Roy Keane's amazing ability to dominate the headlines up to Ireland games was on show this week, and it was only partly of his own doing. His comments on concussion drew a lot of attention and clogged up the news cycle for a couple of days, and just as that began to dissipate, Rory McIlroy waded in with a couple of words.
McIlroy was praised for giving an autographed golf ball to a young fan on course last week at the British Masters. When McIlroy was quizzed about this earlier this week, he revealed that he does so as he remembers the pain of being jilted himself, and recalled an incident with Roy Keane.
He should be one of my heroes because I was, and still am, a huge Man Utd fan. But I remember I went and asked him for his autograph at the Portmarnock Links Hotel [in Dublin] when he was with the Ireland squad and he just said no. And it just sort of stuck with me ever since. So that's why if a kid asks me for an autograph, I always try to do it.
Writing in his Observer column this week, Daniel Taylor makes reference to the incident, while revealing that McIlroy is not the only person to be denied an autograph by Keane. Niall Quinn too, who perhaps did not enjoy the best relationship with Keane, says that he was slightly fearful of approaching Keane to sign anything, be it for a gift or an auction.
Here's the relevant line:
Quinn was always in two minds about approaching Keane if he ever had a shirt he needed to get signed. And, besides, the kit man, Johnny Fallon, had learned over time to do a fine Keane signature.
As Quinn recalls: “Getting the kit man to forge the signature of one of your team‑mates is the price you pay when you start making accommodations for genius.”
So if Quinn has ever helped you out to get Keane's signature on something....we're sorry to bring this to your attention.
Full column is, as always, recommended reading.
See Also: Costa Rica Qualify For World Cup After Dramatic Last-Minute Equaliser V Honduras
