Massive Attack, the Bluetones, Dodgy, Gene – the list of bright young popsters desperate to be Cantona for a day was almost endless.It is a strange phenomenon, that of the celebrity fan. The Music Industry Soccer Six demonstrated just how far the pendulum has swung.The 10 sides in yesterday’s tournament, a benefit for the Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Centre, included the aristocracy of Britpop. “They are going to sing, aren’t they?” a nervous teenager asked her companion in the thousand-strong queue outside east London’s Mile End Stadium. “It’s not just about football, is it?”
These days, what isn’t? Ten years ago, how many trendy young pop stars would admit to an interest in the game? Recreational drugs, perhaps, and maybe the occasional trashed hotel room, but as for footy, it simply wasn’t cool.
The only good thing about fashions is that they change, and now it seems that it is impossible to be a proper celebrity unless you support your team and turn out with the lads on Sundays. Sailing
The Kiwi-dominated crew of the locally based Luc Dewulf’s Kateie scored a runaway win in the first Mumm 36 Grand Prix of the year at Nieuwpoort, Belgium, yesterday. Second-placed Thomas Friese’s I Punkt of Germany could not dislodge them. Bouwe Bekking brought Dutchman Peter de Ridder’s Mean Machine through to third.
Britain’s Tim Barrett in Bradamante and John Oswald’s Destiny Angel were seventh and ninth.. The 38-year-old posted a level-par final round 72 on the East Course for a 12-under-par total of 276.. Cycling
The new monocoque bike of world pursuit champion Graeme Obree is expected to make its debut at the British track championships, which open at Manchester Velodrome on 24 May. After relying on his home-made machines to win world titles and break world records, the Scot has turned to Devon-based bike builders, Hotta.. Golf
Former European Tour player Brian Marchbank won the Scottish PGA Championship at Dalmahoy yesterday.
Many punters will simply approach the match as a chance to buy money. But anyone intending to walk into a betting shop with a bankers’ draft earmarked for Rangers should remember that Hearts did beat them during the regular season.FRIENDLY INTERNATIONAL (Wembley, Saturday): Hills: 2-7 England, 8-1 Hungary, 100-30 draw.EURO 96 (Ladbrokes): 9-2 Germany, 5-1 Italy, 11-2 Holland, 6-1 England, 7-1 Spain, 8-1 France, 10-1 Portugal, 12-1 Croatia, 16-1 Russia, Bulgaria, 20-1 Romania, 25-1 Denmark, 50-1 Switzerland, 66-1 Czech Republic, 80- 1 Scotland, Turkey.SCOTTISH CUP FINAL (Sunday): Hills: 4-6 Rangers, 9-2 Hearts, 2-1 draw Outright: 2-7 Rangers, 5-2 Hearts.. Only blind patriots will back them at such short odds, and while victory may be beyond the Hungarians, the draw is a realistic alternative at 100-30, though for betting purposes this is probably a match best left alone. Put the money aside for the tournament itself, when the games really matter and shrewd punters will hope to make a killing.The Scottish Cup Final is, according to the betting at least, marginally more competitive than England’s friendly.Rangers are rated 4-6 to secure yet another Double within 90 minutes.
Yet England’s shortcomings in front of goal are now well-documented, and while Hungary failed to qualify for Euro 96, they should be eager to perform with credit against the tournament hosts. A scrappy 1-0 victory will do nothing for confidence within the team or in the betting markets.Time is running out for Venables to find a side and system he is happy with, and he may still be tinkering in this, England’s last game at Wembley before the championship opener against Switzerland. England are 2-7 with William Hill to beat the Hungarians, a price which in a Premiership contest would point towards victory by at least two goals. England had already started to drift in the championship betting, and while the latest quotes are still around 7-1, they will head towards double figures if they fail to beat Hungary at Wembley this Saturday.
In betting terms at least, it is hard to see how Terry Venables can emerge from this fixture as a winner. For anyone who has already backed England to win Euro 96, Saturday’s lifeless encounter did nothing to advertise the strengths of the national game, particularly since the only player capable of breaking the deadlock will struggle to find a place in the French squad.
It was not just Liverpool supporters who switched off at the end of the Cup Final in a mood of bitter disappointment. (Winner trained by Alain de Royer Dupre, at Chantilly, for H H Aga Khan) Pari-Mutuel: 1.80; 1.10, 1.70, 3.50 Dual Forecast: 4.80.. (Winner trained by Ed Dunlop, at Newmarket, for Hamdan Al Maktoum). The last-named, along with Shawanni in the fillies’ Classic, showing that the Dubai- wintered horses are not making the same impression this year.Ashkalani is likely to attempt to give the Aga Khan his first win in Britain since his acrimonious departure in 1990 when he contests the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, while Spinning World, who was supplemented for the Derby at a cost of pounds 8,000, is now 12-1 for Epsom with William Hill.LONGCHAMPPoule d’Essai des Pouliches1 TA RIB Willie Carson2 Shake The Yoke Dominique Boeuf3 Sagar Pride Olivier Peslier9 ran 3/4, 1/2. Pari-Mutuel (includes a one-franc stake): 15.10; 2.30, 1.10, 2.80 Dual Forecast: 10.90.Poule d’Essai des Poulains1 ASHKALANI Gerald Mosse2 Spinning World Cash Asmussen3 Tagula Kevin Darley10 ran 3/4, 1/2 Cayman Kai (4th). Richard Hannon’s Cayman Kai was fourth and the John Dunlop-trained Kahir Almaydan stayed on into fifth after making the running, but Gothenberg, Danehill Dancer and Don Micheletto were disappointing.