Waded in and looked foolish
EVEN by professional darts’ standards, James Wade’s interview after scraping past little-known Japanese player Seigo Asada was bizarre in the extreme.
Wade (below) was thoroughly obnoxious during his 3-2 win at the PDC world championship and even worse afterwards.
“I dug in deep there. It’s a magnificent feeling. I’ve done it for my son, for my country, so it’s good.
“I kept giving it to him, I wanted to hurt him, I wanted to really hurt him in his face.
“That’s for my son and also for the UK.”
I doubt the UK was very proud of Wade coming across as, to put it mildly, a xenophobic bully. But this is a sportsman who has suffered mental health problems and has been very open about his issues.
Indeed, he apologised to Asada (above), was extremely contrite and said it was down to a “hypomania episode”. Hopefully, he will go and get the help he needs… because nationalistic abuse of sporting visitors is the last thing we need.
MARK ALLEN’S comments about being on the lash during last week’s Scottish Open, which he won, were mildly amusing.
It sounds like he had been on the ale for most of the tournament.
But as a case for snooker being an Olympic sport, they were as leaky as a cracked pint pot.
ONE factor in Kings XI Punjab successfully bidding £800,000 for Sam Curran might have been the intelligence that he will not be needed for an England pre-World Cup training camp in April and will therefore be available for the full duration of the Indian Premier League.
If England can go into the World Cup without considering the younger of the Curran bothers, then they really must have a favourite’s chance of winning it.
LAST Saturday, Pep Guardiola said Raheem Sterling only has issues with his finishing when he has time to think about it.
With one of the worst ‘Panenka penalties’ you are ever likely to see, it took Sterling only a matter of days to prove his coach spectacularly correct.
IF you were a successful sportsman or woman and going to live in tax-beneficial Monaco would not be a hindrance to your career, why not move there?
Lewis Hamilton might regret referring to Stevenage as “slums”, but there’s no argument Monte Carlo is a more attractive place to reside, if you can afford to. Hence why
Geraint Thomas’ main residence is there rather than in his native Cardiff.
But whether the BBC, funded by British taxpayers, should allow their premier sporting award, and the runner-up’s spot, to be taken by Monaco residents is another matter.
I’m already looking forward to next year’s Tax Exile of the Year gong. IN case you missed them amidst the Mourinho news, Pat Nevin had these words to say to some Chelsea supporters.
“To everyone at our club, the offensive singing and behaviour that has lately been highlighted is an embarrassment and detracts from everything they do. If you cannot keep those emotions, views and outbursts away from following the team, for the sake of the club, if you have any vague affection for the club, stay away.
“Harsh as it may sound, we simply do not want you.”
Well said, Pat (left). But if anyone believes this is exclusively a Chelsea issue, they are kidding themselves.