The Jacqui Oatley cycle of outrage

TIME is measured by the observation of a number of repetitions of a cyclical event. Examples of this might include the orbit of the earth around the sun, the orbit of the moon around the earth, or the appearance of Jacqui Oatley on Match of the Day – followed by the inevitable deluge of “I’m not being sexist, but…” criticism that follows.

Last on MOTD: Not a good week for travelling

I was having a discussion the other night with a work colleague as to what was the worst game the Premier League has seen this season. I wanted to put forward Manchester City’s 0-0 draw with Wigan at Eastlands at the beginning of this month.

It’s not just the name

JOHN Batchelor: Former racing driver, toilet roll salesman, great-grandson of the man who founded Batchelors (the Cup-A-Soup people), one-time owner of York City. Very fond of changing the names of things. Now trying to turn Mansfield Town into Harchester United.

Last on MOTD: Steer clear of the Sunday papers, Paul

“PREM boss in sex video shame,” screams the front page of today’s News Of The World. Gosh. Which major A-list celebrity are they trying to humiliate this weekend? Oh, it’s the manager of Derby County.

Old man Sammy resurfaces

AS Bolton prepare to face Manchester United tonight, here’s an interesting nugget of info for anyone wondering what their former manager Sammy Lee is up to these days.

King ping pong gone

BAD news: Rio Ferdinand has been forced to pull out of a celebrity table tennis tournament at the Albert Hall. Now we may never know if he is truly the king of ping pong.

The importance of winning more than you lose

GOOD news: the natural order is restored. Blackburn are back to their rightful spot of ninth in the Premier League.

Shaun’s show

WALES deserve all the credit going for picking up a second Six Nations Grand Slam in four seasons yesterday. But the English and Irish Rugby Football Unions must be looking at the coaching team that made it possible with a pang of regret.

Last on MOTD: No, really, what crisis?

AFTER all the turmoil they went through last season – on and off the pitch – West Ham seemed to be having a relatively straightforward ride this time round. No relegation threat, no UEFA Cup campaign, no strange and baffling transfers involving Argentinians.

Was the Champions League draw rigged?

I HAVE warned on this blog before about the danger of headlines posed as questions. But floating around on the Liverpool Echo’s message board is one of the most unnerving football conspiracy theories since those spate of floodlight failures about 10 years ago.