Saturday
There are many who hang on the word of the BBC for their sporting information. And a most reliable service they provide. But in churning out so many results, scores, flashes and words, occasionally someone, somewhere will get it wrong.
The Davis Cup
The more discerning and observant user of the Beeb’s website may have noticed a couple of instances where the pressure of delivery and deadline just got to some operatives. Take the Davis Cup tennis for instance. I’m sure I wasn’t alone in having a double-take when the tweet came through on the progress of Great Britain versus Croatia, namely; “@BBCSport: Croatia take third set tie-break 8-6, but England lead 2-1 #bbctennis.”
It was quickly deleted and amended, though possibly, would have been forgivable a few years ago had GB been represented by a Tim, or a Buster, or someone from the Home Counties like Greg Rusedski. Unfortunately, the England, sorry, Great Britain flag was being flown at that very minute by Andy Murray and Colin Fleming who, as we all know, are Scots. Still, no-one was hurt, unlike the feelings of the wee lassie who failed her examinations on history and geography in the same tweet.
Talking of hurt, some of us were left wondering what almighty blow someone in Glasgow must have taken to the head, or what they had sampled or sniffed, when we read about events at Firhill as Aberdeen took a two-goal lead against Partick Thistle. “GOAL- Partick 0-2 Aberdeen (Pawlett 19mins); Aberdeen would give Arrigo Sacchi’s famous AC Milan side a run for their money on this early first-half form.”
Now given my tacky-tabloid background, I have, I confess, been prone to the odd bit of exaggeration now and again. But this was quite literally Serie A-grade fantasy. Still, it did keep me amused on Saturday afternoon. Unlike Sky’s offering the next day …
Sunday
… which was of course the English Premier League meeting between Southampton and West Ham United, instantly forgettable, and exactly what Sky +’s fast-forward was made for. I’m often quick to praise what is served up by England’s top flight. But this, in all honesty, gave tripe a bad name …
Monday
Commonwealth Games
Tickets over-subscribed
There are one million Commonwealth Games tickets available for Glasgow 2014. Today we find out that more than 2.3 million requests have been made for the briefs, with diving, swimming, athletics, cycling, gymnastics, judo, shooting and triathlon all oversubscribed, with tickets for these sports to be allocated via a draw.
So, for many, it will have been a case of book early to guarantee disappointed …
Tuesday
Stephen Lee began the 2002/03 professional snooker season ranked provisional world No.1. Today, he is firmly established as snooker’s No.1 cheat.
Lee, who had been suspended by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association for almost a year, was found guilty of match-fixing charges, described by authorities as “the worst case of snooker corruption we’ve seen.” The former world No.5 was accused that at the 2008 Malta Cup he conspired to lose to Ken Doherty and Marco Fu while also conspiring to lose to Neil Robertson by a pre-determined 5-1 score.
Stephen Lee
Guilty of Cheating
(pic: creative commons)
Lee was also charged that at the UK Championship that same year he agreed to lose the first frame in matches against Stephen Hendry and Mark King, while the following year he lost matches at the China Open and World Championship to Mark Selby and Ryan Day respectively, again by a pre-arranged score. That was the case, substantiated by the players who opposed Lee in those games, one claiming that Lee made no effort to win either frames or matches.
Lee protested his innocence, but Sport Resolutions, an independent body specialising in sports arbitration, said the bets placed on the seven matches were “substantially successful.” For ‘substantially successful’ read £40,000 paid into his wife’s bank account, and excluding possible cash-in-hand transactions.
Anyone who has hung around snooker long enough will have their own ideas and tales of suspected match-rigging, from the old pro ticket days, through to dodgy qualifying results and all kinds of tales about what went on in round-robin-based tournaments, which is probably where Ronnie O’Sullivan was coming from as well before he backtracked on his accusations.
In the real world, the verdict on Lee will be delivered next week, along with countless epitaphs and memorials on what had been his career …
Wednesday
September 18: that date will be etched in to Scottish history in 12 months time, the date of the Independence Referendum.
Today, 365 days before we put our cross in the box, there are all sorts of events, speeches and announcements to acknowledge the countdown, one of which is of a hugely sporting nature. Scottish Sports Minister Shona Robison says Scotland will press ahead with plans to have Olympic and Paralympic teams at Rio in 2016, if the country votes for independence this time next year.
Shona Robison MSP
Scottish Sports Minister
This proclamation saw a resurrection of all the claims about how successful Scotland was at London 2012, with various ill-informed folk reeling off all the Scots medal winners in various sports, and detailing we’d have finished 12th in the overall medal table. What they again seem to have missed – just as they did 12 months ago – was the number of medals that Scots won as individuals; not as members of teams, boats, or partnerships with other representatives from elsewhere in the British Isles.
That totalled just three, albeit good ones, with Andy Murray and Sir Chris Hoy winning gold and a silver for swimmer Michael Jamieson. That is more 36th than top 12, behind Azerbaijan, those pesky Norwegians we’re always being likened to, Usain Bolt, Iran and North Korea. What could we learn from them? And, we haven’t even touched on who amongst the current crop of athletes would stay loyal to Team GB rather than represent Scotland.
Robison however said more Scots would get the chance to participate in Brazil and in future Olympic Games if independence became a reality. Remind me. This announcement was about sport, not trying to claim votes?
Thursday
Usain Bolt may appear at the Commonwealth Games
(Pic: Nick Webb, Creative Commons)
Mentioning Usain Bolt, today he gave his clearest hint yet that he will compete at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. That good news however was tempered by his suggestion that he will only run in the 200m. I suppose this news could be the way of determining whether someone was a pessimist or an optimist.
He intends running over just one distance, yes, but it’s double what he would have run had he just contested the 100m. See, pessimist, optimist. Being a pessimist or an optimist though will firstly come down to whether you had applied for tickets to watch the 100m or 200m. Still, there is always bowls …
Friday
Lastly, Fulham are to return the statue of Michael Jackson from outside Craven Cottage to the club’s former owner Mohamed Al Fayed. Al Fayed had the tribute to the late pop idol – who visited the ground in 1999 – placed on the approach to the Hammersmith Stand in 2011, but not surprisingly, its arrival divided opinions amongst fans and the wider football community.
So, as part of changes to the London venue following American businessman Shahid Khan’s £150m purchase of the club during the summer, Mr Al Fayed will have his Jackson effigy returned. Definitely an invite to Beat It …