The Man with the Giant Umbrella and the Dismalest Shower in Football

Fresh off their slender triumph over non-league Forest Green Rovers, Derby County are beating back rumors that they’re about to be bought by a Saudi Arabian family that wants to install Steve McClaren as manager. “We know absolutely nothing about it,” says Derby chairman of football Adam Pearson, and his words have the ring of truth. But then, some rumors are so perfectly constructed that they actually transcend football and become commentaries on the age. So please, in this post-housing-bubble world, think for a moment upon McClaren-to-Derby, the Beckham-to-Los-Angeles of a cold season. He has a history there, after all.