[hellinahandcart]

That highlighted passage is pure radical left country-hating crap from beginning to end. You're sure you don't see it?

[Prodigal Son]

I really don't. Do you have any other reference that Simon Barnes is a leftist? He's a sports writer for a conservative paper. If you look back over his archives it's all about sports.

You have to understand where he's coming from: patriotism is not viewed the same way in Europe as it is in the US. Since WWII it is frowned upon by a great many people. English soccer hooligans give patriotism a bad name with their brand of flag waving. I found Barnes' comments quite reasonable in their context. His prose is a little over-flowery but again- he's a sports writer. I don't expect a whole lot more from him.