Warney Spins Out of View

What do you say to one of the most famous cricketers of all time when he's blocking your view of the TV set? This was the dilemma I faced when in South Africa last week on business. I settled myself down at a hotel bar, with a tall glass of beer in hand, and only a handful of other punters to watch the Arsenal versus Manchester United Champions League semi-final game and for half an hour watched as Ronaldo and company ran riot. Then I realised I was staying in the same hotel as some of the IPL cricketers, who were returning from a night's exertions of Twenty20 cricket, and who were finding the sanctuary of the bar. There was Graeme Smith, the South African cricket captain, and Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock and Jonty Rhodes. Nearby sat Harbajhan Singh and Kumar Sangakkara, and talking intently next to them was Jeremy Snape. But leaning right across my view of the football action was a man ordering a Vodka Red Bull as he puffed on the night's first cigarette and swapped banter with his global teammates and opponents. So what was I to do? Shake the great man's hand, or ask him to move? "I'm sorry, but would you mind?" I asked, as my hand gesticulated in a moving action. "Sure, sorry mate," he replied, as he looked over his shoulder, saw the football, and realised his somewhat rotound frame was blocking the LCD. And with that he moved his stool round, made sure his colleagues were also out of my way, and talked long into the night. He's not a bad bloke, that Shane Warne!