posted 12-08-98 11:33 PM ET        

Oh, I vaguelly remember something about the French anthem.

So, this is the thread to decide whose National Anthem is the best, which blows the most, which is the most pompous, which is the most out of touch, etc.

I'd also like to hear how you feel about your anthem. Does it stir you to pride when you hear it? Do you yawn when it is played, and let off farts to ammuse yourself? Does it bug you when others much up when it is played? Do you hate sanctimonious prigs that tell you to shut up if you talk while it is being sung?

Anyway, Here's the Aussie Anthem:

Title: Advance Australia Fair

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free.
We've golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our land is girt by sea.
Our land abounds in nature's gifts,
Of beauty rich and rare.
In history's page let every stage,
Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Square.

Now, personally, I think not too bad, all in all. Though I don't particularly like the fact that is sounds like it was written in the 1300's, nor the two lines starting with "Our Land". Though, I must admit that the first line might be "Our home is girst by sea". I feel ashamed that I can't even remember it correctly.

Anyway, I always feel proud when I hear it. Yes, I am quite patriotic (okay, pick yourself up off the floor now Imran ), and it really pisses me when our sportsmen don't sing before internationals. It pisses me off even more when people don't know our anthem (and I'm pissed at myself right now for not remembering that line 100% ), or talk or play around during it.

posted 12-08-98 11:41 PM ET            

II
The news through OLYMPUS immediately flew;
When OLD THUNDER pretended to give himfelf Airs
"If thefe mortals are fuffer'd their Scheme to perfue,
"The Devil a Goddefs will ftay above the Stairs.
"Hark, already they cry,
"In tranfports of Joy,
"Away to the Sons of ANACREON we'll fly,
"And there, with good Fellows, we'll learn to entwine
"The Myrtle of VENUS with BUCCUS'S Vine.

III
"The YELLOW-HAIRED GOD and his nine fufty Maids
"From Helicon's Banks will incontinent flee,
"IDALIA will boaft but of tenantlefs Shades,
"And the bi-forked Hill a mere Desart will be
"My Thunder, no fear on't,
"Shall foon do it's Errand,
" and, dam'me! I'll fwinge the Ringleaders, I warrant,
"I'll trim the young Dogs, for thus daring to twine
"The Myrtle of VENUS with BACCUS'S Vine.

IV
APOLLO rose up; and faid, "Pr'ythee ne'er quarrel,
"Good King of the Gods, with my Vot'ries below:
"Your Thunder is ufelefs." - then, fhewing his Laurel,
Cry'd, "Sic evitabile fulmen, you know!
"then over each Head
"My Laurels I'll fpread;
"So my Sons from your Crackers no Mifchief fhall dread,
"Whilst fnug in their Club-Room, they jovially twine
"The Myrtle of VENUS with BACCUS'S Vine.

V
Next MOMUS got up, with his rifible Phiz,
And fwore with APOLLO he'd cheerfully join
"The full Tide of Harmony ftill shall be his,
"But the Song, and the Catch, & the Laugh fhall be mine
"Then, JOVE, be not jealous
Of thefe honeft Fellows.
Cry'd JOVE, "We relent, fince the Truth you now tell us;
"And fwear, by OLD STYX, that they long fhall entwine
"The Myrtle of VENUS with BACCUS'S Vine.

posted 12-09-98 12:07 AM ET            

My point in the 'Dang but its quiet in here' thread was that the national anthem should be a traditional, emotive song rather than a formula piece of band music. And it must sound good.

Americans are happiest in this respect, and even I tend to feel a slight pang when listening to the Star Spangled Banner. It's a very good piece of music, and does its job excellently. Likewise the French Marceilles (spelling?), although I hear it sound rather dodgy lyrics.

posted 12-09-98 12:20 AM ET            

God of nations at thy feet,
In the bonds of love we met,
Hear our voices we entreat,
God defend our free-ee land.

Guide pacific's triple star,
from the shafts of strife and war,
make her praises heard afar!
God defend New Zea-ee-land!

*sob*

I also know the words to the Haka, but forget how to spell some of the middle lines.

Note for overseas: 'The haka', as it is known, is a traditional Maori... well, war dance would pretty much describe it. The purpose of a Haka was to intimate your opponents before going into battle with them. Done well, it's extremely effective. 'The Haka' is always performed by the All Blacks just before play commences. While it's not Anthem material musically, it certainly has the requiste emotional effect on any New Zealander.

posted 12-09-98 12:28 AM ET            

First Verse

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say, does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

There's are beautiful anthem I cut & pasted it from a site, so don't blame me of the lyrics are screwed up. I personally think it's the best, it stirs the patriotic blood in me!

posted 12-09-98 12:59 AM ET            

Still, I always found it nice that you all sang the national anthem with such verve before the game.

posted 12-09-98 02:33 AM ET            

Actualy weird thing. I was up in Vancover, British Colombia for a few months, and thought seeing as i was in Canadia i should go see some hockey .
Anyway weirdest thing, when i went to the games, even when two canadian teams played the US nation anthem was always played. Now this was a few years back during the Iraq War and at each game there was a surprisingly large amount of US Army Troops. But still it was very strange. To this day i have never heard the Canadian nation anthem even after going to 4 hockey games in Canadia.

Is this just a weird NHL thing i have never heard about?

Hothram Upravda
TB

posted 12-09-98 05:27 AM ET            

Oh well, I never was much of a patriot.

posted 12-09-98 12:23 PM ET            

The Canadian National Anthem, on the other hand, was written relatively recently. In a rather ironic twist, I believe it was written by a Quebecer for a visit of the British Monarch to Montreal. As far as anthems go, it isn't great, but it doesn't suck either.

posted 12-09-98 03:31 PM ET            

I oughta know, I go to school in Baltimore MD, which is where the song originated. Francis Scott Key was captured by the Brits, and throughout the night he kept looking at the flag of Ft. McHenry (I believe), which was the fort that was bombarded. Like you said, this no doubt occurred about the time the English razed Washington, D.C.

Anyway, in the morning, after the smoke had cleared, lo and behold! the US flag was still flying. Thus the poem was written. Now how it got arranged with a drinking song (particularly a hard song to sing, which is why "America the Beautiful" has been mentioned as a successor, which is much easier to sing), is beyond my knowledge.

posted 12-09-98 03:48 PM ET            

This Land is Your Land

This land is your land, this land is my land
From California (Uranium Flats) to the New York Islands (Human Hive)
From the Redwood Forest (Guncotton Forest) to the Gulf Stream (?) waters
This land was made for you and me.

As I was walking that ribbon of highway
And saw above me the endless skyway
And saw below me that Golden Valley, I said
This land was made for you and me.

I roamed and rambled and followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sand of her diamond deserts
And all around me, a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me.

Was a big high wall there that tried to stop me
A sign was painted said: Private Property
But on the backside it didn't say nothing
This land was made for you and me.

posted 12-09-98 04:37 PM ET            

You seem to have forgotten that in the war of 1812 we completly wiped out a intire British Army in Lousiana. Which is where Andrew Jackson become famous.

the War of 1812 was a draw. They burned Washington, but who cares? Nothing was there anyway.

We wiped them out in the south, and tied them in the Great lakes.

NHL: Ok still its really weird i have never heard the Canadian national anthem. Must have always been tring to look for seats . hehe.

posted 12-09-98 05:16 PM ET            

Political Science:

No one likes us - I don't know why.
We may not be perfect, but heaven knows we try.
But all around even our old friends put us down,
Let's drop the big one and see what happens.

We give them money - But are they grateful?
No, they're spiteful and they're hateful.
They don't respect us - so let's surprise them.
We'll drop the big one and pulverize them.

Asia's (HH) crowded and Europe's (UN) to old,
Africa (Believers) is far too hot,
And Canada's (MC) too cold.
And South America (UoP) stole our name,
Let's drop the big one,
There'll be no one left to blame us.

We'll save Australia (High Garden),
Don't want to hurt no kangerroo (mind worm),
We'll build and all American amusement park there (Spartan Base Camp),
They got surfin' too (gun ranges).

Boom goes London (New Jerusalem) and boom Paree (MC),
More room for you and more room for me.
And every city the whole world round
Will just be another American (Spartan) town.
Oh how peaceful it will be,
We'll set everybody free.
You'll wear a Japanese (Gaian) kimono
And there'll be Italian (MC) shoes for me.

They all hate us anyhow.
So let's drop the big one now.
Let's drop the big one now.

posted 12-09-98 06:27 PM ET            

hehe

Hothram Upravda
TB

posted 12-09-98 07:57 PM ET            

Personally, this is my list of favorites:

Germany (Austrian Hymn)
India
United States
Great Britain

posted 12-09-98 08:36 PM ET            

"It Makes a Fellow Proud to be a Soldier"

The heart of every man in our platoon must swell with pride,
For the nation's youth, the cream of which is marching at his side.
For the fascinating rules and regulations that we share,
And the quaint and curious costumes that we're called upon to wear.

Now Al joined up to do his part defending you and me.
He wants to fight and bleed and kill and die for liberty.
With the hell of war he's come to grips,
Policing up the filter tips,
It makes a fellow proud to be a soldier!

When Pete was only in the seventh grade, he stabbed a cop.
He's real R.A. material, and he was glad to swap
His switchblade and his old zip gun
For a bayonet and a new M-1.
It makes a fellow proud to be a soldier!

After Johnny got through basic training, he
Was a soldier through and through when he was done.
Its effects were so well rooted,
That the next day he saluted
A Good Humor man, an usher, and a nun.

Now, Fred's an intellectual, brings a book to every meal.
He likes the deep philosophers, like Norman Vincent Peale.
He thinks the army's just the thing,
Because he finds it broadening.
It makes a fellow proud to be a soldier!

Now, Ed flunked out of second grade, and never finished school.
He doesn't know a shelter half from an entrenching tool.
But, he's going to be a big success,
He heads his class at OCS.
It makes a fellow proud to be a soldier!

Our old mess sergeant's taste buds had been shot off in the war.
But his savory collations add to our esprit de corps.
To think of all the marvelous ways
They're using plastics nowadays.
It makes a fellow proud to be a soldier!

Our lieutenant is the up-and-coming type,
Played with soldiers as a boy, you just can bet.
It is written in the stars
He will get his captain's bars,
But he hasn't got enough box tops yet.

posted 12-09-98 08:41 PM ET            

"The Vatican Rag"

First you get down on your knees,
Fiddle with your rosaries,
Bow your head with great respect,
And genuflect, genuflect, genuflect!

Do whatever steps you want if
You have cleared them with the Pontiff.
Everybody say his own
Kyrie eleison,
Doin' the Vatican Rag.

Get in line in that processional,
Step into that small confessional.
There the guy who's got religion'll
Tell you if your sin's original.
If it is, try playin' it safer,
Drink the wine and chew the wafer,
Two, four, six, eight,
Time to transubstantiate!

So get down upon your knees,
Fiddle with your rosaries,
Bow your head with great respect,
And genuflect, genuflect, genuflect!

Make a cross on your abdomen,
When in Rome do like a Roman;
Ave Maria,
Gee, it's good to see ya.
Gettin' ecstatic an' sorta dramatic an'
Doin' the Vatican
Rag!

posted 12-09-98 08:43 PM ET            

The Belivers have their religion,
the Pee Kay's got their peace.
But our great faction will never ever cease
'Cuz Economic freedom is the greatest happiness;
and our great businesses shall safeguard our freeness:

posted 12-09-98 10:17 PM ET            

Spoe: Are you sure you're not my father?
Knowing Tom Lehrer songs completes an almost perfect personality match.

Now if you enjoy tramping and hate all forms of football, I'm really gonna be freaked out...

posted 12-09-98 10:20 PM ET            

"How long, how long must we sing this song?
How long, how loo-oo-oong?"

(I would post all the lyrics, but I can't remember them off by heart)

posted 12-10-98 11:12 AM ET            

1er couplet
Allons enfants de la patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrive !
Contre nous de la tyrannie
L'etendard sanglant est leve ! (bis)
Entendez vous dans les campagnes,
Mugir ces feroces soldats ?
Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras
Egorger nos fils, nos compagnes !

Refrain
Aux armes, citoyens !
Formez vos bataillons !
Marchons ! Marchons !
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons !

2eme couplet
Que veut cette horde d'esclaves,
de traitres, de rois conjures ?
Pour qui ces ignobles entraves,
Ces fers des longtemps prepares ? (bis)
Francais ! pour nous, ah ! Quel outrage !
Quels transports il doit exciter !
C'est nous qu'on ose mediter
De rendre a l'antique esclavage !

3eme couplet
Quoi ! Ces cohortes etrangeres
Feraient la loi dans nos foyers !
Quoi ! Ces phalanges mercenaires
Terrasseraient nos fiers guerriers ! (bis)
Grand Dieu ! Par des mains enchainees
Nos fronts sous le joug ploiraient !
De vils despotes deviendraient
Les maitres de nos destinees !

4eme couplet
Tremblez tyrans ! Et vous, perfides,
L'opprobre de tous les partis,
Tremblez ! Vos projets parricides
Vont enfin recevoir leur prix ! (bis)
Tout est soldat pour vous combattre.
S'ils tombent, nos jeunes heros,
La France en produit de nouveaux,
Contre vous tout prets a se battre !

5eme couplet
Francais, en guerriers magnanimes,
Portez ou retenez vos coups !
Epargnez ces tristes victimes,
A regret s'armant contre nous. (bis)
Mais ces despotes sanguinaires,
Mais ces complices de Boulle,
Tous ces tigres qui, sans pitie,
Dechirent le sein de leur mere !...

6eme couplet
Amour sacre de la patrie,
Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs !
Liberte, Liberte cherie,
Combats avec tes defenseurs ! (bis)
Sous nos drapeaux, que la victoire
Accoure a tes males accents !
Que tes ennemis expirants
Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire !

7eme couplet
Nous entrerons dans la carriere
Quand nos aines n'y seront plus;
Nous y trouverons leur poussiere
Et la trace de leurs vertus. (bis)
Bien moins jaloux de leur survivre
Que de partager leur cercueil,
Nous aurons le sublime orgueil
De les venger ou de les suivre

posted 12-10-98 11:18 AM ET            

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

=======================================

posted 12-10-98 01:39 PM ET            

O Flower of Scotland
When will we see
Your like again,
That fought and died for
Your wee bit Hill and Glen
And stood against him
Proud Edward's Army,
And sent him homeward
Tae think again.

The Hills are bare now
And Autumn leaves lie thick and still
O'er land that is lost now
Which those so dearly held
That stood against him
Proud Edward's Army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again.

Those days are past now
And in the past they must remain
But we can still rise now
And be the nation again
That stood against him
Proud Edward's Army
And sent him homeward,
Tae think again.

0 Flower of Scotland
When will we see
Your like again,
That fought and died for
Your wee bit Hill and Glen
And stood against him
Proud Edward's Army,
And sent him homeward
Tae think again.

posted 12-10-98 01:42 PM ET            

God save our gracious Queen!
Long live our noble Queen!
God save the Queen!
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the Queen!

O Lord our God arise,
Scatter her enemies,
And make them fall:
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix:
God save us all.

Thy choicest gifts in store
On her be pleased to pour;
Long may she reign:
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the Queen.

Not in this land alone,
But be God's mercies known,
From shore to shore!
Lord make the nations see,
That men should brothers be,
And form one family,
The wide world over

From every latent foe,
From the assassins blow,
God save the Queen!
O'er her thine arm extend,
For Britain's sake defend,
Our mother, prince, and friend,
God save the Queen!

posted 12-10-98 01:49 PM ET            

Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mad,
Tros ryddid collasant eu gwaed.<Picture>
Gwlad, gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad,
Tra mor yn fur i'r bur hoffbau,
O bydded i'r heniaith barhau.

(and in translation)
The land of my fathers is dear unto me,
Old land where the minstrels are honoured and free:
Its warring defenders, so gallant and brave,
For freedom their life's blood they gave.
Country (Wales), Country (Wales), true am I to my Country (Wales),
While seas secure this land so pure,
O may our old language endure

posted 12-10-98 01:51 PM ET            

Land Of Hope And Glory

Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,
How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?
Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set;
God who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.

posted 12-10-98 08:09 PM ET            

1st couplet
Children of the homeland
The day of glosy has arrived
Against us tyranny
The bloody flag is raised (bis)
Lay down in the fields
(Mugir) these brave soldiers
They into our arms
(Egorger) our sons and companions

refrain
To arms, citizens!
Form your battalions!
Let's march, let's march
That an impure blood
Irrigates our fields!

2nd Couplet
What does this horde of slaves,
Traitors, of conjured kings want
What do these ignoble obstacles want
These (fers) prepared since a long time (bis)
French! For us what an outrage!
What transports it must exite
It is us they dare contemplate
To render to the old slavery

3rd Couplet

What! These foreign cohorts
Would make laws in our hearths
What! These merecnery phalanxes
Would (terraserait) our proud warriors (bis)
By chained hands
Our forheads would under the (joug) plow
Vile despots would become
Masters of our destinies!

4th Couplet
Tremble tyrants! And you faithless
The shame of all sides
Tremble! Your (parricides) projects
Will at last get their price! (bis)
All is a soldier to combat you,
And if they fall you young heroes
France produces new ones
Ready to fight against you

5th Couplet

French, in maganimous(sp?) warriors
Deliver or retain your blows
Spare these sad victims
That regretfully arm themselves against us(bis)
But these bloodthirsty despots,
But these accomplices of Boulle
All of these tigers that without pity
Tear the breast of their mother

6th couplet
Sacred love of the homeland
Drive, sustain our avenging arms
Cherished liberty, liberty
Fight among your defenders! (bis)
Under our flags, that victory
(Accoure a tes males accents)
That our expiring enemies
See your triumph and our glory!

We enter in the career
When our forebarers won't be
We'll find their dust
And the trace ouf their virtues (bis)
Well less (jaloux) to follow them
Than to share their (cercueil)
We will have the sublim pleasure
To avenge them or follow them

posted 12-10-98 08:51 PM ET            

I gotta admit that I like it when I watch rugby, and the Poms at Twickenham (or a soccer international at Wembley), or the Welsh at Cardiff, or the Scotts at Muirfield (Damn, can't remember if that is the home of Scottish rugby - must be going senile) bash out their national anthem.

Or 1000 Aussies belting out "Waltzing Matilda" at Eden Park after beating the Kiwis.

posted 12-10-98 09:45 PM ET            

��First Verse & refrain in Korean with MOE romanization:
Dong�hae�mul�gwa Paek�tu�san�i ma�ru�go dal�to�rok Ha�nu�num�i Bo�u�ha�sa U�ri�na�ra man�se
Mu�gung�hwa sam�chol�li Hwar�yo gang�san Dae�han�sa�ram Dae�han�u�ro ki�ri bo�chon�ha�se

��First Verse and Refrain (Underwood Translation)
Until the East Sea's waves are dry, and Paektu Mountain worn away, God watch over our land forever. May Korea last 10,000 years.
Rose of Sharon, thousand miles of range and river land! Guarded by her people, ever may Korea stand!

��Verses 2-4
Like that South Mountain armored pine, standing on duty still, wind or frost, unchanging ever, be our resolute will.
(R)
In autumn's arching evening sky, crystal, and cloudless blue, Be the radiant moon our spirit, steadfast, single, and true.
(R)
With such a will and such a spirit, in loyalty, heart and hand, Let us love, come grief, come gladness, this, our beloved land!
(R)

posted 12-11-98 12:56 AM ET            

The game is played on a round or Oval field. Note that the field is not required to be perfectly round or oval, and in fact there is no pre-defined size nor shape for a ground that I am aware of, other than through convention. There might be in the ICC (Internationsl Cricket Council) rules for all I know.

The edges of the field are referred to as the "boundaries". In roughly the centre of the field is an area of grass which is compacted with very heavy rollers, until it is very hard (so hard that until it cracks from drying out, it can be almost impossible to push a key into the pitch).

Pitches vary in the way they are prepared. "Greentops" have a lot of grass, and tend to be more bouncy. The drier pitches of the subcontinent (India/Pakistan/Sri Lanka) are much drier (duh), have a lower bounce, and take more spin (which I will explain later).

On the pitch, 22 yards apart, are three "stumps" set upright in the ground, with "bails" (imagine a square "M" with very long legs - the stumps are the legs, the bails sit accross the top, one between the middle stump and each out side stump. Stumps and bails are made of wood, and there is a groove in the top of each stump for the bails.

Marked out aprox 1.3 metres in front of each set of stumps is a crease (a line marked out on the ground), running perpendicular to the pitch.

Marked out parralell to the pitch, approx 1.25 metres metres either side of the middle stump is another crease, termed the popping crease (don't ask, cos I don't know). This runs from the crease backwards for a couple of metres.

The ball is round, very slightly larger than a baseball, made from a cork inner, wrapped in string and something or other else, and covered in leather which has been dyed red for test matches and white for one day games. The leather is in two parts, each forming half a sphere, and is stiched down the middle. The raised stiches form the seam.

The bat is traditionally made from willow (a wood ), and is mostly rectangular in shape, with a round handle sticking out the end. Imagine a baseball bat made of wood where the end was rectangular and had a flat face. The back of the bat is generally shaped like a very shallow "V".

Anyway, there are 11 players per side, plus a twelfth man, who can field for another player if injured, but cannot bowl or bat.

A coin is tossed, and the winning captain can choose to field or to bat. One team takes the field (all 11 players), while two players from the opposition bat at any one time, each batter being replaced by another batter when they are out until 10 players are out (leaving one poor bloke who ends up being "not out").

On the fielding side, there is a wicket keeper, similar to a pitcher, who takes the ball after the bowler has bowled the ball. there is a bowler, who has to "bowl" the ballto the opposition batsmen, and attempt to get them out. the other 9 players take varying fielding positions, set at the whim of the captain of the fielding side.

The bowler has six balls in an over, except for wides or no-balls which must be bowled again.

A wide is a ball that is so far away from the stumps that the batsman in his normal batting position has no hope of hitting the ball.

A no-ball is a ball that is delivered with a bowler's front foot wholly over the crease, or with his back foor wholly outside the popping crease. Or a ball that is "thrown" rather than bowled. The definition of bowling is that during the delivery of the ball, the arm must remain in a locked position. This, if bent, it cannot straighten, and if straight, it cannot bend. Normally a bowlers arm remains straight, apart from a notorious Sri Lankan cricketer.

The ball may bounce only once between the bowler releasing the ball, and it reaching the batter, or a no-ball will be called. Note that at one stage this rule was not in effect, and the Aussies bowled a ball along the ground in a one-dayer on the last ball, to make it almost impossible for the Kiwi batsman to hit a six. Heh.

Another rule is that intimidatory bowling (bowling with the sole purpose of intimidating the batsman) is also not allowed. This was made infamous during the "Bodyline" series, when English bowlers bowled at the Australian batsmen's bodies to attempt to get them out. This caused what is probably the only time a British flag has been burned in Australia.

The decision of what is intimidatory bowling is up to the umpire I think, as I believe there is no hard fast rule to try and enforce.

Anyway, the bowler bowls (or delivers) the ball, and the batsman has to avoid being dismissed (getting out), and try and score runs.

A batsman scores runs by hitting the ball with the bat, and runnign between ends as many times as he can before a fielder returns the ball. Note the run-out law below as well.

Runs may also be scored if the batsman plays a shot, misses the ball, the ball strikes his body, and they decide thay can get a run. This is termed a "leg bye". A more proper term would probably be a body-bye, but there you go...

Runs may also be scored if the batsman plays a shot, misses the ball, the ball misses him, and the batsmen decide they can score a run.

Note that once the ball has been "returned" by a fielder safely to a player near the stumps, and the batsmen have stopped running, the ball is considered to be "dead", and no further runs can be taken (like when it is being thrown to the bowler.

Ah yea, ball crosses the boundary, it is four runs. Ball crosses the boundary on the full it is six runs.

A batsman may be dismissed by:
- The ball striking his wicket after the bowler bowls the ball. This is called being "Bowled". Note that there has to be a direct path to hit the wicket, ie the bowler can't bowl it to a fieldsman who throws it at the stumps.

- The ball hitting the bat or the gloves of the batsman, and a fielder catching the ball before it bounces, or crosses the boundary. This is called being "Caught".

- If the bowler bowls a ball which pitches in line with the stumps, and the act of the ball striking the batsman on the body prevents the ball from striking the stumps, the batter is given out "Leg before wicket". This is due to the fact that the stumps are probably only 80cm tall, and normally the ball would have to strike the legs for this to happen. However, if a batsman attempts to duck under a ball which stays lower than they expects, it is possible that it might even strike their head, and they can be given out LBW.

A slight variation on this rule is that if a batsman is not attempting to play a shot (hit the ball) when struck, the ball only has to be more likely than not hitting the stumps, and it is not necessary to be pitching in line with the stumps. Or something. I think they changed this whole law recently, I forget.

- A batsman may be given out run-out, if when attempting a run, a fielder hits the stumps witht he ball, causing the bails to be dislodged, while the batsman is short of the crease. This means any part of the batsman's body or bat (while being held - you can't just throw it) being grounded behind the crease (note, not on the crease - you're out if only on the crease).

- Similarly a batsman may be given out "stumped" if a bowler bowls the ball, the wicket keeper takes it while standing just behind the stumps, and removes the bails with the ball (or his glove, if the ball is in that glove) while no part of the batsman's body is grounded behind the crease (note, not on the crease - you're out if only on the crease).

Ah, crap, that's most of it. Six ball overs. Five days for test matches, 90 overs per day, no limit on no overs per innings. One day matches, 50 overs per side max.

posted 12-11-98 01:03 AM ET            

In test matches, each side gets maximum two innings. In order to win, you have to dismiss the opposition twice, and score more runs in total then them. Note that it is possible to "declare" an innings closed before all batsmen are dismissed. Obviously you try not to do this in the second innings unless you think you can win, and time is running out.

Note it is also quite possible for a draw in a test match if the team batting fourth lasts until the end of the 5th day, yet are not all out, and have not gotten enough runs to win.

In one dayers, one side bats for 50 overs, or until all out, then the other side bats. Most runs wins. Obviously you don't declare in a one-dayer, unless you're batting second, and you pass their total. then you just win, you don't actually declare.

P.S. Australia is currently the best team, followed by probably South Africa and the West Indies.

Currently the aussies are playing the Poms, and are 1 for 125 in the first innings of the third test. We lead the series 1-0 so far. A good score is 300+, which the aussies are well on the way to getting. 100 is the magic score for a batsman (very good score), though 50 is pretty good to.

posted 12-13-98 02:17 AM ET            

Pink Floyd, "Money"

Money, get away
get a good job with more pay and you're okay
Money, it's a gas
grab that cash with both hands and make a stash
New car, caviar, four star day-dream
Think I'll buy me a football team
Money, get back
I'm alright Jack keep your hands off my stack
Money, it's a hit
don't give me that do goody good bull****
I'm in the Hi-fidelity first class traveling set
and I think I need a Lear jet

posted 12-14-98 06:21 AM ET            

Arnelos: "Germany (Austrian Hymn)". Yeah, they stole our song "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser" (God bless emperor Franz) and added crappy lyrics, like "Deutschland �ber alles". But the third "couplet" they use now is rather good.

Austria's anthem is based on A mozart piece (what else ?) for his freemason brothers, with lyrics drawn up in the late 40s. It was written by a woman, but says "You're home to great sons" - got the feminists pretty angry, and in that regard I understand it. Some great daughters, too. Maybe I'll bring a translation later.

And I love the european anthem (yes, it exists!).

posted 12-14-98 09:13 AM ET            

Anyway, here's my favourite national anthem which has a simple, yet interesting melody (Maybe that's why it's used by 4 different countries with different lyrics...). It's the tanzanian one (I like the Marseillaise too...):

Mungu ibariki afrika
Wabariki vizongozi wake
Hekima, umoja na amani
hizi ni ngao zetu,
Africa na watu wake,
Ibariki, Afrika
Ibariki, Afrika
Tubariki, watoto wa afrika

posted 12-15-98 09:41 PM ET            

(God Bless Africa.
Bless its leaders.
Let Wisdom Unity and
Peace be the shield of
Africa and its people.)

Chorus:
Ibariki Afrika
Ibariki Afrika
Tubariki watoto wa Afrika.

(Bless Africa,
Bless Africa,
Bless the children of Africa.)

2.
Mungu ibariki Tanzania
Dumisha uhuru na Umoja
Wake kwa Waume na Watoto
Mungu Ibariki Tanzania na watu wake.

(God Bless Tanzania.
Grant eternal Freedom and Unity
To its sons and daughters.
God Bless Tanzania and its People.)

Chorus:
Ibariki Tanzania
Ibariki Tanzania
Tubariki watoto wa Tanzania.

posted 12-18-98 06:45 AM ET            

I'm A Believer

by Neil Diamond

I thought love was only true in fairy tales,
Meant for someone else, but not for me,
Ah, love was out to get me,
That's the way it seemed,
Disappointment haunted all my dreams.

Then I saw her face,
Now I'm a believer,
Not a trace of doubt in my mind,
I'm in love,
I'm a believer,
I couldn't leave her if I tried.

I thought love was, more or less, a giving thing,
Seems the more I gave, the less I got,
What's the use in trying,
All you get is pain.
When I needed sunshine, I got rain.

Then I saw her face,
Now I'm a believer,
Not a trace of doubt in my mind,
I'm in love,
I'm a believer,
I couldn't leave her if I tried.

SOLO

Ah, love was out to get me,
Now that's the way it seemed,
Disappointment haunted all my dreams.

Ah, then I saw her face,
Now I'm a believer,
Not a trace of doubt in my mind,
I'm in love,
Oh, I'm a believer,
I couldn't leave her if I tried.

Yes, I saw her face,
Now I'm a believer,
Not a trace of doubt in my mind,
Said, I'm a believer,
yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah,
Said, I'm a believer, yeah,

posted 12-18-98 08:44 AM ET            

Abba
Arrival

Money Money Money

I work all night, I work all day, to pay the bills I have to pay
Ain't it sad
And still there never seems to be a single penny left for me
That's too bad
In my dreams I have a plan
If I got me a wealthy man
I wouldn't have to work at all, I'd fool around and have a ball...

Money, money, money
Must be funny
In the rich man's world
Money, money, money
Always sunny
In the rich man's world
Aha-ahaaa
All the things I could do
If I had a little money
It's a rich man's world

A man like that is hard to find but I can't get him off my mind
Ain't it sad
And if he happens to be free I bet he wouldn't fancy me
That's too bad
So I must leave, I'll have to go
To Las Vegas or Monaco
And win a fortune in a game, my life will never be the same...

Money, money, money
Must be funny
In the rich man's world
Money, money, money
Always sunny
In the rich man's world
Aha-ahaaa
All the things I could do
If I had a little money
It's a rich man's world

Money, money, money
Must be funny
In the rich man's world
Money, money, money
Always sunny
In the rich man's world
Aha-ahaaa
All the things I could do
If I had a little money
It's a rich man's world