University Match Report (3)

 Honours even in heated Derby

The 2^nd teams of UCB and Birmingham City play out an entertaining draw in a feisty encounter at Moor Lane. 

Richie Mills on 7th March 2012.

The penultimate game of the season took place this Wednesday at a cold and blustery Moor Lane where local rivals UCB and BCU clashed for the second and final time this season.
Despite their superior league position of 4^th to 6^th respectively, UCB weren’t taking anything for granted having lost their only previous encounter 2-1 in a tight affair in October.

UCB (In blue) vs BCU (Orange bibs)

1^st half:
As the game commenced, a frenetic start ensued with both teams quick to put pressure on the opposing team, with great effect.
The strong wind was proving a menace to both sides, though perhaps UCB would have been disappointed for not making the most of the conditions being slightly in their favour, for 45 minutes at least.
Several long range efforts reigned in, peppering both goalkeepers who proved they were up to the challenge with assured displays.

However it was the ‘Cakes’ who picked up the pace, sparking the game into life. The opposing defence were split open by Goalkeeper Smelkov’s long range goal kick, albeit strongly aided by the wind, and the ball found its way to striker James Dixon, facing a 1 on 1 with the keeper.
Unfortunately the front man was unable to convert thanks to a smart save.

This proved to be the highlight of a first half that, despite the score, was proving to be a thrilling and engaging affair plagued by strong defence, hard tackles and limited opportunities.

Half time team huddle

2^nd half:
The second period got under way and immediately UCB flew out of the blocks, following neat build up by using both flanks, the ball was worked towards the opposition area. Winger Rob Veskamie whipped in a delightful delivery which was met by a firm, looping header from substitute Rob Da Cunha, who saw his effort fly narrowly wide.
The momentum was clearly with UCB, who were exhibiting real conviction and efficiency with their passing game by retaining the ball effectively and in turn making inroads into their adversaries half.  Sporadic breaks seemed to be the only outlet for BCU who were consistently rebuffed by the stout defence of centre back duo Sean Ebbs and Max Brown, who were solid throughout.

Despite UCB being on top for the majority of the 2^nd half, it was City who were presented with a golden opportunity to level matters in a rare escapade into their rivals’ half. Following a sliced defensive clearance, the usually organised defence were stretched into disarray and from 10 yards out the City striker should have buried the inviting chance presented to him but he blazed wide.

This appeared to galvanise BCU, who attacked once more with fresh vigour and fluidity by forcing consecutive corners, leading to a goal mouth scramble which was somehow eventually hacked clear to safety.

Goalkeeper Valen Smelkov

An audacious 30 yard strike was well saved by Goalie Smelkov who was looking extremely assured between the posts and following his clearing kick and crisp passes, the ball fell to centre back Max Brown who struck a crisp drive on the half volley narrowly wide, but the danger had not passed.

The Cakes attempted to weather the storm but the increasing pressure and possession told as once again following a rapid counter attack the UCB defence was finally unlocked. Following neat interplay the ball was worked towards the number 10 striker, who this time didn’t miss, by rounding keeper Smelkov and tucking the ball home for a 1-0 lead.
The goal was just about deserved after several prolonged minutes of pressure.

In spite of this setback the 4^th placed side were undeterred and subsequent to several minutes of fleeting advances into the opponents half from both teams, Captain Ashley Cox smashed home the loose ball from close range to make it 1-1 after the resolute City defence failed to clear their lines. This event sparked delirious celebrations from the entire team, much to the delight of the 4 person strong UCB supporters and to the dismay of the BCU followers.

The game was becoming increasingly physical with both sides on the receiving end of thumping challenges; some fair some not so much. As the match entered the final 5 minutes of normal time, the encounter threatened to bubble over as heated exchanges became more frequent as the BCU team were repeatedly frustrated by fruitless attempts to break down UCB’s defensive wall.

As the game drew to a close, the Cakes were under siege from a final City thrust that yielded two unsuccessful corners that came to nothing. One last surge from BCU proved futile and with the final whistle it appeared UCB were the happier of the two despite having just as many chances in a deserved 1-1 draw.

UCB Man of the match Tom Weatherhead commented that: "considering the conditions, we couldn’t ask for much more. Credit where credit is due they battled hard but a draw was a fair result but perhaps we could have nicked it!"

The result leapfrogs the 2^nd’s over their 3^rd team rivals in the BUCS MARS Midlands 5C league, though the latter have two games in hand.
To round up the week’s action the UCB 1^st team battled to a hard fought 1-1 draw with Worcester’s 2^nd team and the Women’s team enjoyed a 2-1 away win to Oxford.

Team lineup:
Valen Smelkov (GK), James Meddler (RB), Max Brown (CB), Sean Ebbs (CB), Ashley Cox (LB), James Nolan (RM), Rob Verskannie (CM),  Louis Grant (CM), Tom Weatherhead (LM), James Dixon (FW) Brad Potter (FW), Rob Da Cunha (CM).

University Match Report (2)

Men’s Badminton team ‘Serve’ up a treat against Lincoln

UCB edges past a resilient Lincoln 3^rd team thanks to a slice of good fortune to close the gap on the league’s top three.

Richie Mills – February 15^th – Maltings sports hall.

Fresh off their impressive 5-3 win away to Staffordshire 2^nd’s the week before, the Men’s Badminton team repeated the feat in a 5-3 home victory over Lincoln 3rd's.

Ahead of this encounter both sides had accumulated solitary wins this season, though in UCB’s case they were unfortunate not to have snatched wins at home to Lincoln’s 2^nd team and away to Newham University College respectively, which highlighted the importance of this particular match with both keen to grab their second triumph of the year in a difficult league.

D. Yeo (far side) vs Lincoln player

UCB started as slight favourites due to their higher league standing and led by Captain Darren Yeo it was the home side that made the brighter start in the singles with both Captain Yeo and Alex James, recording comprehensive wins in the first set of the best of 3 set match.
James, coincidentally plays in the Yorkshire league, proved to be UCB’s trump card by inflicting a ruthless and efficient demolition of the opposition’s first and 2^nd seeds with a score line of 21-6, 21-9 and 21-0, 21-6. On both occasions his challengers cut dejected figures after being on the receiving end of two powerful performances, but all was not lost.

Lincoln, however, did not look discouraged.
Despite dropping the first set 21-13 against Yeo, he was admirably pegged back by the opposing player, whom eventually took a thrilling, marathon like second set 26-24 to force a decider with the momentum appearing to be with the travelling team.

Nevertheless Yeo, who looked rather disconsolate following that epic 2^nd set loss, was undeterred, proving his mettle by racing into an early lead in the final set before sealing a convincing 21-9 win. This proved to be crucial as unfortunately the captain’s exertions from the first match had visibly taken its toll and eventually succumbed to a gallant 15-21, 18-21 defeat, giving UCB a slender 3-1 lead heading into the doubles encounters.

UCB doubles (Near side)

Regrettably the doubles pairings of Ooi Yuen Chen and Kent Tan, Matt Richards and Louis Lee were unable to emulate their fellow singles players’ achievements. The home teams doubles partners were on the receiving end of 21-11, 21-10 and 21-15, 21-19 defeats against a strong Lincoln outfit.

Crucially though what eventually determined the whole tie was Lincoln’s inability to field a full six man team and as a result handed the win to UCB. What may have proved a fruitless day, turned out to be a gratifying conquest against the rather unlucky visitors.
This sentiment was echoed by home team captain Darren Yeo commenting that ‘We played quite well today against a good team and we won... just.’ The words of a joyous and somewhat relieved man you can probably imagine.

Team Photo

With the season winding down, further successes may be on the horizon with their season concluding encounter against their winless local adversaries Wolverhampton at home on February the 29^th.

Team Sheet:

Singles: Darren Yeo and Alex James.

Doubles: Yuen Chen and Kent Tan, Matt Richards and Louis Lee.

University Match Report (1)

Courageous Cakes Conquer Wasteful Worcester

UCB

UCB’s Netball 2^nd team oust the Worcester 4's in a hard fought victory to move up to second in the Midlands 6A league at the Maltings Sports Hall.

University of Worcester

Richie Mills on February 15^th 2012.

The Women’s Netball 2^nd team took to the court ahead of the 2:00pm kickoff in an understandably boisterous and confident mood against Worcester’s 4^th team. This was due in part to their comprehensive 33-18 win in the reverse fixture just two months before in addition to their superior league position.
This assertive manner was increasingly evident as the home side flew out of the blocks, demonstrating swift, fastidious plays which proved to be too much for the opposition who were engulfed by wave after wave of clinical attacks.

Worcester fought valiantly to turn the tide but with the conclusion of the first quarter, they were staring at a daunting 6-1 deficit. The stellar defensive exertions of goalkeeper Holli T were crucial however in thwarting Worcester’s sporadic advances into their half which may have led to a less one-sided first 15 minutes of play.

Worcester restarted play refreshed and reinvigorated with three quick surges towards the Netball posts but were repeatedly foiled by the home team’s persistent defence, although admittedly weren’t helped by poor shooting. They were then made to rue their missed opportunities thanks to goal shooter Emma B’s quick thinking followed not long after by the best move of the match.
The Worcester defence was cut to ribbons in a move involving the entire team and as a result were left trailing in UCB’s wake to take an 8-1 lead.
The game entered a period of indiscipline and errors from both sides before Worcester were once again denied through a combination of strong defence and reckless shooting.

This was becoming a familiar recurrence as once again the home team countered on the break with two quick scores in succession, taking the tally to 10-1. With the clock counting down to the end of the second quarter, Worcester caught UCB unawares by grabbing two surprise goals to bring proceedings to a close at 10-3 with one half gone.

Sophie Andrew appeared to be nursing a niggling injury and was replaced by Amy W at centre. Perhaps more telling though was the decision to appoint Worcester's erratic goal keeper to the position of goal shooter! To those casual netball fans, such as myself, this may have come as quite a shock as to me it appeared Iker Casillas had just switched to striker in Karim Benzema’s place! Though not literally....
This intrepid move brought instant results as the new goal shooter caught the ‘Cakes’ cold with 3 of the next 4 goals.
Coach Jane Abbey’s team had to weather the storm somewhat under a barrage of improved Worcester play. A much needed and timely UCB recovery ensued which culminated with long range efforts from goal attacker Chloe Green and a quick fire treble from sharp shooter Emma Brown for a 15-7 3^rd quarter lead.

The previous quarter’s efforts were beginning to take its toll on both teams with a few more uncharacteristic loose passes, but crucially the more efficient and organised Brummies were able to make their opponents lament their wastefulness. The home side were controlling the tempo of the game against a side whose only attacking ploy was to pump it forward to their goal shooter with every opportunity. Both sides traded scores before another flowing move gave UCB a 10 point cushion at 21-11 as their rivals defence parted like the red sea.
With the clock winding down, the win was all but secured. Though the scoreline was a comprehensive 24-14 UCB victory, the game proved to be a hard fought, and at times, arduous encounter that saw the home side   leapfrog past local rivals Birmingham City into 2^nd place in the league table.
The player’s player of the match was awarded to goal attack Chloe Green who weighed in with an impressive 9 goals with the captain’s pick going to wing attack Olivia.

A transitional year is in place for this side, upon entering a new league, but with five wins from seven games, their confidence will surely be growing and with team performances like this the University of Harper Adam’s unbeaten run will surely be severely tested come February 29th!

Team Sheet:
Goalkeeper – Holly T, Goal defence – Amy S, Centre – Sophie Andrew (Amy W),
Wing Defence – Emily H (Emma W), Wing Attack - Olivia , Goal Attack – Chloe Green,
Goal shooter – Emma Brown.  

Is American Football the dullest sport in existence?

It is likely that this topic may upset a certain amount of people and for that I apologise, however I felt it had to be said.

With the most recent NFL (National Football League) season drawing to a close, the New York Giant's claimed the Superbowl trophy, to some known as the 'Greatest show on earth', and were proclaimed as 'World Champions'. 

Firstly when dubbing this title the 'Greatest show on earth' did they realise that there are in fact hundreds of other sports which are far more enjoyable, interesting and not so mind-numbingly dull. The sport seems to have a superiority complex which is just one of the many reasons why this sport is so irritating to me.

Secondly, 'World Champions' has to encompass the entire planet, not just the United States of America. Perhaps there is a reason why practically no other countries play this tedious and monotonous sport as nobody sees it as a worthwhile sport to take up! 

Never have I witnessed a more over hyped, commercialized, stop-start affair than the Superbowl. Despite there being only 2 minutes left of the final, I found myself switching to an alternative channel as it took almost 10 minutes to complete, talk about your gigantic waste of time. 

Now to my reasoning behind why i find this sporting spectacle so dreary.
First off the constant ebb and flow of the sport is so very wearisome as one play can last on average a few short seconds. There is no momentum, no fluidity or speed to the game. A game that should last 60 minutes, can take up to 4 frankly boring hours of play.
According to a Wall Street Journal study of four recent broadcasts, and similar estimates by researchers, the average amount of time the ball is in play on the field during an NFL game is about 11 minutes.

The average NFL game contains about 120 actual plays which takes an average of five to six seconds each. That means that only 5% of the game is action and 95% of the game is a borefest of standing around, going off and on the field and endless commercials. My god these are some supremely fit athletes... Not! 

For further details see here. http://commonknowledge.hubpages.com/hub/football-stats-prove-its-so-boring-you-can-almost-call-it-baseball. 

Where were we? ... Ahhh yes another reason why I think American Football is very dull.
In a game situation the Quarterback receives the ball and will attempt to throw it to one of their players, gaining perhaps a few meters at a time. That is all it is.... throw.... and catch. The 'Greatest show on Earth' I think not. 

All of the 'plays', where there are apparently thousands to choose from, are run by the miked up coach calling the shots on what decisions to make but he might as well say, 'throw the ball down field to the guy on the right not the left this time, that will bamboozle them!' or something of a similar persuasion. 

It is bad enough that the constant advertisements, that plague american sports, are on every other minute or so but due to the constant stoppages and time outs the studio panel of experts frequently divulge new, detailed and informative tactical advice on where the team is going right or wrong. This in itself frustrates me still  further with the over the top ongoing analysis that never ceases to end.
If this happened in our beloved football, television viewers would miss half of the game, with Gary Lineker's face popping up every five minutes to discuss that missed chance or what one player is doing effectively. What a farce!

Another irksome part of the game is the constant histrionic showboating of obnoxious self indulgence. It is understandable to want to celebrate after scoring a goal, hitting a century in cricket, scoring a try or in this case a touchdown. But to celebrate a completed play almost 50 yards away from the end zone is just ridiculous. Ohh wait back to the studio panel to analyse that play to death and talk about that celebration yeah! Yawn!

Other noteworthy points involve the physical attributes of the players. Most professional athletes are pristine and prime specimen athletes. They lead ascetic lives, are constantly trying to push the bar higher in terms of fitness and strength and follow stringent nutrition routines.
On the other hand many NFL athletes are encouraged to be as large, and for many so called athletes, as fat as possible in an attempt to block the other team from stopping their players. 

Peak of human condition.....

Take former player William Perry. Here is a player who is 6 foot 2 but weighed a monstrous 382 pounds or over 27 stone. Which ever way you look at it, this man is extremely obese and may cause him severe health problems further down the line, yet this is encouraged by fans and teams alike. Not the best message to send to young children.

Last but not least, padding. I don't have much to say about this apart from, man up and take it like rugby players do, (but they can keep the helmets because of the high tackles) that is all.

I may have come across here as having negative feelings towards this sport. Well I do. I honestly find watching snooker, curling or perhaps even dressage as more exciting events, as there is no showboating, commercials, not nearly as stop start and none are wearing pointless padding. 

Thoughts? 

  

Will England ever dominate the world of rugby again?

In the aftermath of the 2011 Rugby World Cup the future of the English Rugby team looked bleak, desolate and in terms of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) anarchic. The RFU has undoubtedly endured prolonged times of turmoil, though for half a dozen months now it has undoubtedly reached it's peak and is the laughing stock of sporting governing bodies. 

 A calamitous English side returned home to a scathing nation who demanded so much, yet received oh so little. Their off-field antics dominated the headlines as their on-field performances were just so dire and inept after being knocked out to a poor French side in the quarter finals. The French themselves had lost to the might of Tonga, population 104,058, who's entire participation at the event was in jeopardy due to issues over funding and in fact players had to rely partly on donations (1. http://tvnz.co.nz). This is a far-cry from the millions funneled into the French Domestic league and National side,however 'Les Bleus' are not facing a disarrayed RFU or wholesale changes to their relatively settled squad.

With the Six Nations on the horizon, you may be forgiven for not remembering England's triumph which seems a very distant and forgotten memory, though in reality just 8 months have passed since then from the World Cup, when former England manager Martin Johnson's men were lifting the coveted Six Nations Trophy. What a monumental difference less than a year can make.

Is there a way to turn the tide?

Stuart Lancaster 

Interim coach Stuart Lancaster believes so. By injecting the squad with copious amounts of emerging and youthful athletes. A total of 15 players included in the Six Nations provisional  2 man squad were not on the plane in the disastrous campaign to New Zealand and 13 players from the unsuccessful touring party have been ejected, most notably Mike Tindall, Nick Easter and Mark Cueto.

Lancaster emphasized they were embarking on a 'a new era for English rugby' and giving 'players the opportunity to be part of the journey for 2015'. (2. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport). Bold words from the Interim coach who may yet be superseded after this year's Six Nations.
His confidence is echoed by U-20 coach Rob Hunter who insists the 'Red Rose has never had it so good as he heads into the RBS 6 Nations with a squad packed full of Premiership experience'.
(3. http://www.rbs6nations.com). His point is justified in England's impressive run to the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship semi-finals, runner up in the 2011 edition where 17year old star fly half George Ford at the age of just 17 won the accolade of IRB junior player of the year award (4. http://en.wikipedia.org) and to top it all off they have accumulated two Grand slams in four years in the U-20 Six Nations.
(5. http://www.rbs6nations.com). Undoubtedly these are encouraging signs that England may be top of the rostrum again in the not so distant future.

Their optimism, however, may not be shared by the English rugby public as six out of seven English clubs failed to qualify for the knockout stage of the Heineken Cup which was the joint worst collective showing by English teams in the tournament's history (6.http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport). Compare this to English teams heyday where from 1999-2004 Heineken Cup triumphs were recorded four times on five occasions, so perhaps this is an indication that for the foreseeable future, England rugby won't be basking in multiple successes let alone dominate world rugby.(7.http://www.ercrugby.com).  

The days of Clive Woodward's all conquering England are long gone, but will they be seen again?

With back to back wins over Australia and then a Six Nations triumph, there was widespread optimism over England returning to the big time, before being brought back down to earth with a thump in the World Cup. 

England's all conquering 2003 World Cup Winners

It is difficult to compare sides and era's even from a decade ago. The game, in a professional sense, has progressed in leaps and bounds since then in terms of defences, physical and mental preparation, conditioning, nutrition and so on and so forth (8.http://www.speakerscorner.co.uk).
Perhaps the constantly disciplined and exemplary England side of 2003 would beg to differ, as several England players questionable activities at the World Cup, most notably Mike Tindall, James Haskell and the prolific Chris Ashton who's off field actions (9.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport) may hamper his England career with the disciplinarian Lancaster in charge. There are maybe a few too many prima donna's in the side that won't be tolerated by the new set up which is highlighted by excluding Danny Care and Delon Armitage for their drink driving and assault offences respectively.

A rebuilding process is currently in progress as it was back in 1997 with the appointment of Clive Woodward which completely radicalized the face of English Rugby from an amateur outfit into well-drilled and prime specimen athletes. By transforming the traditional practices of previous set-ups, introducing business principles, setting long term goals, paying attention to detail and planning the personal development of individuals in the basic skills, tactics and strategy of modern rugby, England were slowly but surely converted into the best team in the World from 2002-3. (10.http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport).
Nowadays over half a dozen countries have taken this even further with New Zealand leading the way. The hangover from 2003 it seems may have finally gone with the great servant of English rugby, Johnny Wilkinson, finally hanging up his boots giving the younger generation their own chance to shine but do they have the potential to be world beaters?

Graham Henry recently stated 'England are the World Champions at wasting talent' and the problem with English rugby goes as deep as the coaching of youth and club players to be too negative and not "Getting over the gain line from first phase". (11.http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport). The World Cup winning coach, not known for being outspoken, stinging attack on English rugby has highlighted a key issue, the breakdown. This must be addressed by Lancaster and his new coaches to allow quick ball and unleash the potentially exciting English back line littered with new faces which may inject a new lease of life or crash and burn which will see Lancaster's short reign come to an end.

England do have 'potential' but at the moment it is just that. A poor Heineken cup showing this season hasn't helped although this year's Six Nations will give a good indication of firstly, how this new look England side will perform (what brand of rugby) and how effectively they will perform. Secondly, whether or not Lancaster's zero tolerance approach will pay dividends and grant him the task of leading England on the road to the 2015 World Cup. This year's competition isn't the be all and end all, but newly appointed captain Chris Robshaw will be itching to silence the doubters, in this wide open competition.

England are a sleeping giant, according to South African World Cup winning coach Jake White (12.http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport), and I for one agree with him. The gap between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere has narrowed, due to recent exploits in the World Cup, however there is still a clear gulf in quality, so can anyone bridge that gap? I believe England can, though not for the foreseeable future but fancy their chances over the the perpetual, mercurial French who are capable of the brilliant one moment and then are abysmal the next. Ireland's golden generation are ageing and it seems the youthful and exuberant Welsh side are the most likely to make an assault on the summit of the game.

Maybe Martin Johnson's all conquering side of almost a decade ago may never be seen again, it is too soon to say, although my gut feeling is that they will and when 2015 comes a calling this new side will be genuine contenders. Nevertheless it is an extremely long process becoming number one, as England cricket can testify to, and where the manager has to be given perhaps two World Cups as Clive Woodward was to see their plans come to fruition.
England can do it but it is easier said than done. 

References:
1) http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-world-cup/irb-threatens-tonga-sanctions-4363986
2) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-2084879/Six-Nations-2012-England-squad-revealed.html
3) http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/19883.php
4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRB_Junior_World_Championship
5)  http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/championship-information_trophies_u20s.php
6)  http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/16674650
7)  http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/heinekencup/
8)  http://www.speakerscorner.co.uk/file/6254646af8c83cf7f1f806c0dc740a7a/sir-clive-woodward-motivation-leadership-teamwork-sport-peak-performance.html
9) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/8803550/Rugby-World-Cup-2011-England-wing-Mark-Cueto-defends-team-mates-after-horrendous-off-field-coverage.html
10)  http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2003/nov/21/rugbyworldcup2003.rugbyunion
11) http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2012/jan/29/graham-henry-england-waste-six-nations?newsfeed=true
12)  http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/15910289

The greatest Grand Slam achievement?

After attempting to recuperate from this gargantuan, phenomenal and heroic marathon-like encounter between two greats of the modern game, and now two greats in the sport's history, a thought struck me: Has a player ever won a major in such spectacular fashion?

World number one Novak Djokovic retained the Australian Open title on Sunday in a titanic struggle with Rafael Nadal who just does not understand the word 'surrender'. From two sets to one down, the Spaniard depicted a dejected figure as he strode to his chair, shoulders slumped, whilst his boisterous opponent jogged to his corner with his fists pumping, chest bumping male bravado oh so plain to see.

However as so often is the case with 'El matador', he does not know when he is beaten. He would have perhaps been forgiven after being on the receiving end of another 4 set defeat to his great rival after succumbing to six straight defeats in 2011, but obviously the Spaniard was undeterred. Testament to the Spanish bull, by saving three break points in a row and trailing 5-3 in the 4th set tiebreak, Nadal roared back and took a marathon 4th set in almost 90 minutes of compelling tennis. In heartbreaking fashion however, Rafa eventually surrendered a 4-2 lead and was denied once more by the Serb in their first five set encounter in just under 6 hours. Perhaps the greatest competitor and fighter the sport has ever seen, he too was a winner today, despite receiving his 3rd straight Grand Slam runners up trophy to Djokovic, he will believe he can stop the rot. I myself am not so sure.

What makes the feat even more impressive is by claiming his fifth Grand Slam title, Novak had to endure two monstrous five setters with a combined length of over ten hours in just three days defeating the 4th and 2nd seeds. Questions over his physical well-being were raised after struggling through a hamstring strain and breathing problems in the two encounters against the dogged David Ferrer and warrior-like veteran that is Lleyton Hewitt in the quarter finals and round of 16 respectively. His indomitable spirit was thoroughly tested in consecutive matches. After initially overthrowing Murray in a 5 set classic and then overcoming Nadal in the longest Grand Slam final ever and the longest match in Australian Open history, a stunning accomplishment that may never be rivalled. 

When broken down individually, former legends of the game such as Borg, McEnroe, Sampras and the current crop of Federer and Nadal can all boast glittering careers with a combined total of 58 Grand Slams, a staggering total but which one stood out for each as their greatest against all the odds. In chronological order, Bjorn Borg's, affectionately known as the 'Ice Man', standout moment culminated in what many claim was the greatest match ever in the 1980 Wimbledon Final.
However comparing this to Novak's achievement, Borg's road to the final involved encounters with just one seeded player but impressively had dropped just one set on the way to the final. Whereas Novak had to battle niggling injuries, match deficits and exhaustion especially in the 5th set of the final which was capitalised by this stunning and enthralling 31 shot exchange. (1.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/16780204.stm). 
Consequently, with the conclusion of this point Djokovic collapsed to the floor and at the time the impression was that Nadal had struck the final blow, though this extraordinary sporting gladiator was undeterred and roared back into life to take the title 7-5 in the 5th set. Both were incredible achievements but in this instance, Djokovic's achievement in the tournament as a whole just eclipses Borg's endeavours in 1980 and his consecutive 5 set victories at Wimbledon in 1977 which deserves a honourable mentioning.

Once again by trawling back through the greats of the game, John McEnroe's phenomenal 1980 US open campaign where he saw off 10th seeded Ivan Lendl in 4 sets, then ousted his great rival, the gritty and tenacious Jimmy Connors in five before again having to endure five sets against world number one Bjorn Borg. This was a brilliant achievement, but due to today's game being so much more physically wearing on the body perhaps Novak's triumph ever so slightly pips it, nevertheless McEnroe played more sets on his road to victory and faced the 3rd and top seeds compared to Novak's 5th, 4th and 2nd. 

At the turn of the 1990's a 19 year old 'Pistol' Pete Sampras's first slam was on home soil in the US Open and may have been his most impressive of his grand total of 14. In his title winning escapades, Sampras as a 12th seed defeated in the final four rounds, the 6th, 3rd, an unseeded John McEnroe and 4th seed Andre Agassi in the final with a combined set count of 16 in four rounds, just 1 set short of Novak's total.

Finally, in the glittering careers of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal their greatest achievements have been against one another. The Spaniard's first Slam on his beloved clay transpired in Rafa winning the epic 2008 Wimbledon Final and ending Federer's five year stranglehold at SW19, a great feat. Worthy adversary, Roger Federer's fondest Slam victory arguably happened just a year before, at the same stage by eventually disposing with the up and coming Spanish pretender in five fantastic sets, proving he was still the man to beat bar on clay.

Conversely, neither of these endured an energy sapping run to the final as Federer and especially Rafa achieved in the 2009 French Open and the 2009 Australian Open for Nadal respectively. From the jaws of defeat, Federer, in the 4th round and then battling through a five setter in the semi's before finally achieving the elusive career Grand Slam.

However Rafa's epic Aussie Open triumph just a few months before was extremely reminiscent of Novak's conquest this time round as both had to endure a semi final and final that lasted just below and beyond 10 hours of play. Furthermore with their opponent enjoying an extra days rest to recover for the final and to achieve this feat against Federer in 2009 and Nadal in 2012, is a phenomenal record and according to the Serb "Wimbledon is right up there because it is the tournament I always wanted to win. But this comes out on top." (2.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/16782987.stm) 

'This comes out on top'. That statement might just encompass every Grand Slam conquest in my opinion. Perhaps this heroic accomplishment tops all of them in achieving success in the face of adversity, steeped against such physically gruelling and talented players in one of the greatest era's the sport has ever known. It is difficult to gauge what is the greatest as each has their own case, but in a physical sense Novak Djokovic stands alone and it will take an extraordinary effort to usurp this, 'The Greatest of Slam achievements'.

References:

1) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/16780204.stm

2) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/16782987.stm

Football has no place at the Olympic Games.

With the unveiling of the London 2012 Olympics less than two hundred days away from it's grand inauguration, an electrifying excitement has gripped me as we collectively prepare for the greatest sporting spectacle on the planet. However it has experienced its fair share of nuisances and grievances, chiefly as a result of the fiasco with applying for Olympic tickets and the staggering costs to host the games. After scrolling through the list of sporting events on offer, my distaste for one event in particular that has no place at the Games is Football.

The worst Olympic logo ever?

As a life long Leeds United supporter, my love of the game in a domestic sense will never cease, however footballers are involved in competitions domestically, across Europe and also are committed in playing for their countries in an attempt to qualify for the likes of the European Championships and of course the World Cup, almost spoilt for choice. 

Most athletes besides that of football, are not granted the pleasures of lucrative weekly contracts, money-spinning sponsorship's and super-stardom. Day in, day out British athletes such as Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis and Dai Greene, to name but a few, are in a never ending pursuit for perfection and that elusive, taunting motivator that is the prize above all others, an Olympic gold medal.
For four years, not every week, these athletes train for this solitary goal and nothing else. The life of less successful athletes is a trying and testing one, with the the threat of funding cuts lurking over them, success is not only something to be cherished but also a means to make a living.

World 400m Hurdle champion Dai Greene

These concerns are conveniently echoed by 400m Hurdling World Champion Dai Greene who states football 'shouldn't be there in the first place' and fervently hopes that these world renowned sporting stars 'don't overshadow those people who train for four years for that one moment'.
(1 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport)
For that 'one' moment. Days, turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, months blend into years until finally these athletes have, in Dai Greene's case, less than a minute to reach for glory or wallow in the disaster of defeat. Each and every athlete at the Olympics has earned their place to participate in the highlight of their careers, surely football players have not and according to Dai Greene most athletes would agree with him.

Where would a gold medal rank for a football player such as Barcelona's Xavier Hernandez? The former Ballon d'Or contender's considerable trophy haul continues to grow after adding another World Club Championship Trophy to the likes of 6 La Liga's, 3 Champions League titles, the 2008 European Championships and there is one more small accolade I am forgetting..... ahh yes, the inconsequential World Cup to boot, not forgetting a host of individual honours.
'Olympic champion'... it does have an attractive ring to it doesn't it? Maybe that is all it is to a football player, 'Another notch on your belt' that may provide more support in their attempts to be considered an all time great.

Gareth Bale unveiling the
 GB football kit

Surely there is no greater honour in sport than representing your nation or indeed Britain at a monumental spectacle such as an Olympic Games or a World Cup. Personally I think the two should never mix and perhaps that goes for other sports such as Tennis and Basketball who compete for the best part of a year but that is another debate for another time.

Of course football players and fans alike will disagree and claim that football and the players have a right to be part of the Olympics and attempt to push their country higher up the medal rostrum. You can understand where they are coming from and the lure of playing in an Olympic Games is just too tempting an offer to snub, especially as they will be cheered on by millions on home soil. The likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and most notably David Beckham have all ventured a keen interest in having a Team GB for football and you can't blame them. 

Torchbearer David Beckham

Furthermore, Olympic football can provide a great opportunity for the younger players, who may be on the cusp of their national squads, to stake their claim for a prolonged spot and of course a chance to win a medal for their country. It has helped to unearth future international stars such as Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Xavi in 2000, Tevez, Mascherano and De Rossi in 2004 and finally Aguero, Di Maria and Pato but did this have a great effect on their future careers?
Back to the matter at hand. Is this what football fans around the world clamour for? Effectively the ruling that only 3 players can be over 23 means that it might as well be GB u-23 team vs Nigeria's u-23's for example. Moreover, football was one of just three sports that hasn't sold its allocation with approximately 1.5 million of 2 million available for the men's and women's matches at Wembley, Millennium Stadium and the Ricoh Arena to name but a few. (2. http://www.worldfootballinsider.com) 

This will be the 25th time Football has been incorporated into the Olympics and this point perhaps would have only been relevant for the last two decades, when transfer fees and contracts began to sky rocket. A footballer doesn't dream from a young age of winning an Olympic medal, rather an FA Cup or a World Cup but an athlete has and always will which is why it seems the current crop of footballers are there to somewhat 'crash the party' or 'jump on the bandwagon'. There is no doubt there are both reasons for and against its contribution, though I am certainly a supporter of the latter.

Long term Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger declared, emitting a sense of ridicule, that “It cannot work,".
"The Olympics finish in mid-August so imagine a player who has played the Euros and Olympic Games. You think you can use him after that? It’s impossible. I don’t know what people think when they organise these competitions." (3. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport). Strong words from a credible source who understands the 'beautiful game' in abundance.
Further support emanated from former Badminton Silver medalist player Gail Emms who tweeted in a response to Dai Greene's interview, 'You were spot on. Totally agree football shouldn't be in the Olympics. So wrong.' (4. http://martingough22.wordpress.com)

A final word from Dai Greene, who has had an exceptional year and deserves nothing but praise for his achievements, even has time for another little jab at football. Green believes that, 'When an athlete wins a medal, they want it to be about them, their hard work and their story to get there,whereas the papers may be more interested in what David Beckham had for breakfast'. An honest, hardworking, good-humoured and exceptional athlete who I couldn't agree more with!


References:
1) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/wales/15813277.stm
2) http://www.worldfootballinsider.com/Story.aspx?id=34515
3) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/8848253/London-2012-Olympics-debate-football-should-not-be-an-Olympic-sport.html
4) http://martingough22.wordpress.com/2011/11/23/should-football-be-part-of-olympic-programme/