Proud

While current Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill was not yet born when Best won the Ballon d’Or off the back of a European Cup with Manchester United, he can appreciate what a global superstar means to a small footballing nation.

“George Best, an iconic figure in in world football and obviously we’re very privileged that he came from Northern Ireland. In many ways, he puts our country on the map.” he said.

“I think in Georgia, you have that situation now with Kvaratskhelia who I think is a world-class player.

“For me he was probably the best player in the Champions League last season over the whole competition. We obviously have to give him special attention.

“It’s the same when you play against any world-class player in any country that you have to be aware that he can win the game in a moment, that he can create so much and he can lift his team as well.”

Despite being in the running for such prestigious individual accolades, Kvaratskhelia’s national coach Willy Sagnol praised the player’s focus on the collective.

The former France international was a Les Bleus team-mate of Zinedine Zidane, winner of the Ballon d’Or in 1998.

“You were talking about Ballon d’Or, times maybe change but I think sometimes the past was better where players were playing and waiting to the end to see who would be Ballon d’Or and then be happy to be or disappointed not to be,” said the 49-year-old.

“Too many times in the last weeks, I see players saying ‘I’m the best, I’m the best, I’m the best.’

“Khvicha never said that and that’s why I’m very proud to be his head coach because he’s not just about a fantastic football player, but he’s also a fantastic personality who thinks always about the team and not about himself and I’m sure [on Friday] he will show it again.”

Let’s go back in time to the day when parents sent all their children to the same neighborhood public school, one brother after another, one sister after another. Coaches were thrilled. The youngest couldn’t wait to follow the big brothers, especially in football, to the school where they were once ball boys.

Fast forward to Thursday night at Davidson Field in Newport Beach. The quarterback for La Serna High was Grady Long. He’s the last of the Long brothers playing for La Serna. First was Dylan, a quarterback who went to Cal Poly Pomona to play baseball. Second was Jake, a quarterback who just got drafted by the Angels this year. Third was Owen, a 225-pound linebacker for Arizona State.

On the other team was junior quarterback JD Annett of Corona del Mar. Eldest brother Kaleb is the backup quarterback at Central Florida. Middle brother Brady is playing quarterback at Eastern Washington. JD made his first varsity start last week, then came Thursday night when he and Grady engaged in an entertaining duel that deserved to be on TV. Corona del Mar won 30-24 in a game that had four lead changes in the second half.

Long passed for 347 yards and two touchdowns. Annett passed for a career-high 289 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for two touchdowns. Each had best friends help them. Landon Armenta had nine catches for 221 yards and one touchdown for La Serna. Nolan Scott caught seven passes for 115 yards and one touchdown for Corona del Mar.

The game ended with drama. Long was driving La Serna to a potential game-winning score when he completed a pass to the 24-yard line on fourth down. The clock showed 0.00 on the scoreboard. Just like the Michigan-Western Michigan college game earlier this season, the officials put one second back on the clock for a final play. The La Serna crowd was getting excited. But then the officials realized La Serna was just short of a first down. Corona del Mar took possession and ran off the one second to win.

“It was a great football game,” La Serna coach Andy George said. “We ran out of time. Both teams played hard. Nothing but growth from here.”

It was a game between two 4-0 teams. One had to lose but it was fun for all, each team answering the other until time ran out.

As Annett was leaving the field with a big smile, he said he was going to FaceTime his brothers. In defeat, the 6-foot-4 Long, who’s also a star pitcher for the baseball team, held his head high speaking to family and friends, showing despite a loss he’s ready for the next game, the next challenge.

Even though the Longs have no more boys arriving at La Serna, there’s a sister who will be freshman next year at La Serna. And the brothers say she’s the best athlete in the family.

Can you say flag football?

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

JEREMY Clarkson’s partner, Lisa Hogan, is “proud” of his decision to go public with his cancer diagnosis, saying it has helped thousands of people.

The former Top Gear presenter is in remission after revealing on the latest series of Clarkson’s Farm that he had been diagnosed with “aggressive” prostate cancer.

Lisa says The Sun columnist was initially reluctant to share his diagnosis with the public.

Speaking to the Daily Star, she said: “I’m really happy he caught his prostate cancer early and I’m really proud of him for putting it on the show, because that was a really big decision.

“When I was filming him in hospital, at first he said please don’t.

“It was (producer) Andy Wilman who convinced him to do it, to help everybody else.

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“When the show came out, Prostate Cancer UK had 30,000 people going on to their website in one day.”

The charity confirmed that in the 24 hours after Jezza, 66, dropped the bombshell news, some 16,749 men took their online risk checker.

That was the highest figure since former Prime Minister David Cameron, 59, revealed last year that he’d also had prostate cancer.

The organisation also had 43,543 visitors to its website – the highest of the year so far and double the number they’d normally receive.

Hogan says Clarkson has also benefited from opening up to those around him.

“Yes, of course it was a terrible worry,” she added. “But what I did encourage him to do was to talk to his friends.

“He didn’t want to initially, but he’s got lots of friends who’ve been through the same thing and he’s been talking to them about it. I think that’s really helped.”

Clarkson revealed in June that he is in remission.

Recently speaking with The Times, Jeremy said of his health: “I am well. I am not unwell.

“I mean, I was unwell, but only for a very short period of time.”

He also revealed in June lifestyle changes after his cancer battle as he admitted “I want to see my grandchildren grow up”.

Jeremy said to The Sunday Times: “I really like seeing my grandchildren. I want to watch them grow up.

“I drive much more slowly. I’m a bit of a dawdler. I go for walks a lot. I have vegetarian food.”

He shares three children – Emily, Finlo and Katya – with his ex-wife Frances Cain.

His eldest, Emily Clarkson, has two children with her husband Alex Andrew.

The NHS has also revealed a new study which will see thousands more men have access to the prostate cancer test used to diagnose Jeremy.

The Stockholm 3 blood check is said to be more accurate at spotting aggressive tumours than the prostate-specific antigen test currently used by the NHS.

The test will be offered to up to 10,000 men aged 45 to 74 at a discounted £99 and given free on the NHS to 2,000 more on lower incomes.

It would typically cost £500 at a private clinic.