IAN COLE rounds up the best sporting quotes from the last week, including Sir Alex Ferguson, Fabio Capello, Davis Cup 
captain John Lloyd, Lewis Hamilton and Kate Hoey
“There must be two dictionaries. One that the rest of us use, and one that Hugh McIlvanney uses” Sir Alex Ferguson in his tribute to McIlvanney, winner of the SJA’s Doug Gardner Award for services to sports journalism.
“Young players, young boys, rich boys…this is the problem. Not only here. In Italy, Germany, Spain. In any country where football is so important, like this” Fabio Capello suggests a root cause of football’s superstar ills.
“I don’t do this job just so I can walk around in a tracksuit saying ‘I’m the Davis Cup captain’,” John Lloyd considers his future in the job after defeat to Lithuania leaves Britain one game from relegation to the competition’s lowest tier.
“I am 25, I am my own man now. I’ve been in Formula One for quite a while. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my dad. He’s done a fantastic job, but he’s done that job. What I’m excited about is having my dad as just my dad” Lewis Hamilton, the 2008 world champion, announces that his father, Anthony, is stepping down as his manager.
“We didn’t deserve to have what’s happened to us. You can break many things but you can’t break our spirit” Avram Grant, manager of Portsmouth, in administration, bottom of the Premier League, but beating Birmingham 2-0 to book a Wembley date in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
“For the first time in my life I hope Spurs lose. I’ve got to be selfish and honest. I want Fulham to go through. I want to play at Wembley” Jamie O’Hara, the Portsmouth midfielder on loan from Spurs, who will not allow him to play if Tottenham win their quarter-final replay against Fulham.
“A big club will always go for that big name, a sexy name. You’ll have to ask my wife if I’m sexy and she’ll definitely say no” Harry Redknapp, in praise of British managers like himself and Fulham’s Roy Hodgson, who are making waves in the Premier League.
“There was no side to him. He was a gentle giant of a bloke who showed incredible warmth to someone like me, taking my first steps in management” Paul Ince joins the tributes to Macclesfield Town’s Keith Alexander, English football’s first black manager, who died suddenly, aged 53.
“I am led to believe it may be to do with some contaminated product but I have no idea. I wasn’t there. I don’t know what took place and I’m just trying to get through the day” Lloyd Cowan learns that the sprint hurdle prospect who he coaches, Callum Priestley, has tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol.
“Where I come from that’s school uniform. It must have been the adrenaline” Owen Coyle, the Bolton manager, spends 90 minutes on a freezing Upton Park touchline in T-shirt and shorts watching his side score their first away goals in seven hours, beating West Ham 2-1.
“Two years ago I spoke to Seb about legacy. He said, ‘Kate, I wish I had never used word legacy’,” Kate Hoey, London’s Olympic sports tzar, relates a conversation with Lord Coe, chairman of the 2012 organising committee.
“I don’t know how long it’s been down there. It didn’t smell very nice when I put it on but I had to do it” Jonas Gutierrez has been carrying a Spiderman mask in his jockstrap for two years in anticipation of his first home goal for Newcastle, which came in the 6-1 romp against Barnsley.
“Let’s talk to BBC Scotland’s Chick Young. Chick, what can you tell us?” BBC Radio 5Live presenter introduces a two-way about possible takeover of Rangers.
“Well, not much” Chick Young.
“I’ve just lost in the world championships but I still have the utmost respect for the game, so I’m not going to spit out the dummy. But I don’t enjoy the hours of practice any more. I was UK, European and world champion at the same time. If you find anywhere else to be champion of, let me know” John Parrott loses in the world snooker qualifiers for the Crucible.
“I feel a bit English, yeah. I’ve lived there for a long time. Yeah, I probably do” Eoin Morgan, pictured right, born in Dublin, educated at the Catholic University School, Dublin, and fan of the Dubs (Dublin GAA), is an England hero after his unbeaten 110 brings one-day victory over Bangladesh.
“He can’t sit down, he can’t sit still, he’s always on the move. In hotels I watch him and he’s moving from one table to another. When we’re away in Europe he’s walking about, always on the go all the time” Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United manager, angered by Wayne Rooney’s refusal to rest a minor knee injury for at least part of England’s friendly victory over Egypt, attempts to explain his star player’s hyperactivity.
“I don’t think he has a football brain. He doesn’t understand the game ” when to run, when to play a one-two. Good defenders will catch him offside every time. I don’t see any difference in him from when he broke into the Southampton team at a very young age” Chris Waddle on Radio 5Live is scathing about Theo Walcott’s performance for England in the 3-1 friendly win against Egypt.
“Stability is the bedrock of success and we at QPR recognise that” Ishan Saksena, the club’s new chairman, introduces Neil Warnock, the club’s ninth full-time manager in two-and-a-half years.
“I’ve spoken to the doctor and he said ‘You can’t fake those symptoms’,” Martin Johnson, the England rugby head coach, denies that James Haskell’s sudden illness is manufactured to end the tug-of-war between the RFU and Haskell’s club, Stade Francais.
SJA dates for your diaries
Wed Mar 17: SJA Sporting Lunch with triathlon world champion Alistair Brownlee. Two-course lunch plus a glass of wine of beer, £20 for SJA members, £25 for non-members. To book, contact Mary Fitzhenry mary@spokepromotions.com or by phone on 020 8946 9601 or 07946 545084 (please indicate whether a vegetarian meal is required).
Mon Apr 12: A Question of Boris:The SJA’s second “Sporting Question Time”, this time with London Mayor Boris Johnson at City Hall. This will be strictly for SJA members only. To book your ticket, click here to send us an email with your name, SJA membership number and address, writing “Sporting Question Time with Boris” in the subject field
Mon Apr 12: SJA Spring Golf Day , to be staged at Surbiton GC. To book, contact Paul Trow (07973 862747).
Thu Apr 15: SJA 2010 Annual Meeting , at offices of UK Sport
Mon Apr 19: SJA/LOCOG guided tour of Olympic Park, 2pm For booking details, click here.
Sun Apr 25: SJA Cricket Day. Enjoy corporate hospitality with friends and colleagues, and bring along your partner, as Lancashire take on Surrey. Tickets £65 each. Click here for booking details.
Mon Sep 13: SJA Autumn Golf Day, Muswell Hill GC. To book, contact Paul Trow (07973 862747).
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