German side St Pauli have asked the owners of one of their executive boxes to stop strippers performing during games after they installed a pole and mirror. "They can do what they like after games," said club president Stefan Orth. (Observer)

Was in a meeting in the City this morning with those distracting news screens dotted around. Have to admit when I saw that miss out of the corner of my eye I involuntarily said "What?" out loud totally disrupting proceedings. I was even more unpopular when I later saw the Royal Wedding announcement and kept quiet about it. All the other senior people present were women...

Now a first half hattrick for our man Nick Blackman.

Blackman has scored twice for Motherwell inside the first 24 minutes.

Go to remember that the cantilever stand at the Blackburn End reduced the capacity compared with the original open Blackburn End. Just seen 92er's post- yes the roof went up after the 1960 Final; I remember watching it being built- it was the first cantilever structure in British football. Very fitting that the funeral will be in the Cathedral.

More about the success of de-criminalisation in Portugal

How de-criminalisation is succeeding in Portugal

Sorry meant to put this here- Atletico beat Inter 2-0 in the European Super Cup last night. The BBC carry this- "We started the game well with two or three chances and then we lost control," said Benitez. "At the end it was too open. The tactics are not quite there, we've got to work harder. "I will have to change things after Mourinho. How much time will it take? I don't know." Last season Inter, under Jose Mourinho, won a Champions League, Serie A and Italian Cup Treble.

Cracking set of quotes here in the Observer!

http://www.la-colombe-dor.com/ If you can get a reservation... do!

That is a very useful tabe and shows how screwed u we all are abut this subject (taking another sip of wine...) The Observer editorial today. It is encouraging that the Mexican President is willing to put legalising marijuana on the table at the same time that it is increasingly de-criminalised in the USA. It should be a massive revenue earner for states rather than an enormous cost burden and destroyer of societies. In these straitened times, I guess the lure f easy tax dollars is going to win out- rightly for once.

Guardian recommends ten eateries towards the coast. I think the Cartford is a bit naff to be honest, the Cottage is fine and big thumbs up for Booths- don't know the others.

Very pleasant- been overcast most of the last ten days but generally lovely. Pretty dry and the brown grass is showing the result. Appreciating not being in the 30-40 range in Malta for once.

Apparently Bentley has done his ankle in a training accident at Spurs and could be out for three months.

...and their debt? Unicredit have effectively foreclosed on Roma's owners' 67% stakes 49% of Roma is owed £271m! Cheri Lunghi/ Karren Brady style Chief Executive there.

La Liga depends on the ability of cubs to blackmail their local communities. It is simple as that. If the Spanish economy goes broke (and it is teetering) the clubs will collapse with it as the folk they use "leverage" with (local politiians and businesses) will have nothing left to contribute to the clubs' coffers. This is not a great time to be E350m in debt and to be looking for another E150m from what is effectively a crippled banking system in Spain. Especially when the TV rights company Mediapro are in "protection from their creditors"- the major creditors being Barcelona and Real Madrid. Methinks Fabregas will only be playing at the Nou Camp as an Arsenal player.

The Economist link . Being debated on Twitter this afternoon.

The Economist has just argued for the complete legalisation of all drugs.

Garry Cook's golden touch with players deserting him? Now there is a surprise!

Poor Inter!

Agreed- it is only three seasons ago Benni was runner-up in the Premier League Golden Boot playing for Rovers

Fundamental problems in La Liga Will be interesting to see what happens when the other Liga clubs tell Madrid and Barca to share the cake.

Is York boss Martin Foley an ex-Rover?

Just seen the wrap-up of the Coca Cola from last weekend and saw Joe Garner, Martin Taylor, Shefki Kuqi and Callum Davidson all scoring with Robbie Savage supplying an assist. Ince went AWOL for the MK home game by the way.