The Sporting Hack

When Joe Frazier defeated Muhammad Ali forty years ago in Madison Square Garden’s, in their first of three brutal encounters, he probably didn’t have a care in the World. He had just retained his two World title belts and the word beginning with ‘R’ when he would hang up his gloves was most likely the last thing on his mind. Of the two fighters that left the ring in New York, time hasn’t been favourable to either. However, they are both held in the highest of regards by, not just the boxing public, but the sporting one. On the eve of David Haye’s pinnacle fight against Wladimir Klitschko in Germany we are witnessing boxers that are hyped as warriors and potential legends. Neither, in fact, is worthy of catching Frazier’s gum-shield or lacing Ali’s gloves. While Muhammad Ali is seemingly failing to deal with the subsequent severity of his Parkinson’s disease, Frazier is not just short of a ‘bob or two’, but damn near completely broke. The chance for myself to go to ‘an eveni...

Maria Sharapova (Rus) (5) bt Laura Robson (Gbr) 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 The fateful shot which saw Laura Robson exit Wimbledon 2011 was a misguided and wild backhand hack from a typically powerful Maria Sharapova serve. It was far from a fair reflection of how the 17 year old Brit had played against the Russian seeded fifth for the tournament. Having defeated Angelique Kerber on Wednesday in her first ever grand slam win, Robson, ranked 254 th in the world, was pitted against tournament favourite Sharapova and could not have asked for a better start. At 4-1 up in the first set, Robson was flying, her strong forehand down the line causing her opponent, who won at the All England club when she was just 17, an array of problems. As it was however, Sharapova’s cross court backhands equalled, if not bettered, Robson and she forced a tie-break – something both parties would have arguably settled for. The seven years greater experience of which shot to play, and when, was invaluable to the...

England under 21's 1-2 Czech Republic under 21's England Under-21’s hopes of progressing through to the European Championships semi-final against hosts Denmark were ended by a demoralising last gasp double against the Czech Republic in Group B. Danny Welbeck’s 76 th minute header looked to have given the Young Lions all three valuable points that would see them finish second behind group winners Spain – who defeated Ukraine 3-0. However, Czech coach Jakub Dovalil’s double substitution proved to be decisive as first Jan Chramosta in the 89 th minute, and then Tomas Pekhart in the 94 th minute, broke English hearts. In an all too familiar position for any England side in a major tournament, only a win would do for Stuart Pearce’s side. The Czech’s played a risky game, choosing to defend for large periods, but their robust and well drilled back line coped well with both Danny Sturridge and his namesake: Welbeck. When breached, goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik demonstrated he...

Time and again we are reassured by cricket analysts that Kevin Pietersen is the most gifted batsman in the England test side. It’s a fact few can dispute when they see highlights of KP at his best. From textbook to audacious, the South African born 30-year-old has the ability to dazzle and the skill to become one of the greats. Unfortunately he won’t ever reach the standards he could and probably should do though. Plagued by an arrogance that lost him his captaincy, Pietersen’s ego somehow doesn’t quite fit in with Andrew Strauss’ team ethos. Whether it is Pietersen’s literal Achilles heel which dogs him from a consistent spell at batting at County level or his metaphoric Achilles heel of regularly being dismissed by slow left arm bowlers, he is a player desperately short of form and, ultimately, ideas. Today at Lords with just two runs to his name and facing the fast pace of the inexperienced Sri Lankan bowler Suranga Lakmal, he wielded his bat angrily at a wide delivery outsid...

I recently read the following extract: “Anyone who approached his tasks with anything approaching dedication was viewed with suspicion. If you publicly avowed such dedication you were the object of ridicule. If you didn’t drink vast quantities you were almost certainly gay. It has never been the English way to publicly show dedication. Also you must be self-effacing about your efforts and especially any success you achieve thereby.” * For some unknown reasons, the names of two Manchester born sportsmen sprang to mind – the partially retired Ricky Hatton, and the just retired Paul Scholes. Questioning either’s success would be doing them a disservice. So what about how they approached their disciplines? For Hatton, there was no doubt he would be mentally prepared for his next bout, but his physicality could sway to an extraordinary proportion when he was out of the boxing ring. He was the typical Englishman who backed up his statements of leading a ‘normal’ life by drinking ple...