13 August 1998 Edition
Sportsview: Storm clouds over Paradise
That arrogant man from Canada, Celtic Managing Director Fergus McCann is at it again. His appearance and speech went unappreciated at Celtic Park on the first day of the season, during which he was constantly heckled, and a banner saying Irish Celtic fans were not bigoted was passed around. The banner belonged to Belfast Celt Joe McCratten and for his peaceful protest Joe had to leave the ground. Joe is now worried his season ticket may be revoked.
McCann is now clashing with the players. He has even managed to insult Dublin side St Patrick's Athletic, putting down their credible performance against Celtic in the European Cup by saying ``we beat a team whose salaries in total did not match one player's weekly tax here''. Earlier this week he clashed with players over money. McCann launched an attack on the players after they refused to turn up for the launch of the new away team strip. He accused them of ``holding the club to ransom'' and ``we will not be blackmailed by an individual player... There is no possibility of us changing this stance. I'm not sure we should do anything after the approach taken by the players.'' The players are, however, highly paid and McCann is prbably not totally to blame for this particular incident. An uneasy settlement, however, was reached on Tuesday, with players agreeing to pay pool money to local a charity, although players still remain unhappy.
How much money will McCann take with him when he leaves the club? It's the same old story, Rangers spend £27 million, while Celtic refuse to spend the money required on players for European and domestic success. At this stage McCann surely must realise that to both fans and players he no longer holds any credibility and should resign immediately. Celtic is bigger and more important than one arrogant man.
Four-year ban for Smith De Bruin
So, it looks like Michelle Smith De Bruin is not all she makes out to be. A shock to the Irish public who cheered on her efforts in Atlanta; it now seems it was all a con.
Speaking on RTÉ's Question and Answers, Ireland's former international swimmer Gary O'Toole conceded in an emotional debate that all is not well. He came in for stick from some studio guests as he stated the facts. They reckoned he was delighted to see it happen to her because his career was not as successful. He quickly pointed out that he was a Student champion, a European sliver medalist and twice competed in the Olympics. He correctly pointed out that his career and achievements were clean from any form of drugs. Some commentators have called for Smith De Bruin to give back the gold medals she won in Atlanta.
Smith herself claims she is the victim of a vendetta and has vowed to sue the swimming body FINA. The Irish Amateur Swimming Associations Seán Gordan said: ``The verdict indicates wrongdoing on the part of the swimmer Michelle De Bruin. The people of Ireland have been led a merry dance, not all by accident. Irish national radio and television and elements of the Irish media, purporting to have superior knowledge to the rest of us, have blissfully ignored the obvious and unpalatable in favour of the feel-good factor.''
It is a problem increasingly coming to the fore in sport, as the recent drug seizures in the Tour De France proved. When an event is tarnished by such activity it ceases to be a genuine sporting event. And I'm sure the game of football is not totally clean of its influence. Anyone found dabbling in such activity should be dealt with severely and banned from their respective sports for life.
Clare vs Offaly
The first All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Final Sunday finished with the players from Clare and Offaly sharing the spoils at Croke Park. For the second time in this championship the Banner County was taken to the wire, the tense game finishing 1-13 each. The replay takes place on 22 August.
Congratulations once again to Brian Kerr on yet another trophy for Irish under-age soccer. The under-16s defeated England 3-2 in Akureyri, Iceland to claim the Nordic Cup last weekend.
BY CIARAN HEAPHEY
McCann is now clashing with the players. He has even managed to insult Dublin side St Patrick's Athletic, putting down their credible performance against Celtic in the European Cup by saying ``we beat a team whose salaries in total did not match one player's weekly tax here''. Earlier this week he clashed with players over money. McCann launched an attack on the players after they refused to turn up for the launch of the new away team strip. He accused them of ``holding the club to ransom'' and ``we will not be blackmailed by an individual player... There is no possibility of us changing this stance. I'm not sure we should do anything after the approach taken by the players.'' The players are, however, highly paid and McCann is prbably not totally to blame for this particular incident. An uneasy settlement, however, was reached on Tuesday, with players agreeing to pay pool money to local a charity, although players still remain unhappy.
How much money will McCann take with him when he leaves the club? It's the same old story, Rangers spend £27 million, while Celtic refuse to spend the money required on players for European and domestic success. At this stage McCann surely must realise that to both fans and players he no longer holds any credibility and should resign immediately. Celtic is bigger and more important than one arrogant man.
Four-year ban for Smith De Bruin
So, it looks like Michelle Smith De Bruin is not all she makes out to be. A shock to the Irish public who cheered on her efforts in Atlanta; it now seems it was all a con.
Speaking on RTÉ's Question and Answers, Ireland's former international swimmer Gary O'Toole conceded in an emotional debate that all is not well. He came in for stick from some studio guests as he stated the facts. They reckoned he was delighted to see it happen to her because his career was not as successful. He quickly pointed out that he was a Student champion, a European sliver medalist and twice competed in the Olympics. He correctly pointed out that his career and achievements were clean from any form of drugs. Some commentators have called for Smith De Bruin to give back the gold medals she won in Atlanta.
Smith herself claims she is the victim of a vendetta and has vowed to sue the swimming body FINA. The Irish Amateur Swimming Associations Seán Gordan said: ``The verdict indicates wrongdoing on the part of the swimmer Michelle De Bruin. The people of Ireland have been led a merry dance, not all by accident. Irish national radio and television and elements of the Irish media, purporting to have superior knowledge to the rest of us, have blissfully ignored the obvious and unpalatable in favour of the feel-good factor.''
It is a problem increasingly coming to the fore in sport, as the recent drug seizures in the Tour De France proved. When an event is tarnished by such activity it ceases to be a genuine sporting event. And I'm sure the game of football is not totally clean of its influence. Anyone found dabbling in such activity should be dealt with severely and banned from their respective sports for life.
Clare vs Offaly
The first All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Final Sunday finished with the players from Clare and Offaly sharing the spoils at Croke Park. For the second time in this championship the Banner County was taken to the wire, the tense game finishing 1-13 each. The replay takes place on 22 August.
Congratulations once again to Brian Kerr on yet another trophy for Irish under-age soccer. The under-16s defeated England 3-2 in Akureyri, Iceland to claim the Nordic Cup last weekend.
BY CIARAN HEAPHEY