Craig

In the 10 days since coming back from recess, Starmer has defended both Rayner & Mandelson and lost out both times. Farage must be rubbing his hands with glee at this utter shit show. Agreed, I think it's time he went. Seems to be growing support to find Burnham a seat and get him back in the Commons. I'm not sure what other options there are at the moment - Rayner is obviously tarnished and by defending Mandelson, Streeting has done himself no favours. Cooper maybe?

Yeah, none of this looks good for the government and Starmer was resolute in his defence yesterday.

Mandelson has been withdrawn as ambassador with immediate effect.

It's more likely indicative of the arrogance of Mandelson. He's always had that, mind you.

In the moments before he was shot, Kirk was taking questions about mass shootings and gun violence. He was asked: "Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the past 10 years?" Kirk replied: "Too many." The questioner followed up: "Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?" "Counting or not counting gang violence?" Kirk asked. He was then shot.

As I said earlier, I have sympathy for his kids as they're an innocent party who are going to have to deal with the loss of their father. His wife though. A grown woman who made conscious choices - I'm fairly certain Charlie Kirk's rhetoric wasn't radicalised only after they met.

'was' being the operative word.

3-0 to us.

She's an absolute weapon, that one. Shame she wasn't stood next to Kirk. Far-right Republicans with a new stance - guns are OK, so long as they're not killing one of our own. FFS

There was a school shooting in the UK almost 30 years where a lunatic, angry with life decided to take his ire out on a bunch of 5 year olds. As a direct result, handgun ownership in the UK was outlawed. There hasn’t been another school shooting on these shores since. A small minority vehemently opposed it. In the US, this would be the majority. Charlie Kirk was one of those who believed gun ownership wasn’t just a necessary evil, but that it was every American’s right. I feel for his kids, they didn’t deserve what they’re now having to face, but he put himself in that firing line - quite literally. I’m not about to get all sycophantic simply because he’s dead as a result of his bonkers beliefs.

He’s dead according to Trump

Having seen the close up video, I’ll be amazed if he survives. Wonder if ‘news of his condition’ is deliberately vague.

Have the NRA come out and stated it’s not the gun’s fault yet?

I had the drill top version of that. No idea what happened to it mind you. Probably worth a fortune now.

Frank at it again

He made a big point about city-centre location mattering. Referenced it being a similar with the ScotiaBank arena being in the centre of Toronto, the Bernabeu being right on Castellana in Madrid and Madison Square Gardens being in the heart of Manhattan.

Is that the new-fangled video bullshit the hipster hoi polloi keep banging on about?

Last assist was for Tonali's goal at Southampton 10 days before that.

Last goal was the League Cup SF 2nd leg.

The point Fish is (I think!) trying to challenge is your claim that you need more than a modicum of intelligence to understand it. As with any sport there is nuance and complexity, but at a basic level the concept is pretty fucking simple.

British Bulldog with a rugby ball.

That was our Clubcall wasn't it?

British Telecom had 3-digit line for sports news back in the late 80s (it used to be advertised on the back of the phone directory). Can't remember the number but I racked up a fair bill calling that. Realising that paying an extra quid per quarter to have the bill itemised, Dad soon put paid to it although I largely got away with it as my brother had been calling premium-rate numbers (these WERE the dirty stuff!) and got an absolute kicking for it

I'm intrigued to know what intelligence is required for NFL. It's probably one of the most simple games going.

I watched 'Painkiller' on Netflix which covered the same subject. Brilliantly done but as you say, incredibly bleak matter.