Blair: "I should say for the purposes of the record that I think he's been a fantastic servant for Newcastle United and is a great player and a great man."
Asked if there were any lessons he could draw from Shearer's decision to call it a day before his planned retirement, Blair said: "My knees are fine. My knees are in great working order."
How can we forget his photo shoot at St James' Park with Kevin Keegan back in 1996 when we were odds-on to win the Premiership? Head-tennis, and all "jolly hockey sticks" ... until we were pipped at the post by Manchester United ... and he was seen at Old Trafford doing exactly the same with Alex Ferguson!
We spoke to Neil Kinnock back in our promotion year outside of Brentford's ground. The match was a Sunday special on TV, and Kinnock (like Blair) made it on the telly. We asked him why he was at a Newcastle match. His reply: "I have a soft spot for Newcastle and the TOOT Army!"
That's politics for yer!