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July 04, 2005
Monday
 
 
1981 – 2005
Brian Micklethwait (London)  How very odd! • Sports

Thanks to this Instapundit posting linking to this, and then following one of the links there, I have found my way to tifoc, sports blogger extraordinary, and well worth a read if you like cricket, soccer, F1, or just a different angle on things.

His posting of last Thursday refers to an extraordinary coincidence:

In 1981, the Pope died, Prince Charles got married and Liverpool were crowned Champions of Europe.

This year (2005), the Pope died, Prince Charles got married and Liverpool were crowned Champions of Europe.

However, tifoc did not spot this himself, and nor did the emailer who told him about it. (Unless the BBC reporting the same coincidence in April was itself a coincidence.)

Ashes anyone? This bizarre game last Saturday suggests that England are at least in with a chance of doing what they also did in . . . 1981.

Comments

No Popes died in 1981.


Posted by Paul Coulam at July 4, 2005 01:33 PM

Millenarianism? here?


Posted by Edward Lud at July 4, 2005 01:38 PM

Paul Coulam s correct. Pope John Paul 2 was elected in 1978, Oct 16. He was shot by a nutter in 1981 but being a tough old Pole, did not die.

Sorry Brian.


Posted by Johnathan at July 4, 2005 02:25 PM

1978: Pope dies, Wales win Grand Slam, Liverpool win European Cup
1981: Prince Charles marries, Liverpool win European Cup
2005: Pope dies, Wales win Grand Slam, Prince Charles marries, Liverpool reach Champions League semis


Posted by Jon Choo at July 4, 2005 02:42 PM

Thankfully there is no test at Headingley this year.

And Andrew Flintoff is no Ian Botham


Posted by Michael Jennings at July 4, 2005 03:26 PM

Bugger. I should have smelt a rat as soon as I realised that Wales didn't win the Grand Slam in 1981 (France did), yet that BBC piece was going on about Wales winning the Grand Slam.

I will now get into my Time Machine, return to 1981, and kill Pope John Paul 2. Which means that the Cold War is still going on. Deepest apologies all round, but my face must be saved.

Indians eh?


Posted by Brian Micklethwait at July 4, 2005 05:29 PM

Sorry guys for the faux pas. The mistake was unintentional. I have since updated my post to reflect that no Pope died in 1981. Thanks to everyone for pointing it out.

Brian ~ Sorry for my goof-up... Thanks for visiting my blog.

Cheers,
tifoc
http://tifoc.blogspot.com


Posted by tifoc at July 4, 2005 09:40 PM

There was however a New Doctor Who in 1981, and again in 2005.


Posted by gasky at July 4, 2005 10:29 PM

Faux pas or not, one can never be reminded of 1981 and Botham and Willis too often.


Posted by Pete_London at July 4, 2005 11:37 PM

tifoc

No worries. I hope to be writing soon also about the new Indian love affair with F1 that you have been writing about, fuelled by the Indian F1 driver who finished last (but at least he finished) in the French Grand Prix last weekend.


Posted by Brian Micklethwait at July 5, 2005 12:04 AM

I believe it should have read as follows:

In 1981, Prince Charles got married, Liverpool were crowned Champions of Europe, England wins the Ashes and the Pope was shot.

In 2005, Prince Charles got married, Liverpool were crowned Champions of Europe, England wins the Ashes and the Pope dies.

Next time Prince Charles gets married, somebody better warn the Pope!


Posted by Stephen Gunter at November 24, 2005 03:10 PM
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