Saturday
Even though you watch boxing half-expecting to see some being hurt, there are times when you still say ‘ouch’ when you see a particular blow landed. That was certainly the case in Connecticut when Matthew Macklin failed in his latest bid to land the WBA world middleweight crown, knocked out in the third by champion Gennady Golovkin. There is an art to landing a good body shot. Do it well, and the effects are devastating. Ask Macklin!
Sunday
Technology plays a huge part in sport. This however, was not one of its better days.
The British Grand Prix at Silverstone turned in to more of an episode of Wacky Races with several drivers left feeling more than deflated after suffering Dick Dastardly-like punctures in their suspect Pirelli tyres.
The Starting Grid
British Grand Prix
(Creative Commons)
Britain’s pole sitter (remember that line for later) Lewis Hamilton suffered the first of a series of blow outs on Lap 8, his left rear shredding mid-circuit. A lap later Fernando Alonso’s right rear deflated, while Hamilton’s woes then befell Felipe Massa, Jean-Eric Vergne and Sergio Perez (who I still think sounds like a Latin American dance band leader), Esteban Gutierrez deciding to be different by puncturing a front tyre on lap 29.
Still, it made for a thrilling spectacle according to the various TV broadcasters – in much the same way as F1 was exciting in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s when you weren’t quite sure who was going crash or be injured next. Technology failures weren’t limited to F1.
On the other side of the world, in football’s Confederations Cup, FIFA rolled out the video system that will assist officials make those crucial goal line calls. It was seen in action for the first time when it confirmed Italy’s Davide Astori as the scorer of the opening goal in the 3/4 Play Off against Uruguay. Astori netted after 24 minutes, but it was not until six minutes into the second half that FIFA confirmed the Cagliari stopper as the scorer. Which gives a whole new meaning to the word ‘instantaneous’ …
Monday
There are times where the pictures do all the talking for you – and Monday’s offering certainly did all of that. Harry Smith’s live insert from Wimbledon in to STV’s Scotland Today news programme should have been the normal run-of-the-mill report. Unfortunately, he didn’t bargain on the dedication of the Wimbledon ground staff, as you can witness here
Now, no laughing …
Tuesday
The build up to The Ashes won’t lack anything in terms of anticipation, or hype. Or jingoism if Sky Sports’ Charles Colvile is anything to go by. On Tuesday, he suggested that the Australians were showing signs of desperation by fast-tracking the citizenship of Pakistan-born spinner Fawad Ahmed so he can participate in the series.
Really Charles?
Mr Colvile might want to cast a quick eye over England’s preferred starting line-up before passing judgement on qualification rules. Or is ignorance bliss?
Wednesday
Neil Doncaster
Most people, and all smart money, knew that Neil Doncaster was a stick on to be handed the chief executive role with the new, although worryingly familiar, SPFL. Those running ‘SPL-max’ decided the position would come down to a two-way contest between Doncaster and David Longmuir, previously of the Scottish Football League. ‘No-one else need apply’ was the message from the equally-new ‘Spiffle’ Board, who in believing this pair were the best possible administrators available to them, showed either a complete lack of foresight, invention, or appreciation of who else is out there, or, simply masterminded a money-saving masterstroke.
If truth be told, this was always going to be the coronation of Doncaster (although don’t be shocked by an early abdication), an individual who ticks the one big box the SPFL string-pullers want ticking, namely, that their ‘top man’ does what he’s told to do. That always tipped the balance against Longmuir, although there was a feeling amongst some former SFL clubs that even throwing his name in to the ring, Longmuir had failed to read the situation, which was, the job was always going to be bestowed upon Doncaster. And so, after months of wrangling, upset and hurt, Scottish football has undergone so much reconstructive surgery that it has been remodelled in to what we had before. Right down to having the same talking head …
Thursday
Livingston FC’s Stadium
Almondvale or Energy Assets Arena
A week ago, Livingston went out of their way when announcing a new shirt and ground sponsorship deal whereby by their home venue would be known – for the next few years at least – as the Energy Assets Arena. Obviously, given the various rebrands over the years, and what with holidays and the likes, maybe the Energy Assets Arena message is taking a little time to get through. Because with Albion Rovers announcing they were switching their Ramsdens Cup match with Rangers to a more suitable location, many news outlets have subsequently reported that Livi’s Almondvale Stadium will host the tie, not the Energy Assets Arena.
As I know from firsthand experience having been involved in dozens of sponsorship deals, that kind of thing is terribly annoying, but, as I have stated on these pages before, changing public perceptions just because a few quid has changed hands is no guarantee of acceptance or acknowledgement. Me, I have no such problems with naming rights or rebranding, and look forward to attending several games this forthcoming season at the Energy Assets Arena, and hope Ferranti Thistle have a successful campaign …
Friday
The whole thing about Andy Murray being British when he wins and Scottish when he loses took on a new twist ahead of his Wimbledon semi-final against Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz. One broadcaster, who shall remain nameless simply because I have no idea who he is (so ladies, you are off the hook on this one), highlighted the dangers of Murray facing a Pole in such a crucial game.
“I mean, we all know what the Poles did to us at Wembley in 1973,” ways his throw away line. Does that make Murray an honorary Englishman? I’m not sure. I’ll really have to ask my qualifications expert Charles Colvile for clarification …