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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/shortcuts/2013/sep/17/paddy-power-football-homophobia-dennis-rodman
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How Paddy Power plans to rid football of homophobia and unite North Korea with the west | How Paddy Power plans to rid football of homophobia and unite North Korea with the west |
(35 minutes later) | |
Name Paddy Power. | Name Paddy Power. |
Age 25 | Age 25 |
Appearance Green, cheerful, unhinged. | Appearance Green, cheerful, unhinged. |
He sounds best avoided Yes, although it isn't easy. He's not really a he, for a start. | He sounds best avoided Yes, although it isn't easy. He's not really a he, for a start. |
What is he then? More of a shadowy international organisation. | What is he then? More of a shadowy international organisation. |
How intriguing. With what aims? To banish homophobia from sport, develop peace through increased understanding with North Korea, promote gambling. | How intriguing. With what aims? To banish homophobia from sport, develop peace through increased understanding with North Korea, promote gambling. |
A mixed bag, you might say. Yes. Although it is primarily a bookmaking firm, so the last one is predictable. | A mixed bag, you might say. Yes. Although it is primarily a bookmaking firm, so the last one is predictable. |
And what is a bookie doing for gay rights? Well, it is sponsoring a campaign by the charity Stonewall that aims to persuade professional footballers to wear rainbow-coloured laces in their boots. So even though hardly any British footballers have ever come out as gay, they can still raise awareness and show their support. | And what is a bookie doing for gay rights? Well, it is sponsoring a campaign by the charity Stonewall that aims to persuade professional footballers to wear rainbow-coloured laces in their boots. So even though hardly any British footballers have ever come out as gay, they can still raise awareness and show their support. |
Clever. And how are they going to achieve peace with North Korea? A cheerful, bright green pre-emptive airstrike? Worse. They've sent in Dennis Rodman. | Clever. And how are they going to achieve peace with North Korea? A cheerful, bright green pre-emptive airstrike? Worse. They've sent in Dennis Rodman. |
Not him again? Yes, him again. He returned to Pyongyang earlier in the month for another meeting with Kim Jong-un. Now he plans to stage a series of showpiece basketball matches between a North Korean team and a group of former NBA players. He's also agreed to coach the North Korean Olympic team. | Not him again? Yes, him again. He returned to Pyongyang earlier in the month for another meeting with Kim Jong-un. Now he plans to stage a series of showpiece basketball matches between a North Korean team and a group of former NBA players. He's also agreed to coach the North Korean Olympic team. |
And what's that got to do with Paddy Power? It gave him money, presumably, and in return he wore a Paddy Power cap. | And what's that got to do with Paddy Power? It gave him money, presumably, and in return he wore a Paddy Power cap. |
What larks. Will it also be sponsoring some of the regime's murders, gulags and forced abortions? No plans have been announced thus far. | What larks. Will it also be sponsoring some of the regime's murders, gulags and forced abortions? No plans have been announced thus far. |
Right. Just one more question: what the bejesus is it playing at? Well bookies are always seen as cold, calculating mathematicians who get rich off the credulity and desperation of the betting public. | Right. Just one more question: what the bejesus is it playing at? Well bookies are always seen as cold, calculating mathematicians who get rich off the credulity and desperation of the betting public. |
Whereas? Oh there isn't a whereas. That's what bookies do. It's just that Paddy Power tries to give itself a human face by acting alternately zany and concerned. Its spokesman and chief marketeer tends to be behind things, and runs the company's Twitter account. | Whereas? Oh there isn't a whereas. That's what bookies do. It's just that Paddy Power tries to give itself a human face by acting alternately zany and concerned. Its spokesman and chief marketeer tends to be behind things, and runs the company's Twitter account. |
What's his name? Paddy Power. | What's his name? Paddy Power. |
You mean he's sponsored himself? No, that is actually his name. He's the son of David Power, one of the three men who founded the company in Ireland in 1988. | You mean he's sponsored himself? No, that is actually his name. He's the son of David Power, one of the three men who founded the company in Ireland in 1988. |
It must be fun round their house at Christmas. I'm sure it is. They're very rich, for starters. | It must be fun round their house at Christmas. I'm sure it is. They're very rich, for starters. |
Do say "How about sending Dennis Rodman to Palestine? That could do so much good!" | Do say "How about sending Dennis Rodman to Palestine? That could do so much good!" |
Don't say "How about just not encouraging people to gamble?" | Don't say "How about just not encouraging people to gamble?" |
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