2. “I am a bit of a dreamer, there’s no doubt about that. I do have dreams that I can achieve things. Now, whether a club like Ipswich can go on and win the European Cup (smiles) is very, very difficult, I have to say. But I hate using that word impossible. But you talk about Brian Clough — listen, the man was a genius, let’s not kid ourselves that he wasn’t.”
3. “I was a guy who came out of school and didn’t go on to third-level education; I went to work straight away. It was something that played on my mind hugely. I would have had sleepless nights – what if? What if? Eventually “if” happened. I probably talked myself into it. I was forced out through injury in 2000.”
4. “Attorney: My client is a great Dad.
Judge: What proof do you have of this?
Attorney: He waited by himself in a 45-minute line so his wife and daughters could go to Harry Potter world.
Judge: Case closed. Defendant is a great dad.”
5. “Lennon must be close to the point where he lets decisions and errors speak for themselves. There is little benefit – other than for reporters – in the manager continuing on a theme of berating referees. Apart from anything else, managers of other clubs could legitimately ask why such comments have thus far gone without punishment from the SFA’s general purposes committee.”
Ewan Murray says it’s time for Celtic to concentrate on winning a title.
6. “Michael Vick, the comeback story like no other — the nation’s largest ongoing rehabilitation project not named Sheen — makes his postseason splash Sunday night. A bigger audience means more fans than ever face this question: Can I embrace the Philadelphia quarterback’s singular talents without getting the blood of past sins on me?”
8. “Has any sporting figure been required to find the perfect words on impossibly sad and inexplicable days as frequently as Mickey Harte has over the past 13 years? Even on this unfathomably dark and cruel week for his family, he has somehow found it within himself to find words that served, first and foremost, to console others.”
The Sunday Papers: the best sports writing from the past seven days
1. “No more fucking leggings at this club.”
Richie Sadlier opens the door on Roy Keane’s dressingroom.
2. “I am a bit of a dreamer, there’s no doubt about that. I do have dreams that I can achieve things. Now, whether a club like Ipswich can go on and win the European Cup (smiles) is very, very difficult, I have to say. But I hate using that word impossible. But you talk about Brian Clough — listen, the man was a genius, let’s not kid ourselves that he wasn’t.”
And Liam Mackey reflects on Keane’s inability to emulate his old boss Brian Clough.
3. “I was a guy who came out of school and didn’t go on to third-level education; I went to work straight away. It was something that played on my mind hugely. I would have had sleepless nights – what if? What if? Eventually “if” happened. I probably talked myself into it. I was forced out through injury in 2000.”
Richard Fitzpatrick meets former Munster and Ireland flanker David Corkery. Top man.
4. “Attorney: My client is a great Dad.
Judge: What proof do you have of this?
Attorney: He waited by himself in a 45-minute line so his wife and daughters could go to Harry Potter world.
Judge: Case closed. Defendant is a great dad.”
Sports Illustrated’s Joe Posnanski goes to his kids’ favourite theme park. And queues to get in the queue.
5. “Lennon must be close to the point where he lets decisions and errors speak for themselves. There is little benefit – other than for reporters – in the manager continuing on a theme of berating referees. Apart from anything else, managers of other clubs could legitimately ask why such comments have thus far gone without punishment from the SFA’s general purposes committee.”
Ewan Murray says it’s time for Celtic to concentrate on winning a title.
6. “Michael Vick, the comeback story like no other — the nation’s largest ongoing rehabilitation project not named Sheen — makes his postseason splash Sunday night. A bigger audience means more fans than ever face this question: Can I embrace the Philadelphia quarterback’s singular talents without getting the blood of past sins on me?”
Steve Hummer of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution finds to hard to forget the former Falcons star’s past crimes.
7. “Down in Limerick, mothers still scare their children by telling them the Claw will be after them if they don’t go to bed.”
Hugh Farrelly on Irish rugby’s toughest 15 players. I don’t make the list.
8. “Has any sporting figure been required to find the perfect words on impossibly sad and inexplicable days as frequently as Mickey Harte has over the past 13 years? Even on this unfathomably dark and cruel week for his family, he has somehow found it within himself to find words that served, first and foremost, to console others.”
Keith Duggan reflects on Tyrone’s fresh heartbreak after the death of Michaela Harte.
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Brian Clough Celtic CNN David Corkery European Cup Guardian hold the back page Ink Joe Posnanski Journalism Liam Mackey Michael Vick Neil Lennon Richie Sadlier Roy Keane Sports writing