Friday, March 25, 2011
Sports World |
- Will the FA be left embarrassed again by Wembley?
- Modric the real star of White Hart Lane
- MLB free agents still available as season nears
- A Grand National tip to remember
- Ferrari can get off to winning start to 2011 F1 Season
| Will the FA be left embarrassed again by Wembley? Posted: 25 Mar 2011 07:50 AM PDT The FA have previously found themselves embroiled in situations in which they have been left feeling pretty embarrassed about the state of the Wembley pitch ahead of key FA cup ties. This year, though, the top dogs there may find themselves having to cope with a situation in which they don't feel particularly embarrassed by the pitch but have more than a few anxieties about the fact the TV cameras point directly at the section of the ground containing the corporate seating area. The match might attract a fair few FA Cup bets, but it may not attract the fans. With the FA previously making the decision to hold the semi-finals at Wembley in order to help finance the stadium and ensure that they can continue to pump money into the sort of grassroots schemes that are aiming to raise the technical ability and overall standards of youngsters throughout England, they have also taken the huge risk of being left with a half empty stadium, with the risk of nobody except a few fans of both sides taking the opportunity to come to the match a real possibility, especially when you take a look at the extortionate amounts the FA charges fans to have the pleasure of sitting in the worst seats at the ground. If the FA end up having to face the music and deal with fans at home laughing at empty seats and a total lack of corporate interest in the Bolton versus Stoke game, then they may well find themselves forced to rethink continuing the policy of playing all the semi-finals at Wembley, with the option of relocating future games at this stage of the competition surely sensible if the sides involved deem it to be in their fans' best interest. However, with the FA only after one thing, and that is certainly not fan welfare, the chances of change occurring are slim at best unless the officials receive a whole load of stick for an empty stadium.  |
| Modric the real star of White Hart Lane Posted: 25 Mar 2011 07:19 AM PDT Luka Modric may have failed to hit the headlines this season to quite the same extent that his team mates Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart have managed, with the latter duo excelling in the middle of the park for Spurs in both league action and their Champions League campaign, but there's little doubting who the Spurs fans think is one of the brightest stars in European football right now. It would seem that Harry Redknapp agrees with this assessment, with the Spurs boss revealing that there apparently isn't a sum of money in the world that would tempt him into giving away his prize asset. With Spurs no doubt already placing one eye on their Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid in early April, there is little doubting that they will be looking to their midfield maestro to continue to prove his commitment to the club with a couple of stellar performances. Although many critics and neutral fans have written off Spurs' chances of reaching the semi-final of the Champions League, players like Modric really are capable of providing that little something special that can so often prove to be the difference against some of the top sides in Europe. The Champions League final odds probably won't feature Spurs, but if they do it will be down to Modric. Teams such as Chelsea and Manchester United, as well as a few of the continent's leading names on the football stage, have already revealed their interest in taking the star from the North London club at some point in the future, but with Modric signing an unusually long contract just last summer that will last him six years, it looks likely that it will be the Spurs revolution that Redknapp is so keen to lead which will benefit from his involvement for some time yet to come.  |
| MLB free agents still available as season nears Posted: 25 Mar 2011 05:43 AM PDT Are you a Major League Baseball team still looking for one more piece to the puzzle? Got a little spending money? Well you are in luck because there are still plenty of free agents on the market as the season nears. They are there for a reason, usually for salary reasons and age but will any teams take a chance? Baseball betting pundits note how there is certainly some talent sitting on the free agent bench just waiting to get in the game. Need a pitcher? At the time of this post, MLB Betting experts note how Kevin Millwood is still out there. Many experts had him listed as the seventh-best pitcher in a thin free-agent class this offseason. Millwood was 4-16 with a 5.10 ERA last season for the Baltimore Orioles but the majority of that poor record was due to 11 starts that he made from late May to early August while he was nursing a sore groin. Then over 10 starts in August and September, Millwood's ERA went from 8.84 to 3.29. Several teams have been looking at his services, including the New York Yankees. The Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners and Orioles also could choose to grab Millwood as opening day looms. First baseman Troy Glaus looks like he is very close to retirement but he is a power hitter and could land with a team. He had 14 home runs and 58 RBIs for the Atlanta Braves in the first half of 2010, before he was undone by knee and wrist problems, finishing with 16 home runs and 71 RBIs. There also seems to be a catching shortage throughout the league, at least in terms of a veteran who can manage a pitching staff. Which makes it very strange that Bengie Molina is still a free agent. Although he seems satisfied to sit on the sidelines unless the perfect opportunity comes up. Case in point, the San Diego Padres were looking into Molina and were told he wasn't interested. Another pitcher who is still on the free agent list is right-hander Jeremy Bonderman. Bonderman suggested last summer he might retire which would certainly turn off teams. Bonderman won 50 games from 2004-07 and, in part because of shoulder issues, 11 since. The offers are not there right now and it looks like he is going to wait on offers instead of heading to the minors. There is not much left on the free agent list but there are certainly a few players that if used correctly and find the right situation, can still help a team win some games.  |
| A Grand National tip to remember Posted: 25 Mar 2011 02:44 AM PDT In February 1981 I was asked to be best man for my greatest friend Steve, a guy I had met at university but who now worked in the mining business in the US. He was marrying Joan, an Arizona girl in Phoenix. I was working as a teacher but was lucky that the wedding fell on half term. It went well and I arrived back at Heathrow in good spirits. Money wasn't flowing in those days and I was returning to the north by coach. This left from London Victoria and I arrived an hour before departure. "Time for some English beer," I thought and found the nearest hostelry. I had a suitcase with me and managed to get my drink to a corner table next to a fellow traveller, as evidenced by his own suitcase. After a brief chat he asked me to look after his case whilst he made a call using the pub phone (no mobiles in those days!). The concern was not only about theft but IRA bombs as well. After a five minute conversation he returned, sat down and thanked me. He then asked if I was interested in Grand National racing. I was. Now I never was much interested in tips since as a twenty year old student I hitched to Nottingham races. On the way back I was given a lift by a man in a very expensive car. Telling me to keep it under my hat he told me he was part owner in a horse that was to run, and win the following Saturday. When I got home I eagerly went through my Timeform Black Book – the horse didn't exist! My new friend in the pub not only tipped me a horse, but told me it would run unsuccessfully in the Cheltenham Gold Cup but then go on to win the National. Well it didn't do the former, winning an Ascot trial race instead. It did win the National, though and went on to be part of a successful film. Yes, the horse was Aldaniti. Did I clean up? No. It was even before the days of in play betting so I couldn't get on when it looked like the horse was going well. Who was the man? I don't know; but just on the million to one chance you're reading this - get in touch!  |
| Ferrari can get off to winning start to 2011 F1 Season Posted: 25 Mar 2011 01:36 AM PDT The 2011 Forumla 1 season finally gets under way this weekend following the cancellation of Bahrain Grand Prix a couple of weeks back. The Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne takes centre stage for the start of the new season and with both the Drivers Championship and Constructors Championship up for grabs, everyone starts with a clean slate and optimism will be high across all teams and drivers but which combination will get off to the best possible start and emerge victorious Down Under? The obvious candidate of course is the reigning F1 World Champion, Sebastian Vettel, now officially the number one driver for Red Bull, whose cars it would appear are as good as ever, certainly looking the best of all teams in pre-season practices. Vettel is without doubt full of confidence but Melbourne has not been one of his better circuits having failed to finish in his two races there so far for Red Bull. He qualified in pole position last year, but his race ended on the 25th lap with brakes problems. In 2009 he qualified in third place but had to retire following a collision when in third place on the 56th lap. Vettel's team mate at Red Bull Mark Webber will no doubt have the crowd on his side, but whether that will be enough for him to win the race is open doubt as like Vettel, the Melbourne circuit has not been the kindest to him. He was ninth last year after qualifying second and in 2009 he finished twelfth after qualifying in tenth place. In fact Webber's best finish on home soil was his fifth places he achieved in 2002, when driving for Minardi and in 2005 when he was with Williams. Of the current crop of drivers, Jenson Button has the best record winning the race for the last two years. Firstly in 2009 when driving for Brawn and then 12 months ago when driving a superb race for his new team of McLaren. It is anticipated that this year that tyres will be a key area and it is well known on the circuit that Button is probably just about the best driver when it comes to opting for tyre changes. Add that to his great ability to preserve tread, he would seem to be in with a big shout to win for a third consecutive time, provided that the McLaren car is up to it. McLaren in fact have been behind the rest of the leading lights in pre-season and are still tinkering with their exhaust system amongst other things. Lewis Hamilton, team mate of Button and winner of this race in 2009 is however quite bullish about his team's chances but realises that to win they have it all to do against the Red Bull's and Ferrari's. As it stands currently Hamilton can be backed in the Drivers Championship odds at around 10/1 with Button much better value at 16/1, however punters would probably be best advised to leave the McLaren team alone for this opening Grand Prix. Fernando Alonso whose only win in Australia came in 2006 when he drove for Renault is in the antepost market as the 11/4 second favourite. However, now in his second season with Ferrari, the Spaniard and the team can be expected to make significant moves this year in their bid to wrest the title off Red Bull. It is why Alonso would be a good bet to win in Australia this year. He too has had plenty of good pre-season practice sessions and confidence is very high in the team. The Mercedes team can also be expected to improve on last year and it would surprise no-one to see their two drivers, Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg to be in amongst the leaders both in qualifying and the race itself. They are both around the same 12/1 price and represent good value to at least make the podium at the end of the race. Next on the schedule is the Malaysian Grand Prix on April 10th, before the tour heads to China, Turkey and Spain and by the time the Monaco Grand Prix betting comes around on the 29th May, one of the feature races of the season I clearer picture will known of who the best teams are likely to be for the remainder of the campaign. Melbourne Grand Prix Prediction: 1st F Alonso – Ferrari 2nd S Vettel – Red Bull 3rd N Rosberg - Mercedes  |
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