An Open Letter To Steve Brookstein.

Dear Steve,

Very few people know who you are. In case you’ve also forgotten, I’ll remind you too. You won the first ever X Factor in 2004, and released a Phil Collins cover (Against All Odds), which failed to make Christmas number one, but just about managed to climb the charts to the top spot the following week.

Your first album also managed to clinch the number one spot, and sold relatively well, with 250,000 copies leaving the shelves. However, following this album, SONY BMG dropped you, and you split from Simon Cowell.

You decided to set up your own record label and release your second single, ‘Fighting butterflies’ independently. This single didn’t  make the UK Top 75. You also chose to bring out a second album, ’40,000 Things’. That didn’t make the UK Charts either.

Since then, you’ve lived the high life of performing in Pizza Expresses and Cafe Neros across the country, while also becoming an international superstar by performing on the odd cruise ship now and then.

I understand your bitterness, I really do. If anyone has the right to declare, ‘Life is unfair’, it’s surely you. Not anybody living in a third world country, not anybody suffering with a long-term illness… No, no, it’s definitely you, someone who simply isn’t good enough to make a living out of singing.

The events that sparked this outburst of mine, were your tweets aimed at Louis Tomlinson, of One Direction:

‘Congratulations to Louis Tomlinson on his record deal. Luckiest man in music.’

‘There should be an enquiry in to show fixing. He is shockingly terrible. It’s like les dawson comedy bad.’ 
(I could have corrected your punctuation, but I thought maybe you didn’t want to use capitals for a name?)

Then there were your tweets to Louis’ mum:

‘Get the poor lad some singing lessons for Christmas. A couple of dozen at least.’

‘I also think friends and family should tell him that he can’t sing. Don’t blame me for his short comings.’

‘Take my advice. Get the lad singing lessons. He needs loads.’

Following the response to your tweets, Mr Brookstein, you have the audacity to claim you are being bullied, and move to your more personal twitter account full of your true fans. And, as if to emphasise my point all along, that account has just 62 followers.

I am not One Direction’s biggest fan. Far from it. Yet I find it highly amusing to think that you, a failed singer, known to many (By many, I mean people who still remember who you are) as ‘The Biggest Reality Flop’, take it upon yourself to advise others how to become a success in music.

I eagerly await your reply,

Josh Eves.

2010
12/17
CATEGORY
Entertainment
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The life and times of Joey Barton.

I’m all for second chances. John Hartson was given a second chance after attempting to decapitate Eyal Berkovic*. He went on to become a Celtic legend a few years later. David Beckham was (Finally) given a second chance after that red card against Argentina at France ’98. Look what he’s achieved. Most of the time, ‘Forgive and forget’ is the philosophy that I agree with.

However, third, fourth and fifth chances?… I’m not too sure about those.

Joey Barton, like many other Premier League footballers, gets paid in the region of £50,000 a week. Once his career is over, he’ll never have to work another day of work in his life.

Unlike many other footballers, however, Joey Barton seems to commit assault on a regular basis.

In 2004, Barton stubbed a lit cigarette in the eye of a youth team player, at a Christmas party.

The following year, he was involved in two major incidents. He broke the leg of a 35-year-old pedestrian while driving through Liverpool City Centre at two in the morning, and was ‘Involved in an altercation with a 15-year-old Everton fan’ in Thailand. Many reports claim that the fan was simply asking for an autograph.

2007 was another exciting year for the player. In March, he was arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage, involving a taxi driver.

Then a few months down the line, Barton left his mark on May (And Ousmane Dabo) with a vicious training ground bust-up. I’ll simply let the picture below do the talking.

Dabo pictured days after the assault.

Despite somehow avoiding a prison sentence for this pretty brutal attack, Barton finally ended up behind bars in May 2008, admitting to a different common assault and affray charge, that took place in Liverpool City Centre over Christmas.

His angry streak isn’t confined to ‘Off the pitch’ events either. You may remember when he thrust his foot in to the groin of Dickson Etuhu, a few years ago? Or his unprovoked punch in to the chest of Morten Gamst Pedersen, in November this year?

I don’t think Joey Barton deserves to play football. I don’t think he deserves an annual salary of £2,600,000.

I would love to know what other people think about Joey Barton.

Josh.

*If you’re anything like me, you’d love to watch this video of big John Hartson trying to take Berkovic’s head off.

2010
12/10
CATEGORY
Football
Premiership
Sport
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David Haye v Audley Harrison – The fight that sums up boxing.

Tomorrow night, some time around 10.45, David Haye will be parading his WBA Heavyweight Championship belt high above his head, after successfully defending it against Audley Harrison.

‘Audley who?’, I hear you ask. For those of you that aren’t hugely familiar with ‘A-Force’ Audley Harrison, I will briefly outline his career.

Ten years ago Audley Harrison won olympic gold, at Sydney 2000. A year later, he turned professional and signed a £1 million contract with the BBC, allowing them to televise his first ten fights. A lot of excitement surrounded Harrison. He relocated to America in 2003, unbeaten in 11 fights, and was tipped by Ring Magazine to succeed Lennox Lewis and dominate the heavyweight division. Harrison continued to win, but failed to excite the public. The BBC then decided not to renew his television contract, as fight fans simply didn’t want to watch his fights.

Audley continued to get on with his business though, and by 2005, after notching up 19 wins, he claimed that he was ready to face world-class opponents, and deserved a title shot.

The ‘world-class’ opponent came in the shape of  journeyman British Heavyweight Danny Williams. The fight was for the vacant Commonwealth Championship, and could have propelled Harrison on to greater things. Harrison, though, lost a split decision, and everything went down hill from there. Since then, he has lost three more fights, most notably in 2008 to Martin Rogan, an Irish taxi driver.

Somehow, Audley was granted a shot at Michael Sprott’s European title, in his latest fight. Harrison was out boxed and outclassed, only to win by knockout in the dying seconds, to save his career. In all fairness, it was a devastating knock out, but that can’t be allowed to disguise the fact that he was second best by a long way, until that moment.

So how is it, that a man nicknamed ‘Fraudley’, ‘Ordinary’, ‘Audrey’ and ‘A-Farce’, clearly not of a world-class standard, is preparing to take on David Haye for the ‘Heavyweight Championship of the World’?

Haye is a boxer of undoubted class. He is exciting to watch, has racked up some impressive victories, and ultimately, is a World Champion. He has been heralded ‘The Savior of Heavyweight Boxing’.

Last November the Hayemaker became the WBA Heavyweight Champion after going over to Germany to beat the 7ft giant Nikolai Valuev. He then defended his title with a win against John Ruiz. So far, so good. ‘Win the title’ – Check. ‘Easy first defense’ – Check. Then Haye started promising the world that he’d unify the heavyweight division.

Part one of unifying the division, would be to face one of the Klitschko brothers (Either one will do), and win. Haye was given the chance to do that, by Wladimir Klitschko. Haye has taunted the brothers for a couple of years (Famously wearing a t-shirt depicting him holding the severed heads of the Klitschkos), and has even claimed that they are running scared of him. Yet he was given the chance to get the business done in the ring, with Wladimir accepting the fight. However, David Haye declined a fight that could have turned him from a good boxer to a GREAT boxer, and would have guaranteed him a huge amount of money. But no. Haye refused, and instead took up the option of fighting Audley ‘A-Force’ (Audrey ‘A-Farce’) Harrison.

Barring a minor miracle, David Haye will win tomorrow night. I would LOVE to be proved wrong. I can’t think of many things that would bring a bigger smile to my face tomorrow night, than an Audley Harrison knock out victory. But I honestly believe that there is more chance of me getting a phone call from Jose Mourinho, asking if I’d like to become his assistant manager, than Audley Harrison winning tomorrow night.

And what happens when David Haye wins? Will he proclaim to be the best heavyweight in the world? Probably. Will he call out the Klitschkos? Definitely. Does that take us any closer to a Haye v Klitschko fight? Not at all.

Boxing used to be about the best boxers fighting each other, not about protecting records. It used to be about pride, not about money.

There is so much wrong with boxing at the moment, and it is crying out for someone to save it. Once the Hayemaker gets this fight over and done with, maybe he can still be the one to do it.

Time to step up to the plate, Mr Haye.

Josh Eves.

2010
11/12
CATEGORY
Boxing
Sport
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The Rooney Saga.

Wayne Rooney.

A player that has been idolised for six years at Manchester United. A player that has been nurtured from a talented youngster to a world-class player, by Manchester United.  A player that is paid £90,000 a week, by Manchester United. You get the picture. Manchester United have done so much for Wayne Rooney. Yet this week, Rooney turned his back on the club only to complete a bizarre U-Turn to sign a five-year contract. 

This contract makes Rooney the highest paid player in Manchester United’s history. And it comes following :

- Federico Macheda calling Wayne Rooney a ‘working class chav’.
- Captain Nemanja Vidic stating that Wayne Rooney is hurting the club.
- Patrice Evra urging United officials never to let Wayne Rooney play for the club again.
- Wayne Rooney publically undermining his manager by telling the press that he didn’t actually have an injury, and it was something that Sir Alex Ferguson ‘made up’ as an excuse for dropping him.

Deserving of a record-breaking contract?

And now, Rooney goes back to work with Macheda, Vidic, Evra et al, after securing a contract that in all probability is double what these players are earning. In my opinion, this leads to a very interesting dressing room. Imagine an office workplace. The top salesman falls out with his boss. His colleagues openly bad mouth him. The following day, he is given a massive wage increase. I’d imagine that the colleagues would be pretty angry, and there would possibly be a backlash against the boss, and certainly a lot of anger directed at the star salesman.

Rooney will win over the Manchester United fans in a flash. All it will take is a goal or two, and you’ll hear the Rooney chants ringing out all around Old Trafford. But the dressing room? I can’t see that situation being solved at all.

A lot of people who I have spoken to already, seem to believe that with Rooney trying to win back the fans, he will produce his best form and United will challenge for domestic and European honours this year. Personally, I see the opposite. So many repercussions will come from this saga, which I believe will lead to Manchester United faltering, struggling to challenge with Chelsea for the Premiership, and going out relatively early in the Champions League.

I could be wrong. For the sake of an exciting title race, I sort of hope that I am wrong.

This whole saga, though, underlines the amount of power certain footballers have over their clubs. Rooney, who in all fairness to him, is widely regarded as one of the leading centre forwards in the world, could have left the club for absolutely nothing in 18 months time. Because of this, teams would have offered a cut price for him, knowing that United had to sell in order to gain any money. Seems a bit unfair to me, on a team that invested £3oM and paid Rooney a massive weekly wage.

For those of you who haven’t yet seen it, here is a link to Ian Holloway’s take on the situation. He shares the same sentiments as I, but explains them in a way that only Ian Holloway can.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/9115962.stm

I have followed this Rooney story so closely this week. It has made great news. I had so many different possible outcomes in my head. But Rooney signing a five-year contract for United… That’s not one that I even considered.

Until next time,

Josh.

2010
10/22
CATEGORY
Football
Premiership
Sport
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Twitter is the future.

I went to sleep on Sunday night expecting to wake up the following morning as a worldwide mega star. I’m talking Brad Pitt/David Beckham standard. I mean come on, I had a match report in the local newspaper.

Before I did anything on Monday morning, I had a little glance at my phone and saw that I had a text. Just one?! I wanted 30+, a few missed calls, and hundreds of new followers on Twitter. But no, all I had was a solitary text from the newspaper, telling me how the sports editor sends his apologies that he gave me the wrong surname at the top of the report. If nothing else, that explains why I’m not famous worldwide yet. However, If I find out that Josh EVANS had a major influx followers on Twitter on Monday morning, I cannot be held accountable for my actions.

So my first report went in to the newspaper, but to the people of Gloucestershire, I am Josh Evans. That didn’t stop me from buying ten copies though. £4 that cost me. No dinner for me tonight. Or breakfast tomorrow morning. If you’re not one of the incredibly lucky ten people who will be receiving one of these copies, here is a link for you to see Josh Evans’ work.

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/sport/Late-strike-sinks-Cleeve-fiery-game-chances/article-2743028-detail/article.html

I blew another £2 on the Gloucestershire Echo on Tuesday. But it was justified. My name was spelt right in this one. If you would like to have a little read of my article, here’s another link for you.

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/sport/Football-club-riding-high-landmark-year/article-2744292-detail/article.html

A few days after these articles went in to the paper, Andy Welsh, a midfielder for Yeovil Town and a well-known footballer to football league fans, started following me on Twitter. I could be wrong, but I’m assuming it came directly from him seeing my name (Josh EVES) in a newspaper, and searching me up. I see Twitter as far more than a social networking site. It can be used as a tool to extend contacts, to view instant news, and to find so many opportunities, once you know what you’re looking for. For example, I got in touch with Ashley Williams, who has newly been appointed Wales captain, and asked him to retweet my blog as I needed a bit of exposure. Next thing I know, a link to my blog is in his next tweet, and I have 250+ people clicking it up and having a read.

A lot of people seem to scoff at Twitter, but trust me, Twitter is the future. And, for a select few geniuses, Twitter is the present too.

Josh.

2010
10/20
CATEGORY
Social Networking
Sport
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‘Josh Eves – Gloucestershire Echo…’

What a busy few days.

On Thursday, I set up my first ever blog. The plan was to work on this blog entry on Friday afternoon. ‘Plenty of time’, I said to myself.

Earlier this week, I met up with Jon Palmer, Football Writer for the Gloucestershire Echo. We had a short meeting on Tuesday night (Ironically, before a Cheltenham Town match he was covering) about how I can get involved with the newspaper this year, for a bit of work experience. We had a good chat about football as well. Inevitable when two blokes meet for the first time.

We worked out that, because I have Fridays off from lectures, I will spend a few hours in the office each Friday. This Friday, he told me, I’d just be shown around and introduced to a few people. That would be that.

Going in to the office with the idea of just a few handshakes and a lot of smiling, I felt pretty relaxed. Now, imagine how this relaxed state of mind changed when I was shown to my desk, my telephone, and the story I would be writing that day. And, being asked if I’d like to cover a football match for the Echo, this weekend. Although a little shocked at the time, I was actually over the moon to be getting stuck in. That’s exactly what I was hoping for from this work placement, and exactly what I got.

Within half an hour, I had conducted an interview over the phone (Introducing myself as, ‘Josh Eves – Gloucestershire Echo’), gotten to grips with a story, and engaged in a bit of office banter. Happy days.

After I got my story finished, I did a little preparation for the Bishops Cleeve v Frome Town match. I was devastated to find out that Julian Alsop is ruled out for Cleeve, for up to eight weeks. Alsop was my first ever favourite player. He played for my local side, Swansea City, in our Division Three (Now League Two) title-winning season in 2000 and presented me with an award the following season. So now, to be reporting on his football team and in all probability interviewing him at some stage this season, well, I’m finding it a bit surreal.

By the time I looked at my watch, I had been at the office for an hour longer than I had supposed to. Time flies, eh? After being given a stash of newspapers and a brand spanking sparkling new notepad, I headed home. However, because I felt quite happy with myself, I stopped off at Pizza Hut on the way. Good decision.

I got home, and totally overlooked my blog. Instead, I got carried away with researching every little statistic to do with Bishops Cleeve. (Did you know that in 1995, the Church Commissioners sold the land on which Bishops Cleeve played, leaving the Cleeve homeless?).  ‘It’s ok, I’ll do my blog tomorrow evening’, I said.

I woke up this morning with an excitement that I haven’t felt since… Well, probably the other day when FIFA 11 came out. But still, my point is, I was pretty excited.

I got myself to the ground nice and early and, as instructed, said, ‘Josh Eves – Gloucestershire Echo, covering the game today’, and got ushered through to my seat, front row, half way line. I could get used to using that line.

The game itself wasn’t of the highest standard (Clearly, Alsop would have made a difference), but it was frantic. Reporting on a game is so, so different to sitting back and watching a game. I enjoyed it, but it was a matter of concentrating on the exact goings on for 90 minutes. I don’t think I’ve written that much in 90 minutes since my History AS Level exam.

Armed with page after page of notes in that brand spanking sparkling new notepad, a match programme and the official team sheet, I got to grips with my match report.

That took me up until now. And here I am. Finally writing my first blog entry, at 11.50 on a Saturday night.

Normally I would add the match report to the bottom of this entry. But you know what? I think I’ll let you buy the Gloucestershire Echo on Monday, and hopefully find a report somewhere in the back pages on Bishops Cleeve v Frome Town.

Until next time,

Josh Eves – Gloucestershire Echo….. Wait, I’ve really got to stop doing that.

Josh.

2010
10/09
CATEGORY
Sport
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