Strange Days

‘IT’S fortunate for the security personnel at The Belfry for the Ryder Cup that the world’s top golfer isn’t called Ali Tiger Mohammed Woddslam. If he were, chances are that the armed police, as seen on the Telegraph’s lead sports page, would be aiming their weapons at him and his fanatical supporters.

Saddam’s new bunker – we have the pictures

As it is, he isn’t, and Tiger Woods is as all American as they come, albeit with a bit of African, Indian and Oriental thrown in. But Woods is only one of a dozen members of the American playing staff, a group their team captain Curtis Strange calls ”12 selfish egomaniacs”.

Which is a nice problem if it’s compared to the shape of Europe’s team, in particular the stricken form of Europe’s Colin Montgomerie.

The Telegraph reports that the genial Scot, who already has a bad back, has suffered a mild heart scare. The debate inside the camp is what would happen if the game went against him – does be grab his back or his chest? But why worry – so long as he grabs the cup.

But sometimes silverware can be bought and not won, as in the case of the trophy from the Italian Cup final of 1943. The Guardian says that this chunk of sporting glory is to go under the hammer at Christie’s today, a move that has upset Italian football fans.

The Cup was won by Torino, a great team wiped out in May 1949 in the Superga air disaster.

And amid all the decades of pain and heartache, no-one noticed the cup was missing until 2000, it having been given away by Natalino Fossati, the club’s captain in the 1970s, to a friend who was ”having financial problems”.

And now those of you not in the red can make the cup yours for an estimated outlay of between £35,000 and £45,000. Money that could be spent on winning some more modern silver – should the referee want a new car.’

Posted: 24th, September 2002 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink