Sporting Quotes of the Year - 2009

some rather amusing quotes in here!!
"Send me something very naughty, go to the bathroom and take a picture."
Tiger Woods in a text to cocktail waitress Jaimee Grubbs
"I hope she uses a driver next time instead of a 3-iron."
Jesper Parnevik referring to Elin Nordgren, Woods' wife, attacking his car with a golf club
"If I go into a restaurant I'm thinking 'He knows what I'm eating. Will I order chips or not?'"
Steven Taylor on Alan Shearer's ever-present aura during his time as Newcastle manager
"We know that Arsène Wenger likes the look of [Andrei] Arshavin. But I like the look of Angelina Jolie and it doesn't always mean you get what you want."
The Russian's agent, Dennis Lachter, playing hard to get, shortly before his client signed for Arsenal
Ted Hankey: "I've stopped drinking, so I feel healthier, look healthier and I am healthier. "Ray Stubbs: "So you're not going to the bar now, then?" Hankey: "No - I'm off outside for a cigarette!"
The new BDO darts champion reveals to the TV presenter his iconoclastic lifestyle.
"My worry now is paying off my hotel-room bill and keeping a straight face as the lady looks through the 'Channel 43 charges.'"
Swannyg66, aka Graham Swann, twitters after England's exit from the Champions Trophy
"On the first Valentine's Day I spent with my wife, I made her watch the curling. 'Let's see one more rubber and we'll go out,' I told her. It was the only rubber I got involved in that night, I can tell you..."
The Derby County captain Robbie Savage finds true love on the ice
"I started at 16 in Yorkshire's second team and there was a can of lager at the table. Now it's smoothies, ice baths and Twenty20 cricket."
Michael Vaughan looks back on his time in cricket as he tearfully retires
"If I had known you got a bottle of champagne for run-outs I would have practised more"
Andrew Flintoff reveals what really motivates him after getting out Ricky Ponting at The Oval
"I thought it wouldn't hurt to try."
Usain Bolt puts a lot into breaking the 200m world record at the world championship in Berlin
"Why don't we all go to the nearest ballet shop, get some nice tutus and get some great dancing going on. No eye-gouging, no tackling, no nothing. Then enjoy."
Springboks coach Peter de Villiers responds to accusations of eye-gouging on the Lions tour
"Two [substitutes] were asleep with hats pulled down and blankets over them. I said 'I'm sorry to drag you up here, I know it's cold and you could be home with the missus with a cup of tea. It's hard for 30 grand a week to watch the game.'"
Harry Redknapp on his brave subs during Spurs' visit to Bolton in January
"The leaders have now got an enormous lead and the peloton, frankly, can't be arsed to catch them up."
A Eurosport commentator talking to Sean Kelly on the first Monday of the Tour de France
"If you said to me back in June when we returned for pre-season training that with three games to go we'd be in with a chance of automatic promotion, I'd have broken both your legs and your arms."
Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell appears averse to good news
"Well, Halloween's coming up and I was thinking of Wolverine. It's not anything to do with any play-off ritual - I'm just lazy and can't be bothered to shave. And everybody keeps telling me to cut it and I'm stubborn."
David Beckham reveals the real reason for his scary beard
"The first thing I'm going to tell him - stop acting like a wuss."
Usain Bolt plans a bit of advice for Cristiano Ronaldo
"The great players cost a lot of money, and if you want them you have to pay it. I'm happy to be the most expensive player in the world."
Cristiano Ronaldo modestly reflects on his £80m move to Real Madrid
"They can suck it and carry on sucking it. This is for all Argentines, minus the journalists."
Diego Maradona enhances his relationship with the world press.
"We made an offer and it was turned down. We offered Stoke-on-Trent."
Tony Pulis admits defeat in his bid to bring Kaka to the Britannia
"If I could, I would take this fucking ball and shove it down your fucking throat."
Serena Williams rant at a US Open line judge, which led to her exit from the tournament
"Arsène Wenger needs to buy new players - and expensive ones too. Why? Because all the talented and inexpensive players are already with us at Arsenal."
Andrei Arshavin on why money buys success in football.
"What were you doing punching the corner flag? You're a crazy man, a crazy man."
Fabio Capello takes Wayne Rooney to task following his red card at Fulham
"There is the clear statement that we want to keep Franck in Munich. I wonder if Real's negotiator Pedro Jimenez knows the game Monopoly? Bayern played it two years ago and bought Park Lane, we have built four hotels on it. We will only let it go if we are broke or in an emergency."
The Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness comments on Real Madrid's interest in Franck Ribéry
"If you're a burglar, it's no good poncing about outside somebody's house, looking good with your swag bag ready. Just get in there, burgle them and come out. I don't advocate that obviously, it's just an analogy."
Ian Holloway criticises his Blackpool players after a 4-1 defeat at Crystal Palace
"I want to win everything this year. I am the new Nadal - and I am better looking than him."
Phil Taylor sets his targets for 2009 after winning the Players Championship
"I've not had a phone call yet from the Prime Minister. Jenson Button got one, but I haven't. I'm clearly not important enough."
Gymnast Beth Tweddle after winning World Championship gold in October
"David only needed a slingshot and a stone to flatten Goliath, and I'm convinced my right hand generates more power than a stone."
David Haye before his WBA world title fight against 7ft 2in Nikolai Valuev in November
"He's impossible to reach. It's easier to speak with Barack Obama than Leo."
Argentina manager Diego Maradona on the difficulty of reaching Lionel Messi
"Mr Ferguson organises the fixtures in his office and sends it to us and everyone knows and cannot complain. That is simple."
Benitez is jealous of the Alex Ferguson's influence in January
"We walked across there yesterday. We saved a girl actually - considering her future, shall we say."
Phil Brown claims to have turned good Samaritan on a Hull City team walk across the Humber Bridge by using his "sweet talk" to save a suicidal woman from jumping
"I want to be in the Guinness Book of Records, yee-ha!"
Michaela Tabb on becoming the first woman to referee snooker's World Championship final
"I believe it was a very hard punch. My hand still hurts."
Manny Pacquiao recalls knocking out Ricky Hatton in the second round of their IBO light-welterweight bout in May
"We all know who the real No 1 is. Quite frankly, I'm the best in the world."
Serena Williams pays her own special tribute to Dinara Safina's arrival at the top of the rankings in May
"It is the best I have scored. It was a fantastic strike and I can't wait to see it again on DVD."
Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring against Porto
"It's true lots of people hate me but there are even more who love me and who support me. I feel bad only when I play badly. Fortunately that happens rarely."
Cristiano Ronaldo again...
"Am I a racist? I am a desperado and a bad boy and whether in England, France or Senegal I sell papers. They try to find out things about me all the time. But I am mentally strong and they can't hurt me. I get booed wherever I go, but I have never let my fans down. I am the leader. El Hadji Diouf is a star whether you like it or not - everybody knows me."
Mr Diouf after an alleged altercation with a white ball boy at Goodison Park
"No one is ever going to be as good as I was."
Gazza's modesty shines through
"Slim dumps a small pile of powder on the coffee table. He cuts it, snorts it. He cuts it again. I snort some. I ease back on the couch and consider the Rubicon I've just crossed."
Andre Agassi exposes, in his new autobiography, his experimentation with crystal meth in 1997
"At Middlesbrough the beer used to flow in the dressing-room the moment matches were over. The following day the players were supposed to work on their recovery but instead they'd just have a coffee and then get back on the booze once more. They used to eat Mars bars and chocolates, and when I said something about it they'd fire back, claiming it was to give them energy."
Gaizka Mendieta on life at Middlesbrough, his club from 2003-2008
"Kimi was, I don't know, drinking some vodka or dreaming or something."
Mark Webber reckons Raikonnen was yearning for the bar, while he was actually blocking the Aussie during British GP Qualifying
"I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner that people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry."
Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps after the publication of a picture apparently showing him smoking a bong
"I have impressed upon them the advantages of a Mediterranean diet over ketchup and chips."
Fabio Capello lays down the culinary law to the England squad
"Send me something very naughty, go to the bathroom and take a picture."
Tiger Woods in a text to cocktail waitress Jaimee Grubbs
"I hope she uses a driver next time instead of a 3-iron."
Jesper Parnevik referring to Elin Nordgren, Woods' wife, attacking his car with a golf club
"If I go into a restaurant I'm thinking 'He knows what I'm eating. Will I order chips or not?'"
Steven Taylor on Alan Shearer's ever-present aura during his time as Newcastle manager
"We know that Arsène Wenger likes the look of [Andrei] Arshavin. But I like the look of Angelina Jolie and it doesn't always mean you get what you want."
The Russian's agent, Dennis Lachter, playing hard to get, shortly before his client signed for Arsenal
Ted Hankey: "I've stopped drinking, so I feel healthier, look healthier and I am healthier. "Ray Stubbs: "So you're not going to the bar now, then?" Hankey: "No - I'm off outside for a cigarette!"
The new BDO darts champion reveals to the TV presenter his iconoclastic lifestyle.
"My worry now is paying off my hotel-room bill and keeping a straight face as the lady looks through the 'Channel 43 charges.'"
Swannyg66, aka Graham Swann, twitters after England's exit from the Champions Trophy
"On the first Valentine's Day I spent with my wife, I made her watch the curling. 'Let's see one more rubber and we'll go out,' I told her. It was the only rubber I got involved in that night, I can tell you..."
The Derby County captain Robbie Savage finds true love on the ice
"I started at 16 in Yorkshire's second team and there was a can of lager at the table. Now it's smoothies, ice baths and Twenty20 cricket."
Michael Vaughan looks back on his time in cricket as he tearfully retires
"If I had known you got a bottle of champagne for run-outs I would have practised more"
Andrew Flintoff reveals what really motivates him after getting out Ricky Ponting at The Oval
"I thought it wouldn't hurt to try."
Usain Bolt puts a lot into breaking the 200m world record at the world championship in Berlin
"Why don't we all go to the nearest ballet shop, get some nice tutus and get some great dancing going on. No eye-gouging, no tackling, no nothing. Then enjoy."
Springboks coach Peter de Villiers responds to accusations of eye-gouging on the Lions tour
"Two [substitutes] were asleep with hats pulled down and blankets over them. I said 'I'm sorry to drag you up here, I know it's cold and you could be home with the missus with a cup of tea. It's hard for 30 grand a week to watch the game.'"
Harry Redknapp on his brave subs during Spurs' visit to Bolton in January
"The leaders have now got an enormous lead and the peloton, frankly, can't be arsed to catch them up."
A Eurosport commentator talking to Sean Kelly on the first Monday of the Tour de France
"If you said to me back in June when we returned for pre-season training that with three games to go we'd be in with a chance of automatic promotion, I'd have broken both your legs and your arms."
Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell appears averse to good news
"Well, Halloween's coming up and I was thinking of Wolverine. It's not anything to do with any play-off ritual - I'm just lazy and can't be bothered to shave. And everybody keeps telling me to cut it and I'm stubborn."
David Beckham reveals the real reason for his scary beard
"The first thing I'm going to tell him - stop acting like a wuss."
Usain Bolt plans a bit of advice for Cristiano Ronaldo
"The great players cost a lot of money, and if you want them you have to pay it. I'm happy to be the most expensive player in the world."
Cristiano Ronaldo modestly reflects on his £80m move to Real Madrid
"They can suck it and carry on sucking it. This is for all Argentines, minus the journalists."
Diego Maradona enhances his relationship with the world press.
"We made an offer and it was turned down. We offered Stoke-on-Trent."
Tony Pulis admits defeat in his bid to bring Kaka to the Britannia
"If I could, I would take this fucking ball and shove it down your fucking throat."
Serena Williams rant at a US Open line judge, which led to her exit from the tournament
"Arsène Wenger needs to buy new players - and expensive ones too. Why? Because all the talented and inexpensive players are already with us at Arsenal."
Andrei Arshavin on why money buys success in football.
"What were you doing punching the corner flag? You're a crazy man, a crazy man."
Fabio Capello takes Wayne Rooney to task following his red card at Fulham
"There is the clear statement that we want to keep Franck in Munich. I wonder if Real's negotiator Pedro Jimenez knows the game Monopoly? Bayern played it two years ago and bought Park Lane, we have built four hotels on it. We will only let it go if we are broke or in an emergency."
The Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness comments on Real Madrid's interest in Franck Ribéry
"If you're a burglar, it's no good poncing about outside somebody's house, looking good with your swag bag ready. Just get in there, burgle them and come out. I don't advocate that obviously, it's just an analogy."
Ian Holloway criticises his Blackpool players after a 4-1 defeat at Crystal Palace
"I want to win everything this year. I am the new Nadal - and I am better looking than him."
Phil Taylor sets his targets for 2009 after winning the Players Championship
"I've not had a phone call yet from the Prime Minister. Jenson Button got one, but I haven't. I'm clearly not important enough."
Gymnast Beth Tweddle after winning World Championship gold in October
"David only needed a slingshot and a stone to flatten Goliath, and I'm convinced my right hand generates more power than a stone."
David Haye before his WBA world title fight against 7ft 2in Nikolai Valuev in November
"He's impossible to reach. It's easier to speak with Barack Obama than Leo."
Argentina manager Diego Maradona on the difficulty of reaching Lionel Messi
"Mr Ferguson organises the fixtures in his office and sends it to us and everyone knows and cannot complain. That is simple."
Benitez is jealous of the Alex Ferguson's influence in January
"We walked across there yesterday. We saved a girl actually - considering her future, shall we say."
Phil Brown claims to have turned good Samaritan on a Hull City team walk across the Humber Bridge by using his "sweet talk" to save a suicidal woman from jumping
"I want to be in the Guinness Book of Records, yee-ha!"
Michaela Tabb on becoming the first woman to referee snooker's World Championship final
"I believe it was a very hard punch. My hand still hurts."
Manny Pacquiao recalls knocking out Ricky Hatton in the second round of their IBO light-welterweight bout in May
"We all know who the real No 1 is. Quite frankly, I'm the best in the world."
Serena Williams pays her own special tribute to Dinara Safina's arrival at the top of the rankings in May
"It is the best I have scored. It was a fantastic strike and I can't wait to see it again on DVD."
Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring against Porto
"It's true lots of people hate me but there are even more who love me and who support me. I feel bad only when I play badly. Fortunately that happens rarely."
Cristiano Ronaldo again...
"Am I a racist? I am a desperado and a bad boy and whether in England, France or Senegal I sell papers. They try to find out things about me all the time. But I am mentally strong and they can't hurt me. I get booed wherever I go, but I have never let my fans down. I am the leader. El Hadji Diouf is a star whether you like it or not - everybody knows me."
Mr Diouf after an alleged altercation with a white ball boy at Goodison Park
"No one is ever going to be as good as I was."
Gazza's modesty shines through
"Slim dumps a small pile of powder on the coffee table. He cuts it, snorts it. He cuts it again. I snort some. I ease back on the couch and consider the Rubicon I've just crossed."
Andre Agassi exposes, in his new autobiography, his experimentation with crystal meth in 1997
"At Middlesbrough the beer used to flow in the dressing-room the moment matches were over. The following day the players were supposed to work on their recovery but instead they'd just have a coffee and then get back on the booze once more. They used to eat Mars bars and chocolates, and when I said something about it they'd fire back, claiming it was to give them energy."
Gaizka Mendieta on life at Middlesbrough, his club from 2003-2008
"Kimi was, I don't know, drinking some vodka or dreaming or something."
Mark Webber reckons Raikonnen was yearning for the bar, while he was actually blocking the Aussie during British GP Qualifying
"I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner that people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry."
Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps after the publication of a picture apparently showing him smoking a bong
"I have impressed upon them the advantages of a Mediterranean diet over ketchup and chips."
Fabio Capello lays down the culinary law to the England squad