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Opinion
26.4.10
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
It was great to see Russia's Liliya Shobukhova striding away to win the London Marathon - and equally sad that Britain's Mara Yamauchi couldn't repeat her feats of last year when she was a worthy second.
But then, Mara's preparations for the big event were rather upset after she became a victim of the flight chaos that followed the Icelandic volcanic eruptions.
Given the circumstances, the Japan-based athlete did well to get into the top ten of what is one of the world's major marathons.
By contrast, Shobukhova was able to run a great race and use the finishing power she has picked up from middle distance running.
The European 5,000m track record holder is becoming quite a formidable marathon expert after winning last year's Chicago Marathon - another of the five global "majors" - and certainly seems to be a match for the hitherto dominant Africans.
All in all, the event turned out to be one of the best of recent times - with the London drizzle helping to produce good conditions for the elites while it did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the 37,000 runners in the field.
As ever, there was a a fair smattering of celebrities having a go, which always adds another dimension to the quite engrossing TV coverage on the BBC.
EVENT OF THE WEEK
Global showcases of sport have always produced gate-crashers that seem to have no right to be at the party.
But sporting minnows, from Zaire - at the 1974 football World Cup - to Lithuania - on the verge of rugby union World Cup qualification - add something utterly glamorous and unexpected to the world's biggest sporting stages.
The latest underdogs to upset the balance of sporting power are the cricketers of war-torn Afghanistan, who have made history by qualifying for the Twenty20 World Cup, which gets underway in the Caribbean later this week.
It's a remarkable achievement for a country that has been blasted apart by conflict since the late 1970s and didn't even have a cricket board until 1995.
Indeed, the game was only introduced to exiled Afghanis in neighbouring Pakistan in the 1980s.
It is the children of these cricketing pioneers that have brought so much kudos to their country by taking their place among the 12 teams battling for glory in the West Indies.
To progress beyond the initial stages though, Afghanistan will have to overcome past winners India (on Saturday) and then South Africa (May 5).
But the Afghans are undaunted by the prospect of playing these two mighty nations and are promising to do themselves justice. We'll see!
19.4.10
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
The Premier League title race continues to be the most unpredictable for years - perhaps even since the competition started back in the early 1990s.
At various stages in the campaign both Manchester United and Chelsea have looked like romping away.
But then results have gone against them.
As the Manchester derby entered injury time on Saturday luinchtime. it was conceivable that Chelsea could virtually wrap things up that very day - they were four points ahead of United with just four games to go after all.
A draw for United may have led to Chelsea going a massive six points clear if they could beat Tottenham later that day.
But then the evergreen Paul Scholes capped a brilliant performance to score a decisive winner to take the Reds to within a point of the leaders.
Then, that evening, Spurs - themselves in a battle for fourth spot and the final Champions' League berth with Manchester City - pulled off something of a shock victory.
And it's not just been a two-horse race for the title either with Arsenal looking good candidates (and certainly playing the most fluid football) until injury robbed them of their best players (Cesc Febregas and Thomas Vermaelen following other lengthy problems with Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner).
But the volatile nature of England's top flight is good for the game and it at least looks as if the top four's grasp on the league is broken.
EVENT OF THE WEEK
Is snooker even a sport?
There are some who would say that sport requires at the very least the competitor to break into sweat and display some semblance of physical activity. And it's a fair point.
Snooker is a "pub sport" like darts and cursed with the same sort of cultural iconography - fat blokes guzzling pints in smoke-filled, dimly-lit flea pits.
But that image is far from the truth and probably always has been. Games like darts and snooker require a level of skill, concentration and mental strength that put many full contact, high impact sports to shame.
And snooker has been busily changing its whole image in recent years.
It's interesting to note the transformation at the current world championships in the wonderful city of Sheffield.
Snooker stars have never been that "sexy" in media terms - well, not until players like Kirk Stevens and Stephen Hendrie offered more glamour and personality.
These days there are any number of colourful characters on the green baize, not least Ronnie O'Sullivan.
But it is the TV coverage that elevates any sport to the super league of popularity and status and the BBC's blanket coverage bestows this eminence on the cue artists.
What's incredible, given the length of time matches go on (days in some instances), is that snooker has not come under the sort of pressure that forced cricket to bring in the more spectator-friendly Twenty20 format.
That's what we need in snooker - a two-hour shoot-out.
22.3.10
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
The 2010 Six Nations championship was something of a bizarre affair.
In fact, you could say the only consistent thing about it was its utter inconsistency - results were wholly unpredictable with one-time championship favourites Ireland even losing at home to Scotland on the final weekend.
In the end, France (interesting to note that there's no English translation available on their website!) fully deserved their Grand Slam - though some commentators think otherwise.
But there's no hiding from the reality that England were hugely disappointing yet again and even their spirited 12-10 defeat in Paris couldn't really disguise the truth that Martin Johnson's team appear to be nowhere near the mighty Southern Hemisphere nations.
In contrast to France's record of five wins from five, England managed two victories (against Wales and Italy), a draw (against the improving Scots) and losses to France and Ireland - the latter at home!
The England management believe the team will be ready for next year's World Cup but it's hard to believe.
Yet it was amusing and ironic to see the French using the stifling tactics that Johnson was famous for when he was England skipper to beat his current side.
EVENT OF THE WEEK
It was great to see Ferrari start the season in such good style at the opening Formula One event inBahrain.
Fernando Alonso performed very well and it's now possible to look back on his 2007 season-long spat with then team-mate Lewis Hamilton with some humour.
It would be nice to think Ferrari can be competitive this season - something they haven't managed for a while.
That's why this weekend's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne will prove interesting viewing.
There was a fair amount of driver movement between the teams in the summer while there were one or two changes to the teams themselves, notably the demise of Braun (or rather its purchase by Mercedes).
From a British perspective, the winners of the drivers' championship from the last two seasons - Hamilton (2008) and Jenson Button (2009) - are now teamed together as part of the confusingly-named McLaren-Mercedes outfit.
It's clearly early stages as far as being able to tell which team has the edge - unlike 2009 when Braun were way out ahead of the rest until the summer, when they were suddenly overtaken.
However, this weekend's race should give a better indication of the shape of things to come.
24.2.10
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
The Winter Olympics have produced some absolutely riveting and fantastic small screen action for the BBC.
From the crazy downhill racing antics of the ski cross and snowboard cross events to the crashing and bashing of the ice hockey, these Games have been thrilling.
And I haven't even mentioned the big stars of winter sports yet - such as American snowboarder Shaun White, who scooped the gold in the snowboarding half-pipe with a stunning routine that included his trademark Double McTwist 1260 tomahawk move
But for us Brits, the true highlight has to be Amy Williams winning gold in the women's skeleton bob.
A GB medal at the Winter Olympics is a real rarity but gold is utterly, traffic-stopping sensational.
Williams really caught the public imagination at the weekend after her death-defying slide head-first down a a tunnel of ice.
EVENT OF THE WEEK
English football's first big occasion of the 2009-10 season takes place this weekend, when Manchester United face Aston Villa in the Carling Cup final at Wembley.
Both sides are in great form right now - United in second place in the Premier League with Villa back in seventh - and so we should be in for an intriguing match.
United, going well in the European Champions' League, did suffer a surprise 3-1 reverse at Everton last weekend but hit back with a convincing 3-0 demolition of improving West Ham United three days later at Old Trafford
The amazing Wayne Rooney seemed pretty subdued at his old club on Saturday but was certainly back to his best against the Hammers with another brace of goals to take his season's tally to a remarkable 23.
By contrast, Villa are also hitting top form and were equally clinical in their 5-2 drubbing of Burnley in the league at the weekend as they step up their fight for fourth place (and the final Champions' League qualifying place).
8.2.10
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
It was great to see the New Oreleans Saints go marching in with their first Super Bowl triumph – just after the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
The Saints upset the pre-game favourites, Indianapolis Colts and their superstar quarterback Peyton Manning, with a stunning 31-17 success in Miami.
The Saints, who fought back from a 10-0 deficit early on in the game, were able to return in triumph to a city that was almost destroyed by the great flood and parade through the streets before returning to their home stadium, the Superdome.
The city – most of which was under water in September 2005 – has rightly gone berserk. It’s all a far cry from the scene in the Superdome just after Katrina hit.
New Orleans has bounced back proudly from that huge setback and it’s reassuring to see sport again playing a major part in the wider cultural and social landscape.
But then, that’s why we love sport so much – it has the potential to bring together and unite quite disparate communities; it has a social power that can transcend the formidable boundaries of race, class and gender.
New Orleans’ win of course, is not just a triumph for the Saints and their city, but American Football as a whole and the NFL must be delighted!
EVENT OF THE WEEK
It comes to something when there’s not enough snow for the Winter Olympics, which get underway in Vancouver, Canada this week.
Uunseasonally high temperatures on the Canadian west coast have meant insufficient snow at the Cypress Mountain venue, which is due to stage the freestyle and snowboarding events, and so the organisers have had to take drastic action.
Remarkably, they’ve transported snow in from the Allison Pass 93 miles away.
The Games look like being a pretty impressive if the promotional video and theme song are anything to go by – the graphics and action are spectacular.
And interestingly, the Games will also – as is becoming the norm now at big events with a global audience – be subjected to rigorous dope testing and it’s to be hoped that there are no big instances of cheating.
But what of British hopes? This poor nation, normally bereft of the white stuff most winters, has had a deluge of snow in recent months and so it’s somewhat ironic that the UK team is hoping for its best-ever showing at a Winter Games.
There’s even talk of medals in some quarters, though it’s worth noting that Team GB won just one medal at the last Winter Olympics in Turin – courtesy of Shelley Rudman’s silver in the skeleton bobsleigh, while Britain was a lowly 21st overall in the medals table.
26.1.2010
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
It's fair to say that the British public - and indeed, the British media (particularly English media) - has never enjoyed a comfortable relationaship with tennis star Andy Murray.
For one thing, he's seen as too quiet and reserved - something of an enigma - and for another, he's never won the Grand Slam title that would comprehensively confirm the promise he's been showing for years.
Murray came close a couple of years back, reaching the final of the US Open before defeat to Roger Federer and he's had a few good runs at Wimbledon.
So the debate remains - just how good is he? - another Tim Henman or a Federer.
Now, Murray is enjoying another good run at the Australian Open and his march to the last four included a great win over Rafael Nadal.
If he can overcome Croatian 14th seed Marin Cilic, a probable final against Federer looms.
If he can win the title, Murray's relationship with the public and media back home will change forever.
Victory Down Under would draw Murray out of his shell and propel him to the front rank of British sportsman - alongside the glamour boys of F1 and the England football team.
EVENT OF THE WEEK
Rugby league has never been one of the most glamorous sports around.
But you can't deny the skill involved or the courage of the players - though it's certainly nowhere near as brutal as rugby union as rucks and mauls are not part of the game.
Beyond rugby league's Lancashire-Yorkshire axis, the sport has never really captured the public imagination despite being widely televised - always the main factor in deciding a particular sport's position in the hierarchy beneath football - and SKY do it with some style and aplomb.
The broadcaster will be there all the way as the 15th Super League season, which starts on Friday, unfolds though the next eight months or so.
However, there already seem to be concerns about the long-term future of several of the 14 member clubs.
Welsh outfit Crusaders, who play champions Leeds in the first game of the 2010 campaign on Friday night, would seem to be most in danger after a poor debut season last year when they won only three matches, had six Australian players deported because of visa irregularities (a bigger deal Down Under than here!), and then had to relocate from South Wales to Wrexham in the north (it seems the Welsh are more than happy with their rugby union, which is the national sport after all!).
18.1.10
EVENT OF THE WEEK
The first grand slam tennis event of the year, the Australian Open, offers Britain's Andy Murray another chance to win on the big stage - for the first time!
The Melbourne event runs until January 31 and Murray will be desperate to claim his first major title.
His campaign began in convincing fashion with a commanding straight sets win over South African qualifier Kevin Anderson 6-1 6-1 6-2.
Murray, who will face far greater tests in the next fortnight, now faces France's Marc Gicquel in the second round.
It's been a disappointing few months for Murray, epitomised by his drop down the world rankings, from a high of two last summer to his present position of fourth n the world.
Murray needs a good run at this high-profile event - though all the world's best players are in attendance, including a reinvigorated Rafael Nadal as well as the ever consistent Roger Federer, the newly inspired Novak Djokovic and the always dangerous Juan Martin Del Potro.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
The little known Mark Selby produced a stunning performance to shock the world's best snooker player, Ronnie O'Sullivan, in the final of the Masters event at Wembley.
Whatever the debate here at 13strides about whether snooker is even a proper sport, it can't be denied that Selby defied the odds to fight back brilliantly against the Rocket and clinch the title 10-9.
O'Sullivan, the defending champion, looked to be heading for another major crown when he went 4-1 ahead in the afternoon session, but Selby refused to give in without a fight and reduced the lead to 5-3.
But the writing seemed to be on the wall for Selby when his rival engineered a 9-6 advantage in the evening session - putting himself just one frame away from victory.
Selby responded magnificently however to claim the next four frames and capture his second title in three years.
The event has helped Selby climb up the world rankings and has confirmed his status as one of the game's rising young stars.
11.1.10
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
On a weekend when most of the sport in the UK was halted by some of the heaviest snow - and lowest temperatures - for decades, it was great to see the Edinburgh International Cross Country and accompanying Bupa Great Winter Run go ahead despite the snow and ice underfoot.
And the race certainly lived up to expectations as the previously invincible Kenenisa Bekele - twice a double Olympic champion - finished outside the medals in a remarkable turn of events.
The Ethiopian legend was a distant fourth as Joseph Ebuya earned a surprise triumph in a Kenyan clean sweep in the 9km race around the Scottish capital's stunning Holyrood Park, with Titus Mbishei and Eliud Kipchoge just behind.
It proved a great day of sport all round with British duo Hayley Yelling and Steph Twell putting on good shows in the women's 6km race, which was won by Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba in fine style.
The cross country races were preceded by the Bupa Great Winter Run, with some 1500 runners braving the conditions to have some real fun in the snow.
EVENT OF THE WEEK
The England cricket team have had a few ups and downs in recent years since the Ashes win over Australia in 2005 suggested they would go on to rule the world.
But Andrew Strauss's team are on the verge of pulling off a remarkable series win in South Africa - if they can avoid defeat in the final Test in Johannesburg, which starts on January 14.
Ironically Johannesburg is where Strauss was born before he came to live in the UK at the age of 6 - and no doubt he will be itching to do well in the city of his birth with England surprisingly 1-0 up in the four-match series.
It was a great team performance that has been sandwiched between two magnificent rearguard actions to save the first and third Tests.
However, the pressure seems to be all on England as they attempt to keep their momentum going following last year's success over the Aussies and with Bangladesh and Pakistan the next opponents back home this summer.
The Aussies, who will host England in another Ashes shoot-out next winter, are still ranked as the best in the world with England a lowly fifth - though they are sure to move up the ICC table if they can secure that series win in South Africa.
4.1.10
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
You've got to applaud once mighty Leeds for their unexpected but remarkable 1-0 victory over high-flying
Manchester United on their home turf.
But then the FA Cup tends to produce just this kind of shock result as it pits the aristocrats of the Premier League against lesser league - and often amateur - opponents.
Leeds are hardly that, of course, as they sit proudly at the top of League One and look certain to return to the Championship and perhaps re-evoke the glory days when they won the inaugural Premiership (1992) and were in the Champions' League semis (2001).
In truth though, Manchester United have endured a mixed campaign so far and boss Alex Ferguson had few excuses after the game, admitting his team's display had shocked him.
Unsurprisingly, media around the world have been more than happy to report proceedings at Old Trafford, including the Pakistan Daily Times and South Africa's Pretoria News.
EVENT OF THE WEEK
The world's best distance runners will be braving the elements to take part in the annual Bupa Great Edinburgh International Cross Country races this weekend.
The event will be run on the same day and same course - around the Scottish capital's stunning Holyrood Park - as the Bupa Great Winter Run and be screened live on BBC television and online.
World champion Gebre Gebremariam will be attempting to win the Edinburgh race for the first time, having been runner-up last year.
If he does win the 8.9km senior race, he will add his name to an illustrious list of past winners that includes Ethiopian legends Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba, though snowy and cold conditions are expected to prevail on the day.
Young British runner Steph Twell has gone close in the women's race in the last couple of years while another talented Brit, Andy Baddeley, has won the men's 4km race for the past two years.
30.11.09
EVENT OF THE WEEK
It's remarkable that five years have passed since the then 17-year-old Amir Khan became the star of the Athens Olympics when he won a boxing silver.
The Bolton fighter has come a long way since then, winning all but one of his 22 profesional fights, 15 of then with knockouts.
He became WBA world light-welterweight champion in July after beating Andreas Kotelnik.
Now, he is set to capitalise on his vast potential by making the first defence of his world crown against the unfancied Ukrainian Dmitriy Salita in the rather unlikely venue of Newcastle on Saturday.
Incredibly, there is talk of a British superfight against Ricky Hatton should Khan win, though the 22-year-old might prefer a big money bout against one of his big name rivals in the US.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
As good northern lads, we at 13strides are strong supporters of our town and region - and it goes against the grain for us to applaud the efforts of southern football teams.
But you have to hand it to Chelsea, who have moved up a gear or two this season after a couple of years of near-misses in both the Premier and Champions' leagues.
The way they systematically took apart Arsenal in the capital derby on Sunday was remarkable, numbing the Gunners' admittedly diminished attack and then cracking three goals past them without reply.
New boss Carlo Ancelotti has taken a fair amount of stick for reducing Cheslea's attacking options with his diamond midfield system but a slight rearrangement has paid massive dividends and Didier Drogba suddenly looks to be the best striker in world football.
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