Sigi's tips | The bear is on the loose in German football

Words still have tremendous power, which is why you have to be very careful about which ones you use, at what time and on what occasion. At the moment it is clear that “beary” is not exactly well received, even though it can have so many meanings. Great, great or extraordinary. Or instead of enormous you could write “bearish”. But there are quite irritating associations with this word at the moment.

Bears are wild animals and since the death of Andrea Papi, who was proven to have been killed by a bear while jogging in Trentino, we see our “cuddly bear” with different eyes. He, who was an indispensable companion in our childhood with his loyal googly eyes, turns out to be a monster. We hugged him to our chests and sat him on the bed. We petted him. Oh, much more. We just loved him, our bear. Of course this has to end now. At least since Bruno, who happily marched through forests and meadows in Upper Bavaria near Lake Tegernsee and also knocked over one or two organic waste bins, there have been so-called “problem bears” who even make it into various government committees on thematic issues. Thumbs up. He can live on. Of course, a thumbs down means that it can be “removed”. So fire free.

Slovenia has new ideas 17 years ago, Edmund Stoiber was the Prime Minister of Bavaria when Bruno decided to shoot him down, which cost him a lot of sympathy. Because the bear holds up well as a “cuddly bear” and is very sweet with his clumsy gait. Perhaps it is also because of this bear worldview that animal rights activists' eyes water when bears in particular are not treated in a species-appropriate manner. Bears in chains performing tricks used to be part of every traveling circus. Sure, it's not a bear's life and the so-called "restaurant bears" are also poor and pitiful creatures. They vegetate in concrete cages with no access to fresh water and are fed sweet porridge. Their job is to attract customers purely through their presence.

I recommend bear salami as a starter. They really exist. The supposedly best one comes from Slovenia, a country with a very high density of bears. And because they are careful to ensure that the population doesn't increase any further (at the moment there are around 900 to 1000 bears), there is always material for a sausage, which should of course be aged for at least five years before being sold. The time of the “restaurant bears” is now coming to an end. Luckily, because of course the bear also deserves a species-appropriate life, even if some of the shaggy creatures are currently causing fear and terror in some regions, along with the wolf. The “Bear Forest Müritz”, a zoo in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, has now taken in two sisters from Ukraine who can now let off steam in freedom for the first time in their lives. However, fences have been put in place to limit the wild activity. As it should be.

The bear as a mascot We just can't get rid of our bears and will continue to work with them next year, because the mascot for the European Football Championship in Germany is a bear. A modern bear, of course, with a snub nose like we love, but with particularly large eyes that look at us longingly. It is a kind of “cyber bear” from another galaxy. Back then, the Olympic Games in Munich were still the classic way to go crazy. “Waldi” was the name of the dachshund. And he really couldn't harm a fly. Things were different in Sarajevo in 1984 with “Vucko”. That was a wolf. But of course also a very dear one. Someone who could howl heartbreakingly and would definitely never have killed sheep. Of course, the bear variant is not particularly imaginative and, above all, new. The Antholz mascot “Bumsi” is a bear. © os

Master Petz was already appreciated by fans in Antholz at the Biathlon World Championships in 2007 and was widely purchased, especially as a fabric edition. “Bumsi” was his name. So the name is taken, because now one of Philip Lahm's most difficult missions begins. The former national player will be the OC boss next year and will therefore be responsible for the “A Bear for Germany” project. He shouldn't be irritated by the fact that the host team is currently playing anything but terrible football. Sure, a small turtle might be more appropriate at the moment, because its shell could deflect a lot of criticism. And there is certainly enough of that given the currently disorientated presentation of the DFB selection. Of course, it is too late for a reorientation.

The bear is now on the loose and of course now needs a catchy, sales-promoting name. A referendum may be necessary for this. It's guaranteed to be something cute sounding. Like “Bärli” perhaps, so that we are not constantly reminded that we are actually dealing with a big game animal whose petting can be fatal. And it would even fit, because after Jogi (Löw) came Hansi (Flick). You would stay in trivialization mode and everything would be sweet and nice and so cuddly. And a wonderful contrast to the evil world in which Belgians, Ukrainians and Colombians ruthlessly expose the botch-up that is currently spreading in the German football team.

To the author. Sigi Heinrich The multi-award-winning sports journalist and Eurosport commentator (including the German Television Prize, the Bavarian Sports Prize, the Biathlon Award and the World Sports Trophy) dedicates his column “Sigi's Peaks” to the entire diversity of sport and also enjoys poaching in strangers areas. Sometimes with a smile and a wink, sometimes seriously or deliberately provocative. There should be something for everyone.

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Sigi's tips | The bear is on the loose in German football

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