The week in words
Thursday, 15 May 2008 17:47
Martin O'Neill has been far from happy this week
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, Stuart Broad on batting; Sir Alex Ferguson and Justine Henin on retirement; and Martin O'Neill on Gareth Barry and Liverpool.
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"It's very important in international cricket now to be able to hold a bat."
Stuart Broad is this week's winner of the 'state the bleedin' obvious' award.
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"Tommy is someone who was loved by so many of us. He was a true gentleman and someone who had the ability to connect and engage with anyone he met."
Celtic chairman John Reid pays tribute to the club's former player and manager Tommy Burns, who died from skin cancer this week at the age of 51.
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"Ronaldo's been fantastic but Messi showed in the semi-final he is the top man."
Joe Cole risks angering Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the Champions League final by claiming there exists a player who is better than the Manchester United man.
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"Mindless thuggery."
Greater Manchester police's assessment of the perpetrators of the city centre violence that marred the Uefa Cup final this week.
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"I'm at the end of the road. This is the end of a child's dream."
Justine Henin on her retirement from professional tennis.
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"The main aim for the chairman and myself is to try and keep him at the football club. That's what we're trying to do."
Martin O'Neill on Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry, whose potential transfer to Liverpool already looks like being one of the tabloid press' stories of the summer.
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"Steve is very well respected among the squad, an established international player and a very good leader. He was a natural choice."
New England rugby head coach Martin Johnson on his first selection for the captaincy - fellow lock forward Steve Borthwick.
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"I think picking the team will be easier than picking the substitutes."
Sir Alex Ferguson on his selection headache leading up to the Champions League final.
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"We are bouncing into the final now."
Ferguson believes the momentum is with Manchester United after pipping Chelsea to the Premier League.
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"How would I be without all this, please tell me - and my wife wouldn't let me retire. She kicks me out of the door at 7am every morning. She's quite a formidable person."
And one last one from Fergie, who says he'll be around for a while yet. Apparently his wife is scarier than him? Oh my God...
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"He was jumping around like a child, holding his groin."
One of the policeman that pulled over Steve Claridge for dangerous driving, reveals what we already knew about former footballers - they're all still just big kids at heart.
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"It's a wonderful achievement for the players, great work from the coaching staff - I'm delighted for them and everyone at the club."
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson cannot contain his relief after avoiding relegation on the final day. He did a good job of holding it in during the game though, as he never once left his seat on the bench at Fratton Park.
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"United had a great season, played very well and are worthy champions."
Chelsea manager Avram Grant is respectful and gracious after defeat in the Premier League title race. A pleasant change from some of the other referee-blaming and bitter managers in the game at the moment.
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"That's the first time in 15 years that I've received that kind of abuse, and I really don't want to be anywhere that I'm not wanted. And if I'm not wanted then I think that I'll probably resign."
An emotional David Gold responds to the angry protests from Birmingham City fans following the team's relegation to the Championship.
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Alistair Potter