And the winner is...

My 'alternative' fighter of the year award, The Fran, goes to Bernard Hopkins. His performance earlier this month, just a few weeks shy of his 46th birthday, emphasised once again what a phenomenal fighter he is. Although he was robbed of victory by the judges - as he always seem to be in close fights - in reality he hasn't suffered a defeat since his loss to the great Roy Jones in 1993. Quite simply amazing.

Never too old?

A great weekend for 'old timers' - Phil Taylor at the age of 50 finally received some of the recognition he deserves at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, whilst Bernard Hopkins, 46 next month, outboxed a 27-year-old champion in his prime. Still, it would have been nice to see both of these legends declared the winners - they were clearly robbed.

Yes Khan do?

Great victory by Amir Khan on Saturday. The lad appears to have defied the old boxing adage, and actually added muscle to his chin. We should find out in the next year just how good a fighter he really is, but the signs are starting to look promising. Despite the astonishing improvement in his chin, I still suspect he may remain susceptible to being caught cold at the beginning of a fight...

It is now...

Or perhaps not. Ah well, there's always 2030 - the hundreth anniversary of the tournament, so an appropriate time to host it at 'the home of football'TM

They think it's all over...

So David Beckham is a bit of a joke? Well he's just made a speech which I suspect may win England the World Cup in 2018:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9250670.stm

Better late than never

The shortlist for this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year has just been announced, and Phil 'The Power' Taylor is included!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/sports_personality_of_the_year/default.stm

This clearly shows that the Beeb monitors this blog and listens to what I have to say - see my posting from a year ago:

http://floatlikeabutterflysting.blogspot.com/2009/12/shurely-shume-mistake.html

Hope the joke's not on Haye

David Haye should beat 'Ordinary' Harrison easily on Saturday (and I hope he does), but at heavyweight you just never know. That's why it was very silly for Haye to take this fight - if he's going to get caught by a bomb, far better that it happens against one of the Klitschko's than against some bum

Football vs. Football

I saw Darlo for the first time in ages last weekend, playing at Mossley in the 4th qualifying round of the FA Cup. The game itself was spoiled by the unnecessary 'double-punishment' rule (their goalkeeper was adjudged to have brought down our player in the penalty area, resulting in both a red card for the keeper and a penalty kick), but a 6-2 win is a 6-2 win. Also a reminder of the good old days, when I could watch Darlo for £7 - the £20+ I've paid to see them against the likes of Accrington Stanley and Bury in League Two is just ridiculous.

Now for this weekend, something completely different: San Francisco 49ers vs Denver Broncos at Wembley Stadium...

What the Haye?

Now I'm always been a big fan of David Haye. But calling the Klitchko brothers out, and then choosing to duck them and instead fight Audley Harrison? Come on David, get a grip man - you're a World Champion for goodness sake. A unification bout with Wladimir Klitchko would be huge (and very winable - his chin is so suspect); a fight with 'Ordinary' Harrison is just a joke.

World Cup Ramblings (6)

So it's semi-finals time. I'd like to see a Holland v Spain final, simply because I think they're the best two teams never to have won the tournament. But (based upon what I've seen so far) Germany would be the most deserving winners.

World Cup Ramblings (5)

So my pre-tournament prediction that Engerland would definitely make the quarter-finals was wrong (even I didn't appreciate quite how bad they were). The inquest has already started, but I suggest that, instead of blaming the manager, the system, the linesman, etc., people just read this post from a couple of years ago:

http://floatlikeabutterflysting.blogspot.com/2008/06/42-years-of-hurt-and-counting.html

World Cup Ramblings (4)

Same old story - one minute the Engerland team are hopeless losers (and let's be honest they did look woeful against Algeria) the next they're going to beat Germany. In fact most of the callers to the Radio 5 phone in after the Slovenia game seemed to be of the opinion "now we're going to win it"!

To be honest, a victory against Germany wouldn't surprise me - but if they beat Germany, then Argentina, then Spain, then Brazil, even I will have to concur that they're deserved winners!

World Cup Ramblings (3)

Still sticking to my pre-tournament prediction that Engerland will definitely reach the quarterfinals, and probably the semis. The parallels with 1990 are scary: ridiculed after the opening 2 games, players force manager to change system, relatively easy route to the semis, come home as heroes..

World Cup Ramblings (2)

Some thoughts at the end of the first group stage matches:

Germany: I suspect they may have peaked too soon. Historically, teams which start really well don't go on to win the World Cup

Argentina: As I said before the tournament began, they are probably the best value odds to win the tournament (still around 7/1)

Engerland: It wouldn't surprise me if Robert Green ended up being the quarter/semi final penalty kick hero...

Ivory Coast & France: The dream scenario remains that Engerland get knocked out by Sven’s side, and that France win the whole thing. Unfortunately, I don't see either of those things happening. Ivory Coast probably won't get through the group of death, and France may also go home early

Spain: Usual calamitous start to a World Cup. However, one would expect this group of players to be a bit more resilient than in the past, and it will be interesting to see if they can turn it around. No team has ever won the competition after losing their opening game, so if they did manage to pull it off it would be a tremendous achievement.

Brazil: Arguably the best team in the tournament, but the best team doesn't always win. Sometimes mediocre teams win - which is why Engerland still have a chance…

World Cup Ramblings (1)

I hope:

France win the tournament: it would be poetic justice for all those corrupt/inept people who run the game if a team which blatantly cheated to get to the finals (and was allowed to get away with it) goes on to win the trophy.

Engerland get knocked out by the Ivory Coast: Sven is a great manager, and is unjustly maligned for his international record - guiding England to the World Cup quarterfinals in both 2002 (losing to the eventual winners) and 2006 (losing on penalties); losing only five competitive matches during his tenure; taking the team to a ranking of No.4 in the world. It would be sweet if he came back to haunt the FA and all those fans with completely unrealistic expectations of the national team.

I think:

Argentina are the best value odds to win the tournament: Messi, Tevez, Heinze, Veron, Mascherano, etc. but currently rated by the Bookmakers at 7/1.

Engerland will: Definitely get to the quarterfinals; probably get to the semi-finals; and possibly get to the final. They're one of the best 8 teams in the tournament, but not one of the best 4; however, they're due a bit of luck in the quarters/semis (e.g. winning on penalty kicks, being awarded a dubious goal; opponents having a player sent off). But let's be honest (however far they get) they don't compare with the likes of Spain in terms of skill, talent and flair.

I suspect (and hope):

The tournament will be decided by a controversial decision: this would (once again) highlight the need to adopt some of the ideas employed in American Football which prevent cheating and ineptitude. And hopefully force the authorities to finally act.

Maximum Power

Lat night, in winning the final of the Premier League, Phil Talyor hit the first nine-darter in a major final. A few legs later he did it again, becoming the first player in history to hit two nine-dart finishes in one game. I don't think there's any argument now that Taylor is the greatest competitor this country has ever produced.

Like I said (2 years ago)...

(31 would have been enough this season)

http://floatlikeabutterflysting.blogspot.com/2008/05/getting-point-38-not-40.html

Like I said...

Floyd Mayweather proved last night that he is, undoubtedly, the greatest fighter in the world. Despite coming close to being knocked out by Mosley in the second round (which is why those 4/1 odds were worth a little flutter), Mayweather went on to give a boxing masterclass. Before the fight, Mosley could justifiably claim to be one of the two best Welterweights in the world - but he was completely outboxed by the greatest. Sure, many pundits will continue to argue that Pacquiao is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. But if the two ever get together in the same ring, I can only see one winner. Bring it on.

Sweet as Sugar?

I just bet a few quid on 'Sugar' Shane Mosley at odds of 4/1 to win the big fight tonight. Think I'm crazy? I still believe Floyd Mayweather will win, but I reckon it's the toughest fight out there for the great one (much tougher than Pacquiao). Also, I'm a sucker for quality fighters with the 'Sugar' moniker. And I'll take 4/1 on Mosley against anyone...

Forlan Hero

Justice was done last night when Liverpool were knocked out of the Europa Cup. It's completely ridiculous that teams who come 3rd in the group stages of the Champions League are given the safety net of entry into the Europa League. Okay, I know Athletico Madrid also benefited from that crazy European loophole - but it was clearly a case of the lesser of two evils (and the fact that Forlan scored the decisive goal was poetic). Plus, for consistencies sake, I hope Fulham thump them in the final.

Change the Rules! (No. 4) - Sweet FA (Cup)

Lots of talk this past weekend about the Football Association needing to revamp the FA Cup. The solution to reviving interest in the competition is simple: when the draw is made, the team which is lowest in the football pyramid at that moment should automatically be designated the home side. This would increase the potential for upsets - which, after all, is where the main interest in the competition really lies. A non-league or lower-league team at home to, say, Chelsea, is always going to be of far greater interest than if the fixture was at Stamford Bridge (where the outcome is usually pretty much pre-determined - no non-league side has ever knocked out a top flight club away from home, and it's pretty rare for a lower league side to achieve this feat). Plus, it would be a far greater achievement for a team like Chelsea to win the competition, having to play most if not all of their fixtures on the road. And we certainly wouldn't have to wait another 30 (or more) years for a team from outside the top division to win the trophy.

New Year Wishes

1/ Philadelphia Eagles or Arizona Cardinals to win the Superbowl (or at least get through the first round of the play-offs)
2/ France to win the FIFA World Cup (further devaluing an already tarnished competition)
3/ Mayweather and Pacquiao to stop bickering and have the damn fight (which Mayweather would win easy)
4/ David Haye to fight (and beat) one of the Klitschko brothers
5/ Phil ‘the Power’ Taylor to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year