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.
Arsenal balls: Wenger and the title dream ‘deadline’
Arsenal Balls: The Daily Express’ football reporting is laughably poor. Arsenal manager Arsenal Wenger said he hoped to make Arsenal Premier League contenders. Wenger has a new three-year contract.
Sky Sports listens and says: Wenger wants Arsenal to compete for the title.
The Telegraph says: Wenger said Arsenal will win the title inside tree years.
But the pick of the balls is with the Express, which says: Two years to win the league.
More talking balls every day…
Liverpool Balls: Balotelli Is Only A Racist If You Think He Is
Liverpool Balls: Mario Balotelli is attracting attention for posting a message online that contained a racist trope. Balotelli says he will fight any FA ban.
Oliver Kay writes:
Football has endured a succession of depressing race-related controversies over the past few years — John Terry, Luis Suárez and, more recently, Malky Mackay and Dave Whelan — but Balotelli’s latest indiscretion would appear to belong in a different category.
Whatever his flaws, Balotelli, the poster boy for multicultural 21stcentury Italy, born to Ghanaian immigrants in Sicily, brought up by a Jewish family in Lombardy, subjected to appalling racist abuse in his homeland, did not seem an obvious candidate for the sport’s latest race storm.
The problem with Balotelli, according to many who have worked with him, is that he gets bored very easily and, to be polite about this, lacks qualities of discernment. That is why on Monday evening, at a loose end, he re-posted a mocked-up picture of Super Mario, the computer game character, along with the words “jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew” …
The FA — not before time — has sought to send out the message that such phraseology and such stereotyping is not acceptable in English football. It is a policy that Balotelli, who felt so let down by the football authorities in Italy, would probably applaud if he took a moment to think about. Unfortunately, he rarely thinks until it is too late.
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Posted: 3rd, December 2014 | In: Liverpool, Sports | Comment
Liverpool Balls: Mario Balotelli Apologises
Mario Balotelli is a good bloke. He’s entertaining. Sure, he posted a stupid picture of ‘Super Mario’ grabbing coin “like a Jew“, but he’s apologised.
A man who lets of fireworks in his bathroom might not be someone who thinks things through…
Posted: 2nd, December 2014 | In: Liverpool, Sports | Comment
Bigots Of Wigan Rejoice: You Can Now Attack Liverpool’s Mario Balotelli For Being A Black Jew
Mario Barwuah Balotelli’s mother is a Jew. She’s the daughter of Holocaust surivors. Yep, Mario is a black Jew. This is great news for racists who are tired to attacking the player’s skin tones. They can now broaden their chants.
But is his being the son of a Jew enough to save the Liverpool striker from the censors and offence-seekers?
He hopes so.
Is Mario Balotelli the self-loathing Jew?
Shut up about what?
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Posted: 2nd, December 2014 | In: Liverpool, Sports | Comment
Manchester City Balls: You’ll Never Guess Whose Top Of The List To Replace Pelligrini
Who will be the next manager of Manchester City?
City fans might look at Manuel Pelligrini and think, ‘Why change?’ He’s doing well. But the Chielean’s inability to behave badly means he’s no good for stories. Better to look for a new broom.
So. The Sun has facts about Manchester City’s next manager:
Diego Simeone is TOP of the Manchester City list to replace Pelligrini.
Not so says the, er, Sun. TOP of the list to replace Pelligrini is Pep Guardiola.
You can read both stories in today’s Sun. Tops for TOPS!
Posted: 1st, December 2014 | In: Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Chelsea Balls: Frank Lampard Wanted To Stay And Wants Manchester City To Win
Jamie Redknapp writes for the Daily Mail. Frank Lampard’s cousin says of Frank Lampard, now with Manchester City:
Who wouldn’t want the greatest goalscoring midfielder in Premier League history in their squad?
Answer: Chelsea.
And be in doubt that Chelsea did not want Lampard to stay at the club. As the player said:
“I would have obviously stayed if Chelsea had offered me another year. There was no reason for me to leave… If Chelsea had given me a new contract it would have been mad not to take it at the time… I had a chat with Jose Mourinho and both he and the club were always great with me. The decision was made – and I don’t know who made it.”
Redknapp then states that Lampard would like to win the league with Manchester City.
More Jamie Redknapp insight every week…
Posted: 1st, December 2014 | In: Chelsea, Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Cellino disqualified from Leeds United and how not to run a football club
SINCE the fallout of Peter Risdale’s creative interpretation of debt, Leeds United have been a mess. Even if you loathe the club (hello Manchester United fans and Brian Clough’s ghost), you have to feel sorry for the Leeds fans.
They went from Champions League cup runs, to playing in the third tier of English football, Leeds’ financial implosion is up there with the worst (notably Portsmouth and Rangers).
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Posted: 1st, December 2014 | In: Sports | Comment (1)
Game Of Thrones Star Mimicks Manchester United’s Louis Van Gaal In Video
Actress Carice van Houten, center, and friends attend HBO’s “Game of Thrones” fourth season premiere after party at the Museum of Natural History on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal has been lampooned by Dutch actress Carice van Houten, chiefly famous for being the Red Priestess Melisandre in Game Of Thrones.
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Posted: 30th, November 2014 | In: Celebrities, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Arsenal Get Newcastle’s Sissoko Because His Super-Agent Says So
Transfer Balls: The Sunday Times says Arsenal are ready to invest £15m raid on Newcastle’s Sissoko.
French midfielder’s defensive drive appeals to Wenger as he searches for sturdy cover in Jack Wilshere’s absence
Sturdy cover for “sturdy” Jack Wilshere? When you think of Wilshere, sturdy is not a word that springs to mind. But is Sissoko coming to the Emirates?
[In 2013] The club said Sissoko had signed a six-and-a-half year contract. However, that was contradicted in the summer when his agent Frederic Guerra claimed Sissoko had only 18 months left on his deal at St James’ Park.
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Posted: 30th, November 2014 | In: Arsenal, Sports | Comments (2)
Spurs Pitch Invaders: Funny or nah?
IT has been revealed that the three people who disrupted Tottenham Hotspurs’ Europa League match with Partizan Belgrade were internet japesters who are well known for their pranks.
The three are part of a gaggle of gagsters called TrollStation, who in the past, have faked kidnappings and turned Tube trains into ad-hoc stripclubs. Imagine Jackass, without the Skateboards and you’re halfway there.
Alas, the three men are still in police custody after being arrested following their on-pitch antics.
Here’s some footage.
As you can see, some of the invasions were for a decent amount of time, as the blokes had time to take some selfies while darting around the players.
Each of the jokers wore shirts that said BassBuds on them, which is the company that make Spurs branded headphones. They weren’t impressed, saying: “We are appalled that the game was interrupted in this manner. We do not condone the interruption of any sporting fixture in this way.” Spurs were less impressed and cut all ties with BassBuds.
Here’s some more footage.
TrollStation themselves managed to upload a video of their antics (which you can see below), where the invaders state: “Today we’re going to see who lasts longer on the pitch.”
It seems, despite the arrests, they’re planning another gag too, with a tweet suggesting: “The questions is Emirates Stadium or Stamford Bridge?”
Thing is, while it is annoying that a football match should be broken up and disjointed in this way, surely the staid, rarified air of professional football should be broken up now and then with… well… some piss-taking.
No-one was hurt (apart from BassBuds accountancy sheets) and Spurs won the match? Surely we should all just laugh at this and the lads who got on the pitch should get nothing more than a fine?
Posted: 29th, November 2014 | In: Sports, Spurs | Comments (2)
Arsenal Balls: Watch Manchester United’s Paddy McNair Take Out Jack Wilshere With A Bad Foul
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is injured. He was clobbered by Manchester United’s Paddy McNair.
No foul was given.
The Manchester Evening News made not single mention of the foul that ended Wilshere’s match.
The London Evening Standard says Wilshere was “left in a heap” by McNair’s foul.
The clubs’ local newspapers are reporting to the converted.
As Arsenal fans bemoan the referee, the MEN massages its match report and McNair makes a name for himself, Wilshere recovers from surgery to his badly injured ligaments.
The Sun has news:
‘The Arsenal and England midfielder is determined to remain upbeat following the latest ankle operation which will sideline him for three months
The Mail has worse news:
Arsenal face an injury crisis with Jack Wilshere set to miss four months after ankle surgery yesterday
Such are the facts…
Posted: 28th, November 2014 | In: Arsenal, manchester united, Sports | Comment (1)
Liverpool Balls: The Reds Are Actually Above Manchester United And Arsenal
Liverpool FC’s local newspaper the Liverpool Echo speaks truth to power with the story that the club are doing great.
Liverpool FC may be struggling – but the stats show Arsenal and Manchester United are faring worse!
This is the current Premier League table.
It will be interesting to see how the Liverpool Echo looks at that table and concludes that Liverpool are above Manchester United and Arsenal.
Liverpool FC may be having a difficult season so far, but Manchester United and Arsenal are doing worse, statistics suggest.
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Posted: 27th, November 2014 | In: Arsenal, Liverpool, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Manchester City Balls: The Champions League Fact You Never Knew
The free Metro newspapers has grim news for Manchester City fans hoping to see their side into the Champions’ League knock-out stages.
We di not know that. Becseu it’s wrong. City beat Bayern Munich on the same night Roma and CSKA drew.
Manchester City will qualify with a win at Roma as long as CSKA do not beat Bayern, and also with a scoring draw at Roma as long as CSKA lose at Bayern.
Such are the facts…
Posted: 27th, November 2014 | In: Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Lionel Messi: Manchester City Bound?
FC BARCELONA have been the modern equivalent of The Beatles, with just about everyone heaping praise on them, apart from sneering hipsters who don’t like anything successful, so they heap praise on Borussia Dortmund instead.
One of the happiest marriages was that between the Camp Nou outfit and Lionel Messi.
However, it looks like all is not rosy in Barcelona as the the Argentine megastar has suggested that his future lies elsewhere because, in his own words, “a lot changes in football.”
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Posted: 26th, November 2014 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, manchester united, Sports | Comment (1)
Liverpool Balls: Simon Mignolet’s Old Jokes Home
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has attracted the attention of ex-Reds ‘keeper Bruce Grobbelaar, who tells BBC Sport:
“I’ve likened Mignolet to worse than Dracula. At least Dracula comes out of his coffin now and then. He seems to stay on his line and that’s it. That whole area, not just the six-yard area, is the goalkeeper’s.”
Bruce, mate. The old joke is that like a vampire, [insert player’s name] is scared of crosses.
Posted: 26th, November 2014 | In: Liverpool, Sports | Comment
Is Arsenal Boss Arsene Wenger doing a Brian Clough by staying too long?
WHEN Brian Clough turned Nottingham Forest into European Cup winners, among other things, he could do no wrong. However, with loyalty can come a price.
Brian Clough stayed in Nottingham too long, going from all conquering and refreshingly out-spoken, to a manager out-of-step with football’s changes, eventually seeing Forest relegated.
And so to Arsene Wenger, who himself has done outstanding things with Arsenal, winning all manner of trophies and, of course, creating The Invincibles – one of the greatest teams to ever play in English football. He also revolutionised the way football clubs ran their teams, turning a hard-drinking Arsenal team into a squad of sophisticated footballing gurus.
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Newcastle United Balls: Faustino Asprilla Has A Range Of Condoms
Former Newcastle United favourite Faustino Asprilla offers us his “Tino” condoms for your good sexual health in Colombia, the Bigg Market and beyond.
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Posted: 25th, November 2014 | In: Sports, The Consumer | Comment
In Arsene We Rust: Arsenal Will Ditch Wenger At The End Of This Season
Pressure builds on Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Matt Hughes tells Times readers that the Arsenal manger should go.
The time has come for Arsenal to take the kind of risk their manager seems so incapable of. It would definitely be a gamble, could prove divisive and may even be unfair, but Arsène Wenger should be thanked for his work and asked to leave the Emirates Stadium at the end of the season.
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Klopp Balls: Dortmund Manager Wants Arsenal Job, Get Liverpool Job And Waits For Manchester United Job
The Daily Express has been planning Jurgen Klopp’s future. Apparently, the German manager of Boruisia Dortmund is desperate to work in England. The Express says Klopp is to manage Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.
September 5: “Man Utd News: Klopp to succeed Van Gaal”
Novermber 10: “WENGER OUT! The FIVE contenders to replace Arsene at Arsenal (with Klopp top target)”
November 21: “Let’s talk! Jurgen Klopp issues come-and-get-me plea to Arsenal”
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Posted: 24th, November 2014 | In: Arsenal, manchester united, Sports | Comment
David Seaman Is Why Arsenal Paid Paul Gascoigne’s £50,000 Medical Bills: Spurs Are In The Clear
All media is runnign with the story that foerm Spurs footballer Paul Gascoigne had his hospital treament paid by Arsenal.
Says Gazza in the Sun:
“I rang up their [Arsenal] physio Gary Lewin and told him I wasn’t feeling great. He said to go to hospital as he feared it was pneumonia. Wenger then agreed to arrange £28,000 to pay for treatment. Arsenal also paid £22,000 when I had hip treatment.”
Did they?
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Posted: 24th, November 2014 | In: Arsenal, Sports | Comments (3)
Life After Manchester United And Coventry City: Dion Dublin’s Christmas Album
This Christmas why not sit back and liten to the sounds of former Coverntry City, Aston Villa, Norwich City and Manchester United footballer Dion Dublin? It’s for charity.
And it might be pretty good. Dion has muscial roots.
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Can Lewis Hamilton Pip Nicole Scherzinger To Win The F1 Title?
Lewis Hamilton the Formula One drivers’ contest. The news media goes wild for the circus. And the newspapers have to decide if they lead with the British sportsman who stood in his car and waved the Union flag, or focus on his American lover Nicole Scherzinger:
The Sun: Lewis and Nicole Scherzinger both win! He drove. She worked wonders with the radio.
In the Daily Mail, it was all Nicole. She wins! And those bitten nails have recovered well.
The Times leads with Lewis and Nicole. What she dosn’t know about traction is not worth knowing.
Likewise on the Indy.
The Mirror leads with the Lew & Nic show. It graciously photoshops Lewis into the picture of the beaming Nicole.
The Daily Star has no photograph of Nicole in a bikini. The paper that once supported the EDL leads with the mixed-race Briton waving the flag and a neat headline. The Star is winning.
The Express prefers to overlook Lewis Hamilton and focus on how great Ukip are. The mixed-race British champion can wait for Nigel Farage to tell us how he’ll send ’em back.
What no Nicole? The Telegraph realises that Lewis Hamilton’s car had no passenger seat.
And the Guardian, too. He sat alone in the car.
Not so says the Metro. This was Nicole’s win. And, yes, she is kisisng his helmet.
The final table:
Nicole: 6 front pages; 7 front-page photos; one solo
Lewis: 7 front page; 7 front page photos; 2 solo
Lewis Hamilton narrowly pips Nicole to the F1 title. Better luck next year, Nicole.
Posted: 24th, November 2014 | In: Celebrities, Sports | Comment
Manchester City And Ched Evans Teach 6-Year-Old Fan A Lesson In Human Rights And Crime
When Jimmy Savile was exposed as an alleged child abuser, the BBC purged him from the schedules. Reruns of Top of The Pops, the show she presented were shelved if they contained traces of Savile. Even looking like Savile was banned. But the BBc is big place and some Savile shards seep though the safety net. And so it is with Ched Evans. Unlike Savile, Ched Evans is alive. And unlike Savile, Evans has stood trial. The then Sheffield United football was found guilty of rape.
No longer welcome at Sheffield United, Evans is is considering his career options. His CV boasts a spell at Manchester City. He’s still there. He never left. The Sun esplains:
PARENTS blasted Manchester City yesterday for giving children as young as six certificates featuring a photo of rapist footballer Ched Evans.
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Posted: 23rd, November 2014 | In: Manchester City, Sports | Comment (1)
Making Mackay Look Good: Dave Whelan Says English Jews Are A Bit Like the English
THE kerfuffle around Wigan Athletic’s appointment of Malky Mackay shows no sign of abating any time soon, as Dave Whelan – the Latics chairman – has gone and opened his big fat mouth.
As you may have heard, Mackay was embroiled in scandal after it was revealed he’d sent a number of offensive texts and messages while managing Cardiff City. Such as? Well, on the arrival of South Korean Kim Bo-Kyung, it was reported he sent a text to Cardiff staff saying: “Fkn chinkys. Fk it. There’s enough dogs in Cardiff for us all to go around.”
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Could Wembley be the home for new NFL franchise?
THE second NFL league match takes place at Wembley this weekend, after the success of the Raiders-Dolphins match last month. Of course, American Football is still a puzzle to many (good thing we’ve got a beginner’s guide here), but the popularity of the game grows hugely in the UK.
And now, it looks like London is moving ever closer to hosting a new NFL franchise after George Osborne opened talks with the American Football authorities. Everyone hopes it’ll be better than the London Monarchs which, was a nice idea executed badly (not to mention the awful kit they had).
The Chancellor is looking at pushing on with the idea of an NFL team being based at Wembley permanently.
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