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I heard about Stevenson's crash at the time but the stories around here suggested he had made a good recovery...though as you say, you could never be sure on the value of hearsay.  He was either a son or nephew of All-Star Peter Stevenson, so he had it in the genes. 

Simply, journalists need managers on side or else they have no career.  Think about it, it might not always make sensational reading but, for example, if Paddy Heaney tears strips off Jody Gormley or Paddy Crozier or Mickey Harte in a national newspaper, are they likely to talk to him again?  Then instead of usually dull quotes pieces, you would have no interviews and a newspaper full of just match reports....it just makes sense.

In fairness, it's hardly the journo's decision to have the picture there, probably tied to the chair and made to smile  and besides, how would you know who to shout abuse at if you didn't know what they look like 

[The GAA. Most males think that it's the best thing since sliced bread. Some Protestants still think it's a branch of the IRA. Most don't.]

I think Donny's Diary is so bad that I've actually taken the time to write my own.  I like to think I can spell.  And I like to think I'm moderately more humourous than him.  And that maybe, somewhere out there, someone in the Irish News is reading that NO-ONE likes it!!

THE REAL GRASSROOTS DIARY

The GAA.  Most males think that it's the best thing since sliced bread.  Some Protestants still think it's a branch of the IRA.  Most don't.

The opinion of women with regards the Grab All Association*, however, depends on two things - their age and their legs.  And they can be linked.  19-year-old women with tree-trunks for legs can love it provided their local ladies' side needs a goalkeeper, but mostly they think it's for posers and fairy boys (they can be right sometimes).

The 19-year-old who can confidently stride around in the hot-pants and know fine well that every single hot blooded male (EVERY one of them) will take their eyes off the action for a glance.  And you know they love the attention because the girl wearing hot-pants in October at Magilligan is only after two things.  One is admiration....I'll leave the other to your imagination.  But it's not a chippy.

The 45-year-old mother of three can't make her mind up whether she likes it or not.  She detests the fact that her husband hasn't spent a Sunday afternoon at home since Jim Bowen and the Bull got beer-swiggers to throw arrows at a board.  But she loves the fact that it gives her something to do on a Sunday afternoon, since they stopped having sex when Jim Bowen went off the screen.  Plus her son is at full-forward, but that's a minor detail.

But then that sums up the GAA nicely.  We have room for the fancy dans, and the 19-year-old lookers and the 45-year-old mammy.  The GAA is the organisation for family, friend and farmer (if he so pleases (I needed another thing starting with 'F' to make it work)).

And we need the women, otherwise who would make the tea.....I'm just yoking, ya big egg!  While Camogie and ladies' football are, in the majority, ignored by the hierarchy of the GAA (who only open Croker for their finals with gritted teeth), they are there and they are loved.  And not just the 19-year-old, hot-pants wearing ones (ok, so they're outta my league).

Many a family has been torn by rivalry and arguments.  Not to the point of destruction, but at least to the point where the mention of football is off the radar because it will inevitably result in a boxing match.  One of my over-riding memories of my underage football career was my neighbour lifting his own cousin and throwing him over the body, such was the rivalry.  It didn't matter that they were related...it mattered that he was wearing the wrong colour of jersey.

When you're on the field, you don't see the face that looks remarkably like your own ('cos he's your cousin, stay with it), all you see is a football and a jersey and a championship medal at the end of it.  If you have to take him out, you do it without thinking.  Hell, you don't even see the 19-year-old in hot-p....you know the drill.

It's a wonderful organisation because it unites the same people it divides.  There is no more fierce warrior than a Gael angered.  But there is none more friendly than a Gael recognised.  Friendships have grown up around every single one of us because of involvement with our games and yet rivalry remains an equally important part of our games because you need that hatred and anger and passion sometimes.

As much as we need the women.

*You know I'm right

What is the stupidest rule in the GAA rule book?  For the proposed 'disciplinary action', this has to be my favourite.

"A team may commence a game with thirteen players but shall have fielded fifteen players, inclusive of players ordered off or retired
injured, by the start of the second half.  In the event of failure to comply with this, the game shall continue."

If the game's gonna continue, what's the point of the rule?!

Also, Rule 11 

I know our club pays our manager the guts of £100 a week, which is a fair bit above the expense rate considering he only lives up the road! But I am one of the people involved in administering the money, I was involved in bringing him to the club and I agreed at the time to pay him.  He's brought us relative success but now, in light of this whole row, I've proposed we get rid.  Success should not be at the expense of the association.