chunky

Besides, why is it okay for you to insult others, but you don't like it when others respond in a similar vein? Before you act all innocent, I know of two specific examples off the top of my head. 1) You think I am basically a criminal because I watch the GP's via the LEGAL stream provided by the organisers just for people like me who don't live in the UK. 2) You had the audacity to call speedway fans who still enjoy watching the sport "insane". Really? You are the only "sane" one on here because you don't like speedway, and refuse to support it? You really think spending your time on a forum for a sport you don't like, trying to persuade others not to like it, and questioning their judgement when they refuse to agree with you, is the definition of "sanity"?

Does it matter? Certainly doesn't matter to you, does it?

Not strictly true. He must have "some" interest, as he keeps it on in the background...

Then leave it where it is, and go and find something else to whine about... Is it REALLY insane that people get enjoyment out of something that you don't?

Your first sentence echoes what I said recently, that the East End hasn't been "British" for over 100 years. Your second paragraph describes modern times here in the U.S.

As we are seemingly just running through a list speedway brothers, how about these? Johns (Alan, Roger, Peter) Chalcraft (Catl, Gary) Chessell (Gary, Mark, Martin) Bass (Chris, Phil, Steve) Baldwin (Carl, Mark) Maxted (Brian, Peter) Dugard (Bob, Eric, John) Woods (Gene, Rick) Gavros (Dennis, Jimmy) Humphreys (Gordon, Ian)

It was "Killmeyer"...

Don't feel bad; I catch myself doing that too, occasionally!

Hmmmm... I prefer posting on my computer (it's easier for me to see!), but I have no problem using them on my phone. I just click on the one I want, and it posts it without issue. I would say it's more likely to be something in the forum settings than on your phone, but I couldn't swear to it. Hey, just had a thought! You are not trying to enter emojis directly from your keyboard (rather than from the bar above your post), are you?

Have you ever considered using emojis like many of us do to clarify our intent?

FINALLY! An obituary for Split Waterman has been posted on The Telegraph website; it has been posted within the last few hours. You can find it at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/ Steve

You spying on Catholics now? That's creepy...

But what size was the track?

And it's the GP rider who scores most points at the end of the year who is crowned World Champ. Pretty simple, eh? I am not 100% convinced about the way an individual GP winner is chosen, but the fact that it doesn't actually affect the overall standings is fine with me. It is not just BSI who are questioning it though. You yourself stated that it's "more getting them to buy into the credibility of seeing a rider crowned GP winner but only being 3rd or 4th in the scorechart". That was one of the reasons I said what I did, as you used the "c" word! Thing is, it's amazing how many organizing bodies and companies mess with stuff that seems to work. It just seems like they want to be "doing something" rather than sitting back and letting things work. I did voice my opinion a while back (somewhat in line with your "neither one thing or the other comment"), but it certainly wasn't a major issue for me. I don't really see the point of semis and a final which can lead to lopsided scoring, but most seem to prefer it it for excitement. However, I do feel that overall, it is the best system we have ever had when it comes to deciding a speedway world champion.

What I really don't get is that so many speedway are interested in just one thing - credibility. More than that, they try to use every possible situation and anomaly - however meaningless and insignificant - to shout to the just how flawed it is. When it isn't... Every sport and/or sporting event will throw up sone sort of anomaly. Nothing is perfect, but the thing these armchair critics forget (or more likely refuse to believe) is that the old world final system was far more flawed and less credible than the GP system we currently have. Guess what? Speedway is unique. Accept it and move on. Uniqueness and peculiarities litter every other sport too. How many football fans were complaining about Liverpool being the best in Europe last year - when they weren't even the best in England? Probably only those on the BSF... In a tennis match recently, one player lost despite having won several more games than his opponent. How appalling... In darts, a player can be crushed by an opponent without winning a leg, yet finish with a much higher average. Talk about a flawed system... In cricket, how disgusting that a team could be losing by a mountain of runs, yet they can still just play out for a draw. Talk about a lack of credibility...

Do you remember how big the track was???

Pish... That's bugger all compared to dealing with some of the rabid creatures here on the BSF...

Oh, we all stopped going to Plough Lane because Colin Richardson was riding for both Wimbledon and Eastbourne... The writing was clearly on the wall for Birmingham and Milton Keynes when Andy Grahame had the audacity to qualify for both the BLRC and NLRC in the same season. Moxey must have been disgusted to see PC appearing regularly for both Belle Vue AND Rochdale. How terrible...

The dates are irrelevant, as is the "full-time" comment. The thing is, you admit that you probably were judgemental at times. That is not a criticism, as it is almost impossible for a sports journalist to write without being judgemental. However, you appear to be confusing journalism and private comment here. I am quite sure that "Bruce Semmens was the dirtiest rider I ever saw" never ever appeared in any journalistic submission from Maurice Jones; that was just a private comment he made. Dave Lanning was always known to skirt controversy, but trust me, some of the things he told me privately would NEVER have made it on air or into the papers!

Do you ever feel that YOUR writings (as a speedway journalist) are judgemental?

Did they ride on stir-Friday???

If you read the article posted by Midland Red (the very first reply on this thread), it does state that Sandy was National Champion in 1958. Steve

I think you are missing the point, John. I dont think JOS50 is referring to Split's speedway career (although I could be wrong), but the fact that he is commonly regarded as a "wonderful character" and it is often said that we "need people like him" in the sport today. Split Waterman is rightly regarded as one of England's greatest ever speedway riders, and we can't - and shouldn't - take that away from him. However, stating that he was a "luvverly fella" and "we need more like him" is stretching it. Same with Kenny Carter. I never liked Kenny, and in fact I thought he was a psycho tw*t. However, he too was one of England's finest. We know that there are people - even forum members - who think his name should be expunged from the record books, and nobody should ever mention his name again - because of his final acts. To me, that is ridiculous. His career and his final acts are totally separate, and in any case, we can't - and shouldn't try to - change or erase history. My own personal opinion of Kenny Carter is that he was not "evil"; he had true mental issues, and it was these that caused the problems. After all, who, in a normal frame of mind, would take their own life? Certainly when children are involved? Individuals who commit other types of criminal offence, though not as severe, but usually for personal gain, are not suffering from mental health issues, and just commit them because they want to. If they make those decisions, then they should not be looked up to or revered, or simply considered a "cheeky chappie". Again, that does not and should not be used to destroy their achievements.

I wondered about that first point too... As far as your second paragraph, I agree 100%. Similar to my statement earlier about the East End; it's not like things have changed or deteriorated drastically in recent years!

Crime has gone up everywhere - and it's all because of a basic lack of respect. People, whatever their race, creed, colour, or nationality, think it's "all about me", and nobody respects law enforcement or authority. You can't discipline kids. Criminals don't get punished, just get a slap on the wrist, because "everybody makes mistakes", and they can be "rehabilitated". There are two kinds of people - good people and bad people.