s largest hypothetical courtroom. However, with any old Tom, Dick or Harry ready to give his 2 cents worth (and rightly they should) – they should first ask themselves if they care more about Terry having it off with Wayne Bridge’s missus, or if they should let it be resigned to the privacy of closed doors and instead focus their energy’s supporting their nations build up to the most winnable World Cup since 66’.

Albeit, the incident itself is a terrible one, and any compassionate person will sympathise dearly with Wayne Bridge. But this is no ordinary affair, with no ordinary people and just on the brink of football’s elite competition. And so it is with that, that we can divide the two types of people who will read what’s been said;

1) Those people who look at the front of the newspaper first

2) Those people who head straight for the back pages

Those falling under the first category will undoubtedly take the moral high ground and say he should be stripped of his captaincy, wages and his man-hood. He should be taken in a group with himself, Tiger Woods and any other promiscuous male to have ever lived, and be condemned to a life of pain and suffering.

Yet it is not these people I now wish to appeal to.

The later of you, those who enjoy nothing more than the back pages headlines, with a strong cup of tea and a bit of Sky Sports News to start the day, will have a more subjective approach. We will understand Terry’s wrongdoings, but would concede not just him retaining the armband, but also our right leg, in order to finally win the world cup. We realise that the continued condemnation of his actions will only harm our World Cup hopes. We understand regardless of his footballing ability, that this is a man who is straight out of the Stuart Pearce factory of hard nuts. This is a man who would walk through the Terry Butcher blooded head-bandage every game if it meant victory. This is a man who’s first (and now only) priority is rectifying himself to all with his performances on the field.

Can you honestly say with 4months to go, that Stevie Gerrard, Wayne Rooney or Rio Ferdinand could step up to the plate in time to lead us to victory? I’d be very dubious...

As Ian Wright said earlier in the week, you can slate a person/teammate as much as you want off the field, but when you cross the white line, victory is the one and only objective. And if that means being led by someone you don’t like, or relying on him to do his job on the field, then that’s the way it has to be. And it is on this basis, that I hold the supreme hope (and belief) that today, for the first time, Mr.Capello will roll up his sleeves, bite his moral tongue and tell Terry that he is going to lead us to World Cup glory.

Because, you can bet your life, captain or otherwise, a 90th minute World Cup Final winning goal from John Terry come July 11th and all will be forgiven...

Side-note: Quote of the day by an absolute mile: Portsmouth Boss and ‘exotic massage’ enthusiast Avram Grant’s wife saying – “My man needs his massage. He works so hard each day that he deserves his massage from two women, not one.”

How JT wishes his wife was so understanding...