RED TOP REVIEW
IT'S the morning after the night before in Manchester – and in the tabloids – as the red tops try to cover both the drama and disappointment of the Uefa Cup final and the violence that broke out after a giant screen broke down leaving thousands of Rangers fans unable to see the big game.
The Daily Record (unjustly dubbed the Daily Ranger in the east end of Glasgow) goes with a positive approach. "Hold your heads high" hollers the front page with a picture of Ibrox skipper Barry Ferguson looking on the verge of tears as he applauds the club's travelling support. Only in the – count 'em – 16 pages of coverage inside does the paper get into the mayhem in Manchester.
The Sun goes the opposite way, with a splash headline that screams "Beaten and Battered", over a photo of two Rangers fans, one lying covered in blood on a pavement strewn with empty beer cans as his mate comforts him. How hard are Rangers fans? Both still have cigarettes on the go – in fact the uninjured fan has one in each hand. Aye ready.
The Daily Mirror is the only red top that doesn't go wall-to-wall Rangers. Although it devotes the front page to the match, it reserves page three for more traditional fodder. There, a topless Lily Allen is pictured playing "Lady God-diver" as she plunges into the sea on holiday on the French Riviera.
Elsewhere, the midmarket tabloids have mixed news on the economy. The Daily Express says that, despite the gloom, Scots property prices are rising – up 2.3% so far this year. The Daily Mail, however, warns of the Big Squeeze – mortgages and bills up and wage rises down. There's more to life than football.
SPORT
One event that certainly put football into perspective was the tragic death of Celtic legend Tommy Burns, and Rangers have cancelled their planned bus tour through Glasgow as a sign of respect. An obituary and tributes to Burns are carried elsewhere in Scotland on Sunday online.
Looking ahead, Rangers' hectic season finale continues at Motherwell on Saturday. Walter Smith may have freshened up his side by introducing Nacho Novo, Lee McCulloch and Kris Boyd to the starting line up in his bid to win the SPL. Christian Dailly and Charlie Adam may also feature. Any slip up at Fir Park, or at St Mirren or Aberdeen in the last two games of the season would let in Celtic, who have one game to play, at Dundee United a week on Thursday. Less than 48 hours later, Rangers bid for the Scottish Cup in the final against Queen of the South – who have sold out their 15,500 tickets.
Away from football, Andy Murray hopes to celebrate his 21st birthday with a win against Rafael Nadal in the Hamburg Masters tennis.
FASHION
The 'Blindness' Premiere was held in Cannes last night to open the Film Festival. And blindness is the word where these outfits were concerned.
If, on a dark and stormy night, Faye Dunaway were to approach you dressed like this and said: "Take me to your leader" you wouldn't argue, would you?
How fortunate that Julianne Moore got time off from her day job of tending the ravens at the Tower of London. And how nice of her to bring a couple along to share the glittering event with her.
Fear not, Gillian. The word is out and whoever threw those buckets of water over you just before you exited your limo will soon be caught.
TELEVISION
While Nigel Kennedy throws his annual punk-spirited strop, and Myleene Class lines up her next bikini modelling gig, Scotland's bright young hope in the classical world, Nicola Benedetti, has managed so far to let her music (not entirely disabled by her looks) make her career. Watch her walk away with the Best Young British Performer award at The Classical Brit Awards 2008, ITV1, 11.05pm
Living the Dream (Revisited): When the Darar family from Ayr decided to open an Indian restaurant in Playa Flamenca on Costa Blanca, there was sure to be a camera crew in hot pursuit. Five years on the camera returns to see whether, after near bankruptcy, they have managed to turn it into a success story. BBC 2 Scotland, 8pm
BUSINESS
BARCLAYS has taken a further £1bn writedown on assets and said profits for the first quarter of 2008 will be lower than the same time last year.
Earlier this year the bank warned that tough trading in its investment bank business Barclays Capital during March would cut group profits for the first three months of the year.
Unlike some of its main rivals, Barclays did not ask shareholders for additional cash in a rights issue.
INTERNET
Enjoy some of the bizarre rider requests made by pop groups at the Smoking Gun. Top prize goes to Foo Fighters and their catering demands in advance of playing: "Meaty songs make roadies fart..." and "no silly variant cokes please".
Check us out every weekday for the latest news, gossip and gab from Scotland on SundayThe full article contains 870 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
