I HAD meant to comment sooner on Ralph Milne's death. Of course it is sad when a man fails to reach his alotted three score years and ten; more so when his own life-style choices and behaviour apparently contributed to his early demise. But really, some of the MSM guff in the wake of his death has been, in my opinion, nauseating.
Let's be honest, I was covering senior football when Milne was playing for Dundee United. Yes, that United squad was a good one, but, Milne, while capable of the odd moment of magic was one of the journeymen - to me he was a good, but not great player.
His return in caps terms of three appearances for the Under-21s does not indicate a player who while looked on then as potentially Scotland class - would be persevered with. The Under-21 games are a test arena, that is where the men who matter in terms of Scotland's international side find out if promise shown in domestic games can transfer into the harsher international arena. That is where the Scotland management team find out if the youngster has the discipline and attitude which will be needed for World Cups and European Championships.
Clearly, Milne failed his auditions. He didn't "train-on" and take that final step from club player to international one. Yet, from the tributes penned, you would think he was "the one that got away"; the great Scottish talent we didn't recognise.
I accept Ralph Milne had talent, more than most, but, he, like so many other Scottish players before or since, didn't make the most of that talent. That was his tragedy, not Scottish football's. There was something not quite right about some of the tributes last week.
THE difference between Glasgow's currently first and second-ranked senior teams was starkly demonstrated this week. Celtic lose at Aberdeen and the MSM's sports desks go into overdrive. We didn't have the cracked crest graphic dragged out - didn't you know the two cracked badges, for you know who, are kept in a special file marked: "Pre-set headlines and graphics" in the Chief Sports Sub-editor's hard drive, ready for instant access when needed - but they did drag-out the "Celtic Crisis" headline.
Yet, Celtic are still in what is seen as their rightful place, in the top two of the Premiership, while poor old Thistle, well, they are foot of the table and the old "Partick Thistle nil" jokes are being trooped out.
I have a feeling, somehow, the Jags will sting back; aye, they may well stagger through this season, but, I'd still rather cover games at Firhill than Celtic Park. Like most, I've got a soft spot for the Maryhill Magyrs.
I've also got a soft spot for Jordan McMillan, the player the Jags sacked after he tested positive for cocaine. That soft spot is a bog just down the road from my house, by the way. What a stupid so-and-so.
Of course, poor wee put-upon Jordan is protesting his innocence, claiming he was slipped a cocaine-spiked "Mickey". Maybes aye, maybes naw son, but, if you're hanging about the sort of places where cocaine is regularly to be found, you are clearly not living the dedicated footballer's life-style.
I used to see McMillan playing regularly, when he was loaned-out by Rangers to Queen of the South. he looked like a good player in the making. I felt he got something of a raw deal at Ibrox, since when, like so many former Old Firm youngsters, being rejected by his one of the Bigot Brothers seemed to sap his spirit and he never fulfilled his potential.
He is indignantly protesting his innocence, but, I'd say I have more chance of becoming Football Correspondent of The Times, than he has of getting his two-year ban rescinded.
My advice to Jordan is: Serve the time, find a job and keep fit - then you have a chance of maybe getting a gig in the Juniors or the First or Second Divisions. And, stop being so stupid.
By the way, am I the only one who wondered at him being described in the MSM as: "Former Partick Thistle player Jordan McMillan"? OK, he was with the Jags when caught, but, once upon a time, the Rangers connection would have been flagged-up. Is it now worse to be aligned to Rangers than to be a cocaine user?
A COUPLE of my fellow coffin-dodgers in our Wednesday morning bowling group are getting a wee bit over-excited this week. Somerset Parkers since the days of Peter Price, before Ally's first spell in-charge, they are delighted to see the Honest Men lying second in the First Division.
They are, however, not 100 per-cent Ian McColl fans. This is nothing new, wee Ian does divide opinions between fans of whatever club he is managing, but, give him his dues, he does get results.
I've always liked him, his post-match press conferences were always enjoyable, I wish him well this season and beyond.
THERE is a wee puff piece in the Hootsman today - it may be elsewhere as well - with Ian Durrant. This is supposed to be boosting a new club lotto, in support of the RTA, but, this being the MSM, it's all about Durranty, the great Ibrox Survivor.
In it, the wee man claims he is Ally McCoist's best friend, but, that he hasn't had a chance to speak to the Constant Gardener since his (McCoist's) departure. FFS, Coisty was put on gardening leave nine months ago, and his "best pal" hasn't had a chance to speak to him about it.
If I was Ally, I'd be choosing my best buddies more-carefully from now on.
UEFA has caused a few dummies to be spat-out, whilst various teddies and other soft toys have been thrown from prams, by suggesting the SFA is less-than-rigorous in weeding-out sectarianism from Scottish football.
Tell us something we don't know, the way the followers of a couple of clubs have been allowed to constantly re-fight the religious/political battles of Irish history in and around the football grounds of Scotland for over 100-years, this does Scottish football's image no problems.
The finger-pointing and whitabootery in the comments sections of the newspapers which carried the story - well, nothing new there either.
I don't care if: "they started it"; or if: "We're not as bad as them" is used as an excuse or explanation. It is time it was stopped. But, I don't see the will in either board room to stop it. Sectarianism sells seats - simples.
I reckon, if ever given the chance to be CEO of either club, I could stop sectarianism inside the ground within a season. Outside the ground, I would need to be First Minister, and have my next five or so successors, bound by blood to the same plan.
Hopefully, once we become a progressive, independent, grown-up 21st century nation, Scotland will finally see the back of sectarianism. But, being in the second half of my seventh decade, I am neither holding my breath to see this, or even expecting to be around when the last sectarian bigot in Scotland snuffs it.
THERE is a wee puff piece in the Hootsman today - it may be elsewhere as well - with Ian Durrant. This is supposed to be boosting a new club lotto, in support of the RTA, but, this being the MSM, it's all about Durranty, the great Ibrox Survivor.
In it, the wee man claims he is Ally McCoist's best friend, but, that he hasn't had a chance to speak to the Constant Gardener since his (McCoist's) departure. FFS, Coisty was put on gardening leave nine months ago, and his "best pal" hasn't had a chance to speak to him about it.
If I was Ally, I'd be choosing my best buddies more-carefully from now on.
UEFA has caused a few dummies to be spat-out, whilst various teddies and other soft toys have been thrown from prams, by suggesting the SFA is less-than-rigorous in weeding-out sectarianism from Scottish football.
Tell us something we don't know, the way the followers of a couple of clubs have been allowed to constantly re-fight the religious/political battles of Irish history in and around the football grounds of Scotland for over 100-years, this does Scottish football's image no problems.
The finger-pointing and whitabootery in the comments sections of the newspapers which carried the story - well, nothing new there either.
I don't care if: "they started it"; or if: "We're not as bad as them" is used as an excuse or explanation. It is time it was stopped. But, I don't see the will in either board room to stop it. Sectarianism sells seats - simples.
I reckon, if ever given the chance to be CEO of either club, I could stop sectarianism inside the ground within a season. Outside the ground, I would need to be First Minister, and have my next five or so successors, bound by blood to the same plan.
Hopefully, once we become a progressive, independent, grown-up 21st century nation, Scotland will finally see the back of sectarianism. But, being in the second half of my seventh decade, I am neither holding my breath to see this, or even expecting to be around when the last sectarian bigot in Scotland snuffs it.
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