Real Perspective
May 26th, 2011 by 'holic
A few words on Twitter put things into perspective on Tuesday.
jack_wilshere So sad to hear that my friend @sonnyvanpersie has passed away. Love and thoughts are with his family at this sad time.
I didn’t know Sonny’s story, but I’m so glad that by following Jack on Twitter I do now. The link to Sonny’s twitter account led me to the link to the blog that tells an astonishing tale of courage and determination, not just by Sonny, but those close to him also. Before you click on that link get a box of hankies.
A friend dropped me a line to explain how Arsenal had provided the scarves and flags for his final journey. Thank you for showing some class, whoever in the club was responsible for that.
I’m sorry I didn’t know more before this week. My condolences go out to his family. I hope they find some strength and consolation in the avalanche of messages they have received.
For a while at least, I hope we can all spare a thought for what is really important in life.
104 Responses to “Real Perspective”
Very sad, RIP Sonny.
Heh, there was me waiting for a 100th drink in the other post.
Talisker….if there’s any left please.
And I’ll raise it to this Sonny boy.
Perspective indeed.
Cheers, ‘holic.
Evening both.
A few bob for Great Ormond Street Hospital is in order, I think.
http://www.gosh.org/gen/
‘Hols,
Made a brief scan of the blog, but not enough to get the comprehensives.
Mind giving us a synopsis and his connection to Wilshere?
My condolences to his family.
I’ll be donating now. Very sad to hear indeed.
What a waste so young but so brave – I’m sure theres are a good few Gooners in the sky that will take the young lad under their wings,
RIP Little Man,
Most deserving charity out there in my book fair play for linking it, They are the real heroes in life and earn a pittance compared to many others in far less demanding jobs So I’ll raise my glass to the lad and all the doctores and nurses that work so hard for so little limelight,
Lonestar
http://asonnyoutlook.blogspot.com/2011/04/gavin-whos-that-good-looking-young-man_28.html
Couldn’t finish reading, the lump in my throat is too big!
Reminds me of my best friend who died when he was 15, brave until the last. Makes me want to go wake my kids up for a cuddle.
Hoisting a single malt to his memory and the memories of all those whO have left us this year.
Credit to you Goonerholic for doing this piece, makes you realise what’s really important in life.
It certainly brought a tear to my eye, my thoughts are with his family at this moment in time.
R.I.P Sonny. xxx .
Very sad. RIP Sonny.
R.I.P sonny… his story has got me in tears.
Nice Post Holic. Kids have an almost superhuman bravery when it comes to terminal illness that we can only stand back and admire and envy as we try coming to terms with our own mortality. Perspective indeed. A galss of cream soda for the young lad please..
Very sad indeed Holic.
Thoughts are with family & friends of the young fella.
There are a whole lot of worse things out there than Arsenal finishing 4th. It helps to be reminded of them occasionally.
Cheers.
That a great post. Very sad to hear about a youngster passing…..
Words don’t really cut it. RIP Sonny.
*lump -> throat*
Thanks for the post ‘Holic , very sad news .
RIP Sonny – a very brave boy .
RIP Sonny. Goodbye to a beautiful young gooner.
How very, very sad to read his story, but at the same time an inspiring and moving blog. What a brave, loving and spirited family and such a very courageous young man.
It’s so easy to lose track with the daily pressures of life, but let’s honour Sonny’s memory, by trying to remember the important things in life and thinking of the things that unite us all: friends, family, football.
One love, fellow Gooners…
I hope his family can take some solace that he sits in the arms of “Rocky” Rocastle and all the other great arsenal players sitting in heaven, really really sad.
A message to all gooners! this is really what your team is all about, keep the faith, please stick together! Rip Sonny
God bless you Sonny and peace to your family.
Holic’
Thank you for the link. I searched around a bit more on the blog and became more and more saddened.
My greatest fear at night is the thought of my baby goonerette suffering… even if she manages it with her father’s stoicism.
It ain’t fair really.
My sincerest sympathies to Sonny’s parents and other loved ones.
Now I need a real drink…
Very sad when any child suffers.
I saw my son die when he was one month old, but that has taught me to treasure even more the daughters I have now.
If you have kids, encourage them and spend time with them every day. You never know how many days you may have.
Sympathies to all around Sonny.
Damn, Trev.
I am really sorry to hear of your tragedy.
Now I need another real drink, or, perhaps, the keys to the medicine cabinet.
Jokes, someone please…
A real tragedy ‘holic. Thanks for sharing that with all of us and like you say, this puts last season into real perspective. Sonny’s family would trade every trophy in the world to have their boy back.
A double John Daniel’s for me, and I’ll raise it to the young man.
R.I.P Sonny, tell Herbert and Rocky and all our other legends that we said hi.
Oi Sir!
You were not supposed to give me goosebumps and a lump in my throat. But then you are your fathers son.
Tragic loss. You know the story of baby S and why I am the way I am.
Perspective indeed.
RIP gooner.
Wow, god bless him.
Not the best thing to read at half six in the morning.
Rest in peace little fella.
Rip brave soul.
Bloody Hell. Tears in my eyes (and thoughts with you too, Trev), but now determined to have a fantastic day and appreciate all that I have.
Your own child ill…. the worst nightmare. Like Lonestar says, the fear comes at night.
Thanks Holic – today, and every day, is to be treasured.
‘Holic
Thank you for making us aware of this tragic tale.
It’s inspired some wonderful comments above from fellow ‘Holics.
God bless all involved and touched by this story.
I don’t have any kids but I can still imagine how incredibly painful it must be to see you son/daughter suffer and even die.
Here’s a glass to all those we have loved and lost.
Oh wow, how terribly sad.
My daughter often asks me why Arsenal are so important. I answer by saying that they are so important because they are just not important, but cant really explain it further, and she doesnt understand.
I got her to read Sonny’s story and she cried and now says she gets what I mean, and that made me cry too.
God bless Sonny, and his family.
So, so sad. Poor little fella, thoughts with his family.
Such class from the Club also.
Jesus Christ on a bike. I just spent the best part of the last hour reading his blog (more constructive than reading football blogs to pass the empty hours on a Friday afternoon) and it’s things like this that really put football, and a million other trivial little things, in perspective.
Really impressed by the strength of the people who wrote that.
Rest in peace, Sonny. And my condolences to you, Trev.
A glass raised, ‘Holics, in deeper appreciation of living the life we have.
My condolences for Sonnys family, I’ve not been on here in a while because my mum died and somehow football just stopped being remotely important, I hope they have a real support network of friends to help take that load a little, I never knew how hard it was myself
Trev, draped, feeling for you both here.
Been a tough week and Sonny’s story touched my heart.
Found out earlier in the week that ‘holicdad’s last brother, my last uncle, died a fortnight ago. Been a bit raw all week.
Puts the webwarriors into proper perspective. Family and children are everything.
Guinness please… serve Holic, Trev and DiD first…..
I like the explanation of football by Stone Roses – spot on!
Always a Guinness for you here, Catalan.
Hope the in-laws are happy tomorrow night. They may have some of the most despicable actors and divers on the planet, they may covet Cesc’s ass, but they do play lovely stuff when they get it right.
Fair play to the Manc’s though. Got a little suspicion they could show everybody they are not the ‘weaker’ side that everybody has proclaimed all season.
Should be a classic…
Cheers for the Guinness…. and thanks for the good wishes.
I’m in a fairly good position where I can embrace their joy if they win, or smugly (but quietly) enjoy them eating humble pie if the Manc’s come through. I share your suspicion……
Could boil down to who wins the toss to wine and dine the referee ๐
Heh. The power of Peek-a-Boo versus the mysteries of Fergie time!
My condolences to brave Sonny and family, and to ‘holic for the passing of the uncle. It’s raining over here. No summer in the forecast. Beer please barman.
Beer, mate? No worries. Can I recommend the Arkells 2B.
Keeps you going, apparently ๐
I’ll take several on your recommendation. ๐
Gut-wrenching story, really gets one down to earth. As a father of a boy not much younger than Sonny when he got sick, I can barely imagine the pain his family went through.
Hats off to LJW and all the other footballers who take the time to visit these kids, it must not be that easy every time they do it.
I’ll have one of those Arkells if it’s not too late.
Shitty year indeed `Holic. Are you the last generation now?
My parents got me late in life, there aren’t many left of their generation standing between me reaching that stage, can’t say I relish the concept.
Fuck that I’ll stay young forever. Like them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDevbPML338
And crazy forever like him: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLgJ9cluez4
My deepest condolences to Sonny’s friends and family. He fought very hard and battled with everything he had, God bless him!
Life is so fragile we forget about that with our busy lives we have these days and especially kids, the thought of it as I have a son who is only five frightens me.
RIP Sonny ๐
Hello Matt,
Yes, end of the line, pretty much.
Couple of fine choons there, maestro.
Paddy Power’s offer of a refund if Barca win in ninety minutes tonight means a correct score punt is quite attractive.
Think about it.
a different Sonny’s Letter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeySwoBWWDU
different story but it always moves me
from a class album
I have high hopes for tonights game. Looking forward to multiple serious injuries on both sides, not career threatening of course, but cunty-Shawcross type injuries lasting 9 – 15 months.
Then in the last minute, Scholes scythes down Xavi 2 yards outside the area, ref gives a penalty, Rooney headbutts him and gets banned for 6 months, and as the camera zooms in on an apoplectic Ferguson. his nose turns from red to deep purple before exploding in a mass of puss and alcohol, and he has to spend the rest of his life breathing through a tube in his neck.
As for the penalty, if all the above happens, I really could not care whether its scored or not.
‘holic do you have any odds against SR’s above scenario panning out, or even just the part about the SAF exploding nose? Anyhow, that sounds like a game well worth watching.
having calculated all the variables such as the identity of the ref , the c*ntishness of Scholes , the vacuum where Rooney’s brain should be , the empty Bells on Sir Red Nose’s sideboard , and the untouched Clearasil in his bathroom , I’m offering Evens .
LINK ANYONE????
a gunner – n2n4u.net
Evening all…. just reporting in from the front line. They’re a bit nervous now…..
Like SR’s dream…
Evening Catalan
They’re right to be nervous … they should be out of sight
…TABS; sound familiar?
very … but we don’t have Messi !
Tabs, thanks for the calculation. Game over. The two clubs are not really in the same class.
I hope Sonny was looking down from the Great-Emirates-In-The-Sky with a smile on his face.
yep 5-1 wouldn’t have flattered them . Rather puts our own euro exit into some perspective
I think Stone Roses has had enough perspective, holic` ๐
Loadsamoney! Thanks Barca, Paddy Power, and Evra.
Men against boys, cunto. ๐
drinks are on you ‘Holic – I’ll have a glass of Spanish Red please
Before the game I heard that Barca’s average height was, apparently, 5’8″. So, immediately alarm bells started ringing because it sounded too close to home. No big target men, what are they gonna do?
So I started to count the number of times their full backs bombed down the wing at 98 mph, leaving themselves hopelessly out of position, only to float an inch perfect cross to no-one, and their respective midfielders having to back track to cover a totally exposed situation.
I counted none, zero, nil.
I was too busy enjoying Man Utd being dismantled by one of the best teams to play the game to notice what Barca’s full backs were doing really.
Have a bottle, on the house TaBS ๐
What is frightening is that Messi is only 23, and appears to be immune to long term injuries. How far can the guy go? A couple more years at this level and people will be comparing him to Denilson.
‘Holic , thank you kind sir .
Too young for Pele , but Messi the best I’ve ever seen .
How much is Messi worth? I dont know, but supposing Man City comes in with ยฃ 100 million? It’s mind boggling.
SR- if Kaka was worth 100m a couple of years ago , Messi worth at least 175m .
Pele was the best, but Messi is what, 23, and scoring over fifty in a season in another continent. He has the potential to challenge the master, no doubt.
Definitely needs the challenge of another club though. We should dangle Denilson and Eboue in front of them with a few million chucked in to clinch the deal. After all, Messi has gone on record as wanting to play with Cesc again ๐
Re: ‘holic @65: or that might be men against cretinish boys in the case of Evra. ๐
Holic,
I need some clarification on the rules. Six minutes in a ChipsaLeeko is flagged offside. Flag is up before he gets to the ball. He shoots. For some reason he isn’t immediately shown a straight red. Now why was that?
– His name isn’t Robin?
– The ref wasn’t a cuckoo clock making c*nt
– Old Red Nose slipped the ref a bundle in advance?
Singapore is suffering a drizzle. Where’s the sun? Swindon?
I gave a talk at the US Army War College in PA last Thursday. I like to take the opportunity to weave in a few words on our Arsenal on these occasions. Wasn’t too difficult this time, what with Gunners and all.
Lots of big brass in the room (no, not dinner gongs). There was one gentleman there representing the Italian Army.
“Which team do you support?”
“Juve”
“Arsenal want Melo”
“You can have him – for free!”
After the talk he came up for a chat. In his opinion, Felipe had a shocking first season – but it all came together this season past – so he wanted to make it clear we couldn’t have him for nothing. I offered Denilson but didn’t get an immediate bite.
Alonso or Melo – Alex Song needs a rotator. I’ll take either.
I couldn’t help thinking of Steve T and the kids last night as – virtually without any width whatsoever – Barca ripped right up the middle and destroyed the deeply indebted.
We get very close to that through the middle quality when we’re at our very best. Consistency, lack of pace/tempo when the hand-brake is on and frankly lack of a Messi do us down when luminaries like Sunderland, Bolton and Co park 10.
SR @ 67 – you’re quite right, when we do get the width from the full backs it rarely comes to anything. I think you’re being a bit generous on “inch perfect crosses”, but I take your point.
The most impressive thing with Barca (aside from the fact they can play a game without theatrics) is that their defense is at best average (and that’s being nice to Valdez) but it doesn’t matter because the players upfront are so unbelievable when they don’t have the ball. I really paid attention this time and if you did too no doubt your jaws dropped like mine. 3-1 up and still every single time they lose the ball Villa, Messi, Pedro and co are sprinting at full speed towards the opposition to get it back. Every. Single. Time.
Arshavin has exactly zero chance of making it at Barca and there’s no wonder they’re balking at paying over the odds for Cesc given his reluctance to track back in his recent seasons. I really hope Arsene will eat his pride and show the team over and over what workrate is expected of them until the very last game of next season.
Couple more things:
In the spirit of this post it was a real pleasure to see Abidal play at his best only a few month after his surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. If anything I felt happy for him.
And the first team that came to my mind when I saw the team sheets: how about we pry Bebatov from MU for next to nothing?
Ooops I meant *first thing*
I’m kind of surprised you guys are surprised with this Barca performance.
That’s Barca, that’s how they play, I see it every week that it doesn’t even surprise me anymore, nothing new about it.
That’s why I think they don’t need Cesc, because they’re too good like this already.
The difference is humongous, it’s Barca, and about 50 floor under it’s Real and then everybody else.
Holic, can’t help but disagree on the greatest, for me it will always be Diego. To do what he did, is beyond crazy, take 2 teams to world glory alone (Argentina and Napoli) is special (Argentina had average players around him COMPARED to the ones Messi had around him last summer).
Snir…. I think their brilliance is more clear to us when they give a performance like that against a team we know. Otherwise it is easy for us to say…”yeah, well, it’s just Valencia etc….”
A few hangovers here today.
Not sure Man U touched the ball in the second half. I, also, noted the work rate in winning the ball back ….. it’s what we need. Whether we get it is another thing….
Oh, yeah….. and “Fuck you, Evra”
A glass of Catalan Cava please….
Hi Snir.
Not sure many were surprised, hence my punt on 3-1 and 4-1.
My surprise was the lack of amateur dramatics to achieve it. I really thought there was an epidemic of balance problems in Catalunya. That is the first game I have watched them where there was not a concerted effort to hit the deck at every opportunity by half the side.
BtM, great to see you again.
I’ll be back with something tonight, once I have watched a bit of golf and cricket. Have a great Sunday, ‘holics.
Frogball tonight, surely, ‘holic ๐
Wot, Monaco v Lyon, Ollie?
Are you being mischievous ๐
Heh, no, perhaps because of the fact that Bordeaux are involved in nothing at all (will it be too much to expect Bordeaux vs Montpellier to be enjoyable then? – guess so judging by the latest game at Toulouse),
I am actually quite ‘excited’ about the 7-team relegation battle and the fight for the final CL spot. Looking forward to a lot of drama, it could be mad until the 97th minute or something.
Afternoon ‘Holic & ‘Holics,
Enjoyed last night’s exhibition of football – a good game for ‘the neutral’ (whatever that is), I thought. I wanted Farca to win and they did it with consumate ease and a large dollop of class. Shame they can’t behave like that off the pitch.
Per tabs, perhaps there’s some pride to salvage from this season? We beat Farca fair and square at The Ems and certainly game them a tougher time over two legs than Manure managed over one.
It only served to fuel the ‘what if?’ and ‘if only’ arguments in my head. Our end of season collapse in form and our dodgy exit form the CL still irks me.
‘Holic @ #74 – Great point re: Messi and if he comes and Bendy stays he can train The Dane to make that final step in becoming the world’s #1 striker *TS points himself to the MC*
‘BTM @ #76 – I think you understand the rules only too well.
Dr. C @ #84 – Spot on, I was thinking exactly the same thing last night.
tabs @ ’73,
I’ve got a tenner burning a hole in my pocket. Shall we start a whip round the bar?
Afternoon All ,
TS – That bet looked a good one for one glorious moment when Sir F’s nose went into full quiver alarm stage 3 mode during his ITV post match interview . I really thought he was going to fully expose his pus-ridden , drink-sodden c*ntishness live on air to an audience of millions .
BTM @77 – Any chance of bringing back a Sergeant-Major from your conference and dropping him off at the Ems ?
‘Holic @74 – I would go further – retain Schez , Sagna VP and Fab . Sell the rest to fund the purchase of Messi , and line up next season in a revolutionary new 1-1-2 formation – I think it might work .
In other news , Robbie Savage has been lured to Columbia on the promise of spending a night being pleasured by Carlos Valderrama , and I fully expect to be able to report delivery of the new CMC in the next couple of days . Once it arrives , the penile torturers ( care of Arseblogger ) , will begin to work on Lady Robbie .
Carlos Valderrama, heh, tabs.
tabs @ #91
To what are they going to attach their implements of torture?
Is he Lady Gaga in disguise?
It’s obvious we’re interested in Samba.
The AFC fanbase is split on him being the answer.
I just thought about it, he may not be the best CB in the world, but he can add a whole lot on set pieces and in any case he won’t be under as much as threat as at Blackburn since we hold the ball 70% of the time.
People want big names and go down on AW on not bringing them in but people forget he didn’t bring too many big names, he made them.
Vidic, Ferdinand, Park, Rooney, RvN – Those and more were all prospects with potential, they weren’t stars (with all due respect to West Ham, Rio was NOT a star at West Ham) and he made sure they reached that potential.
AW did the same with Vieira, Pires, Freddie, Thierry etc.
He’s just not getting as much patience as SAF cause of that “6 year run”…
I have a feeling Samba could be a good solution.
Samba, Parker, Hazard/Gervinho, Striker and I don’t see why we can’t win it next season (despite what people might make you believe).
But MOST IMPORTANTLY, hire a new club psychologist!!!
Spammer.
Stop wasting your time and mine.
‘Holic @ #95
It’s all Greek to me ๐
TS – More Lily Savage than Lady GaGa – Lady Robbie a man despite all appearances to the contrary .
Ollie – Carlos Valderrama – still making a living as one of The Supremes , I believe .
Snir – have to disagree I’m afraid . Ferdinand , Rooney and VN were all established internationals when bought by Red-Nose . Ferdinand was named in the world XI after the 2002 World Cup , Rooney cost 25m , and VN had already won a couple of Grand Nationals by the time he turned up at the Swamplands .
tabs @ #97
I stand corrected. Could Paul O’Grady be Robbie Savage’s biological father?
TS – the result of a coupling between Paul O ‘Grady and Babs Windsor , I believe .
No-one to take 100th?
Mind if I do then.
And that’s a round for everyone in the bar (oh just me then?)
So what are the lessons to be learned from yesterday (apart from poor SAF who couldn’t raise a smile in defeat)
We must be better in front of goal (RVP excepted), and a front line of 3-4 when in possession which becomes a midfield of 6 when the ball is lost
We must tackle back properly not just run back occasionally to block passes
We must pass even faster than we do – positionally we are fine to receive the ball
Possession of 60+% consistently
All of this then who cares about defensive qualities
I can but dream – time for a cognac in the sun
Thank you ‘holic, for bringing this to my attention. Makes one really think about value in life.
Rest in peace, Sonny.