Territory and Turf

If you have a voyeuristic tendency, it has been a great week to watch politicking across all media platforms.

From our own FA trying to exert Blatter control, to the return of Simon Cowell as a judge on ‘Britain’s have odd Talents’, the way we are manipulated into frenzy is both skilful and slightly disturbing.

The fact that the English media are whipping up the sleaze ‘crisis’ aimed at Fifa does smack of sour grapes and extreme naivety. Sleaze, wrongdoings, cronyism and nepotism exist in most organisations. Power corrupts and people want to hold on to power for as long as possible (Blatter, Blair and Gaddafi).

It’s no surprise that the Olympic movement has always been accused of cronyism. Let’s not forget that it is where Sepp Blatter cut his real political teeth, not – as the English press would say – as President of the World Society of Friends of Suspenders. Although I am sure with gagging the press, Blatter must now have two things in common with Max Mosley.

But the master of control and manipulation has got to be Simon Cowell – and his appropriately named management company Syco (is he laughing at us?). Ratings have increased as he returns to the judging panel of BGT. But his real manipulation is of the Cheryl Cole X Factor saga. Protégé nurtured from wannabe to national treasure.

I believe the whole building up of Cole is a careful strategy to knock her down and make us all feel more protective towards her. She has apparently failed in the US and hasn’t got a seat on the UK version of the show. My prediction is that she will be back on The X Factor in a carefully managed return (note to self to check the odds on this).

While we are on odds, betting and lotteries, many of us have been disappointed with our lack of tickets for the Olympics… but surely we shouldn’t be too disappointed if we weigh up the odds – it just wasn’t a good value bet (ask Stephen Hunt). And yes I am bitter about not going to beach volleyball next summer!

So I am off to Epsom today and Ascot in a few weeks time – tickets cost £77 and £70 respectively. When I go to Paris in October for Europe’s richest race, the Prix de l’arc de Triomphe, it is €10. No wonder the car manufacturers used to call the UK ‘Treasure Island’- we are just a bad judge of value.

Talking of value, I have got a few free tickets left for Media Playground next Thursday. Lucky winners will be the ones who email me with their correct tip for the Derby winner before 4pm on Saturday. Obviously if you all tip the favourite, The Queen’s horse Carlton House, we may be oversubscribed and therefore ballot rules apply. You know how it works by now!

Anyway if you need some help follow these tipsters on Twitter – #ff @ithackedup @welovetipsters @Edddietheshoe @mulldog. Remember the Queen also owns a horse called Playground, which has run twice awfully, whereas Media Playground will run beautifully, of course…