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Showing posts with label Daithi O’Donnabhain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Daithi O’Donnabhain. Show all posts
Prior to the Conor McGregor-Donald Cerrone fight Daithi O’Donnabhain set out his stall in relation to McGregor, a fighter he had long admired. Its publication was delayed due to a miscommunication.

On January 18th Irish MMA star Conor McGregor returns against Donald Cerrone in a 170lb bout at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, for UFC 246.

Its his first fight since the utter debacle that ensued in and out of the octagon after his 155lb title fight against current champion Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229, in October 2018, where he was unable to withstand the barrage unleashed by his opponent and tapped out in the fourth round. Khabib hadn't exacted enough punishment as he felt Conor and his team deserved so carried on the fight by vaulting the cage into McGregors cornermen, which then spread the violence out into the crowd. Irish fans were unprepared as gangs of Muslims hunted them down on the Las Vegas strip, setting upon them mercilessly, and then filming their splayed out victims to commemorate the total national humiliation inflicted on us.

The Irish newspapers naturally sensed an opportunity to complete the destruction of a person they never accepted and thus they could barely conceal their glee at the loss, according to one porcine contributor:

  "...He's no elite sportsman and now he has got his comeuppance. He was humiliated..." 

One ‘never-was’ thought it appropriate to ponder:
“...sad McGregor facing the grim reality of a has been...”

These are but two example of many I could have selected from scum I wouldn’t deign to name in the predatory press. It simply made me wish to hold him even closer, to defend him even more vigorously. But allegations to emerge subsequently are of such a severe nature I have had to relax my protective grip of him, namely [Redacted due to Irish Libel Laws] and a violent unprovoked attack on a grey haired man enjoying a lunchtime drink. A video of the latter incident shows an old(ish) man simply refusing to be given some of Conor's promotional whiskey before a toast, a ‘disrespect’ for which he was then ‘sucker punched’ when he turned his back on Conor. Its an indefensible attack on a member of the community who should expect protection by the strong, not predation by the strong.

 Up to this point, Conor had threatened to transcend the sport of MMA, and as being Irish became culturally cool again on the global stage I thought he might become an avatar of implicit Irish identity. Here was something vivid and vital for people to coalesce around, part of it is a unifying myth of the fighting Irish, manifest with such stark ferocity by Conor as to break barriers between individuals down. It didn’t matter how true it all was, we had these moments which each other, now. It was not to be.

In hindsight there were some ‘red flags’ before the fight that would indicate a general malaise in his camp, that has been subsequently confirmed as present by Conor himself when he admitted he was not as committed to his training regimen as he had been for previous bouts. The pre-229 press conferences were absent psychological onslaught he inflicts on his opponents, often with real wit and charm. He was drinking and promoting his (then) new whiskey brand, and resorted to cringe inducing attacks on a tactically quiet Khabib. Amongst some of the insults, Conor tried to create some difficulty in the Russian and Dagestani identities Khabib straddles, and called Khabib's father a coward for (correctly) not seeking to violently address historic animosities when meeting Russian/Dagestani/Chechen heads of State.

For all his relative silence and (according to Conor) language capabilities during the presser, Khabib still had the best line when he queried why if Ireland is a fighting nation, he is always speaking in English when Ireland has its own language! It was a brutal takedown that portended the fight. Conor resorted to mocking Khabibs pronunciation in the said English language, just one of the (at least) five languages he is said to speak. It was a cringe inducing bully dynamic that has persisted after the fight as Conor taunts him on twitter for an undeserved rematch and Khabib replies simply “[Redacted]. You are a [Redacted]”.

Although there have been even fewer opportunities for the press to meet and examine Conor before this bout than there was for UFC 229 (which itself had Conor refusing to do as many media requests as normally required), the few bits of information that has been revealed give cause for alarm. His head coach John Kavaunagh has indicated that the camp for Cerrone was designed/dictated entirely by Conor himself since according to Kavaunagh, and I paraphrase ‘he [Conor] knows more about fighting than all of us put together’. A fighter designing his routine and being successful has not been done before, which doesn’t preclude this being another ‘first’ for Conor, but it seems improbable, it smacks more of ego. A return to the regimen that yielded such historic results along with performances of a timeless beauty would of seemed more desirable.

But this preview will differ from the structure of ones done for his previous fights. I will not be aggregating the key factors to indicate who the victor is likely to be, it doesn’t matter what the outcome is. Whoever the winner may be, it feels the Irish have lost already.


Daithi O’Donnabhain describes himself as "a regular sh*tposter on TPQ”

The King Is Dead

Daithi O’Donnabhain, answers thirteen questions in a Booker's Dozen.

TPQ: What are you currently reading?

DO'D: Unfinished Business by Marisa McGlinchey. I have had it a while, but I prefer to devour books when I have lots of free time, so its taking a while.

TPQ: Best book you have ever read?

DO'D: Quantitative Trading: How To Build Your Own Algorithmic Trading Business by Dr Ernerst Chan. A lot of the trading books up to the year 2015 (when I lost interest), I had read and coded their strategies for testing, and had done the research specifically for an another author's own trading book. So I'm well placed to say 99% of them upto that year are utter trash, and expensive trash (some books cost hundreds of pounds). I attended a conference the author was at, and got his book. It has workable examples, with data sets most people have access too, and it teaches you how to critically examine systems (rather than promising to contain the secrets of alpha!).

TPQ: A must-read before you die?

DO'D: Probably the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyers. I loved the films and so bought the books some time ago. I have started off numerous summer or winter holidays with the intention of reading them, but never actually do because I feel I need to give my eyes a break from all the reading I do at work.

TPQ: A preference for fact or fiction?

DO'D: Fact, if you would call most books on the Provisional Campaign factual.

TPQ: Favourite female author?

DO'D: She doesn’t have extensive work, but Sylvia Plath. It's a very “studenty” answer, but she articulates despair in heart rending ways.

TPQ: Favourite male author?

DO'D: Yourself (Anthony McIntyre). I know you have one book and my copy is proudly signed by you with some additional written message I can’t decipher, but I like that because its enigmatic ... maybe it says ‘leave me the fuck alone’ though? Still, your body of work extends beyond that format, and I must have read everything you have written on the Blanket and Quill. I cry at your obituaries for people I’ve never met. Another dimension to a question such as this is the relationship the artist has with his work. Thus adjacent to content such as your critique of Provisional republicanism that still holds correct since, is the understanding that articulating it rendered you out of phase with, and at risk from, a movement you maintained fidelity to in spite of nearly two decades of grinding horror inflicted on you in Long Kesh.


TPQ: First book you ever read?

DO'D: Outside of the Bible which was a school mandated thing, the first one I purchased of my volition was Silence of the Lambs by Robert Harris. I couldn’t watch the film when it came out, but wanted to access the story that was being raved about on TV somehow, so managed to get a copy from a car boot sale.

TPQ: Favourite childhood author?

DO'D: Not a kids author per se, but the one I read most was Stephen King. Stuff like IT ➖ Carrie ➖ Tommyknockers etc. Again, anything that was on a video store case that I couldn’t watch due to age restrictions.

TPQ: Any book you point blank refuse to read?

DO'D: Animal Farm by George Orwell. I saw the 1981 film adaptation starring Bodil Joensen and it was unfathomable to me how revered the narrative was. It was simply sickening!

TPQ: Any author you point blank refuse to read?

DO'D: Probably Gerry Adams. I have Before the Dawn but read it half distracted. He clearly has a very interesting story to tell (perhaps the most interesting story to tell), but he can never admit his truths at this stage. It makes me suspicious of the rest of his works. He is lost unto naked trampolining, I'm afraid.

TPQ: Pick a book to give to somebody so that they would more fully understand you.

DO'D: I, Partridge by Alan Partridge. Its a fictional account of a fictitious person. What I mean by that is: Partridge is a character played by Steve Coogan, and in character he has written a biography of events that we have seen play out on screen. But he has altered the facts in recalling them to make himself seem like he is having the last laugh in some cringe situations (needless to say!). On one level, to grasp the cringe aspect is important to me. That's what I experience on a daily basis around others: bowls full of cringe. It's also quite a meta way of saying in truth, I don’t want people to understand me better. For example, I will just lie if I am questioned about personal stuff by those not in my family because its safer that way. But I’m telling the truth now.

TPQ: Last book you gave as a present?

 DO'D: Provos by Peter Taylor. I gave it to my sister on holiday, I just had it with me, no particular story or thought behind it.

TPQ: Book you would most like to see turned into a movie?

DO'D: Its not the whole book, but The Dirty War by Martin Dillon had a chapter “Robert Nairac : Hero or Villain?” and I think the story of his adventures needs little editorialising for film. Bits of his story are dotted around various books like Bandit Country too, his role in the whole John Francis Green killing/Miami Showband Massacre stuff along with his final moments of trying to steal the gun trained on him. All form the main beats of something made for cinema. We could even use some artistic licence to have an a capella version of him singing ‘Danny Boy’ (Not’ Broad Black Brimmer’) interspersed with scenes as he meets his final demise. I've seen these scenes in my head so clearly for years.


Daithi O’Donnabhain describes himself as "a regular shit poster on TPQ when I can log on!”





Booker's Dozen @ Daithi O’Donnabhain

Daithi O’Donnabhain attended the London Launch of Unfinished Business, a book on republicans who are at odds with the Sinn Fein myth. 

Unfinished Business In London

Daithi O’Donnabhain looks over the recent arrest of British Army spy in the Provisional IRA, Freddie Scappaticci aka Stakeknife. 

Fapaticci

Daithi O’Donnabhain examines the recently announced UFC bout between Conor McGregor & Khabib Nurmagamedov. 

Return Of The King

Daithi O’Donnabhain writes about an event he attended in London.

London’s Anti-Internment Group (AIG) Meeting 19/01/17

Not Terminal But ...

Daithi O’Donnabhain discusses summer wear choices. Daithi O’Donnabhain is a regular commenter on TPQ.

Bobby Sands, 65 Days

Regular TPQ commenter Daithi O’Donnabhain discusses the IS counter offensive in Mosul, their use of child suicide bombers, and suitable responses from the West to what comes after.

Cubs of the Caliphate

TPQ commenter and Man Utd supporter Daithi O’Donnabhain on Jose Mourinho’s appointment to Manchester United. (Honouring the new TPQ tradition of wearing a football jersey in their pic too!)

Mounited

Daithi O’Donnabhain examines the recent death of Islamic State member Mohammed Emwazi aka Jihadi John. Daithi O’Donnabhain is a regular commenter on TPQ.


Daithi O’Donnabhain

Death Of A Beatle

Daithi O’Donnabhain with a review of a book on groups that physically oppose the far right on the streets of the UK. Daithi O’Donnabhain is a regular commenter on TPQ.


No Retreat

In TPQ's ongoing soccer theme Daithi O’Donnabhain argues that Manchester United should change manager this summer. Daithi O’Donnabhain is a Manchester United supporter.


Daithi O’Donnabhain

Van Gaal Should Go

Daithi O’Donnabhain disagrees with the Mick Hall take on the treatment of Lutfur Rahman in Tower Hamlets. Daithi O’Donnabhain is a former resident of Tower Hamlets.


Daithi O’Donnabhain

Shielding Power From Scrutiny

Being cognisant of that intellectual giant, Donncha MacNiallis's view of The Pensive Quill, Guest writer Daithi O’Donnabhain enters the cesspit with this viciously anti-Sinn Fein piece.

Daithi O’Donnabhain



Given the recent Bobby Sands anniversary, I was thinking about how many Maths focussed people appreciate poetry, but there is little obvious traffic going the other way. I decided to email Anthony with the idea of testing a Maths focussed article out on audiences not specifically located in this field. The aim of this article is to give an example of analysis with financial data, and ultimately demystify a rather obtuse area, that is usually badly detailed in really expensive books. It wont be to everyone's taste, but then neither is poetry or opinion pieces.

Chebyshev Polynomials For Financial Data

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