Even then, his descriptions of the players' idiosyncrasies are apt and observant: the way Andy Pettitte pulls down his visor and brings his glove up to the bridge of his nose before a pitch, or the way Derek Jeter lifts his right hand before batting, as if he were asking the crowd for silence before taking his stance.

FORBES: Remaking The Red Sox

The Carlton boss's coup in snatching the licence for London weekday television from under the nose of Thames TV boss Richard Dunn, was largely down to his knack of knowing just how to pitch a deal.

BBC: Green keeps growing