The famous Bobby Jones quote about Jack Nicklaus 'he plays a game with which I am not familiar' -meaning he had taken the sport to another level-comes to mind after seeing Spain outclass Scotland with a 3-1 win on Tuesday. Scotland needed a win to qualify for Euro 2012, but Spain made it look like an exhibition. Like Barcelona, the Spanish team have great skill combined with superb fitness. They monopolise possession with their passing game & when they do lose it, can often quickly win the ball back with their pressing. Spain finished with a 100 % record-the only other nation to match that is our old chums Germany. Holland lost their perfect streak in a 3-2 loss to Sweden. Spain are in a class of their own at the moment, & can be the the first nation to retain the Euro title. The Germans & the Dutch will be the main challengers, with England another notch below.
US Open Tennis
Djokovic's win at the US Open means he joins a select list of men in the Open era to have won three slams in a calendar year (Federer, Nadal, Laver, Connors, Wilander are the others). He is nailed-on for me as the sportsperson of the year. Currently out with a back injury, his win-loss record for the year is a staggering 64-3.
Andy Murray's run was ended in the semis by Nadal, but it meant he became only the 7th man in the Open era to reach the semis or better of all four Slams in a calendar year.
Oliver Golding is the 1st Brit since Murray to win the boys title-in fact GB provided 3 of the 4 semi-finalists (Kyle Edmund & George Morgan the others). Add in that Liam Broady was the RU in the boys at Wimbledon & the future for the GB men is very bright; not forgetting the promise of Robson & Watson on the womens side.
Performance of the month-September
When originally drafting this, I was going to give it to Ireland for their first ever RWC victory over Australia, but they were knocked out by Wales in the quarters last Saturday.
The honours go instead to Mark Cavendish. Cav topped an incredible year by becoming the world road race champion, his honours list already boasting the Tour de France green jersey, 5 Tour stage wins & 2 Giro stages.
Showing posts with label M Cavendish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label M Cavendish. Show all posts
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Monday, 8 August 2011
Yes We Khan
July review
Amir Khan’s five round demolition of Zab Judah keeps him firmly on course for a megabucks showdown with Floyd Mayweather next year. Judah, though 33 & with six losses on his record, had previously only lost to top drawer opposition (Kostya Tszyu, Mayweather etc).
On the same night, the British heavy title fight between Tyson Fury & Dereck Chisora exemplified the best of boxing. It only takes one punch with the heavyweights to turn a fight, but in this contest both fighters were even more vulnerable. Fury was wobbled in the 2nd & Chisora was often under sustained barrages, but both fighters showed their guts with fightbacks from the brink of defeat. In the end the fight went the distance, with mutual respect enhanced, & Fury took a well-deserved points victory.
In my last blog I introduced a new feature, which, given the frequency which I write this blog, I’m going to rechristen:
Performance of the Month
For pure sporting achievement, Cadel Evans win in the Tour de France, after twice finishing second, could take top spot. Honourable mention to Mark Cavendish for winning five stages & the green jersey for the first time.
It wasn’t just Cav, July was a great month for the Brits. There was British success at the world swimming championships with golds for Becky Adlington, Liam Tancock & Keri-Anne Payne; Michael Phelps also added to his extensive medal collection, though Ryan Lochte got the better of him twice (200 free & 200 IM).
Lewis Hamilton & Jenson Button won the German & Hungarian GPs respectively.
The England cricket team are 2-0 up in the Test series against India, Stuart Broad in particular has stood out with both bat & ball, taking up the all-rounders mantle of Botham & Flintoff.
But my perf of the month goes to Darren Clarke. The amiable Northern Irishman has had to deal with well documented personal tragedy, & his win at the Open was his first major at the age of 42, having been a 200-1 shot with the bookies before the tournament.
Amir Khan’s five round demolition of Zab Judah keeps him firmly on course for a megabucks showdown with Floyd Mayweather next year. Judah, though 33 & with six losses on his record, had previously only lost to top drawer opposition (Kostya Tszyu, Mayweather etc).
On the same night, the British heavy title fight between Tyson Fury & Dereck Chisora exemplified the best of boxing. It only takes one punch with the heavyweights to turn a fight, but in this contest both fighters were even more vulnerable. Fury was wobbled in the 2nd & Chisora was often under sustained barrages, but both fighters showed their guts with fightbacks from the brink of defeat. In the end the fight went the distance, with mutual respect enhanced, & Fury took a well-deserved points victory.
In my last blog I introduced a new feature, which, given the frequency which I write this blog, I’m going to rechristen:
Performance of the Month
For pure sporting achievement, Cadel Evans win in the Tour de France, after twice finishing second, could take top spot. Honourable mention to Mark Cavendish for winning five stages & the green jersey for the first time.
It wasn’t just Cav, July was a great month for the Brits. There was British success at the world swimming championships with golds for Becky Adlington, Liam Tancock & Keri-Anne Payne; Michael Phelps also added to his extensive medal collection, though Ryan Lochte got the better of him twice (200 free & 200 IM).
Lewis Hamilton & Jenson Button won the German & Hungarian GPs respectively.
The England cricket team are 2-0 up in the Test series against India, Stuart Broad in particular has stood out with both bat & ball, taking up the all-rounders mantle of Botham & Flintoff.
But my perf of the month goes to Darren Clarke. The amiable Northern Irishman has had to deal with well documented personal tragedy, & his win at the Open was his first major at the age of 42, having been a 200-1 shot with the bookies before the tournament.
Friday, 17 July 2009
Tour De Force
Tour de France
This is one of the most exciting tours for years. Recently drug scandals have sapped my enthusiasm, but this year was much anticipated with the return of Armstrong, and it hasn't disappointed. Armstrong is not in the same form as in his record seven tour wins but is certainly capable of a top ten finish. Contador remains the favourite. Mark Cavendish has demonstrated again he's clearly the best sprinter in the world, & if he can survive the Alps must be favourite to hold on to the green jersey. Bradley Wiggins has been a revelation, showing himself to be one of the rarest of species, a Brit who can live with the top contenders over the high mountain peaks. Wiggins is 5th in GC, if he can hang on in the Alps, he is excellent bet for a podium finish with his time-trialing ability.
This is one of the most exciting tours for years. Recently drug scandals have sapped my enthusiasm, but this year was much anticipated with the return of Armstrong, and it hasn't disappointed. Armstrong is not in the same form as in his record seven tour wins but is certainly capable of a top ten finish. Contador remains the favourite. Mark Cavendish has demonstrated again he's clearly the best sprinter in the world, & if he can survive the Alps must be favourite to hold on to the green jersey. Bradley Wiggins has been a revelation, showing himself to be one of the rarest of species, a Brit who can live with the top contenders over the high mountain peaks. Wiggins is 5th in GC, if he can hang on in the Alps, he is excellent bet for a podium finish with his time-trialing ability.
Friday, 8 August 2008
Beijing 2008
I was discussing the Olympics with a friend this morning. He thought two weeks of it was mostly a bore, though he might catch some of the boxing & the football. I tried to convince him otherwise.
How can you not be excited by the Olympics? Michael Phelps will again be trying to match or better Mark Spitz's record haul of seven gold medals in a single games. In the mens 100 metres the current & former world record holders, Usain Bolt & Asana Powell (Jamaica) v Tyson Gay, who ran a wind-assisted 9.68 in the US trials. Nadal, Federer, Djokovic & the Murray brothers in the tennis. If you need the patriotic angle to stir your interest, prospects for a good haul of British gold medals are excellent. British cycling has never been stronger & will hope to match their superb performance from the worlds. Shanaze Reade & Vicky Pendleton will be the favourites in the BMX & sprint respectively. Rebecca Romero, previously a rowing medallist will try to medal on the track. Bradley Wiggins is the favourite for the Individual Pursuit. Mark Cavendish, fresh from winning four stages in Le Tour, will ride the Madison & possibly the IP. The coxless four rowers will try to retain their title. Triple jumper Philips Idowu has the world leading jump this year & won the world indoor title. Sailor Ben Ainslie is the favourite in the Finn class. Last but not least (except in stature) what a story it would be if 14 year-old Tom Daley could win a medal in the diving.
The new Premiership season could be boring if The Big Four monopoly can’t be broken. The only team who appear to have a chance of making the breakthrough this season are Spurs. Although they have sold Keane, & it’s rumoured Berbatov is on his way, they’ve bought Modric & Giovanni & have an outside chance of getting Arshavin.
How can you not be excited by the Olympics? Michael Phelps will again be trying to match or better Mark Spitz's record haul of seven gold medals in a single games. In the mens 100 metres the current & former world record holders, Usain Bolt & Asana Powell (Jamaica) v Tyson Gay, who ran a wind-assisted 9.68 in the US trials. Nadal, Federer, Djokovic & the Murray brothers in the tennis. If you need the patriotic angle to stir your interest, prospects for a good haul of British gold medals are excellent. British cycling has never been stronger & will hope to match their superb performance from the worlds. Shanaze Reade & Vicky Pendleton will be the favourites in the BMX & sprint respectively. Rebecca Romero, previously a rowing medallist will try to medal on the track. Bradley Wiggins is the favourite for the Individual Pursuit. Mark Cavendish, fresh from winning four stages in Le Tour, will ride the Madison & possibly the IP. The coxless four rowers will try to retain their title. Triple jumper Philips Idowu has the world leading jump this year & won the world indoor title. Sailor Ben Ainslie is the favourite in the Finn class. Last but not least (except in stature) what a story it would be if 14 year-old Tom Daley could win a medal in the diving.
The new Premiership season could be boring if The Big Four monopoly can’t be broken. The only team who appear to have a chance of making the breakthrough this season are Spurs. Although they have sold Keane, & it’s rumoured Berbatov is on his way, they’ve bought Modric & Giovanni & have an outside chance of getting Arshavin.
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