Sunday, I was watching the Everton vs Tottenham match on NBC. At one point Everton (and England international) left-back Leighton Baines went over to take a corner in front of the visiting Spurs’ fans. As he walked over they were chanting something at him, but it was inaudible on the TV. Whatever it was, he noticeably laughed out loud and gave them a thumbs up.
A few days later I came to find out (via the Men In Blazers podcast and a few other football media outlets) they were chanting “YOU’RE JUST A SHIT BRADLEY WIGGINS!” Sort of funny, because I’ve always admired Baines’ talent on the field and his ability to pull off the “70s burns & mod” look that Wiggins has long perfected and I love. I have often commented out loud (to no one, as I am usually watching matches by myself) how much Baines looks like Wiggins and vice versa.
I wonder if cycling fans will start heckling Wiggins with “YOU’RE JUST A SHIT LEIGHTON BAINES!” on the climbs?”
A left-back that looks like Wiggins, a Tour winner that looks like a left-back, whatever… All I know is that Baines is pretty badass, I hope he doesn’t end up at Man U in January, and that the Fred Perry line of shit that Wiggins is involved with is pretty sweet. Of course, I have a feeling that given UK/Euro sizing I would need to drop weight equal to that of a small 3rd grader to fit into even the XL Fred Perry jerseys. I don’t know that for a fact, just a hunch.
Wait, I wonder if we should get Paul Weller in all this?