Wayne's man Stretford gets in shape
- 12 Jun 06, 09:49 AM
BADEN-BADEN Wayne Rooney's agent Paul Stretford was among the early starters at our hotel gym this morning - maybe getting in shape for a busy week of calming down Sir Alex Ferguson if his charge plays against Trinidad and Tobago.
Paul pummelled the exercise bike as the strains of Eurovision Song contest winner "Hard Rock Hallelujah" pounded the walls of the gym.
He then took a turn on the step machine, possibly ensuring he can outsprint a fuming Fergie as he looks for answers about Wayne's participation in the World Cup.
Don't know about his gym shoes, Stretford might be needing his ear-plugs by the time the week's out.
No comment on Wayne sadly - but
There was another crisis in the gym when someone mislaid what is fast becoming an essential piece of kit for the travelling media man - an iPod.
The hotel's notice board drew attention to the fact, complete with a disgraceful jibe at a sex god and legend.
It read: "iPod found in fitness room. Lots of Tom Jones so claimant may wish to remain anonymous."
Tom Jones fans? Surely it's not unusual.
The Press Association's England reporter John Curtis went down in legend at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea for what was arguably the most memorable incident of the whole tournament.
As we waited at our Sapporo Hotel to return to our main Japanese base after , Curtis marched through the foyer with his bags, past the waiting English media and straight on to the Argentine team bus.
When greeted by a fuming Gabrial Batistuta and his colleagues, Curtis demanded: "Come on Gabriel get off - English media only."
No-one could understand the response. But we could have a good guess.
Now Curtis, currently suffering after picking up a knee injury interviewing England players following the win against Jamaica, is at it again.
In his haste to catch the bus back to Baden-Baden from Frankfurt, the popular PA man mistakenly marched on to a bus containing...members of the Paraguay supporters' club.
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I'm intrigued how did Curtis sustain a knee injury after interviewing England players? Do reporters have to carry out a series of warm-up exercises?
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portugal r going to win da world cup
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Would suggest that kidney07 go in search of brain01
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In resonse to PaulC,
kidney07 did go looking for brain01 but due to his/her lack of spelling prowess ended up with Brian10.
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Englands gonaa winnnn!1!!1!!!
COME ON ENGLAND!!!1!!!
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A bit of an in-joke about John. He is ruthless in his search for quotes in what is known as the "mixed zone" after matches.
This is the area players have to pass through to speak to the media.
John is very territorial - and very professional.
I think he was bit slow against Jamaica and he had to fight for position. In the ensuing ruck he twisted his knee.
Hazardous job this you know.
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Stretford has a great job as an agent of Rooney because fans are roaming around to hear the decision of Rooney鈥檚 participation in the next match and Sir Ferguson is also curious to know the news as he is against of the idea of an unfit Rooney in the field.
Jhon Curtis鈥檚 falling in injury is very interesting to me as I do not how he took the interviews of the English players, did he have to play with them?
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Go England!!!
Neal Saferstein
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