HAD Liam Botham been born at the same time as his dad (now there's an absurd notion) he could have enjoyed a dual career as a first-class cricketer and top-class amateur rugby player.

People like M J K Smith and Peter Squires managed it, but Liam was barely into his career with Hampshire when the advent of professional rugby forced him to make a choice.

Not wishing to be forever expected to live up to the Botham legend, he chose rugby, only to be caught up in the West Hartlepool debacle prior to moving to Cardiff.

The switch to Newcastle three years ago seemed ideal as it brought him back within striking distance of his own and his wife's family homes and gave him the opportunity to further a career which had reached England A level.

He was popular with the fans, but now the love affair is over as Rob Andrew has released him. Other clubs are interested, and Liam could still have up to ten more years as a professional, but we are left to ponder whether he might have achieved more as a cricketer.

It has been his misfortune to be overtaken by an outstanding crop of young backs at Newcastle, with David Walder and Jamie Noon in the England team to play the Barbarians tomorrow, while Michael Stephenson was also in the squad. And there are others coming through the academy who will have to be given a chance.

IT IS astonishing to learn that Tanni Grey-Thompson cannot compete in the 800 metres demonstration wheelchair event at the World Athletics Championships because UK Athletics failed to tell her about the trial.

The Redcar-based winner of nine Paralympic gold medals says it is symptomatic of the poor treatment of disabled athletes in British sport, adding that the event was to have been her main focus for the year.

UK Athletics suggested there may have been a confusion of responsibility with the British Wheelchair Racing Association, providing yet another example of how a profusion of sporting bodies merely dilutes responsibility and provides more opportunities for buck-passing. And yet we think we can stage an Olympics.

AT the grand old age of 29 Greg Rusedski has decided his body will no longer stand up to the rigours of a full Davis Cup match. With Tim Henman also struggling five weeks ahead of Wimbledon, we are left to reflect again that the next best Briton is Arvind Parmar, ranked 187 in the world.

While you might struggle to remember the name of last year's beaten Wimbledon finalist, David Nalbandian's success was so inspirational to fellow Argentinians that they provided all four semi-finalists at the Tennis Masters event in Hamburg.

The other reason they have given for their success is the old hungry fighter syndrome. In an impoverished country tennis offers a rare opportunity to make money. Meanwhile, tennis in Britain remains impoverished because those who play it don't know the meaning of poverty.

OTHER than "get in the hole", the most popular cry among American golf fans is: "You are the man." But those who joined the media's greatest focus of attention at Fort Worth yesterday would have had to find an alternative.

Whether Annika Sorenstam needed any reminding that "you are the woman" is doubtful considering the enormous publicity she has received for becoming the first female to contest a men's event on the US Tour.

There were 500 journalists present, including one from Vogue magazine, and female columnists have been defending Annika's right to take part while professing their dislike of the game.

The same columnists would be quick to denounce female exploitation, but it is not difficult to interpret Ms Sorenstam's joust with the men as a publicity stunt designed to benefit the sponsors.

I am all in favour of lady golfers, but there are women's tours in America and Europe and if the females want to scrap the distinction and try their luck in mixed events let them try it. They would soon get sick of missing the cut.

STAYING with the small white ball, it was good to note an outstanding double for the Middlesbrough club on Sunday. Jonathan Lupton won the Brabazon Trophy - the English amateur strokeplay championship - and clubmate Michael Skelton won the Henriques Salver for the best score by a teenager.

Lupton was six clear after nine holes of the final round then took a triple bogey seven at the 11th before hanging on to win by two. At 24 his aim is to play in the Walker Cup at Ganton in September before turning professional.

But Skelton is considered the one most likely to follow up the recent victory by Ashington's Kenneth Ferrie to ensure that the North-East does not have to wait a further 15 years for a European Tour winner.

Published: 23/05/2003