I see Karen Parlour had found herself an "agent" to announce her "relief" to the world following her landmark divorce settlement from Arsenal player Ray. I note too that she is expected to speak to various newspapers this weekend to put her side of the story - though I'm not sure whether that will involve a fee or not. I can well believe that she is a wonderful mother and played a major part in her ex-husband's success on the football pitch. But that was then - and this is now. Mrs Parlour had already had a generous settlement that would have allowed her to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle. Could the court not merely have directed that Ray Parlour put away a lump sum in trust for his children - and directed Mrs Parlour to get on with her life as an ex-footballer's wife? ********** So, if the Wayne Rooney story doesn't exactly set the world on fire, what of the life story of 17-year-old Maria Sharapova, crowned Wimbledon champion on Saturday and now poised - the perfect word - for superstardom on and off the tennis court? Her rags to riches story of hard work, sacrifice, dedication and eventual success, all made possible by love, surely cheered us all on a rain-lashed summer's day. And well done too to Serena Williams and Andy Roddick who proved that when it comes to being darned good and gracious losers, sporting Americans do it better than anyone. In the midst of all the fuss about junk food, can I just report that I went into McDonald's the other day and had a £3.49 grilled chicken salad which was the best bowl of salad I've eaten out for many a yearÂ… fresh, tasty, appetising and healthy. The people on the table to my right, however, had not one burger meal each but two! Greed or need? That's the big dilemma. Loyalty a worthwhile goal for young stars I was amazed to read in The Journal the other day that teenager James Milner, Newcastle United's latest £3.6m signing and dubbed one of England's hottest prospects, had "mixed feelings" about moving from his hometown club Leeds United to Tyneside - because he didn't really want to go anywhere. Apparently he had just bought his mum and dad a new house in Yorkshire and seemed all set to stay with the club he has always supported. Contrast that with the crazy speculation on the future of Wayne Rooney, less than three months older than Milner but apparently in a different league - on the strength of four Euro 2004 goals. Rooney has now blotted his copy book big time by selling his story - thank goodness we're spared This is Your Life - to the most reviled tabloid newspaper on Merseyside. Meanwhile, Everton, the hometown club he has always supported, has come up with a generous and valiant package - around £35,000 a week - to try to keep their lad at the club he's always loved. I have no wish to see everything go pear-shaped for the lad with the silver boots. Nor can we blame him for his swift arrival on the pedestal of fame. But five years from now won't it be interesting to compare Rooney with Milner once again and find out where their loyalties truly lie? | 
