Weir's Week

A few years ago, snooker went down the nickname route, attempting to make little-knowns more interesting. We already had ‘Hurricane,’ ‘Whirlwind’ and ‘The Grinder’, but those came about because they fitted the demeanour and style of the players they were associated with perfectly.

Incidentally, for the record, Steve Davis wasn’t ‘Interesting’ but ‘The Nugget.’

It came as a shock then when Alan McManus was suddenly referred to as ‘Angles,’ a bigger shock than when he was credited with naming Joe Swail ‘The Outlaw’ (when it was yours truly who applied that label). And former MC Alan Hughes can rightly claim Ronnie ‘Rocket’ O’Sullivan and several others.

At the UK Championship in York, Mark Allen makes a 147. There was a time when I could name every player who had made a competition maximum. Today, there are too many, and, I also have a life.

Allen goes by the nickname ‘Pistol’, which has never sat well with me, given where he comes from in the world. Anyway, after his maximum against Rod Lawler, he’d have a few more quid to spend, albeit down in value from what a 147 used to carry in monetary value.

Mark has never been slow with his opinions, and by the end of the week found himself involved in a Twitter spat with snooker’s Mr Big, Barry Hearn, one that was entertaining and revealing.

Go on, look it up. Oh, and buy some popcorn and nibbles. It does go on for a bit.

Mark Allan http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/38124944

Tuesday

We awake to the horrendous news that a plane carrying the Chapecoense team from Brazil has crashed in Colombia. Given how many flights I have taken with various clubs and teams, it is impossible not to think ‘there but for the grace of God.’

The outpouring of sadness and grief was expected. What I found uncomfortable however, was almost the ghoulish nature of the reporting, with media outlets and social media in particular, presenting video, photographs, interviews and tweets as ‘the last ever.’

I understand why some have this fixation. But not for me, thanks.

Wednesday

I am indeed honoured and privileged to make the Fourth Round draw for the Scottish Junior Cup, meeting again an old friend from many years before.

In 1970 Blantyre Vics won the trophy and, as a school kid, I was summoned to my dad’s garage to see and get my hands on this magnificent prize. Forty-six years on, the trophy wasn’t as big as I remembered it from back then, but, no less impressive.

For the record, there were no hot, cold or square balls in the draw bag, which is probably why I managed to help produce the tie of the round – holders Beith at home to either Auchinleck Talbot or Pollok. I am currently in hiding …

Thursday

There will be a podcast or a download available online (except in my house where I haven’t had BT Broadband for a week) but Darren Campbell’s interview with Watford striker Troy Deeney on Radio Five Live is well worth a listen, or indeed another listen. Frank, honest, and at times shocking, Deeney talks about his career and the good and very bad times. Go search; you won’t be disappointed.

Friday

I worked for a number of years with a retired news editor, a gentleman full of knowledge, insight and above all else, experience. He had a great line, namely, that there was very rarely an entirely new news story, only stories that were new to a different generation.

That was the case on Friday when word came that newly-crowned Formula One world champion, Nico Rosberg, had retired from the sport with immediate effect. Among the headshaking and those questioning ‘how could he?’ came one midget gem from an ‘expert’ talking head, who begged the question, “I mean, has this ever happened before?”

You know, the kind of thing you’d expect an expert/talking head to know, especially if you were broadcasting to a predominantly British market.

Admittedly, it was from the days when the world was black and white. But you should know, in amongst your Carlos Fandangos and Skid Solos that Britian’s first-ever F1 world champion, Mike Hawthorn, took the title, and then chucked it.

Like Rosberg, he’d had enough, with maybe an element of self-preservation thrown in. Sadly, Hawthorn’s retirement lasted only a few short months. He was killed in a road accident when his Jaguar left the road near Guilford. We all wish Rosberg a luckier and more extended retirement.

There was praise and plaudits aplenty from the F1 circus. Maybe not so from Rosberg’s long-time, arch-rival, team-mate, often nemesis, Lewis Hamilton. If the vast majority were in shock at the German’s decision, Hamilton, who has driven against Rosberg since they were kids in karts, was in his own camp.

“I'm probably one of the only people that it was not a surprise to,” admitted Hamilton. “This is the first time he's won a title in 18 years, hence why it was not a surprise that he decided to stop.”

Meow. Scratching post for Lewis …

Saturday

Rangers beat Aberdeen at Ibrox, so maintaining an unbeaten record at home versus the Dons dating back to 1991. In the lead up to the game, a few of Pittodrie’s finest took to social media to inform me that Rangers had died, and there was no such record.

I think otherwise. However, to please and placate, I’ll play along with the Aberdeen fans. So, what was it like to lose to a newly-promoted club who didn’t exist a few years ago?

Sunday

Finally, wasn’t it great to see a right, proper, old fashioned stooshie in the Manchester City v Chelsea game? Who knows, it might even be what the Premier League brand needs, a bit of feistiness, and a flashback to its real roots and history.

I did laugh at comments that his tackle on David Luiz was "so unlike Sergio Aguero." Really?

Firstly, Aguero is Argentinian; they tend to be able to handle themselves. Secondly, David Luiz is Brazilian, so no love lost there. And thirdly, the pair have a bit of ‘previous.’ Aguero was only getting his retaliation in first. As he did the last time. Whether you approve or not, it all makes for compulsive viewing does it not?