So what has changed in sports this week? Let's see. The greed merchants of the NBA are still locked out and Dutch international Pierre van Hooijdonk has returned to Nottingham Forest with security guards in tow after realising that no team wanted to buy a money-grabbing, trouble-making egotist. Down Under, a hypocritical Greg Norman was bad-mouthing his old buddy, the cigar-chomping US President Bill Clinton, and saying that he would be using his financial clout to help out the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Gee thanks, mate, you're a truly great Australian for a resident of America who admits to carrying the US constitution about in his briefcase 'so I know the rules I'm living under'. Just a case of same money-obsessed nonsense, different week. Hold on, though, what's this about a top footballer who thinks there's more to life than money, glamour and celebrity girlfriends. Surely, some mistake. But no, it's here in black and white - that nice Danish fellow Brian Laudrup, who Chelsea are paying handsomely to weave his magic, is homesick. Laudrup, one of the most talented footballers of his generation who is paid US$85,000 a week, wants a move to a Danish club even though it will mean a huge drop in earnings. His rationale: 'If you are not entirely happy then money is not important and I have not been thinking about money. Every time I have been home to Denmark recently, I have wanted to stay a little longer. 'That is where my friends and family are. My wife is 500 per cent behind me. Some fans will be disappointed, but the most disappointed person is myself.' Straight talking from the 29-year-old, who moved to Chelsea after a successful stint with Rangers. He's fed up with the money-go-round, have-boots-will-travel existence and wants to go back home - good luck to him. Down Singapore way during the Asian Rugby Championship there were other heartening stories of players competing for love, not money. The Singaporean captain, Terence Khoo, is a trained lawyer but does not practice. Instead, he works as marketing manager for the Singapore Rugby Union so he can spend more time doing what he enjoys most - playing rugby. He is the best player Singapore has produced this decade and scored three tries against India to lead his team into the final with Sri Lanka, which Singapore won 25-13. 'I guess it was all fated - I never intended to practice law. I found it dry and boring and it did not suit me at all,' he said. 'What matters most is that you are happy doing what you are doing. I'm very happy and that's enough reward for me.' Another happy chappie is Taiwanese captain Mae Chyan-shuenn. He gave up his job as a physical education teacher to compete in the tournament and his decision was rewarded with a shock win over Hong Kong on the opening day. Mae missed out on the 1993 World Cup Sevens because of work commitments and he was determined that it would not happen again. Like Laudrup and Khoo, he is a true sportsman who believes that money should not be the main motivator in life.
