[TomClare]

MY DREAM DINNER TABLE

MANCHESTER UNITED EXCLUSIVE THE BOSS AS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE

04/06/2007


SIR ALEX FERGUSON has revealed his five ideal dinner party guests - the men who have inspired and influenced the Manchester United boss during his glittering career.

1. VINCENT LOMBARDI:
Fergie: "He used to coach the Green Bay Packers. They'd never won a sausage in their lives until he came along. They're based just north of Chicago, and it's so cold even the birds don't whistle. He went up there and won two Super Bowls. That place has a population of about 20,000. Incredible. When I was reading his book, When Pride Still Mattered, I thought 'I'm reading about myself here'. All the things he did, in terms of obsession, preparation, detail and so on, was what I'd done."


2. NELSON MANDELA:
Fergie: "I've met him three times and found him fascinating company, because you've got to think 'this is history'. He broke a racial barrier that no-one thought could ever happen. The first time I met him was in 1993, when we'd just won the league. The next time was in Monte Carlo, when we won the award for team of the year. When he made his speech that night, the hairs on the back of my neck were standing on end. And I met him last summer on our pre-season tour of South Africa."

3. DENIS LAW:
Fergie: "Denis was my hero. When I was a player, I tried to copy him. The way he wore his sleeves, the way he wiped his nose, everything. To me, Denis epitomised everything a Scotsman was. One, he could start a row in an empty house and fight his shadow. Two, he loved chasing lost causes. To me he represented what a real Scotsman was."

4. JOCK STEIN:
Fergie: "I worked with Jock two years prior to him dying and I found that time absolutely riveting. I was a young manager and would quiz him about this and that. He was such a modest man and would never take any praise for himself. We'd be talking until 3am and I'd be saying to Jock, 'I've got to get to my bed, I've got a game in the morning'. He'd say: 'Don't worry son, you'll get a nap in the afternoon'. A remarkable man."

5. MUHAMMAD ALI:
Fergie: "He was the greatest sportsman of all time. I met him briefly, once. What he did about not joining the army was not about a refusal to fight for America, it was a refusal to fight against people he didn't know. He said: 'I don't even know these Vietnamese, why am I going to fight people I don't know?' It made him unpopular, but when the effect of Vietnam really took shape, I don't think many people doubted his motives. It was a big stand for a young man. It showed great courage, quite aside from his boxing skills."


Now - what would your's be?

[TomClare]

Mine would be:

Duncan Edwards
Steve Biko
John F. Kennedy
Christiaan Barnard
Neil Armstrong

[Vermont Red]

1. Dark Savante (if his mother says OK)
2. Sir Alex Ferguson
3. Penelope Cruz
4. Bruce Springsteen
5. Jesus of Nazareth, but if he's busy then Hugh Hefner

[sitati_kituyi]

Steve Biko - Peaceful anti-Apartheid campaigner, murdered by police. "The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed"

Dedan Kimathi - A leader of the Kenyan independence fighters, Mau Mau, convicted and murdered by the British rule. "We'd rather die on our feet than live on our knees"

Muhammad Ali - SAF said it all.

Nelson Mandela - SAF said it all.

Ryan Giggs - My childhood idol, for no other reason than that he mastered the one thing I have the biggest passion for, and that he did it at the one institution I have most love and pride for, Manchester United.

[SirManchester]

This list would probably change for me over time but at the moment it's like this:

1. Eric Cantona - He was my introduction to Manchester United and represented everything I came to love about the club and football. He's an artist on and off the pitch, a quiet and humble man who has plenty on his mind - the first footballer and philosopher I've come to know. He'd bring the wine and cheese.

2. Alfred Hitchcock - It's between him and Kubrick, but I think he'll eventually have more to say and teach me. He's a fascinating man and still the only film director to successfully blend the classic Hollywood picture with the "art film".

3. Jimi Hendrix - It's ********ing Jimi Hendrix maaaan! He'd bring the dope.

4. Adolf Hitler - If I have to pick one historical figure. Stigma aside, he was a genius AND a nutcase and would make for some interesting debates with Jimi. (Lenin will be at the next dinner)

5. Alan Moore - He's my favorite graphic novelists and I've always found his private yet reclusive life fascinating.

[United Pumps]

1. Pete Townshend
2. Roger Daltrey
3. John Entwistle
4. Keith Moon
5. George Best

Alcohol would need to be supplied by the gallon.

[Raj222]

1. Eric Cantona
2. Ryan Giggs
3. Cam'ron
4. Roger Federer
5. Muhammad Ali

[CescMate]

Che Guevara
Mandela
Richard Dawkins
Keano (obligatory reference and some fireworks)
John Lennon

[Karloski]

1. SAF - Facinating football insight
2. Peter Cook - He'd be hilarious
3. Cleopatra - I heard she was easy (probably got some interesting things to say aswell)
4. Richard pryor - Also Hilarious (more laughter the better)
5. Rasputin the mad monk - He crazy

[SirManchester]

Originally Posted by United Pumps

1. Pete Townshend
2. Roger Daltrey
3. John Entwistle
4. Keith Moon
5. George Best

Alcohol would need to be supplied by the gallon.

whoa, who are your backups, John Bonham, Layne Staley and the guy in the pool from Decline of the Western Civilization II?

Also, I'm appauled at no Jerry Fallwell mentions.