Colin Milburn was about as far removed from the identikit picture of the perfect international cricketer as it was possible to be. So overweight that he could have starred in Super Size Me - Morgan Spurlocks exposé of the fast-food industry. Dishevelled, disorganised and gradually drinking himself to death, it was astonishing even in the 1960s that England ever turned to him. These days, even at county level, he would not get a look in.But that was much of Milburns charm. For all his 18 stone (and the rest according to some of those who tried to change his ways at Northamptonshire), he was light on his feet, possessed of rapid reflexes and destructive of shot. The ball could disappear many a mile off a Milburn bat. Add his perpetual image of cheery bonhomie, his love for a joke and a night out, and he was an extraordinary antidote to the seriousness that pervaded English cricket half-a-century ago. For all the notion of the Swinging Sixties, in English cricket only the fat man was swinging.An average of 46.71 in nine Tests tells of Milburns talent. But the barbs were already out about his fitness when he lost an eye, and damaged the other, in a car crash in 1968. Northants had just beaten the West Indies tourists and Milburn was in celebratory mood. He lost control of the car, heading back to the Abington pub by the Northants ground for some more beers, and crashed through the windscreen. The Road Safety bill had been introduced in 1966, the breathalyser a year later; seat belts became compulsory in 1983. It was a tragedy of its time, not carrying the mantle of shame that it would today.Milburns gloriously unlikely career, and the extent of the mental-health issues that welled up after his accident, are explored in When The Eye Has Gone, a one-man play written by Dougie Blaxland (aka James Graham-Brown, the former Kent cricketer), which is about halfway through its tour of the county grounds. It has been produced in association with the Professional Cricketers Association to promote mental health and well-being. In a desperately unhappy turn of fate, Alan Hodgson, Milburns former county team-mate, flatmate for a decade, and a primary source for much of the material, died a few days before the premiere.The strong implication is that Milburns seeds of self-destruction were sown even before his car accident, and the fact that this is a one-man performance adds to his sense of isolation. The more you are hurt, the more you smile, was actually the cricketing advice of his father, Jack Milburn, a Durham local-league slugger, about how to take a blow from a fast bowler, but it neatly widens out into Milburns message for life as he learns from childhood to tell a succession of fat jokes against himself. Only cricket sustains him. A long-standing engagement eventually falters because he prefers to be out with the lads. He cannot hold down a job in the off season. Whenever he seems down, his mates do what men did - still do - and take him to the pub to cheer him up.Milburns accident hastened a decline that perhaps was inevitable, although his mother, Bertha, felt that effectively his life was ended on that night. With his left eye lost - his leading eye, unlike in the case of the Nawab of Pataudi, whose example Milburn hoped he could emulate - and his right eye badly scarred, his prospects of a comeback were minimal, but his bedside manner was so defiant the hospital report that year suggested that it was he who was lifting the nurses.Ill-advisedly, Northants allowed him one last heave in 1974 - their version, perhaps, of caring for his welfare - and predictably he did not succeed, save for an hour at Guildford against Surrey in light so bright that the sun lit up the sky like a meteor, one of the most moving passages of the play. But then the clouds rolled in and they never departed.I tell them every fat joke I know… I am Comedy Ollie, the joker, but it never occurs to you that one day you might run out of jokes.The play is set in the bar of the North Briton pub in Newton Aycliffe on the last night of his life. It is one last performance for Comedy Ollie, a traipse through the highs and lows, the tales, the songs and the bonhomie that characterised his life. Feedback from those former Northants team-mates who have seen it has been highly positive: it connects with the Ollie they knew well. Even now, there is a reluctance to accept that there was too much unhappiness, and to some degree the play respects this. Nevertheless, as Milburn reminisces, there is little sense in Dan Gaisfords performance of the alcoholic exhaustion that had set in. His moment of death is delicately skipped around: not so much as a sound effect.Inevitably this is theatre at its most rudimentary. There is no set, apart from a table, chair and a large glass of gin and coke. Milburns girth is symbolised by a bit of extra padding around Gaisfords middle, and he is not an overweight man. But by no stretch of the imagination is this austere theatre: there is much laughter to be had. I dont know if the baby balloon joke was Milburns, but it should have been.When I was eight, I would pretend to be Ollie Milburn in a knockaround cricket match on a patch of village green. Overweight at the time as I was, it doubtless had its psychological benefits. The role duly chosen, the intent was to try to hit the ball many a mile, a feat occasionally achieved alongside the tumble of many wickets. Can you be Boycott instead, my mate Bob pleaded one day. Weve only got one tennis ball left.Late in his life, in the mid-1980s, I joined Milburn as an emergency fill-in for an hours county cricket commentary at Scarborough on a premium telephone service. He was hungover, shambolic and had little to say. This being Scarborough, I was probably hungover too, and had even less to offer. People were expected to phone in and pay about 30p a minute. There was surely nobody on the line. It was probably his last job and it paid his bar bill. His decline was all too apparent.When The Eye Has Gone succeeds in capturing Milburns uniqueness - not an overused word in this case - conveying something of his life at his highest and lowest moments. It left me hankering for something even more ambitious; in its exploration of the sadness behind the famous sporting figure there were reminders of The Damned United. Being about football and Brian Clough, that had a successful theatre run. Cricket, by contrast, must take what it can get but all involved in this production, the PCA included, have delivered not only an entertaining nights theatre but a story that needed to be told.When The Eye Has Gone is part of the PCAs commitment to mental-health and well-being issues, notably the Mind Matters series, which warns about addictive behaviour through alcohol, substances or gambling and educates about the warning signs of anxiety and depression. http://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Kenny-Clark-Jersey/ . 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TORONTO -- The fastest show on ice is the biggest attraction at the World Cup of Hockey.Team North America is made up of the best 23-and-under American and Canadian players, a combination of speed and skill that captivates even the most old-school of hockey people. Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said North America has captured peoples imaginations before the real games even started.No one is more spectacular than Connor McDavid, the 19-year-old generational talent who could soon be the face of the NHL. The World Cup is an introduction to many of the games best young stars but especially McDavid, who could slip into anonymity in Edmonton but will be front and center at this tournament for fans in the U.S. and around the world.In a short period of time, because its a worldwide stage, theyre going to see Connor and what he can do, said Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli, who helped build Team North America. Hell be with his peers, so itll be even more fun to watch. World-class talent. Hes getting better every day. Im excited to see it at this level, too.Team North America is the buzz of the World Cup after making opponents look like they were skating in mud during exhibition play. It features five of the past six No. 1 picks: Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs (2016), McDavid of the Oilers (2015), Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers (2014), Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche (2013) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Oilers (2012).Add in 2015 No. 2 pick Jack Eichel of the Buffalo Sabres and Calgary Flames star Johnny Gaudreau and North America is not a team to overlook. Team Europe coach Ralph Krueger called North America the fastest team in the tournament, and dont expect anyone to offer an argument.That was an amazing sight to see these kids in action together, Krueger said after losing two exhibition games to those kids. What an unbelievable future the National Hockey League has with these players has with these players around the league.The future could be downright absurd. Sidney Crosby is the best hockey player on the planet in the present, but its not a stretch to think McDavid is next to claim that honor in the very near future.A finalist for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year despite missing three months with injury, McDavid was a point-a-game pllayer as a teenager.dddddddddddd All the hype around him may not even be enough, and by the day more hockey people are gaining an appreciation of what McDavid can do.You hear a lot about him from the outside, and its fun to watch him play, said Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman, whos a part of North Americas management staff. Incredibly talented player, exciting to watch. I think the skys the limit as far as what he can do. ... Hes going to be a great player in this game for a long time.McDavid is already a great player, and North America coach Todd McLellan is spicing up his teams opener Sunday against Finland by putting him on a line with Matthews. Even though Matthews is only eight months younger, he understands playing with McDavid is a rare opportunity.He thinks the game extremely fast. He makes quick, fast decisions, Matthews said. Hes a special player. He can do a lot of things at a pace that not many people can do.McDavid said North America doesnt have a shortage of speed and likely wont struggle to score goals. He acknowledged the job will be to defend well and keep the puck out of the net against more experienced competition.But North America was designed to showcase the most exciting elements of hockey.Their speed stands out, theyre confident, Crosby said. To be at their age and have the success that they do, you dont have that without confidence and obviously skill. They have a good combination of that. I think they respect their opponent, but not too much, so you have to be ready for them.Opponents are ready and so is McDavid, North Americas captain at 19 who led Canada to world junior gold at Air Canada Centre 20 months ago. Back in the same building, the spotlight is on McDavid, who shines when the competition level rises.Anytime the worlds best play against the worlds best, it always brings out the best hockey, McDavid said. Its a good opportunity for our whole team and myself personally to make a real name for ourselves and put a real statement on what the future may hold for all of us and myself. We definitely have a good opportunity ahead of us.---Follow Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SWhyno . 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