I'M TAKING MY BALL AND I'M GOING HOME :

Lennon quits after death threat (BBC, 22 August, 2002)

Northern Ireland's Neil Lennon has confirmed his retirement from international football after receiving a death threat prior to the friendly against Cyprus.

Lennon, who was due to captain the side, received the threat from a paramilitary group shortly before kick off and decided to pull out of the match on Wednesday evening.

Further proof, if any was needed, that soccer is only marginally a sport. Guys like Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron used to get death threats by the bushel basket, but they never quit. Posted by Orrin Judd at August 22, 2002 7:57 AM