[Donut]

This is not a sports thread as such, please read to the end.

There is a joke which you often hear in Britain about Bill Shankly, the legendary manager of Liverpool Football Club in the 60's and 70's. Shankly, a dour Scotsman (how easily those two words go together) was once asked if football was a matter of life and death. Shanks thought for a while before saying 'No, football is not a matter of life and death, it's much more important than that.'

You may have read on other threads how the mighty Manchester United were humiliated by lowly Middlesbough on saturday and how they are no longer in the FA Cup.

One of the Middlesbough players who celebrated their incredible victory was Colin Cooper. He was born close to Middlesbrough and has supported them since he was a child. Now nearly 33 he is reaching the end of his playing career. A career which just fell short of reaching the top.

On saturday afternoon Colin Cooper celebrated more than most of his colleagues after their incredible victory, a victory which probably ranks as the greatest of his career.

On saturday night Colin Cooper's two year old son died after choking on a toy.

[ 01-28-2002: Message edited by: Donut ]