Paul James on his Crack addiction

**An Observer** · 02-15-2012, 06:27 AM

Originally Posted by Grizzly

Then he started making bizarre, nasty comments out of the blue about various people and organizations for no apparent reason, one of which was the Voyageurs.

The sad thing is he could have been so much more. He could have been a great of Canadian soccer not a guy who betrayed his country, threw a match, betrayed even his other criminal teammates (I am very sceptical about his claims that his conscious bothered him, he was probably scared of getting caught so turned them in to avoid charges himself) and then despite having an excellent knowledge of the game became a nasty hack journalist making vicious attacks that were undeserved.

Geez. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. In one sentence you admonish him for making completely unfounded nasty statements; in the next, you do the same thing about him. I guess it takes one to know one.

**zeelaw** · 02-15-2012, 07:24 AM

Let's not ^ attack each other here. Interesting though Grizzly.

**paul-collins** · 02-15-2012, 08:21 AM

I find the use of the word "pseudonym" to be misleading, in that PJ is insinuating that the user is trying to hide his (her?) identity. Given that PJ sat down for lunch with this person, it's not like this person was hidden.

Forum names can be made to hide an identity, but that's contrary to the whole point of a supporters' group site. Most of the hard core Vees know each other personally from attending games together (or doing pub viewings, or whatever). The user name is just an alternate name, or handle, rather than an anonymizer.

Now, that being said, it may be that what PJ meant to say is that the person in question had used two identities on the forum? This seems unlikely (and although I don't know if there is a formal rule here, any forum I've run or moderated has explicitly forbidden two user ids as a banning offence).

If that is not the case, then using the word "pseudonym" amounts to nothing more than a slur.

**Grizzly** · 02-15-2012, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by An Observer

Geez. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. In one sentence you admonish him for making completely unfounded nasty statements; in the next, you do the same thing about him. I guess it takes one to know one.

Unfounded, nasty statements = statements that are vicious and untrue. I challenge you to point out where I have been involved in corrupt practices and criminal organizations. When have I betrayed my colleagues, either those who are honest or those with whom I have entered a criminal pact with? What has Grizzly done to betray his country? Paul James has admitted to all of this along with a whole host of other unsavory behaviour, managed to avoid jail for it in a complete miscarriage of justice, managed even to make a living in the sport and for the organization he disgraced and even now is still making money out of his sordid actions with this book. (And if we want to talk about CSA making bad coaching hires, how about not hiring the match fixing player who was involved in the most disgraceful incident in the organization's history and especially as a youth coach?)

Now I will admit to getting into the occasional spat online and having strong opinions but I can't remember attacking various people and organizations in the national television and print media. Nor can I remember any other Canadian soccer journalist besides James who has done so, even those who I am critical of.

So if you want to point out pot calling the kettle black and unfounded nasty statements you can start with your own comments that you have just made.

**CanadasBest** · 02-15-2012, 10:49 AM

Guys let's try to keep it civil. My post was intended for any PJ defenders to possibly read the book before making a judgement call. From my own experience I thought the book was disgusting and the respect I had for Paul James is definitely gone for good. Grizzly's comments although maybe slightly over the top, are not exactly offside so to speak. I will however clarify and add the paragraph before because this event did happen, but i'm sure whoever met with PJ will be shocked by his comments. (By the way this quote is just the tip of the iceburg.)

Here is a quote about our group: (About 71% in the Amazon E-Book, Location 3566 of 5084)
"In the end, I purchased a ticket for Toronto FC's first ever franchise game in Major League Soccer and caught a bus along with 3,000 other traveling fans for the 16-hour round trip trek to Columbus, Ohio. When I arrived in the stadium, I was greeted by a man who was extremely friendly, happy, and complimentary. In fact I was a little taken aback considering I had not met him before.
He seemed to be a Paul James supporter - a rare specimen, I thought at the time. Two months later while perusing the Voyageurs forum, I discovered he had been a regular part of the chat site for many years using a pseudonym. He was, contrary to my original thought, a harsh undermining critic of mine. He was also the most influential leader of the Voyageurs group.
A year later, I invited the guy for lunch to inform him about an exciting alumni initiave I was working on to assist Canadian soccer. When I sat down opposite him and looked him in the eyes, I wanted to deck him for the underhanded approach he and some of his colleagues on the forum had taken over the years. He talked about Canadian soccer and all its ills yet he and his "mates" had contributed so much harm without a semblance of soccer knowledge or talent."

**VPjr** · 02-15-2012, 11:18 AM

The "influential organizer" that Paul refers to in the book is me. I was quite surprised when I read those few paragraphs.

We met for lunch at a restaurant near Varisty Stadium 3-4 years ago. The intent was to discuss the alumni organization that he and some other former NT players were working on getting up and running at the time. I no longer remember what it was that he wanted me to help with when it comes to the Alumni group (possibly promoting the idea on the message boards). I did support the creation of this group because I was hopeful that some top alumni would get more actively involved in the national association.

Overall it was a pleasant experience so it was with some degree of surprise that I read in the book that he wanted to sock me but whatever. I'm sure there might be one or two other people in soccer that aren't my biggest fans either.

My recollection of that day was that we had a good long chat, agreeing on some things, not agreeing on others but we parted ways on a pleasant note if my memory serves me well.

He was very straightforward that he did not like comments I (and others) had made on the message board about him and other people involved in soccer that . I actually respected him for confronting me like that. I have no problem defending my opinions. I can't for the life of me recall specifically what he was upset about but I assume I had criticized some comments he had made in one of his media gigs. He must have perceived the criticism as being harsh. I do recall being a bit surprised to know that he was so aware of what was being posted on the various message boards but i've learned that many people in positions of authority in the game frequent this board and others with some regularity.

He and I exchanged a handful of emails up to the point that he left York U. I have not had any contact with him since that time.

I read through the book over the past 24 hours. Interesting read. I sincerely hope he is able to get his life fully on track and find some success and happiness, which is something I wish for everyone.

**Keegan** · 02-15-2012, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by CanadasBest

Guys let's try to keep it civil. My post was intended for any PJ defenders to possibly read the book before making a judgement call. From my own experience I thought the book was disgusting and the respect I had for Paul James is definitely gone for good. Grizzly's comments although maybe slightly over the top, are not exactly offside so to speak. I will however clarify and add the paragraph before because this event did happen, but i'm sure whoever met with PJ will be shocked by his comments. (By the way this quote is just the tip of the iceburg.)

Here is a quote about our group: (About 71% in the Amazon E-Book, Location 3566 of 5084)
"In the end, I purchased a ticket for Toronto FC's first ever franchise game in Major League Soccer and caught a bus along with 3,000 other traveling fans for the 16-hour round trip trek to Columbus, Ohio. When I arrived in the stadium, I was greeted by a man who was extremely friendly, happy, and complimentary. In fact I was a little taken aback considering I had not met him before.
He seemed to be a Paul James supporter - a rare specimen, I thought at the time. Two months later while perusing the Voyageurs forum, I discovered he had been a regular part of the chat site for many years using a pseudonym. He was, contrary to my original thought, a harsh undermining critic of mine. He was also the most influential leader of the Voyageurs group.
A year later, I invited the guy for lunch to inform him about an exciting alumni initiave I was working on to assist Canadian soccer. When I sat down opposite him and looked him in the eyes, I wanted to deck him for the underhanded approach he and some of his colleagues on the forum had taken over the years. He talked about Canadian soccer and all its ills yet he and his "mates" had contributed so much harm without a semblance of soccer knowledge or talent."

So Paul thinks Toronto FC's first game was in Columbus? Ok then...

**ted** · 02-15-2012, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by CanadasBest

Quoting James: "...he and his "mates" had contributed so much harm without a semblance of soccer knowledge or talent."

What a piece of work.

Harm?!?! As if anything we have ever done or said could be construed as having done harm to him or to the game.

As for soccer knowledge, well, that is just ridiculous. As a group there is plenty of "soccer knowledge" around here.

Talent? Well, that is just a silly comment and betrays a singular lack of understanding of the role of supporters in any sport, let alone a professional one.

**Lord Bob** · 02-15-2012, 01:08 PM

To say nothing of the fact that, if James was really referring to VPjr, a guy who's put tonnes of his own money and time into promoting Canadian soccer, getting tickets together for MNT games in Toronto, and a little thing like establishing and running a semi-professional soccer club, I'm not sure where he's coming from.