Thierry Henry is an idiot

[dkw]

Reading this interview about him moving to the US and his reasons, came across this bit.

France's top goal scorer of all time revealed that racism in European sport was a contributing factor in his decision to move to the U.S. during an interview with Good Day New York.

'In Europe it's crazy. Unfortunately in Europe, it's a reflection on society.

'If you are from another religion, or another country or a different colour then you can hear some bad stuff.

'I never heard any bad stuff about racism happening in the US.'

Dear god, is he being serious? Now ive never liked him but to come out with sh*te like this just makes him look an utter cock.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1297745/Thierry-Henry-spends-time-girlfriend-Andrea-Raja-New-York.html

[Mod]

Now is a good time to remind of what the Irish did to his Wikipedia page..

*Contains Strong Language*

[Maksimov]

Now is a good time to remind of what the Irish did to his Wikipedia page..

If you absolutely have to mess with someone's wiki entry, you might as well be a bit creative. That's just pathetic.

[dkw]

If you absolutely have to mess with someone's wiki entry, you might as well be a bit creative. That's just pathetic.

I dont think they were trying to be creative, thats just what he is.

[Maksimov]

I dont think they were trying to be creative, thats just what he is.

I'd say those who messed with the wiki entry are the c**ts in this case. Bitter ones at that as well.

Henry was wrong to handle the ball, but that's just uncalled for. If they really have to blame someone, shouldn't it be the ref who allowed it? I'm not saying they should attack the ref in any way, mind you.

[Greg]

If you absolutely have to mess with someone's wiki entry, you might as well be a bit creative. That's just pathetic.

I found it quite funny. :unsure:

Rather sad, yes; but still, funny.

[Ruh Buh Juh]

'I never heard any bad stuff about racism happening in the US.'

Did he not study history at all when he was at school?

[BigIzz]

Nope no racism here in the States...

Just ignore treatment of Native Americans, slavery, the Civil War, Jim Crowe laws, the KKK, Reconstruction of the South, segregation, race riots in Newark, Detroit, LA, internment of Japanese Americans during WWII, OJ trail, widespread antisemitisim, current general dislike of Arabs, etc.

[Planet Drogba]

What about Detroit is so racist? If you're talking about how 80% of the people in jail are black, that's not racial profiling, that's probability. 80% of the city is black. Also, most of the events you described are in the past. Of course there's the KKK, but that's a small minority, and anti-semitism definitely is not widespread. Same goes for the dislike of Arabs. I know some people who hate the religion of Islam because of what's in the Quran (and because they hate religion in general), but they have nothing against the people themselves. As for the airports, well, I hate to be politically incorrect, but white people aren't the ones behind most modern day terrorist attacks. I won't deny that racism exists in USA, especially in the south, but I've spent so many summers in Europe, and for the most part, we're definitely better in that regard (from my experiences anyway).

In any case, I'm pretty sure Henry was talking about racism in football games. I doubt we'll see New England or D.C. fans waving racist banners against Henry.

[dkw]

I'd say those who messed with the wiki entry are the c**ts in this case. Bitter ones at that as well.

Henry was wrong to handle the ball, but that's just uncalled for. If they really have to blame someone, shouldn't it be the ref who allowed it? I'm not saying they should attack the ref in any way, mind you.

Or maybe they should blame the smug arrogant french prick for celebrating a blatant double handball goal then having the front to say he wasnt sure if he had handballed it. Oh and Planet Drogba no-one is saying America is full of racists. Its this bit that made me laugh though "'I never heard any bad stuff about racism happening in the US.'" So hes never heard of Malcolm X etc...Just a ridiculous thing to say.

[Maksimov]

Or maybe they should blame the smug arrogant french prick for celebrating a blatant double handball goal then having the front to say he wasnt sure if he had handballed it.

Don't let things like facts get in the way of a good story. Henry said after the match: "I will be honest, it was a handball. But I’m not the ref. I played it, the ref allowed it." ;)

[loz]

When has football hatred ever been based on being rational? If it was it would be far less amusing. The Irish are perfectly entitled to hate Henry, the English hate Maradona, dkw hate Iniesta, Man Utd hate Drogba, Chelsea hate Gerrard, Liverpool hate Boris Johnson and for all those reasons to be entirely hypocritical due to the perceived guilt being something that exists in the hater's own camp.

[Andreas]

im pretty sure he was talking about that there isn't any racism involved in football, or any other sport over in the US.

I wouldn't deny the fact that some players would of heard some racisim stuff while playing in Europe, be it England, Spain, Germany or Italy - it probably happens a lot.

[dkw]

Don't let things like facts get in the way of a good story. Henry said after the match: "I will be honest, it was a handball. But I’m not the ref. I played it, the ref allowed it." ;)

Ok, im sure that will now make all the Irish fans much happier and stop blaming him as it was all the refs fault.

[Maksimov]

Ok, im sure that will now make all the Irish fans much happier and stop blaming him as it was all the refs fault.

Probably not, but it should stop people from saying he denied it was a handball.

I've seen footage from right after the match and he was clearly very embarrassed about the whole thing. He wasn't boasting about it like Maradona did when he scored the infamous hand of god goal. The Irish don't have to like it and I would have preferred it if Ireland had gone to the World Cup instead of France, but the only way that this would have had a chance of happening is if Henry had gone to the ref straight after the goal, told the ref that he handled and then the ref would have disallowed the goal, but have you ever seen such a thing happen? Would you have gone to the ref and demand that the goal should be disallowed? Honestly?

Edited July 27, 2010 by Maksimov

[dkw]

Probably not, but it should stop people from saying he denied it was a handball.

I've seen footage from right after the match and he was clearly very embarrassed about the whole thing. He wasn't boasting about it like Maradona did when he scored the infamous hand of god goal. The Irish don't have to like it and I would have preferred it if Ireland had gone to the World Cup instead of France, but the only way that this would have had a chance of happening is if Henry had gone to the ref straight after the goal, told the ref that he handled and then the ref would have disallowed the goal, but have you ever seen such a thing happen? Would you have gone to the ref and demand that the goal should be disallowed? Honestly?

I wouldnt have blatantly handled the ball.

[Maksimov]

I wouldnt have blatantly handled the ball.

It's easy to say that when you weren't in the position to make that decision. I honestly couldn't say for sure what I would have done in that situation as it happened so quickly. When it first hit his arm it looked like it just bounced into his arm, but that quick twitch straight after that when his hand makes the connection with the ball is what makes it look infinitely more suspicious. I honestly don't know what happened there. Why touch it a second time when you've already stopped the ball? That's the weird part.

[BigIzz]

What about Detroit is so racist?

I was referring specifically to the race riots there in 1943 and 1967. Admittedly events of the past and maybe not relevant to anything Henry will have to deal with but to downplay racism in the United States is very naive.

[Tim W]

When has football hatred ever been based on being rational? If it was it would be far less amusing. The Irish are perfectly entitled to hate Henry, the English hate Maradona, dkw hate Iniesta, Man Utd hate Drogba, Chelsea hate Gerrard, Liverpool hate Boris Johnson and for all those reasons to be entirely hypocritical due to the perceived guilt being something that exists in the hater's own camp.

Surprised you didn't mention Bluebeard in a cheap attempt to produce the longest post in history

[dkw]

It's easy to say that when you weren't in the position to make that decision. I honestly couldn't say for sure what I would have done in that situation as it happened so quickly. When it first hit his arm it looked like it just bounced into his arm, but that quick twitch straight after that when his hand makes the connection with the ball is what makes it look infinitely more suspicious. I honestly don't know what happened there. Why touch it a second time when you've already stopped the ball? That's the weird part.

It was the second touch that was the problem for me, it proves it wasnt an instinctive thing as he said. The 1st one was, but he knew exactly what he was doing when he controlled it into his path.

[loz]

Surprised you didn't mention Bluebeard in a cheap attempt to produce the longest post in history

Bluebeard's list of hates in football would result in Mod and I having to pay for additional server space!

[BlueBeard]

Surprised you didn't mention Bluebeard in a cheap attempt to produce the longest post in history

Loz knows I've been unwell, and that for me to have to make a list of my hatreds could take months and send me into a terminal decline ;)

[dkw]

Loz knows I've been unwell, and that for me to have to make a list of my hatreds could take months and send me into a terminal decline ;)

Hope everythings ok mate, missed your input into the "deco leaving" thread :D

[loz]

Hope everythings ok mate, missed your input into the "deco leaving" thread :D

His neighbours didn't - 7 of them have moved out due to noise pollution!

[TheWestwayWonder]

First of all, this interview was a debacle. These people clearly didnt know anything about him or his career despite being one of the world's more visible sports stars. The whole thing was a trainwreck beginning to end, and he looked almost embarrassed.

Secondly, that wikipedia article is hilarious.

Thirdly, having watched this piece and seen how he reacted, he should have been far more specific. I have seen Henry in many anti-racism pieces but he doesnt really have any quibbles about tarring everyone with the same brush. Has he suffered endless demeaning absue during his time in England? I would think so based on this. And there is no attempt to clarify that its a small minority of fans that ruin things.

I saw a similar piece on HBO that was clearly done with an agenda, talking about racism faced by American players abroad, and he was equally indiscriminant. "Yes its bad" "yes I get absue all the time" but that was edited, so I could understand why the whole story wasnt told. But here he couldve been more specific. I doubt he will face any racism on an MLS pitch, but he wont have to go too far to find it, sadly. It still exists, its just hiding behind weasel words like "welfare cheats' and "illegals"