Manchester Darby

Eitan and I watch the Manchester Darby pitting arch-rivals Manchester United vs. Manchester City which has moved up the league tables since being owned by the Arabs who have spent lavishly on the players. Eitan notes that ManCity's Robinho set the transfer record at £32 million ("32.5, actually"). When I ask Robinho's first name, Eitan shrugs and notes - "doesn't have one" placing him with Madonna and Prince or the great Pelé, which was actually a nick-name. Top players earn >£50,000 per week and I look at Eitan: "remind how much you get for allowance?" and we both crack up. The number of weeks of savings to reach one week of Ronaldo (£150K/ week) incalcuable to him. What makes Manchester so divided is that the die-hard fans who have been supporting United or City date back >30 years, before ManU took the world by storm in the '90s with their glamour pusses Ryan Giggs, Dwight York and the Neville Brothers. Then there was David Bekham - an androgynous sex goddess who remains remarkable on the pitch - few can match is cross-field placements and he holds the record for England caps at 110 (and counting). I've been to Manchester and there's not much exciting - urban redevelopment, a few lavish, out-of-place sky-scrapers (even these only 20 stories) and an ancient canal from the Industrial era which I have jogged. Well, anyway, ManU up 2-nil at half so the boy is happy.