Fisticuffs in and out of the ring, crisis at Chelsea and Arsenal, cricket spot-fixing and Olympic build-up, plus the Sun rising on a Sunday – a compilation of this week’s quotes from sport and the media
“You’re fucked now, Dereck, you are really fucked. He hit me not like a boxer but like a woman, with an open hand” Vitali Klitschko after being slapped in the face before the WBC heavyweight title fight against Dereck Chisora.
“I realise I’m no angel and don’t mind a bit of professional trash-talk to help raise boxing’s profile but, during my 21 years in the sport, I have never been involved in such a serious fracas” David Haye on his clash with Chisora in the post-fight press conference.
“Even before our fight, I thought he was a showman, but then I understood that he was not acting – he must be sick in the head” Klitschko cannot resist another dig.
“While my behaviour was inexcusable, there were many things that went on behind the scenes that caused my frustrations to boil over” Chisora insists he is not making excuses as he makes his excuses and says sorry.
“It’s the owner who backs my project. I do not need advice, I will do it on my own” Andre Villas-Boas responds to suggestions that he has lost the dressing room after his side were held to a draw by Championship side Birmingham in the FA Cup.
“We made mistake after mistake and were punished, and deservedly so. We were very poor offensively and defensively. It was shocking to see” Arsene Wenger condemns his Arsenal players after the 4-1 Champions League thrashing by AC Milan.
“They are playing like they don’t know what’s going on, they don’t know what to do on the pitch. Mentally, they are very weak” Emmanuel Petit was not impressed either.
“I hope ppl read this and no am rude and u deserve every abuse I give u fatty go and run on the treadmill like I told u” Emmanuel Frimpong, the Arsenal midfielder, starts a Twitter duel with Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan).
“Right, off to the gym. Going to pretend my trainer is @Frimpong26AFC and give him a good hammering with the gloves” Morgan Tweets back.
“It’s the worst event. First of all you’re at the track all day… and it’s just up and down, up and down. It just sucks” Victoria Pendleton, Beijing gold medal-winner hoping for a repeat this summer, admits she hates track cycling.
“It caught me by surprise. Mr Murdoch came round the editorial floor on Friday and said he was launching it very soon. We heard rumours of a date in April. This evening, astonishingly, we are told it’s going to happen next week” Dave Wooding, former senior member of the News of the World staff, now associate editor of The Sun, on Rupert Murdoch’s announcement of the Sunday Sun‘s launch this weekend.
“We will turn over every piece of evidence we find – not just because we are obligated to but because it is the right thing to do” Rupert Murdoch in an email to News International journalists last week explains the conduct of the company’s Management Standards Committee, which has led to the arrest of several senior journalists.
“Apparently, he thinks it is right to hand over confidential source material – including the names of whistleblowers – to police without them even asking. This is a breach of the most fundamental ethic that journalists must not betray their source and there is no law that requires it” Geoffrey Robertson QC criticises Murdoch’s actions as undermining the terms for confidential journalistic material under the 1984 Police and Criminal Evidence Act.
“There is one thing that motivates Rupert Murdoch more than money, power or prestige. It’s the thrill of a challenge” Alexander Walters, media analyst, writing about the launch of the Sunday Sun in the Huffington Post.
“I could have bought Joe Hart for £100,000, so we all make mistakes” Sir Alex Ferguson proves once again that he is not always a good judge of a goalkeeper.
“My passion is my vegan lifestyle; for me football is a job” Dean Howell, the Crawley Town defender, before the FA Cup defeat to Stoke.
“Diving, family and school have always been the priority for Tom” Jamie Cunningham, Tom Daley’s agent, after criticisms that he had his priorities wrong.
“In Australia they call it ‘tall poppy syndrome’. Build them up, then cut them down. Last week, Tom Daley felt the backlash of his own fame” Andrew Longmore, Sunday Times.
“We are stuck in traffic on the bus and I think we are going to miss take me out :(” Tom Daley shows his vast Twitter following that it is all water off a duck’s back to him.
“Any eight-year-old kid needs to know what he is watching is real. That the player who scores a 147 break in snooker or guy who throws a nine-dart check-out is competing against an opponent who is trying his best to win” Alastair Cook, the England batsman, after Mervyn Westfield was jailed for spot-fixing.
“The jailing of Westfield is… a grave warning to all of English cricket. Where there are suitcases filled with illicit cash, no game, no team is safe” James Lawton, chief sports writer, The Independent.
UPCOMING SJA EVENTS
Tue Mar 6: SJA Ladbrokes Lunch with former England rugby star Simon Halliday. Click here for booking details.
Mon Mar 12: SJA British Sports Journalism Awards in London. A gala dinner celebrating our colleagues work. For ticket details, click here.
Mon Apr 16: SJA Spring Golf Day, Surbiton GC. Watch the SJA website for booking details.
Thu Apr 19: SJA Annual General Meeting. Details to be announced on the website and in members’ emails.
Thu May 10: SJA Ladbrokes Lunch with former England cricket captain Alec Stewart. Booking details to be announced.
- AND SJA MEMBERS – VOTE IN THE SPORTS BROADCASTING AWARDS Click here for the short-lists and voting conditions