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Sports Category

Sports news, commentary and scores with wit and added value. We compare and contrast the best and worst sports reporting in the mainstream press, blogs, TV and online. We love the English Premier League (Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs, Manchester United and Manchester City) and all things football but we cover cricket, rugby, the Olympics, tennis, golf, F1 and highlights of the sporting year.

Barcelona president tells a funny joke about Arsenal and Manchester City

BARCELONA president Sandro Rosell puts his hand on his hip, a metal dish on his head and spouts about black pots:

“Manchester City want to remove our players and want to destabilise us. It also happens with Arsenal, who come knocking for youth football players and offer them a lot of money” 

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Posted: 18th, October 2012 | In: Sports | Comment


John Terry muses on hindsight

JOHN Terry has had time to think:

“With the benefit of hindsight my language was not an appropriate reaction to the situation.”

Hindsight, eh. Had only someone told the Chelsea captain that saying the words “fucking black cunt” in the general direction of a black man were not an appropriate reaction.

See also: Sooty, Sambo, Serbia and others.

Posted: 18th, October 2012 | In: Sports | Comment


The bodybuilder who missed a bit – photo of the year

TO the Arnold Classic Europe bodybuilding show in Madrid. First up is the man who missed a bit.

More great momenta in muscles control.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in.

 

 

Posted: 15th, October 2012 | In: Sports | Comment


Anderson Silva beats Stephen Bonnar (photos)

ANDERSON Silva (Brazil) has defeated Stephan Bonnar (USA) at the light heavyweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC 153 in Rio de Janeiro. The fight didn’t last a round. Said Silva modestly: “I’m not the best. I just do things that people think are impossible.” We love a cocksure fighter. This is his career in photos:

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Vitor Belfort, right, throws a kick against Anderson Silva during the first round of a middleweight title UFC 126 mixed martial arts bout, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011, in Las Vegas. Silva won by knockout in the first round. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Posted: 14th, October 2012 | In: Sports | Comment


Newcastle FC: are loan sharks better than casinos?

MORE Newscastle FC Wonga news. The Football Supporters’ Federation has joined the FA in being upset by Newcastle’s sponsorship deal with Wonga, the short term cash loan company.

Fans were quick to hit out at the deal with fanzine editor Michael Martin saying, ‘I’d be less bothered about NUFC wearing red and white stripes than having Wonga on our shirts and associated places. They are appalling. True Faith would never take advertising from them or their ilk.’

“The Football Supporters’ Federation backs this stance.”

What about betting companies that suck you in with offers of free bets? You know, like Blue Square, owned by casino operator, Rank:

 

Posted: 12th, October 2012 | In: Sports | Comment


The FA hypocrites are the biggest fans of Wonga

IS the Football Association the most craven outfit in the country? The General Secretary of the FA, Alex Horne, reacted to news that Newcastle FC had signed a deal with short-term loan company Wonga by opining:

“The Football Supporters’ Federation of Britain told us in no uncertain terms it’s not appropriate, David Miliband (the Sunderland non-executive vice-president) has told us he does not think it is appropriate. We are talking to the leagues on Friday about it. If you consider it as in the category of things that are inappropriate for children like gambling and alcohol, it feels like it is in that category to me.”

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Posted: 12th, October 2012 | In: Sports | Comment


Ched Evans: Nine charged for naming footballer’s rape victim on Facebook and Twitter

BACK in April, the ex-Sheffield United striker Ched Evans was jailed for five years for raping a 19-year-old woman in a Rhyl hotel. A group of people thought it an idea to name the victim on Facebook and Twitter. There is no sign that the victim wanted this. She was not making a stand. The five – Hollie Price, 25, from Prestatyn, Gemma Thomas, 18, from Rhyl, and Paul Devine, 26, Daniel Cardwell, 25, and Shaun Littler, 22, all from Sheffield – did it for Ched.

In all nine people have been arrested for revealing information about he rape victim on social networks. The other four are:

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Posted: 11th, October 2012 | In: Sports, Technology | Comment


Lance Armstong: David Walsh and the media’s conspiracy to make a hero

LET’S hear it for great journalism! David Walsh suspected Lance Armstrong was cheating. He was right. Armstrong cheated to win. In 1999, Walsh wrote in the Sunday Times:

“This afternoon I will be keeping my arms by my side. because I’m not sure this is something we should be applauding…For too long, sportswriting has been unrestrained cheerleading, suspending legitimate doubts and settling for stories of sporting heroism.”

That was the first of Armstrong’s seven Tour de France titles.

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Posted: 11th, October 2012 | In: Sports | Comment


Chelsea’s Ryan Bertrand attacked by (grammar) Nazis on twitter

CHELSEA’s Ryan Bertrand is picking up tips and tricks from team-mate Ashley Cole. The 23-year-old  wants to clarify why he has withdrawn from England’s World Cup qualifier against San Marino.

“Just to clarify…. It’s not a ‘sore throat’. I’m ill, swollen glands in my neck and constant headache for three days now and freezing cold. Do you think a ‘sore throat’ could stop me being a part of a match for my club or country? #yourfuckingnuts this is what every boy dreams of.”

Your Fucking Nuts? He adds:

“sorry if I offended anyone by swearing as I don’t encourage that type of language. Was just disappointed at the thought of people thinking I only have a sore throat. Which is not the case.”

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Posted: 11th, October 2012 | In: Sports | Comments (2)


Ian Wright begs us to like weak-minded Ashley Cole and respect authority

TIME for our occasional look at the Sun’s writings of former England, Crystal Palace, Arsenal and West Ham footballer Ian Wright.

When the Andrew Mitchell pleb gate-gate row was on the Sun’s front page days after day, Wright told readers:

IN football, we have a campaign called Respect. It’s a code of conduct for players and managers aimed at stamping out abuse aimed at referees. Tory MP Andrew Mitchell clearly needs to learn some respect after his outburst at police officers…

We need to show the police force respect. This is absolutely vital, especially in these times….

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Posted: 10th, October 2012 | In: Sports | Comments (3)


Garth Crooks picks West Brom and Scotland’s James Morrison for the England team

GARTH Crooks, the BBC’s football expert, picks his Premier League team of the week. He selects West Brom’s James Morrison:

His goal against QPR was textbook midfield play. Anyone who breaks into the box with such determination to get his head to the ball doesn’t just deserve to score but desperately wants to. This is a player Roy Hodgson should now be taking a keen interest in…

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Posted: 8th, October 2012 | In: Sports | Comment


In praise of Ashley Cole – he’s right about Terry, the FA and Shearer

CAN we now all agree to like Ashley Cole? The Chelsea player was the one person we can say was racially abused in the ongoing saga of the FA versus John Terry. Rio Ferdinand called Cole a “choc-ice“.

Terry, of course, uttered the words “fucking black cunt” in the direction of QPR’s Anton Ferdinand. Westminster magistrates ruled that Terry, who said his words were sarcastic, had committed no criminal offence. Still, the FA said Terry was not a racist but had said racist things. He was guilty of unwitting racism, fined and banned.

The FA wants us to get the moral message. Sod the law. Sod actual racism. We need to be educated. Clive Efford MP, Labour’s Shadow Sports Minister, agrees:

“Notwithstanding the fact that the court has found him not guilty, the language he used has no place on any football pitch in any context whatsoever…The FA must now reinforce confidence in that approach, restate their complete commitment to stamping out racism and build on the work that has been done to date, to send the message to every member of our society that racism in any form cannot be tolerated.”

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Posted: 8th, October 2012 | In: Sports | Comments (2)


The Ohio State University Marching Band video game tribute

WHAT did you learn today at school, Billy Bob? Playing with the Ohio State University Marching Band might not get you a job, but it will finally prove to mom and pop that you were nor playing video games for months of your life – you were researching:

 

 

Posted: 7th, October 2012 | In: Sports | Comment


Chelsea’s Juan Mata and David Luis are the same person, says Daily Mail

ON the official Chelsea website:

David Luiz only recently committed himself to Chelsea for another five years, signing a new contract after our win against Stoke at Stamford Bridge last month. It was a sign that club and player are in tandem.

‘I’m so happy because it gives me more confidence to look to the future, to try and help Chelsea all the time,’ he said. ‘I love this club and playing for Chelsea, so five more years here is a dream for me.’

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Posted: 4th, October 2012 | In: Sports | Comment


Blackburn Rovers manger news: Garry Flitcroft sticks

YOU have to admire the lad’s ambitions. The Lancashire Telegraph delivers the sports scoop of the day:

“The Lancashire Telegraph understands former Rovers skipper (Garry) Flitcroft, currently manager at Evo-Stik Premier Division outfit Chorley, would be keen to discuss the role at Ewood Park.”

Other who might be keen to discuss the move: every manager in the Evoo-Stick Premier Division.

Posted: 3rd, October 2012 | In: Sports | Comment


Why don’t Liverpool’s youngsters ask Luis Suarez for advice?

UNLOVELY Liverpool striker Luis Suarez is talking to Liverpool’s official website about the club’s investment in youth:

The forward explained that the first-team players in the dressing room will make themselves available to advise their younger teammates, although they have yet to approach him. “Not really, maybe it’s because I don’t speak English or something.”

Yeah. Maybe.

Posted: 3rd, October 2012 | In: Sports | Comment (1)


London Olympics legacy in action: the ‘No Ball Games’ sign

THE London Olympics Legacy in action: sign of the day:

Spotter: JamieLondon 

Posted: 2nd, October 2012 | In: Sports | Comment


NFL legend Jim Marshall trials Apple maps during match (epic fail)

WHAT happened when American NFL star Jim Marshall agreed to trial a beta version of Apple Maps during a game:

Spotter: JeremyVine

Posted: 30th, September 2012 | In: Sports | Comment


John Terry left out of Chelsea’s Dolce & Gabbana shoot

JOHN Terry, football’s oil slick, has been fined £220,000 and handed a four-match ban for not being a racist, rather for saying racist-themed words. His was a “racially-aggravated public order offence”. He said “fucking black c*nt” to QPR’s  Anton Ferdinand,  and that’s enough for the FA.

The whole thing has been a gigantic mess. How it ended up in court is a worry.

Terry broke FA Rule E3, which states that footballers should refrain from using “abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour”. This includes any “reference to a person’s ethnic origin, colour or race”.

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Posted: 28th, September 2012 | In: Sports | Comment


John Terry: guilty of racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand in FA hearing

WHAT do you do about racists? Tell them they’re wrong? Well, that doesn’t work because there’s no reasoning with racists. Punch them in the mouth then? Violence and racism pretty much equate in terms of lousy actions.

Well, if you’re the FA and you’ve just found John Terry guilty of being racist, you hand them a four match ban.

That’s right! Four whole days off work for being a thoroughly awful human. And that’s what John Terry is. That’s not to say he’s an actual racist, rather, he seems to be the kind of person who might say the most damaging thing in his head just to wound someone, whether he means it or not.

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Posted: 27th, September 2012 | In: Sports | Comment


FLASHBACK to 1970: fabulous furry fight fans for Muhammad Ali

FLASHBACK to December 7, 1970. Muhammad Ali was fighting Oscar Natalio Bonavena from Argentina, at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The fans wer there. The fans’ fashion was memorably:

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Posted: 27th, September 2012 | In: Flashback, Sports | Comment


Wonderful Liverpool FC graffiti at John Lennon Airport

AT Liverpool Airport, some vandal (surely, witty sod – Ed) has added his views on Liverpool FC to a sign:

 

Posted: 26th, September 2012 | In: Sports | Comment


Kelvin MacKenzie says he’s a victim of Hillsborough

KELVIN MacKenzie is a victim of Hillsborough. The stammering apologiser who as Sun editor created the infamous “THE TRUTH” headline that stated as fact Liverpool fans had been complicit in their own deaths, writes in the Spectator:

“Now I know – you know, we all know – that the fans were right. But it took 23 years, two inquiries, one inquest and research into 400,000 documents, many of which were kept secret under the 30-year no-publication rule, to discover there was a vast cover-up by South Yorkshire Police about the disaster. Where does that leave me?”

Because Kelvin likes to weigh up all the evidence before declaring what the truth is.

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Posted: 26th, September 2012 | In: Key Posts, Sports | Comment (1)


Spanish police behave like Spanish police as they beat up Manchester City fans (video)

WHEN Manchester City went on tour to Real Madrid, the local police managed to behave badly. David Dubas-Fisher filmed the argy-bargy. He called it:  The Ghost of Franco Returns to Haunt Manchester City

Hey. It’s not like Abu Dhabi, is it. Franco would have like it over there.

Langauge is NSFW.

 

Posted: 25th, September 2012 | In: Sports | Comment


Tony Pulis bemoans cheating foreigners and praises cheating Peter Crouch

STOKE City manager Tony Pulis is not only the force that binds an entire city and helps sickly children, he is the paragon of English football. Following his die’s defeat to Chelsea, Pulis opined:

“Ivanovic’s one in the first half is laughable and the lad Oscar, who’s a fabulous player. This is England. We’re playing in England, we’re not playing in Europe. And we can’t watch people just fall over and not talk about it. That’s the disappointing thing. We should highlight it and keep highlighting it and keep highlighting it. There are certain players in the Premier League who have got a reputation and referees know that if you touch them then they’ll fall down or go down as quickly as they can.

“The people that do it, just keep highlighting it, keep showing it, because it’s a part of the game that I don’t think we should stomach and we don’t talk about enough.”

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Posted: 25th, September 2012 | In: Sports | Comment (1)