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February 9, 2003
(Sunday)
Call that shone
new light on Woodgate
That Newcastle
United's £9 million man Jonathan Woodgate isn't a
racist has been gathering credence this week.
Woodgate strongly denied such accusations following his court case
when he appeared at his St James's Park press conference and added
his now famous rider.
"I am black and white," he declared with a one-liner right out of the
PR top drawer.
However, evidence supports the fact that colour wasn't his personal
motivation during that awful street attack in Leeds as the judge
stated at the time. Rank stupidity was, though Jonathan insists he
has learned greatly from the resulting trauma.
The fact that colour doesn't appear to play a part in his life is
supported by his actions which speak louder than words.
His lunch companion at St James's Park this week, when players chose
with whom to sit, has been Kieron Dyer. And one of his best friends
at Elland Road was Rio Ferdinand.
However, a story has reached me in the last couple of days that has
even greater significance. It involves Michael Chopra, a player of
Asian extraction, it must be remembered.
When Chopra missed during the Worthington Cup penalty shoot-out with
Everton at St James's Park he received two phone calls of
commiseration the following morning - from Jamie Redknapp . . . and
Jonathan Woodgate.
It was a brilliant touch carried out in total privacy, especially as
Woody wasn't a Newcastle team-mate of Michael's at the time but a
Leeds player with no thoughts that he was to end up at St James's.
The reason for the gestures was that Woodgate, Redknapp, Chopra - and
for that matter Alan Shearer - are all part of agent Tony Stephens'
family of footballers.
I understand that Woodgate and Chopra actually met at an England
Under-21 international at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium and
engaged in a friendly chat.
Jonathan has served his debt to society and now is trying to get on
with his life. As a footballer he is in the top bracket and it is to
be hoped that he can concentrate on what he does so well now he's
here in Geordieland.
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