The last throw of the dice..I mean ball?

Rory Delap has been to see the Dr in a last ditch attempt to save the scud missiles he launches at opponents from disappearing forever. But will they be missed?



Delap is suffering with a shoulder injury that inhibits his ability to throw those rockets at the opponents goal. The long throws have been a crucial part of Stoke's game play this season AND last. I personally witnessed one of his rockets steal the points at Carrow Road last year, in a season that Stoke made successful with lanky players, hoofball and long throws. The freakish missiles are incredibly difficult to defend and have been a pain to Premier league defenders all year.


The Delap factor


Cortisone jabs have been ineffective and Delap has now had treatment that he calls the 'last chance'.

"The injection I had on Monday is the last chance because I've had them all. The doctor said that if it works I shouldn't be able to feel anything, so hopefully it will work" - Rory Delap.

Stoke manager Tony Pullis will be keeping his fingers crossed that the injection works. Seven of Stoke's 17 Premiership goals have come from Delap's powerful throws.

Stoke visit Blackburn this Saturday, who announced Sam Allardyce as manager this morning.

-Bigus

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Hey look, Rory Delap can throw stuff

Delap, sans ball

In World War 2, he'd have been the lad with the grenades. He was born too late for that, but even so, Rory Delap's superhuman ability to throw round objects has caught the attention of the Irish Pointy Stick Throwing Association back home, and they've got big plans for Delap in 2012.

They're eyeing up Olympic gold with the javelin, and who better to use than Stoke's bearded chucker?


I can't quite believe that it's true, but the Daily Star (think three steps below the Daily Mail for journalistic integrity) says it is, and they've got the quotes to prove it:

Mary Coghlan, head of Athletics Ireland, said: We don’t have any javelin throwers competing at the World Championships next year so of course we would welcome him. To reach the acquired standard would be extremely difficult but nothing is impossible. Certainly, if he wanted to try and throw the javelin for Ireland we would be more than delighted to have him."

So there you have it: Delap for 2012. It'd be a wonderful story, rivaling those legends like the Togolese medalist in canoeing and of course, the Jamaican bobsled team.

Athletics Ireland hopes to get Delap to sit down with Irish javelin "legend" Terry McHugh (of course I would never mock him to his face considering his prowess with a javelin) to talk strategy and see if there might be any interest.

Watch the vid of Delap's long-throw magic in action, and ask yourself: could he really do for a pointy stick what he's done for a leather-stitched ball?

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