When being a man is not really being a man?

It seems that the lines between man and women, between gay and straight are intertwining more often these days. A news term entered the fray some few eyars ago, the word “Metrosexual”. To most this phenomenon was made famous by one Mr David Beckham - he of the famous right foot who could bend it.

Seems he also bent a few other things.

Now Dev Vagel, here, is not anti-metrosexual or anti-gay or homophobic. Matter of fact, I would find it very cool to have a gay friend. I am not worried if someone is gay and all I care about is that person is a good human being.

I am also realistic enough to know that anyone gay would not an inkling of wanting to seduce or sleep with me. But really I just take people as who they are and if they a bastard then it does not matter if you straight or not – I probably dowan fren you!

This morning on the way to work we were listening to the radio and they were discussing the habits of some metrosexuals. I think its fine for a man to look after himself. To go for a facial (I do it), to go for waxing (I don’t do it), massages (too expensive here to do), pedicure, manicure, haircuts (I definitely do not do that anymore) etc.

Anyway, this girl was discussing her boyfriend and mentioned him visiting the hair salon every Friday, getting waxed every 2 weeks (back, legs and even that area down there), going for facials, spending time on the weekend looking for curtains and furniture.

Now that is all fine because we all should live in a nice place with some colour coordination but my concern with him was he is becoming less of a man. Less of a protector and more vain.

Maybe it is because I grew in Australia where we celebrate manliness, where we like to act as a bloke that I find this kind of behaviour head shakling.

But before we all overreact and call me anti-something let me say that I do undergo a facial once in a while and have been doing so for over 10 years. I also like to coordinate furniture and clothes (although I do a bad job of this) and I tried to make myself look good.

So I understand this metrosexual thing is all about.

But I still try to retain my manhood, I try not show that I am a man and if my woman is in trouble she knows that I can take care of her. Plus I am not trying to be as pretty as or prettier than her.

When I play a sport I am not worried about my hair or how shinny my head is. I am not worried about how I look afte3r the game (I have seen a few people change out of their sports gear into jeans and nice clothes and then drown themselves with cologne).

Maybe it is a generational thing and I missed out on a few things?

Ultimately it comes down to vanity of the man. When is looking after yourself too much???

I am not talking about a man needing to go out there and start a fight or down the pub and swig a bottle of scotch or arm wrestle to prove his manliness. I just thing as men there are certain things we need to maintain.

Having a nice haircut and the softest of hands are not essential.

Akopolis Now

I was sad, I was angry (particularly at the ref) and I was depressed but the boys did extremely well in making their second Champions league final in 3 years. After receiving all those sms’s and emails from well wishing and mannered Manchester United fans, I decided to take this attitude:

You win some and you lose some.

Luck plays a part in any sporting match, for any team. Look at what happened in the final of 2005 and then again in FA Cup final of 2006. Unfortunately, the luck was with Milan yesterday, they got that deflection for the goal. I can not be upset or hate the Rossonerri for beating us, they are a quality side and deserved to win. They scored and we did not.

It came as a surprise that Liverpool came out as the more attacking team. My only question for the lineup was why pick Bolo Zenden and Pennant if there is no Peter Crouch? I mean the game plan was to attack from the flanks but we needed a target man there and while I love Dirk Kuyt he is not 6 foot 7inches now!

I though Javier Mascherano was awesome and he kept Kaka in check, this guy could definitely be my new hero. This was backed by the fact that Kaka did not influence any major attack until he passed the ball for Inzaghi (when Mascherano was warming the sidelines).

As for the referring, what I hate most in a game is an inconsistent referee. If a ref is bad, then please be bad for both sides. I hate the ref who makes a call on a foul but when something similar happens just waves play on. Players, fans and coaches hate that as the players do not know how to adapt to the game. This fellow was an embarrassment for UEFA and let us hope they do not appoint such a waste for their showcase event. I mention the fact that there should have been another 45 seconds of play and that Liverpool should of scored. But that is a dream.

But now I look to the future. I think the loss will light a fire in the belly of guys like Stevvie, Carra, Risse, Javier, Rafa etc. Hopefully they put in a hard pre season so they start the next EPL season on the front foot by grabbing some wins.

Face facts, is Liverpool supporters want the EPL title – this is our holy grail now!