Mihir Bose's Blog, page 70
April 19, 2012
Leaders of a ‘disreputable’ game have duty to recalibrate its moral compass
Insideworldfootball.biz
This season is turning out to be one in which football has had to look hard at itself. The critical question: is the game capable of examining itself? And if so, would changing things make this a defining football season?
I am afraid I have grave doubts.
The reaction to Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba's collapse at White Hart Lane showed that the game has a soul, but much else has happened which indicates that football has a lot to do, both on and off the field, before it can lay any claim to be a moral sport watched and followed by decent people. The two semi-finals in the FA Cup last weekend proved the need for change yet again.
This season is turning out to be one in which football has had to look hard at itself. The critical question: is the game capable of examining itself? And if so, would changing things make this a defining football season?
I am afraid I have grave doubts.
The reaction to Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba's collapse at White Hart Lane showed that the game has a soul, but much else has happened which indicates that football has a lot to do, both on and off the field, before it can lay any claim to be a moral sport watched and followed by decent people. The two semi-finals in the FA Cup last weekend proved the need for change yet again.
April 18, 2012
Olympic Forum
Mihir Bose was a panellist at the CIPR Corporate and Financial Group Olympic forum on Tuesday 17 April
This was a discussion on how financial and professional firms can benefit from associating with the Olympics.
This was a discussion on how financial and professional firms can benefit from associating with the Olympics.
April 17, 2012
We’ll have our day but it won’t be ‘D’-Day says Sir Philip Craven
Don’t use the term disabled, says chief of Paralympics, who is sure that unique spirit of the Games will make it as big a hit as the Olympics
Sir Philip Craven, head of the International Paralympic Committee, has been confined to a wheelchair since the age of 16 but within days of the accident which paralysed him he knew what he would do with the rest of his life.
“I never thought, why me?” he says. “Even my wife has said she doesn’t believe me but on the second or third day from my bed in the Southport spinal unit, I saw wheelchair basketball on the tennis court outside. Something must’ve clicked in my head: you can still do sport.”
Sir Philip Craven, head of the International Paralympic Committee, has been confined to a wheelchair since the age of 16 but within days of the accident which paralysed him he knew what he would do with the rest of his life.
“I never thought, why me?” he says. “Even my wife has said she doesn’t believe me but on the second or third day from my bed in the Southport spinal unit, I saw wheelchair basketball on the tennis court outside. Something must’ve clicked in my head: you can still do sport.”
Muamba outpourings demonstrate football has soul
Ever since Fabrice Muamba collapsed in the first half of the FA Cup match against Tottenham at White Hart Lane, not a single football event has gone by without some sympathy being expressed for the stricken Bolton player. This has included fans and players, even players in countries far removed from England, wearing T-shirts wishing Muamba a speedy recovery. His progress in hospital has been monitored with the sort of attention that was once accorded to members of the royal family and would nowadays be given to high profile pop stars.
I can understand why this would be seen as mawkishness by some. And why it would go down badly in a country which has no tradition of loud lamentation to mark distress. Different countries have very different ways of showing distress and one tradition is not necessarily superior to another. But, given the historic traditions of this country, it is not surprising that some commentators felt the reaction to what happened to Muamba went well over the top. Some of them have gone as far as to say it is synthetic, perhaps even a little manufactured. The view here is that this is a bit like football's equivalent of how the country reacted to Princess Diana's death. This view has been particularly expressed by those who do not normally comment on sport or even, perhaps, have much interest in it.
I can understand why this would be seen as mawkishness by some. And why it would go down badly in a country which has no tradition of loud lamentation to mark distress. Different countries have very different ways of showing distress and one tradition is not necessarily superior to another. But, given the historic traditions of this country, it is not surprising that some commentators felt the reaction to what happened to Muamba went well over the top. Some of them have gone as far as to say it is synthetic, perhaps even a little manufactured. The view here is that this is a bit like football's equivalent of how the country reacted to Princess Diana's death. This view has been particularly expressed by those who do not normally comment on sport or even, perhaps, have much interest in it.
April 12, 2012
Footballers will remain brainless bad boys until clubs step up
Balotelli is not the only footballer whose antics make you think there is much wrong with the game. Apart from his well publicised problems with his manager, the Manchester City player also managed to set fire to his house after a fireworks display in his bathroom. It is just as well not all footballers are like Balotelli. Not that the inane way they often answer questions on television give you much confidence that they think before they speak. Or that they think at all.
But the question is not whether footballers are stupid. The more relevant question is why footballers, and particularly those at the highest level, always give the impression that they are celebrities who are gracing the world with their presence? My recent experience of top rugby players suggest, that in this regard, football has a lot to learn.
But the question is not whether footballers are stupid. The more relevant question is why footballers, and particularly those at the highest level, always give the impression that they are celebrities who are gracing the world with their presence? My recent experience of top rugby players suggest, that in this regard, football has a lot to learn.
City should look across to town to see the benefit in keeping faith with Mancini
That picture of the Manchester City owners looking like thunder at the Emirates was widely interpreted as Mancini's death warrant. I am not convinced it is. It made for good pictures and headlines but maybe no more than that.
Let me concede that the Italian's handling of Mario Balotelli has been a lesson on how not to deal with a brilliant player who is also a head case. I disagree with critics who say that the fact that he signed Balotelli showed his lack of judgement as manager. Not at all. Balotelli is gifted, there can be no doubt of that. Any manager reading his scouting reports, and probably having seen him perform, would want him in his squad if not his team.
Let me concede that the Italian's handling of Mario Balotelli has been a lesson on how not to deal with a brilliant player who is also a head case. I disagree with critics who say that the fact that he signed Balotelli showed his lack of judgement as manager. Not at all. Balotelli is gifted, there can be no doubt of that. Any manager reading his scouting reports, and probably having seen him perform, would want him in his squad if not his team.
April 10, 2012
Mark Todd: People said I was past it but I'm still very competitive
Evening Standard
Great champions rarely make successful comebacks. But Mark Todd, who retired after the Sydney Olympics having been voted the event rider of the 20th century, can claim to be the exception. What is more, he wants the world to know.
"There are not many people who have left top-level sport of any kind, been away for eight years, and then come back and won at the top level again — not even Michael Schumacher," Todd tells me. "So winning Badminton, the Mecca of three-day eventing, last year was a unique achievement and something I'm very proud of.
"There's a lot to be said about the beauty of youth but age and experience counts for a lot, doesn't it? The fact is that, at 56, I'm still competitive at the very top. There are not many riders of my age competing at the top level."
Great champions rarely make successful comebacks. But Mark Todd, who retired after the Sydney Olympics having been voted the event rider of the 20th century, can claim to be the exception. What is more, he wants the world to know.
"There are not many people who have left top-level sport of any kind, been away for eight years, and then come back and won at the top level again — not even Michael Schumacher," Todd tells me. "So winning Badminton, the Mecca of three-day eventing, last year was a unique achievement and something I'm very proud of.
"There's a lot to be said about the beauty of youth but age and experience counts for a lot, doesn't it? The fact is that, at 56, I'm still competitive at the very top. There are not many riders of my age competing at the top level."
April 3, 2012
We'd put our bodies on the line for Stuart Lancaster, says Brad Barritt
Brad Barritt quickly reels off the names of coaches who have influenced him. Starting with those from his childhood in South Africa, he continues through Eddie Jones, the former Australia coach who brought him to Saracens, and Brendan Venter, who was hugely influential after he arrived.
But no coach has made the impression on him that Stuart Lancaster did when the England squad met at a steak house in Leeds before the Six Nations.
At the end of the meal, reveals Barritt: "Stuart presented each of us with a frame. Inside each one were messages from family, friends, and people who had been significant in our rugby lives. He had contacted my dad, my brother, even my high school rugby coach in South Africa. He'd asked them questions such as: what does it mean for your loved one to play for your country? What does the team need to do to win?"
Having played under Lancaster for the Saxons, England's second side, Barritt knew he liked the personal touch. Just before the 2009 Churchill Cup Final, Lancaster had sent a hand-written letter to each player wishing him luck. But this was new territory.
But no coach has made the impression on him that Stuart Lancaster did when the England squad met at a steak house in Leeds before the Six Nations.
At the end of the meal, reveals Barritt: "Stuart presented each of us with a frame. Inside each one were messages from family, friends, and people who had been significant in our rugby lives. He had contacted my dad, my brother, even my high school rugby coach in South Africa. He'd asked them questions such as: what does it mean for your loved one to play for your country? What does the team need to do to win?"
Having played under Lancaster for the Saxons, England's second side, Barritt knew he liked the personal touch. Just before the 2009 Churchill Cup Final, Lancaster had sent a hand-written letter to each player wishing him luck. But this was new territory.
Rodgers' Swansea could start English football revolution
Passing game has won both fans and matches this season
PlayUp
This Premier League season may not have produced the most enthralling football. The argument goes that too many top teams have let in too many goals suggesting woeful defences. But this season could well be seen as the moment when English football changed for good.
I know this is a huge claim to make. But for evidence I turn to the bookies. As we know they never get things wrong otherwise they would not be in business. So what did William Hill do on Sunday night after Newcastle had beaten Liverpool and Tottenham beaten Swansea? This is what they said:
PlayUp
This Premier League season may not have produced the most enthralling football. The argument goes that too many top teams have let in too many goals suggesting woeful defences. But this season could well be seen as the moment when English football changed for good.
I know this is a huge claim to make. But for evidence I turn to the bookies. As we know they never get things wrong otherwise they would not be in business. So what did William Hill do on Sunday night after Newcastle had beaten Liverpool and Tottenham beaten Swansea? This is what they said:
March 27, 2012
Charles van Commenee: Plastic Brits is offensive . . . there's no such thing
Britain's Olympic coach speaks to Standard Sport's Mihir Bose about the controversy that's raging off the track
Evening Standard
Charles van Commenee has never been afraid to speak his mind — he famously called Kelly Sotherton "a wimp" for only managing a bronze at the Athens Olympics when he felt she should have got silver.
But did the Dutch coach of UK Athletics stir more controversy than he could handle by appointing Tiffany Porter captain of the British team for the recent World Indoor Championships in Istanbul?
Evening Standard
Charles van Commenee has never been afraid to speak his mind — he famously called Kelly Sotherton "a wimp" for only managing a bronze at the Athens Olympics when he felt she should have got silver.
But did the Dutch coach of UK Athletics stir more controversy than he could handle by appointing Tiffany Porter captain of the British team for the recent World Indoor Championships in Istanbul?
Mihir Bose's Blog
- Mihir Bose's profile
- 17 followers
Mihir Bose isn't a Goodreads Author
(yet),
but they
do have a blog,
so here are some recent posts imported from
their feed.
