The snore-fest of the 2013 Australian Open final.

Unlike this years final, congratulations to Novak Djokovic for winning his sixth slam, I shall try to make this blog as brief and succinct as possible.

2013 Australian Open - the "Happy" slam

After over three hours of this monotonous, tautological match, I am greatly regretting leaving the snug, inviting, cosy confines of my bed at 9 am this morning.
Although a war of attrition is always expected when these two giants of the game clash, (even after watching several of their painstaking matches) I was still not prepared for this god awful slug fest compounded with very defensive, low risk, high margin for error, lack of variety, marathon like, grinding tennis.

Who's Murray and who's Djokovic????

What generally makes a tennis match exciting is the difference in styles and variety, perhaps an attacker vs a defender, or for old times sake, a Federer vs Nadal encounter if you will.
However with Murray and Djokovic, it is difficult to distinguish any discernible differences between the two.
Let us list their similarities:
a) Both are exceptional movers and defenders
b) Both have scintillating double handed backhands
c) Both have superb, instinctive returns
d) Both have a great reluctance to approach the net (unless there is a simple put away)
and finally (e) Both have a propensity to wait for the unforced error instead of forcing a winner.

I will admit I am perhaps not the most objective viewer in regards to this style of tennis, which can appeal to many, but for me if this is the future of the game, my interest in the sport will be greatly diminished.
The "homogenisation" (yes that favourite term used by members of the 606v2 website) of slower court surfaces, the advanced string technology and the paramount importance of having supreme fitness levels are greatly to blame for this type of tennis becoming an almost regular occurrence in the sport.

This may wow fans, that just watch the slams, as they marvel at a tennis player's athleticism which invariably involves either player hitting miraculous retrievals or a near enough impossible shot from 10 feet behind or outside the baseline.

Nevertheless for the tennis purist it is highly unlikely that they too will set their alarm clock's for 9 am, rush downstairs and turn on the TV with baited breath and great anticipation.
I think they won't set an alarm... they may not even have an alarm for these types of situations!
So the next time these two meet in a final, I think I will just turn over, perhaps briefly checking the score on my computer, and go back to a warm, peaceful, uninterrupted, tennis-free sleep.

Good luck Ross!

On an unrelated note, it was great to again see Ross Hutchins, who recently underwent his second chemotherapy treatment, on the EuroSport couch . Best of luck and wishes to him in making a speedy and full recovery!!!!

The curious case of Fabien Delph

At 19, Fabien Delph was touted as a great talent and a future England player.

Dream move!

After sealing a dream move to the Premier Leagues' Aston Villa in August 2009 from a lowly Leeds United outfit (I must profess to being a long-term Leeds supporter) plying it's trade in League One, it appeared that young Delph had hit the jackpot.
Already in his short career he had earned a handful of caps for the England Under 19's and 21's, been named Leeds players' player of the season and won the Football League's Young Player of the Year. So when the substantial amount of almost £8m was paid to acquire Delph's extremely sought after signature, many onlookers weren't too surprised by the hefty fee.

Another award!

Fast track forward almost three years and the contrast could not be more stark. The now 22 year old Delph's Villa career is hanging in the balance due to an alarming loss of form (admittedly not helped by long term injuries and being played out of position) and most notably a huge lack of confidence in his ability.
(He certainly hasn't repaid the large sum of money Villa forked out for him in the first place in terms of quality performances that have been few and far between.)

After seemingly falling out of favour with their much maligned former manager Alex McCleish, the latest manager to fill the dugout is rising star Paul Lambert who will surely decide Delph's future at the club.
Will he be deemed surplus to requirements or under Lambert's tutelage will he reinvigorate this once precocious talent?

After trawling through vast amounts of forums, topics and articles on Delph, it appears the general consensus for the transfer was welcomed by the Villa faithful to the point of genuine excitement upon his arrival just over three years ago. Unfortunately that enthusiasm and optimism has slowly seeped away, deteriorating into an overwhelming and almost universal disappointment.

With just 34 appearances for the Villains in almost four seasons, many managers would have been forgiven for letting the youngster attempt to seek pastures new.
At times he has definitely not helped his cause as just a few months ago Delph, Chris Herd and former teammate James Collins were involved in a what appeared to be drunken brawl, though the trio claim they were sober, in the early hours of the morning outside a nightclub in Birmingham. Despite issuing a remorseful apology the players were still reprimanded by the Club and fined for their callous actions.
Last season was certainly one to forget for everyone involved at the club, maybe none more so than Delph. So will he and should he be given that second chance?

Perhaps the fact he has had to endure several severe injuries in his short career, Delph is still a bit of an enigma and has not been given sufficient time to blossom, which is why he still remains at the club.

This question was instantly quelled by many supporters who commented that Delph was unable to pass consistently to teammates, make a telling contribution on games and picked up several bookings in the process for needless challenges. Yes he has had a series of debilitating injuries but is that enough to justify his inability to perform the bread and butter facets of the game? Surely not.

England glory days

A 'false dawn' is perhaps an accurate and succinct way to summarise Delph's career at Villa to date, but many still hold high hopes for the former England Under 21 International. Every now and again there has been a spark of promise in a pre-season game for instance, giving fans the belief he might have regained that swashbuckling, bullish and confident character that exhibited his intangible ability to excite, engage and uplift a club that deserves better.
Though it has been said before and it may be said again, now is the time for Delph to really show what he is made of.

Despite rumours of Delph possibly being loaned out for the 2012/13 season according to a source at the Sun newspaper, (not the most reliable source of information it has to be said) this did not come to fruition and Lambert made it clear that he is part of his plans for the club to move forward.
After impressing in pre-season there was renewed optimism that this was the season Delph would finally deliver. Yet again, however, his hopes were dashed after not being included in the matches against Swansea and Newcastle and was an unused substitute against Everton.
What is puzzling is that Delph started the first game of the season away to West Ham, putting in a solid yet unspectacular shift, but since then hasn't tasted any Premier League action. Coincidentally Delph impressed against Tranmere towards the back end of August but surely the outlook for Fabien Delph is bleak if he is limited to just Capital One Cup, formerly known as the Carling Cup, games against lower league opposition.

Has the sun set on Delph's short and sporadic Aston Villa career? Well not for the foreseeable future at least as his contract runs out in 2015 but will Lambert cut his losses and try to sell him before then or loan him to a club to try and regain any sort of form? The loan route would surely be the sensible option if he is not in Lambert's immediate plans, but Delph appears up for the fight, 'if I get a setback I'm never going to let my head go down and give up, I'm going to keep fighting'. He will need all the fight he can muster as he is currently fighting for his future at the club it seems.

'That Goal' against Brighton

Whatever happens with Fabien Delph, I do hope he rekindles that form where many heralded him as one of the best young talents the country had to offer, that won him all those accolades and a handful of England Under 19 and 21 caps. The form where his elegant but powerful runs left defenders trailing in his wake, the insatiable desire to win the tackle and those goals..... The 30 yard screamers, that audacious long range lob at Stockport and 'that goal' against Brighton, voted goal of the season in 2009, where the then teenager ran a full 70 yards before showing stunning composure and outrageous quality to curve the ball past a hapless, stranded keeper; ah those were the days.
My instinct tells me that Delph may not be a Villa player for too much longer or at least he won't play a big part in Villa's plans this season which would be a bitter pill to swallow. For such a young talented player to not fulfill his vast potential and light up the Villa Park crowd as he did so effortlessly on numerous occasions at Elland Road is a real shame. But maybe, just maybe, he is not cut out for the fast paced and ruthless Premier League and is truly out of his depth, only time will tell.

So will it be sayonara Fabien or will he become very much part of the Villa furniture? I truly hope that the latter will eventuate sooner rather than later.

Isn't it about time a Paralympian won the Sports Personality of the year award?

In light of the recent, spectacular and eye opening Paralympics I have had a change of heart carrying on from the previous thread (where I put forward the cases of messrs Bradley Wiggins and Mo Farah to claim the gong). I feel compelled to write this about our British Paralympic heroes and their respective chances for the coveted Sports Personality award so here goes.

Since the Sports Personality of the Year award's grand inauguration in 1954, 57 proud male and female athletes have deservedly won the most sought after British sporting accolades in recognition of their achievements.

The likes of Sarah Storey, Ellie Simmonds, David Weir, Tanni Grey Thompson, Lee Pearson, David Roberts and Mike Kenny have collectively accumulated an astonishing gold medal hawl of 69, at an average of almost 10 golds per athlete, astounding isn't it? If they were able bodied athletes surely they would have won the award by now.
So why has a Paralympian such as these brilliant athletes never won Sports Personality of the Year?

Who will lift this trophy in 2012?

Exposure for one. Until very recently, a Paralympic athlete will never attract as much media coverage, attention and sponsorship as able bodied athletes such as Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps or Jessica Ennis which is a great shame.
Secondly the Paralympics have, wrongly but undeniably, always played second fiddle to the Olympics in terms of crowds, ticket prices and prestige.
The fact that the Paralympics only became united with the Olympics in Athens 2004 illustrates how little interest there was in the Games until only a decade ago or so. These reasons explain why the likes of Tanni Grey Thompson (she has won the welsh version several times and good on her!) or Mike Kenny
 (the most successful British Paralympian of all time who recently vented his displeasure at being 'airbrushed out' and not given the recognition he deserves with knighthoods being given to many athletes with a far inferior medal tally)
have not held the Titular award but to hardly ever be nominated seems wrong.

Once, twice, thrice, four times a winner!

David Weir, now a British sporting legend, commented on his first Paralympic games in Atlanta 1996 that he 'could only count five people in the crowd at times, it was very disheartening and I fell out of love with the sport'. Luckily the Brit was inspired by the endeavors of the victorious British Paralympians, most notably Tanni Grey Thompson, at the Sydney Olympics four years later and vowed to 'never let himself down again' and boy has he not!

Since the Paralympics commencement in Rome 1960 the event has slowly but surely continued to grow and now the the greatest ever Paralympic games descended upon London, giving the British Public, as the channel 4 broadcasting team brilliantly put it, the chance to 'Meet the Superhumans'. Truer words have never  been spoken right? These athletes really are superhuman.

The Superhumans!

This brings me back to my original point.
Paralympians' achievements are perhaps more remarkable and unlikely as they have had to go through the likes of Amputation, Cerebral Palsy, Visual Impairment and Spinal Injuries, than those who are not handicapped by any physical or mental ailments.
And yet year after year non-disabled athletes fill every nomination with not even a mention for these 'superhumans' (bar a superhuman effort from the then 13-year-old Ellie Simmonds in Beijing who won Young Sports Personality of the Year) which is mystifying and even unjustified.

However finally it seems the rest of the world has got its act together (of course with the wonderful British public's support leading the way) as this years Paralympics was by far the greatest of them all and one none of us will ever forget.
Though Sydney really got the ball rolling with record crowds over 1.2 million, a whopping 300 million viewers tuned in and an impressive 13,000 volunteers turned out to make the Games as Tanni Grey Thompson beautifully put it 'a magical athletic Disneyland'.
Athens and Beijing have helped to build the momentum of the Games further still but it is right here in our own backyard that the Paralympics has snowballed into this colossal phenomenon.

Golds galore!

According to the London 2012 Paralympic website, almost 3 million tickets were sold (almost a million more than Beijing), a record 150 hours of TV broadcasting hours, the highest ever amount of participants, volunteers and countries involved, ground breaking revenues and best of all the most successful Team GB medal haul for over a century.

What was previously seen as an event in the Olympics shadow may even be on a par with it but more importantly it is finally getting the attention it deserves. Seb Coe spoke of the Games having a 'seismic shift in shifting public attitudes' whereas others have rightly claimed it as a 'seminal moment for Paralympic sport'.
To once again quote Seb Coe, it would be a 'seismic shift' to see a Paralympian win Sports Personality of the Year.
The statement by UK Sport Chief Executive Liz Nicholl encapsulates this momentous occasion so perfectly. 'The London Paralympic Games will be remembered as a time when we saw ability first and disability second'.
Whoever wins the award deserves it but surely after such an eye opening couple of weeks, a Paralympic athlete should at least get nominated, and nominated more often in the future, and possibly even win it.
It is important to not go down the sympathy route and say 'they should get it as they are disabled'. They should win it because they have worked just as hard, if not harder than everyone else because of their disability, and because they have achieved a staggering amount of success against the very best.

What a team GB makes!

So London 2012 has drawn to a close in an unforgettable sporting summer. Wasn't it uplifting that for once we could talk about this rather than getting bogged down in the economy and the government for example, and instead we have rejoiced and marveled in the wonder of sport. I think we can all safely say that over the last few months we have been oh so proud to be British!

Mo Farah or Bradley Wiggins for Sports Personality of the Year?

The Greatest Team GB ever!

History has been made, a record breaking year for British sport has left us absolutely spoiled with riches over the past few months, with so many incredible triumphs from teams and individuals all across the board. The now dubbed 'Super Saturday' will live long in the memory where three Athletics golds were posted, most notably from the face of the Olympics, Sheffield's very own poster girl Jessica Ennis. Honorable mentions and headline grabbers will go to the likes of Chris Hoy, Ben Ainslie, Victoria Pendleton, Katherine Grainger and Nicola Adams, and those Paralympic superhumans of Sarah Storey, David Weir, Hannah Cockroft and Ellie Simmonds to mention just a handful in a pot of many great champions in this the most competitive sporting year, arguably of all time!

It is wrong to say one achievement is greater than another as the Brits were dancing with the stars this summer but for me two athletes in particular stand out.

Wiggo the time trialing machine!

The all conquering European, World and now Olympic Champion Mo Farah and Bradley Wiggins, Olympic Time Trial Champion and Tour de France extraordinaire!

Lightning Bolt meets the Mobot!

So who will earn one of the most coveted accolades Britain has to offer - the 'Mobot' or sideburns 'Wiggo'?

First to our cycling phenomenon, no not Chris Hoy, (he has already won it!) introducing the brilliant Bradley Wiggins.
To win an Olympic medal is an incredible achievement, to win a gold medal is just monumental but to win 7 Olympic medals, 4 of them gold, defies belief!
Not content with his 6 medals prior to the London 2012 Olympics, 'Wiggo' sought to conquer the grandest and toughest cycling event of them all, the Tour de France.
Wiggins accomplished this with considerable aplomb, dismissing all competition with apparent ease.
Team Sky's controlled and assured assistance helped to increase the margin of victory further still, winning by a commanding 3 minutes 21 seconds (more than the combined total of the past two Tour winning margins) to become the first British winner of the Tour de France in the Tour's 107 year history.

Let us rewind back to 2010, where the picture was far from rosy, an out of sorts and disheveled Bradley Wiggins probably would not have even dreamt of being a Tour de France contender, let alone future winner. Why is that I hear you ask? Well after a very respectable 4th place finish in the 2009 Tour de France, expectations were even higher the following year and now as team leader of newly formed Team Sky the pressure to deliver grew tenfold. Unfortunately these plans failed to materialise as Wiggins had a poor Giro d'Italia coming 40th and an equally disappointing Tour de France finishing in a lowly 24th, almost 40 minutes behind the eventual winner.
A time of reflection and re-evaluation occurred, mainly due to a tongue lashing from Sky Chief Dave Brailsford on the back end of the 2010 Tour. Wiggins it seemed had gone backwards and personally admitted 'I couldn't carry on like that, 2010 was a year of disappointment and public humiliation'. Never again!

Through sheer dedication and meticulous planning involving new training methods (altitude training in Tenerife, increasing power outputs and sophisticated scientific training plans introduced by Physiologist Tim Kerrison, British Cycling doctor Richard Freeman and personal coach Shane Sutton) a reinvigorated Wiggo roared back into life in 2011. After winning the Criterium du Dauphine, the main warm up event to the Tour, Wiggins claimed he was 'in the best shape of his life' exhibiting a boisterous and confident mood ahead of that years Tour.
Lady luck however had other plans. The Londoner's Tour hopes were dashed early thanks to a nasty fall culminating in a broken collarbone effectively ending a distraught Wiggins Tour hopes for another year.

Injury heartache

Wiggins, who had shed 6kg after ending his track career to concentrate on the Tour in 2009, lost a further 2kg ahead of the 2012 season in an effort to improve his optimal power to output ratio in the lead up to the 2012 Tour de France despite a strong 3rd place showing at the Vuelta a Espana.
The 2012 season started with an ominous warning shot to his rivals as he became the first man ever to win the prestigious European events of Paris-Nice, Tour de Romandie and the Criterium du Dauphine titles on the spin.
This undoubtedly enhanced his Tour de France credentials and he was billed as the hot favourite to win the holy grail of cycling trophies, the Maillot Jaune or the Yellow Jersey. And he didn't disappoint did he?
Wiggins turned on the style to win the biggest cycling event in the world at a canter as the opposition were left trailing in his wake. Not only did he win by over three minutes to second placed teammate Chris Froome, who played a huge part in making this victory possible, who rode with him every pedal turn of the way, Wiggins won both time-trials with apparent ease to boot.
Tour de France Champion. Let me say that again, TOUR DE FRANCE CHAMPION! It really does not get any better than that surely. The amiable, bloke-next-door, family man has now joined the cycling legends of Armstrong, his hero Indurain, Hinault and Merckx, a phenomenal achievement.

Right, that is it; I am convinced he deserves the award. Wait there is more?

Victorious!

Of course there is! Bradley's golden, or should I say yellow, summer wasn't setting just yet.
Once again this cycling machine rode away brilliantly from his competitors to cap off an incredible few weeks by winning the gold medal in the Olympic Time Trial in front of the British masses. Let us not forget that this was not even a fortnight after his lung busting victory at the Tour which makes this feat all the more impressive.

So there you have it; from doom and gloom just two years ago to Tour de France and Olympic Time Trial champion. Can anyone match this feat?

Enter Mo Farah.
Like Wiggins, Mo Farah has come on leaps and bounds in an extraordinary career.
The first time Farah came into the public's consciousness was by bursting onto the scene in 2006 when he agonisingly lost out on a gold medal in the European championship 5000m but redeemed himself later that year by storming to the European Cross Country Championship. Finally it seemed, Mo Farah had arrived.

At just 24 years of age many tipped this precocious Somalian born athlete, now British International, for greatness after a stellar season. This greatness however was put on hold during the biggest year of racing in Mo's life, the Olympic year.
The Brit toiled in the clammy, humid conditions of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and disappointingly failed to make the 5000m final. Understandably Mo cut a dejected and forlorn figure as he exited the Bird's nest with his tail between his legs but, like Wiggins, for Mo Farah, although it didn't seem like it at the time, the only way was up from here on in.

Off season altitude training in Africa

What followed in 2009 was a rejuvenated Farah breaking the long-standing British indoor record in the 3000m, a 3000m gold medal at the European Indoor Championships and strong performances in the European Cross Country and World Athletics Championships. Undoubtedly what aided his improvement during another impressive season was his prolonged training in Kenya with the world's top athletes. An optimistic but deflated man entered the hot bed of long distance running and the man that returned was a supremely fit, confident individual primed and ready to make an assault upon the best the world had to offer.

He did not have to wait too long as Mo struck gold twice just a year later by claiming the 5000, 10000m double at the European Athletics Championships, only the fifth man in the competitions 66 year history to do so.
Mo Farah had destroyed all his closest challengers by some margin and there was no question that he was the best...... in Europe, that is.
Despite his fantastic victories many still considered him to be out of his depth when facing the African giants,
an issue Mo sought to address immediately. Although the Brit was a very talented, world class runner he wasn't quite the finished article.

Mo constantly talked about crossing the divide and finally ending the Africans long distance running stranglehold over this distance. An impossible dream? Mo certainly didn't think so.
Before we embark on the long steps Mo took to achieving Olympic gold, let us just consider the mountainous task Mo was about to undertake.
He was attempting to beat the Kenyans and Ethiopians at Long Distance Running, where African athletes have only failed once in the last 30 years to claim gold, an event which has become synonymous with both countries. This is like trying to beat the New Zealand All Blacks in their own backyard, the Jamaicans at sprinting, Canadians at Ice Hockey or an American at a hot dog eating contest. It really is almost impossible!

In the boldest move of his career, Farah split from long term coach Alan Storey in 2011 and acquired the prestigious services of former marathon runner Alberto Salazar, uprooting his family in the process to Oregon in the States. Mo said the reason behind it was to 'find that extra one per cent' that would take him to the next level.
Salazar sought to address Mo's lack of physique through strength training on which he commented Mo 'was the weakest I had ever trained' but 'has more heart, more guts and more soul than any athlete I've ever seen'.
Salazar's tactical astuteness came to the fore as he urged the Brit to go from 600-800m out as the Africans tend to leave the sprint to the last lap which was their greatest strength but also a sign of weakness.
The new partnership was soon put to the test and despite a slow start at the Istanbul World Indoors the pair gathered momentum ahead of the 2011 World Athletics Championships where Farah blossomed into one of the best athletes in the world winning a gold in the 5000m and silver in the 10000m.

Double Olympic Champion!

And the rest, as they say, is history.
Mo Farah not only became the first Britain ever to win a long distance gold at the Olympics, he is now an exclusive member of the now seven man club to win the 5,000 and 10,000m double at a single Olympics, equalling what Kenenisa Bekele, considered by many as the greatest long distance runner of all time, achieved four years ago. You run out of superlatives to describe Mo's stunning achievements this year, the icing on the cake in a glittering career, but a Sports Personality of the year award would go some way to explaining what a monumental accomplishment it has been.

So there you have it. Two sporting legends who conquered the world respectively. Both have come such a long way in a relatively short period of time. So who deserves it more?
We really do need a photo finish for this one but I think Wiggins just shades it perhaps by just a tyre width.

And just as I finish writing this, Andy Murray brilliantly wins the US Open. Well that will certainly put a spanner in the works, talk about timing!

The London 2012 Olympics at the ExCel Centre: A Cleaner's Story

After four years of waiting, an astronomical amount of anticipation and excitement, a fair bit of British criticism and scepticism, the greatest sporting spectacle on the planet finally arrived.
204 nations united under one Olympic banner, where all quarrels, grievances and troubles are put aside for almost three weeks to enjoy this beautiful spectacle in a sea of colour, vibrancy and unrelenting gleeful support encapsulates just how magical every aspect of the Olympics are.

Thanks in no small part to Director Danny Boyle's explosive, quirky and eccentrically British opening ceremony, the London 2012 Olympics started with a feverish bang!

The Olympics returned to London after a 64 year absence in which a total of 29 different stadia were used but the venue we shall focus on in particular was the ExCel Centre in London, Royal Victoria. The site would play host to Olympic events such as Boxing to Table tennis, Judo to Fencing, Weightlifting to Wrestling and finally Taekwondo.
You may ask why I chose this venue and not the more eye-catching, headline grabbing facility of the Olympic stadium, the Velodrome or the Aquatics Centre. Well, ultimately I may have done just that..... if I had worked there.

For the games 16 day entirety, the only arena to do so, the ExCel Centre was rammed to the rafters from dawn on the 28th of July until dusk on the 12th of August.
Everyday, from 3pm-11pm, I was entrusted with the highly coveted role of 'Day housekeeper' or perhaps more succinctly put, a toilet cleaner! I can just imagine how jealous you all are. In all honesty I could not care less, well except when having to clean 'human spillages' - which fell under the category of someone's sick, blood or faeces - for I was a part of the London 2012 Olympics. This monumental phenomenon is a once in a lifetime event, especially as it was in our own backyard, and though it may not have been the most glamorous or appreciated post, and rightly so compared to the brilliant volunteers, I was still making my mark on the Olympics one toilet role at a time.

So perhaps you are wondering what a typical day for a typical worker was like in the life of a cleaner at the ExCel. Well I cannot answer that, as I wasn't a typical worker, far from it!
After yo-yoing back and forth between my Aunt and Uncle's house in Hornsey and my humble abode in St.Albans for the 15 days I was working, journey duration differed from approximately 50 minutes for the former and 1 hour 45 for the latter, I was well and truly exhausted but, as I have said before, I wasn't complaining. Nonetheless, naturally I was extremely grateful to have the opportunity to stay for over a week in London, allowing me that extra precious privilege of life, sleep!
After said journeys, I would head for the station, 'Custom House for ExCel' on the Dockland's Light Railway line, head up the escalators, show my accreditation pass to the two security men, walk the short walk to the security check-in vicinity, sign in using my job card, collect my uniform and dinner voucher, and away I would go.

From 3pm-11pm I was the master of three male toilets, no easy task as many men when they go to the toilet are incapable of emptying their bladders into the allotted urinal and cubicle areas; thank God for rubber gloves! A general sweep of each toilet involved checking if each toilet cubicle had sufficient amounts of toilet roll, adequate amounts of soap for each sink - which involved me lying under the desk plumber style and twisting large pink bottles into place - sweaty work - shining the mirrors and attempting to keep the place in immaculate condition.
This is a relatively simple task; however when thousands of spectators hurl themselves towards the nearest toilet after the end of an events session, which happened to be part of the three toilets I was responsible for, it became extremely hectic, overcrowded and anything but clean.
I was able to earn £4.50 in tips for my work of ushering spectators to unused cubicles, which many greatly appreciated whilst some engaged me in polite conversation as they waited. Many thought I was a volunteer and from time to time I did not correct them and simply smiled and shrugged. It was nice to be thought of as the most unlucky of volunteers, if only for a short while.
I must reiterate, however, that the money I did receive was due to me running around most of the centre trying to find a key to open the disabled toilet, single-handedly taking the litter away from 20 rather inebriated and exuberant British fans to save them the trip of 10 yards to the nearest waste disposal and finally helping a young aspergers sufferer out of a locked toilet. I may be coming across as somewhat pretentious and egotistical, but I don't care I thought I was a damn good day-housekeeper.... even if that isn't saying much!

The Olympics at the ExCel were almost faultless except for one small piece of the jigsaw that just didn't quite fit. Before I embark on this rant I must apologise for this scathing attack on one particular part of this Olympic working experience. Obviously caterers cater for the famished public, cleaners clean to keep the premises spic and span but the so called 'security' company of Knights and Sons' (I use the term security extremely loosely and perhaps wrongly) purpose was unknown to many. K&S staff were apparently unhelpful, aimlessly stood around and took the brunt of spectators' criticisms for their unaccommodating demeanor.

The one and only volunteers!

Almost at the other end of the spectrum were the magnificent, amiable, ever smiling volunteers, who took on the task with incredible gusto and enthusiasm, much to the delight of those lucky enough to have tickets but also just the staff in general. One person in particular who epitomised this incredible spirit and unbridled joy was a volunteer by the name of Anna Sichler, a young, soon to be Language Teacher - best of luck to her! - who I don't think ever, and I mean EVER, stopped smiling, an impressive feat (she must have strong cheek bones). Their warmth, kindness and unwavering assistance have made these Olympics even better than anyone could have imagined.

Again contrasting these wonderful people with the inconsequential Knights and Sons staff who actually did far less than the volunteers and yet were paid handsomely, it made me ponder whether money actually is 'the route of all evil'. These layabouts will probably return for the Paralympics in a couple of weeks time but I really hope they do not!

I digress from my argument that I did not fall under the 'typical cleaner' category. On day seven of the games I had the slightly odd but exciting opportunity to mop up a coffee spillage, normally nobody ever says this but this was under unusual circumstances, in front of two NBA players!
As I approached the area where the spillage had occurred I politely asked, straining my neck upwards whilst doing so, 'Excuse me, sorry but please can I clean up this spillage where you are standing?'. I tend to get rather timid and over the top polite. They didn't pay me much attention but nonetheless I strongly felt it was a memorable and blog worthy experience.
Further 'celebrity' encounters included a  thankful nod from comedian Jimmy Carr, another comedian Lee Mack, exhibiting a strong resemblance to Tom Hank's character in the film 'Cast Away' before ending my celebrity experiences on day 10 and saving the best till last by directing television presenter Rick Edwards to an unoccupied urinal.... character building stuff eh!

As my time at the ExCel Centre drew to a close I was once again struck down by illness. For anyone who knows me well, I do not have an immune system. I think I missed that window at birth where all newborns were given that immune system voucher that would prevent them getting ill once a month, maybe I was asleep or in the restroom or something. Had it not been for the events that played out on Day 13, I may not have got through that day but what transpired in front of my eyes was the most incredible support I have ever witnessed.

The pride of Ireland Katie Taylor

The pride of Ireland Katie Taylor, current Irish, European, World and now Olympic Champion in the 60kg women's division carried the hopes and aspirations of over four million Republic of Ireland citizens and she didn't disappoint by winning the gold in the inaugural boxing event for women at the Olympics.
What followed was the most breathtaking support I have ever witnessed as a sea of Irish support enveloped the entire boulevard bellowing out songs of 'Fields of Athenry', 'You'll never beat the Irish' and 'Walking in a Taylor wonderland'.
Eventually after hours of drinking, cheering, songs and delirious fanatical support the hordes of Irishmen, which had swelled tenfold as it appeared every fan in the stadium bar the Russian boxer and her supporters had become Irish that day and I was certainly one of them. I shall never forget it, just magical scenes.

So that is about it for now. For a few short weeks I will hang up my mop and brush and prepare for part two of a cleaners story.
That tail will continue in less than a fortnight from now with the Paralympics which should be just as magnificent as the Olympics have been if not better, go Team GB!
London let's do it all again and I for one cannot wait!

A Wimbledon to savour!

Another edition, the 126th to be precise, of the Wimbledon Championships has concluded for another year and the 2012 showpiece event will undoubtedly live long in the memory.
From British successes, heart stopping moments and phenomenal upsets, fairy tale journeys, rejuvenated elder statesmen of the game and copious amounts of good old English weather, more reminiscent of November, landing smack bang in June/July, encapsulates perfectly just how special the hallowed turf of Wimbledon really is.
Brian Baker's remarkable comeback after an absence of 6 years away from the tour, beset with injuries to his hip, elbow and a sports hernia resulted in five surgeries. This is a story that has captured the hearts' of the tennis community and his renaissance was in full swing at SW19 as he successfully navigated three rounds of qualifying before finally succumbing to defeat in the 4th round in his debut at the event, an astonishing accomplishment.
Agnieszka Radwanska's extraordinary run to the final, losing in a tight three setter to 5 time champion Serena Williams, turned plenty of heads with her subtle touch and finesse conquering the giants and power hitters of the women's game to reach her very first grand slam final. This was all the more impressive as she had never made it further than a quarter final in the majors.

The tournament's magic didn't cease there however.
On day three one of the biggest shocks of all time was handed out by one Lukas Rosol, a journeyman of the tour ranked 100 in the world. In 5 epic, dramatic, coolness personified sets of tennis the Czech downed the great, two timed Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal in the second round much to the delight of the vociferous 15,000 supporters rammed inside centre court under the roof.
An out of sorts Nadal had no answer to Rosol's relentless power and unerring accuracy which left the masses stunned. 'I still cannot believe it, it's like a dream for me' commented the victorious Rosol in his post match interview. Unfortunately the 'dream' came to an abrupt halt as Rosol was unceremoniously dumped out of the tournament the following round, however this was a match that he and many others will never forget.

After experiencing at first hand the intermittent showers the nation had to offer during my two week stint as a 'Dayhousekeeper', a ridiculous title and one that effectively is a fancy way of saying 'cleaner', meant the £100million state of the art retractable Centre Court roof was kept busy and justified its transfer fee, Andy Carroll take note.
Much controversy surfaced over the organisers' decision not to deploy the roof throughout but they maintained, as did many pundits, Tim Henman most notably, that it is an outdoor tournament. It was under the roof where so much drama unfolded and in particular with Andy Murray leaving it extremely late, 11:02pm to be precise, to see off the spirited challenge of Marcos Baghdatis. I know this as I was there to witness it through gritted teeth as it meant an even shorter window of much needed sleep... grrrrr.

In today's tennis much is made of the sheer physicality that is needed to be successful, making it even more difficult for the current older crop. Once again however, this most prestigious of tournaments threw a spanner in the works from the norm as the golden oldies came out in force. Five 30+ year old's made it to the second week, not bad eh? This was a far cry from this years previous two slams, the Australian and French Open, where a measly three from the two combined tournaments made it that far.

The nation's resolve was once again severely tested by home hero Andy Murray who survived the onslaught and brilliantly made his first ever Wimbledon final. The tournament had already been a breath of fresh air for British Tennis and probably much to the relief of LTA Chief Executive Roger Draper who has been given a temporary reprieve as the biggest group of Brits for six years progressed to round two. Draper, who has been rightly criticised for not producing enough top tennis players, was able to look on fervently as James Ward won his first ever Wimbledon match before then losing gallantly in the second round in five tight sets against seasoned campaigner Mardy Fish. The British women also tasted success as Elena Baltacha and Anne Keothavong advanced to round two and Heather Watson went one better by reaching the third round before falling to eventual finalist Radwanska.


Best of all for the Brits however came in the Men's Doubles as Wild Card pairing Jonathon Marray and Frederick Nielsen achieved the impossible coming through a whopping 4 out of 6 five set marathons disposing of 4 seeded pairings on their way to an incredible title against all the odds.
Never before had a wildcard pairing won the title and the 76 year wait for the... wait for it.... doubles champion, not singles, was now over ensuring that Britain tasted some success this summer.

And last but most certainly not least, the great Roger Federer winding back the clock to deliver a tennis masterclass against the plucky and emotional Andy Murray. Murray may have gained a few more fans with his on court endeavors and post match, tear ridden speech, in 4 sets to once again break the Scot's... oops I mean Brit's heart along with the 17 million viewers who tuned in to watch this wonderful event draw to a close. You run out of superlatives for Federer at times. A record equalling 7th Wimbledon, a record 17 Grand Slam titles and, perhaps best of all, he returns to the summit of the ATP World Rankings just one month shy of his 31st Birthday, not bad for an old timer.


So that is it. There will be no more strawberries and cream, well organised queues, overpriced pimms, traditional white attire and the elegance of grass court tennis for another year and I hope you agree that this one was really something special and perhaps one to savour....

Light at the end of the tunnel?

What a difference a few short months can make. After sitting pretty at the summit of the Test Rankings, England were brought back down to earth with a thump and almost faced slipping to third position with their annihilation of India last year seeming a distant memory.

Pakistan victorious

Andrew Strauss' England side concluded several forgettable and at times calamitous months of Test cricket in the Sub continent with a comprehensive 8 wicket win over Sri Lanka to tie the series 1-1.
To a casual onlooker this may appear as an acceptable scoreline as England notoriously don't travel well, however let us not forget what preceded these events where a dejected and woeful England were comprehensively thumped by Pakistan in an uncharacteristic 3-0 whitewash.

Strauss's individual, as well as the team's collective batting performances, were dire at times as they repeatedly failed to post substantial and challenging totals. The tour was littered with several scores under 200, a far-cry from their huge totals recorded away to Australia and home to the former number one ranked team India, and when England did post their solitary strong innings of 327 they compounded it with a dismal 92.
This inconsistency, lapses in concentration and lackadaisical attitude that was so abundantly clear throughout the tour must be stamped out by Head Coach Andy Flower ahead of the upcoming appetizer home test against the West Indies and before the feast that is South Africa this summer.

Over the years England haven't fared particularly well in the Sub Continent having only won 8 of 27 away test matches, but for the supposed 'Number one' ranked test side to be beaten so heavily isn't acceptable. There were no standout performances, no gritty, defiant innings or confidence in the side. Instead they were compounded with batting collapses, poor strategies and abysmal dismissals.

Strauss fails again

Even Strauss's indispensable captaincy has been called into question, just a few months after being one of the bookies favorites to acclaim the 2011 Sports Personality of the year accolade. Though Strauss's position shouldn't be in any doubt, an immediate return to form is a must not only for England, but for one of the most successful English captains of all time it is imperative to recapture the form of 2009-10 and lead from the front, ahead of the forthcoming challenge against the Proteas.

For want of a better phrase, 'every cloud has a silver lining', England can reflect on one consistent positive throughout this tour..... their bowlers. Their dependable attack and unswerving commitment restricted both Pakistan and Sri Lanka to scores beneath 400 with Graham Swann, James Anderson and Monty Panesar, who has been somewhat in the cricketing wilderness for the past few years, particularly impressive.

Monty on song

If only their fellow batsmen could have returned the favour, as they did in Colombo, who knows perhaps Andy Flower's men may have not tasted defeat in their Sub Continent exertions. Perhaps a wee bit presumptuous but ever the optimist tis I.

A return to a more friendly, welcoming and familiar environment will meet the returning English who have ended the tour on a good note but will be left to lick their wounds somewhat.
They will undoubtedly be confident that they can rewrite the wrongs of the past few months, as is expected for a number one side, despite it being far from the most assured lead with South Africa and potentially Australia breathing down England's necks.

Every potentially great side experiences the odd rough patch, but what separates sides who have potential and those that maximise potential is how they bounce back from these setbacks as Australia did to India in 2001 and the West Indies did in 1979. So how good is this England side? Will this really test their metal? And can they bounce back, learn from their mistakes and assert some dominance over the chasing pack?
Whatever the answer is, there are undoubtedly exciting times ahead for Test Cricket which is very much alive.