"The kids were crying and saying there weren't nice things being said about them. I didn't feel comfortable about going to games for a good while afterwards."

- Jimmy Cooney on the travails of being a hurling referee after blowing three minutes early in the Clare v Offaly All-Ireland semi-final last year.

"When we played the first half nobody complained. When we put them (Alan Shearer and Duncan Ferguson) on in the second half we lost. You can make the conclusion."

- Newcastle manager Ruud Gullit illustrating how his footballing skills are a lot more subtle than his managerial talents.

"On paper, the Americans would blow Europe clean out of the water. They should probably just steamroll them."

- Two-time US Open winner Ernie Els.