Gazza Lives On
1)
One hour after playing for England, met 'showbiz pals' Danny Baker and Chris
Evans in a Hampstead pub while still wearing his full kit, boots
included.
2)
When asked for his nationality before an operation, told the nurse:
"Church Of England."
3)
On a trip to London, jumped out of his car to demand "a go" on a
workman's pneumatic drill. After getting the go-ahead, happily pounded
the pavement to the amusement of shoppers.
4)
On first meeting with Lazio's president to discuss his big- money move to the
Italian club, was quick to tell the esteemed gentleman that he reminded him of
Russ Abbot.
5)
Organisers of Italia 90 TV coverage had the splendid idea of augmenting team
line-ups with footage of each player mouthing his own name. Gascoigne's genius
led him to subvert the process by, instead, mouthing 'f***ing w***ker.'
Broadcasters across the world had to use it all the way through the tournament.
6)
Booked a series of sun-bed sessions for then-Newcastle team-mate Tony
Cunningham. Who, of course, is black.
7)
Asked by a Norwegian camera crew if he had a message for England's upcoming
opponents, immediately responded with, "Yes. F**k off, Norway. Then ran off
laughing.
8)
When asked for a footballing comment while at Lazio, burped enthusiastically
into a TV microphone. He was fined £39,000.
9)
Decided it would be a great idea to have massive hair extensions. Looked a fool
and had them taken out a day later.
10)
After paying for ex-wife Sheryl's breasts implants, sent flowers to the hospital
after the operation addressed to 'Dolly Parton.'
11)
Astounded commuters in London by jumping on a double-decker in London's
Piccadilly Circus and asking if he could have a drive. The bus driver said yes,
and the passengers thoroughly enjoyed Gazza's impromptu performance.
12)
Sent a rose to the Wimbledon dressing room for Vinnie Jones after the infamous
ball-squeezing incident. Got a toilet brush in return
13)
Set up best mate Jimmy 'Five Bellies' Gardner with a 'girl' he knew to be a
transvestite.
14)
Has taken the p*** out of refs constantly during his career. On one occasion he
sniffed a hapless ref's armpit while he was holding his hand high to signal a
free kick.
15)
While attempting to deflect the 'kebab controversy' which spelled the beginning
of the end of his England career, assured reporters that his doner munching
antics following Middlesbrough's promotion to the Premiership would in no way
affect his fitness before France 98. One reporter asked: "What do you feel
like now?" Back came the inevitable response: "I feel like a
kebab with onions".
16)
Celebrated his new-found hero status after flying home from Italia 90 by wearing
a huge pair of fake plastic boobs and stomach bearing the legend 'Gazza.'
17)
On meeting the president of Denmark's FA, pretended he could speak
Danish. When invited to demonstrate, imitated The Muppet Show's Swedish
Chef.
18)
Conned Five Bellies into eating a mince pie after he'd scraped out the filling
and replaced it with cat excrement.
19)
Walked into the Middlesbrough canteen wearing nothing but his training socks and
ordered lunch.
20)
Paid £320 for a Mars Bar in a newsagents in his home town of Dunston, then told
the shop owner to spend the change on sweets for local kids..
21)
Whilst dining in the prestigious Bedford Arms Hotel in Woburn with a few of his
Geordie mates, decided to place his erect member on the shoulder of a diner at
the next table. Thinking someone had tapped him on the shoulder the gentleman
turned his head only to have Gazza's helmet prod him in the cheek.
22)
Took a documentary team to a beautiful Scottish cottage which he informed them
was his new place, pretended he'd forgotten his key and knocked instead. When
the door opened, told the befuddled housewife inside that he was doing a telly
advert and wanted to know if she preferred Daz or Omo.
23)
Crashed Middlesbrough's team bus at the club's training ground and
caused £310,000 worth of damage.
24)
While at Rangers, urinated over sleeping team-mate Richard Gough.
25)
Handed £1000 over to Jimmy Five Bellies after betting that the burly boozer
couldn't withstand a cigarette lighter's heat on the bridge of his nose for five
seconds. Jimmy could. Twice.
26)
After briefly giving up drinking, was advised to find a new interest. Picked
bingo.
27)
Bought a £1000 robot and programmed it to travel into Jimmy Five Bellies' room
at Gazza Towers and announce: "Make a cup of tea, fat man."
28)
Was banned from Liverpool's Cream nightclub in advance within days of joining
Everton last summer, because the Evertonians who own the place wanted him to
avoid temptation and stay fit.
29)
When Gazza signed for Spurs in 1988, he came down to finalise the deal with a
bunch of his Geordie mates. They took over the posh hotel in Hadley Wood where
Spurs were footing the bill and wreaked havoc. Gazza met
then-chairman Irving Scholar and began talks by saying, "We'd like
to thank you for the best three days of our lives."
30)
Was asked to leave West Lodge Park Hotel in London after guests were treated to
the sight of a naked Five Bellies swimming across the duck pond.
31)
Recorded a video message for a corporate party and signed off with a cheery
"Happy Christmas, you f***ing w***ers."
32)
Greeted reporters in Rome by standing up, asking for silence, then farting at
ear-splitting volume.
33)
Told an interviewer that he was so superstitious about the number 13 that he
couldn't ever bear to see the numbers 4 and 9 together. Oddly, the combination
of 5 and 8 was deemed OK.
34)
After being sent off while playing for Lazio, shook hands with virtually every
member of the Genoa side.
35)
While staying in a New Zealand hotel, was told there was no bacon for breakfast.
Replied, "What, all the sheep in this country and there's no bacon?