The Olympics? But I could be watching Stoke City…
August 15, 2008
I had always thought the height of sporting ecstasy was watching my beloved Stoke City score a goal.
Now I’m at the Olympics in Beijing, well, I think I still do… but I must admit this life-long credo is coming under severe strain.
Take events in the Water Cube. Until now, my best memories of ‘swimming’ had been Stoke players splashing through the mud on Boxing Day 1984 to record a memorable 2-1 win over Manchester United.
But this week I’ve seen Michael Phelps in the flesh! The American phenomenon has had us all on our feet — seasoned hacks like me, Chinese spectators, and even Phelps’s own rivals — smashing records as fast as Ronaldo will probably put goals past Stoke this year.
And did you see the 4×100 freestyle relay final? The fingertip finish was one of the most exciting moments of the Beijing Games, and surely in swimming history.
Then there was the opening basketball match: hosts China v an NBA star-studded USA. The place was rocking. Dare I say it, the atmosphere rivalled even the Britannia Stadium when we won promotion to the Premier League in May.
On my way to the press centre the other day, I grabbed a coffee and popped in to see the women’s team gymnastics final. The girls’ agility and jumps, the gasps at an occasional stumble and the thrill of China’s gold medal over arch-rivals the United States, left my heart pounding as fast as the thousands of fans I was sitting with.
In this over-excited state, I tried to explain to a Chinese fan that I had not seen such artistry since Liam Lawrence and Ricardo Fuller combined to destroy Coventry away in April. But the allusion was, err, a tad cryptic.
Coming up is the biggest one of all — the men’s 100 metres final in the Bird’s Nest stadium. But oh no, what’s this? The race happens slap-bang in the middle of the opening Premier League game on Saturday. So what’s it to be — go to the Bird’s Nest for the biggest race on earth, or find a quiet corner to listen to Bolton v Stoke on the Internet?
Such a dilemma…
PHOTO: Usain Bolt of Jamaica competes in the men’s 100m heat at the National Stadium during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 15, 2008. REUTERS/Aly Song
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Nigerian Ladies Out of Olympics
August 13, 2008
We had an idea this would happen, but we’re sad nevertheless.
The Nigeria women’s football team, the Super Falcons, were beaten 3-1 by Brazil on Tuesday at the Workers’ Stadium in Beijing in their final group game at the Olympics.
The result left the Nigerian women bottom of the group with three defeats from three matches, and eliminated from the tournament.
They also lost 1-0 to Germany and 1-0 to North Korea besides the Brazil loss.
Nigeria were first to score, with a 19th-minute penalty driven home by Perpetua Nkwocha.
But Brazilian starlet Cristiane went on to bag a first-half hat-trick, as Brazil finished top of the group.
Her first was a powerful header in the 33rd minute, then two minutes later she scored with a stunning overhead kick.
The hat-trick was completed at the end of the first half with a shot after she was unmarked inside the penalty area.
Nigeria tried a few long-range shots after the break, but the best chance of the half fell to Cristiane.
The Brazilian forced a finger-tip save from Nigeria keeper Precious Dede with a shot from the edge of the area in the 65th minute.
Nigeria were dangerous on the break with Sarah Michael and Ifeanyi Chiejine causing trouble for the Brazilian defenders.
The three defeats for the Super Falcons mean that they have failed to improve on the 2004 Olympics, where they reached the quarter-finals.
But in a very difficult group, they performed with credit, though their strikers often let them down.
Despite defeat, Super Falcons coach Jossy Lad said he was satisfied with the performance of his team. However, he blamed the strikers for the defeat.
“Before this event some people called this group the zone of death and you can see it is not easy to play against Brazil, Germany and Korea in the same competition. The girls gave their best.
“Against Brazil the problem was not that of luck but rather our attack failed to click. We created scoring chances but failed to utilize them. I am disappointed with the attackers because I worked so hard in this area.
“The players showed so much promise in training but failed to perform when it mattered most. Football is a crazy game, we gave a good performance but failed to get the results and so we are out.”
Maybe next time, eh?
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Dannii Minogue Wants to Feed Up Fellow Judge Cheryl Cole
August 12, 2008
It is certainly no secret that Cheryl Cole has lost weight recently, mainly because it is mentioned in the papers nearly everyday.
And now fellow X Factor judge Dannii Minogue has joined in saying she wants to feed up the tiny star.
The two X Factor judges were suppose to be at each others throats but it looks like they could be quite friendly. So much so that Dannii has spoken about Cheryl quite fondly and wants to help her gain some weight.
Dannii says: ‘I wouldn’t wish what Cheryl’s been through on anybody. It must just be awful. It’s physically obvious, it’s been a tough time for her. I’ll try to feed her up.
‘I try and feed everyone up, so there’s obviously an Italian mother stuck inside me.’
She added: ‘Cheryl’s tiny. Mind you, Ashley came to auditions on her birthday and he’s not tall. They’re in proportion.’
It does make me wonder why the press make this stuff up, surely if Cheryl hated girls so much she wouldn’t have lasted so long in the band ‘Girls’ Aloud!
Cheryl has also spoken out, but about Simon Cowell, she tells OK! mag: ‘As much as it pains me to admit it, and using Simon’s own words: “He is always right.” ‘
‘I have to say I do agree with him on a lot of things, but definitely not everything.
She continues: ‘I do tell him if I think he’s out of order or wrong about someone. Sometimes he drives me mad and he always has to have the last word!’
The X Factor starts THIS Saturday on ITV, I’m so excited!!!!!!!!!!
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Suzanne Franklin Reveals the Darker Side of Being a WAG
August 12, 2008
Suzanne Franklin who used to be married to West Ham midfielder Nigel Quashie has told the Daily Mail about her bad time as a WAG.
After discovering that her dream premiership ‘baller was two timing her and had a baby with another woman, Suzanne Franklin’s world came crashing down.
The former WAG found out that a girl called Kerry had given birth to Quashie’s son five months before Suzanne and Quashie had met, and he had been sleeping with Kerry the whole time they were together.
Suzanne later discovered that he had been taking Kerry to matches when she wasn’t available and buying her designer clothes.
When Suzanne confronted Quashie, he said: ‘Kerry was a one-night stand and a fat slag, I told him I didn’t believe him. Then he swore at me. He told me I had to move out.’
She then moved back with her parents, and after giving him one final chance Suzanne realised she didn’t want anything more to do with the footballer.
Suzanne Franklin is now a trainee teacher and has swapped designer handbags for Topshop, and has happily left the WAG life behind!
There you have it a WAGs life is not always as it seems!!
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Video: Girl getting hit by Football
August 11, 2008
A Hans Moleman Production. Wolfsburg’s Christian Gentner proves why the DFB-Pokal is called a knockout competition during his team’s first round match against fourth division side Heidenheim (3-0).
via: 101 Great Goals
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