On The Sidelines

Choice words at Longchamp last Sunday from American jockey Cash Asmussen, has heightened the enmity between himself and French rider Olivier Peslier. Riding the French Derby winner Peintre Celebre, a 1 to 10 favourite, Peslier was boxed in so effectively on the rails by Asmussen that he had no chance of winning the Prix Niel race. Asmussen subsequently raged against the Times racing journalist Richard Evans: "You are a sarcastic p***k and I'll poke your f*****g eyes out. Take off your sun glasses and it won't hurt so much."

The reason for the jockey's outburst was a simple question from Evans. "Tactical race Cash?" inquired the Englishman as Asmussen was heading towards the weigh room.

The latest news emerging from research carried out by Dr Sandra Bell, a physicist working at the Army Boxing Centre at Aldershot, is bound to throw the sport of boxing into further debate. It appears that professional boxers who don't wear head protection and who use lighter 8 oz gloves are less at risk to brain damage than amateurs who wear the traditional guards and the bigger 10 oz gloves. Sparring with 14 oz gloves and head protection can apparently be even more dangerous.

Dr Bell has established that although professionals are more likely to suffer cosmetic damage to the face, the amount of jarring their brains have to endure is considerably less than their amateur counterparts.

Apparently the bigger glove in tandem with the increased weight of the guard on the head, combines to provide a bigger impact area and causes the head to turn faster. This increases the momentum and speed at which the head turns and can lead to greater shearing action inside the skull.

Barry McGuigan, who was asked to take part in the experiment by hitting the head of DERAMAN, a reproduction of a human cranium, discovered that the type of padding in the gloves also has a marked effect. Sometimes the foam contributes to rather than protects the head against damage.

McGuigan, incidentally, was able to hit DERAMAN and produce a G force more than 25 times greater than that experienced by Grand Prix drivers going around the quickest corners. More ammunition for the abolitionists and problems for the allegedly safer amateur game.

At the recent International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting in Lausanne the results of a survey carried out on the Atlanta games was made public. The poll, commissioned by the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, examined impressions of 520 key executives prior to the games in 1993 and again in 1997, expanding the sampling to 620 executives.

The result was that "the Olympics raised Atlanta's profile in the minds of corporate decision makers" and that "exposure to the Olympic games was a motivating factor for them to consider the city as a site for expansion and relocation."

Given that the Atlanta Olympic games were the most badly organised in memory, climatically totally unsuitable, subject to high profile and inflexible security, infuriatingly bureaucratic and given to the most appalling dollar-grabbing exercise in the history of the games with tacky plastic stalls at every turn, you might ask just who are these decision makers and how can they be allowed to run a country?

The Leinster Hockey Coaching Association's bulletin, in its last edition, pointed to an interesting exercise in symbiosis. Last Wednesday they invited FIFA coach Noel King to demonstrate offensive and defensive solutions, without overhead balls (not permitted around the goalmouth in hockey), for the no off-side hockey rule.

Given that the recently-resigned Irish coach, Cees Koppelaar, came from Dutch club Ajax while the team was being coached by the great Johan Cruyff, soccer's tactical input to the game of hockey over the years can at this stage be said to be at least considerable - and it's paying off. Ireland are ranked around 13th in the world in hockey and in soccer . . . 42nd!

Sign OF the times? A small ad appeared in last Saturday's The Irish Times looking for rugby players. But it didn't come from your typically ambitious AIL division one side. The message read: Progressive Leinster Junior Rugby Club requires utility backs. Excellent full time employment available for successful applicants. Apply before 23-9-97. Write to Box No: Z6064.

All this talk about clubs going to the wall in the new professional age. But what's the bet the junior rugby club is based in a significant provincial town with a substantial local following?

So Arsenal striker Ian Wright has received his final warning after the Filbert Street fracas with Leicester captain Steve Walsh. Cleared of misconduct, again, it would appear that those at Lancaster gate who came to such a decision about Wright were answerable to just one imperative - convenience.

Would it be too much to believe that the controversial striker was let off because Glen Hoddle needed him sharp for England's game against Italy in Rome next month. Wright was already carrying a suspended sentence for past misdemeanours and although found guilty was given a mere reprimand. This came about despite the fact that he was told in the summer that if he was found guilty by Lancaster gate again he could expect to draw down the most severe penalties, including a lengthy ban. Hoddle, hamstrung with injuries to his forwards, can now pick Wright without the cloud of a suspension hanging over him. How convienient.

Finally the much maligned Revenue Commission were at the cutting edge of international success recently in a low-profile sting. A Revenue squad representing the Republic of Ireland competed in the Lupton Cup Men's Veteran Football Competition at the University of Manchester on September 11th.

The rules stipulated that there must be a range of age groups over 35, 40 and 50. The competition, played on a round-robin basis, provided the Revenue with three wins and a draw.

They beat England 2-0, Scotland 4-0, Northern Ireland 2-0 and drew with Wales 0-0. A very successful operation by all accounts.