Jay Z at his epic Super Bowl performance

I spotted this interview at Arsenal.com. Check it out

Grammy Gunner

By Andy Exley

Within four months in 1996, two events that could hardly be more disparate occurred, yet both paved the way for the making of an icon.

So we’ve established the credentials of Mr. Wenger and Mr., urm, Z but why the comparison? Well after rumors have done the rounds over recent weeks about the 40 year-old Hip-Hop star having a liking for Arsène Wenger’s Gunners, the Official Magazine managed to receive cast-iron confirmation of the Brooklyn born superstar’s support by nabbing ‘Mr. Beyonce’ for an exclusive interview about his beloved Arsenal.

First things first, and why does a man from Brooklyn who is part-owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team in the NBA, have an emotional stake in a football team across the Atlantic?

“It was about five years ago now,” explains the ten-time Grammy Award winner. “When Thierry Henry was at the club I saw him play and I just thought he was an amazing player, ever since then I have been a big fan of the club, following you guys and still today you play the beautiful football that Thierry did, I think he had a real long term effect on the team.

“I love all sports, but what I really love is when people play sport in a beautiful way, and that’s one thing Arsenal do for sure.

“I don’t get chance to watch the team in London,” he continues, “it’s difficult to find time with all the travelling I do, plus I live so far away. But we get all the EPL games over in the States, you can watch any games you like, so it’s pretty easy to keep up to date with how Arsenal are doing.”

Despite not getting to Emirates Stadium yet, Jay-Z did make his Premier League debut at Eastlands earlier this season, when he saw Manchester City’s controversial 4-2 victory over the Gunners. His high-profile presence as a guest of the City hierarchy ¬ he was in Manchester for a concert in the city – led to speculation that the New Yorker harbored loyalties for the Premier League’s nouveau riche, a fact he is quick to dispel. “The result wasn’t great [at City], but I was glad to see Arsenal play,” he says. “After that game the press started reporting that I was a Manchester City fan, I am really glad all that has been cleared up and that everybody in the UK knows that I am an Arsenal fan.

“I will come to Emirates soon that’s for sure. I love London as a city, it’s just finding time when I am over here for a few days to come and watch a game. I will find time soon, I will make sure of it.”

So who would Jay-Z particularly like to see in action when he finally gets to watch a match at Emirates? Not surprisingly, the peerless skipper gets a special mention, whilst the man who originally pricked his interest would also be on the menu, if at all possible.

“I think Cesc Fabregas is a great player,” says the rapper who recently topped the singles charts with ‘Empire State of Mind’. “It doesn’t matter what sport it is the greatest sportsmen in the world do the difficult things and make it look easy. That’s what Cesc does, he is so graceful in everything he does, and it looks effortless, the boy was born to play soccer you can see that.

“And Thierry Henry – that is a guy I would like to meet. I know he is a big NBA fan, so I might meet him courtside one day, or maybe when I come to the Emirates. He still comes to watch you guys right? He must do he is a legend there.

“I don’t know if there are any fans in the current team,” he says modestly, “but if there are they would be more than welcome to come to my next concert when I am over in London. They can come and see me do my work, and then I will come and see them do their work.”

Basketball references are frequent with Jay-Z and his love for the sport is matched by so many in the ‘Big Apple’ but is football finally taking a foothold there?

“Basketball is the sport of New York, and you are never going to change that,” he stresses. “Then New Yorkers love their [American] football and baseball, but I think soccer’s popularity is growing in the US. It’s never going to be the number one sport, but more people are playing it and watching it than ever have before.

“I just love watching people at the top of their game,” he continues, “plus when I was growing up basketball was a big part of our life and I used to spend a lot of time playing. It doesn’t matter what level it is, when people are on the field or on the court they just want to win, and that can bring the best out in people.

“Soccer is a beautiful game to watch, and people want to see it. It’s something different as well, if Americans want to see soccer played at the highest level they need to watch a European team. American soccer is getting better, but it’s still a long way off you guys.”

Back on the basketball trip, was Jay-Z aware that Chicago Bulls stars Luol Deng and Joakim Noah were big Gooners and have visited Emirates? “No I didn’t know that, that’s pretty cool. Maybe we could all watch a game together when the NBA season is over, I am sure they would love to come.”

And maybe extend an invite last month’s magazine feature Idris Elba – Stringer Bell from hit US drama The Wire…

“Sure, why not that sounds pretty cool. With all these people you are inviting over you are going to need a pretty big box if we all come on the same week!”

As well as a globally successful recording artist, Jay-Z is also an entrepreneur with his business portfolio including record companies and clothing lines as well as the stake in the New Jersey Nets. And four years ago, he was even rumored to be interested in purchasing a significant amount of shares in Arsenal Football Club, so could fellow American Stan Kroenke one day be joined on the Arsenal Board’s headed paper by Mr. Shawn Corey Carter?

“I am a businessman, and I will always look at an opportunity, and if it feels right great,” says Jay-Z, keeping his options open, “I don’t know a lot about the business of soccer, but in the future if the right opportunity presented itself then who knows?”

As for the immediate Gunners concerns, it’s all about a two-pronged attack on domestic and European fronts, and Jay-Z has his fingers crossed.

“You have always got to hope for the best, and in life you are never out of it until you are out of it,” he muses, “It’s still a very young team, but youth counts for a lot, and I am confident this can still be a very successful season. If we win the title, then I will make sure I give Arsenal a shout out on stage for sure.”

And with that the Official Magazine concludes its interview with perhaps our first non-footballing megastar since Demi Moore back in Highbury’s final season. All that’s left to do is extend an invitation to a game of his convenience in the future, to which he responds, “thanks for inviting me, that’s very cool of you.” Any time, Jay-Z, any time.

With thanks to Tom Bennett

Adebayor gives Arsenal fans a piece of his mind

Manchester City captain Kolo Toure has warned Emmanuel Adebayor to keep his calm when the Togo striker makes a potentially explosive return to Arsenal on Saturday.

Adebayor provoked a furious reaction from Arsenal fans when he celebrated a goal against his former club at Eastlands in September by sprinting the length of the pitch before sliding to his knees in front of them.

The 26-year-old, who retired from international football earlier this month, was warned by the Football Association over his future conduct and also earned a retrospective three-match ban for an incident in the same match involving Robin van Persie, which left the Arsenal forward with a facial wound.

And with City travelling to Arsenal on Saturday for a crucial match as Roberto Mancini’s side chase fourth place in the Premier League, Ivory Coast defender Toure knows Adebayor must keep his emotions in check.

“The game against them last September was really difficult for him but he needs to show more intelligence because we all know that what he did was not the best reaction – and as a friend I’ve told him that,” Toure said.

“I’ve told him he must be calm and not do anything (provocative).

“Ade is a professional player and must just focus on the game and give everything to help the team win.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has told Gunners’ players and fans to avoid targeting Emmanuel Adebayor when the club’s former striker returns to the Emirates with Manchester City on Saturday.

Adebayor, who joined Arsenal’s Premier League rivals before the start of this season in a £25 million move, was in involved in controversy when playing for City against the Gunners in September at Eastlands.

He received a three-match ban for raking his studs down the face of Arsenal striker Robin van Persie following a misguided goal celebration – which led to a suspended two-game ban and a £25 000 fine from the Football Association – when he raced the length of the field to slide in front of Gunners’ fans.

Wenger, who brought Togo forward Adebayor to England from French club Monaco in 2006, said on Friday: “I am stubborn, but not stupid -sometimes in the heat of the moment you can do things that are not right.

“It is not only Adebayor, but also Patrick Vieira and Kolo Toure – we will welcome them all back.

“We have always had the same line of conduct – to respect what they have done for us and we want our fans to respect that as well and encourage our team,” the Frenchman added.

“No matter what happened in the first game, it is important that we have a positive attitude and encourage our players.

“I believe more than ever tomorrow (Saturday) we will need the crowd to be behind us. I expect everybody to behave well.”

Arsenal’s hopes of remaining in contention for the Premier League title this season appeared to have been extinguished when they managed to throw away a two-goal lead in the final 10 minutes away to Wigan on Sunday in a match they ultimately lost 3-2.

That left the north London club six points behind capital rivals and leaders Chelsea with just a maximum of nine left to play for in their three remaining league games.

“Our pride is to fight until the end and this season we have shown a lot of fighting spirit, even if we had two disappointing results,” Wenger added.

“It is important that we keep fighting, because you never know – and also we are as well under threat from the people chasing from behind. Nothing is secure,” insisted Wenger, whose side are currently third in the table.

First-choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia’s wrist injury means Wenger is again set to start with Lukasz Fabianksi despite the Pole making the latest in a series of high-profile errors this season, which have included mistakes against Porto in the Champions League and Stoke in the FA Cup, against Wigan.

However, Wenger said of Fabianksi: “I think he will be a great keeper.

“If you ask how many mistakes you can afford, I would say zero, but also it is part of the game.

“I believe Fabianski has great quality and spirit. He has a good opportunity to show how good he is,” said Wenger, who has been linked with a post-season move for England’s Joe Hart, currently on loan at Birmingham.

“Of course, he was disappointed on Sunday, but I believe he was not the only one involved in our defeat.”

Fit and proper people?

'Fit and proper? Surely, you jest.'

Apparent the Red Knights met again today to iron out the details of their plans to buy out the Glazers and wrest control of Manchester United ultimately – they say – so the fans can own a bigger piece.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m in absolute support of MUST and I signed up – and so far their e-mail communication has been thoughtful, determined and just about frequent enough without being spammy. Not quite as class as the Robin Hood Tax campaign that I also recently signed up for (www.robinhoodtax.org.uk), but close, and not entirely unconnected. Afterall, the Robin Hood Tax campaign suggests that a 0.005% fee levied on all inter-bank transactions would be a phenomenal revenue source, and that money could be used to fight poverty, hunger, AIDS, global warming. Presumably, exactly the type of financial transactions that have made so much money for the Red Knights. The Red Knights afterall, are led by Goldman Sachs Chief Economist Jim O’Neill. Amongst the Knights are mergers and acquisition specialist Mark Rawlinson of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Marshall Wace hedge fund co-founder Paul Marshall. Marshall was an advisor to Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament Charles Kennedy, is currently a close mate of Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg. Marshall Wace manages over $14 Billion in its funds, and Paul Marshall and Ian Wace were recently considered by The Sunday Times to have a net worth over $300 million.

So currently in the ring are the (spawn of satan, apparently) Glazer family, and in the other corner a cartel of upper class lib dem hedge fund bankers – incredibly high net worth individuals who made obscene amounts of money betting on the collapse of mortgages largely sold to regular folks who bit off more than they could chew, or just mistakenly aspired to exactly the kind of lifestyle Marshall and Wace (or Rawlinson for that matter) take for granted. What do these Red Knights have in common with the Prestwich or Strangeways, Hyde or Ancoats residents who have sacrificed all sorts to hang on to their Stretford End season tickets – never ate a prawn sandwich and supported The Red Devils even before News International tried to buy them (don’t get me started !). What do the Red Knights have in common with those Sikh blokes you always see on the live games from Old Trafford ? Apart from being Man Utd supporters, if in fact that is what they are?

What about that Keith Harris ? Former HSBC Investment Bank Chief Executive but now at Seymour Pierce, Harris advised on the takeovers of West Ham, Man Citeh and Aston Villa. What did you think of the playing surface at the FA Cup Semi Finals this last weekend ? Harris is also a director of Wembley National Stadium Limited. So the man who advised on the takeovers of West Ham, Man City and Aston Villa is now helping out the Red Knights in the takeover of Manchester United. It’s difficult to imagine that this ‘return-the-clubs-to-the-fans’ crusade is an entirely altruistic exercise, isn’t it ? If you read my piece last week – are Rawlinson, Marshall and Harris going to be hanging the kit up for Rooney and Ferdinand ? Knocking the mud off Nani’s new Nike’s ? Sweeping up the plastic Budweiser bottles and burger wrappers from the concession stands ? Or maybe selling programs or scarfs on Matt Busby Way? Those Newton Heath Yellow and Green ones?

The other Keith Harris

Man Citeh ? Torquay played them in the old Milk Cup back in 1983. We held them 0-0 at home, but got battered 6-0 at Maine Road. I got covered in piss, it being customary for Citeh supporters to urinate into plastic cups and throw them at away fans. So, with that memory I had resignation rather than requisite outrage when City were bought by well known human rights abuser and enemy of democracy Thaksin Shinawatra. Shinawatra started as a Policeman in Thailand, but gave that up to become a (Marshall Wace, like ?) telecommunications and satellite ‘entrepreneur’. Good old Thaksin bought Man City for around $160 million in 2007. He sold it to the current owners (bastions of democracy, freedom and all things green that they are) Abu Dhabi United Group, financial plaything of Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, member of the United Arab Emirates Royal Family and half brother to the UAE ‘ President’ Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Sheikh probably enjoys getting away from the Missus and the other Missus by hanging out with his mates at the City Of Manchester Stadium, watching the $200 million or so of footballing talent do their best for the Levenshulme and Wythenshawe locals who took the bus. Doubtless he joins them all for a curry in Rusholme, after a night out with the lads. He probably doesn’t piss in a cup and throw it at away fans, though – all that ‘breeding’.

Thaksin Shinawatra

Thaksin made a pretty penny of the deal though, he is reported to have sold Citeh for over $400 million.

So what of West Ham, got some mates who roll their eyes – lifelong Hammers fans. It has been a long and arduous journey from Dave Taylor’s Thames Ironworks team of 1895 to the current squad of would be Premiership survivalists. In 2007 Terry Brown sold his 7,392,000 shares in West Ham to the Icelandic Banking Consortium headed up by Eggert Magnússon and Björgólfur Guðmundsson. Magnússon and Guðmundsson were functionally the front men for the Icelandic banks Landbanski and Hansa two of the enterprises at the center of the 2008 Icelandic Financial Meltdown. All these ‘fit and proper people’ are now under investigation by the Icelandic government for having brought the entire Icelandic economy to it’s knees – if you Google Icelandic Financial Crisis, you’ll easily find all the information you’ll need. Of course, I don’t suppose Eggert Magnússon and Björgólfur Guðmundsson took the District Line up to the Boleyn Ground with the other fans. In a spooky link with my piece from a couple of weeks ago, and with an unsavory bit of West Ham’s history – Björgólfur Guðmundsson is married to Þóra Hallgrímsdóttir, who was formally the wife of George Lincoln Rockwell. Rockwell was the founder of the American Nazi Party. I wonder if she divorced him because of all that white supremacy stuff.

How relieved Hammers fans must have been when the Icelandic banking mafia gave up 50% of their ownership. Like Claret and Blue Knights came former Birmingham City owners (but lifelong Hammers fans) David Sullivan and David Gold. With trusty sidekick Karren Brady (the youngest ever Managing Director of a Private Limited Company in the UK at age 23 – that PLC was Birmingham City), the two East End pornographers must have been quite a vision for the beat up Irons. Sullivan and Gold must have made a dollar or two when they sold City to Carson Yeung for $120 odd million, enough at least to pick up the distressed asset that West Ham were. While they may be fairly disgusting scum waiting barely 5 minutes to stick the boot into Gianfranco Zola, at least they are deeply connected to football with Brady married to Burton Albion Manager and former Birmingham City and Canada star Paul Peschisolido. I am sure that must take a weight off for Hammers fans. There’s something risible about Sullivan and Gold that I can’t quite put my finger on, and it’s not that they made their fortunes in porn and lingerie either. Their very old-school-captain-of-industry-mill-owning-swagger has me feeling they are deeply conservative exploiters climbing on the back of whoever would make them a buck. Maybe I am doing them a disservice. Maybe I’ve just built up a head of steam in the righteous outrage locomotive.

Gold and Sullivan

It is rumored that the Red Knights are readying a bid of over $2 billion for Manchester United, and equally that the Glazers are not interested in selling.

So let’s just add it all up – $2 billion for Man Utd, $400 million for Citeh, $120 million for Birmingham City, $60 million for West Ham, $50 million for half of West Ham – $2 billion 630 million in inter bank transactions relating to four football clubs.
That would be over $13,000,000 in Robin Hood Tax. Could probably feed quite a few people with that, maybe even treat them to a prawn sandwich or two.

More next week.

Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor has announced his retirement from international football stating that he has been unable to mentally recover from the attack on the Togo team bus at the African Cup of Nations.

Adebayor looked on in horror as bullets riddled the bus in an attack that killed an assistant coach and the squad’s spokesman and led Togo to pull out of the tournament in January.

The former Arsenal star later admitted he feared his life was about to end during the assault in the northern Angolan province of Cabinda and he has been unable to shake off the mental scars of the incident.

“Following the tragic events during January’s African Cup of Nations, in which two of my fellow countrymen were killed by terrorists in Angola, I have made the very difficult decision to retire from international football,” Adebayor told his club’s website.

“I have weighed up my feelings in the weeks and months since the attack, and I am still haunted by the events which I witnessed on that horrible afternoon on the Togo team bus.

“We were just footballers going to play a football match and represent our country, yet we were attacked by people who wanted to kill us all. It is a moment I will never forget and one I never want to experience again.”

The coach’s Angolan driver also died in the attack, while defender Serge Akakpo and goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale were among a number of passengers injured.

Obilale was initially reported to have been killed but was flown to a South African hospital for life-saving surgery and remained there for two months, with Adebayor paying for the GSI Pontivy player’s partner and sister to travel to South Africa and accompany him during his recovery.

Togo were banned by the Confederation of African Football for the next two editions as a result of their decision to pull out of the tournament, a sanction over which they are currently embroiled in an appeal process.

The 26-year-old Adebayor scored 16 goals in 38 appearances for Togo and helped his team reach the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

He insisted he will always have a special bond with the team-mates who were on the bus in Cabinda.

“The people who were on that coach together will forever be joined by a special bond – we are all brothers,” he said.

“I will always have the team and the people of Togo close to my heart and wish them every success in the challenges that they will face in the future.

“For nine years I have played for the Togo team and, despite the events in Angola, I have some very good memories of my international career.

“I feel very proud to have been trusted with the position of captain of the Togolese football team. Leading your country in international competition is the ultimate honour for any player.”

Now that his international career has come to an end he will be focusing solely on Manchester City and their goal to dominate English football. Adebayor has scored seven times for City since returning to action after the tragedy and struck twice in Sunday’s 5-1 win over Birmingham as Roberto Mancini’s side consolidated fourth place in the Premier League.

The club, backed by their Abu Dhabi-based billionaire owners, has already spent millions in an attempt to secure qualification for the Champions League and Mancini’s men are within touching distance of reaching that goal.

Whatever Adebayor achieves at City, he admits he will always retain fond memories of his time with Togo and he hopes the team can make their country proud in the future.

“Togo have some very talented players, and I dearly hope the players who remain will be able to put their memories of Angola behind them and go onto be a success for the nation,” he added.

“I have enormous belief in each and every one of them, players, coaches, staff and their families.”

Manchester City 5-1 Birmingham City Highlights – English Premier League

Hull City 1-4 Burnley – English Premier League

Who knew that Mancini had it in him. He went gangsta on David Moyes today. Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini, left, has an altercation with Everton manager David Moyes, center, during their English Premier League soccer match at City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester, England, Wednesday March 24, 2010.

Manchester City 0-2 Everton Highlights – English Premier League – Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Manchester City 0 – 1 Everton
Cargado por nongcream7. – Más videos de deporte amateur y profesional.

Manchester City 0 – 2 Everton
Cargado por nongcream7. – Más videos de deporte amateur y profesional.