Buried the hatchet? Sir Alex Ferguson. Photograph: Action Images
Amidst all the state-of-the-union soul searching that surrounded the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony at the weekend, something deeply significant happened that barely raised a comment. And it wasn't Mark Ramprakash performing a specially prepared dance routine to the Test Match Special theme tune.
Nor was it the fact that the Great British Public proved it knows a winner when it sees one, in voting for a decade-long reigning champion ahead of a line-up of heroic failures.
It wasn't even the typically dignified manner with which Sir Bobby Robson accepted his lifelong achievement award (a reminder of the halcyon days when competent, well-liked England managers were hounded out of the job too).
No; the BBC had one more trump card to play. As the fanfare and televised tributes died down, who should appear with Sir Bobby's gong but none other than Sir Alex Ferguson, burying his considerable hatchet with Aunty Beeb for one night only. Has a petty spat ever been more effectively put into perspective? Has Fergie finally called a truce? Would someone tell Joe Calzaghe it's OK to put the award down now? Tune in next Saturday for all these answers and more...
