Duncan Smith: Harrison's biggest fight is with himself

Published on Friday 19 December 2008 21:10

Scott Harrison: On The Ropes

BBC 1 Scotland, Thursday (available on bbc.co.uk/iplayer until Wednesday)

WITH an unfortunate choice of words – "wait till you see me in ten weeks. I'll be an animal" – we enter the chaotic world of Scott Harrison and prepare to witness the sorry decline of one of this country's great sporting champions of recent years into a bankrupt drunk and convicted criminal.

It is autumn 2007 and the first Scot ever to regain a world title is on the comeback trail, aiming to put a troubled year behind him and get back his WBO featherweight title for the third time. By the end of the compelling 40-minute programme Harrison's previous troubles pale in comparison to the extraordinary new depths he plumbs.

This pathetic turn of events is clearly not what the BBC reporter Craig Collinson was banking on. He freely admits he is not a follower of boxing and it is obvious at the beginning of the film the reporter was envisioning one of those warm and fuzzy, triumph-over-adversity heartstring-tuggers. You can almost sense him already picturing in his head the uplifting , tearful closing scenes as Harrison hoists the cherished belt above his bruised but joyous face.

Before that can happen, however, there is the small matter of Harrison not having a licence to fight from the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC). The licence was revoked the previous year after Harrison pulled out of one fight due to alcohol problems and depression and failed to make the weight for another. Now Harrison has embarked on a PR drive to convince the boxing world in general, and the BBBC in particular, he is back and deserving of a second chance. Agreeing to this documentary was clearly part of the marketing strategy and we get the lung-busting early morning runs, the encouraging words from a sports scientist, the contrite Harrison in church chatting with his local priest.

The action then moves to the base in the Highlands where the training regime is geared as if for a big bout. But with no licence and no warm-up fight arranged, the futility of it all is inescapable.

The elephant in the room is Harrison's by then well documented problems with alcohol. It is initially broached euphemistically as his going "aff the rails", while discussion of spells in rehab amounts to no more than Harrison reeling off the different Priory clinics he's been to – "Glasgow, London, Dublin...." – like a list of conquests from the ring.

But enough will be revealed indirectly in the course of the programme to shed more light on this sensitive topic. In one illuminating moment, Harrison describes the emotional rollercoaster of his chosen profession. "I'll train hard for eight, nine weeks," he explains, "win the fight, put on a brilliant display – then three hours later I'll feel like s***e."

He isn't the first and won't be the last professional athlete to struggle with the transition from the adrenalin and buzz of competition to the more humdrum nature of normal life.

However, the shocking acuteness of Harrison's affliction makes itself known in the second half of the documentary as reality crashes through the fragile facade in the form of an endless list of criminal charges both at home and in Spain.

As the story takes its dark downward twist, and Harrison becomes unsurprisingly less generous with his time, the reporter Collinson finds himself struggling to keep up. Even Louis Theroux, the master of faux naivety, would balk at comments like "I'm now not convinced that Scott's past is really behind him" and "I suspect he may have started drinking again". Collinson's triumph is his ability to maintain a rapport with Harrison in the most trying of circumstances, to the point where he is with him in a taxi in Malaga as he heads for court facing five years in a Spanish jail looking every inch the broken man.

Until that point Harrison has delivered a pathetic portrayal of self-delusion on a grand scale, tilting at windmills throughout. Able to deal only with opponents he can see looming before him, or more accurately thinks he can see, the BBBC, media and justice system all feel his misplaced wrath when, of course, the real enemy is festering within – and beating him badly.

The Spanish trial is postponed after the judge falls ill but Scottish justice awaits him at home. Harrison was eventually jailed for eight months in September for drink driving and assaulting his girlfriend. The boy who, his father proudly recalls, first displayed potential for the noble art when bravely confronting a local bully in the street, is brought down by the ultimate act of cowardice – attacking a pregnant young woman.

The last scene is left to the long-suffering Peter Harrison. With the kind of optimism only a father could hold onto he says: "I still think there will be a happy ending. I hope and pray he'll get his licence back and get his career back on track."

Scott Harrison's biggest fights undoubtedly lie ahead of him. Not, sadly, in the way anyone would want. Forget the career, just getting his life back on some kind of even keel would indisputably be his greatest victory.

FINAL CURTAIN: GORDON STRACHAN'S LAST SENIOR MATCH (COVENTRY v DERBY, 5 MAY 1997)

FOR some longevity is down to mere genetics, an acceptance that some people just naturally outlast others. In the sporting arena however, it doesn't do to just kick back and let nature run it's course, conditioning and diet have to come into play.

Gordon Strachan long held the title of the oldest outfield player to take to the field in the English Premier League after coming out of retirement at the age of 40 to aid Coventry City's remarkable escape from relegation in season 1996/97. Strachan famously ascribed his longevity to a diet of seaweed pills, porridge and bananas, all mixed in with a healthy dose of abstinence from the sort of drunken shenanigans that put footballers on the front page of newspapers rather than the back. The type of shenanigans typified by the infamous 'dentist's chair' picture of Paul Gascoigne imbibing spirits poured down his neck by the none too steady hand of a merry Teddy Sheringham on an England football team jolly.

Two years ago this month Sheringham surpassed Strachan's record as he turned out for West Ham aged 40 years and 272 days, beating Strachan's mark by around 190 days.

Whatever the secrets to longevity, Strachan's career remains a shining example to budding young pros.

Mature enough to become Dundee's youngest ever captain, a European Cup Winners' Cup winner with Aberdeen, FA Cup winner with Manchester United and league winner with Leeds United as well as a Scotland Hall of Famer.

Strachan had initially retired in January 1995 , but when facing a relegation dogfight in his first stint as a manager with Coventry City, he pulled on the boots again.

In the penultimate game of the season they lost 2-1 at home to Derby County, Strachan had to withdraw himself after 50 minutes with hamstring trouble and he was replaced by fellow Pittodrie old boy, Eoin Jess. Strachan would never appear again as he sat on the bench at White Hart Lane on the final day as Coventry won 2-1 to secure their league survival as results elsewhere went their way.

ROSS MALCOLM

Archie MacWooooof on the week in football

WELCOME to a wet and windy Buchanan Street where, with only five days to go until the Big One things are really hotting up in the malls and pedestrianised shopping areas.

The trusty old sheepskin is holding up admirably against the elements and we're off, heading straight for the beige support socks in Mark's. There's an opening and he LET'S FLY at the merchandise but it's WHIPPED AWAY by a nippy wee wummin with a look in her eyes which brings to mind my old sparring partner Gerry McNee in one of his better moods. So it's off up the road and THAT'S A BETTER MALL.

Yes, it's all coming together nicely now. Remember a dog's not just for Christmas. WOOF!

Player v Manager bust-ups

FERGUSON v LE GUEN

The Frenchman axed his Rangers skipper but there was to be only one winner and it was au revoir Paul.

BOYD v BURLEY

Left on the bench against Norway, Boyd got the hump and quit Scotland while Burley is in charge.

BECKHAM v FERGUSON

An FA Cup defeat to Arsenal, Fergie kicks a stray boot, Becks has to get stitches to a head wound. Priceless.

KEANE v McCARTHY

After blasting the Ireland boss over his World Cup preparations, Keane was sent home from South Korea.

McGEADY v STRACHAN

A furious spat with Strachan lands the Celtic winger a two-week ban.