Tottenham: Nelsen on the end of a Hotspur Premier Transfer Line

All the details have been well truly delivered on the deadline.

Ryan Nelsen, the man who would lead the All Whites in South Africa in 2010, has taken the white to heart, falling on his feet, at the Premier League challengers with a free transfer overnight.

If that reads alot like good fortune, it is also the fruit of long fostered admiration for the character shown by this leader of the All Whites pack, in the Twilight of his career.

Thirty-Four years is not normative to make your career move in this sporting context, but the longtime Blackburn Rovers leader is making the most of this offering to a “glamour” club. [Read more...]

EQUALITY: Does Tennis Pay for Its Play?

When the rewards for winning in a Grand Slam become the ground for a battle of the sexes, any debate on – prize money to play – gets lost in a PC world.

Fortune favours the brave, and you are, as now that I am Mac, I won’t go back, meaning we can examine any possible rationale behind such a decision.

The opening line, as always, has much importance in a piece of writing, with that opening salvo, conceptual for many to justify the present situation of equal pay. Take a look at this table of prize money at Wimbledon from 1968-2011. [Read more...]

SPORTING HEADLINE – Epic Final at the Australian Open

It was a Men’s Final to remember in the Australian Open as Novak Djokovic outlasted Rafael Nadal in a contest that many have remarked and will remember as the Final of the ages.

The impact of the occasion certainly left an impression in a kiwi context as the contest went well into another day.

Media in this Land of the Long White Cloud were somewhat singularly impacted by the occasion, with a consistent witness, the morning after. [Read more...]

NFL: Brady, O’Brien, and a Culture of Conflict

On iamjonnyking, you may have noticed that we are prone to go sporting wide, as we detail any number of sporting pursuits.  However, we also approximate times when the moment is right to – air it out – and go deep.

With the penultimate weekend in the National Football League finding its genesis in a matter of hours, I was reminded of an historic matter that, at the time, caught my attention.  I noted the commentary at the time; some words that caught my attention, which I will record for you, this day. [Read more...]

Sachin & Woods: The Eye of Two Tigers

As I begin this piece, I am enjoying a summer in New Zealand, a moderate breeze, encircled with cloud; motivation enough to unleash my piece of flesh on unsuspecting family members – Yes, chest unfurled with plenty of sport.

Today has been a sporting smorgosboard on New Zealand television, with the National Hockey League’s, Winter Classic, finishing like it.  The unique New Yoorkers a.k.a., the Rangers holding on to beat the Philadelphia Flyers at Citizens Bank Park. [Read more...]

Gary Speed: Real Life Tragedy

Sport. It’s happening in every country, on every continent, and throughout every culture most days of the week.  While most of us can’t get to each location live, who really cares when the best seat of the house is mediated by satellite, or at worst, some dodgy internet connection that fell off the back of a URL. [Read more...]

Peter Roebuck: Vulnerable Genius?

Much has been written and many things have been said about the man, Peter Roebuck, since his leap of desperation from a Cape Town hotel called time on a life, career and journey that reads like it never felt quite complete, nor had the real peace of home; there will be a time to face the details reckoning with his demise, but this piece will not strike this prose. [Read more...]

Proteas v Australia: Farce Match Cricket?

Who would have seriously conceived the result in Cape Town overnight after the Proteas were staring defeat very squarely in the face after a pathetic 96 in response to Australia’s initial offering of 284.

Not only had Michael Clarke scored a superb 151 to provide some semblance of respectability, he had also lead his side in the other facet on the field, as his bowlers dismantled the Proteas in a matter of minutes. The popular with the people – Twatto – Shane Watson, had taken five wickets in the space of 21 deliveries, with only the final partnership taking the home side past the follow on – Phew. [Read more...]

Cricket: Now We Know the Aussie Issue at the World Cup

Get the Tissues out, because you’re gonna need them in this performance!

No; this is not another Quarter-Final.

All this time, we thought, Brett Lee, was having a good at batsmen; when, in fact; he was dropping a line. [Read more...]

NRL: Wayne’s World set for a Newcastle

In news that was becoming more apparent by the day, Wayne Bennett, has found a new coaching home, post-2011.

Once Newcastle had been Tinklered with, it seemed a fait accompli that the successful coaching world of Wayne’s World would find its way into the Hunter, with a new owner prepared to pull out any and all possible stops. [Read more...]