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 Tuesday, 10 September, 2002, 11:20 GMT 12:20 UK
Balloon basket-ball
BBC Sport Online picks out some of the quirky, offbeat or plain daft stories doing the rounds.


Balloon basket-ball

A goalkeeper amazed his team-mates by kicking a football right into the basket of a passing hot air balloon.

Tom Janssens, 18, was as stunned as everyone else when the ball soared 100ft before dropping in - narrowly missing two women inside.

The teenager admitted he had been aiming for the balloon after having a bet with his coach at Veerle Sport FC in Laakdal, Belgium.

Janssens told: Het Laatste Nieuws: "Our coach told me that I could never reach the balloon. Without replying to that remark, I took a ball and kicked it right into the basket.

FA Cup balloon
Another football-crazy balloon

"Everyone on the field was very surprised because they thought it was impossible.

"The two ladies in the basket just had the time to dive out of the way. They weren't mad about it and were kind enough to throw us back the ball."

At least no-one can accuse Janssens of being full of hot air.


Flo stamps his authority

New Sunderland striker Tore Andre Flo is to appear on a postage stamp.

The star's winning goal against Brazil in the 1998 World Cup finals was chosen by his countrymen as the best moment in Norwegian football history.

Flo said: "It is a very big honour for me and I am very grateful to the Norwegian people for voting for me."

Now he has to concentrate on stopping Sunderland getting licked every weekend.


Get battered

A Bury man has been crowned king of the puds in the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships.

Stephen Pilkington joined more than 100 other competitors at the bizarre event in Stubbins, East Lancashire.

Yorkshire puddings
Too good to eat...

The aim of the game is to knock Yorkshire puddings off 20ft plinths, using black puddings.

And it was Pilkington who took the Golden Pudding Award by claiming seven knock-downs.

The annual event dates back to the War of the Roses, although you can bet your life they weren't using frozen black puddings in those days.


Fox stops birdies

A crafy fox stole two golf balls during the middle of a tournament in Sweden.

The incident at Gronhogen golf course on the island of Oland left bemused officials wondering what to do next.

The fox took the balls to a nearby forest, but the golf rule book did not suggest how play should continue.

Eventually the tournament director decided both players should be allowed to drop new balls near to where those had been taken.

The fox apparently thought the balls were eggs - from birdies, presumably.

See also:

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08 Aug 02 | Funny Old Game
Links to more Funny Old Game stories are at the foot of the page.


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