Saturday 25 August 2012

Kick off.


This year the Premier League celebrates its second decade and there was certainly cause for celebration after some big scoring opening encounters. Memories flooded back to Manchester City's nail biting historic victory at the end of last season after witnessing their thrilling win over newly promoted side Southampton.
However not all the "bigger" clubs got off to winning ways with Sir Alex's team not out the starting blocks, newly appointed Rodgers off to a horrible start at Anfield and Reading causing Champion League winners Chelsea a mild mid-week scare. With just under a week to go until the summer transfer window closes it will be interesting to see what new signings are quick off the mark and perhaps the most anticipated action of all coming from the beast himself, Andy Carroll.
So here are the fixtures as they stand for the weekend along with my predictions:

Saturday 25th

Swansea vs. West Ham: A definite feel good factor around East London at the moment but Welsh side on a high from first game thrashing. 2-0 Swansea.
Aston Villa vs. Everton: Two Scottish managers go head to head (not rare for the PL I may add)! Most played fixture with Villa edging by two wins. 2-1 Everton.
Man Utd vs. Fulham: Possible debut back to back wins on the cards for Fulham in top flight but RVP set to start for the Reds. 3-2 Man U.
Norwich vs. QPR: Humping for Hughes side in opener and funnily enough a 5-0 defeat for the Canaries too- whose going to come out on top? 1-0 QPR.
Southampton vs. Wigan Both tough games so far for clubs, needed points on the board for both sides. 1-1.
Sunderland vs. Reading Biggest transfer from yesterday for Steven Fletcher so lets see if striker can deliver. This is a tough call. 3-1 Sunderland.
Tottenham vs. West Brom Great win for WBA but narrow defeat for Villa Boas side. 2-1 Spurs.
Chelsea vs. Newcastle Terry most likely out with neck injury but team sitting top of table. 2-0 Chelsea.

Sunday 26th

Stoke vs. Arsenal Must win for Gunners 2-2.
Liverpool vs. Man City Crucial for Liverpool to build on last weekend performance and last time Balotelli played at Anflied was sent off after 18 minutes yikes! 2-1 Man City.

Friday 24 August 2012

Lance Armstrong.


Waking up to read that one of the greatest sportsmen and inspirational human beings of my lifetime has been found guilty for drug cheating was numbing. In my eyes, he is thee champion of all professional road cyclists who cannot be bettered for his personal and professional story.  Brought up watching his seven Tour de France victories, wearing my Livestrong bracelet with pride and yes, jealous of my dad owning a US Postal cycling jersey I was gutted to say the least. In a sport which seems to constantly be scarred by drug cheating allegations I can't quite believe it could be him too. What are your opinions? Do you not quite get it? How can he be found guilty of anything when he has never provided a positive drug test? Or has he?
Yellow is his favourite colour
The United States Anti Doping Agency announced today that Armstrong has "received a lifetime period of ineligibility and disqualification of all competitive results from August 1, 1998 through the present." This including forfeiture of any medals, titles, winnings, finishes, points and prizes. 
To paint a clearer picture of why this is we shall start with the anti-doping rule violations for which he is being sanctioned for:
1. Use and/or attempted use of prohibited substances and/or methods including EPO, blood transfusions, testosterone, corticosteroids and masking agents.
2. Possession of prohibited substances and/or methods including EPO, blood transfusions and related equipment (such as needles, blood bags, storage containers and other transfusion equipment and blood parameters measuring devices), testosterone, corticosteroids and masking agents.
3. Trafficking of EPO, testosterone, and corticosteroids.

4. Administration and/or attempted administration to others of EPO, testosterone, and cortisone.

5. Assisting, encouraging, aiding, abetting, covering up and other complicity involving one or more anti-doping rule violations and/or attempted anti-doping rule violations.

This evidence against Lance Armstrong arose from disclosures made to USADA by more than a dozen witnesses who agreed to testify and provide evidence about their firsthand experience and/or knowledge of the doping activity of those involved in the United States Postal Service Conspiracy as well as analytical data. So as part of the investigation Armstrong was invited to meet with USADA and be truthful about his time on the USPS team but he refused. 
*It is useful to note that all the listed activities above are defined as anti-doping rule violations under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, the United States Olympic Committee National Anti-Doping Policies, USA Cycling rules and the International Cycling Union (UCI) Anti-Doping Rules (UCI ADR), all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List. * It really is astounding how serious anti-doping in sport has become!
BUT the twist in the tail is that Lance Armstrong has never tested positive in this time period or in fact ever for illegal drug use! So surely how can there be any case of rule violation when he has proven his innocence time after time? I will steer you towards reading this statement released by the man himself earlier today - his words are most definitely better than mine.

As things stand, following the dismissal of Armstrong's lawsuit on Monday, August 20, 2012, by the federal court in Austin, Texas, he had until midnight on Thursday, August 23, to contest the evidence against him in a full evidentiary hearing with neutral arbitrators as provided by US law. However, when given the opportunity to challenge the evidence against him, and with full knowledge of the consequences, he chose not to contest the fact that he engaged in doping violations from at least August 1, 1998 and participated in a conspiracy to cover up his actions. It makes me question why has he thrown in the towel and therefore live being called a doper and a cheat for the rest of his life?  On the flipside it appears he is fighting against a brick wall so there is little point in him wasting the rest of his life, time and money on a lost cause.
On a lighter note, I will never forget the day I heard he was coming to Paisley for a surprise bike ride after tweeting "Hey Glasgow, Scotland! I'm coming your way tomorrow. Who wants to go for a bike ride? Over 300 folk turned up to join him on his bike ride although I am not too sure how many of them were there at the end!! Even the former Scottish world record cycling champion Graeme Obree turned up who Armstrong referred to as the "Flying Scotsman".

Lance and the Paisley punters!
He will remain an inspiration to so many over the world not only as an athlete but as a guy who was diagnosed with testicular cancer and won. 
Livestrong people!

Wednesday 22 August 2012

Those two weeks.

Is anybody else still having withdrawal symptoms from the Olympics? Still wondering what to watch? Longing for another montage? Luckily, in one week's time coverage of the Paralympics on Channel 4 shall begin! After witnessing British people reach such successful heights in so many sports it makes me wonder; what if I gave a different sport a go?!  Maybe judo, canoeing or even boxing? Well, I'd probably injure myself or die although female hockey players did pick up quite a few nasty knocks this year!
Gold for Edinburgh!
Firstly, there were the athletes..with the pressure of the world on their shoulders who rose to the occasion and proved any doubters wrong. Andy Murray's gold winning performance against perhaps the greatest male tennis player of all time, enough said. In such a historic location and competition he completely dominated Federer from start to finish- it was unforgettable! What made it even more special was the not so formal Wimbledon crowd who roared and jumped at any given moment! On the track, once again, the lightening bolt struck gold three times making the Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt officially a legend. For Brits, there was also that Saturday night where three golds were achieved through the dreams of golden girl Jessica Ennis, runner Mo Farah and jumper Greg Rutherford. At the other end of the pressure scale, Phillips Idowu had a Games to forget where he was just unable to deliver and reach the final largely caused by a hampered build up due to injury. 
Then there were those..where London 2o12 might have been their final appearance at an Olympic Games. The sensational Sir Chris Hoy struck gold once again in the velodrome becoming the most successful British Olympian of all time in terms of gold medals; here's hoping he goes for Glasgow 2014! On the topic of most successful Olympians, the now retired "fishman" also known as the American Michael Phelps splashed all records out the water and  is the most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 medals! It may have not been an inspiring swimming campaign for the Brits but the American stole the show along with  Chad Le Clos's dad, Bert! Continuing in the water, there was definite relief for Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins who rowed over the line to take gold and of course Ben Ainslie making history in his boat.
Gold for Dunblane!
On a breather from the athletes and a detour from listing Olympic stories, for many the opening and closing ceremonies were the highlight of the Games. At the heart of these masterpieces were the wonderful  ideas of the creators but most importantly you and me; the public. There would be no world stage for these athletes without the volunteers who gave up so much time, the performers who danced their socks off, the crowds who lived each moment, the funding by the British public and everybody else behind the scenes! London 2012 proved to be a successful combination of hard work, dedication and vision from a variety of people. Another highlight of the Games perhaps were the spur of the moment gestures and comical mishaps. The image of the German discus thrower Robert Harting hurdling down the track is still vivid as I'm sure everyone was holding their breath and hoping he was not going to do a Vania Stambolova!! 
Lastly, there were those athletes..whose dreams were for many unexpectedly realised at the Games. The gutsy gold medal winning boxing from Nicola Adams, the accuracy of Peter Wilson in the shooting and the surprise 400m hurdles title for Felix Sanchez! Of course, there are hundreds and hundreds of more names to celebrate but as for a change there are too many to mention for Team GB! 
For me, my Olympics was a free ticket for the women's football quarter final between France and Sweden and it was class! Glaswegians do enjoy a game of football and there was no holding back with this crowd. There were Mexican waves flying around the stadium and constant "oohing" and "aahing" from the spectators also not forgetting the comedy and music acts outside Hampden. A real Olympic spirit was felt.

No mix up with the flags this time!
Thankfully,  the countdown is on for the Paralympics and for the more success stories to come; only one week to go! #takethestage

Friday 3 August 2012

On your marks.

Athletics is the perfect expression of the Olympic motto ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’– the competition requires athletes to run faster, throw further, jump higher and leap longer than their rivals. With 2,000 athletes competing in 47 events, Athletics is the largest single sport at the Games. With less than 24 hours to the first event- the men's shot put qualification rounds- which countries and athletes will prove stronger than the rest?
From a GB medal prospective, a lot can be taken from athletes performances from the warm up meets to London. Over the past month a variety of athletic competitions and trials have taken place such as the London Grand Prix, Helsinki European Athletics Championships and Birmingham Olympic trials. These were either an opportunity for athletes to secure a solid confidence building performance before the greatest show on earth but also simply for qualification into the Games. 
Mobot!
Mo Farah showed pure class in his 5000m race retaining his European Championship title in Helsinki. The Brit who pulled out of the 1500m final at the Birmingham Olympic trials the week before was criticised as being disrespectful to his fellow competitors but it looks as though his pick of the races paid off. As one of our greatest medal hopes, can he step up and perform in London? 
Another gold medal contender Jessica Ennis, labelled the "Golden Girl" of Team GB is entering the Games with the hopes of the nation on her shoulders of becoming Olympic heptathlon champion. This year she broke the British heptathlon record set by Denise Lewis 12 years ago and recently performed personal bests in her weaker events. If all goes to plan and the long jump and javelin cause her no grief there should be no stopping her.  
Looking at the younger and less experienced members of the team, the 800m Scottish athlete Lynsey Sharp has earned her place with personal best performances winning the Birmingham trials and gaining a silver medal in the final in Helsinki.  Another young Scot Eilish McColgan , has battled back from an horrendous foot injury to show courage and determination to qualify as one of two females representing GB in the 3000m steeplechase. It is fair to say these athletes are far from favourites for medals but if they are able to reach finals who knows what could happen as anyone knows it's who performs on the day. 
Lastly not forgetting the team captain, Welsh runner Dai Greene, hoping the home crowd will spur him on to overcoming his biggest rival Javier Culson in the 400m hurdles. Greene has already proven himself on the main stage winning the World Champs last year and previously the European Championships and Commonwealth Games - now its his time to step up and lead by example in London!
Mentioned here are only a select few of the 80 plus strong GB athletics team not to forget our only track and field reigning champion Christine Ohuruogo going in the 400m to retain her title. With so much pressure put on the host nations medal tally, this Sunday evening will be a pleasant change to sit back and potentially witness the fastest 100m ever run by a human being. Jamaica? Blake, Bolt, Bolt, Blake...or will the U S of A ruin the Caribbean party? 

Tune in to BBC Sunday 5th August 21.50 to find out!

As for now, let's go track and field team GB!