Saturday, February 11th, 2012...7:57 pm
Red Devil’s Bring The Noise
THE PITCH…I had a magnificent morning, being plucked out of a snowstorm by two old friends and carried off to Scallywags for the big Manchester United – Liverpool showdown from Old Trafford.
Man U needed the game to climb back to the top of the Premiership.
Liverpool needed the game, ostensibly to retain a chance at qualifying for the Champion League next season, but really just to piss off the Red Devils and give them a good, solid kick in the delicates.
The atmosphere was terrific. The pub was jammed despite inclement weather. The gathering was good natured and, well, I couldn’t help but notice the looks of envy and admiration among the scousers when they realized that greatness, in the form of a Red Devils fan, walked in their midst.
The antics began before the game started when racist Luis Suarez refused to shake hands with Patrice Evra.
The first half was rough and intense with Liverpool’s Glen Johnson botching the best opportunity of the half.
Another skirmish resulted as the teams marched off for the half.
Liverpool must have taken a collective nap because they came out for the second half in somnolent mode. Two gorgeous strikes by Wayne Rooney had sportsmen across the globe elated. The game degenerated into a relatively passionless affair until the racist Luis Suarez accidentally knocked a ball into the United goal at the 80 minute mark.
The final 13 minutes were frenzied and excellent, with the forces of good prevailing by the single goal.
After the game chuffed scousers wept tiny little tears and licked the back of their pock marked hands.
Manchester United goes to a precarious lead of the Premiership with one hotly anticipated game against City still on tap…
…S I’s Peter Berlin is a bit sly, suggesting England’s Fabio Capello would never have left his position as the National Team Manager had he thought the team had a realistic chance of success at the 2012 Euro’s. Rat leaving a sinking ship, in other words, with the treatment of former Captain John Terry a convenient excuse to take the cash and run…
PONIES…they call her “the Greatest Show On Earth”.
Australia’s unbeaten Black Caviar won her 18th straight yesterday, annexing the Group 1 C F Orr Stakes at Caulfield, and she is heralded as the horse that carries “a nation on her back”. The mare is tipped to leave the safe confines of her homeland and journey to England for the July Royal Ascot meet, where she’ll encounter depth and quality that surpasses her rivals down under.
The mare is something to behold. She has never been hit with the whip and is a kind, rateable animal with a deadly turn of foot. In winning her most recent start she stretched to seven furlongs and was not bothered at all. She closed the final three furlongs in 33 and change, on a track reportedly “dead”.
A showdown at a mile with unbeaten European superstar Frankel is the fervent wish of all race fans…
…the American Handicap division introduced itself to punters with a spirited finish in today’s Donn Handicap. Shug McGaughey’s Hymn Book edged Mission Impazible by a scant nose, while high profile runners Ruler On Ice, Shackleford and Trickmeister all struggled far back. The race was contentious and a good six furlongs tested the stamina pretensions of many just getting their season underway. The biggest disappointment may have been Flat Out, a horse that seems challenged when not racing at Belmont…
…Kentucky Derby future wagers currently favours “The Field” at 3-5, with Union Rags at a preposterous 8-1 and keener Fed Biz at a delicious 31-1…
PUG LIFE…Golden Boy appears determined to make the night of May 5th a truly special one for fight fans. They’ve announced unbeaten Mexican sensation Saul “Canelo” Alvarez will get an acid test against Shane Mosley and, now, have added Ronald “Winky” Wright against unbeaten prospect Peter Quillin (26-0, 20 KO’s). All this and the Kentucky Derby, too! And true geeks will note Joss Whedon’s The Avengers opens the night before…shaping up as a memorable weekend…
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