Kilroy
Hall of Famer
- Nov 10, 2013
- 30,151
- 82,420
- AFL Club
- St Kilda
The Baghdad Bombers proudly celebrate the storied qareer of our esteemed veteran iDon on the eve of his impending 550th game.
My first meeting with the Don was at the Shabandar Cafe in Baghdad, a 100-year-old cultural institution, where poetry is discussed as fervently as politics and where (if they’re not careful) a few Gumbies could learn a thing or two.
iDon points out that drinking coffee (qahveh) in the Arabic world grew as naturally in Iraq as it has right around the world, only much much earlier.
Coffee houses were not just coffee drinking places, but also places for social meetups and intellectual discussions lasting all night long
As I took in the history around us, iDon pointed out to me that the photos on the wall were of the owners 5 children who were killed in a terrorist attack.
With his own long history as a “Bomber” I asked him whether he ever reflected on the irony.
“Haven't really taken a heap of notice until last few hundred games when a lot of people just fell off the site.”
Has Baghdad recovered yet?
“I think now we are finally in a good spot.”
Do you ever shout “Carna ******* Bombers” at an AFL game?
“No.”
Outside, the streets of Baghdad are lined with book sellers. Near the old quarter of Baghdad, Al-Mutanabbi Street’s first book traders’ market is over 1,000 years old.
Who's Old Mav (I asked a teammate from the S23 premiership season)?
Who’s iDon (I asked a mate from S14’s flag season?
How do you keep motivated?
“I don’t push myself too hard.”
What is your proudest achievement in the Sweet FA?
“Always the premierships first. Team success.”
Who inspired you the most?
“ KohPhi Tony Lynn 15 and TheCoach16 just to name a few at the Bombers”
Graphic thanks to Grav
#nightshift
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