Hi °C | Lo °C Will his ancient spat with Pádraig Harrington become the niblick that breaks the back of European Ryder Cup team captain Jose Maria Olazabal when the sides tee-off at the Medinah Country Club next month?
If either of Olazabal's wild card fail to impress in their opening games, the Spaniard's decision will be targeted.
Even though there's a brutal logic to his choice of rookie in-form power driver Nicolas Colsaerts (29) ahead of Harrington (40), a veteran of six Ryder Cup tournaments.
Of course, petty differences didn't influence Olazabal who says of Harrington, "I know he tried hard. He was 19th on the list. He's a great player. I would love to have him in the team the same (as) Paul Casey, Robert Karlsson, Henrik Stenson ... but you need to be playing good. Simple as that."
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Despite the carping of pundits I reckoned Donegal were good value last year. They're even more formidable this summer. But they look beatable. There's only one set of mentors with the tactical nous to unlock the Donegal enigma machine and, with respect to those from Connacht, they live by the Liffey. But before we get the dream final, Dublin have to beat Mayo.
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Fancy a pair of boxing gloves signed by Olympic gold medal winner Katie Taylor? A charity auction is being held at the Kilmardinny Inn on Lorcan Avenue in Santry tomorrow night for the gloves. Proceeds go to the St Francis Hospice in Raheny. If you can't get there, you could bid online at the Kilmardinny Inn Facebook page.
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Chances are if this tough, skillful and hair-raising sport was included on the Olympic menu, Ireland would be in the medals.
At the recent 2012 Canadian Open, Dubliner Dan Sheridan beat a strong international field of national champions. "I went massive off the finish jumps (one a 50 footer) and pedalled hard to the finish," says 17-year-old Sheridan.
"I smashed the best time."
Like jockeys, these guys risk injuries. Sheridan has already broken his collarbone twice. Watch his breath-taking winning performance here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFP0dFZrRA0
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"The partnership agreement will see the two clubs working together in respect of players, coaching, best practices and commercial relationships." So say Tottenham Hotspur of their arrangement with Real Madrid, who paid €42m for Luka Modric.
With Kaka (30) having difficulty finding a club who can afford him, might the Spurs' partnership agreement stretch to providing a new home for the out-of-favour Brazilian?
