TIM MAY was the only one who called it, the one guy who swam against the tide of public and media opinion.
The odds on James "Buster" Douglas beating Mike Tyson for the world heavyweight title in Tokyo in February, 1990, were 42 to one. That's the sort of price which would make an underdog think about selling advertising space on the soles of his boots.
Tyson was the ferocious, unbeatable beast, already one of the most feared heavyweight boxers of all time at the age of 23. The whole world knew Tyson. Only May, a sports writer from Douglas's local paper, The Columbus Dispatch, knew the chump in the other corner.
Buster was a big man and heavy hitter but was rarely in shape. Having reported about him for years May knew that for Tyson he had put the hours in and was in the best condition of his life. And he was a no-hoper with a cause: his mother had died just 23 days before her boy had a crack at being world champ.
The day before the fight May told his readers that Buster would win by a knockout, and in the 10th round he did. It has been called the ultimate prediction.
Celtic aren't the young Tyson and Rangers aren't Buster, but sporting mismatches do spring to mind when thinking about the Old Firm game on Sunday. This League Cup semi-final can be called only way. There might be one or two in the media who won't be able to bring themselves to predict a Rangers defeat at Hampden - ex-players, the usual names, their views compromised to the point of worthlessness - but that will be down to a sort of dumb blind faith rather than the sort of cool analysis and inside knowledge that allowed Tim May to get it right.
Sensible Rangers fans know their team isn't equipped to deal with Celtic. Worse than that, they fear an almighty going over. Gleeful Celtic fans are goading them about 7-1 in 1957 and 6-2 in 2000.
Since becoming a lower-league team in 2012 Rangers have often looked out of their depth against capable opposition. They have overcome some Premiership teams but Caley Thistle beat them 3-0 in 2012 and Dundee United 3-0 later the same season, both at Ibrox. United administered a painful 3-1 defeat in the Scottish Cup semi final last season, at Ibrox again, and this season Rangers have gone down 3-1 and 4-0 by Hibs.
None of those beatings came against a team as strong as Celtic.
A look at the probable starting teams shows that Rangers have six guys who have played in Old Firm games before - Lee McCulloch, Lee Wallace, Richard Foster, Steven Smith, Kyle Hutton and Kenny Miller, three of them former Scottish internationals. But lower-league football has dulled the Rangers players and their reactions and decision-making are not sharp.
McCulloch is 36 and because he doesn't have the pace to play a high line the whole Rangers back four must defend deep, which will invite steady Celtic pressure. Miller is 35 and inevitably his speed has diminished. He won't be winning any sprints against Virgil van Dijk and Jason Denayer and without that what sort of out ball do Rangers have? Celtic's midfield is better at winning the ball, and keeping it, than Rangers'.
This is very far from a vintage Celtic team. Last month they couldn't manage a goal against Ross County at Parkhead. They have a habit of choking at Hampden, recently losing there to County, St Mirren, Hearts and Kilmarnock. Last season they were dumped out of the League Cup by Morton. But when Celtic go in against opponents they know to be far weaker than them they often play as if they know goals will come and they will get there in the end.
The intensity isn't there and that can give their opponents some relief. Rangers won't have that advantage. From the first kick, half the stadium will be howling at Celtic go to for Rangers' throats. Bores obsess about there being "No Old Firm!" since Rangers' liquidation and an embarrassing advertisement was placed in The Sunday Herald which banged on about Rangers as a new club which supposedly means nothing to Celtic. But most Celtic fans are above that.
They simply want to lap up Sunday and see the oldest enemy buried under as many goals as possible. On their day Celtic are capable of that. They've put five past Partick Thistle and Ross County this season and six past Dundee United.
A par score for Sunday is probably 3-0 Celtic. Anything below that and Rangers have their pride; anything above and they are humiliated. A Rangers win is available at 7/1. Their only hope of delivering that is if Celtic completely fold under the pressure of losing the unlosable game.
And Another Thing
Mike Ashley's SFA hearing over dual ownership issues is scheduled for tomorrow at Hampden. Ashley's knees won't be losing any sleep over it.
The other day Scottish Government figures accused Ashley of "deplorable behaviour" by rebuffing offers to help warehouse employees in Ayshire that his company had abruptly made redundant. It was reported that his Sports Direct representatives "refused to return phone calls from the highest levels of the Scottish Government".
Maybe he'll show the SFA more courtesy than that but he'll get others to fight his corner at the hearing. Don't expect to see Ashley anywhere near Mount Florida.
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