VERY occasionally as a sports fan, you witness something so special that you know it will transcend decades and be talked about for many years to come.

THE WALLY with the brolly has made off with the lolly. And not a moment too soon.

IN ENGLAND, just about any sporting topic is worthy of discussion over a few beers in the pub. So when I was asked to contribute to a new Observer sports column I thought it a perfect opportunity to throw another into the mix.

THE colour of money dominates all mainstream sports except rugby. At least that’s what I used to think until I heard about the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) latest idea to stage an extra international each year between the champions of the Six Nations and the Tri-Nations, to identify the best team in the world.

THOSE who braved sleep deprivation to stay up and watch Superbowl XLII last Sunday night will have felt rewarded for what they witnessed as two top class NFL teams competed for the ultimate prize in American Football at the end of a season which had seen the sport compete on foreign shores for the first time.

THE back of Monday's national papers all carried a similar image of acrushed hero. Ricky Hatton flat out on the canvas after being floored by the masterful Floyd Mayweather Jnr.

NEVER was an award so deserved than the one appreciatively handed to the ageing Sir Bobby Robson on Sunday night.

I KNOW it feels pretty grim at this moment in time, but let’s not make any rash judgements just yet.

I WAS disappointed to learn this week of the lack of attention paid to the county game by the Football Association.

RIGHT, bear with me on this one. Desperate times call for radical measures and brave choices.

THE comments of Tony Owen, manager of the now defunct Printers FC, in last week’s Observer got me thinking about the direction local football is heading.