Say what you like about [Europes #1 24-Hour Sports News channel] but one thing you can't accuse them of is lacking the ability to fill hour upon hour with rumour, conjecture - and a nice graphic to illustrate the rumour and conjecture - presented as news.
Monday this week saw the closing of the football transfer window. In past years this has seen a day of frantic big-budget trading amongst the worlds top clubs but this year, of course, things were different. Like the rest of us, football is [finally] feeling the pinch. Despite the best efforts of the presenters - who did their best to hype the rumours they were receiving from their reporters located in various stadium and training ground car-parks up and down the country - the day was lacking in any real excitement.
Things reached something of a low-point when we were told, in fevered tones 'news just in, [player we've never heard of] will not now be leaving Doncaster and moving to Preston'.
Not an exact quote I admit, but not a million miles away.
At 5 o'clock, as the 'window' closed in England we were comforted with the news that the days excitement wasn't over as we were treated to a lovely graphic explaining how the window would remain open for a while yet across Europe's top leagues (and Scotland).
As the week wore on, and with news thin on the ground (despite John Terr's best efforts) viewers to the channel were able to enjoy a feature highlighting the aerial abilities of Everton's Australian midfielder Tim Cahill who, despite being someway short of six foot tall has a tremendous record of headed goals.
Experts were interviewed and highlighted Cahill's ability to find space, get a good leap, 'hang' in the air (is that physically possible) and direct a firm header.
If we still weren't convinced by the experts, back in the studio it was graphic time - sure Cahill was a good jumper but just how good was he?
A flea, we were shown, can jump as high as one foot. A cat can jump even higher. Crikey! As each animal in turn was able to jump higher than the one before the feature climaxed with the news that a gazelle can jump nearly 14 feet. Remarkable.
[Europes #1 24-Hour Sports News channel] - when they do things well, they do it VERY well. At other times they illustrate how high a flea can jump.
I'm off to find out what lustrous means - back next week.
With no cycling, F1 or Champions League football in the last seven days my focus this week has been on the London Stock Exchange.
No, really.
Every month for the past 3 years I've been investing a small sum of money from my wages into my employer's share scheme.
The scheme matures today (1st February) and I will either get all of my investment back plus interest or, and this is what I'm hoping for, I can sell my shares for a tidy profit.
At Christmas the shares were dong very nicely and I worked out I was in line for a £750 profit and, in my mind at least, I've already spent that money:
1. an HD television - although I still think it's a case of the 'emperors new clothes' 2. a shed - I'm at an age where I need a shed 3. a bike - I've wanted a bike for a long time and now (see 2) I'll have a shed to keep it in 4. a tattoo
A week ago the shares fell to the point where it was looking like I would make a £550 profit - or, more to the point, I had lost £200.
By the end of the week my loss was £250 as the value of my shares fell once again.
This morning as the shares opened my investment took another hit and in the space of a month I have lost £300 and they haven't been sold yet.
Do you remember the scenes in Back to the Future where Marty is holding a photo of his family and, as time passes, they slowly fade? That's how I've felt.
My picture of 1. a tv; 2. a shed; 3. a bike; and 4. a tattoo, is slowly fading.
I've long since waved goodbye to the tattoo and I said to myself that I'd be satisfied with just the tv, shed and bike.
Towards the middle of last week the bike started to fade to the point that on Friday evening all I had left of it was the front wheel and the pump - this morning even those have gone and the shed is looking vulnerable.
I'm now telling myself that if I really must I'll consolidate my losses and 'settle' for 'just' the tv.
And as much as I remind myself that I haven't actually lost anything, that it's effectively like being given a new 32inch wide screen high-definition television for free, it doesn't feel like it.
Another week passes us by - and what do I have to show for it?
Well, ...
Live the Wembley Dream! Highlight of my week was a trip to Wembley Arena to see Nickleback perform. I've got to be honest, as much as I enjoy the bands music the thought of driving to London meant I wasn't particularly looking forward to it.
Living in the country I think I've become spoiled when it comes to driving and I just don't have the patience for traffic or ignorant drivers. And besides, my lovely wife couldn't navigate her way out of a square room with only one door so I was worried.I needn't have been though - traffic was pretty light and even the last few miles before reaching the arena went smoothly.
The show itself was superb: we had great seats (and I think it's important to sit down at these events, if I wanted to stand I wouldn't have paid for a seat), the music was superb and the 'staging' - lights, visuals etc - made for a memorable evening.
As we left the arena, having sat in traffic for over an hour to get out of the car park, we saw a sign on a newly-built block of flats - sorry, apartments - advising that there were still some flats - apartments - available. The banner included the phrase 'Live the Wembley Dream'.
I certainly applaud the developer's optimism.
Tour Down Under Thank goodness Pro Tour cycling is back - I never thought I'd say this but since the end of the cycling and F1 seasons back in November football just hasn't been enough for me. The coverage of the Tour Down Under was something of a bonus and I hope that Sky continue to show some of the events that aren't being shown on British Eurosport this year - they do love a stat and a graphic on Sky Sports don't they?
The penultimate stage was one of the best days cycling I've seen in my 6 months (!) following the sport. As a fan of HTC Columbia I was routing for André Griepel throughout and for a while there it looked like he'd lost the leaders jersey. Once again though, the Columbia train showed why they are the best in the business as they recovered their position and delivered Griepel to first place.
Next, the Tour of Qatar on British Eurosport over the second week of February.
Is That It! Yes, that's my week, a few days off around the concert followed by a couple of hectic days at work!
As you know, last June my ankle was broken by an appalling tackle during Monday night football leading to the happiest 2 months of my life, sat at home, watching tv sport. Seven months later, I'm scheduled to return to the football field tonight - fingers crossed!
By way of a footnote, for those that asked I can confirm that the sewage pipe is now flowing smoothly - thanks for your concern.
Another seven days ... and it feels like all I've done this week is work, work and work. Usually at the turn of year I manage to convince myself that we're just weeks away from lighter evenings and warmer days - then a couple of weeks later the reality hits me that it'll be another three months before the clocks change and we've still got the worst of the winter ahead of us. So my mood has dropped accordingly and the most exciting things to happen this week were being invited to a six-year-old's birthday party (during which we played Zombie Nazi's on the PS3) and dealing with a blocked sewage pipe.
Tour Down Under There's a light at the end of the tunnel though - the return of the Pro Cycling season starting this week with The Tour Down Under. The season got off to a great start for the new British-based team Sky as Greg Henderson and Chris Sutton finished in first and second place in the Cancer Council Helpline Classic criterium. The Tour Down Under itself starts tomorrow (19 January) with highlights every day and live coverage from the last two stages on Sky Sports.
Daybreakers We went to the cinema at the weekend and saw Daybreakers - I'm still not sure what I thought of the film but I would say 1) it left me feeling a little disappointed and 2) I would definitely recommend going to see it.
I'll explain more when I can understand what I mean.
Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics As much as I enjoy watching the Spanish league football - and particularly the FC Barcelona matches - on television I am getting increasingly frustrated by the quality, or lack thereof, of the commentary during the matches.
During Saturday evenings Barca v Sevilla fixture the commentary team spent fully 20 minutes explaining that Zlatan Ibrahimovic 1) was off his game and 2) hadn't scored for a full month.
Well, 1) probably true, by his own high standards he doesn't appear to be operating at 100% but who, particularly in sport, ever performs to their maximum potential all of the time and 2) true but entirely misleading - as a result of the Christmas break in Spanish football and the Club World Cup 'Ibra' had only played twice since his last goal: not exactly a drought.
If you are going to commentate then do it properly. Or don't do it at all. If I want to watch the game while listening to badly-informed comment I'll go to the pub.
Barbeque Summer Following last years ''we're in for a barbeque summer'' the weather people have once again excelled themselves during the recent wintry weather that we've been experiencing.
'Lots of snow on Sunday' was the prediction, which changed on the Sunday when it was clear that snow wasn't likely to 'It's coming on Wednesday' - needless to say it didn't.
The only thing more surprising than the poor job the weather forecasters (aka scaremongers) do is that we, the people, still listen to them.
I can feel my mood darkening, hopefully, this week should be a bit 'livelier'. Back next week.
So, it was a case of back to work this past week - working on those tasks that for two weeks before Christmas I had managed to put-off, speaking with those people that frustrate me so much that I find myself walking around my home muttering the things that I'd love to say to them but know that I won't have am opportunity until my last day with the company ...
Anyway, onto my week:
Rubbish Watching last weeks Celtic v Rangers football match last weekend I was reminded just how poor the quality of Scottish football is at the moment when I singled-out Georgios Samaras as my man of the match. As rubbish as the two teams were, they were well matched and as such contributed to a very watchable game of football.
Slippery Slope Later that evening ITV Sport managed to drag the FA Cup down to new depths last week by inviting 'comedian' Frank Skinner to Wembley Stadium to take part in the draw for the next round. Former professional footballer, charity worker and anti-racism campaigner Paul Elliott drew the home teams, West Bromich Albion supporter Skinner the away teams.
It surely can't be long before we get Ant and Dec presenting the draw, which will be decided by a public telephone vote, with the ultimate choice of venue for the final being decided by Simon Cowell.
I'm kidding of course. It'll never happen. Will it?
New Year, New Pro Cycling Season As a recent convert to the sport of professional road cycling (watching you understand, the list of sports that I still have a chance of competing professionally in dwindles by the day ...) I was excited by the public launch of Team Sky on Monday morning. The professional riders were joined by 300 or so members of the (London) public - a nice touch I thought - as they rode through the capital to the media presentation. At the presentation the riders and team staff were introduced in turn by Sky's very own Dermot Murnaghan and as he called out their names I was reminded what a very good news-reader he is.
Although, surprisingly, I was a little disappointed by the television coverage of the event I have been impressed already how the team have embraced 'new media' - a great website and a busy, and sensible, twitter feed bringing the riders closer to the public than most sportsmen will ever be: keep it up!
I'm looking forward to following the team throughout the season starting at The Tour Down Under later this month - live on Sky Sports I understand: great news. The broadcaster doesn't, I believe, have much experience screening cycling and I just hope the coverage avoids going down the 'Jamie Redknapp' route. I really enjoyed following the sport on British Eurosport throughout last summer and I'd suggest their somewhat understated approach is the model to follow.
Best wishes to the team - we'll be following their progress at The Savage Rabbit throughout the season.
The New Didier Drogba During the Birmingham City v Manchester United game on ESPN last night the commentator introduced the young Manchester United substitute Mame Biram Diouf by comparing him to Didier Drogba.
Thankfully the young man avoided throwing himself to the ground theatrically and disgracefully swearing at the camera during his 15 minutes or so of action.
Clearly it's been a long time since my last post: what with my work commitments - six flights in a 20-day period - and the run-up to Christmas I've just not had the time or, more tellingly, the inspiration to post.
Going forward I've got a new plan for posting on the blog - I'm planning one 'digest' style post every week.
I'll publish at the start of the week - to be clear that's Sunday or Monday, not a Friday - and I'll include all the stuff that's caught my attention in the week gone and the week ahead.
Sports Personality? One of the things that did catch my eye before Christmas was the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards. As a child this award really mattered to me - we didn't have 500+ channels to watch and as such it seemed everyone with even a modest interest in sport would watch and I'd go into school on the Monday morning and everyone would be talking about it. A bit like snooker.
In recent years the importance of the award - to me at least - has been reduced to the point where I don't think I've watched the award show for more than 5 years. I tuned in this year hoping to see either Jenson Button or Mark Cavendish win the award.
I couldn't believe it when it was announced that Ryan Giggs had won. I'd say he's been one of the great footballers of the last 20 years, has had a magnificent career and continues to perform at the top level. But the 'stand-out' performer of the year.
If the award is quite literally presented on the basis of 'personality' or charisma then again, as nice a guy as he is, it's not Giggs.
Compounding my surprise, the Team of the Year award went to the England mens crickets team rather than either BrawnGP or, my own choice, the all conquering England womans crickets team.
I won't bother again.
Celebrity Birdwatching! Just when you think there are no new ideas in television ... this week sees the start of a new television series Bill Bailey's Bird Watching Bonanza which is described as a fun and fascinating series in which 'birdwatching shakes off its anorak image as celebrities go head to head in testing twitching tasks'.
I've seen a trailer for the show, the highlight of which features wild laughter as one of the 'celebrities' remarks they can see a 'tit'.
How do they come up with these ideas? Quite remarkable.
The Comeback After six months out of the game I'm making my 'long awaited' comeback to the football field tomorrow night after breaking my ankle last summer (leading to what is now known as 'the happiest two months of my life'). I'll let you know how it goes next week.
A new, and I suspect recurring, feature: Football Fool of the Week.
The nominees:
The entire FAI (Football Association of Ireland), still feeling sorry for themselves following their one-one draw against France in the FIFA World Cup play-off match, asked FIFA to allow them to enter next years World Cup as an additional (33rd) team (more thoughts on this to follow). The idea is so laughable that even FIFA President Sepp Blatter couldn't resist a chuckle - this from a man who suggested womens football could be improved by the players wearing tighter shorts.
Real Madrid-biased journalist Tomás Roncero for complaining in AS newspaper that the referee in Sundays Barcelona v Real Madrid match allowed Zlatan Ibrahimovic's winning goal despite the player being, and I quote, "nearly offside":
'The game of football is rotten: so many players cheat, so many officials miss or bottle the big decisions. I often say that I love and hate football at the same time, it's just that I have so much history with the sport that I can't walk away.'
'No, I think he's only done what any pro footballer would have done: cheat'
'Part of the problem is that cheating has become institutionalised - managers cheat by putting officials under pressure ahead of big games, players cheat by diving and pretending to be injured, the authorities leave themselves open to suggestions of cheating by leaving it until the last minute to decide whether the seed the qualifying draw to favour the big countries.'
'And there's the hypocrisy: cheated players shaking hands and hugging with a cheating player: 'honour amongst thieves'. No doubt the media will go on about the injustice for days and then when cheating works in 'our' favour they will turn a blind eye. The game is rotten.'
These are some of my comments from a text conversation I had with a friend last night while we watched the FIFA World Cup Qualifier between France and Ireland. France secured their place in next years World Cup thanks to a controversial goal.
Sure enough, immediately after the game on the 24 hour sports news channel the staff were reaching the point of hysteria - it was a outrage that the referee didn't spot the incident (interesting to note that it was initially the officials who were condemned rather than the player involved), the authorities should order the game replayed ... etc etc.
No doubt this story will rumble on for a few days labouring the 'cheated once again by Johnny Foreigner' line (players/officials: delete as appropriate) until the broadcast media get bored and move onto their next 'sensational' story.
Ultimately the referee or linesman will be held responsible by the authorities, media and fans alike and pay the price accordingly: his character will be assaulted and he'll miss out on future appointments, perhaps retire from the game - it's happened before.
Interestingly, I understand that the last time this particular match referee appeared on the English-media radar it was when he awarded Liverpool a 'dubious' 95th minute penalty in a Champions League fixture at Anfield. Liverpool scored to claim a 1-1 draw with Atletico de Madrid.
I don't remember too many calls for the match to be replayed that night.
For the second week running I've been unable to find a 'Weekend Hero' - I'd hoped for a nominee from yesterdays 'Super Sunday' football match between Chelsea and Manchester United but the match - unsurprisingly - just didn't live up to its 'Super' billing.
The match - or rather the post-match television discussion - did however provide the 'Quote of the Day'.
Jamie Redknapp, a former professional footballer of note and regular studio 'pundit' reportedly remarked:
"Manchester United will be delighted ... apart from losing the game."
Well done Jamie.
I say reportedly because I'd switched-off the tv on the final whistle, fed-up that yet another match had been decided, not by a moment of brilliance from one of the players, but by match officials (referee Martin Atkinson) not doing their jobs: 1) the free kick that led to the goal was simply not a free-kick, 2) a Chelsea player (Drogba) fouled a Manchester United player (Brown) as the free-kick was played before 3) Drogba was in an off-side position as John Terry headed goalwards.
I imagine Redknapp was suggesting that Sir Alex Ferguson and his coaching staff would have been pleased with their teams performance, despite the result, against one of their title rivals. But he wasn't - and he said so - during his after-match interview. His team didn't do enough to win the game in my opinion - despite long periods of possession they rarely troubled the Chelsea goal and I can only remember Peter Cech making one real save of note. As such, Manchester didn't deserve to lose the game and a draw would have been a fair result.
Although the true anniversary isn't until next Tuesday apparently, Google in the UK are today marking 40 years of Sesame Street with a Cookie Monster 'google doodle'.
I used to enjoy Sesame Street when I was younger (and by younger I mean in my 20's) - my favourite characters were always Elmo and Count von Count.
As my own tribute to the show here are some out-takes from when Ricky Gervais met Elmo on the show earlier this year.
Whenever I see Kiefer Sutherland/Jack Bauer I think of this line from the first episode of season 2 of 24. Jack appears to be a beaten man - his CTU career is over, he's seen his daughter kidnapped, his wife murdered ... he just didn't have anything else left to lose.
What happened before Jack uttered those words set the tone for the show from that point onwards I think: anything is possible!
Six or seven years later and the programme is onto the eighth series ('day') and for me everything about the show - the acting, the writing, production - is just as strong as it was during those early episodes.
Earlier this week Fox released what I believe is the first trailer for 'day 8' and it looks like we're in for another great series.
Roy Hodgson is clearly a true football man. I get the impression that if he wasn't managing a team - currently Fulham FC in the English Premier League - he'd be quietly queuing at a stadium somewhere to buy matchday tickets. His love for the game is there for everyone to see and, finally, it seems the game is showing its appreciation - it's respect - for Roy Hodgson.
Over 7 days last week - culminating with yesterdays match at Manchester City - his team were committed to playing three matches. It doesn't sound much to those of us that work 'regular' jobs but in football this is quite unusual. Last Monday evening Fulham took on Hull City in a Premier League fixture at their Craven Cottage home stadium. Three days later they played host to the Italian giants AS Roma in the Europa League and then yesterday afternoon travelled to Manchester to contest another Premier League fixture.
Not an ideal schedule for a team with quite possibly the smallest first team squad in the English Premier League. Paying due respect to each opponent Mr Hodgson fielded a full strength side in each of the three fixtures - there was no sign of the sadly now common practice amongst other Premier League managers of fielding a weakened side for the Europa League game.
Not once did I hear Mr Hodgson or any of his staff complain about the schedule, they simply got on with the job in hand. I can only imagine the fuss - from manager and media alike - had one of the 'big 4' been faced with a similar run of fixtures with such limited, in terms of numbers, resources.
Mr Hodgson and his Fulham team were well rewarded for their hard work - four points out of six in the league, including a fine 2-2 draw yesterday at Manchester City having been two goals to nil down, and a well deserved draw against AS Roma.
This physically demanding schedule went almost unnoticed by the media, but not by The Savage Rabbit: Roy Hodgson - The Weekend Hero #3.
The Savage Rabbit blog is an outlet for my random thoughts and opinions on the things that are important to me - particularly (although not exclusively) football, film, televison and music - as well as my random thoughts about life in general.
I try to post something - however short - at least every couple of days. If you've got any thoughts about my posts please click on the Comment link or drop me an email.
Say what you like about [Europes #1 24-Hour Sports News channel] but one thing you can't accuse them of is lacking the ability to fill hour upon hour with rumour, conjecture - and a nice graphic to illustrate the rumour and conjecture - presented as news.
