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.
Tottenham’s New Ground Pimped Out
THAT’S pimped out, not just pimped in the MTV sense of the word.
This artist’s impression of Tottenham’s new stadium shows that the club is really pulling out all the stops to attract a mega-rich new sponsor to name the ground after – much like Arsenal did with their Emirates Stadium, in fact.
Corporate whoredom ahoy – any other Middle East airlines reading this, please contact Daniel Levy asap.
[Spotted at Off the Post]
Jose Mourinho Gets Lap Dance On Chiambretti Night TV
IF you can’t get Fabio Capello and Jose Mourinho in a lap dance club, then the lap dance club will come to them.
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Posted: 2nd, April 2009 | In: Sports | Comment (1)
Wales V Ireland 6 Nations Finale Must Be Replayed
Wales V Ireland 6 Nations Finale to be Replayed.
Irish rugby fans are shocked and Welsh fans delighted at the breaking news that the last match of the 2009 Six Nations Championship is most likely going to have to be replayed.
It transpires that a rogue team of groundskeepers incorrectly marked the pitch, and the WRU have grounds to request a replay. While we’re awaiting the final decision from the IRB watch our exclusive report where we talk to the Groundskeeper, the fourth official, the IRB and Irish bookie Paddy Power.
Video:
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Barack Obama requests visit West Ham’s stadium
AS if he didn’t already a busy enough G20 schedule, Barack Obama has set aside a couple of hours to pay a visit to Upton Park, home of West Ham United.
Obama is a self-confessed West Ham fan, since a visit to Britain six years ago – some of his English relatives are Hammers, prompting the U.S. President to adopt the club as his go-to Premier League team.
This afternoon, after French leader Nicolas Sarkozy and Germanys’ Angela Merkel have held a press conference, Obama will be whisked by helicopter to east London, where he will be given a half-hour tour of Upton Park by manager Gianfranco Zola. Obama will then return for his meeting with the Queen at Buckingham Palace, at 5.30pm.
Good to see he has his priorities straight.
Posted: 1st, April 2009 | In: Sports | Comments (3)
Six Reasons Why Alan Shearer Will Fail As Newcastle United Manager
THE football world has been rocked – well, shaken a bit – by the not-that-suprising news that Alan Shearer has taken over as Newcastle Utd boss, at least until the end of this season (unless this is a brilliant April Fool’s story??). Howay the lad!
Big Alan’s first game in charge is home to Chelsea. Oh dear. Here, Anorak lists six reasons why Alan will take his beloved club down…
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Posted: 1st, April 2009 | In: Sports | Comments (4)
Referee’s assistant pulls out gun to defend himself
IN a recent league match in Romania between Popesti Stefan and Unirea Dragalina (great names, both), the referee allowed a dubious goal to stand. The decision didn’t go down well with some of the home fans, who invaded the pitch to protest. They hassled the assistant ref (or linesman, as we like to think of them, still), who replied by pulling out a handgun!
Wow, Romania must have some nutty fans – and some even nuttier match officials.
The website of German newspaper Bild has some grainy footage of the shocking incident. Watch it here and hereunder
Frank Lampard hates his new England top
FRANK Lampard likes to look good, so he wasn’t a happy bunny when he was made to wear Umbro’s latest England “off-duty” casual shirt, a striped affair that screams “Chav!” in a very loud voice.
During a press conference in the wake of England’s 4-0 thumping of Slovakia on Saturday, Lamps tugged at his sleeve, saying:
“Even though we have these terrible tops on, at least we are all wearing the same… Have we got a better chance of winning the World Cup now? Possibly. We’re in a good position, we’re working hard but hopefully they’ll change these shirts!”
Not-so-subtle message to Umbro: change the shirts, they look crap. Unlike England’s new all-white kit, which looks rather smart.
The Current Bun has a video of Frank getting shirty.
Posted: 31st, March 2009 | In: Sports | Comments (6)
Sportsmanship Is Alive! Player Refuses To take Penalty
SOMETIMES, professional footballers do the right thing. Take Costin Lazar (pictured), a journeyman midfielder who plays for Rapid Bucharest.
During a recent Romanian league match between Rapid and the mysteriously named Otelul Galati, Lazar was “fouled” in the penalty area. The ref awarded a penalty to Rapid, despite the protests of Galati’s players that the tackle was fair (it was).
Lazar clearly knew the ref’s decision was wrong, so he refused to take the penalty. The ref changes his mind and awards a drop-ball instead. What a refreshing change.
Watch the incident below…
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Posted: 31st, March 2009 | In: Sports | Comments (5)
FAIL! Footballer Shows Up At Wrong Ground
FORMER Middlesbrough defender Dean Gordon now plays for non-league Workington. This week, 35-year-old Deano (that must be his nickname, surely) hit the back pages for the first time since he player in the top flight.
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Referee Poos Pants During Football Match
HERE’S a video billed a referee soiling his pants during a football match. But while the camerman is trained on the apparent crimescene, the changing rooms are on fire…
Top Six F1 WAGs
NOW that the F1 season is up and running, it’s time to take a closer look at the formula’s top WAGs (click on images to enlarge)…
1. Isabell Reis (Timo Glock)
The 27-year-old German, who drives for Toyota, may not be a star driver – yet – but he has still managed to bag himself a ridiculously good-looking model.
Posted: 30th, March 2009 | In: Key Posts, Sports | Comments (3)
Craig Bellamy cares
AFTER Wales lost at home to mighty Finland in their World Cup qualifier on Saturday, a result that means Wales almost certainly won’t make it to South Africa in 2010, fans were treated to a sight they probably never though they’d see: Craig Bellamy showing genuine emotion:
As fine an example of schadenfreude as you’ll see today.
Romain Mesnil Is The Naked Pole Vaulter
ROMAIN Mesnil, of France, won a silver medal at the 2007 Athletics World Championships in Osaka.
He was sponsored by Nike but that deal is done and he now has no sponsor. Will you sponsor him? Go on. Romain’s a laugh.
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Posted: 29th, March 2009 | In: Sports | Comments (3)
Jenson Button wins Australian Grand Prix!
IF you’d have told Anorak a month or two ago that a British driver would win the 2009 Aussie GP, we’d have said “Yes, Lewis Hamilton has a great chance, dummy.”
If you’d have told us, “No, we mean Jenson Button!” Anorak would have laughed until our sides split.
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Posted: 29th, March 2009 | In: Sports | Comments (2)
Umbro can’t plug new England shirt leak
AFTER many years of producing terrible kits for England, it appears Umbro may finally have got it right (the fact that Nike, who do tend to make decent kits, now owns Umbro may have something to do with it).
This is a leaked photo of the new England home kit, as sported by skipper John Terry and goalie David James. There seems to be some debate about whether or not the photo is genuine, but Anorak can confirm it is for real (don’t ask us our sources – we’d only have to kill you).
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Posted: 28th, March 2009 | In: Key Posts, Sports | Comments (5)
John Terry’s Mum Nicks Pedigree Chum
UPDATE: John Terry’s mum arests:
“JT’s mum nicked Pedigree Chum” – Sun
JOHN TERRY’S old Mum, Sue, has been nicked and officially cautioned by police for shoplifting clothes and food from Marks & Spencer and Tesco, at a shopping centrey in Surrey.
Stay classy, footballer’s mum.
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Posted: 28th, March 2009 | In: Sports | Comments (4)
Lewis Hamilton is SLOW!
WHAT has happened in Formula 1 since last season? In testing over the winter, and in practice for this weekend’s Aussie GP in Melbourne, the traditionally fast teams – McLaren, Ferrari – are really struggling, giving the time sheet a decidedly topsy turvy look.
World champ Lewis Hamilton has been suffering more than most. He could only manage 16th and 18th in Friday’s two practice sessions Down Under (Williams’ Nico Rosberg was fastest), results which would put him near the back of the grid unless he finds some pace for Saturday’s qualifying stint.
“The car is the problem. It’s not that bad, it’s just we can’t carry our speed through corners,” Hamilton told the BBC.
McLaren had a great year in 2008, but the new rule changes seem to have caught them on the hop, and now Hamilton will surely struggle to retain his world title.
Lil’ Lewis is not happy at the prospect of spending the season being overtaken by supposedly inferior teams. He said:
“I haven’t had offers from other teams and I am not talking to anyone but I would listen to an offer if someone asked. It would be a compliment and it would be silly if I did not.”
That’s quite a turnaround from last season, when he claimed he would be happy to stay at McLaren for life.
Posted: 27th, March 2009 | In: Sports | Comments (4)
David Beckham is The Terminator
SAINT David of Beckhamshire will not stop, ever. Much like Arnie’s Terminator.
Ahead of this Saturday’s England friendly against Slovakia at Wembley, Becks has admitted he will never retire from international football, ever. EVER, do you hear him!?
When a journalist suggested he couldn’t play until the age of 50, Becks replied (tongue nowhere near his cheek):
“You never know… I’m passionate about playing for my country. If I’m honest, I assumed I wouldn’t play for my country again after being taken out of the team by Steve [McClaren, after the 2006 World Cup]. I just thought: ‘That’s it.’ I was proud to have played the number of times I had and to be brought back in was extra special. I think I’d recognise when the time is right to finish playing. I’m an honest person – I’ve always been like that – and I wouldn’t want people wondering why I’m still playing, but I’d like that option to be involved in a squad one day. If that happens when I’m 45, then great.”
Forty five!! How deluded is Beckham? On a scale of one to deluded, we’d rank him somewhere around… deluded.
Someone take him out back and shoot him, please.
Posted: 27th, March 2009 | In: Sports | Comments (5)
Elton John returns to Watford… again
ELTON John is back in football, for a third spell at Watford (or ‘Queen of the South’ as Tommy Docherty famously suggested they be renamed during John’s first stint at the club).
The pop legend ended his second spell as chairman of the Hornets in 2002 but is back on board to join former manager Graham Taylor in a presidency role.
He said: “Watford football club is in my blood. Wherever I am in the world I cannot resist keeping up with the news.
“I wish the new chairman and board, the manager, the team and all Watford’s loyal supporters a very successful conclusion to the season.”
Double Amputee To Make Cage-Fighting Debut
IT’S not every day you get to report on two sport-related amputee stories, but – praise be! – today is that day. Earlier, we told you how an amputee Royal Marine had pranked David Beckham.
Now comes the news that Kyle Maynard, a congenital amputee who was born with stumps for legs and arms, will make his Mixed Martial Arts debut next month in Auburn, Alabama. Only in America, folks.
Maynard was previously denied a license to fight by the Georgia Athletic & Entertainment Commission, but it seems they have changed their minds.
Now that’s a fight we don’t want to see. Okay, we’re a little bit curious to see exactly what moves this guy has.
Bring on Obama for the Spaz-Down!
Amputee soldier punks David Beckham
AH, pity professional footballers, living in their own bubble, with little or no understanding of the real world. They’re so gullible.
Witness David Beckham, who was tricked into thinking he had yanked off someone’s arm off at an England event yesterday. Fabio Capello’s squad was meeting the brave men and women of our armed forces, at their Colney training HQ, when a mischievous Marine decided to play a prank on Becks. Off the Post takes up the story:
Commando Ben McBean, who lost a leg and an arm in an explosion in Afghanistan, was listening to Becks tell him how he could not imagine life with one leg. The Marine told Beckham that you get used to it and held his hand out for a friendly handshake, only for Becks to be left holding the arm when the handshake was over as Ben screamed: “My arm! My arm!”
Ben said: “As he shook my hand I let it slip from the socket. He looked like he would faint.”
Impressed by how well the gag had gone, Ben later pulled the same trick on John Terry!
There was no news on whether any of England’s players also fell for the shoe polish-on-telescope trick.
Posted: 25th, March 2009 | In: Sports | Comments (4)
Lance Armstrong Tweets his broken collarbone
LANCE Armstrong, cancer survivor and cycling legend, is one of the most avid celebrity Tweeters. He updates regularly, and unlike most celebs, he usually has something to say for himself.
Even after breaking his collarbone, in Spain’s Vuelta Castilla y Leon race, didn’t stop the intrepid Armstrong from updating his Twitter profile, including this photo of him at Madrid airport.
His post-breakage Tweets included the following:
“I’m alive! Broken clavicle (right). Hurts like hell for now. Surgery in a couple of days. Thanks for all the well wishes.”
“Sitting here with @johanbruyneel at his house. Glass of wine, cheese and crackers. Now going to bed. Night, y’all.”
“Sitting in the airport getting ready to fly home. Layover in NYC then ATX!!”
“Btw, hard to tweet left handed.”
Now that’s an addicted Tweeter.
The injury shouldn’t keep Armstrong out of this year’s Tour de France, which should silence all of the cynics who think this is all some sort of controversy theory designed to avoid testing positive for drugs. A ridiculous notion.
Daredevil plunges 127ft off waterfall
THE dark speck in the picture is foolish brave kayaker Pedro Olivia. The Brazilian plummeted 127ft over the Salto Belo waterfalls in his homeland, smashing the previous world record of 108ft.
To put this achievement into some perspective, Niagara Falls only reaches heights of around 110ft on the American side. We don’t know how Olivia fitted his enormous testicles in the canoe with him.
Brazilian footballer forced to wear dress in training
BRAZILIAN club Figueirense have incorporated cross-dressing into their training sessions. Coach Roberto Fernandes makes out-of-form players train in a skimpy frock (see photo). What would Brian Clough have made of it? Not much, we imagine.
The dress is credited with an upturn in the form of midfielder Jairo, who is the man in the picture to your left.
Fernandes claims Jairo put in his best performance for the second-division club in the next match after wearing the dress in training.
Watch a local news report on the story below:
Posted: 24th, March 2009 | In: Sports | Comments (2)
Leaked Pictures Of Manchester United’s New Kit
LEAKED pictures Of Manchester United’s new, new, new, new kit…
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Posted: 24th, March 2009 | In: Sports | Comment (1)
