Tuesday, July 17, 2007

The waiting is nearly over

Summer, and the sun is shining. No? Oh well, we'll be started again soon. In a little over 2 weeks, another Scottish football season will be under way.


This used to be a time when football disappeared from the papers completely, and only the most die-hard fans, desperate to follow their team to a pre-season friendly to get a first glimpse of their team's new signings, were following what was going on.

But now, with pre-season seen as much as a marketing opportunity and additional source of revenue as preparation for the challenge ahead, and the explosion in media coverage, we can all keep up to date with what the various clubs are up to.

Austria has proved a popular destination for training, while Celtic have embarked on their inevitable American tour. But Hearts have managed to grab the attention again, with this bizarre gem, stuck on their own website:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b13aH-vk_E

It's supposed to be, one assumes, a bit of playful sparring between Roman Bednar and Vladimir Romanov. But Bednar looks like he's not having fun anymore after Vlad catches him with a left hook. Cue shocked laughter and uncertainty, before Vlad is declared "the winner" and the fight is broken up.

Does anyone else suspect Vlad might be an only child?