BE IT SPORT or live entertainment, it has been long said, Glasgow audiences respond to quality and greatness. This might take the form of the Glasgow Empire stage manager telling a doubtful Morecambe and Wise: “they like you – they let you live” or the legendary status accorded the fans who packed the old Glasgow Apollo for live rock shows, or even the near-mythical tale of Frank Sinatra, in the dire period between his early bobby-sox swooning days and his later years as Chairman of the Board, absolutely wowing a near-empty Empire.
In the city's sporting arenas – Ferenc Puskas and Alfredo de Stefano transfixed Hampden as Real Madrid rolled over Eintrtacht Frankfort, Diego Maradona served notice on the world of his genius in the same venue, where later Zinedene Zidan confirmed his greatness with a goal of extraordinary class. Indeed, just about the only potential G.O.A.T. To fail to shine in the Dear Green Place was Pelé, and that had more to do with Billy Bremner kicking him for 90 minutes than any failure on his part.
The lasting memory of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the city was of Usain Bolt's less than two minute cameo, as a dancing entertainer, before a blistering anchor leg in the 4x100 metres relay and another gold medal. So, if you're seen as something special – Glasgow is the place to confirm your greatness.
That then is the challenge facing Antoine Dupont, the man seen, everywhere except perhaps in the Boer heartlands of South Africa as the latest contender for the accolade of being Rugby Union's G.O.A.T., when he arrives in the city for Glasgow Warriors v Stade Toulouse, in the Investec Champions Cup, on Saturday night.
If Dupont, still coming back from serious injury, does perform on Saturday night, we can only hope Scotstoun Stadium is packed to capacity – such a stellar talent deserves a full-house Glasgow audience who will appreciate his talent. It should be quite a game.
THE POTENTIAL FIRE STORM which Rugby Union is facing from the long-term effects of head knocks on former players is well-known. That storm is brewing, but may not hit for a time yet, until the court cases start.
But, I had an interesting conversation over the weekend with a former prop who operated in the upper reaches of the game in the Amateur days. Now in his eighth decade, he is in constant pain with Sciatica and is awaiting an MRI, in the hope of having his problems cleared-up.
He told me the doctors were happy with the condition of his hip joint – a replacement is not on the cards, the problem is a bit lower down, at the very top of his thigh.
Apparently he was comparing notes with another old prop of similar vintage, who said – funnily enough, I've got the same problem. My friend's problem is at the top of his right thigh, the other prop's is at the top of his left. My pal was a loose-head, the other prop a tight-head.
This diagnosis is entirely unscientific and pretty-much guess work, but, their joint conclusion is, their problems might have something to do with the way their locks bound onto them in the scrums – of which there were a lot more in their day than there are today.
Could this be another medical problem set to detonate into the world of Rugby?
I NOTE that FIFA is to introduce drinks breaks mid-way through each half of play, during next year's World Cup in the USA. This is a growing trend in team sports, we have already seen it in Rugby of late, while the mid-innings drinks break has a long history in Cricket.
This suggestion is more-appropriate for the professional game, but, why don't we go the whole hog:
Instead of 80 minutes total game time – why not move to:
60 minutes “ball in play” time
This would mean official time keepers, but taking that element away from the match referee might help that individual – one less thing to worry about
We could then split each match into four x 15 minute quarters, allowing for drinks breaks and time for the Coaches to tweak things
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