And at the end of the day, and at the end of the day, and after all is shrieked and done, I get the feeling…
Posts Tagged ‘steven’
Steven Weber: Civil Warp
July 30th, 2009 |
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When the history of the last 10 years of this country is writ it will reflect the final moments before the two warring sides of the American psyche separated. It is, finally, right versus wrong.
Steven Weber: In a Sense, Abroad part quatre: You Bet They Canada!
July 25th, 2009 |
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I am currently in the northern territories on a work assignment, as seeking gainful employment in the wonderful world of television will occasion one…
Footballer Gerrard ‘delivered barrage of blows’
July 22nd, 2009 |
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Alleged victim of attack in Southport nightclub tells court Liverpool captain hit him two or three times
A man allegedly attacked by Steven Gerrard told a court todayhow he “faced a barrage of punches” from the Liverpool captain, who swore at him when he refused to hand over control of a CD player.
Marcus McGee, 34, said he disliked the footballer’s attitude when requesting a card that controlled the stereo. “I would describe it as bad and rude. He was bad-mannered straight away. I acted in proportion to what his attitude was.
“When you see a famous person like that you do not think you are going to have a fight or trouble with them.”
He told Liverpool crown court that Gerrard, 29, said “something to the effect of, ‘Here you are, lad, give me that.’ “
He refused: “It was my job, so I didn’t hand it over.” McGee said the manager of the Lounge Inn in Southport had asked him to be in charge of the music as he wanted to get everyone dancing.
He told the court that Gerrard made a move to try to grab the card off him to take it away and recalls it slipping on to the floor. The footballer walked away.
Gerrard, who was in the bar with friends celebrating Liverpool’s 5-1 win over Newcastle United, is shown on CCTV walking away before later returning to confront McGee.
Seven minutes later McGee was sat on a bar stool at the bar when Gerrard approached and said: “What the fuck is your problem?” McGee stood up as he felt threatened and vulnerable sitting down and looking up at the footballer and they had a brief conversation.
He told the court: “I remember a barrage of punches coming in at my face but at that point I don’t know who has done what. Having watched the CCTV it was quite obvious Steven Gerrard hit me a couple of times, maybe three times but I couldn’t honestly say on the night.”
Gerrard, a married father of two, denies affray. Six co-defendants, including two Accrington Stanley players, have admitted charges of affray or threatening behaviour before their trial was due to begin.
Under cross-examination by John Kelsey-Fryer, Gerrard’s barrister, McGee strongly rebutted a suggestion that he swore at the footballer.
McGee said he was innocent, saying: “I didn’t throw any punches, I wasn’t acting aggressively, I didn’t hit anyone at all.”
His girlfriend, Gina Lond, told the court: “I saw an elbow going into Marcus’s face. At that time I thought it was Steven’s. Marcus was just getting punched and kicked by several people. He had blood on his face and he had a cut on his forehead.”
Bar worker Nathaniel Lockie, who saw the start of the fight, told the court that he saw Gerrard pull McGee’s jumper over his head with his left hand, pulling him forward “so that he was off balance” before punching him.
Lockie ran round to the other side of the bar to try to stop the fight. Earlier in the evening, he said, Gerrard had approached the bar staff for help changing the music “but none was given”. He saw Gerrard walking back to the restaurant area “in a huff” after his music request was refused.
Later, he saw Gerrard and McGee speaking to each other across the bar. “Marcus looked puzzled at first,” Lockie said. “There was an argument or an exchange of words.”
He said John Doran, whom he assumed was Gerrard’s minder, struck McGee with an elbow and the fight began from there. McGee lost a front tooth crown in the attack, received a cut to the forehead and had hospital treatment following the incident in the early hours of 29 December last year.
Gerrard is expected to give evidence tomorrow.
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Gerrard ‘delivered barrage of blows’
July 22nd, 2009 |
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Footballer had bad attitude and was being aggressive, Marcus McGee tells court
The man allegedly attacked by England footballer Steven Gerrard during a bar brawl saw the player approaching him but did not expect any trouble because he was famous, a court heard today.
Marcus McGee, 34, said he faced a “barrage” of blows after refusing to hand over control of a CD player. Gerrard was aggressive and rude towards him, calling him “lad” and asking him who he thought he was, the court heard.
McGee lost a front tooth crown in the attack in the early hours of 29 December last year, Liverpool crown court heard.
McGee, who was initially attacked by Gerrard’s friend John Doran, said he had at first thought the England international struck the first blow.
“I remember a barrage of punches coming in at my face but I didn’t know who has done what,” he said.
“Having watched the CCTV it was obvious Steven Gerrard hit me a couple of times, maybe three times but I couldn’t honestly say on the night.
“I didn’t know who did what.”
McGee, wearing a smart blue suit and striped tie, said he was in the Lounge Inn with his girlfriend, Gina Lond, and was asked by the manager to be in charge of the music.
Watching the CCTV footage along with the seven women and five men of the jury, McGee said he threw no punches and was in a “nondescript” mood.
Led through his evidence by the prosecuting barrister, David Turner QC, McGee explained what happened before the trouble began about 2am.
McGee said the footballer tried to grab a card from his hand which controlled the stereo.
He said: “Mr Gerrard came to me from my left hand side and requested he wanted control of the music.
“It was something to the effect of ‘Here you are, lad, give me that’.”
“You recognised Steven Gerrard?” asked Turner.
“Of course,” said McGee. Asked if he agreed to hand over the card, he said: “I didn’t give it to him, no. It wasn’t my permission to be giving it out to somebody else. It was my job so I didn’t hand it over.
“He made a move to try to grab the card to take it away and I remember it slipped on the floor at one stage. He then walked away, that was the end of it.”
Gerrard, who was in the club with friends to celebrate Liverpool’s 5-1 win over Newcastle, is shown on CCTV walking away before he returned several minutes later.
McGee told the court that because the footballer was famous he didn’t expect any trouble.
He said: “When I saw him walking over to me, because he’s a famous person I didn’t think I’m going to have a fight or trouble, so when I saw him walking over I didn’t think there was going to be any trouble.”
McGee said he got up because Gerrard had seconds earlier allegedly asked: “Who the fuck do you think you are?”
McGee said: “When someone says something like that to you, well, I felt threatened and vulnerable sitting down and looking up so my instinct was to stand up and talk to him.”
He added that he was left “reeling” after being elbowed by Doran and did not initially try to defend himself.
He found himself being kicked on the floor – which Gerrard is not accused of taking part in – and eventually stood up to defend himself.
He said the footballer had a bad attitude when they first spoke about the music. McGee said: “His request, his attitude I would describe as bad, it was bad and it was rude, it was bad tempered, so straight away I was acting proportionate to how his attitude was.”
He said he found it offensive the footballer had addressed him as “lad”.
Asked if he could recall what was said before the fight broke out, he said: “Not really. In my statement I didn’t recall the conversation but looking at my hand movements I was asking him how he would react if somebody came up to him and wanted to take something off him in a manner I found to be rude.
“I was just asking him what he was talking about but don’t recall 100% what the conversation was about.
“I gave my statement in the 100% firm belief it was Steven Gerrard who hit me first.
“I was concentrating primarily on Steven because he was so close to me.
“The next thing I knew there was a bloke at the side of me.
“I gave that statement in good faith but changed it after watching the CCTV.”
McGee said he was innocent, saying: “I didn’t throw any punches, I wasn’t acting aggressively, I didn’t hit anyone at all.”
The trial continues.
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Steven Waldman: Pre-Existing Conditions, Pre-Existing Conditions, Pre-Existing Conditions, Pre-Existing Conditions
July 22nd, 2009 |
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Advocates for health care reform typically emphasize either restraining cost or covering the uninsured. I understand the practical and moral facets of both arguments but…
Shannyn Moore: It’s Not Sarah’s Fault…Just Ask Her
July 20th, 2009 |
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When it comes to taking responsibility for her failures, Sarah Palin is completely unaccountable. Her finger is always pointed at the most convenient scapegoat. Last…