Monday, September 27, 2010

Fan Fiction for Scottish football?

Interesting story doing the rounds on the internet this week - there are allegations from several of the (in my opinion) best football writers around, such as Sid Lowe and Rafael Honigstein of The Guardian, Gabriele Marcotti of The Times and Gavin Hamilton of World Soccer that a journalist for The Daily Star Sunday named Ben Fairthorne has been fabricating stories for the newspaper for the last few years. Each is an unlikely scoop from a supposed interview with a top European star. This is how articles such as "Torres v Vidic: Now it's personal", "Joe Hart should play for Manchester United says Casillas" and "Gigi Buffon exposes Manchester City's Back Four Flaw" came to be.

Apparently the agents of numerous players have issued categorical denials of interviews ever taking place. It's really disturbing to find that there are people out there who make a living out of telling lies...or it would be if we hadn't had a decade of Tony Blair as Prime Minister (meow!). However, I wonder whether there is a career opportunity for me to be Scotland's equivalent? Here are the pieces I'm thinking of writing...

"Larsson to succeed Walter Smith at Rangers"

"I love my side's sexy football, says Hamilton Accies' Billy Reid"

"Lennon and Celtic question Pope's infallibility"

"Aberdeen's directors invest money in team"

"Craig Brown gets embalmed, will continue managing for at least another 40 years"

"Darren Mackie for Scotland call-up"

"Barry Ferguson to appear on Countdown"

"It wasn't the referee's fault we lost, says (insert name of Scottish manager of your choice)"

"Le Guen: I'll finish what I began at Ibrox"

"Lennon stops dyeing hair, reveals natural colour is brown"

"Romanov never interferes with team selection: Jefferies"

"Kenny Miller considering January Celtic switch"

"Sasa Papac ate my hamster"

"Caley Thistle win home game"

Actually, the last one could be the least realistic of the lot.

Anyone else got any ideas?

L.

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