Garrincha’s Dog

If you leaf back through enough newsprint, you’ll discover that Liverpool’s Phil Babb was a popular tabloid target in the late nineties. The defender’s extra-curricular activities with glamour model Jo Guest were scrutinised for the public good. “My Extra-Time Loving Ruined Phil’s Ball Control,” announced the News of the World headline. What an ego that girl has! Scousers may care to remember that Phil’s ball control wasn’t up to much before his front page fling. Guest shouldn’t be taking credit for destroying the Irishman’s touch so much as making it worse than it was in the first place!

Babb has long since disappeared from the tabloid gaze. It would normally be impossible say why the newspapers decide to look elsewhere, but I’d be prepared to guess that this incident against Chelsea in ‘98 had something to do with it. A goal line clearance gone wrong and an end to “extra-time loving”. There’s no shame in averting your eyes. In fact, no-one will think any less of you if you want to shed a tear and cradle yourself. Unless of course you’re in an Internet cafe…