Against the odds/Roddy L'estrange:Listening to the erudite Paul Elliott speaking out against racism in sport on Monday reminded Vinny Fitzpatrick of the time when Ron Atkinson picked Cyril Regis, Remi Moses and Brendan Batson in the same West Brom team in the late 70s.
"I don't care if he's black or white or yellow with purple spots, if he can do a job for West Bromwich Albion, he's in the team," blasted Big Fat Ron.
Vinny, who had just driven a bus load of enthusiastic school kids to the Grand Hotel in Malahide for a "Show Racism the Red Card" initiative, had always abhorred racism. To him, colour, creed, gender, didn't matter. Certainly, where sport was concerned, it was about ability, nothing else.
He recalled watching Match Of The Day in the late 60s on a grainy TV in the family home behind the Clontarf bus garage. At the time, West Ham had a coloured striker, Clyde Best, in their team. Vinny had never seen a black man before and couldn't take his eyes off Best. Afterwards, he asked his dad Finbarr what he thought of Best. "Poor first touch and not a patch on our George," replied his dad. That his father judged Best as a footballer, rather than the colour of his skin, had stayed with Vinny.
Some years later, in the early 80s, he recalled the furore when a coloured chap ambled in to Clontarf garage looking for summer work on the buses. He was a Brazilian student at Trinity College, keen to earn a few bob between terms.
Vinny was startled and angry at the level of resentment shown by some of his work-mates towards "Rio" as he became known - he was from Rio de Janeiro, after all.
Vinny volunteered to work with Rio as the buses operated a driver and conductor in those days and during their time together Rio spoke of his passion for the beautiful game.
Soon after, the inter-garage summer leagues got under way and Vinny ensured Rio was not only involved, but he got the number 10 jersey, as worn by Pele. Rio proved a star as Clontarf rolled over Phibsboro and Summerhill before tanking Donnybrook 7-3 in the final where Rio scored a hat-trick. He was ferried off the pitch, shoulder-high by some of the same workmates who had shunned him a few weeks before.
Thinking of Rio reminded Vinny that Brazil were in town this week. He'd seen Brazil before in the flesh, back in 1973 when, as a spotty teenager, he'd been taken to Lansdowne Road by his 'ol man to see them play a Shamrock Rovers' All-Ireland XI. Pele didn't play but Rivelino, Jairzinho, Clodoaldo and Leao did, as well as Paolo Cesar, who scored two goals and had a penalty saved by big Pat Jennings. Brazil won 4-3 and Vinny floated home.
This time, the superstars were missing. Ronaldo was goosed; Ronaldinho, Kaka and Lucio all injured - even Pato, the new Pele, wasn't coming. Brazil were 4 to 5 to win, which Vinny felt was still a fair price as Ireland, while they would be up for it, didn't have a new manager to impress. "Would the players bust a gut for Don Givens when he's linked with the delay over the new manager?" wondered Vinny.
By now, things were wrapping up in the Grand Hotel and stressed-out teachers were trying to round-up kids jostling for autographs and photo opportunities. Vinny scuttled away and headed back towards the hotel reception, his mind switching from football to a different kind of passion - his pursuit of Angie and their forthcoming Valentine's night engagement.
He had taken Macker's advice on board and decided it was time for the predictable Vinny Fitzpatrick to be unpredictable. At the reception, he stopped, flicking the dandruff off his shoulders and patting down the strands of hair that kept sticking up on his thinning scalp.
The girl behind the counter, Darina, who sounded eastern European, asked could she help. "Yes," said Vinny. "I'd like to book a room for Thursday the 14th, as part of your Valentine's "Special Offer"."
Darina checked her computer and then, after looking Vinny up and down, smiled: "Yes, we have availability. Are you doing this for one of your children?" Vinny went brick red. "No, no," he spluttered. "It's for, for, a friend."
Darina smiled again. "We have a luxury suite overlooking the sea. The offer includes chilled champagne in your room on arrival, and Butler's chocolates, followed by a five-course candle-lit dinner in Pebbles restaurant.
"You have complimentary use of our health and spa facilities, and breakfast in bed is optional. We also deliver a newspaper of your choice to your room. Would you like to pay a deposit now?"
Vinny fumbled in his wallet for his credit card and handed it over. He was mortified. How dare she suggest he was doing this for someone else? Just how old did he seem to her?
He glared at Darina. "No racist thoughts remember," he said to himself. Regrouping, Vinny beamed at Darina and thanked her. "A copy of the Racing Post on the morning of the 15th, would be lovely, for my, er, friend."
Bets of the week
2pts Robbie Keane (right) to score any time against Brazil (11/4 Paddy Power)
3pts France (-12 pts) to beat Ireland (evens, Boylesports)
Vinny's Bismarck
2pt Lay Billy Davies for Irish manager's job (3/1 Betfair, liability 6pts)
