Michael Ballack a new entry in top 10 sporting excuses Michael Ballack The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich midfielder claimed he could not afford to pay a speeding fine because he has received no income since retiring from football at the end of last season. He was earning £120,000 at the height of his pulling power but his lawyer, Jesús Gallego Rol, requested that the £8,000 fine be cut to £800 because he has had no income to add to the vast wealth he accumulated during his career since hanging up his boots at Bayern Leverkusen. "Just because he is a famous footballer doesn't mean he has any money coming in," said Rol. Spooked Knicks blame ghost The New York Knicks said their defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in January 2010 was down to supernatural intervention. Several players said they had trouble sleeping for two days before the match because their hotel was haunted. Legend suggests the Skirvin Hilton is blighted by ghost sightings and strange noises that originate from the mysterious death of a woman with a baby in her hands. "I definitely believe it," Jared Jeffries said. The place is haunted. It's scary. Eddy Curry added: "There are too many stories. Something is going on there. Spain blame Casillas's girlfriend for Switzerland defeat Iker Casillas's girlfriend, the Spanish journalist Sara Carbonero, was blamed for the concession of a goal that saw Spain lose their opening 2010 World Cup match against Switzerland. The "sexiest journalist in the world" was stood behind Casillas's goal during the warm-up and her presence was widely regarded as the reason, Spain's normally capable 'keeper let in the goal. "Can I destabilise the team?" she said. I think it is nonsense. Stunner: Iker Casillas warms up with his girlfriend nearby (Photo: GETTY IMAGES) Sri Lanka's shirts too tight We've already had the wrong colour of shirt but now Sri Lanka are blaming the wrong fit for a high-profile loss. Following Sri Lanka's defeat to India in the 2001 Champions Trophy final their off-field spinners came up with this utterly plausible explanation for defeat. "We had to add extensions to the trousers and the shirts looked more like tight-fitting women's blouses," said Sanath Jayasuriya. All Blacks accuse 'Suzie' The All Blacks had swept all before them at the 1995 Rugby World Cup and fancied their chances against hosts South Africa in the final. But when they lost 15-12 to a Joel Stransky drop-goal in extra-time they could not accept that a passionate post-apartheid Springboks side had bettered them on the day. Instead they pointed the finger towards a waitress named Suzie at their hotel. It was alleged that Suzie poisoned their water in the week leading up to the final, in which All Black players were seen vomiting on the sidelines. Nelson Mandela congratulates Francois Pienaar while 'Suzie' makes the teas (Photo: AFP) Justin Gatlin: it was the masseuse Sprinter Justin Gatlin tested positive for testosterone in April 2006 but his coach Trevor Graham blamed the failed test on sabotage. He said a massage therapist rubbed a cream containing testosterone onto his athlete's buttocks without his knowledge. The therapist denied the claim and said: "Trevor Graham is not speaking on behalf of Justin Gatlin and the story about me is not true." Oh, that old thing... Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Shaun Rogers was arrested at an airport after a loaded gun was found among his carry-on luggage. The big man went with a straight, if unlikely, excuse: he forgot the gun was in his bag. Would you know if you had a lethal weapon on your person? Or is Rogers absent-mindedness a sound excuse?