Saturday, June 30, 2018

Thought for the Day



Football Moments, Part #1

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“The important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part; the important thing in Life is not triumph, but the struggle; the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” 
- Baron Pierre de Coubertin
founder of the modern Olympic Games. 

“Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” 
- Vince Lombardi
American football player, coach, and executive in the National Football League. 

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World Cup Items: 

I have previously mentioned that the World Cup doesn’t interest me as much as it stirs other people. That is not to say that I don’t read the news items. 

Two items caught my attention in the last couple of days, both being regarded as being at the lesser end of the scale of sportsmanship: 

Japan v Poland, 2018: 

Japan was losing 1-0 in its match against Poland in the knowledge that Poland would not advance, Poland having already lost two games. 

Elsewhere Colombia defeated Senegal 1-0. This meant that Senegal and Japan would both finish on the same amount of points with the same goal difference. An earlier 2-2 draw between the two sides meant they couldn’t be split by their head-to-head record. So, for the first time in World Cup history, Fair Play rules came into effect, where the team with fewer yellow cards would advance. Senegal had picked up six yellows in the tournament while Japan only had four, so it went through to the next phase. 

Both matches were being played simultaneously and once word filtered through to the Japanese that Colombia had scored against Senegal in the 74th minute, they knew they had done enough to advance even though it was losing late in its match. At that point Japan gave up playing attacking football and simply passed the ball amongst its players, back and forth in little triangles in its own half. By not bothering to press forward, Japan ensured it could focus on keeping possession and staying compact in defence so that conceding a second goal — which would have knocked it out — was out of the equation. 

“My decision was to rely on the other match,” Japan coach Akira Nishino admitted after full-time. “I’m not too happy about this but … I forced my players to do what I said. And we went through.” He summed it up as: “I am not too happy about this, but . . . It’s the World Cup, and sometimes these things can’t be avoided.” 

Belgium v England, 2018: 

Belgium defeated England 1-0 to finish top of Group G. 

Both countries were already assured of advancing to the next stage so that it did not matter who won. Both countries fielded what were largely second-string sides.

Before the match there was much discussion about whether it was better to finish first or second in the group. Whichever team finished second in Group G goes into what’s considered an easier side of the draw with countries like Russia, Denmark and Switzerland, but whoever finished top goes into the other half of the draw with sides like Brazil, Portugal and Uruguay — considered a tougher route to the final. 

Commentators have described the match as resembling a friendly more than a World Cup clash, lacking intensity and killer instinct. 

Belgium earned two yellow cards in the first half — giving it five for the tournament compared to England’s two. A draw would have put both sides equal on points, goal difference and head-to-head, meaning whoever had the most yellow cards would finish second. It has been suggested that the earning of the yellow cards was deliberate. 

To be fair, the second half had more intensity and Belgium scored, perhaps motivated by the expressions of displeasure of the spectators during the first half. 

England will play Colombia while Belgium takes on Japan in Round 16. 

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The above events reminded me of a football encounter that was not only shameful but farcical, that has been featured in Bytes previously, as has the one which follows it. Here are reprints of the Bytes items regarding the first two, plus some additional low moments. 

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Barbados v Grenada 
1994 Shall Caribbean Cup: 

The Shell Caribbean Cup was the football championship of the Caribbean. 

The following is a Wikipedia report on one game in that competition, the surreal 1994 match between Barbados and Grenada: 
Grenada went into the match with a superior goal difference, meaning that Barbados needed to win by two goals to progress to the finals. The trouble was caused by two things. First, unlike most group stages in football competitions, the organizers had deemed that all games must have a winner. All games drawn over 90 minutes would go to sudden death extra time. Secondly and most importantly, there was an unusual rule which stated that in the event of a game going to sudden death extra time the goal would count double, meaning that the winner would be awarded a two goal victory.

Barbados was leading 2-0 until the 83rd minute, when Grenada scored, making it 2-1.

Approaching the dying moments, the Barbadians realized they had little chance of scoring past Grenada's mass defence in the time available, so they deliberately scored an own goal to tie the game at 2-2. This would send the game into extra time and give them another half hour to break down the defence.

The home goal scored. 

The Grenadians realised what was happening and attempted to score an own goal as well, which would put Barbados back in front by one goal and would eliminate Barbados from the competition.

However, the Barbados players started defending their opposition's goal to prevent them from doing this, and during the game's last five minutes, the fans were treated to the incredible sight of Grenada trying to score in either goal while Barbados defended both ends of the pitch.

Barbados successfully held off Grenada for the final five minutes, sending the game into extra time. In extra time, Barbados notched the game-winner, and, according to the rules, was awarded a 4-2 victory, which put them through to the next round.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_Caribbean_Cup 
In a press conference after the game, Grenadian manager James Clarkson said: 
"I feel cheated. The person who came up with these rules must be a candidate for a madhouse. The game should never be played with so many players running around the field confused. Our players did not even know which direction to attack: our goal or their goal. I have never seen this happen before. In football, you are supposed to score against the opponents to win, not for them" 

Ultimately Trinidad / Tobago defeated Barbados and went on to defeat Martinique in the final. 

The scoring rules were not used in the Cup after 1994. 

Additional:

The following account is from Siom Gardiner's 2005 book Sports Law:
Needing to beat Grenada by two clear goals to qualify for the finals in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados had established a 2-0 lead midway through the second half and were seemingly well in control of the game. However, an own goal by a Bajan defender made the score 2-1 and brought a new ruling into play, which led to farce. Under the new rule, devised by the competition committee to ensure a result, a match decided by sudden death in extra time was deemed to be the equivalent of a 2-0 victory. With three minutes remaining, the score still 2-1 and Grenada about to qualify for the finals, Barbados realised that their only chance lay in taking the match to sudden death. They stopped attacking their opponents’ goal and turned on their own. In the 87th minute, two Barbadian defenders, Sealy and Stoute, exchanged passes before Sealy hammered the ball past his own goalkeeper for the equaliser.The Grenada players, momentarily stunned by the goal, realised too late what was happening and immediately started to attack their own goal as well to stop sudden death. Sealy, though, had anticipated the response and stood beside the Grenada goalkeeper as the Bajans defended their opponents’ goal. Grenada were unable to score at either end, the match ended 2-2 after 90 minutes and, after four minutes of extra time, Thorne scored the winner for Barbados amid scenes of celebration and laughter in the National Stadium in Bridgetown.
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To be continued.

Friday, June 29, 2018

Thought for the Day



Funny Friday

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The World Cup being played at the moment sets the theme for today's Funny Friday: sport.  Hopefully there are some giggles, chuckles, if not belly laughs, in the following. . . 

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Stevie Wonder and Jack Nicklaus are in a bar. Nicklaus turns to Wonder and says, "How is the singing career going?" Stevie Wonder says, "Not too bad, the latest album has gone into the top 10, so all in all I think it is pretty good. By the way how is the golf." Nicklaus replies: "Not too bad, I am not winning as much as I used to but I'm still making a bit of money. I have some problems with my swing but I think I've got that right now." 

"I always find that when my swing goes wrong I need to stop playing for a while and think about it, then the next time I play it seems to be all right," says Stevie. "You play golf!?" asks Jack. Stevie says, "Yes, I have been playing for years." "But I thought you were blind; how can you play golf if you are blind?" Jack asks. 

“I get my caddie to stand in the middle of the fairway and he calls to me. I listen for the sound of his voice and play the ball towards him, then when I get to where the ball lands the caddie moves to the green or further down the fairway and again I play the ball towards his voice," explains Stevie. 

"But how do you putt?" Nicklaus wondered. "Well," says Stevie, "I get my caddie to lean down in front of the hole and call to me with his head on the ground and I just play the ball to the sound of his voice." Nicklaus says, "What is your handicap?" "Well, I play off scratch," Stevie assures Jack. 

Nicklaus is incredulous and says to Stevie, "We must play a game sometime." Wonder replies, "Well, people don't take me seriously so I only play for money, and I never play for less than $100,000 a hole." Nicklaus thinks it over and says, "OK, I'm up for that. When would you like to play?" 

"I don't care - any night next week is OK with me." 

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Harry walked over to the priest after services, “You know Father, I am really stuck in a quandary I would like to attend church next week but I just can’t miss the big game next Sunday, it’s just out of the question.” “Oh Harry, Harry,” said the priest, putting his arm around Harry. “Don’t you know? That’s what recorders are for.” Harry’s face lit up . . . “You mean I could record your sermon?” 

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Football consists of 22 men on the field desperately in need of a rest, and 40,000 in the stands desperately in need of exercise. 

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On a golf tour in Ireland, Tiger Woods drives his BMW into a petrol station in a remote part of the Irish countryside. The pump attendant, obviously knows nothing about golf, greets him in a typical Irish manner completely unaware of who the golfing pro is. 

"Top of the mornin' to yer, sir" says the attendant. 

Tiger nods a quick "hello" and bends forward to pick up the nozzle. As he does so, two tees fall out of his shirt pocket onto the ground. 

"What are those?", asks the attendant. 

"They're called tees" replies Tiger. 

"Well, what on the God's earth are dey for?" inquires the Irishman. 

"They're for resting my balls on when I'm driving", says Tiger. 

"Fookin Jaysus", says the Irishman, "BMW thinks of everything." 

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A woman arrived at a party. 

While scanning the guests, she spotted an attractive man standing alone. 

She approached him, smiled and said, "Hello. My name is Carmen." 

"That’s a beautiful name," he replied. "Is it a family name?" 

"No," she replied. "As a matter of fact I gave it to myself. It represents the things that I enjoy the most – cars and men. Therefore I chose 'Carmen'." 

"What’s your name?” she asked. 

He answered "B. J. Titsengolf." 

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The huge college freshman decided to try out for the football team. "Can you tackle?" asked the coach. "Watch this," said the freshman, who proceeded to run smack into a telephone pole, shattering it to splinters. "Wow," said the coach. "I'm impressed. Can you run?" "Of course I can run," said the freshman. He was off like a shot, and, in just over nine seconds, he had run a hundred yard dash. "Great!" enthused the coach. "But can you pass a football?" The freshman hesitated for a few seconds. "Well, sir," he said, "if I can swallow it, I can probably pass it." 

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The Germans are out of the World Cup. 

Don’t mention the VAR 

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Last time Germany got knocked out of the World Cup in the group stages was in 1938 and we all know how well they took that... 

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Quickest German exit from Russia since 1945. 

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Corn Corner: 

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Two guys were playing golf, one of them was about to swing the golf club when he noticed a funeral procession going by on the street. The man stopped in mid-swing and closed his eyes and said a short prayer. The other man truly inspired, remarked, clearing his throat, “Wow, that was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.” “Well”, the other man said, “I was married to her for 35 years.” 

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My wife said that I'm hopeless at mending electrical appliances. 

Well, she's in for a shock. 

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My wife threatens to leave me if I don’t stop my obsession with corny film dialogue. 

I’ve got a bad feeling about this. 

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Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Thought for the Day



More big things . . . outside New South Wales

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The Big Owl 
Belconnen, Australian Capital Territory 


For those readers overseas who are not aware, the Australian Capital Territory is the home of the Australian Federal parliament and of Australia’s capital city, Canberra. The head of the ACT is known as the Chief Minister. 

In 2011 outgoing Chief Minister Jon Stanhope unveiled the latest public art installation, an 8 metre fibreglass owl on Belconnen Way at the main entrance to the Belconnen town centre. Melbourne sculptor Bruce Armstrong chose an owl as his subject because it is traditionally linked to wisdom, and . . . wait for this . . . a group of owls is known as a parliament. It cost $400,000! Ouch. 

Unkind Canberrans have referred to the sculpture as the Penis Owl in that from certain angles, especially the back, it is said to resemble a huge penis . . . 



Maybe it is apt when one remembers the old joke: 

Q: What is the difference between a cactus and a caucus? 
A: A cactus has all the pricks on the outside. 

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Woman and Child 
Anmatjere Man 
Aileron, Northern Territory 

Located about 150 kilometres north of Alice Springs is the town of Aileron. 


The Anmatjere Woman And Child statue is located behind the art gallery at Aileron: 



Nearby at the top of Aileron Hill stands the statue of Anmatjere Man, also known as The Big Aboriginal Hunter, and he is big, I mean big . . . 


The statues were erected in 2005 to increase tourism. 

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The Big Cane Toad 
Sarina, Queensland 


Who would want to erect a statue to such a repulsive object?? 

From the Mackay Region tourism website: 
His scientific name is Bufo Marinus, but the locals have nicknamed him 'Buffy'.

Situated in the town centre of Sarina, approximately 35 kilometres south of Mackay, Buffy is a large Cane Toad statue. It was originally crafted out of paper mache in 1983 to become a float for a sugar festival. It was later cast in fibreglass to become a fixture in the town, in recognition of Sarina's cane farming history.

Buffy is located on Broad Street, which is also the Bruce Highway, the main road that passes through the middle of the town of Sarina. It sits in-between the north and south bound lanes.

Facilities close to Buffy include angled parking, public toilets, a gazebo, rubbish bins and picnic tables under trees for shade, making it a lovely area to stop for a picnic, and a photo with this iconic big statue.
https://www.mackayregion.com/big-cane-toad
Cane toads were introduced into Australia in 1935 to try to deal with the cane beetle, which was harmful to sugar cane. Bad idea. The cane toads multiplied and multiplied. They killed local wildlife both directly and indirectly, in the latter case by poisoning animals which ate them. They have adapted to climate conditions and have spread, including to NSW. Oh, and they didn’t make an impact on the cane beetles. 

Take the time to have a look at:

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The Big Captain Cook 
Cairns Qld 


No, wait, that's the wrong photo, this is the right one. . . 


From:  
Located on the Cook Highway as you enter Cairns from the north, the Big Captain Cook is a huge 14m high structure that has even been voted as Australia’s No. 1 Big Thing in one online poll.

The conception of the Big Captain Cook started as an advertising gimmick that would be used to promote the Endeavour Inn. When the plans were presented to the Council, the measurements were mistakenly read as feet and inches instead of metres and it was approved. Building went underway and needless to say, once it was unveiled in 1972, it was a lot bigger than expected. The Endeavour Inn was later renamed as the Captain Cook Backpackers Hostel.

In case you were wondering, the statue is not motioning to ‘Heil Hitler’. The design is based on a 1902 painting of Captain Cook landing at Botany Bay and commanding his crew to not shoot the approaching aborigines. Some locals believe that the statue is trying to hold back the barrage of tourists that visit Cairns every year.

Over the years, the statue has been repainted many times in a variety of colours, but the most controversial announcement came from the owner in 2010, who wanted to repaint the statue to look like George Washington. Cairns locals protested and the mayor said it would be “un-Cairns-like”. To make 2010 an even worse year for the Big Cook, plans to widen the Cook Highway meant that the statue might need to be moved, which put it at risk of crumbling due to ‘concrete cancer’.

The Captain Cook Backpackers Hostel was demolished in the mid-1990s and the surrounding trees are almost all gone too. These days, the lonely Big Captain Cook is fenced off in his own vacant lot, awaiting his fate. 


Thought for the Day



Some word origins


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Not worth a tinker’s damn:

Sometimes the phrase is expressed as not giving a tinker’s cuss.

A tinker was an itinerant mender of pots and pans. Tinkers had a reputation for cursing, like many tradesmen of that era, and a tinker’s damn was not worth much because tinkers damned everything.

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Tit for tat:

The phrase means retaliation, respond in kind, and it developed from the phrase first recorded in the early 15th century of “tip for tap”, meaning a blow for a blow.  By the mid 16th century the phrase had become “tit for tat”.


They say that life is tit for tat
And that's the way I live
So, I deserve a lot of tat
For what I've got to give

-       Lyric from “When You’re Good to Mama”, Chicago, sung by Queen Latifah

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Skid Row:

The term is an Americanism that refers to the lower end of town, often frequented by vagrants, alcoholics and the homeless.

The term originated in the 19th century from “skid road”, referring to a logging road paved with tree trunks, or skids. By the 20th century the term came to refer to a run-down neighbourhood, the place where the loggers gathered when in town.  From there the words changed to “skid row”.

From the 1880 New York Adirondack Survey:

Advised that lumbermen had cut “skid roads” on which logs were drawn..., I changed the route.

Godfrey Irwin’s 1931 American Tramp and Underworld Slang records “Skid row, the district where workers congregate when in town or away from their job.”  Albin Jay Pollock’s 1935 The Underworld Speaks records “Skid row, district in a city where tramps (bums) congregate.”


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Take the mickey:

A phrase  commonly used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, it means to make fun of someone.

It is believed that the phrase “Take the mickey" may be an abbreviated form of the Cockney rhyming slang "take the Mickey Bliss", a euphemism for "take the piss." It has also been suggested that "mickey" is a contraction of "micturition,"in which case "take the micturition" would be a synonymous euphemism for "take the piss." The phrase has been noted since the 1930s.



Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Thought for the Day



Some Duels . . .

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In early days, trial by combat was commonplace.  The winner was deemed vindicated by the law and by God.


In the 12th century, chronicler Galbert of Bruges recorded a trial by combat between a knight named Guy of Steenvoorde and a knight named Herman the Iron.  Guy was suspected of involvement in the murder of  a count, one Charles of Flanders, and was ordered to battle Herman.

According to Galbert, the chronicler: 
“Guy unhorsed his adversary and pinned him down with his lance… Then [Herman] disembowelled Guy’s horse by running at him with his sword. Guy, having fallen from his horse, rushed at Herman with his sword drawn. There was a long and bitter struggle with clashing of swords, until both were exhausted [and] fell to wrestling. Herman fell on the ground and Guy did lay upon him, beating his face and eyes with iron gauntlets. But Herman lay prostrate, regained his strength from the cool of the earth and lay quiet, leading Guy to believe that he was victorious. But Herman moved his hand to Guy’s cuirass [apron armour] where he was not protected and seized him by the testicles, and summoning all his might hurled Guy from him. By this motion all the lower parts of Guy’s body were broken [and he] gave up, crying out that he was beaten and was dying.” 
Herman the Iron was declared victorious and Guy of Steenvoorde was dragged to the gallows, where he was finished off alongside other conspirators.

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Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) was President of the US from 1829 to 1837.  He was also a prodigious dueller and hothead.  He hqad fought 103 duels before becoming President, many in defence of the reputation of his wife Rachel or because of some slight about her.  Jackson had married Rachel in 1791 after she had separated from her abusive husband, Lewis Robards.  However her divorce had not been finalised so that Jackson’s marriage to her was bigamous, causing one Charles Dickinson (aged 26) to make a snide comment about her in 1806 and resulting in Jackson (aged 39)  challenging him to a duel.


Dickinson, also an accomplished duellist, fired first.  The bullet struck one of the buttons on Jackson’s loose overcoat and succeeded only in breaking two ribs.  When Jackson remained standing, Dickinson exclaimed “My God.  Have I missed him?” 

Jackson fired next but his pistol misfired, the flint hammer stopping half-cocked, not counting as a legitimate shot.  Under the rules, Jackson had the right to fire again.  Dickinson had no choice but to stand and watch Jackson carefully aim and fire.  The bullet hit Dickinson in the chest and he died later that night.

Jackson lived thereafter with a bullet inches from his heart that was never removed. Reflecting on the duel, the doctor remarked to Jackson, “I don’t see how you stayed on your feet after that wound.” Jackson responded, “I would have stood up long enough to kill him if he had put a bullet in my brain.”

 Dickinson was the only man Jackson ever killed in a duel, despite the 100 and more in which he participated.

Dickinson had killed 26 men.

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In 1829 British Prime Minister the Duke of Wellington met Lord Winchelsea, Welington being the only elected head of state to fight a duel. 

The Tory Government had passed the Catholic Relief Bill, a contentious Act to improve Catholic emancipation and which permitted Catholics to take a seat in Parliament. Wellington had been previously against Catholic emancipation but circumstances in Ireland and fear of rebellion forced him to change his views and push the Act through Parliament. 

The Earl of Winchelsea, a staunch Protestant, in correspondence later published in the Standard newspaper, accused Wellington of deception and of intending to introduce “Popery into every department of the state.”

Wellington challenged him to a duel and they met with pistols at dawn on Battersea Fields, among the cabbages, as the Morning Herald observed. 


The Duke of Wellington fired first, but without effect. The Earl then discharged his pistol in the air.

With both party's honour satisfied, the Earl then tendered a retraction and an apology which the Duke accepted.



Monday, June 25, 2018

Thought for the Day



World Press Photo of the Year: 1989


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Award:
World Press Photo of the Year
Year:
1989
Photographer:
Charlie Cole
Photograph(s):
A protester, later dubbed Tank Man, stops a group of People's Liberation Army battle tanks during the massacre in Tiananmen, Beijing.

The Photographs:


Charlie Cole’s photos of Tank man

Back in 2011 I posted an item about this iconic image, which I reprint as follows: 
A photograph may be iconic for being a memorable moment frozen in time, or because it is a significant first or records a historic event, or simply because it has developed a popular awareness for some reason. There are a myriad reasons as to why a photograph comes to be regarded as iconic. One photograph has developed such a status by recording a brief moment of courage by an unknown, ordinary individual, a moment of inspiration in history. At time when protests against governments have spread from Egypt to other middle east countries, it is worth reflecting on such earlier events. In 1989 hundreds of thousands of demonstrators occupied Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, calling for political reform and the resignation of the communist leadership. They were led by students, 3,000 of whom staged a hunger strike in the square. The old guard of leaders determined to crack down on the protest and sent in troops. In the massacre that followed, more than one thousand unarmed protesters were killed by government troops. Apart from troops, tanks were used to crush vehicles, obstacles and people. The morning after the massacre, more tanks were sent to the scene. A man with a shopping bag in each hand stood in front of the column of tanks, bringing it to a halt. He even climbed onto the lead tank to remonstrate with the occupants before being led away. There has been conjecture as to whether those who led him away were concerned civilians or secret police and as to whether he was executed. To this day his identity and fate remain unknown. Four photographers managed to capture the image on film, although the photograph by Jeff Widener is the most commonly reproduced. It appears above. 
The four photographs of the man and the tanks on Changan Avenue, all taken from the Beijing Hotel. Left to right, top to bottom:Charlie Cole, Jeff Widener/Associated Press, Stuart Franklin/Magnum Photos, Arthur Tsang Hin Wah/Reuters. 
Known today only by the name Tank Man, the man who stopped the tanks, if only for a brief time, has become an iconic symbol for the democracy movement in China.  He has also become an international symbol for ordinary citizens standing up to injustice, no matter how powerful the opponent. To this day, no one knows who he is or what became of him. 
The Photographer:

Charlie Cole, working for Newsweek, hid his roll of film containing Tank Man in a Beijing Hotel toilet, sacrificing an unused roll of film and undeveloped images of wounded protesters after the PSB raided his room, destroyed the two aforementioned rolls of film and forced him to sign a confession to photography during martial law, an imprisonable offence. Cole was able to retrieve the roll and have it sent to Newsweek.  He was awarded the 1990 World Press Photo of the Year and the picture was featured in Life's "100 Photographs That Changed the World" in 2003.

Further comments:
  
Jeff Widener’s photo of Tank Man, which is the most widely used of the similar images from different photographers:
  
Hear and see Jeff Widener talk about the taking of his photograph and the events which led up to it, plus a video of Tank Man (including his climbing up on the tank to talk to the tank crew), by clicking on the following links:



A final note:  Why was Charlie Cole’s image selected as the World Press Photo of the Year ahead of the others who photographed the same scene?

Here are some comments about that:

·     Jeff Widener of Associated Press was nominated for a Pulitzer for Tank Man in 1990 but did not win. Neither Charlie Cole (Newsweek)  nor Stuart Franklin (Time) were eligible.

Charlie Cole:

“The Pulitzer Prize is like the American World Series, it’s a bit of a misnomer, since the only ones who can apply are those working for an American newspaper or wire service, not exactly a world wide photojournalism competition, not to say they don’t produce some great winners that would’ve done well or won in a true world event. American magazines are not allowed to enter the Pulitzer competition although there was a time when they were back in the 60-70’s.”

·       Cole wanted to share the award with Franklin:

Charlie Cole:

“Although our magazines were competitors, Stuart and I were far more concerned with watching each other’s backs than anything else. We also shot our tank photos shoulder to shoulder, and used various focal lengths at different moments. I think it is pretty safe to say that we both have fairly identical photos of the scene. He has them tighter than the one shot Magnum released and I have them more loose, and closer to his version, than what Newsweek and World Press released.”

“Upon being notified of the World Press Award, I requested that they make us co-winners, since we had the same frames just different cropping. They refused and said they liked the tighter crop. I’ve always said about photo contests that with one set of judges you get one set of winners, given a different set of judges they most likely would’ve selected his version, I still think they should’ve given it to both of us, and always will.” 

·       Afterwards:

Charlie Cole:

“Later, Stuart left to go to Beijing University and I stayed behind to see what else might happen. Shortly after he left, PSB agents crashed through our hotel room door. Four agents swept in and assaulted me while a few others grabbed my cameras.

They ripped the film from my cameras and confiscated my passport. They then forced me to write a statement that I was photographing during martial law, which unbeknown to me carried a hefty prison sentence. They then put a guard at the door.

I had hidden the roll with the tank pictures in its plastic film can in the holding tank of the toilet. When they left, I retrieved it and later made my way to AP to develop and transmit it to Newsweek in New York.”

·       According to Cole:

“What most people don’t realize is how much firepower was actually at the scene and had been going since the night of June 3.”


Some of Cole’s other photos show that firepower:



Some subsequent inspiration from the anonymous Tank man: