Afternoon:
8°c
Wembley hardly a den of diplomacy for Kofi
An air of mystery enshrouds the strangely gratifying burst of boos that serenaded Kofi Annan as he was introduced to the FA Cup finalists of Chelsea and Everton. Some posit that fans who saw Prince William consoling Man Utd players in Rome on Wednesday expected a senior royal; not a former UN secretary-general invited for PR reasons connected with the 2018 World Cup bid. Others insist that geopolitical experts in the stands were protesting at the alleged role of Mr Annan's son Kojo in the UN oil-for-food scandal. Perhaps some mistook the Nobel Peace laureate for Morgan Freeman, and were expressing displeasure at his failure fully to destroy the incoming meteor in Deep Impact. Whatever the truth, it was pleasing to note that the Wembley tradition of cussed disrespect towards visiting dignitaries survives the redevelopment intact.
Boyle's Priory priorities
From football comes succour for Susan Boyle as she settles in at The Priory. If the outlook seems bleak today, let her look to the example Stan Collymore, who emerged from that fabled clinic to become our second finest radio pundit (after Gabriele Marcotti) on TalkSport. We trust SuBo will replicate Stan's recovery, albeit quite possibly without the irksome stepping stone of being done for dogging.
Boxer dad was no hit for the talented Ashley
While we are tuned in to Britain's Got Talent, I was startled to read that Diversity's lead dancer and choreographer Ashley is the son of former boxer Funso Banjo. Anyone who recalls Funso's 1986 fight against the recently deceased, one-time WBA world champ Greg Page — arguably the most leaden-footed bout in heavyweight history — knows Ashley gets the rhythm from his mum.
Campbell's radio ga ga
Speaking of radio punditry, anyone tempted to hire Alastair Campbell as a summariser for Burnley's Premier League matches is asked to think again. Mr Campbell has his own psychiatric troubles but a berth in the commentary box can never be occupational therapy. This is a vocation, not broadcasting's answer to making macrame pot plant holders, and demands a gift for analysing football. A man whose philosophy begins and ends with “play the man, not the ball” isn't cut out to pass judgment on the beautiful game.
Terry takes a leaf out of Brown book of irony
Tremendous to see John Terry publicly pressuring his chairman and Carlo Ancelotti to spend a fortune on Franck Ribery and David Villa. This comes days after John threatened legal action against those who repeat Claude Makelele's claim that he bounced Roman Abramovich into firing Jose Mourinho. Not for a moment would we dispute the Chelsea captain's denial that he used player power to oust a coach. Yet the coincidental timing of his pronouncements reminds me of Gordon Brown's mad YouTube intervention on expenses so soon after promising to leave the matter entirely to Christopher Kelly's review. Nothing sinister, of course. Just a tiny hint of paradox.
