I ask that question a lot, with the answer all-too-often being ‘yes.’ But Richard Scudamore, chief executive of the ‘greatest’ (i.e. ‘richest’) league in the world, is it just me…or is he an idiot?   The Premier League has its critics and Scudamore, as its cheerleader by profession, inevitably attracts similar flak. But sometimes he seems to go far beyond that, into the realms of sheer nonsense.    Prime example of many, last year, was his response to those asking if the English Premier League was ‘English’ in any meaningful sense: “I struggle with that when everyone bar David Beckham who is qualified to play for England is playing at home.”   Scudamore was back in la-la-land last weekend. He traditionally holds court pre-season…or pre-TV deal negotiations, with selected media sycophants (no names – that would be unfair on the Telegraph’s Henry Winter, among others).

The line is invariably “the most-exciting league in the world.” And last Sunday’s News of the World didn’t disappoint.

“The NHS decides how many nurses they want and how much to pay them…it’s the same with football.” Scudamore is, presumably, unaware of the concept of National Insurance – probably with BUPA, on his salary.

“None of the benefactors expect their money back,” which will surprise the Glazers, Tom Hicks…and just about every benefactor bar Abramovich or, maybe, Sheikh Mansour.

And the winner: “If banks didn’t think it was good for business, they wouldn’t lend the money” – the banking crisis having eluded him completely.

Like George W. Bush, it would be laughable if Scudamore didn’t matter so much in his field. Scudamore has genuine qualities suited to his job, as the latest domestic TV deal shows. But if stupid words become stupid deeds, the laughter has to stop.

It is easy to imagine Scudamore’s response if the “Big 4” Premier League clubs breakaway to become part of a European Super League – a more natural next step than many would wish or acknowledge.

“I don’t understand,” he’ll say, “why the clubs would betray the principles of the league purely for money.” And he’ll need telling that ‘his’ Premier League was founded on identical principles.

It’ll happen…or is it just me?