Sun Microsystems faces down Microsoft. These age-old enemies battle it out once again in the InterNetball championships 2001. The prize - the golden Web services crown - sits above the wooden court, frustratingly out of reach.
[VIDEO]There is only one hard and fast rule to the InterNetball game - a whitewash leads to instant disqualification, care of the American DoJ referee. For the first time, the experimental standards players will take part, meaning that win or lose, both teams should be around in years to come for more matches.
The game starts with a good run from Sun`s technical department`s key player, Java. Java however tries to pass to standards too late, and is intercepted by the powerful Microsoft .Net marketing department.
At half-time, Microsoft is looking smug and self-assured, while the Java chaps also seem a little too sure of themselves.
Jason Norwood-Young, technology editor, ITWeb
The MS marketing guys pass amongst themselves for a while, waiting for C# to get ready. C# is still busy tying his shoelaces at the back of the court, and by the time he gets going marketing has already moved the ball on to its standards chaps.
The standards players are typically slow to move, and frustrate both the technical and marketing players. With the DoJ ref looking on however, they can`t afford to leave these particular teammates out of the game.
Sun`s Java is getting up to speed now, and intercepts, followed by a quick pass to standards. Sun`s marketing then takes the ball, makes a good run down the left wing, and slips the ball in the net, to chants of "Sun One! Sun One! Sun One!" from its supporters.
But the game is far from over. Microsoft`s technical department slyly creates an app to convert Java techies to its side. The DoJ ref doesn`t notice this new secret weapon, despite calls of "Foul!" from Sun supporters.
Now weak at the back, Sun`s defence crumbles as C# finally starts moving. Backed strongly by marketing, Microsoft surges forward, and C# finally delivers with a long shot down the centre of the court, hitting the .Net squarely, and doing a processor-intensive DirectX victory dance.
At half-time, Microsoft is looking smug and self-assured, while the Java chaps also seem a little too sure of themselves. Neither team should look quite as happy as they do - both have lost their original game plan early in the match. Microsoft`s technical team looks tired, and it could be up to marketing to support C#. Some of Sun`s techies are doomed to be converted in the next half, while its marketing guys are having to spend more time keeping them on the Sun side, rather than concentrating on good offensive tactics.
The battle will be hard, and much blood will be spilled. The amusing part of the match will be when the trophy is finally awarded, and the winner discovers that the InterNetball Web services crown is not really gold at all - just spray-painted tin.
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