A controversial choice for some
Saturday
If we were wondering if this Ashes series would ever boil up, we didn’t have to wait very long.
Stuart Broad
England Cricketer
Stuart Broad’s decision not to walk having been caught by Michael Clarke, via the glove of Brad Haddin off the bowling of Ashton Agar, was criticised widely, but equally supported by many. In the end, the only people who were proved wrong were those who said it would never have happened a generation ago,
I recall back in 1987, an England opener refusing to walk when he’d been given out against Pakistan. And his name? A certain Chris Broad, father of the aforementioned Stuart. So deciding not to walk isn’t anything new in cricket. Indeed, it’s almost hereditary ….
Sunday
The Broad case enhanced the argument of those who believe sport is just full of cheats at the top level.
Tyson Gay
Failed a drugs test
Sadly, that lobby probably has a few additional supporters when it comes to athletics, especially after today’s stunning news that former world champion Tyson Gay and Jamaica’s ex-100m world record holder Asafa Powell have failed drug tests. Both American Gay, jointly the second fastest man ever over 100m, and Powell tested positive for the banned stimulant oxilofrine.
If Usain Bolt has taken sprinting forward with his breathtaking feats over the past four or five years, even he isn’t beyond suspicion after this latest hammer blow, guilty only of association. Because sadly these days, after a string of high-profile failures, especially in sprinting, even the greatest athletes are considered innocent and ‘clean’ only because they haven’t yet been exposed or found out …
Monday
In business terms, Adidas produce a near-Tyson Gay like performance in distancing themselves from their athletics ambassador after this latest revelation.
Adidas are quickly out of the blocks in announcing they have suspended their sponsorship deal with Gay, a spokesman admitting; “We are shocked by these recent allegations. Even if we presume his innocence until proven otherwise, our contract with Tyson is currently suspended.”
The days of ‘innocent until’ appear long gone in the world of endorsement.
Whereas before, backers would see out the storm until it came to a natural, or should that be chemically-enhanced conclusion, many have wised up to the damage that can be done hanging around too long near bad news. The ‘Nike effect’ as some call it. Others just know it as Woods, Armstrong and Pistorius …
Tuesday
And a further blow for athletics today with the announcement that reigning world 100m champion Yohan Blake has withdrawn from next month’s World Athletics Championships in Moscow with a hamstring injury.
Yohan Blake
Injury Problems
The 23-year-old Jamaican – who won the title in 2011 when countryman Usain Bolt false-started – has been struggling with his fitness for some time. He pulled out of his country’s national championships last month having been troubled by the injury since April. However, while Blake’s injury is probably absolutely genuine, the timing of this news only fuels speculation over the ‘real’ reasons for his non-appearance.
If WADA, or the World Anti-Doping Agency to give it its Sunday name, could test for scepticism or coincidence, then their laboratories would be working overtime today …
Meanwhile, in less controversial surrounds, I make an appearance on BBC Scotland’s ‘Call Kaye’ programme to discuss The Open championship, or to be more precise, chat about the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers and their outdated stance of not allowing women members. In allowing Muirfield to stage The Open, the R&A have been seen to endorse this ‘tradition,’ albeit completely legal.
I am amused though, by how people are shock and outraged that 50% of the population are barred from being members at Muirfield, ignoring the fact that probably 98% of the other fifty percent are also unlikely ever to be afforded membership.
Still, when I get around to completing my Dictionary of Sport, I do hope I won’t have to amend my definition of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. I think ‘elitist clique’ sums them up perfectly …
Wednesday
Celtic’s Eurpean Campaign
already under way but playing to a small crowd
Not a delivery has been bowled in the Second Ashes Test, or a ball driven in anger at The Open, yet Celtic have already embarked on their European campaign, kicking-off against Cliftonville in Belfast. While there is a sizable Celtic contingent at this match, the Parkhead club still returned 500 tickets for the tie, although those were snapped up quickly by the locals. There were a number of reasons given why Celtic didn’t sell out their allocation.
The on-going riots in Belfast was one (albeit tickets were available before those troubles kicked off), though supporters simply saving their pennies or bigger and better adventures was a more plausible. I’d also state another factor. Who the hell wants to be watching football in the middle of July, and a few days into what are the traditional Glasgow trade holidays? Those who advocate summer football in Scotland might want to ponder that.
Meeting Cliftonville was important, vital, even crucial to Celtic, and still that wouldn’t compel many fans to break with traditions or part with cash. So why would it be any different for a run-of-the-mill league game?
Thursday
After all the brouhaha in the lead up to the tournament, The Open tees off at Muirfield. And as happens every year, I feel immensely satisfied, usually at some other poor guy’s expense. This time it’s Scotland’s Lloyd Saltman turn to give heart to every club golfer – and non-golfer – in the land. Setting out at 6.32am in the first group, Saltman carded a quadruple bogey eight at the first hole, after hitting two balls out of bounds from the tee. I shouldn’t laugh. But like many, I suddenly feel twice the player I’ve never been.
Rory McIlroy
Pic: Ed McDonald
(Creative Commons)
Talking about disasters, there is little other way to describe Rory McIlroy’s first round, the world No.2 saying he felt “unconscious” and “brain dead” as he carded an eight-over-par 79 on day one at Muirfield. The 24-year-old Northern Irishman has yet to win a tournament this season, after switching to Nike (‘effect’) equipment in a multi-million dollar deal in January. He’s not the first to slump after changing clubs. And, he wouldn’t be the first to disappear either, despite how good a game he can talk. McIlroy is too good for that. Or at least he was with the right clubs in his hands.
Maybe money isn’t everything Rory …
Friday
Watching the Ashes, you wonder how you ever managed to enjoy cricket on the box thirty or forty years ago, when you were lucky to have an action replay, never mind DRS, Hawkeye, Hot Spot, Snicko the Snickometer, a rev counter, stump cam and even something to measure the angle of spin. Don’t get me wrong, this James Bond-like gadgetry only adds to the experience. But I’d still swap in all to have Richie Benaud commentating.
You do wonder what they will think of next. For me, going back to the 70’s, I just wish they had some form of x-ray machine and a ‘painometer’, just to see in greater detail how brave (or mad) Brian Close was standing up to current Sky Sports ‘voice’ Michael Holding. I bet Sky Sports would have had a pay-per-view channel set up just for that x-rated stuff …