Sports Watch

Quazi Zulquarnain Islam

Having already produced one of my SportsWatch masterpieces (just kidding!!) this past week and not being in the mood to scour the world of sports for players to profile, I was positively stumped about what to provide for this weeks column. Come deadline day, I still hadn't thought of anything. That's when inspiration struck and today's issue is the brainchild of that particular streak of creativity (say the Lord thankya!).

For as long as I can remember, I have always been enchanted by quotes. Understanding their nuances and developing insight into the words imparted by the wise is one of my favorite hobbies. I wanted however, to give all this a different angle. It's often that we see quotes by famous authors, politicians and philosophers flaunted by people of all ages and status alike. However it's little or never that we see quotes or words of wisdom imparted by sports personalities. It is slightly unfair given the fact that they are experts in their specified field and they do at times say things that make you sit and up and take notice. Sports people have a capacity to enthrall us with their actions on the pitch; they can also prove pretty entertaining with their words off it.

Here for your viewing pleasure is a number of the best quotes I have been lucky to come across. If I did it a thousand times, a million times even, I couldn't do it again. If I could I'd still be playing - Manchester United FC manager Sir Alex Ferguson on the infamous kick which bounced a boot off David Beckham's eyebrow.

The difference between Paolo and me is that I've always had to apply myself a lot while he has natural talent - Alessandro Costacurta pays tribute to AC Milan teammate Paolo Maldini.

Throw, throw, throw the ball, gently down the seam Murali, Murali, Murali, Murali, chucks it like a dream Bowl, bowl, bowl the ball, gently through the air Murali, Murali, Murali, Murali, here comes Darrell Hair ... No Ball!

The Barmy Army serenade Muttiah Muralitharan to the tune of Row Row Row The Boat, Gently Down The Stream

Daddy, I don't want you to go away any more. - Steve Waugh reveals that a comment from his daughter across the breakfast table prompted his decision to retire

Ask me that again next month, when you're all in Dhaka and I'm in Rome, watching Chelsea playing Lazio! - Alec Stewart, when asked if he regretted announcing his retirement

Jesus Christ would be quite interesting, but Bart Simpson would be brilliant. - Steve Harmison explains who would be his ideal dinner guest

In the past I often reacted to what I perceived to be the stresses of cricket by getting away from it and hanging out with friends. Instead of confronting problems, I would turn my back on them. Now I've realised I want to give cricket 100% - Brian Lara faces up to his responsibilities as West Indies' senior pro

I love each and every one of you but, like my like my own family, you thrill, you frustrate, you anger. -Australia's coach John Buchanan lets his charges know what he feels after the defeat by India at Adelaide

Louts and filthy pigs turn into Renaissance princes with a ball at their feet, so we shouldn't be surprised when a delicate sex symbol becomes a construction worker. We were expecting a clothes horse avoiding getting kicked, a pretty boy worried about his ponytail. But Beckham is tireless - Juanma Trueba, a journalist with Madrid sports daily AS, reflects the prevailing opinion in Spain about Beckham.

This does not mean they were the better team. That is scoreboard journalism - Co Adriaanse stands his ground despite having just seen his side AZ Alkmaar lose 5-1 at home to Roda JC.

When Johan Cruyff wants to be entertained, he should go to the cinema - Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti responds to criticism from the Dutch legend

My son is not a piece of meat. He is not for sale, mister! My son is no merchandise. People get real, he is only still 17 years old - Papa Pierre Kompany responding to speculation about the future of his son Vincent following some impressive performances for RSC Anderlecht.

We had to come out and show our worth, show that West Indies cricket is bigger than anyone.-Wavell Hinds after reaching his fifth Test hundred against South Africa in the first Test in Guyana

It's better to go at five to nine than at five past nine. -Umpire David Shepherd on his impending retirement

I am going to make a promise to the Foreign Minister right now and that is that I will even try to understand cricket. - The US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, acknowledges the importance of the game in Indo-Pak relations, as she arrives in New Delhi Probably the only thing that's splitting the four of us at the moment is that three of us have Test fifties. - Glenn McGrath takes a lighter look at the stiff competition for three fast-bowling slots ahead of the first Test .

Maybe if I were a guy I would be playing cricket.- Tennis star Sania Mirza, India's first WTA tour winner, admits where her priorities lie
If they had scored as many runs as they had women's phone numbers during the tour, West Indies would have won the series comfortably. - In a memo to his company chairman, Richard Nowell, the representative of West Indies' sponsors, Digicel, slams the team's attitude during their tour of Australia .

I got a good technique. You saw that? You know, it's more for fun with a racquet, never really with a bat. - World tennis No. 1 Roger Federer comments on his cricketing ability after practicing a forward defensive shot with his racquet during the Australian Open at Melbourne If we manage to beat Milan on Tuesday, I will do the Pilgrim's Walk to Santiago de Compostela, on my knees if I have to - RC Deportivo La Coruña overturned a 4-1 first-leg deficit in their Champions League quarter-final against AC Milan and coach Javier Irureta made his pilgrimage.

I am a European champion and I am not one of those managers you can take out of a bottle. I am special - José Mourinho steps confidently into the manager's seat at Chelsea FC.

Finally, the two I love best. Don't even think of plagiarism folks- these are mine!

Sometimes the losers teach more than the winners - Zdenek Zemen

Some people say that football is a matter of life and death. I can assure you that it is much more serious than that.- Legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly

That's all for this edition.
Ciao!