I doubt whether there would be a better North-East sports story than a tale about an angry clash between Newcastle legend Alan Shearer and Sunderland’s legend in the making Roy Keane. Well praise the Lord, Allah, Buddha and the various Hindu Gods and Goddesses, because I’ve got one.
Well, sort of. I mean, I doubt whether we are going to see a repeat of their infamous scrap at St James’s Park in September 2001 when Keane threw the ball at Alan’s head, Alan called him an idiot, Keane lost it, threw a punch and had to be restrained by renowned international tough guy David Beckham.
But, half a decade later, has Roy taken another pop at Newcastle’s very own “Local Hero� or is the row down to more spin than a Shane Warne googly?
I for one would pay good money (£20) to see a celebrity boxing match between the two and, although I’m no boxing promoter, I reckon it’d be a big draw on the under card of Ricky Hatton’s next fight.
They could donate the money raised to charity and smack the you know what out of each other. They are of a similar age, weight and height and, let’s face it, for all the mutual respect, they have probably wanted to have a swing at each other for years.
So what is the background to their new “feud�? Well - and far be it for me to stick my nose, oar or two penneth worth in - it all stems from Keane’s comments in a press conference last week after Birmingham City had humiliated Newcastle in the FA Cup.
You see, Roy was unhappy about Match of the Day’s coverage of the game and, in particular, the fact their pundits, of which Shearer was one, had failed to give Birmingham any praise for the way they performed.
Of course, Keane’s comments were talking in “general terms�, but is there a thinly veiled swipe at Big Al in there given the fact he has opted for a cosy life in the television studio compared to Keane’s decision to head straight into management? In the words of that guy from Big Brother with the North-East accent I can’t quite place, you decide.
“All you heard after the Birmingham game was how bad Newcastle were,� rapped Keane (in an angry, not Hip Hop sense, obviously) Not once did anybody say that Birmingham played quite well - not once.
“And those were the so-called experts on the box.
“It just goes to show how ignorant and arrogant people can be with regard to teams in the Championship. Maybe Birmingham made Newcastle look bad.
“Steve Bruce’s side did brilliantly and could have won by more. They showed that some teams in the Championship aren’t too far behind the Premiership clubs and, if they do go up, they have a good chance of staying up.�
AND THEN THE KILLER LINE...... (QUE DRUM ROLL)
“I should work in TV and give up the day job. It would be a lot easier.�
So what do you reckon, is he having a pop, or am I reading far too much into a general swipe at television pundits born out of frustration about the media’s fascination with the Premiership?
One thing is for certain. Given Keane’s personality and the effortless way he has emerged himself in the culture of Sunderland, you can bet he did not shed a tear when Newcastle went crashing out of the FA Cup last week! Maybe he even did a little jig around his living room.
Can’t wait for the resumption of the Tyne-Wear derbies which, on recent Black Cat form, should be back on the fixture list next season. Hurrah!
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