Bishop Hill The Crazy Gang
Apr 4, 2012 BBC Climate: other The Crazy Gang was the nickname of the Wimbledon football team in the 1990s and one of their peripheral members is profiled on the pages of the BBC website.
Lutz Pfannenstiel is a German player who was at one time a goalkeeper at the club. He is now a football talent scout.
So why is the BBC profiling him and why am I telling you about it?
I'm sure you can guess.
His playing days may be over but Pfannenstiel's passion for environmental issues is now taking his career into even more unpredictable directions.
"In February, for five nights and five days I was locked in an igloo in a German ski resort and everything I did was streamed live on the internet like a mini Big Brother.
"Next year I will be in the Amazon and will live in the treetops for a week.
"Once a year I will do one of these shocking actions to raise awareness about climate change."
Some of the biggest names in football are supporting his cause.
"I want to use football as an engine to fight against global warming. I believe the role model of footballers is still very big worldwide. If somebody can get into the heads of the youth or the normal man in the street then it's the football players.
"I have over 400 players now who are members of Global United Football Club, the likes of Pavel Nedved, Zinedine Zidane, George Weah and Lothar Matthäus."
Crazy gang indeed.
Reader Comments (45)
Nothing like a good laugh in the midst of a busy day.
Oh dear god is there nothing they won't do or dress up as?any avenue to get at 'the man in the street ' that the haven't tried? I know they maybe well meaning in their beliefs but why do that have to be so daft and utterly cut off from reality ?
This made me laugh. If the goalie concerned went to the average premiership club training ground car park, I'd bet that you would not find many Prius's there. Did I read that the guy from Chelsea (John Terry I think, I prefer Rugby to football) he managed to knowck over a journalist in his Range Rover. Laughable indeed.
I imagine he will be paddling a small boat to the amazon to avoid increasing his carbon jackbootprint...No?
"I have over 400 players now who are members of Global United Football Club, the likes of Pavel Nedved, Zinedine Zidane, George Weah and Lothar Matthäus."
They will trading in their 4X4's for pushbikes then!!!!!
No didn't think so.
Now there is a man we need to educate. Once he realizes that he is being used, his anger will be a powerful force for truth.
Trading in 4x4s? No need - just follow Gore's 'leadership' on the sustainable living issue...
Also worth a read.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/04/04/kareiva_new_environmentalism_essay/
do a youtube lookup on Zinedine Zidane headbut. That is the "role model" kids look up to. LOL
When he has reduced his carbon foot print down to merely double mine. I might stop laughing at him, and his lack of awareness
Is David Icke in that team?
Footballers have always been my role models. I too want to collect sport cars, live in giant villas, the works. Didn't realise until now it was all done to save the planet.
I guess somebody has to do it, however hard to bear such a lifestyle is.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16665581
So how many Air miles has this bloke racked up in the course of his job
And how much commission has he made from exploiting the footballing talents of poor African kids
geeting them out of third world povety
Talking about Football
Doncaster United built a new stadium without under pitch heating
Because of Climate Change and Global Warming thought they wouldnt need it
So of course they have to postpone all their games everytime it snows
The original Crazy Gang were a 1930's British act built round comedians Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen, of "Underneath the Arches", fame, on the back of the US Marx Brothers. They were great favourites of George VI and HM, and performed regularly in Royal Command Performances, the last being in 1967.
And crazy medics;
"Our greatest concern is for your health and convenience but also taking into consideration green travelling issues. Re: Carbon footprints and winter weather conditions, we feel it would be advisable for patients to register at surgeries nearer to where they live. We would be very grateful if you could make the necessary arrangements to re-register at another practice".
Here they are;
Doctors against climate change
Any psychologists among them one wonders.
Grumpy Old Man - Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen
Yes, with Nervo and Knox, Naughton and Gold, IIRC.
Jamspid:-
"Doncaster United built a new stadium without under pitch heating
Because of Climate Change and Global Warming thought they wouldnt need it."
How vastly amusing..............
Apr 4, 2012 at 7:11 PM | HuhneToTheSlammer
Yes, I have to admit, I remember seeing the Crazy Gang on stage.
Like being a Great Grand Father, I'm fairly proud of that. (Although it isn't a great chat-up line.)
As far as footballers are concerned, I've never seen anything about the ability to agitate a pig's bladder with one's feet that strikes me as interesting, let alone admirable.
But perhaps we are looking from the wrong perspective. Footballers pushing climate change? Boring and predictable.
Climate "scientists" acting like spoiled footballers. Equally predictable, perhaps. But of much more concern when their hubristic and incompetent prognoses are used to justify diverting Billions away from things that matter (clean water and affordable energy for the world's poor) to things that demonstrably just don't work.
The Wimbledon Crazy Gang ( 1988 cup winners vintage ) were very green. They went everywhere in a minbus driven by the goalie Dave Beasant.
Never heard of this Lutz chap... he never played for the first team.
Apr 4, 2012 at 5:41 PM | jamspid
If that's true, it was extremely silly of them. They should have asked the Met Office, we'd have told them very clearly that just because the world is expected to continue warming in the long-term, this doesn't mean it won't snow.
Do you have a citable source for your statement that Doncaster United decided not to install under-pitch heating on the grounds of climate change? (I'm not saying I don't believe you - they wouldn't be the first organisation to make this huge error - but it would be good to know whether this really is true or just hearsay).
Thanks!
Richard
Apr 4, 2012 at 8:02 PM | Registered CommenterRichard Betts
Did I imagine it a couple of years ago? (I think I did not simply imagine it)
Councils ran out of salt for roads because of following advice that, because of climate change (or maybe because of barbecue winters), they did not need replenish their stocks to levels previously kept.
(Can't find a reference - so perhaps I did imagine it.)
But I do remember that climate scientist (admittedly not Met Office) saying that our kids won't see snow.
I'm sorry but this guy Pfannenstiel is a footballing non-entity. He didn't make a single appearance for Wimbledon, Nottm Forest or Huddersfield. He ended up playing for park sides in New Zealand and his only appearances in England were in the lower reaches of non-league football.
Just where he has developed these contacts among world class retired players is a mystery. The only club of note where he made any appearances (4) was the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Any football fans reading that article will be wondering who the hell this guy is.
For my part I am wondering which organisation is pulling his strings and pushing this story to the BBC's propagandists.
According to Wikipedia, the pitch is called Keepmoat and is used by Doncaster Rovers.
They have this to say about the construction:
"The pitch however does not have an under-soil heating system in-place despite being a modern construction.[7] This has resulted in the postponment of a match within the first year of full operation.[7]"
Richard, see http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster/too_costly_1_265541
"Still crazy after after all those years!"
The madness spreads by facilitating participation by the mad or nearly-mad who think it is going to be an admirable thing to do. Not so mad are such as Al Gore whose own life is lived as if the extra CO2 does not matter very much, pretty much the same reaction as Mother Nature herself has had. Meanwhile this poor chap wants to use 'football as an engine to fight against global warming.' Whom the gods wish to destroy, etc etc
Remember the Let's Kick Climate Change Denial Out of Football' campaign ?
Heard about Doncaster United stadium from Alan Brazil and Mike Parry on Talksport years ago
About the same time when George Galloway took over from the legendary Mike Dicken such a sad loss on the late night weekend slot I use dto listen to Mike Dicken when he was on LBC
Georgous George came on one night praising Al Gore for getting the Nobel peace prize
Well i wasnt having none of that
So i phoned in
George says" we now have Jim in Catford South London go ahead Jim"
So i said " Ere George how is Al Gore going to get from his big mansion in California over to Oslo to pick up his Nobel Peace prize is he going to fly over"
George said " No he will do the same as Govenor Arnold Swartzenegger and do via video link"
I said "So what about the court case the guy who went to court to stop the British Government from using the DVD of Inconvienient Truth as a Teaching Aid for British School Children"(or indoctrination)
I actually quite like George Galloway even though hes a complete w----ker
Hes from the working class and upsets the establishment but he is ......... being honest about it
So Galloway then says "are you cheif executive from an Oil company" i though ere No
I dont actually live in Catford ,
Sydenham actually between Catford Beckenham and Bromley
Not many rich people live round here
In Beckenham you got Nigel Benn Gabrielle and Kate Lawler and a couple of actors from The Bill
And Bowie famously used to live in Beckenham
And Spike Milligan famously born in Lewisham
Henry Cooper and Frank Harper ( Actor in Football Factory ) from Downham Estate
Jamspid not exactly Oil Company Cheif exexcutive material ( because i would be pretending to be supporting the smug enviromentalist if i was)
So George ranted on a bit longer few Mellows and cans of Wiskers later
Then George Galloway said I was a CCD
Climate Change Denier ( and proud of it ) 1st time i ever heard that expression
So i would of hit back with dont associate me with Nick Griffin and David Irvine but i got cut off
So it should be intresting when all the Moslems that voted for him in Blackburn ask him what his views on Gay Marridge are Just like the Moslems in Hackney did
Doncaster football ground checked it wilkipedia
Apr 4, 2012 at 9:59 PM | Jonathan Jones
Thanks Jonathan.
Sounds like it was a cost-saving measure justified after the fact by a rather ignorant view of climate change.
As I said, they are not the first to do this!
Other parts of the BBC post are quite entertaining too
Pavel Nedved, Zinedine Zidane, George Weah and Lothar Matthäus
So has anybody checked with publicists of these players and their clubs to see if anyof them have heard of this Lutz Pfannenstiel bloke and this Global Warming football team
And has anybody asked the BBC the actual contact details for this guy and then ak him for a list of all the players he claims to have and then crossed checked it with them
Remmember a few years back Veneza Feltz had an early Morning BBC angry audiance partiscipation show
Same format as Jerry Spinger Trisha and Jeremy Kyle
Well they had some young lad on there about 19 saying he was having an affair with his Aunty who about sixty Shock and contrerversy
Turns out Young lad and the Aunty were fake guests they were planted and paid to say that
This was all before Dr David Kelly and WMDs
Something incredibally trival but massive damage to the BBC reputation and Verneza Felzs got sacked
This Story is worth checking out
Check with the actual Footballers this guy claims to have see if they have heard him
Smells like a publicity stunt
Thanks Bishop.....I now have another to add to my list of Climate Clowns.
Play the Ball now becomes Play the Fool.
ever wondered how much of the BBC budget is spent on all things football? would love to see the actual percentage.
According to his Wiki page, Lutz Pfannenstiel was signed by wimbledon, but never appeared for them. He didn't have an illustrious career. His main claim to fame is he has played football on all 6 continents.
Here's the Global United website:
http://www.globalunitedfc.com/Home.html
posted this thread on Joanne Nova's site and Joe V commented, in part:
"Global flamin’ United ! Who are they going to play ? Other Globes?"
A bit more from the Crazy Gang Government, as revealed by Donna:-
http://nofrakkingconsensus.com/2012/04/03/thank-you-british-taxpayers/
the free market at work! not at work!
4 April: WSJ: As Carbon Prices Sink, Unease Rises .
By SELINA WILLIAMS And ALESSANDRO TORELLO
Jacob Bunge contributed to this article
LONDON—The market for carbon emissions is running out of gas.
“The price level reflects a lack of confidence in the tool,” said Emmanuel Fages, head of power, gas, carbon and coal research at Société Générale Commodities in Paris.
The decline in prices comes as investors continue to retrench from the market…
The collapse in prices has cast doubt on whether the system can withstand a prolonged economic slump and about whether the EU can muster the political will to bolster prices. Some analysts expect the supply glut to worsen. Deutsche Bank boosted its estimate of the oversupply by 2020 by more than 50%, to 1.063 billion allowances.
“The magnitude of this projected surplus out to 2020 underlines the urgent need for action to be taken by the EU authorities to re-establish scarcity” in the emissions-trading system, known as ETS, said Mark Lewis, head of energy research at Deutsche Bank…
Some companies that favor intervention have drafted strategies around the ETS and need to get a return on their investments. Others, like Royal Dutch Shell RDSA -1.36%PLC, promote clean technologies that have a future only with high emission-allowance prices. “The economic crisis has significantly impacted the effectiveness of the EU ETS,” said David Hone, Shell’s climate-change adviser. “The [carbon dioxide] price is currently too low to drive the development of low-carbon technologies. For the EU to meet its longer-term climate-change goals, the [carbon dioxide] price in Europe today needs to be strengthened.”…
But there are some who are opposed to changing the trading system. Action “would create a risky precedent in trying to manipulate a market-based mechanism,” said William Garcia, executive director for energy at Cefic, an EU chemicals lobby group in Brussels, adding that it would undermine the credibility of the system. “The ETS is not broken, it’s delivering what’s supposed to.”
The fall in prices has created incentives for burning more coal for electricity generation in Europe. According to the U.K.’s natural gas and power network operator, National Grid NGG -1.06%PLC, coal accounted for 46% of generation in the first quarter of this year compared with 26% for natural gas. That is a higher percentage for coal compared with previous quarters.
Analysts say carbon prices would need to be at about €15 a ton to encourage the switch out of coal into natural gas…
Poland recently vetoed nonbinding goals that would lead the EU to meet an agreed target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by at least 80% by 2050.
“This year is the most legitimate opportunity to fix the market, but the window of opportunity is rapidly closing,” said Damien Morris, senior policy adviser for U.K.-based climate group Sandbag.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304072004577323890893009020.html
Louise can't read the writing on the "Wall":
5 April: UK Telegraph: Louise Gray: Government advisers urge ministers to close loop hole on climate change targets
Ministers must decide whether to include cutting emissions from international flights and shipping in climate change targets in a major “test” of the “Greenest Government ever”.
At the moment the target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 does not include the carbon produced by flights in or out of the country and transporting goods by sea.
However In a move described by the Committee on Climate Change as a “test” of the Government’s commitment to a low-carbon economy, the advisory body recommended the sectors should be formally included by the end of this year…
If the Government refuse to widen the targets it will mean they can allow more emissions to be produced and environmentalists claim it will destroy David Cameron’s claims to be “the greenest Government ever”…
And the move needs to be made now, to help drive the ambitious goals to decarbonise sectors such as transport by rolling out electric vehicles…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/9186621/Government-advisers-urge-ministers-to-close-loop-hole-on-climate-change-targets.html
Whatever may or may not have happened in South Yorkshire it is Doncaster Rovers, not Doncaster United!
As any fule who watches foopball kno.
The BBC has an article up claiming rising CO2 caused the end of the last ice age.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17611404
Obviously, they say, this rebuts climate denialists.
I dont have the science for this. Is this true? Have they used models? Have they applied offsets or modifiers etc.? In short is this the end to the theory that CO2 rises come after temperature rises as the article suggests?
Or is it the BBC doing what they do these days.......
Footballers against climate change? We may as well give up now they've got the deep thinkers on the case, then...
"rolling out electric vehicles"
There'll be a lot of that when the batteries fail to deliver quite 100% of the promised range (or the lunar panels fail to provide enough overnight charging..)
If anyone still makes electric batteries...
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/04/04/battery-karma-taxpayers-green-investment-in-battery-company-withers/
So why hasnt he got Couchy
Peter Crouch was in that 10 10 video where school children getting blown up for their political believes remind you of Bagdad and Afganistan anybody
Still democratic on here
After that embarssing debarcle Crouchy thought better of it
Ex football ground in Plough Lane is now an estate of flats of not particularly attractive design.