New Statesman Scotland
Hot on the tail, as it were, of Sir Alex Ferguson's recent mishap comes another tale in the same vein. This time the afflicted was the previously unknown football referee, Graham Wilson. During one of many runs to keep up with play in the second half of the clash between Bunillidh Thistle and Alness United in Helmsdale in Sutherland, a call of nature not of the feathered variety meant that he had to trot to the pavilion in a hurry.
Once would have been bad enough, but he was forced to make a sharp exit twice. Among the crowd of five watching the game, speculation was rife. A dodgy curry the night before, said one. He was a part-time fireman and his bleeper had gone off, said another. However, the mystery will never be solved - Scottish Football Association rules prevent Wilson from commenting.
It is a close-run thing for the "nae-luck" story of the week. The first contender is the hapless boxer, Steve Tuckett, who created a British record by being knocked out after 13 seconds of his bout - including the count of ten. Of little consolation was the comment from his opponent, Daniel James: "I knew as soon as I hit Steve, it was a good one."
The other contender, albeit non- sporting, is the off-duty policeman who used a police van to move house, without permission. The unfortunate thing is that he knocked down his brother-in-law in the process and is now looking at the law taking its course, as they say.
Many years ago the footballing legend Pele used to make spectators gasp at his consummate skills. But once a legend, always a legend. A recent event in Brazil showed that the power of Pele in the popular imagination is undimmed. Would-be robbers held-up his sleek, smoked-glass, chauffeur- driven limousine in anticipation of rich pickings.Opening the door and peering into the back seat, they gasped at discovering the identity of the occupant. Hastily mumbled apologies all round and a few autographs later, Pele was on his way again.
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