It's the World Cup: Sam Slade '82 v Big Dave '94

[The Enigmatic Dr X]

Also: I operated on my own brian!

[Trout]

Also: I operated on my own brian!

Well said, Brian!

[I, Cosh]

I remember the Sam Slade story, 32 years ago. I cannot recall the Big Dave story.

Snap. In general, I find Big Dave a lot funnier than Robo Hunter but I have no recollection of the story so it's got to be Football Crazy.

Of course, Billy the Fish is better than either:
"Great on the ball mathematics from the balding academic!"
"Yes Geoff, he even incorporated a formula to send the keeper the wrong way."

[Frank]

In general, I find Big Dave a lot funnier than Robo Hunter but I have no recollection of the story

You don't remember the zombie corpse of Bobby Moore taking to the world cup stage with three lions (and a touch of brain matter) on his shirt once more?

[ZenArcade]

Ok I'm Irish and a life-long fan of Uraguayan football, but hope England do well tonight. Z

[Grant Goggans]

Help me, Hive Mind!

So Jürgen Klinsmann is coaching the American team.  I have a distant memory that I should know him from a reference in 2000 AD, but I can't remember it.  Does anybody recall one of the script droids making a cheeky reference to him that would not have made sense to somebody who doesn't follow your football much, or ever?

[Frank]

Klinsmann enjoyed a reputation for diving * during his time with Spurs (1994-1995 and 1997-1998), so I assume the reference would feature in a story from either of those periods, perhaps featuring a submarine or parachuting.


* pretending to have been tackled to the ground

[Greg M.]

Could be totally wrong, but might it have been in Bix Barton? Klinsmann was, as Sauchie notes, known for diving excessively when tackled, and I have a suspicion Pete Milligan might have made reference to that.

[ZenArcade]

Need to go over old progs, Greg could be right. Z bad luck England, that Suarez is something else. Total footballer.

[Frank]

Could be totally wrong, but might it have been in Bix Barton? Klinsmann was, as Sauchie notes, known for diving excessively when tackled, and I have a suspicion Pete Milligan might have made reference to that

Now you say that, Greg, I know instinctively that you're right. Can't remember the specific line or context though.

[Grant Goggans]

Thanks!  Knowing his dates with the Spurs meant that if it was Barton, it could only be "Nigel, the Napoleon of East Finchley," and there it is in part 4 in prog 915, when Bix fakes his death.

[Frank]

Thanks!  Knowing his dates with the Spurs meant that if it was Barton, it could only be "Nigel, the Napoleon of East Finchley," and there it is in part 4 in prog 915, when Bix fakes his death

If only there were some way of joining our tails together, we could form a Rat King.

[The Enigmatic Dr X]

Thanks!  Knowing his dates with the Spurs meant that if it was Barton, it could only be "Nigel, the Napoleon of East Finchley," and there it is in part 4 in prog 915, when Bix fakes his death

If only there were some way of joining our tails together, we could form a Rat King hivemind.

FTFY