FOOTBALL
“Crisis, what is a crisis? We are not in a crisis. We are only in some difficulties and these will be solved.”
– FIFA President Sepp Blatter amid allegations of corruption engulging football’s governing body
“There is no racism, but maybe there is a word or gesture which is not the correct one. The one affected by this should say ‘this is a game’ and shake hands.”
– Blatter plunged himself into further controversy when he said that players who suffer racial abuse should simply shake hands with their abuser
“It’s something you don’t think is going to happen, it’s a bit of a fairytale to last so long.”
– Sir Alex Ferguson on his 25 years as Manchester United manager
TENNIS
“Aren’t you the one who screwed me over last time? Don’t even look at me. If I see you in the corridor don’t even walk past me… a code violation for expressing my opinion, we’re in America… you’re unattractive inside…”
– Serena Williams after being handed a code violation by umpire Eva Asderaki during her US Open final defeat to Samantha Stosur
“I can tell you who is my girlfriend, but I cannot tell you what I do with my girlfriend. This is a difference.”
– Novak Djokovic preferring not to discuss his private life
“I had an unbelievable year. Nothing can really ruin that. I will always remember this year as the best of my life.”
– Djokovic on winning the Australian Open, Wimbledon, the US Open and five Masters events, as well as replacing Rafael Nadal as world number one
“I was dancing barefoot, not in high heels, and I landed on another girl’s foot and twisted my ankle. I limped off the floor and then someone else stood on my small toe. I was having a good time until then.”
– Kim Clijsters on the freak foot injury suffered at a friend’s wedding on the eve of the French Open
GOLF
“It was my aim to shove it right up that black asshole.”
– Tiger Woods’s former caddie and confidant Steve Williams, celebrating a win with new charge Adam Scott months after the former world number one had fired him.
“I have 294 (text) messages and the writing is far too small for me to look at them in this state, so I may look at them tomorrow at some stage and figure them out.”
– A slightly hungover but happy Darren Clarke the morning after his stunning win in the British Open at Royal St George’s in July
“I think if I have a good year (in 2012) I should be on the ballot for Comeback Player of the Year, so I’m excited about that.”
– A chirpy Tiger Woods on his view of 2012 after finally winning again at the Chevron World Challenge in early December.
CRICKET
“Winning the World Cup is the ultimate thing. It is the proudest moment of my life. It shows it is never too late.”
– Sachin Tendulkar referring to India’s 28-years wait for the coveted crown
“This is ridiculous. Damn. World Cup with so much security and this happens. Big joke. Trust me I am not keen here. Every player lay flat. This is some bullshit…..Bangladesh stoning our bus!!! Freaking glass Break!!! This is crap, can’t believe..what next, bullets!!!!”
– West Indies batsman Chris Gayle on Twitter after the team bus was stoned in Dhaka
“There’s two proud people in the stands and probably four million proud people at home.”
– Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien, watched by his mother and father in Bangalore, who smashed the fastest World Cup century in history to lead his team to their stunning win over England
RUGBY UNION
“I was down the Waikato River whitebaiting. I think Ted (coach Graham Henry) had missed me a couple of times and then I finally got a call from Milsy (Mils Muliaina) and he said, ‘Start answering your phone, you idiot’, so that was sort of the message I needed.”
– Kiwi fly-half Stephen Donald after getting a surprise call-up to replace injured Colin Slade in the World Cup
“Three notches lower than a funeral.”
– South Africa coach Peter de Villiers on the mood in the Springboks dressing room after the defending World Cup champions’ quarter-final defeat by Australia
“You have got to relieve the pressure and let off steam at the right time.”
– England manager Martin Johnson defending his players and captain Mike Tindall’s behaviour following a drunken night out during the World Cup
FORMULA ONE
“I think Europe is finished. It will be a good place for tourism but little else. Europe is a thing of the past.”
– F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone on Europe’s future as a top motor racing destination
“He has a killer instinct, but he looks like an innocent lamb.”
– Red Bull boss Christian Horner on world champion Sebastian Vettel
FIGURE SKATING
“I didn’t just skate for myself. In Japan we’re having a really hard time right now. Skating is really important there and so many people are watching the competition.”
– Miki Ando after winning women’s gold at the world championships which were moved to Moscow from Tokyo after the March 11 earthquake.
NBA
“I feel like my kids on X-mas day! So juiced!!”
– Miami Heat star LeBron James tweeted after hearing that a tentative deal had been reached to end the NBA’s lockout and play a shortened season starting December 25.
ICE HOCKEY
“They’re destroying the city.”
– A distraught resident as rioting fans torched cars and smashed buildings in Vancouver after the Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup 4-0 over the Canucks
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL WORLD CUP”I truly believe that something bigger was pulling for this team.”
– Stunned US goalkeeper Hope Solo on the determination shown by the Japanese in the wake of the tsumami disaster which saw the Asians rally twice with late equalisers to beat the USA 3-1 on penalties in the July 17 final.
