Norway play the Ivory Coast later today in the first knockout phase of the World Cup, and one suspects the New York Times will be backing the Norsemen.

The Gray Lady has gone gaga for Norway’s “Viking Row,” a synchronised routine where fans mime the rowing of a Viking longboat to the bang of a drum. It’s caught on among the Norwegian players as well as politicians back in Norway, who performed the row in parliament last week.

That’s not all they did. Vikings also raped, pillaged, murdered and enslaved

That’s not all they did. Vikings also raped, pillaged, murdered and enslaved

For the last two weeks, the NYT has been publishing breathless pieces about the zany Norwegians and their Viking antics. “The ‘Viking Row’ is in full flow” was one headline on 18 June; five days later they described how it “has taken the World Cup by storm.” And their editorial office from the sound of things.

You would have to be a crotchety killjoy to complain about the Viking Row. It’s just a bit of humorous high jinks. Humorous but also a little hypocritical.

The man who claims he........

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