But that's the strange news from Moscow, where supporters of the Russian national soccer team are preparing to head for Wales next month for a World Cup qualifying match.

With the United Kingdom reporting 110,000 confirmed cases of swine flu in the month of July alone, the Russian visitors are being told to drink Welsh whiskey as a cure. Or at least, a help in coping with the symptoms.

"Welsh whiskey is on offer to Russian supporters as a disinfectant," Alexander Shprygin, head of the national team's fan club, said yesterday. "This will relieve any symptoms."

Hundreds of Russian fans are expected to travel to Cardiff, Wales, for the Sept. 9 match. Undoubtedly, publicans and innkeepers are laying in extra supplies of whiskey.

And for those who have heard of Irish or Scotch whiskey, but never the Welsh brand, there's an American connection here.

A small distillery opened in Pembrokeshire in 1705. It was owned by the family of Evan Williams, who later emigrated to the United States and helped found the Kentucky whiskey industry.

Bourbon drinkers will recognize the name.

Luck? What's that? As a famed philosopher once said in another context, if it wasn't for bad luck, the Detroit Lions would have no luck at all.

As part of a planned rebuilding from last season's 0-16 disaster, the Lions signed former Penn State wide receiver Bryant Johnson as a free agent from the San Francisco 49ers, giving him a three-year, $9 million contract.

But when the Lions reported to camp last week, Johnson was placed on the active/non-football injury list.

Reporters were shocked to see his body covered with painful-looking scars, the result of a golf cart accident in early July.

Johnson, who lives in a private community near Atlanta, said he was driving around his neighborhood in the golf cart when it tipped over, trapping him underneath, then slid about 10 yards down a hill.

According to Tom Kowalski of MLive.com, cuts and abrasions cover almost every part of Johnson's body, and many appear a long way from healing. Amazingly, Johnson said the accident itself wasn't all that painful.

"It really didn't hurt until the first time I tried to take a shower," he told reporters.

Finally. Two observations on yesterday's silly uproar from Eagles camp:

First, any reporter who needs Andy Reid to do his job should look for a new job.

Second, any reporter who lets Andy Reid tell him how to do his job should be told to look for a new job.

Contact staff writer Don McKee at 215-854-4611 or

dmckee@phillynews.com.

This article contains information from the Associated Press.