GREAT artistes quite often keep their best stuff for the encore; they know, even if they haven't absolutely hit the heights of which they are capable, the audience will always get to their feet and roat their approval, if they hold back their big number for the encore which is their due.
Of course, football doesn't do encores - it used to be that a season finished with the Scottish and English Cup Finals: whether that game was a classic such as the 1953 'Matthew's Final' of a 0-0 bore draw, won by a sclaffed shot which was deflected onto both posts and into the net off a defender's back side - that was it.
These days football never really ends - the professionals, those who haven't been released that is, may largely be off living it up in "Shagalouf", or doing national service in the Carling Nations Cup, or getting ready for the June round of Euro 2012 qualifiers; in Scotland the juniors still have games to go. Musselburgh may be undertaking football's version of Mission Impossible - attempting to deny Auchinleck Talbot another Emirates Scottish Junior Cup triumph at Rugby Park on Sunday - but there is still the Evening Times Cup-Winners Cup to be got out of the way thereafter.
Indeed, in 2011, as in several past years, the less-successful junior clubs might well be undertaking 2011-12 pre-season friendlies even before Talbot have finished their 2010-11 campaign. Likewise the clubs from the Irish and Welsh Leagues which have qualified for the European competitions next season will already be in preparation for these.
The European Cup Final, at Wembley on Saturday, really ought to signal the end of this season - the two biggest clubs, playing in London, in front of a global audience, what a way to end - but it will not be the end the game will stagger on for a few weeks more.
This season 2010-11 has not been a great vintage, in Scotland, certainly, the vintage has been bitter, more vinegar than wine, but we still have the dregs to go through before we can be released.
It truly has been a narky, niggling, annoying season - one which almost made you fall out of love with the beautiful game. Let's hope this weekend passes without further cause for irritation - A moment of Messi magic, a Giggs/Rooney combination ending in a goal and two-fingered salutes to the press box, that would do nicely.
On Sunday, in Dublin, a 60-yard crossfield ball from Charlie Adam, volleyed home by Kenny Miller to win us the Carling Cup, that would again do nicely - then we could all pack-up and go off for the summer. It cannot come quickly enough.
I HAVE this close acquaintance, retired, enjoying the slower pace but he likes to keep the brain active - so he has become somewhat addicted to online forums. I fear I am in danger of sharing his addiction - since I, somehow, no matter how hard I try to avoid the temptation, keep turning back to the Rumour Mill on the Scotsman's website.
The Herald, long ago, decided not to allow website readers to comment on Old Firm stories - The Scotsman tried this as well, but found their Hearts and Hibs sites, on which the rival comments can touch elevated heights of mutual loathing and vitriol, increasingly taken-over by the followers of what one Hearts fan dubbed: The Bigot Brothers. So, the guys at the foot of Holyrood Road came up with this offering - the Rumour Mill.
Some of the stuff on it is hugely-entertaining, while other stuff is wonderfully cringe-making. Occasionally the debate is exciting and stimulating, but there are one or two whose agendas have remained unchanged since 1690 or 1916 and will continue unchanged for ever more, if they have their way.
What worries me, from reading the posts is - some of the worst examples of bigotry and sectarianism comes from ex-pat Scots, as, to be fair, do some of the best posts; but, if as we are told, the brightest and best Scots leave our native shores - what does that say about those who remain?
Be warned, however, it is addictive, if hardly liable to inform. Earlier this week one of the more-intelligent of the Rangers regulars commented on one post: "good idea, but, enough of this football psih, let's get back to the bigotry and name-calling" - still, it gives the poor dears somewhere to go and keeps them off the street.
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