Sports   (Talk about balls here.)

Agreed, GB. It's not paranoia and this bias has been going on for years. I remember way back in 1966 when Wigan stood out against the live televising of matches on a Saturday afternoon. They argued that it was having an adverse effect on attendances both at the televised game and other Saturday afternoon matches. Things got so heated that Wigan refused to play in front of the cameras when we drew a plum tie away at Bradford Northern. A huge crowd was expected and it would definitely have been affected if the game had been televised. It looked like stalemate. Then God took a hand in the proceedings and sent down a shed load of fog so that the game had to be called off! [I always reckoned He had a soft spot for Wigan!]

Anyway, the game was played the following Wednesday night [untelevised] in front of a bumper crowd of over 27,000 - the biggest at Odsal since the club re-formed. I was there.

Leap forward a few months. Wigan had qualified for Wembley to face St Helens. In the championship play-offs, Wigan played Leeds in the 2nd round and Colin Clarke was sent off for what was deemed a technical offence. The usual punishment for such an offence was a one match ban. Seeing that Wigan beat Leeds and were to face Halifax in the semi-final a week later a one match ban would mean Clarke [our only hooker] would be free for Wembley. The disciplinary committee suspended him for two matches, hitherto unheard of. It meant we had to play Saints with no recognised hooker at a time when hookers were a vital part of the team. We lost, with Murphy going offside time and time again, knowing full well they'd get the ball from the resultant scrum. Worst final ever.

But everyone knew the real reason for the unprecedented ban on Clarke - the RL held a burning resentment against Wigan for their stand against the televising of live rugby.

My wife says I have a long memory and bear grudges!

Now don't ask me about Keith Hepworth. That's another long-held grudge!