Tuesday 31st August

There is only one story making news in the part of the world where I hang my hat.   The sacking of Sir Bobby Robson is being talked about by everybody who has even the slightest interest in football.

The impression I get is that no-one is surprised but everyone is saddened by the manner in which it was done by the hapless chairman.   I repeat, this is the same chairman who in the company of Douglas Hall castigated the women of the North East.   Compared Alan Shearer to Mary Poppins and admitted to ripping off the fans over the cost of replica kit whilst on 'club business' in the far east. 

There is talk of Terry Venables coming in to support Shearer as manager. Also in the frame are Steve Bruce of Birmingham, Gerard Houllier, George Graham and Martin O'neill.  

My suggestion would be to give the job to Kieron Dyer and make Craig Bellamy his assistant.   I am sure these two upstanding professionals would make an excellent job of running the club... after all they seem to have been in charge for most of this season already.

Monday 30th August

Sir Bobby Robson has been sacked by Newcastle United FC.   I was told the news on the golf course this bank holiday Monday.   Looks like Sir Bobby will now have plenty of time on his hands as he will surely hang up his boots.   I will undoubtedly return to this topic.    I think it is very sad and reflects badly on NUFC.   What do you think?

A bit later on........When Freddie Shepherd,  the club Chairman who refers to Alan Shearer as Mary Poppins, went on the hoy with Hall jnr in a far eastern den, announced (without telling Sir Bobby) that his contract would not be renewed at the end of the current season, he effectively made the manager a lame duck.  

Is it any wonder that some of the overpaid pampered players showed little or no respect to the manager in the early weeks of the season.   Sir Bobby Robson is the doyen of football managers and deserves better than this.   I wrote about this in my 'Diary' on 3rd August.   It is just a shame he did not show a few of these upstarts the door at St James' when he had the chance.

Shame on you Newcastle United FC.

Sunday 29th August

Not only were messrs Beam, Gilbey and Walker at Auntie Joan's 75th birthday party last night, but young John Daniels made an appearance too, along with Tony Campbell the butcher, who also happens to be my brother in law.   Tony came with his best friend Gordon.

If you scroll back down to August 14th you can read a medal prediction that I quoted by an economist while listening to Today on Radio 4.

The prediction was 27 medals including 10 gold.
The actualite was    30 medals including   9 gold.

Not bad at all really.

Saturday 28th August

Following a friendly game of golf in the morning I will be watching the Olympics to see if Kelly Holmes can do the double by winning the 1500m.   Did you know that of the seven Gold medals that GB have won at the Games, six of them have been won by competitors from a sitting position?

This evening I shall accompany Mrs Boggy and meet up with the rest of Clan Campbell to attend Aunty Joan's  birthday bash.   James Beam and Jonathan Walker will no doubt be there too with their friend Gilbey.

Friday 27th August

I have just returned from the gym and am completely shattered again.   Only one thing for it zzzzzzzz.

I wonder what her mindset is as she approaches tonight's gruelling event?   I have said in these diaries before that I think Michael Johnson is the best sports pundit by miles, I include all sport not just athletics.   He is of the opinion that she has nothing to lose by running tonight and I agree.   She can only come out of this race as a true Olympian.  

You can have all of the money in the world, but if you have not got your health and a big dollop of self respect you haven't really got much have you?   Go for it Paula and show everyone what your made of.

Update:-   She ran, she hurt, she stopped.   If you ever wondered what catharsis means - this was it!

Well done Paula.   True sports lovers appreciate what you have done.

The Olympics will soon be over and the back pages will be filled with dopey Welsh footballers and their ilk talking about erm not wanting hopefully to sit on park benches obviously.   Absolutely something like that anyway.

Thursday 26th August

For the first time in a few days there is a story which has distracted me from the Olympic Games in Athens.  

Sir Mark Thatcher, as he is absurdly titled was arrested in South Africa yesterday for being pompous and arrogant.   Sorry I made a mistake, he was arrested in South Africa for being the titled  son of  ex Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.   Whoops another mistake, he was arrested in South Africa accused of being involved in some dodgy business in Equatorial Guinea.   'Dogs of war', 'coup d'etat',  phrases which normally appear in novels are appearing in articles in every British newspaper.

I am not going to comment on whether he is guilty or not, but I am entitled to say that he is wandering about the free world with a 'Sir' in front of his name.   This cannot be right of a man who is unable to read a map and has fewer 'O' levels than me.  

He inherited the title on the death of his father, Sir Denis, an hereditary baronet.   What utter nonsense.   How can this be in the year 2004, that a pompous privileged pretender can call himself a knight of the realm.   If ever there was justification for the scrapping of the honours system, this man is exhibit 'A'.

Wednesday 25th August

I was planning on having a non sporting day but received a phone call from a golf obsessed pseudo Frenchman, so I will be playing in the midweek medal around lunchtime.   The weather appears to be better than was forecast, so it is a rare opportunity for a game over these past ten rain lashed days.

Back after my round of golf,  I shot a gross 77 / 66 nett which is pretty good, I am going to settle down and watch yet more sport from Athens.

Tuesday 24thAugust

I had a work out at the gym this morning and if I am honest I think I tried to do too much.   I was feeling dizzy so I finished with a gentle warm down on the bike, had a shower and when I got home I fell asleep. I must be taking all of this Olympic Games chat on the telly a bit too seriously.  

I am sure there must be some very important issues that I should be spouting off about, but The Olympic Games are so watchable that the rest of the world is on hold for  a few days more.  

I have only up-dated this report at 10.30pm because I have been watching the ladies pole vault.   A couple of Russians, who actually look like females, have produced another riveting sporting event.   The victor, somebodyova, carried on after winning to post a new world record.

On a lighter note, I just thought I should point out that Silva won the bronze in the men's 1500m.   It's a pity the Polish girl could not win the pole vault really.   I wonder if there is a male in the men's competition called Walter, that would be something.

Monday 23rd August

The day got better when Kelly Holmes won gold in the 800m.   What another excellent race.   I am enjoying these Olympics much more than I have done for a long time.  It is top class sport and some of the races have been so close.    I seem as if I cry much more than I ever used to when the medal ceremonies are taking place.

I am just a little softie really.   The last time I can remember crying this much was when I was a regular watcher of The Waltons.   I had to give up watching John Boy and his goodie goodie family long before I gave up alcohol.

On a slightly more serious note, Michael Johnson is easily the best pundit for any sport currently working on TV.   He talks so much sense and can be critical but constructive when necessary.   I feel as if I have learnt so much about how to run since listening to him, that I can't wait for my next 100m race.   I am even considering trying the 200m as well.

--------------------------

If Radio 5 Live phone-ins are anything to go by, Paula Radcliffe has lost a lot of fans and respect for her failure to complete the course that Pheidippides managed some 2500 years ago.   Not winning the Marathon gold medal apparently is acceptable,  not finishing the course, is not.

That was the verdict of the majority of calls that I listened to on Sunday evening and Monday morning.  

I am of the opinion that she was incapable of completing the course by a combination of heat exhaustion, dehydration and mental fatigue.   Admittedly I am not a doctor, but I do have respect for the normally gutsy British middle and long distance runner.  

Update - I watched Paula Radcliffe being interviewd by Steve Cram and then a little later when she faced the press pack.   For anyone not to have sympathy and respect for this lovely lady after all she has been through, tells me that they no nothing about sport.   If you disagree, keep off my website!  (I don't really mean that, but I am sure you get my drift).

I have not heard the same amount of derision for Denise Lewis who did not complete her defence of the heptathlon title she won so gloriously in Sydney.   She simply walked off halfway through after it was obvious that she could not come anywhere near a medal of any colour.

Sunday 22nd August

Saturday 21st August

By the time I hade woken up, Ben Ainslie had won a gold medal for the second Olympic Games in the sailing.   Not only that but our coxless fours won a gold medal in the rowing by the narrowest of margins.   They beat Canada (sorry sis) by a kipper's eyelash.

Matthew Pinsent won his fourth gold medal, which is a fantastic achievement by any standard.   He was completely overcome on the rostrum after receiving his gong.   When the singing of the national anthem was ringing out, he was weeping buckets.   Sport at it's magnificent best.....is magnificent.

I am off to play golf on an emotional high.

Friday 20th August

I am watching lots of sport on TV at the moment and find the Olympic Games good to watch even if some of the 'minority sports' are not my normal fare.   Canoeing, badminton, weightlifting and show jumping are all interesting when there is a GB representative taking part.   The swimming is OK and the synchronised diving was brilliant.

There is a row going on at present about the show jumping.   Should the German be penalised for a dodgy start or not?   To me the answer is simple, if the rules were broken then a penalty must be imposed, otherwise what is the point?  

Being a golfer, albeit a mediocre amateur player, I think the rules are many and complicated.   Even at my level of sport if a rule is broken (ignorance can never be an excuse) a penalty is always imposed.  

There are players who are forever breaking rules or flout them for convenience, but if there is a pot of tea on the outcome they never get away with any breach from their opponents.   Nor should they.

The Olympics is the very pinnacle of sport and it is incumbent on all concerned, be they competitor or official to uphold the rules.   In my humble opinion the German should be relegated to fourth place and the British jumper elevated to gold etc etc.    QED.                                                    

Next?

Thursday 19th August

Fortunately for me burglars do not read this site.   It is now too late for them as my burglar alarm is functioning and my Doberman has not been fed.

I managed to get 15 holes of golf in before the bad weather returned to my corner of the planet, making every form of outdoor sport impossible.   It is cricket tonight, I just hope it clears up a little as I have dreamt I am going to get a big score in what could be my final innings before going down under.   You will just have to check out 'Marsh on Cricket' to see what happens.   You could be amazed!

Wednesday 18th August

According to Dave from 'God's own' (entry in my 'guest book'), which I know to be Yorkshire, Steve Harmison is only #4 in the bowling rankings.   How perverse.   Who are the three above him?   Can anyone tell me?

Answer -  to my own question

1. Muralitharan

2. Sean Pollock

3. Shoaib Aktar

Golf today is a washout, so there is a fair chance I may get roped into some shopping or other such useless pastime by Mrs Boggy on her day off.

Tuesday 17th August

Who was it that said," You can fool some of the people some of the time etc.....?"   The England football team are playing a friendly international in my home city of Newcastle against Ukraine tomorrow, so far only 20,000 of the 52,000 seats have been sold.

I have no doubt that soccer mad Geordies will turn up in greater numbers than the 20,000, but I am certain that overpaid and under achieving footballers who may or may not play for more than 45 minutes is not the biggest draw in town at present.   There is something going on in Athens I believe.

Meanwhile England's cricket team went marching on to their 6th straight victory with another good performance against the West Indies.   I think Steve Harmison is at #1 in the rankings of the current Test bowlers, which is a fantastic effort by the big Geordie.

Speaking of #1 in the rankings - This site is ranked #1 in every search engine on the web, of which I am very proud.   Thank you to all of my regular readers and welcome to all of my new ones.   You may be surprised to learn that only 44% of my visitors (of the last 100) come from the UK.   The rest come from USA, Slovakia, Hungary, Netherlands, Greece, Denmark, China, Sweden, Germany, Canada, Thailand and (I nearly forgot) Australia.

I should also like to thank my IT guru, Mick who has helped me set up a new website for The Freeman Heart & Lung Transplant Association, which I am a member of.   I only published the first pages on Friday evening,  guess what?

www.fhlta.org.uk is already ranked #1.   The long winded full title, The Freeman etc is also in the top 10.   We must be doing something right.   If you have had a transplant and would like to make a contribution to either of the sites I am involved with, please get in touch.

Monday 16th August

I got back home late last night after a very hectic weekend.   I played in the pro's competition on Saturday before setting off down to Birkenhead for our last net / meeting of the GB transplant cricket squad before we depart for Australia.

I travelled down on the Saturday so that I could take time out and visit my favourite Aunt and Uncle in the delightful Cheshire village of Helsby.   We stayed overnight in England's only floating hotel in Northwich.   I shall not stay there again.   Not because it moved in the water, but that it was dirty.   I probably have stayed in worse hotels, but having such a shocking memory I cannot remember when.

I am not having a pop exclusively on my website.   We did fill out the questionnaire in our room and pointed out the obvious failings of their attempts at cleanliness, namely cobwebs, spiders, dirty and torn carpets etc etc.

Saturday 14th August

Listening to Today on R4 this morning I heard this prediction by an American economist of GB's medal tally for the Olympic Games.   Based on factors such as population, GDP, host effect, and past performance this was the prophecy.

Total medals = 27, of which 10 will be gold.  

I shall be interested to see how accurate this is.   If it proves to be near the mark, then we will have done very well.

Friday 13th August

I love sport and I take drugs.    Steroids to be precise.

The difference between me and many of the athletes who will test positive over the next 16 days and will be humiliated in public as nothing less than cheats, is that I need my drugs to stay alive following my heart transplant.

Some of the athletes who are about to compete in 'The Greatest Show on Earth', the XXVIII Olympiad in Athens, could well need a transplant if they continue to stuff substances into their bodies in search of glory.   They may get a short term benefit and a gold medal, but without a doubt there will be a price to pay later.

Let the Games begin.

Thursday 12th August

The third Test match begins against the West Indies at Old Trafford today, weather permitting.   This is the Test that the Geordie fast bowler will become the #1 ranked bowler in the world.   Muralitharan is not playing in Sri Lanka's current Test match and therefore I think it inevitable that he will take over as the premier bowler on the planet.

When he takes his third wicket he will become the first Test bowler to reach 50 wickets in this calendar year.

Still on a cricketing theme, I had to go to the factory of our kit manufacturer this morning and OK our GBTCC (Great Britain Transplant Cricket Club) logo.   It varies slightly to the one we would have preferred, but because of delays on our part, I agreed to the one on offer.     I will be able to pick up the bulk of the order tomorrow and can then distribute the kit to players who turn up at Birkenhead Cricket Club for our final pre-tour get together this week-end.

Wednesday 11th August

Playing golf.   Back later.   Oh dear, I wish I hadn't bothered.

For those of you who follow all of this stuff religiously (believe me you are not the only one!), cast your mind back to Friday 6th August when I told you how the Australian organiser, former tennis professional Mark Cocks, had been casting aspersions on my cricketing abilities.   I think it is euphemistically called 'sledging'.   Well I have offered some of my own words of wisdom on his technique, likening his bowling to pie throwing and describing his batting as something rhyming with clap.

Does he like it?   In the words of Corporal Jones in Dads Army," They don't like it up 'em Cap'n Mainwairing, Sir".  

Fifteen all, I would say.   Isn't sport just wonderful?

Guess where we will playing our cricket matches in Adelaide?

Answer - The Adelaide Oval No 2.

Tuesday 10th August

I went to the gym this morning and really enjoyed my workout.   It's the first real exercise I have had since competing in Norwich.

Monday 9th August

As I hadn't had a game of golf for ages I managed 10 holes before the lightning flashed, the thunder rumbled and it began tossing it down, game abandoned.   My opponent, ex pro footballer Brain Liddle, offered to pay me as I was 2 up at the time, but being the gentleman I am  declined his offer.

As I have lots of other things to keep me busy I made a visit to a local clothing supply company and ordered the tops, floppy hats and jackets, with logos, for our upcoming cricket tour to Australia.   If you are part of the squad and haven't yet given me the size you require, or that of your partner - tough!   You will have to squeeze into or rattle about in the stuff I give you.   QED.

I then popped into the Freeman hospital to put a notice up about forthcoming sporting events, so that other transplant patients might enter.   No doubt spurred on by the magnificent deeds of fellow transplant athletes who have performed so admirably in the past few weeks.   I think I am taking this manager's role a little too seriously, but I love it.

Sunday 8th August

It's far too hot and sunny for a man like me who takes as many drugs,  to stay outdoors for too long.   So that rules out any gardening.   I have made no arrangements to play golf, but could be tempted by a telephone call.  

Mrs Boggy is working hard at Britain's favourite retailer, so I may as well tweak my meta tags and update my site with lots of pretty pictures now that I have acquired all of this new web space.   To the untrained eye it will be difficult to notice any difference, but I can assure you that behind the scenes is a work of technological art on a par with the Millennium Bridge.   I am not referring to the wibbly wobbly thing in London, but the majestic structure that spans the River Tyne.

Saturday 7th August

it's good to return to some form of normality after all of the running around these past few days.   I played in a stableford competition at Tynemouth today.

Friday 6th August

Sven Goran Eriksson had no case to answer, was the verdict of an internal FA inquiry.   So that's all right then!  

I can't wait for the Sunday papers!

This is a very short report 'cos I've been busy all day with matters re the Games and our forthcoming cricket tour  to Australia.   I have to report that the 'sledging' has already started.   Mark Cocks, former professional tennis player and golfer of doubtful abilities, who is the man in charge down under, has been calling me names which I can't repeat on a reputable website as this.

The best bit of counter sledging I ever heard goes something like this:-

Merv Hughes (Aussie fast bowler) to Mike Gatting (I think), "Why are you so fat?"

"Because every time I sleep with your wife she gives me a biscuit" was the reply.

Thursday 5th August

I have just had this information about our forthcoming inaugural GB Transplant Cricket Club tour to Australia next month.

The tour is to be called:-  

Transplant Australia David Hookes' Memorial.

David Hookes, former Australian Test cricketer, who died in tragic circumstances earlier this year, gave his major organs for transplantation.    As a consequence numerous lives were saved.   His family are backing the cricket tour and I am proud to be associated with it.

I have a feeling that when we get to Australia there is going to be massive TV and press coverage as our tour coincides with the Australian Transplant games in Adelaide, which are always well publicised anyway.  

I had better try scoring a run or two in tonight's match for Percy Main CC III's, something I have been pretty yepless (Geordie vernacular for not particularly good) at so far. 

Personally, I blame the bat(s) I have been using.   One belongs to my son the other to Dave Archbold.   Both are much taller than I am and their bats are far too heavy for a little squirt like me to handle.  

If anyone has a bat that may be suitable please get in touch, especially if you are a cricket bat manufacturer with similar initials to my own....GM.   A car would be nice too, I wonder if there is............I think I am beginning to crack up.  

Wednesday 4th August

Up with the larks this morning as I had to go to the Freeman Hospital to have my 'bloods' checked.   If you want the gory details have a look at my 'Red Book' pages.

I have just been checking some of my 'transplant links' and read that Jonah Lomu, the giant New Zealand rugby winger had a kidney transplant on 30th July.   In our cloistered life on campus last week I probably missed lots of other stuff, but this is great news.

Lomu who is only 29 had his transplant in Auckland City Hospital and received his kidney from a live, unnamed donor.   I hope Jonah Lomu makes a speedy recovery and it would be fantastic if he were to get involved in the Transplant Games.   I am glad he is younger than me as I would not fancy my chances in the 100m against him.

Tuesday 3rd August

Having been on campus for the best part of a week in Norwich it seems the world just kept on turning, but I missed it.   I put the mockers on Steve Harmison who failed to take a wicket in the latest annihilation of the Windies.  I am predicting a big haul for the Geordie fast bowler in the 4th Test that will secure his place at the top of the world rankings.

Graeme Hick scored his 126th first class hundred while I was reliving my youth and he joins W.G. Grace at #10 on the list of all time century makers.  

Sir Bobby Robson has learnt in the Evening Chronicle that he will not be getting another year at Newcastle United as manager.   What a way to treat a footballing gentleman.   Shame on NUFC.

That brings me on to the shenanigans at the FA.   Do these people inhabit the real world?   Of course they don't!   They just treat we plebs with contempt.   Ex TV journalists (he who helped Glen Hoddle write that book) and newspaper journos are in positions that ought to be occupied by football people.   Spin, spin spin - I'm getting dizzy.  

That leads me nicely to Ashley Giles the England off spinner who has taken 9 wickets in each of the last 2 Test matches.   I may be wrong but I think Tony Lock was probably the last spinner to do that.   I'm sure you will correct me if I'm wrong Colin.

Which brings me to our forthcoming tour to Australia with the GB Transplant Cricket Club (GBTCC).   We leave in September and it is going to be a massive sporting event down under.   The current Australian test team will be coming along to offer advice and lend their support.   I will be writing much much more about the tour as the time approaches, but I can tell you that I and my team mates are just a teeny bit excited.

Also well done to Karen Stupples and Luke Donald.   Karen won the Weetabix British Open Golf and Luke Donald won the Scandinavian Open by 5 shots.   This coming 2 weeks after Mark James won the Senior Player's championship in the USA.  

I was in Norwich for the British Transplant Games and had a wonderful time competing and meeting friends from all parts of the UK.   I will write a review of the Games and will publish it very soon.   Keep checking if that is the reason you logged on in the first place.

I never mentioned politics once in the above resumé, I must be going soft.   I will put that right once I get back in the groove.

Monday 2nd August (I think)

Patience dear readers, patience.
I have just touched down in Air Marsh 1 at North Shields airport, once I shake off the jet lag I will post all of my news.

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