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?
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
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.
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.
1. Pete Townshend 2. Roger Daltrey 3. John Entwistle 4. Keith Moon 5. George Best Alcohol would need to be supplied by the gallon.
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
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.
1)Tupac Shakur 2)Sir Alex Ferguson 3)Notorious BIG 4)Osama Bin Laden 5)Beyonce(we'd all run the train on her afterwards)
Bill Clinton- Genius extremely motivated and persuasive. Bill Gates- Richest man in the world. Jim Morrison- He was brilliant, psychotic, and influential all rolled into 1. Wilt Chamberlain- He banged 20,000 women need I say more. Gandhi- He'd cost nothing to feed.
The other ones are hacks, I know that, but this guy, besides his street magic stuff and some ridiculous tricks (like ripping his heart out) has done some really impressive things - in an ice box for 60 hours, standing for 2 days on top of a pillar, underwater for a week... You can't fake that.
Roy Keane - Goes without saying really. Harry Truman - One of the more underrated Presidents, imo. Had to make a terrifying decision to drop the bomb on Japan. Perhaps the most important (and/or controversial) decision in the 20th century. Would very much like to pick his brain. Erwin Rommel - The "Desert Fox." His cooperation with the plot to kill Hitler cost him his life. Unfortunate for him, but good for the Allies, as it might have been what cost Germany the War. To hear him discuss that event and his forced suicide would be unreal, not to mention hear his opinion on current military situations. I've never been in the service, but I've always admired the great commanders of all time, which Rommel certainly was, and what my next guest was as well. Tecumsah Sherman - Along with Ulysses Grant, promoted the "Total War" Union campaign during the Civil War. Always been a keen admirer of that strategy for the Civil War. Has a rep as being very blunt and I would love to hear his opinions on the world currently, as with Rommel. I imagine those two could have some very interesting conversation. Thom Yorke - Radiohead are my favorite band of all time, and Yorke is a straight forward, blunt character that would be a delight at a dinner party. He would definitely have some opinions on current events and he is quite intelligent so I would like to hear him interracting with the other guests. After dinner, I can easily see Truman, Rommel, Yorke and myself retreating to the smoking room for cigars and brandy while Sherman and Keano go to the basement to bare knuckle fight each other.