For down the centuries sages have noted that our best thoughts are harvested in the bath. But to enable this to happen at the highest level, it is necessary to keep the water at the correct temperature for steaming the brain.
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WHAT a lively affair the mayoral election count transpired to be – if only for all the wrong reasons.
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IT IS all Matthew Broderick's fault. He is the one who makes me do it.
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Whether local, national or international, election results seem to have gone the way most expected, especially in hindsight. France veered from right to left, Greece went from left to right and nationally, well, the UK seems to have veered from one side to the other of the white line down the middle of the road.
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A MONTH ago I wrote this column still hurting and hugely depressed after the FA Cup semi-final defeat. I mentioned then that finishing above Liverpool didn’t matter as we had lost our one chance to get one over them after we lost at Wembley.
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IF at the start of the year anyone had suggested Roy Hodgson would take England to the European Championships with a squad including Andy Carroll, they’d have probably been asked if they were still taking their medication.
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THE announcement that David Haye and Dereck Chisora will fight later this year is probably the least surprising news since Elton John declared: “You know what, I’m not sure I’m cut out for this marrying a woman lark.”
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BLACKBURN ROVERS’ dismal slide out of the Premier League last Monday was at least enlivened by a pitch invasion.
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THIS column may be in a minority of one with the following view, but goalline technology should be kept well away from football.
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WITH 20 years of experience behind it, it’s safe to say this about the Premier League – it’s pretty difficult to win.
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Ian Doyle examines a pivotal summer that could shape the future of Liverpool and Everton
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SNOOKER is enjoying huge growth in popularity at the moment, thanks entirely to the emerging Chinese marketplace.
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THE sports industry is damaging professional sport and nowhere is this more obvious than in the downgraded status of the FA Cup and Challenge Cup.
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Seventeen-year-old Max Clayton scored the goal which sent Crewe to Wembley for the npower League Two play-off final courtesy of a 3-2 aggregate win over Southend.
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QPR captain Joey Barton has accepted a charge of violent conduct against Manchester City's Sergio Aguero but denied the same charge for his confrontation with Vincent Kompany.
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Patrice Evra has described this season as the most difficult of his entire career and lifted the lid on the emotions he felt when Luis Suarez snubbed his pre-match handshake at Old Trafford.
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The lifetime Olympics ban for British drugs cheats is expected to be formally removed on Thursday.
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Holland-born Tim Visser will seek to prove his ability on the Test stage after being selected by Scotland for the summer tour to Australia, Fiji and Samoa.
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Roberto Ferrari won the longest stage of this year's Giro d'Italia from Assisi to Montecatini as Great Britain's Mark Cavendish finished fourth.
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QPR will conduct an internal investigation into Joey Barton's dismissal against Manchester City and his subsequent conduct, the club have announced.
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Sean O'Driscoll has been appointed as the new manager of Crawley.
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Liverpool have terminated the contract of manager Kenny Dalglish, owners Fenway Sports Group and the club have confirmed.
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Andrew Strauss insists he is "not even close" to thinking he has had enough of the England captaincy, despite his long and vain search for his 20th Test century.
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Striker Darren Bent has pledged his commitment to Aston Villa and revealed a determination to get behind the new manager when he is appointed.
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Goal-line technology will be trialled live for the first time in Wednesday night's Hampshire FA Senior Cup final in Southampton.
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Roy Hodgson focused on footballing matters as he explained the selection of John Terry and the omission of Rio Ferdinand in his England squad for this summer's European Championship.
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Rio Ferdinand has been left out of England's Euro 2012 squad.
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Holland-born Edinburgh wing Tim Visser is one of five uncapped players included in Scotland's summer tour squad.
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The Williams team member burned in the fire following Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix has returned to England where he will receive further medical assistance, the marque have confirmed.
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Aston Villa striker Darren Bent admits the players have to share some responsibility for the departure of Alex McLeish but he thinks the sacking will have come as a relief for his former manager.
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QPR striker Jamie Mackie has signed a one-year extension to his contract.
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David Beckham is to make a special guest appearance at the official handover ceremony of the Olympic Flame in Athens and bring it back to Britain for the torch relay.
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Steven Shingler is tied to Wales and ineligible to play Test rugby for Scotland, the International Rugby Board's council has ruled in a unanimous decision.
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Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan will seek to discover the full composition of the Charles Green consortium which is set to take over at Rangers.
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Catalan Dragons have signed signed Newcastle Knights back rower Zeb Taia on a three-year contract.
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Paul Lawrie aims to mark his 500th European Tour event this week at the Volvo World Match Play Championship by showing "there is a wee bit left in the tank yet".
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Matt Prior was in philosophical mood as he prepared to celebrate the fifth anniversary of his Test debut on Thursday against West Indies at Lord's.
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Rangers' appeal against sanctions imposed by the Scottish Football Association will be heard on Wednesday as the Glasgow giants attempt to see a year-long ban on signing players overturned.
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Gordon Taylor has strongly condemned Joey Barton, claiming the QPR captain fully deserves a lengthy ban for his antics during and after Sunday's defeat at Manchester City.
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Ryan Giggs thinks Gary Neville is an outstanding addition to the England coaching staff and has backed his former Manchester United team-mate to go on and become a top-class manager.
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Huddersfield boss Simon Grayson has called on his side to go out and win promotion after booking their place in the npower League One play-off final with a 3-2 aggregate semi-final win over MK Dons.
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Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric is in no rush to sort out his club future.
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Goal-line technology could be brought in halfway through next season, according to Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore.
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Rio Ferdinand is set to be left out of England's Euro 2012 squad when it is unveiled by new manager Roy Hodgson on Wednesday.
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Stuart Lancaster believes Mike Tindall will have a point to prove when he plays for the Barbarians against England at Twickenham on May 27.
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Huddersfield booked a League One play-off final date against Sheffield United despite losing the second leg of their play-off semi-final 2-1 to MK Dons, as they recorded a 3-2 aggregate victory.
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Everton midfielder Tim Cahill has accepted a three-match ban for being sent off against Newcastle on Saturday but has accused opponent Yohan Cabaye of using language which has "no place either on or off the football pitch".
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Toby Flood will be ruled out of England's tour to South Africa if he is not fit in time to play the first Test on June 9, head coach Stuart Lancaster has indicated.
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Andy Murray was pushed to the limit by former Wimbledon runner-up David Nalbandian before booking his place in the third round of the Rome Masters with a 6-1 4-6 7-5 victory.
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Gary Cahill has completed his first full training session for three weeks ahead of Chelsea's Champions League final and declared: "I will be fit."
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Peter Crouch has received the Euro 2012 backing of former England sharp-shooter Gary Lineker.
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Joey Barton has been given extra time to respond to the two charges of violent conduct levelled against him for his behaviour during QPR's Barclays Premier League defeat at Manchester City.
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Roberto Di Matteo is intent on masterminding "something extraordinary" in Saturday's Champions League final and has brushed off the prospect of it being his last match in charge of Chelsea.
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Ireland coach Declan Kidney has included seven uncapped players in his squad to face the Barbarians.
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Sir Alex Ferguson was back at his desk early Monday morning plotting how to swing the Premier League balance of power back in Manchester United's favour, David Gill has revealed.
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Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini hopes to be allowed to spend big this summer in pursuit of further success.
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Super League leaders Wigan will be without prop forwards Paul Prescott and Ben Flower for up to six weeks because of injury.
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Wigan chairman Dave Whelan would like manager Roberto Martinez to remain at the club, but is prepared to allow him to leave should an offer be made this summer.
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Dylan Hartley will return from an eight-week biting ban in England's traditional pre-tour match against the Barbarians at Twickenham on May 27.
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Manchester United have accepted an apology from Manchester City over a controversial placard held up by Carlos Tevez during their title celebrations.
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Matt Prior is adamant there will be no room for complacency as England set out to restate their credentials as Test cricket's number one team against West Indies at Lord's.
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Wales have received formal confirmation that Mike Phillips and James Hook will be released by their French clubs for the start of preparations to face the Barbarians and Australia.
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Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland have formally declared an interest in hosting Euro 2020.
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Manchester City may have wrestled the title from their grasp, but Manchester United have been awarded two prestigious honours for their dominance of the Premier League.
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Newport Gwent Dragons have announced the signings of Wales internationals Tom Prydie and Dan Evans.
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Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has revealed he has yet to discuss a new contract with the club.
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Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland have formally declared an interest in hosting Euro 2020, it can be disclosed.
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McLaren have offered their assistance as Williams attempt to quickly rebuild ahead of next week's Monaco Grand Prix.
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Manchester United chief executive David Gill insists the club have the cash to compete in the transfer market despite Sir Alex Ferguson's claim that Manchester City "pay stupid money and silly salaries".
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Sheffield United manager Danny Wilson said the hard part was still to come after seeing his side squeeze past Stevenage to reach the npower League One play-off final at Wembley on May 26.
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Tim Bresnan's perfect winning ratio for England exceeds even 10 out of 10 in Test cricket - yet he knows another younger Yorkshireman is a safer bet than him to play at Lord's this week.
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Wales are leaving no stone unturned in their attempt to beat Australia Down Under for the first time since 1969.
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Manchester City have apologised to Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson after striker Carlos Tevez held up a banner goading his former manager.
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Manchester City chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak has revealed the inspiration for the Blues' stunning Premier League title triumph came from the ashes of a desperate day at Arsenal.
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Sir Alex Ferguson expects next season to be Paul Scholes's last at Manchester United.
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Scotland and Wales are considering a dramatic late bid to host Euro 2020, possibly involving the Republic of Ireland as well.
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Manchester City's income from Premier League broadcast payments for last season was a record £60.6million - but even bottom club Wolves earned £39million.
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Sheffield United manager Danny Wilson said the hard part was still to come after seeing his side squeeze past Stevenage to reach the npower League One play-off final at Wembley on May 26.
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Manchester City have apologised to Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson after striker Carlos Tevez held up a banner goading his former manager.
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Chris Porter's late header sent Sheffield United into the npower League One play-off final after a 1-0 semi-final victory over Stevenage.
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Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed veteran midfielder Paul Scholes has signed a one-year contract extension with Manchester United.
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Roberto Mancini described the final moments of Manchester City's decisive win over QPR as "the best and worst five five minutes" of his and his players' lives as an estimated 100,000 fans lined the streets to witness the team parade the Barclays Premier League trophy on an open-top bus tour of the city centre.
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James Anderson and Charlotte Edwards have been named as the England cricketers of the year for 2011/12.
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Manchester City chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak believes Sunday's remarkable title triumph at the Etihad Stadium has consigned the phrase "typical City" to the dustbin.
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Francisco Ventoso profited from a crash involving Mark Cavendish in the final corner to take the ninth stage of the Giro d'Italia.
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Williams have confirmed just one team member now remains in a hospital in Barcelona following Sunday's garage fire after Pastor Maldonado's triumph in the Spanish Grand Prix.
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Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has flown to the United States to deliver his end-of-season review and have talks with the club's owners.
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Joey Barton has been charged with two acts of violent conduct by the Football Association following his actions after his sending-off in QPR's defeat by Manchester City.
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Tottenham captain Ledley King will have another operation on his troublesome knee this week and then start negotiations with the club over prolonging his 14-year spell at White Hart Lane.
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Lewis Hamilton has no doubt his time will come this year and the wretched run of mistakes from McLaren overshadowing his campaign will disappear, insisting: "We'll get the points we deserve."
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Alex McLeish has been sacked by Aston Villa, less than 24 hours after the end of his first season in charge, the club have announced on their website.
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Mark Hughes will decide what club punishment to hand down to captain Joey Barton for his conduct during Sunday's 3-2 defeat to Manchester City, QPR owner Tony Fernandes has said.
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Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini wants to build on title glory with a strong challenge in the Champions League next season.
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New England coach Roy Hodgson has sprung a major surprise by appointing Gary Neville to his coaching team.
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Newcastle hotshot Papiss Cisse has dismissed rumours that he could leave the club this summer.
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Patrice Evra has complete faith in Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's ability to bring in the right players to bolster the Red Devils squad this summer.
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Wales caretaker coach Rob Howley has named four uncapped players in a 38-man training squad to prepare for next month's clash against the Barbarians and three-Test Australia tour.
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Wolves owner Steve Morgan believes new manager Stale Solbakken has the pedigree to bring success to the Midlands club, and insists the Norwegian's appointment is astute rather than brave.
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Former Olympic triple jump champion Christian Olsson has announced his retirement following a long battle with injuries.
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