tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392211719163936358.post-91888234087951616852008-01-12T12:58:00.000Z2008-01-12T17:23:10.540Z2008-01-12T17:23:10.540ZSo Liverpool begins its year of being 'European City of Culture'. It's an easy target for critics, the endless tyre theft jokes and the 'self-pity city' jibes.<br /><br />But Liverpool asks for it. Their fantastic sense of humour apparently comes from having it tough in the war. Ask Cilla Black or Stan Boardman. No other city experienced hardship during the war.<br /><br />The arrogance of the people, believing that coming from Liverpool makes them special, is obvious in every interview. They claim to have a community spirit second to none. The same community spirit that created the wall of silence when the police were trying to catch the killer of 11 year old Ryhs Jones last year. <br /><br />And it's catching. Soccer manager Sam Allardyce was sacked as Newcastle manager last week. Various people, from ex-pros to the men on the street, have said that his failure was due to not understanding Newcastle culture. So, it was more important for Sam to understand a grown man drinking 10 pints of strong lager, removing his shirt and throwing up over his girlfriend (I've seen it happen), than to be a knowledgeable and experienced football manager?<br /><br />Two more men were shot last night in Liverpool, but I'm sure that the gunman can't be blamed. He obviously did it as a reaction to his terrible wartime experiences.Charles Lettermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12154962418772628193noreply@blogger.com2