Mihir Bose's Blog, page 92
March 1, 2011
Mo Farah's great American dream is realised via Africa
Evening Standard
Disney World fulfils many children's fantasies but for Mo Farah it gave him a new dream and one which he went on to realise far beyond expectation.
Farah can rightly claim to have resurrected British endurance running and last July became the country's first European 10,000metres champion.
But, as a child, Farah longed to play on the wing for Arsenal until UK Athletics sent the 15-year-old and several other young prospects to Orlando for a two-week training camp.
Their stay included a visit to Disney World and that transformed his life.
Disney World fulfils many children's fantasies but for Mo Farah it gave him a new dream and one which he went on to realise far beyond expectation.
Farah can rightly claim to have resurrected British endurance running and last July became the country's first European 10,000metres champion.
But, as a child, Farah longed to play on the wing for Arsenal until UK Athletics sent the 15-year-old and several other young prospects to Orlando for a two-week training camp.
Their stay included a visit to Disney World and that transformed his life.
February 27, 2011
A giant stuck in its own world
Ticket chaos across the Indian stadiums reflects a nation still coming to terms with the transition from old to new
The Sunday Times
As Bangladesh overcame Ireland in Dhaka, the television camera panned round a packed stadium. An Indian watching the match in Kolkata turned to me and said: "It is shameful. Bangladesh, a poor country, can organise a cricket match so well but we cannot even get our stadium ready."
The pained reference was to the fact that today's England v India clash had to be moved to Bengaluru because Kolkata's Eden Gardens was not ready. This highlights the battle between the new India, which wants to be at the world's top table, and the old India, happy to remain in its own world.
The Sunday Times
As Bangladesh overcame Ireland in Dhaka, the television camera panned round a packed stadium. An Indian watching the match in Kolkata turned to me and said: "It is shameful. Bangladesh, a poor country, can organise a cricket match so well but we cannot even get our stadium ready."
The pained reference was to the fact that today's England v India clash had to be moved to Bengaluru because Kolkata's Eden Gardens was not ready. This highlights the battle between the new India, which wants to be at the world's top table, and the old India, happy to remain in its own world.
February 24, 2011
Chris Powell: Sven is my mentor, I'm not a cup thrower
Evening Standard
Chris Powell has been a manager barely a month but one thing is certain he is not for turning. There is no question of abandoning the football principles for which he was considered to be a very cultured left-back, nor his reputation as the nice man of football.
Last week could not have been rougher. After starting with four victories, Saturday's home defeat by Exeter followed the loss at Hartlepool, pushing the side out of the play-off places.
"League One teams are terribly fit and can be quite physical," the managerial rookie tells me. "I want us to play football in the right way, to pass the ball, and look after that football. Because, as Xavi said recently, what's the reason for being a footballer if you don't want to pass the ball?
Chris Powell has been a manager barely a month but one thing is certain he is not for turning. There is no question of abandoning the football principles for which he was considered to be a very cultured left-back, nor his reputation as the nice man of football.
Last week could not have been rougher. After starting with four victories, Saturday's home defeat by Exeter followed the loss at Hartlepool, pushing the side out of the play-off places.
"League One teams are terribly fit and can be quite physical," the managerial rookie tells me. "I want us to play football in the right way, to pass the ball, and look after that football. Because, as Xavi said recently, what's the reason for being a footballer if you don't want to pass the ball?
February 17, 2011
The FA has never got to grips with English football
Insideworldfootball.com
The problem with English football is not the Premier League. Nor that its chairman, Sir David Richards, uses industrial language.
MPs may have been shocked when Lord Triesman, former chairman of the FA, told the House of Commons Select Committee on football how Richards goes about his business and the language he uses.
But that is not the real issue.
The problem with English football is not the Premier League. Nor that its chairman, Sir David Richards, uses industrial language.
MPs may have been shocked when Lord Triesman, former chairman of the FA, told the House of Commons Select Committee on football how Richards goes about his business and the language he uses.
But that is not the real issue.
February 15, 2011
Phil Taylor: People like me because I've not tried to be flash
Evening Standard
No one likes paying a tax bill and when you've just settled one for half a million pounds, you're not going to feel too kindly towards the Inland Revenue.
So when I meet up with Phil Taylor, it's no wonder he has the tax man in his sights. The 15-times world darts champion accepts that the sums he earns would be like a Lottery win for his army of fans who cheer him on up and down the country. However, Taylor still feels hard done by.
No one likes paying a tax bill and when you've just settled one for half a million pounds, you're not going to feel too kindly towards the Inland Revenue.
So when I meet up with Phil Taylor, it's no wonder he has the tax man in his sights. The 15-times world darts champion accepts that the sums he earns would be like a Lottery win for his army of fans who cheer him on up and down the country. However, Taylor still feels hard done by.
February 8, 2011
Chris Hughton: I still don't know why Newcastle sacked me
Evening Standard
Chris Hughton should have every reason to be angry. Following a 15-year coaching career at Tottenham, he was finally handed a manager's position at Newcastle after Alan Shearer failed to keep the club in the Premier League at the end of the 2008-09 season.
Not only did Hughton bring them back up with 102 points but, by early December, Newcastle were mid-table. And, what's more, in the match that matters most to the fans on Tyneside, the Geordies beat deadly rivals Sunderland 5-1 at St James' Park.
Chris Hughton should have every reason to be angry. Following a 15-year coaching career at Tottenham, he was finally handed a manager's position at Newcastle after Alan Shearer failed to keep the club in the Premier League at the end of the 2008-09 season.
Not only did Hughton bring them back up with 102 points but, by early December, Newcastle were mid-table. And, what's more, in the match that matters most to the fans on Tyneside, the Geordies beat deadly rivals Sunderland 5-1 at St James' Park.
Football owes Roman Abramovich thanks for transfer madness
Insideworldfootball.biz
The £225 million ($363 million) spend in the January transfer window has been greeted with awe, alarm and the sort of reaction that suggests something entirely new has happened.
That is not so.
Yes, the figure is a record. But that fact, by itself, does not change the basic realities of the Premier League.
The £225 million ($363 million) spend in the January transfer window has been greeted with awe, alarm and the sort of reaction that suggests something entirely new has happened.
That is not so.
Yes, the figure is a record. But that fact, by itself, does not change the basic realities of the Premier League.
February 6, 2011
Has Britain lost the values that drew me here?
The Mail on Sunday
The week before David Cameron proclaimed the death of multiculturalism, my wife and I got lost driving through East London, not far from where the Olympics will be held. I leaned out of the car window to find a sign that was in a language I could not at first recognise. It was certainly not English.
Then I realised it was Bengali, the language of my parents. Although I speak Bengali, I have never been taught the written language.
The week before David Cameron proclaimed the death of multiculturalism, my wife and I got lost driving through East London, not far from where the Olympics will be held. I leaned out of the car window to find a sign that was in a language I could not at first recognise. It was certainly not English.
Then I realised it was Bengali, the language of my parents. Although I speak Bengali, I have never been taught the written language.
February 1, 2011
Heurelho Gomes: I worry each night that I will be injured
Evening Standard
Fulham supporters revelled in taunting Heurelho Gomes with shouts of "dodgy keeper" as their side raced into a 4-0 half-time lead against Tottenham on Sunday.
Those chants were unfair, given that the whole Spurs team deserved to take the blame for their capitulation in the FA Cup tie at Craven Cottage.
But, as a goalkeeper, the 29-year-old is used to being singled out when things go wrong, and when he first moved to White Hart Lane things went wrong quite a lot.
Fulham supporters revelled in taunting Heurelho Gomes with shouts of "dodgy keeper" as their side raced into a 4-0 half-time lead against Tottenham on Sunday.
Those chants were unfair, given that the whole Spurs team deserved to take the blame for their capitulation in the FA Cup tie at Craven Cottage.
But, as a goalkeeper, the 29-year-old is used to being singled out when things go wrong, and when he first moved to White Hart Lane things went wrong quite a lot.
If English football had more women in power then Keys-Gray sexism would not have happened
Insideworldfootball.biz
Andy Gray and Richard Keys are the only people who appear to be surprised by the storm their comments have caused.
But what really intrigues me are the two issues the whole affair raises. Neither have received much attention. One relates to Sky Sports. The other is best summed up in the following question: where is England's Karen Espelund?
Andy Gray and Richard Keys are the only people who appear to be surprised by the storm their comments have caused.
But what really intrigues me are the two issues the whole affair raises. Neither have received much attention. One relates to Sky Sports. The other is best summed up in the following question: where is England's Karen Espelund?
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.
