RORY MCILROY has continued to fuel expectations of him defending his US PGA Championship "by posting a video of himself hitting a drive on the golf course." McIlroy, "wearing blue tape over the left foot he injured last month, showed no evidence of feeling pain or discomfort." The world No. 1 wrote alongside his video, "Feels good to hit the driver again" (LONDON TIMES, 8/6). ... A man dubbed a Godfather of football hooliganism by police "has been banned from every ground in the country for five years." GILROY SHAW, who police said had a history of starting violence before "slipping away while his minions throw the punches," has now been handed a football banning order barring him from all professional matches. Senior police officers described Shaw as their "number one target" who had "become almost a Godfather figure" in football hooligan circles in recent years (BELFAST TELEGRAPH, 8/4). ... A push to remove ALAN JONES from the SCG Trust "has followed the Sydney shock jock's heated public commentary" over ADAM GOODES in which Jones accused Goodes of always playing the victim. Fellow trustee and former Australian Football League side Sydney Swans Chair RICHARD COLLESS "is behind the push, telling Jones his stand on Goodes places him at conflict with his role as a trustee of Sydney's home ground" (THE AGE, 8/6). ... Racing New South Wales CEO PETER V'LANDYS "has broken his silence on a rampant smear campaign aimed at him," threatening to take legal action if he discovers who has been spreading "unfounded, ridiculous rumours." The issue "surrounds the termination of employment of a member of Racing NSW staff, but in recent weeks the speculation about V'Landys future has grown out of control." He said, "I'm used to smear campaigns, because when you take on self-interest groups they are always going to attack you" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 8/6).
