Source: Daily_Mail
Charles Sale: Manchester United and neighbours City in blazing row
Contrasting accounts of the drinks, or lack of them, given to firefighters is the latest unlikely battleground between warring Manchester clubs, United and City. [LNB]City are claiming firemen who had just spent a number of hours putting out a considerable blaze next door to United's Carrington training ground were told they would have to pay for the drinking water the crew had requested following their thirsty work. [LNB]The light blue version is that the firemen then knocked on the door of the neighbouring City training ground, where they were given bottled water and a crate of energy drink Lucozade for free. [LNB] On fire: Rivals Manchester City and United were in a dispute over an incident near their training grounds[LNB]And City have a letter from the Trafford fire service thanking the club for their hospitality. [LNB]United, who say the fire was put out with water supplied from a bore hole in their grounds, insist they gave the firemen a free crate of water and also have a thank-you note from the fire crew. [LNB] There was much debate in the David Davies inquiry into listed events about protecting the Ryder Cup - exclusively live on Sky Sports this weekend - for terrestrial TV.[LNB] But the view was the event was not of 'National Resonance' because of the European team format. [LNB] Big-name footballers aren't just involved in the 2018 World Cup bid. Germany's Oliver Khan, Spain's World Cup-winning captain Iker Casillas and France's David Ginola (right) are helping their countries' bids for the 2018 Ryder Cup in a five-way contest, including Holland and Portugal. [LNB]The number of European tour events in Spain must make them slight favourites with the decision due in April. [LNB]Surprisingly, especially after his company's troubled ticket and hospitality programme at the World Cup in South Africa, Jaime Byrom is one of three independent observers advising the golf bid process. [LNB] American captain Corey Pavin was singing the praises of the inspirational talk given to his team at Celtic Manor by decorated fighter pilot Major Dan Rooney, who set up the Folds of Honor charity to help families of US armed forces killed in action. [LNB]Yet, strangely, Rooney's foundation, which received 10 per cent of all the charity donations from the US team at the 2008 Ryder Cup, doesn't feature at all in the 2010 list of beneficiaries from the $200,000-ahead payments from the players. [LNB]Their chosen causes are notably their own foundations, university golf teams and local churches. [LNB] Welsh water torture The downpour at Celtic Manor wasn't the best advert for yesterday's launch of Wales's Major Events Strategy to plan for further big sporting occasions. [LNB]Tellingly, the Ashes Test at Cardiff last year and the Ryder Cup this week shared the same top priority - making sure their drainage was as good as possible. [LNB]England coach Fabio Capello (right) will cheer on his compatriot Molinari brothers - an expected foursomes combination tomorrow - at the invitation of the Italian Golf Federation and Sky. [LNB]But fellow guests at Celtic Manor will find golf bandit Capello reluctant to divulge his handicap. [LNB]'I just play,' he said yesterday. [LNB] Ken Comboy, caddie of US Open winner Graeme McDowell, who is sure to be a fourball pairing tomorrow with Rory McIlroy, has special reason to relish his Ryder Cup role, especially with Paul Casey being the shock omission from the European team. [LNB]The unpopular Casey chose to dispose of Comboy as his bag man as he was travelling back from the German Masters, the night before a morning departure from Heathrow for the 2004 Ryder Cup in Oakland Hills. [LNB] Publicity-ravenous Paddy Power lost their Cardiff County Court fight yesterday over an injunction for breaching advertising regulations. [LNB]It will force them to take down their huge ambush marketing sign on farmland overlooking the course at Celtic Manor. [LNB] You bet: Bookmakers Paddy Power have been ordered to take down their 'Hollywood' hillside sign at Celtic Manor[LNB]The bookmakers have until midday today to clear the firm's lettering from the tower scaffolding and are sure to eke out every minute to make the most of their scam. [LNB]Monmouthshire County Council have a bulldozer on the site in case of any delaying tactics.[LNB] [LNB]
