In light of the Manchester derby that means so much to both sets of fans that took place today I thought it would be interesting to have a discussion which derby or rivalry match is the best.
Generally when you think of derby days in soccer you think of two teams that share a city, where fans are divided between the two teams. Like Rangers and Celtic, City and united or Everton and Liverpool where work colleagues, family members or friends for one day do not talk and are desperate for their team to destroy their close ones team. I think over the last couple of years the United and City derby has risen quickly to the best derby in the country. It did not use to be because there was such a gulf between the two teams now with City and all their money at their disposable they have become the league champions. Not only now do United share Manchester with City but both are competing for the same trophies. This is one derby I can only for see getting bigger and global.
I think when people think of sporting derbies they also think of sporting rivalries such as England v Australia or Packers v Bears or USA v Europe for the Ryder Cup. These sporting rivalries do not have to be within a few miles of each other but you can create that derby day atmosphere and competition between two sides even if they are on opposite sides of the world. Take the Ashes for example competed between England and Australia no where near each other but both sides label it as their top priority and fans will save for a life time just to travel as the away fan base to support their team. The number one goal for any English or Australian cricketer is to take away the ashes from their main rival and this goal has not changed for decades and probably will not.
Sporting rivalries are more common than derby matches in countries like USA because of the huge size of the country. Towns and cities traditionally have one sporting team per sport and every one supports that team. That makes these sporting rivalries not just two teams going head to head but two cities or towns. Maybe the biggest rivalry of them all is where when two of Americas largest Universities clash, there can be over 100,000 spectators in attendance, they traditionally are two of the most successful football teams and it normally decides who is going to win the BIG10 conference. There is nothing in comparison to the Michigan Ohio State rivalry, for me this match up produces some the best drama in sport. Both colleges are desperate to win as it means so much, it normally produces fantastic finishes and talked about for days after.
No matter what sport you follow or play you always have a rival. This team could be located just round the corner creating derby days where a town or city could be split in half or they could be on the other side of the world. No matter who your rival is there is no better sporting match up. I finish with one final question what's your favourite sporting rivalry?
Sunday, 9 December 2012
Saturday, 8 December 2012
Young's time is done
Detroit Lions attempt to end a a four game loosing streak when they travel to Green Bay this weekend. It was three weeks ago when the reverse fixture took place that Titus Young finally drew his last breath as a Detroit Lion.
In the game the second year pro was not happy with how many times he was being targeted and so he took it upon himself to intentionally line up multiple times in the wrong position. This then boiled over to an argument between wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator Scoot Linehan resulting with Young being benched for the remainder of the game.
This is not the first time Young's actions have cost the team in fact he has had several incidents where he has not seen eye to eye with the coaching staff or his teammates. Most notably in the pre-season where he was banned from the team facility for throwing a punch towards safety and defensive leader Louis Delmas. This is not a new thing to Young he came out of Boise State as a productive and explosive receiver but also with red flags surrounding his character and lack of maturity.
The lining up in the wrong position was the icing on the cake for coach Schwartz as he suspended Young for one week. He was not seen at the Lions next fixture against the Texans and was not allowed at practise. Young returned to practise the following week in preparation for the Colts game but was not selected in the 46 man squad and was told to stay away from the stadium. This week it has been announced he is to have an operation on his knee and so puts an end to all the speculation if he will play again this season.
However what about the long term future surrounding Young. In my opinion Young has no chance of playing for the Lions again, he has lost all the respect of the locker room and most notably the leaders of the locker room. The coaching staff appear resigned to the fact Young will not be on the roster as well. I believe the Lions will not find a trading partner either as everyone is not only aware of his character concerns but also that he has no future in Detroit. This will ultimately lead to cutting him in a time when the Lions needed him to step up. Next season Nate and Broyles will be returning from surgery and so will take time to get up to full speed which would have given Young a great opportunity. Now the Lions will need to be active yet again in the off season to find some depth at the wide receiver.
I want to finish with this final point not as a Lions fan (which of course I am) but as someone when young growing up all I wanted to do was play professional sport. If I had been given the opportunity Young had been given I would have done everything to remain at that level and not done anything to harm. I have also played in hundreds of sports teams and not once would I even consider doing something to hurt the team just to make a point. It therefore hurts me as a sports fan to see someone waste the amazing talented they have and opportunity they have been given. The Lions will be better of without Young but Young will also be better of without the lions, he could easily end up at some where like New England or Baltimore where their great leadership can help him mature because their is no doubt he is a talented player.
In the game the second year pro was not happy with how many times he was being targeted and so he took it upon himself to intentionally line up multiple times in the wrong position. This then boiled over to an argument between wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator Scoot Linehan resulting with Young being benched for the remainder of the game.
This is not the first time Young's actions have cost the team in fact he has had several incidents where he has not seen eye to eye with the coaching staff or his teammates. Most notably in the pre-season where he was banned from the team facility for throwing a punch towards safety and defensive leader Louis Delmas. This is not a new thing to Young he came out of Boise State as a productive and explosive receiver but also with red flags surrounding his character and lack of maturity.
The lining up in the wrong position was the icing on the cake for coach Schwartz as he suspended Young for one week. He was not seen at the Lions next fixture against the Texans and was not allowed at practise. Young returned to practise the following week in preparation for the Colts game but was not selected in the 46 man squad and was told to stay away from the stadium. This week it has been announced he is to have an operation on his knee and so puts an end to all the speculation if he will play again this season.
However what about the long term future surrounding Young. In my opinion Young has no chance of playing for the Lions again, he has lost all the respect of the locker room and most notably the leaders of the locker room. The coaching staff appear resigned to the fact Young will not be on the roster as well. I believe the Lions will not find a trading partner either as everyone is not only aware of his character concerns but also that he has no future in Detroit. This will ultimately lead to cutting him in a time when the Lions needed him to step up. Next season Nate and Broyles will be returning from surgery and so will take time to get up to full speed which would have given Young a great opportunity. Now the Lions will need to be active yet again in the off season to find some depth at the wide receiver.
I want to finish with this final point not as a Lions fan (which of course I am) but as someone when young growing up all I wanted to do was play professional sport. If I had been given the opportunity Young had been given I would have done everything to remain at that level and not done anything to harm. I have also played in hundreds of sports teams and not once would I even consider doing something to hurt the team just to make a point. It therefore hurts me as a sports fan to see someone waste the amazing talented they have and opportunity they have been given. The Lions will be better of without Young but Young will also be better of without the lions, he could easily end up at some where like New England or Baltimore where their great leadership can help him mature because their is no doubt he is a talented player.
Thursday, 6 December 2012
Captains curse
Hi guys sorry no blog yesterday, got OFSTED in today and tomorrow so as you can imagine left little time for blogging. However only one more day of them and can not do any more planning so blogging time.
What a performance from England's Test captain Alistair Cook today his 23rd test hundred and now the leading hundred scorer for England. He also past 7000 test runs and is the youngest Englishmen in doing so. He has developed a technique and temperament that makes him well suited to batting at the highest level. He knows the areas he can score in and yet in his 86th test you can still see him learning and developing his shot play, such as adding the sweep into his game over this tour. It's a scary thought how good he could be in 5 years when he will only be 32 and have over 10,000 test runs to his name and 120 test caps. However what comes as the most surprising stat for me in what was a day of stats, is this is Cooks 5 test match as captain and this is his 5th century one in each test he has captained England in.
When Cook was announced as test captain following Strauss it did not come as a surprise to me but I did worry. It's always a worry when you make one of your better players captain, how will it affect their ability to do their primary job in Cooks case open the batting. Well Cook has answered this question and not just answered it he has left no one wondering. It almost appears to have helped his batting he thrives on the opportunity to lead from the front and take responsibility for scoring a good portion of England's runs.
Yet this is not unique to Cook, Australia have recently made Michael Clarke the captain of their test team and have also been repaid with buckets of runs. Clarke has had a phenomenal calendar year being the first man to score over 200 runs in 4 innings and over 1300 runs. This is easily Clarke's best year as a test match batsmen yet it is also his first year as captain.
This is quiet remarkable when we look back, it use to be a curse being named captain of your nation especially as a batsmen. Ganguly when he was first named Indian captain struggled to score runs and was moved all around the batting order to try and find some form. Other great players also struggled such as Lara and Atherton, hence this is where the worry came from when Cook was named as captain.
Cook and Clarke may not have broken the curse as I'm sure it will come to haunt future captains including captains of Australia and England. Cook and Clarke are just exceptions to the rule. They are both young and will go on to have record breaking careers and could end up the leading run scores of their nations respectively. What helped them have this success is they both had good captains to learn from, they are both young but very experienced players and their batting roles where settled within the team therefore if they were captain or not nothing needed to change.
Test nations and future test captains can learn from this model as it is with out doubt a model of success, but it also helps having some very talented young players.
What a performance from England's Test captain Alistair Cook today his 23rd test hundred and now the leading hundred scorer for England. He also past 7000 test runs and is the youngest Englishmen in doing so. He has developed a technique and temperament that makes him well suited to batting at the highest level. He knows the areas he can score in and yet in his 86th test you can still see him learning and developing his shot play, such as adding the sweep into his game over this tour. It's a scary thought how good he could be in 5 years when he will only be 32 and have over 10,000 test runs to his name and 120 test caps. However what comes as the most surprising stat for me in what was a day of stats, is this is Cooks 5 test match as captain and this is his 5th century one in each test he has captained England in.
When Cook was announced as test captain following Strauss it did not come as a surprise to me but I did worry. It's always a worry when you make one of your better players captain, how will it affect their ability to do their primary job in Cooks case open the batting. Well Cook has answered this question and not just answered it he has left no one wondering. It almost appears to have helped his batting he thrives on the opportunity to lead from the front and take responsibility for scoring a good portion of England's runs.
Yet this is not unique to Cook, Australia have recently made Michael Clarke the captain of their test team and have also been repaid with buckets of runs. Clarke has had a phenomenal calendar year being the first man to score over 200 runs in 4 innings and over 1300 runs. This is easily Clarke's best year as a test match batsmen yet it is also his first year as captain.
This is quiet remarkable when we look back, it use to be a curse being named captain of your nation especially as a batsmen. Ganguly when he was first named Indian captain struggled to score runs and was moved all around the batting order to try and find some form. Other great players also struggled such as Lara and Atherton, hence this is where the worry came from when Cook was named as captain.
Cook and Clarke may not have broken the curse as I'm sure it will come to haunt future captains including captains of Australia and England. Cook and Clarke are just exceptions to the rule. They are both young and will go on to have record breaking careers and could end up the leading run scores of their nations respectively. What helped them have this success is they both had good captains to learn from, they are both young but very experienced players and their batting roles where settled within the team therefore if they were captain or not nothing needed to change.
Test nations and future test captains can learn from this model as it is with out doubt a model of success, but it also helps having some very talented young players.
Tuesday, 4 December 2012
Heisman trophy finalist
Just a short one from me this evening as I have still not recovered from the Lions walk off loss to the Colts on Sunday and this evening the young gunners are playing in the Champions league.
The big news coming out of college football today alongside with the BCS bowl rankings (which I will discuss later this week) is the Heisman trophy finalists. The three well deserved players are Kansas State quarterback Colin Klein, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel and Norte Dame line backer Manti Te'o. All three players are fully worthy of their trip to New York this weekend and all deserve the right to be crowned Heisman winner.
I have one clear winner in my opinion and I will take you through why Manti Te'o come Saturday afternoon should hear his name called. There is no bigger leader currently in college football and for leadership skills alone he is probably the best leader since Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. He is not only the emotional leader of his team but also sets the tone and example on the pitch. He is the best defender in college football he is always around the ball, tackles with force and is a playmaker. He impacts the game not only in the backfield like any good linebacker will but he creates turn overs. He has the second most interceptions in all of college football this season and he plays linebacker, this fact alone is staggering.
By definition the Heisman trophy winner is deemed to be the most outstanding footballer in college football. Johnny Manziel or Johnny football as he is being known as has put up outstanding numbers but I believe Te'o is the most outstanding player. After all he has lead his team to the nation championship and an unbeaten season. Yet to fully understand how good Te'o is you need to watch how much he impacts the game by sticking on his tape. Lets hope the voters this Saturday have watched their fighting Irish tape.
The big news coming out of college football today alongside with the BCS bowl rankings (which I will discuss later this week) is the Heisman trophy finalists. The three well deserved players are Kansas State quarterback Colin Klein, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel and Norte Dame line backer Manti Te'o. All three players are fully worthy of their trip to New York this weekend and all deserve the right to be crowned Heisman winner.
I have one clear winner in my opinion and I will take you through why Manti Te'o come Saturday afternoon should hear his name called. There is no bigger leader currently in college football and for leadership skills alone he is probably the best leader since Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. He is not only the emotional leader of his team but also sets the tone and example on the pitch. He is the best defender in college football he is always around the ball, tackles with force and is a playmaker. He impacts the game not only in the backfield like any good linebacker will but he creates turn overs. He has the second most interceptions in all of college football this season and he plays linebacker, this fact alone is staggering.
By definition the Heisman trophy winner is deemed to be the most outstanding footballer in college football. Johnny Manziel or Johnny football as he is being known as has put up outstanding numbers but I believe Te'o is the most outstanding player. After all he has lead his team to the nation championship and an unbeaten season. Yet to fully understand how good Te'o is you need to watch how much he impacts the game by sticking on his tape. Lets hope the voters this Saturday have watched their fighting Irish tape.
Monday, 3 December 2012
Ricky the great
How great is Ricky Pontings career? Will he go down in the ICC hall of fame? Will he be one of the those batsmen all future Australian and world number 3 are compared to?
Only time can answer these questions but I already have my answer. Today in Perth, South Africa dismantled Australia with a day to spare and retain their position as the best test nation in the world, yet this is only a sub headline. The headline coming out of Perth is all about that one man yet this one man nearly had a very short career.
Back in Leeds 2001 the fourth test in the Ashes which Australia had already won Ponting was hanging on to his position in the team by his finger nails. Justin Langer was due to come back into the team in the next test after a long injury and Ponting was the out of form batsmen who was going to loss his place. This was his 46th test but he already looked the odd man out with vastly experienced players around him and had only scored more than 50 runs in a test match once in his previous 8 matches. I still remember this test strongly as its were I formed a love for an Australian the only one apart from Nicholas Babcock. He was gritty at the start as England bowlers continuously past the outside edge and then when he was in he took the attack apart. He went on to score 144 and 76 in the second innings and this was the real start to Pontings career.
Perhaps how I will also remember Ponting is a man who looked so vulnerable at the start of his innings. You could often getting him pulling the wrong delivery or dragging him outside off stump and nicking him out early on. Once past 30 or settled at the crease and more importantly those feet moving there is no better batsmen to take an attack apart. Once Ponting is in no captain had a plan of attack. He was lethal against short pitched bowling perhaps the best modern puller and hocker of ball. When those feet were moving no one needed less effort to push the ball through the covers or mid on or even check it over the top for 6.
It's hard to pick a highlight out of a career which included over 13000 test runs at average of over 51 and lasted a staggering 168 test matches. In 2003 Ponting scored back to back double centuries I remember this not because of Pontings excellence but the look on Ganguly the captain of Indias face as to not only how do you get this man out but how do you stop him from scoring.
That's how I will remember Ricky Ponting a great batsmen who was versatile to all conditions and could put any bowling attack to the sword. He will most certainly go down in the hall of fame because 13000 test runs do not grow on trees. When I look to pick any team in the future I look for a number 3 who is gritty and can bat in all situations and when they are in score big runs at a quick rate putting all the pressure on the opposition. Therefore unfairly comparing them to the great Ricky Ponting.
Only time can answer these questions but I already have my answer. Today in Perth, South Africa dismantled Australia with a day to spare and retain their position as the best test nation in the world, yet this is only a sub headline. The headline coming out of Perth is all about that one man yet this one man nearly had a very short career.
Back in Leeds 2001 the fourth test in the Ashes which Australia had already won Ponting was hanging on to his position in the team by his finger nails. Justin Langer was due to come back into the team in the next test after a long injury and Ponting was the out of form batsmen who was going to loss his place. This was his 46th test but he already looked the odd man out with vastly experienced players around him and had only scored more than 50 runs in a test match once in his previous 8 matches. I still remember this test strongly as its were I formed a love for an Australian the only one apart from Nicholas Babcock. He was gritty at the start as England bowlers continuously past the outside edge and then when he was in he took the attack apart. He went on to score 144 and 76 in the second innings and this was the real start to Pontings career.
Perhaps how I will also remember Ponting is a man who looked so vulnerable at the start of his innings. You could often getting him pulling the wrong delivery or dragging him outside off stump and nicking him out early on. Once past 30 or settled at the crease and more importantly those feet moving there is no better batsmen to take an attack apart. Once Ponting is in no captain had a plan of attack. He was lethal against short pitched bowling perhaps the best modern puller and hocker of ball. When those feet were moving no one needed less effort to push the ball through the covers or mid on or even check it over the top for 6.
It's hard to pick a highlight out of a career which included over 13000 test runs at average of over 51 and lasted a staggering 168 test matches. In 2003 Ponting scored back to back double centuries I remember this not because of Pontings excellence but the look on Ganguly the captain of Indias face as to not only how do you get this man out but how do you stop him from scoring.
That's how I will remember Ricky Ponting a great batsmen who was versatile to all conditions and could put any bowling attack to the sword. He will most certainly go down in the hall of fame because 13000 test runs do not grow on trees. When I look to pick any team in the future I look for a number 3 who is gritty and can bat in all situations and when they are in score big runs at a quick rate putting all the pressure on the opposition. Therefore unfairly comparing them to the great Ricky Ponting.
Sunday, 2 December 2012
Bell or Bairstow
On Wednesday England cricket team go into the heart of Indian cricket, Eden gardens to try and win two test matches in a row. England produced one of its best performances away from home to win last week in Mumbai where the English spin attack out bowled its hosts counter parts. Yet it's the English team who face a selection conundrum.
Ian Bell who missed the second test because of going home to be at the birth of his first child is set to return. This is more than likely going to come at the expense of young Johnny Bairstow who was unlucky to be given out when he should not have been, caught using the aid of a helmet and fielded superbly close to the wicket for our spin bowlers. The argument which I heard Angus Fraser having on the radio today is which one of these should play.
I believe Bell should defiantly play he does not have a great record in the sub continent but is one of the best batsmen in the world. If England have learnt anything from this summer and the KP debacle it is you play your best players. Bell has the capability to score big test runs against any attack and is a naturally attacking player of spin. However he should not come in at the expense of Bairstow. Bairstow is again another good player of spin as shown in his recent Lions tours of the sub continent. I think Patel should be drop, he has added nothing with the bat and England believe Bairstow is the better bat hence which one of them played as a batsmen against South Africa. His bowling is no longer needed because England have finally got the balance of their side right in these conditions including both Monty and Swan.
England must continue to stay on top of India and the way to do this is to pick your best players in these conditions and drop all dead weight. Having Bell back at 5 makes the top 5 really strong again with lots of experience to draw upon and the capability of scoring as Gooch outs it grandad hundreds. While picking Bairstow at 6 ahead of Patel means your picking the better batsmen, an attacking one who is also by a long way more valuable in the field.
Good bye Patel welcome back Bell.
Ian Bell who missed the second test because of going home to be at the birth of his first child is set to return. This is more than likely going to come at the expense of young Johnny Bairstow who was unlucky to be given out when he should not have been, caught using the aid of a helmet and fielded superbly close to the wicket for our spin bowlers. The argument which I heard Angus Fraser having on the radio today is which one of these should play.
I believe Bell should defiantly play he does not have a great record in the sub continent but is one of the best batsmen in the world. If England have learnt anything from this summer and the KP debacle it is you play your best players. Bell has the capability to score big test runs against any attack and is a naturally attacking player of spin. However he should not come in at the expense of Bairstow. Bairstow is again another good player of spin as shown in his recent Lions tours of the sub continent. I think Patel should be drop, he has added nothing with the bat and England believe Bairstow is the better bat hence which one of them played as a batsmen against South Africa. His bowling is no longer needed because England have finally got the balance of their side right in these conditions including both Monty and Swan.
England must continue to stay on top of India and the way to do this is to pick your best players in these conditions and drop all dead weight. Having Bell back at 5 makes the top 5 really strong again with lots of experience to draw upon and the capability of scoring as Gooch outs it grandad hundreds. While picking Bairstow at 6 ahead of Patel means your picking the better batsmen, an attacking one who is also by a long way more valuable in the field.
Good bye Patel welcome back Bell.
Introduction
Hi everyone,
Probably should have done this as my first blog but I just wanted to get my fury out for the lack of respect my favourite sportsmen Ndamukong Suh was not getting.
I'm a PE teacher and have studied sports coaching at University and am always surrounded by sport of some what. I currently play cricket and have played at a decent level but my number 1 love has to be American Football and Detroit Lions. Try calling me during a Lions game and you will talk to my answer phone I watch every game without fail.
I do have some favourite sports teams which will more than likely feature heavily in my blog but I'm just an all round sports nut and will talk about cricket, soccer, football, basketball and many more.
Please do comment and discuss the matters I raise but most of all enjoy reading.
Mike
Probably should have done this as my first blog but I just wanted to get my fury out for the lack of respect my favourite sportsmen Ndamukong Suh was not getting.
I'm a PE teacher and have studied sports coaching at University and am always surrounded by sport of some what. I currently play cricket and have played at a decent level but my number 1 love has to be American Football and Detroit Lions. Try calling me during a Lions game and you will talk to my answer phone I watch every game without fail.
I do have some favourite sports teams which will more than likely feature heavily in my blog but I'm just an all round sports nut and will talk about cricket, soccer, football, basketball and many more.
Please do comment and discuss the matters I raise but most of all enjoy reading.
Mike
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