Unlike other Thai sportsmen, Paradorn is capable of luring the entertainment media due to his off-court lifestyle. He was surrounded by a gang of showbiz reporters and paparazzi, who attended Danai Udomchoke's pocket-book press conference last week, and was hit with a series of questions about his relationship with former Miss Universe Natalie Glebova.

"Super Ball" had to summon his super-patience when a reporter from a cable-TV station popped the obnoxious question: how do you feel when people compare you as a couple to "Beauty and the Beast"?

Startled and annoyed but still managing to remain calm, Paradorn grinned and courteously replied: "I think it takes more than physical attraction for two people to be in a relationship. If looks were more important for her, she wouldn't have gone out with me."

Paradorn also fell prey to fellow players in the locker room. Time and again he had to listen to comments like: " Even [Roger] Federer couldn't do it [date Miss Universe]." But in this case, Paradorn didn't seem to mind at all. - The Nation.

Only clean for swimming

Don't drink from the Chao Phya River, even though Bangkok Triathlon champion Reinaldo Colucci from Brazil insists the water is clean.

A total of 190 triathletes took part in the gruelling competition, which began under the Rama VIII Bridge on Sunday with them jumping into the Kingdom's longest river for the 1.5km swim.

"Before deciding to compete in the Bangkok Triathlon, I heard a lot about the pollution in Bangkok, which could make the river unclean and contaminated," said Colucci, who also won last year's Laguna Phuket Triathlon.

"However, after all the triathletes jumped into the river for the swimming course, I think the water quality is not that bad. We had no problem swimming in the Chao Phya River. The only problem is that we had to swim in choppy waters. But I don't think anyone would have tasted the water," said Colucci. - The Nation.

Boonyu makes it hard way

During an interview at the recent Adventure Race Thailand Championhips in Phuket, a reporter asked Boonyu Kawiratanakhajorn about the events surrounding his winning the men's overall title after outpacing the leading group.

A delighted Boonyu recounted that he and national star Boonthung Srisang were neck-and-neck through the rock-climbing stage, and had made a point of meeting each other before crossing the finish line.

"I had to wait for him there for a long time and didn't know where he had got to. However, I was forced to continue the race, as I was worried that other competitors would catch me up," said the 24-year-old.

The media then told him that Boonthung had crossed the line just ahead of him, but by ambulance after losing consciousness during the rock-climbing stage.

This wiped the smile off a shocked Boonyu's face and he hurried to see his partner in the first-aid tent. - The Nation.

Lucky in game, unlucky in trip

Eight members of Thailand's Under-23 football side would have never thought that catching a flight back home would be as difficult as claiming a point from a tricky trip to Iraq in their 2008 Olympic qualifying Asian Zone Group E match last month.

Prapol Pongpanich's side came up against opponents who had not only a physical advantage but also better technique - let alone the unfamiliar conditions in Amman, where the game was played. Given such circumstances, the most realistic outcome the Thai team could expect was a draw.

And Thailand indeed managed to clinch a priceless point after coming from behind to seal a 1-1 draw, a result which to many was unbelievable yet means the chances of entering the finals remain alive.

After this heroic performance, the team had every right to come home as heroes. Ironically though, eight of the players - including Ronnachai Rangsiyo, who once trained at the Everton Academy under the "Chang-Everton Rising Star" programme - couldn't take the same flight as the other team members as they had failed to confirm their tickets. They had to wait until the following day to fly to Doha, where direct flights to Bangkok were available. But ill fortune still struck the unlucky guys as all the flights to Bangkok were fully occupied. So, they had to fly to Malaysia before returning home. - The Nation.