atlas2

I played water polo in the UK and Malta. You got hit ... you got, 'push offs' kicks aimed at your bollox and because........especially when playing in a bit of roped off sea like they do in Malta , the officials can't spot a lot of what goes on, you have to fend for yourself. However I count rugby more physical. The Irish don't play it much ....keep drowning alll the horses!

I love butter but I don't need it when the toast is a base for just about anything. Extra calories I can do without. You can always put it on easier than a person who dislikes it, can take it off. Maybe work out the thai for requesting what you like.

Ladyboys like to make a grab for your bollox as you pass and as you defend this off another hand dips your wallet. So cover you wallet pocket with a hand......let 'em have your bollox!.

Was it Serena Williams then?

A fantastic record.....He just about proves my point on his own. I don't put his success down to bent refs...............I put his long successful career at the top, down to a Scotsman's ability to consume vast amounts of alcohol without effect....unlike the poor but otherwise gifted Clough.

A fantastic record.....He just about proves my point on his own. I don't put his success down to bent refs...............I put his long successful career at the top, down to a Scotsman's ability to consume vast amounts of alcohol without effect....unlike the poor but otherwise gifted Clough.

Excellent!!!

What are you suggesting? Have you seen her dumplings!!

All excellent points....We can only wonder how far big headed self-confidence and inspiration would have taken Clough on a relative budget today. He did buy Trevor Francis....think he was the first Million pound man. But taking Derby from bottom to top...Surely the original 'special one' Can't think why the Leeds players were upset by the film? You have to check out the Parkinson/Ali thing..............Not just for Clough but to understand Ali's brainwashing. .....We should have paid more attention!

Acually I rate Clough very high in any scale of domestic managers. And in his way, and in his time alongside managers like Sir Alex . Consecutive European Cups with Nottingham Forest......Is that still a record? Two Clough 'things' to watch 'Dammed United' Great film! And, oddly...The Parkinson Muhammed Ali interview. I doubt any of you quite remember his part in that............ You can watch it on youtube!

Scotland has had some of the world's best players. There was always at least 3/5 Scotish players I wished, prayed, were English...Always a couple of Irish and a couple of Welsh too. Nowadays Aaron Ramsey,Garath Bale...Given maybe..... and Fletcher............and...........er.........? It's not right!!!! Basically I'm stuck with Man U in Europe....They still have a large number of home (British) players that I can get behind and in some crazy patriotic way feel proud of. To the poster who said it don't matter.....I know maybe the majority feel that way, and good for him and for them..................I know I have to evolve.....But I can't. 'I'm an old dog and this is a very new trick.' (Larson). It's not right!! Managers should be forced to bring on home/British talent.............It's there to find. They are just forced to 'BUY" quick results because boards and fans are, in that order, respectively scared and impatient.

English clubs owe a debt to the Scots..............But now it's only the managers that are to the fore. If I was Scottish I would be worried about how Scottish players are being developed.

7 Premiership managers are Scottish...God knows how many are foreign........Pulis is Welsh....Not many English!

I recall an FA Cup final between Arsenal and Liverpool with only 2 Englishmen fielded. The rest were Scots,Irish,Welsh (I think)...and Australian. Why so many Scot's Managers? Why so few players? What's going on?

OK you have a point with the logic thing, I can see that 'that' indeed would've been marginally better from a Highlander's, 'Aly's Army' point of view, though I still don't think that there were many that night cradling their malts, and a'weeping an a'wailing over England's wretched luck! .......And don't think it isn't noted that, yer cannily did'ne pute yer guitars a' risk,did ye? Probably best not too....God's bound to be an Englishman..... some say it's Clapton! Whatever... it was only a game of football......water under the bridge and a topic for debate in pubs and web boards forever!! Now Murray.......... Because of his comment I always sit down to watch his matches thinking, 'I hope he loses'......But I always, always end up supporting him. And have to admit despite myself .....I aways will....unless he's playing an Englishman! Sadly, that's bloody unlikely! I've finished with the Serena thing.....most of us feel the same,and that's comforting.

As Pete Townsend said at the end of 'Dogs"..B side to Pinball Wizard................'Lovely buttocks' Good to see you have a sense of humour .....Come into money have you?

My claim (I had to think as to what it was), may be incorrect.....If you can put your hand on your heart and swear on your life, and your guitars that there wasn't the slightest inward feeling of 'fecking great' at Maradona's 'Hand of God goal and Peter Shilton's distress in the Obsession clan that day, or in any of the Glasgow pubs that had the set on...........Well then, I must accept what you say and I will withdraw the claim. Which wasn't meant unkindly anyway! You're right of course to point out that we've strayed away from tennis....absolutely no connection between Scottish/England football rivalries and top flight tennis.............Apart......... from .......Andy Murray's "Anyone but England,' comment! Sorry, but I'll need a lot of convincing that 'that' sentiment failed to strike a chord and draw a few laughs north of the border. ...........You can see why we're so paranoid! Seriously, I think the football references have just come about because of the disrespectful behaviour of the players towards referees ......You find this in almost all sports nowadays. Even where abuse like Serena's towards the umpire isn't present, say in a sport like athletics, athletes are cheating each other and themselves with drugs. Having said all that..........Sport today still has heroes for us to admire. Still has breathtaking skills to marvel at. Still displays, courage and sacrifice and determination and indomitable will. Still grabs our attention and involvement in the spectacle like nothing else. Can still make us in turn, weep and caper in excitement. Serena's always saying "I just feel so blessed" Well she has been! Millions in the bank, fame, respect bordering on honeyed sycophancy........ The world of tennis literally at her feet. I just wish she really acted like she was blessed.......Then maybe she wouldn't be so cursed!

Both yer'sel and CT are from Scotland I believe. You may have read, or even seen footage of Tommy Walker ( Hearts and Scotland) who's name became a byword for sportsmanship in an age when sporting gestures were applauded..... but were expected as the norm. It was said that, "the dirtiest thing in football is a foul on Tommy Walker" If somehow the God of Football resurected the great man, and stuck him in a box at a Premiership match .....he would I'm sure marvel at the speed of movement and the skills displayed but I'm equally certain he would be sickened by the shirt tugging, the feigned injuries, the double toe-loops in the penalty area and abuse of Referees. He wouldn't have cut it in today's game.....I don't think he would have wanted too! Scots in the main laughed at Maradona's "Hand of God" because it was at England's expense......Less so at the, 'Henri handball' that filched the pockets and the careers of a deserving Rep Ireland side. Maybe karma saw to France in that World Cup! As the Thais say 'Tam dee dai dee, tam chua dai chua. ' There are still some sporting players in relatively recent times..............Lineka never a yellow or a red card in a successful, (ten goals in a world cup), top class career He comes to mind. I'm sure there are others. There are still sporting crowds........ In 1989 Liverpool at home only needed to avoid a 2 0 loss against Arsenal to win the league. They played defensively and lost the second goal right at the death. I was at Anfield that day. A Liverpool supporter at that time.......I remember that the crowd, to a man stayed to applaud Arsenal's lap of honour. In the pub afterwards there was absolutely no one who didn't say we brought it on ourselves and couldn't complain about it ......... I was very proud of that! (None of them were drinking beer with their little fingers crooked, Joe). You don't have to be effete, or light in the loafers to be 'Suparb barroote' or a gentleman Joe!.............Our kids need more examples of 'sporting role-models' to look up too. And less not more like Serena!

The crowd did abet Williams.......And abetted MacEnroe in his day ........sickening. My opinion!

Unlike Mr 'LOS' Vague ous.........Or paths have crossed before Joe. I have enough respect to know that ........As one of the tennis world's greatest players put it ....before he threw his dummy out the pram "You cannot be serious"

I don't believe our paths have crossed before.............So forgive me if I suspect your view may not be sincerely held. Perhaps you could elaborate as to why you feel that there isn't sufficient drama in a US Open final. ...? And importantly why an increase in squalid abuse and acrimonious incidents would enhance the viewing pleasure of people like yourself?

At Bali you can buy packages that reduce the costs.......The main track is 1200bt for 2 sessions. Buy 4 and get 5 and so on. They give you a print out of your lap time and the computer keeps a record of your progression. There's a fastest daily and monthly list. My son loves the place. He's not allowed to kart anywhere public on the Gold Coast...he's 12. Technically he's too young at bali as well but they let him try out on an empty track and he's a natural. He has many times in the 42 secs region. Aiming for 41....To do that you need a good kart and a cool evening. I only take him in the daytime when it's likely to be quieter and less drunk, 'would be Lewis Hamiltons' on track.

A very silly comment Joe!

You're a charitable man...and credt to you for that. For me the fact that she and her father mentioned the obvious but failed to apologise for or mention Serenas' vile treatment of the umpire compounds the matter. Also I'm not sure she dealt with her temper any better this time.