Mihir Bose's Blog, page 96
November 9, 2010
England won't win Rugby World Cup next year, says RFU's new chief
Evening Standard
England may struggle to beat the All Blacks on the pitch but, when it comes to making money, it is Twickenham that is the master and New Zealand very much the struggling pupil.
The Rugby Football Union's results for 2009-10 show an income of £112million and profits of £25.8m. In contrast, the world's best team — Saturday was their ninth successive Test win over England since a Martin Johnson-led victory in 2003 — earned £46m last year yet made losses of £7.5m.
England may struggle to beat the All Blacks on the pitch but, when it comes to making money, it is Twickenham that is the master and New Zealand very much the struggling pupil.
The Rugby Football Union's results for 2009-10 show an income of £112million and profits of £25.8m. In contrast, the world's best team — Saturday was their ninth successive Test win over England since a Martin Johnson-led victory in 2003 — earned £46m last year yet made losses of £7.5m.
Liverpool story still has a long way to run
Insideworldfootball.biz
Liverpool fans should not delude themselves into believing that now the Gillett-Hicks regime is finally over, and peace reigns at Anfield, that it will bring success on the field of play.
Yes, Roy Hodgson's team is rediscovering the art of winning again, but the simple equation - a happy set up equals playing success - is a myth.
Liverpool fans should not delude themselves into believing that now the Gillett-Hicks regime is finally over, and peace reigns at Anfield, that it will bring success on the field of play.
Yes, Roy Hodgson's team is rediscovering the art of winning again, but the simple equation - a happy set up equals playing success - is a myth.
November 2, 2010
Andy Flower: I want my players to have opinions
Evening Standard
There has already been plenty of Australian barracking that England's best players are from South Africa but for England's director of cricket, Andy Flower, this diversity gives them the edge. "Australia has never had a foreign coach. I don't know if they ever will," he says.
"In England, we are a diverse community. I'm part of that as a Zimbabwean. You've got a Sikh in Monty Panesar, an Australian fast-bowling coach, a Pakistani spin-bowling coach, one of the most patriotic Englishmen in Graham Gooch and our fielding coaches are Zimbabwe-born but have grown up in England.
There has already been plenty of Australian barracking that England's best players are from South Africa but for England's director of cricket, Andy Flower, this diversity gives them the edge. "Australia has never had a foreign coach. I don't know if they ever will," he says.
"In England, we are a diverse community. I'm part of that as a Zimbabwean. You've got a Sikh in Monty Panesar, an Australian fast-bowling coach, a Pakistani spin-bowling coach, one of the most patriotic Englishmen in Graham Gooch and our fielding coaches are Zimbabwe-born but have grown up in England.
FIFA still runs football as if it were a cottage industry
Insideworldfootball.biz
Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA, and many of his fellow executive members, may console themselves by saying that the crisis that has engulfed the organisation - both familiar and depressing - is all the fault of the dastardly British press and its nefarious ways.
They could not be more mistaken. They should look within themselves and ask why, having made the world's most popular game into such a cash cow, they fail to run it like a proper corporate organisation where decisions are not only reached in good time, but are done so that there is sufficient transparency to prevent any possible skulduggery.
Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA, and many of his fellow executive members, may console themselves by saying that the crisis that has engulfed the organisation - both familiar and depressing - is all the fault of the dastardly British press and its nefarious ways.They could not be more mistaken. They should look within themselves and ask why, having made the world's most popular game into such a cash cow, they fail to run it like a proper corporate organisation where decisions are not only reached in good time, but are done so that there is sufficient transparency to prevent any possible skulduggery.
October 31, 2010
England 2018 bid forced to rethink its strategy
Sunday Times
Second-round votes will be crucial in deciding who hosts the World Cup
England's 2018 bid, forced to review their strategy in response to Sunday Times reports on Fifa members, now find themselves in a tight race with Russia and Spain-Portugal.
A study of the likely vote count in the crucial first round at next month's bid decision vote shows England level with Spain-Portugal and just ahead of Russia. The situation is similar to the one faced by London's 2012 Olympic bid. Then London beat Paris in the final run-off. But Madrid offered such a serious challenge that many in the British camp feared the Spanish more and were elated when Paris eliminated Madrid. Now the view is that the Spanish vote could be more fragile, setting up a final with Russia, which the English would favour.
Second-round votes will be crucial in deciding who hosts the World Cup
England's 2018 bid, forced to review their strategy in response to Sunday Times reports on Fifa members, now find themselves in a tight race with Russia and Spain-Portugal.
A study of the likely vote count in the crucial first round at next month's bid decision vote shows England level with Spain-Portugal and just ahead of Russia. The situation is similar to the one faced by London's 2012 Olympic bid. Then London beat Paris in the final run-off. But Madrid offered such a serious challenge that many in the British camp feared the Spanish more and were elated when Paris eliminated Madrid. Now the view is that the Spanish vote could be more fragile, setting up a final with Russia, which the English would favour.
Coe to advise FA on 2018 strategy
The Sunday Times
England's 2018 World Cup bid committee will seek the advice of Lord Coe on how to cope with the fall-out from the Fifa corruption allegations
Lord Sebastian Coe is hopeful for a combined Great Britain football team (Jan Kruger)Lord Sebastian Coe will attend an emergency meeting with the 2018 bid team (Jan Kruger) England's 2018 World Cup bid committee will hold an emergency strategy session tomorrow to seek the advice of Lord Coe and Sir Keith Mills, chairman and vice-chairman of London 2012, on how to cope with the fall-out from the Sunday Times allegations of Fifa corruption. The reports have forced football's world governing body to suspend two executive members, Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii, pending an investigation into vote-buying. Both deny any wrongdoing.
England's 2018 World Cup bid committee will seek the advice of Lord Coe on how to cope with the fall-out from the Fifa corruption allegations
Lord Sebastian Coe is hopeful for a combined Great Britain football team (Jan Kruger)Lord Sebastian Coe will attend an emergency meeting with the 2018 bid team (Jan Kruger) England's 2018 World Cup bid committee will hold an emergency strategy session tomorrow to seek the advice of Lord Coe and Sir Keith Mills, chairman and vice-chairman of London 2012, on how to cope with the fall-out from the Sunday Times allegations of Fifa corruption. The reports have forced football's world governing body to suspend two executive members, Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii, pending an investigation into vote-buying. Both deny any wrongdoing.
October 26, 2010
No word in modern football is more misused than "ambition"
Insideworldfootball.biz
The Wayne Rooney drama illustrates two things. One, that much of what has happened to Rooney is a replay of his past, the other that the modern world of football is a curious kind of business where players, managers, administrators and even owners have all developed their own distinctive agendas. Their demands for money are always clothed in a spurious sense of higher morality.
The only ones who have not written a new script for themselves are the fans. They still cling to their old faith and can only feel a sense of intense frustration that their loyalty is used, or rather misused, for such mercenary aims.
The Wayne Rooney drama illustrates two things. One, that much of what has happened to Rooney is a replay of his past, the other that the modern world of football is a curious kind of business where players, managers, administrators and even owners have all developed their own distinctive agendas. Their demands for money are always clothed in a spurious sense of higher morality.
The only ones who have not written a new script for themselves are the fans. They still cling to their old faith and can only feel a sense of intense frustration that their loyalty is used, or rather misused, for such mercenary aims.
Football's millions just don't excite me, says Nick Easter
Evening Standard
A career in rugby union can seriously damage your health. Week after week, man-mountains collide in a sport where the average career is getting shorter and shorter — 77 games according to the latest statistics. And yet the danger money on offer for participation at the top level of the game pales in comparison to the round ball.
Wayne Rooney now earns more in a month than the highest-paid rugby union stars do in a year; All Black Dan Carter, Australia's Matt Giteau and Sebastien Chabal at Racing Metro are all on just under £1million.
A career in rugby union can seriously damage your health. Week after week, man-mountains collide in a sport where the average career is getting shorter and shorter — 77 games according to the latest statistics. And yet the danger money on offer for participation at the top level of the game pales in comparison to the round ball.
Wayne Rooney now earns more in a month than the highest-paid rugby union stars do in a year; All Black Dan Carter, Australia's Matt Giteau and Sebastien Chabal at Racing Metro are all on just under £1million.
October 24, 2010
New ICC investigation over alleged corruption report
The Sunday Times
Report alleging meeting between India Test player and associate of illegal bookmaker not immediately turned over to the ICC
Haroon Lorgat, Chief Executive of the International Cricket Council (Karim Sahib)Chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the ICC would be engaged in the next IPL season (Karim Sahib) The Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) of the International Cricket Council (ICC) is investigating why it was not promptly informed by the Indian Board of a report linking a current India Test player with an associate of an illegal bookmaker.
Report alleging meeting between India Test player and associate of illegal bookmaker not immediately turned over to the ICC
Haroon Lorgat, Chief Executive of the International Cricket Council (Karim Sahib)Chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the ICC would be engaged in the next IPL season (Karim Sahib) The Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) of the International Cricket Council (ICC) is investigating why it was not promptly informed by the Indian Board of a report linking a current India Test player with an associate of an illegal bookmaker.
October 19, 2010
Ian Thorpe: Sydney got it wrong, London 2012 mustn't do the same
Evening Standard
Ian Thorpe is about to publish a cookbook and adores Indian food. "I love cooking with spices," he says. "The aroma that fills the kitchen when you cook with them is magical."
Such a shame then that he has never visited India and during the Commonwealth Games spent the entire time commentating from the BBC studios in White City. The broadcaster decided not to have its presenters based in the Indian capital — the first time that has happened since the Kuala Lumpur Games in 1998.
Ian Thorpe is about to publish a cookbook and adores Indian food. "I love cooking with spices," he says. "The aroma that fills the kitchen when you cook with them is magical."
Such a shame then that he has never visited India and during the Commonwealth Games spent the entire time commentating from the BBC studios in White City. The broadcaster decided not to have its presenters based in the Indian capital — the first time that has happened since the Kuala Lumpur Games in 1998.
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.
