The bad news this week is that the scheduled fight between Roy Jones Jr and our own Joe Calzaghe has been pushed back to November 8th, after Joe again damaged his hand in training. We're told it's a wrist injury, but with his history of hand trouble this can't be good news going into the rign with the ever-durable Jones. Again that lack of knockout power should be in evidence as against Hopkins. Plus Jones is only 3 years older so won't be sluggish as B-Hop. Hmmmm. Borefest or Calzaghe to get beaten up?
The only really interesting thing about this match-up is that Jones has suggested that they have 2 weigh-ins in order to fight for all Calzaghe's titles. The first weigh in is to be for Super Middleweight to get them under the limit for Calzaghe's 2 titles, then put on a couple of pounds quickly (water intake apparently) in order to then be also classed as light heavyweights and contest Calzaghe's "The Ring Magazine" light heavy title. Great gimmick in concept, and a surefire crowd puller, but with Jones having won a Heavyweight title in the not too distant past, this appears to be a dead end for Calzaghe's career.
Anyway, we've now got a September date with Amir Khan to look forward to - let's hope his new (Cuban) trainer makes him watch some real boxers in action and convinces him that if he actually got in the ring with a world champion at the moment, he'd be eating through a straw for weeks.
Ricky Hatton has what looks like (from last performance) a relatively straightforward tangle with the wierd Paulie Malignaggi in Vegas to look forward to - let's hope he turns up with the same stupid haircut! I think with Hatton's "miles on the clock" he needs to be looking at the final career defining fight - we've got Tszyu fight and Mayweather so far, one more great fight should see him call it quits. A fight with Manny Pacquiao would be brutal; going on his recent demolition job on David Diaz it may be a great test for Hatton but a great spectacle - and as Hatton has never ducked anyone it may be on the cards.
The important thing is that Ricky stays with Billy Graham, the trainer who's guided his career to far. For all Hatton's quality (and personality), he needs to keep his feet on the ground and ignore distractions such as Stand up tours, and Graham will surely keep him focussed.
The fight I really wanted to see looks like a no-goer at the moment, Carl Froch vs Jermain Taylor for the WBC super middleweight title vacated by Calzaghe. It's about time someone "grew a set" and fought Froch, who is the most dangerous fighter in his division, and as a consequence gets ignored by anyone with a title. Froch is relatively young in ring time, but 30 years old and needs to get a shot sooner rather than later. Kelly Pavlik has said he'll fight anyone, so that would be my ideal fight.
Let's get it on!
Thursday, 24 July 2008
Seeing the future - reprised
Well D-Day has passed and the 14 Superleague teams for next season know who they are.
I'd like to say that I was pretty much on the money as far as my 14 choices were (it was fairly predictable) - though Castleford snuck in by the skin of their teeth with a Grade C licence, along with Celtic Crusaders and Salford City Reds. Congratulations to both, especially Salford chairman John Wilkinson who has spent over 20 years - and doubtless a Jamie Peacock sized chunk of his own money - to keep the Reds going in order to see them take their place at the top table with their ambitious new stadium at Barton.
I will say it's a real shame for the people in Widnes especially, with their Chairman Steve O'Conner saving them from administration and ensuring they survived in their great new ground. I think they were unlucky not to be replacing Castleford, expecially with their guarantees of financial solvency and their ground being of a far greater standard than both Cas and Wakefield (and Hull KR arguably).
There is a feeling of bitterness for teams like Leigh that the Celtic Crusaders admission was a fait d'accompli - and it may well be seen as inevitable that a new regional team would get in. the neutral should be pleased for the Crusaders though, with a healthy presence in Superleague, it should mean that Welsh Rugby League thrives anew - like the glory days when Welsh Union players defected wholesale in the 1970s and 1980s. If they could recapture that through the Crusaders development/academy schemes it can only mean good things for the game as a whole - plus a certain Welsh fan I know may be able to dance the caterpillar at another Wales victory over England before too long.
Anyway, whilst there is another 4 months to the Grand Final, the new teams have a great opportunity to recruit effectively, with the reassurance that they won't be relegated if their first season in the top flight doesn't go to plan. Congratulations to the RFL on negotiating a tricky process with the minimum of fuss - in 3 years time there should also be room for expansion of the league and further development into the regions. The National League are already prepared to admit Scottish, Irish or French teams for next season, which gives them a decent 3 year run to the next franchise awards. Forward planning the like of which you don't usually see in sport.
I'd like to say that I was pretty much on the money as far as my 14 choices were (it was fairly predictable) - though Castleford snuck in by the skin of their teeth with a Grade C licence, along with Celtic Crusaders and Salford City Reds. Congratulations to both, especially Salford chairman John Wilkinson who has spent over 20 years - and doubtless a Jamie Peacock sized chunk of his own money - to keep the Reds going in order to see them take their place at the top table with their ambitious new stadium at Barton.
I will say it's a real shame for the people in Widnes especially, with their Chairman Steve O'Conner saving them from administration and ensuring they survived in their great new ground. I think they were unlucky not to be replacing Castleford, expecially with their guarantees of financial solvency and their ground being of a far greater standard than both Cas and Wakefield (and Hull KR arguably).
There is a feeling of bitterness for teams like Leigh that the Celtic Crusaders admission was a fait d'accompli - and it may well be seen as inevitable that a new regional team would get in. the neutral should be pleased for the Crusaders though, with a healthy presence in Superleague, it should mean that Welsh Rugby League thrives anew - like the glory days when Welsh Union players defected wholesale in the 1970s and 1980s. If they could recapture that through the Crusaders development/academy schemes it can only mean good things for the game as a whole - plus a certain Welsh fan I know may be able to dance the caterpillar at another Wales victory over England before too long.
Anyway, whilst there is another 4 months to the Grand Final, the new teams have a great opportunity to recruit effectively, with the reassurance that they won't be relegated if their first season in the top flight doesn't go to plan. Congratulations to the RFL on negotiating a tricky process with the minimum of fuss - in 3 years time there should also be room for expansion of the league and further development into the regions. The National League are already prepared to admit Scottish, Irish or French teams for next season, which gives them a decent 3 year run to the next franchise awards. Forward planning the like of which you don't usually see in sport.
Monday, 21 July 2008
Seeing the future?
Tomorrow is the day that Rugby League fans across the country have been waiting for. It's the announcement of the 14 franchises awarded to the successful applicants from the 19 who vied to be in Superleague next year.
From the existing 12 members of Superleague, the only ones I can really see as having a struggle to get a licence would be Wakefield and Castleford. One of these 2 may fall - my money would be on Cas if anyone. That leaves either 2 or 3 new entrants. In terms of the development of the game, we should be hoping both Celtic Crusaders and Toulouse are granted entry, and then one from Halifax, Widnes and Salford. Sadly this appears to be a little too soon for Featherstone's efforts, although their development plans deserve to be considered for next time franchising is reviewed (2 years time I believe).
My Superleague line up for 2009 would be (and this is to be compared to the results announced at 10am tomorrow); www.skysports.com/rugbyleague
Leeds Rhinos
St Helens
Bradford Bulls
Wigan Warriors
Catalan Dragons
Warrington Wolves
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Harlequins
Hull FC
Hull KR
Huddersfield Giants
+
Celtic Crusaders
Toulouse
Salford City Reds
Apologies to my friends at Halifax, but despite a fine season coming back from all the problems that have beset the club, it may be a bridge too far for one of Rugby League's most historic clubs. I just hope that this doesn't mean the fine up and coming players the Blue Sox have developed can continue to come through whilst they wait to reclaim their rightful place in the top flight.
From the existing 12 members of Superleague, the only ones I can really see as having a struggle to get a licence would be Wakefield and Castleford. One of these 2 may fall - my money would be on Cas if anyone. That leaves either 2 or 3 new entrants. In terms of the development of the game, we should be hoping both Celtic Crusaders and Toulouse are granted entry, and then one from Halifax, Widnes and Salford. Sadly this appears to be a little too soon for Featherstone's efforts, although their development plans deserve to be considered for next time franchising is reviewed (2 years time I believe).
My Superleague line up for 2009 would be (and this is to be compared to the results announced at 10am tomorrow); www.skysports.com/rugbyleague
Leeds Rhinos
St Helens
Bradford Bulls
Wigan Warriors
Catalan Dragons
Warrington Wolves
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Harlequins
Hull FC
Hull KR
Huddersfield Giants
+
Celtic Crusaders
Toulouse
Salford City Reds
Apologies to my friends at Halifax, but despite a fine season coming back from all the problems that have beset the club, it may be a bridge too far for one of Rugby League's most historic clubs. I just hope that this doesn't mean the fine up and coming players the Blue Sox have developed can continue to come through whilst they wait to reclaim their rightful place in the top flight.
Football's Black Marketplace
After a week off in the sunshine - my pre-season break is now over - I've come back armed with a ranting topic.
I've been in Portugal, a country rich in football tradition and home to some of the world's great players (Eusebio, Futre, Figo, Rui Costa, Ronaldo etc). The Portuguese are mad for Ronaldo, with shirts, flags, banners etc covering stalls everywhere, almost like a 35 degree version of Warwick Road near Old Trafford. With one subtle difference. Replica shirts.
We should all remember the fairly recent court cases where Umbro, JJB, United and The FA all got their knuckles rapped for price rigging on replica kits. There are, however, very clear controls on what can be sold, how much and where. For example you won't find many cheap/knocked off replica shirts anywhere near Old Trafford, as there is an (unspoken?) uneasy truce between the clubs and vendors, where they produce t-shirts and scarves with club motifs, but no replica shirts. This means that if you want a United shirt, or England shirt, you need to go to an official retailer. The teams would be within their rights to get trading standards or the police to close down anyone violating this peace.
Portugal's version of this is that anyone with a wheelbarrow and a screen printing press in their garage can start knocking out dodgy shirts (to locals and tourists) whilst the police obviously have no interest and wander past without batting an eyelid.
I'd guess that the fact that Portugal turns a blind eye to the fakes industry probably means that the official shirt prices need to be lower than they are over here. Which begs the question, are we supporting the kit manufacturer's profits by paying over the odds in a non-competitive market.
The UK replica shirt market is one of the main features of "Rip off Britain" (The Sun says). £45 for a Home shirt is about average - even for a club like mine (Derby County) who aren't even in the Premiership. The prices are protected by law, rather than market forces, and the punter is the one who misses out rather than the two main kit manufacturers (Nike and Adidas) who control most of the top tier marketplace. The argument is that the quality needs to be controlled, but for a 17 year old on minimum wage (£3.40), a Home shirt of their choice is effectively 2 full days wages before any form of tax. Add to that the escalating cost of a matchday ticket, and you're into the realms of 4 days pay (almost a week) to see your team and wear their colours. Before you buy your food for the week!
Let me make clear that I'm not advocating the illegal production of football shirts; nasty print quality, logos that wash off and cheap shirts that shrink or discolour are not what we want, but a level of realism from the manufacturers should see the costs reduced in order to return this game to its roots. The working man's game. If he can't afford to support his team, what future do we have?
I've been in Portugal, a country rich in football tradition and home to some of the world's great players (Eusebio, Futre, Figo, Rui Costa, Ronaldo etc). The Portuguese are mad for Ronaldo, with shirts, flags, banners etc covering stalls everywhere, almost like a 35 degree version of Warwick Road near Old Trafford. With one subtle difference. Replica shirts.
We should all remember the fairly recent court cases where Umbro, JJB, United and The FA all got their knuckles rapped for price rigging on replica kits. There are, however, very clear controls on what can be sold, how much and where. For example you won't find many cheap/knocked off replica shirts anywhere near Old Trafford, as there is an (unspoken?) uneasy truce between the clubs and vendors, where they produce t-shirts and scarves with club motifs, but no replica shirts. This means that if you want a United shirt, or England shirt, you need to go to an official retailer. The teams would be within their rights to get trading standards or the police to close down anyone violating this peace.
Portugal's version of this is that anyone with a wheelbarrow and a screen printing press in their garage can start knocking out dodgy shirts (to locals and tourists) whilst the police obviously have no interest and wander past without batting an eyelid.
I'd guess that the fact that Portugal turns a blind eye to the fakes industry probably means that the official shirt prices need to be lower than they are over here. Which begs the question, are we supporting the kit manufacturer's profits by paying over the odds in a non-competitive market.
The UK replica shirt market is one of the main features of "Rip off Britain" (The Sun says). £45 for a Home shirt is about average - even for a club like mine (Derby County) who aren't even in the Premiership. The prices are protected by law, rather than market forces, and the punter is the one who misses out rather than the two main kit manufacturers (Nike and Adidas) who control most of the top tier marketplace. The argument is that the quality needs to be controlled, but for a 17 year old on minimum wage (£3.40), a Home shirt of their choice is effectively 2 full days wages before any form of tax. Add to that the escalating cost of a matchday ticket, and you're into the realms of 4 days pay (almost a week) to see your team and wear their colours. Before you buy your food for the week!
Let me make clear that I'm not advocating the illegal production of football shirts; nasty print quality, logos that wash off and cheap shirts that shrink or discolour are not what we want, but a level of realism from the manufacturers should see the costs reduced in order to return this game to its roots. The working man's game. If he can't afford to support his team, what future do we have?
Thursday, 3 July 2008
Franchising for the fans
July 22nd 2008. An important date in the history of sport in this country. But how so, you may ask?
The answer is that July 22nd is the date that the 14 Superleague franchises will be awarded. The 14 teams that will make up Superleague next season will no longer be decded by promotion and relegation, rather by the allocation of franchise status, and a piece of the TV rights pie that goes with it. Imagine the Premiership becoming a closed shop to the Championship teams, unless you were deemed worthy to join them. There are, however, some critical differences.
The selection process has been ongoing for best part of a year now since the 19 candidates put together their business plans and submitted themselves to scrutiny by the independent panel of adjudicators. 10 clear criteria are the basis of the judgement, items such as is your stadium fit for the top level, are you financially solvent, and is your average crowd over 10,000. More importantly, as Rugby League seeks to expand itself into untapped goldmines of France and South Wales, criteria such as homegrown players and any other team within 20 miles are also considered vital.
Why is this so important - surely Rugby League is a minority sport in the UK?
Superleague has, since the advent of summer rugby, been a leader in terms of marketing. The Premiership dominates our conciousness, but has to do very little to keep us engaged. The RFL, who run Superleague, have managed to turn a predominantly northern, flat cap and whippets game into a glitzy (sometimes) and marketable asset, whilst boosting the standard of play and attracting some of the world's top players. All in a sport with strict salary cap guidelines on spending no more than 80% of your income on salary, and surviving on average crowds of approx 10,000. There are no billionaire owners, and even if there were, they would be prevented from going out and buying the Shevchenkos of the world by the regulations and salary cap.
If you've ever been to a game of Rugby League, you'll know the atmosphere is second to none, it's family friendly, you can stand up on the terraces with a pint and there's no trouble. Ring any bells? I'd suggest this is where football was in the late 1970s and 80s. Superleague are trying to keep this as the main selling point, obviously alongside their fast and furious games. For this they deserve congratulations.
One of the main benefits of no relegation is that coaches are not under as much pressure, and can (and do) allow their young talent to break through, rather than relying on substandard journeymen from abroad. Leeds Rhinos, one of the shoe-ins for a franchise award, played 15 homegrown players in the squad of 17 for their game last weekend, after losing 6 first teamers to the England team the same weekend. And still won! Can you imagine a league where David Bentley doesn't feel he had to leave Arsenal to get a game, or lower teams filling their ranks with unknown scandinavians as they're cheaper than their English equivalents?
A franchise system may be mooted as a future plan for the bloated plutocrats of the Premiership, but suffice to say there's no way in which it would be so well managed, and universally accepted, as the Rugby League version.
For those who are lost for something to do in the close (football) season, you could do worse than adopt your local Rugby League team - Salford City Reds in the Manchester area - and get nostalgic for run down terraces where you can enjoy a pie and a pint.
The answer is that July 22nd is the date that the 14 Superleague franchises will be awarded. The 14 teams that will make up Superleague next season will no longer be decded by promotion and relegation, rather by the allocation of franchise status, and a piece of the TV rights pie that goes with it. Imagine the Premiership becoming a closed shop to the Championship teams, unless you were deemed worthy to join them. There are, however, some critical differences.
The selection process has been ongoing for best part of a year now since the 19 candidates put together their business plans and submitted themselves to scrutiny by the independent panel of adjudicators. 10 clear criteria are the basis of the judgement, items such as is your stadium fit for the top level, are you financially solvent, and is your average crowd over 10,000. More importantly, as Rugby League seeks to expand itself into untapped goldmines of France and South Wales, criteria such as homegrown players and any other team within 20 miles are also considered vital.
Why is this so important - surely Rugby League is a minority sport in the UK?
Superleague has, since the advent of summer rugby, been a leader in terms of marketing. The Premiership dominates our conciousness, but has to do very little to keep us engaged. The RFL, who run Superleague, have managed to turn a predominantly northern, flat cap and whippets game into a glitzy (sometimes) and marketable asset, whilst boosting the standard of play and attracting some of the world's top players. All in a sport with strict salary cap guidelines on spending no more than 80% of your income on salary, and surviving on average crowds of approx 10,000. There are no billionaire owners, and even if there were, they would be prevented from going out and buying the Shevchenkos of the world by the regulations and salary cap.
If you've ever been to a game of Rugby League, you'll know the atmosphere is second to none, it's family friendly, you can stand up on the terraces with a pint and there's no trouble. Ring any bells? I'd suggest this is where football was in the late 1970s and 80s. Superleague are trying to keep this as the main selling point, obviously alongside their fast and furious games. For this they deserve congratulations.
One of the main benefits of no relegation is that coaches are not under as much pressure, and can (and do) allow their young talent to break through, rather than relying on substandard journeymen from abroad. Leeds Rhinos, one of the shoe-ins for a franchise award, played 15 homegrown players in the squad of 17 for their game last weekend, after losing 6 first teamers to the England team the same weekend. And still won! Can you imagine a league where David Bentley doesn't feel he had to leave Arsenal to get a game, or lower teams filling their ranks with unknown scandinavians as they're cheaper than their English equivalents?
A franchise system may be mooted as a future plan for the bloated plutocrats of the Premiership, but suffice to say there's no way in which it would be so well managed, and universally accepted, as the Rugby League version.
For those who are lost for something to do in the close (football) season, you could do worse than adopt your local Rugby League team - Salford City Reds in the Manchester area - and get nostalgic for run down terraces where you can enjoy a pie and a pint.
It's Nad-al over for another year
Well that's Wimbledon for another year (yes I know we're not even at semi-finals day yet). One fantastic game to get expectation building up then the usual trauma of our great white hope being ruthlessly annihilated by a serial Slam winner.
Rafa Nadal looked like he had the shots to beat anyone - that is anyone other than the King of the grass courts in his natty cream cardigan. It would be unimaginable for Federer to lose to Nadal on grass - the major bastion of his dominance. And the way he brushed aside Ancic, the last man to beat him on this surface, his inexorable march to the title looks assured.
Will Pimms keep until next year?
Rafa Nadal looked like he had the shots to beat anyone - that is anyone other than the King of the grass courts in his natty cream cardigan. It would be unimaginable for Federer to lose to Nadal on grass - the major bastion of his dominance. And the way he brushed aside Ancic, the last man to beat him on this surface, his inexorable march to the title looks assured.
Will Pimms keep until next year?
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Murray is mint
I've got to take a quick time out from my (so far) football themed posts to congratulate Andy Murray on a fantastic comeback to reach the quarter finals of Wilmbledon. Where he'll now get mullered by Rafa Nadal, but you can't have everything.
It's often that we watch British players and teams imploding when the going gets tough - or perhaps ranting, raving and blaming anyone other than themselves. At 21, Andy murray displayed maturity and self discipline to keep plugging away from 2 sets down, convinced he could still salvage something. Some of his tennis was extraordinary, one or two of his reaches were just short of miraculous.
Congratulations to the cnetre court crowd for pulling their idol through the ordeal, which will only now serve to increase the weight of expectation on his shoulders. Still, if he carries on like that, and as he is still a young man, Federer can't have too many years of domination left...although now I've said that Murray'll retire in a year to become a bodybuilder.
It's often that we watch British players and teams imploding when the going gets tough - or perhaps ranting, raving and blaming anyone other than themselves. At 21, Andy murray displayed maturity and self discipline to keep plugging away from 2 sets down, convinced he could still salvage something. Some of his tennis was extraordinary, one or two of his reaches were just short of miraculous.
Congratulations to the cnetre court crowd for pulling their idol through the ordeal, which will only now serve to increase the weight of expectation on his shoulders. Still, if he carries on like that, and as he is still a young man, Federer can't have too many years of domination left...although now I've said that Murray'll retire in a year to become a bodybuilder.
Closing off Euro 2008
The dust has begun to settle on the 2008 European Championships, as indicated by the publication of the Squad of the Tournament. In a typically political exercise, our chums at UEFA have contrived to pick practically half the continent's available players in a squad of 23, rather than the more accustomed team of the tournament. Who cares who you thought was the 3rd best keeper – Van der Sar apparently - was he better than Artur Boruc who kept Poland in every game they played.
For better or worse here’s my XI –playing 4-1-3-2. And is it possible not to pick Spain’s entire midfield in team of the tournament? (Apologies Andres Iniesta).
GK – Boruc, LB – Zhirkov, CB – Puyol, CB - Simunic, RB - Altintop
DM – Senna
LM – Silva, CM – Xavi, RM - Fabregas
CF – Arshavin, CF - Torres
Tough luck on Michael Ballack who continues to carry a poor German team to heights they should never achieve. Commiserations to Van Der Sar for an excellent final tournament. Finally well done to Turkey and Croatia for showing up some of the more fancied nations, with a level of skill and commitment that was a credit to them.
A team of flops would be much more interesting – let’s hear it for Mario Gomes (worst miss ever) and Luca Toni (most misses in one match), Portugal’s Ricardo (when do you come to catch a cross?) most of the German defence (unable to win the ball near their own area), and anyone in the French team who’d previously won anything (bus pass trophy).
The one bright spot is Xavi of Spain being named the top individual player. Based on his displays throughout the tournament, and off the back of his Barcelona form, we know he's not just a flash in the pan (see previous Arshavin comments about big games?), more so a prime exponent of the killer pass for whichever forward is lucky enough to play ahead of him. Pushed hard for his place by the ever more impressive Fabregas, he looks a firm foundation on which Pep Guardiola (another great midfielder) can start to rebuild Barca.
I’m pleased to say Spain thoroughly deserved to win Euro 2008, my only regret is that after tipping them very heavily to all and sundry, I then forgot to put a bet on. Still, with my money on them, they’d have had no chance.
For better or worse here’s my XI –playing 4-1-3-2. And is it possible not to pick Spain’s entire midfield in team of the tournament? (Apologies Andres Iniesta).
GK – Boruc, LB – Zhirkov, CB – Puyol, CB - Simunic, RB - Altintop
DM – Senna
LM – Silva, CM – Xavi, RM - Fabregas
CF – Arshavin, CF - Torres
Tough luck on Michael Ballack who continues to carry a poor German team to heights they should never achieve. Commiserations to Van Der Sar for an excellent final tournament. Finally well done to Turkey and Croatia for showing up some of the more fancied nations, with a level of skill and commitment that was a credit to them.
A team of flops would be much more interesting – let’s hear it for Mario Gomes (worst miss ever) and Luca Toni (most misses in one match), Portugal’s Ricardo (when do you come to catch a cross?) most of the German defence (unable to win the ball near their own area), and anyone in the French team who’d previously won anything (bus pass trophy).
The one bright spot is Xavi of Spain being named the top individual player. Based on his displays throughout the tournament, and off the back of his Barcelona form, we know he's not just a flash in the pan (see previous Arshavin comments about big games?), more so a prime exponent of the killer pass for whichever forward is lucky enough to play ahead of him. Pushed hard for his place by the ever more impressive Fabregas, he looks a firm foundation on which Pep Guardiola (another great midfielder) can start to rebuild Barca.
I’m pleased to say Spain thoroughly deserved to win Euro 2008, my only regret is that after tipping them very heavily to all and sundry, I then forgot to put a bet on. Still, with my money on them, they’d have had no chance.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
