In the twelfth century the Basque fishermen of Biarritz used to hunt whales with deadly efficiency. When the whales sensibly moved away, the Basques chased them further and further, with the consequence that the fishermen of Biarritz discovered America before Columbus did. This is a matter for local pride but on a larger view it is not quite so stunning, since with the possible exception of the Swiss everybody discovered America before Columbus did.

Whoever called snooker "chess with balls" was rude, but right.

The Benson and Hedges Cup was won by McEnroe ... he was as charming as always, which means that he was as charming as a dead mouse in a loaf of bread.

Writers quite often starve. And I'm mainly just writing critical prose and poetry, that's a formula for starvation.

I work on the assumption, or let it be the fear, that the reader will stop reading if I stop being interesting.

Sick of being a prisoner of my childhood, I want to put it behind me.

John McEnroe has hair like badly turned broccoli.