Max Mosley's love of hurling is something I did not think I would be writing about when I awoke this morning, but here we are.
Mosley, the ex-FIA president, and man who successfully sued the News of the World for falsely accusing him of being involved in a 'Nazi sex orgy', has an autobiography out.
Titled 'Formula One and Beyond' it tells of Mosley's youth living in Galway in the early 1950s.
Pretty much left to run wild by his parents, he apparently spent most of his time "hunting, snipe shooting on the bogs and playing hurling with the local lads".
He goes on to describe hurling as "the best ball game ever invented".
That corner of Galway [Clonfert] had some inspirational hurling players at the time. The sport is a sort of aerial hockey in which there's no restriction on hitting the ball in the air and you are allowed to catch it. It's extraordinarily fast and, since there was no head protection in those days, quite dangerous. I've always thought it the best ball game ever invented, and never understood why it did not achieve the international recognition of soccer, rugby and cricket.
There does seem to be an awareness that the wearing of helmets is now mandatory which would make you think that he remains a fan.
I wonder where he stands on the deployment of Joe Canning debate.
Thanks to Maurice Brosnan for bring this to our attention.
Picture credit: Philip Fitzpatrick / SPORTSFILE
