Database Design – Denormalization, Codd and the Copa America

Deb’s quite keen on the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears ( although my version does end up with Goldilocks being charged with breaking and entering and criminal damage). How is this fairy tail linked to Database design ? Well, a good database should ideally be to Goldilock’s taste – not too fre-form and ad-hoc, not too rigid Third Normal Form, but just right.
To demonstrate this, we’re going to do a quick tour through the first three normal forms, give an airing to an ancient Geek joke, and relive past footballing glory. At this point Scottish readers will be relieved that I plan to demonstrate the concept of denormalization without referring to 1966. Instead, I will take as my example, the apogee of Columbian Footballing achievemnt, the 2001 Copa America.