So it is before the slopes of Celtic Manor that the doom of our time will be decided....

So... Monty it is then.

I've argued long and hard that Lyle was the man for the job - not necessarily because he's the best captain, but because it was a worthy honour for a man who achieved so much (Casey, Donald, Poulter et al don't even come close). To refuse his candidacy is effectively flicking two fingers to his standing and record. "Sorry, Sandy - you're too old mate, now f*** off" is as blunt a rebuke as was effectively dished out.

This is all effectively because the Euro's were "Faldoed" at the last Ryder Cup. Eeek, gasp, we lost - what went wrong? Er, must be the captain, as our players were the best (sound familiar? Ask Strange and Sutton). Oh, hang on... our captain was over 50... obviously out of touch. Ha, won't make that mistake again.

Enter Monty, stage left. He'll be a great captain, I'm sure of that. His strengths outweigh his weaknesses, and the latter are only evident when he fails as a player in individual comps. Even at Brookline, where Europe lost in controversial fashion and Monty was sickeningly abused, he kept his cool and his dignity.

But it doesn't change the fact - Lyle was shafted by a committee boasting one major between them, and that was Paul Lawrie's (no offence intended, Paul, but....). They should hang their collective heads in shame.

Taxi for Torrance

Sam Torrance - icon, captain, marvelous commentator prone to overusing the word "marvelous", ambassador for Scotland, charismatic, and generally a purveyor of common sense.

Until now.

Seems Oor Sam has piped up and nailed his Woosnam colours to the mast in terms of 2010 Ryder Cup captaincy.

Nooooooo, please.... nooooo. Woosnam has had his "turn", he's a poor captain who got away with it in 2006 only because the US team that sallied forth from the land of the free will go down in history as their worst ever. I'd fancy my hamster to captain a team to victory against the combined might of Taylor, Henry, Johnson, et al.

As I've already written, it has to be Sandy. By all means, harness Sandy with Woosie or Langer as vice captain, I'd pretty much call that a dream ticket. But, please, don't insult Sandy by (a) overlooking his compelling credentials, and (b) appointing an accident waiting to happen in his stead.

If only the chair of the ET Players' Committe had a huge grudge against the wee Weslshman..... fingers crossed, eh?

Serendipity Strikes

So.... you're a fan of Michael Mann's "The Keep" (somebody must be); you've long been an admirer of German electronic instrumental outfit "Tangerine Dream"; and you've a soft spot for Raymond Briggs' "The Snowman".

Well, my friend, it's your lucky day!

Curiously omitted from the initial OST album, the end theme (TD's take on "Walking in the Air") can be found on an alternative version, free to download here -

http://rs219.rapidshare.com/files/49082751/he_keep_an_alternate_view_1983.rar

And if you can't wait / be bothered, try this....

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=H5xMvgUuYR8

Quality.