In that respect you think of Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Joe Louis. “He’s a credit to his race ­ the human race,” a celebrated American sports columnist wrote of Louis back in the Thirties. At a time when America couldn’t deny the extent of its racism, Louis was conveniently adopted as an all American hero.Through the extent of his talent and the magnetic force of his personality Woods has risen above the surviving vestiges of racial prejudice. It seems, however, that not many black people are being encouraged to believe that he is bigger than a black man in a white man’s playground And that’s the truth of it.. Steve Linnane will take charge of a Halifax side for the first time tomorrow night, but he will not have his former boss, Gary Mercer, in his team.

Steve Linnane will take charge of a Halifax side for the first time tomorrow night, but he will not have his former boss, Gary Mercer, in his team.
Linnane was confirmed yesterday as coach of the Blue Sox for the next two seasons, succeeding Mercer, who resigned as player-coach last week. Mercer has said that he wants to carry on as a player, but Linnane says that he has not had enough time to consider that possibility.”I’ve only just been given the position of head coach and I haven’t had the chance to discuss Gary’s situation with anybody,” he said. “He is not part of my plans for this week.”The Rugby League has confirmed that Halifax still hold Mercer’s playing registration, but the club has said that his previous contract lapsed when he resigned and a new one, purely as a player, would be a decision for the new coach. All the indications are that he has played his last game for Halifax.Plans to give Dean Lawford his Halifax debut against Wigan tomorrow have been thrown into doubt by the postponement of the Alliance match between the two clubs yesterday. Lawford, the former Sheffield Eagles half-back who has also been used at hooker, has been signed on a match-by-match loan from Leeds.

“He covers a number of positions for us, but he hasn’t played for a while and I probably won’t risk him now,” Linnane said.His first match in charge is a highly demanding one, with the presence of Phil Jones in Wigan’s prospective Alliance line-up showing that Matthew Johns is ready to return after injury. Francis Stephenson is set to start for the first time in place of Neil Cowie in the front row, while Mick Cassidy stands by in case Denis Betts’ ankle is still giving him pain. Linnane is likely to move Martin Moana to stand-off to cover for the injured Andrew Dunemann.Halifax have denied considering making an approach to their former coach, Chris Anderson, who resigned from the Melbourne Storm this week.. A rescue package for Queen’s Park Rangers and Wasps ran into trouble yesterday when the administrators reacted unfavourably to the business plan put forward by the chairman of both clubs, Chris Wright. A rescue package for Queen’s Park Rangers and Wasps ran into trouble yesterday when the administrators reacted unfavourably to the business plan put forward by the chairman of both clubs, Chris Wright.
Under Wright’s plan, he would buy the rugby club for £5m and sell the football club for £6m, but he may have to fight off competition from Worcester rugby club, while Saracens were also reported to preparing to make an offer for Wasps’ playing squad.QPR and Wasps are both owned by Loftus Road plc, a company set up by Wright, who is the founder and chairman of the Chrysalis media company. Loftus Road plc went into administration at the beginning of the week with debts of £11m, but Wright said yesterday that he is willing to pay £5m ­ what he described as “an inflated price” ­ for Wasps.That would allow a buyer for QPR for the same sum ­ £6m ­ that Jim Gregory was paid when he sold up in 1997.