The week in words
Harmison: Aggressive, just not with a cricket ball
Also In The News
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Europe's Ryder Cup team has taken a blow after Jose Maria Olazabal said he is unlikely to play in the tournament in Kentucky this September. |  |
Thursday, 27, Mar 2008 05:07
Sportspeople say the funniest things...
inthenews.co.uk takes a look back at the last week, collecting some of the most insightful, sublime and frankly ridiculous things that our sporting heroes have come out with.
This week, Owen on Beckham; Beckham on Beckham; Tiger Woods has some bad news for his opponents; and Harmison on Boycott.
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"He's a fit lad, he's hungry."
Michael Owen on David Beckham. Funny, most of the lads I know who are always hungry aren't that fit...
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"I am 32 and I feel like I am just entering my prime. Every sport is slightly different [and] in our sport your best years are generally in your 30s. Some guys are able to sustain that into their early 40s."
Thirteen-time major winner Tiger Woods is only just getting into his stride. Oh dear, golfers of the world - this is not good news.
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"Mr Capello is a clever man and a great manager and he'll give it to the right person. I will say here and now that I want to be the England captain."
John Terry sucks up to the boss after being overlooked for the England captaincy against France.
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"When I started playing I never dreamt I'd get to 100 caps. It is any footballer's dream to play for your country, let alone get to 100 caps, and I want to carry on. I am very stubborn and want to carry on for as many years as possible."
David Beckham after becoming only the fifth England player of all time to pass three figures in terms of appearances.
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"We shouldn't get too excited because we've got lots to do before we can be confident of taking on the big boys."
Michael Vaughan's understated reaction to England's Test series victory over New Zealand.
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"We're determined to make Wimbledon an even bigger part of our national sporting life through the use of new technology and working with the club to innovate across digital platforms, including radio."
The BBC announces its intention to continue covering Wimbledon on Five Live until at least 2014. Is it just me, or does radio really not strike you as a media platform that lends itself to tennis coverage?
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"Hopefully I'll get a game somewhere, but that could prove difficult with the significance of the matches we have over the next few weeks. I just have to hope and pray that I get my chance at some point."
Gary Neville admits his comeback from a three-week ankle injury suffered a year ago may not be complete until the beginning of next season - another six months away. Is this some kind of record?
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"For him to take the time out to come to Belfast to present the award is a great honour. I'm looking forward to meeting the great man."
Northern Ireland striker David Healy admits to being a little starstruck ahead of Uefa president Michel Platini's trip across to Belfast to present him with an award for scoring 13 goals during Euro 2008 qualifying.
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"I think it is very important to choose the captain for the World Cup qualification games, but I have to know not only the player but the man as well. He must be a symbol of the England team. To be that symbol he must be a good player, a good man and he has to represent the England team, always, in every situation."
Are we talking about the same Rio Ferdinand here, Mr Capello? The one who was banned for missing a drugs test and revealed himself as a homophobe on national radio?
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"I agree there has to be a line drawn and confronting the referee has to be taken out of the game. I think we have to give it a go and if it doesn't work then the FA and the officials have to say that. But we have to try these things."
John Terry on cracking down on player dissent by only allowing captains to speak to referees. Anyone else think the only reason he's backing this is because, as Chelsea skipper, he'll still get to shout the odds at all the referees?
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"It's a monkey that's been growing, but now it's off our backs."
Michael Owen on Newcastle's first win under Kevin Keegan. That must have been a pretty big monkey.
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"I have an option to leave at the end of the season so I can be in the best possible car, and it is clear Ferrari is one of the best."
Fernando Alonso just loves alienating the team he is driving for, doesn't he?
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"I do not know why I was sent off. I asked the referee what was happening. I did not swear, I was not aggressive and I did not confront him. All I did was ask him what was happening, nothing else."
Liverpool's Javier Mascherano protests his innocence after being sent off in his side's 3-0 defeat to Manchester United.
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"It is a big setback for us when you add the four games we drew and today's loss. Now we just have to come back and win games before we dream of the title."
Arsene Wenger admits the defeat to Chelsea was something of a killer blow to Arsenal's title ambitions.
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"People who only have a passing interest in the game hear the famous Geoff Boycott Yorkshire accent and may think it gives some status to his opinions. But inside the dressing room he has no status, he is just an accent, some sort of caricature of a professional Yorkshireman. Well, Geoffrey, you've had your say about me more than enough times. Now I'm having mine. You say that if England give me another central contract come October that would be waste of money. To me, you are a waste of space."
Steve Harmison's overzealous riposte to Geoffrey Boycott's "waste of money" jibe at the England bowler last week. If only he could be this aggressive with a cricket ball.
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"I have tried on numerous occasions to make it back to the international stage and it has proved a lot more difficult than I expected. I want to extend my playing career for as long as possible and I no longer want to put myself through the questions and demands that go with trying to return to the England team."
Marcus Trescothick finally calls a halt to all the 'will he, won't he?' speculation surrounding his possible England return.
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Alistair Potter