It has now become important for a city that claims to be world class to have a decent new stadium with all the modern amenities and comforts that modern sports spectators demand.
Yet there are a few cities which seem to lack that decent new stadium even with the wealth in the region and the amount of sport played there.
Here are my 5 major cities that need a decent new stadium - in order of desperation:
Washington, D.C.
Yes there is FedEx Field in nearby Landover, but it's not in the District of Columbia. In fact, there's Robert F Kennedy Memorial Stadium in the DC area which is currently being left to rot and waste under the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial. It was a great stadium in its prime but has definitely seen better days. With the Nationals now boasting a decent ballpark, time for a brand new football stadium in DC which the Redskins might even return to.
Las Vegas
The fastest growing city in the USA still doesn't have a proper world class stadium to boast. Perhaps, the lack of interest from the major leagues to bring a franchise to the city is a reason no new stadium has been built. But surely Vegas' time will eventually come.
San Francisco
Candlestick Park is clearly past it - two major and very public power failures during the 49ers' Monday Night Football home game against the Steelers must surely be the last straw for the aging arena. A city as world class as San Francisco definitely deserves a stadium - certainly the entire Bay Area needs at least one world class stadium in the region considering the stadium in Oakland is also pretty outdated now.
Los Angeles
The one reason why the NFL hasn't returned to Los Angeles is the lack of a modern stadium. Yes, the LA area has the Memorial Coliseum and the Rose Bowl but they are quite old stadia and far too expensive to revamp. It's a travesty that the USA's 2nd largest city does not have a world class stadium to host football amongst other things. The trouble is, they've been talking about building a new stadium for 20 years now and still nothing has been built.
Perth
Perth is Australia's richest city at the moment courtesy of the booming mining industry. But incredibly there are no plans at the moment to build a proper new stadium to match those in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and even Adelaide, to replace the aging Subiacco Oval and the inadequate NIB Stadium. With Perth boasting a Super rugby franchise, two AFL teams and even hosting the odd NRL game, surely there needs to be a proper football stadium soon in this most remote of cities? There's possibly the option of bringing back AFL to the WACA Oval but a new stadium to replace Subiacco should be a priority for this fast growing city.
Other cities that new stadia? Singapore - the brand new spanking Singapore Sports Hub is under construction where the grotty old National Stadium stood and will be ready in 2014.
Atlanta - the ugly and aging Atlanta Dome should be replaced soon.
Minneapolis - Minneapolis needs a brand new stadium soon if it wants to keep the Vikings - the Metrodome is aging and the roof has had some high profile issues.
Christchurch - pending engineering reports on the future of quake damaged AMI Stadium
Former Middlesex, Wellington and New Zealand fast bowler, Iain O'Brien has decided to call it a day at the age of 35 after attempts to return to New Zealand cricket's domestic and international arena were curtailed by persistent back injuries.
O'Brien wasn't one of our fastest or most talented fast bowlers but his dedication to the cause was faultless. His move to Middlesex is a testament to the professionalism of the man. O'Brien's first-class cricket career may be over but he will continue to feature for his club, Petone-Riverside.
Anyway, in true form, O'Brien is raising funds for the Starship Foundation by auctioning his Middlesex cricket top and cap.
Ok, I'm a heterosexual guy and have a preference for girls, especially the hot ones who can play sport.
This is my list of the ten hottest female sports stars on planet Earth at the moment - I've tried to combine physical attractiveness and success in their respective sports fields.
My other rule is that everyone on my list must be at least aged 20.
Here we go:
Ellyse Perry 21-year-old Australian, Ellyse Perry is a very rare commodity today: she is a double international for her country, having played for the Australian womens' cricket and football teams. She starred against the White Ferns recently in their successful defence of the Rose Bowl; this after sacrificing her chance to feature in Canberra W-League's successful finals campaign. She also featured for the Matildas in the 2011 World Cup. One day she'll focus on one of her sports but Aussie fans and men can savour seeing a true sporting star in two different sports.
Sarah Walker
Rotorua's own Sarah Walker has become a BMX star. And with BMX now part of the Olympics, Sarah Walker has a chance to achieve glory after just missing out last time in Beijing. Since 2008, she has become world champion in 2009 and only injury prevented her from defending her title. One of New Zealand's hot favourites for medal glory in London.
Nicol David
Who? Malaysian Nicol David is the womens' world number one in squash and has been for nearly 10 years now - and she's still only 28. And she happens to be a personal acquaintance of mine - her mother, Ann Marie, taught my mum in school in Penang, Malaysia. Given squash's relative obscurity in the wide world of sports, it's no surprise that Nicol's name is a bit alien to most but for those in the know, she is a star in her field and has ensured the Davids will need a whole room for all those trophies and Commonwealth Games medals. And yes I have always thought she was quite cute.
Victoria Pendleton
British cycling's star woman and a popular choice for British men's magazines. She was part of the British cycling team's amazing Olympics in Beijing in 2008, winning gold in the Women's Individual Sprint Event - and with the Olympics at home this year, she'll be looking for a repeat performance. She is already an MBE so one can imagine what honour she'll have next if she defended her gold medal title in front of her compatriots.
Julia Mancuso
The most successful American alpine skier in the Winter Olympics with 3 Olympics medals (1 gold, 2 silver), Super Jules with her tiara is a true legend, often fighting back from serious injury to compete for top honours. Silver behind compatriot, Lindsey Vonn in Vancouver 2 years ago was a highlight - she hadn't finished in the top 3 of a World Cup event for 2 years and was firmly in Vonn's shadow in the buildup to the games. A better all-rounder than Vonn, Mancuso is highly popular with American sports followers; be it for her lingerie line or her success on the slopes.
Heather Mitts
A frequent participant of Sports Illustrated's famous Swimsuit issue, Heather Mitts is also one of the USA's finest and most high-profile soccer players. Mitts is also one of the USA's most successful soccer players with 2 Olympic gold medals - 2004 and 2008. Mitts was also part of the USA team that finished runners-up to the Japanese team that won the 2011 World Cup. Her involvement with sport doesn't end there: she is married to NFL journeyman quarterback, AJ Feeley.
Yelena Isinbayeva
The queen of the pole vault, Russian Isinbayeva is the Michael Schumacher, Roger Federer, Tiger Woods of the sport. Twice a gold medalist, a 5 time world champion and multiple world record holder, it's hard to believe the Russian will only be 30 this year and her glory run doesn't look like stopping any time soon. And she might just be starting another run to yet another gold medal this summer in London. If she does achieve that, pole vaulting will forever be associated with the Russian. And yes she is a stunner on the track.
Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova's shine might have disappeared somewhat since her stunning Grand Slam win at Wimbledon at the age of 17 but she is still very much one of the most, if not the most, influential female athlete in the world at the moment. And she is easily still the most well known and recognized face in women's tennis by a country mile; for good reason. Even if she doesn't have that many fans for her grunting and cold demeanor, she has won 3 of the 4 Grand Slams and is capable of winning more in the future.
Lindsey Vonn
The current queen of the ski slopes, Lindsey Vonn might possibly be the finest downhill skier ever. Along with the gold medal in the downhill event on the slopes of Whistler at the 2010 Olympics, Vonn has been crowned world champion 3 times in a row (2008-2010). She has also won a World Cup race in all 5 disciplines of the sport although she is definitely a downhill specialist. At 27, she still can win many more titles while continuing to be a popular choice by Sports Illustrated for their covers.
Viktoria Azarenka
Belarussian Viktoria Azarenka goes pole after her convincing Australian Open win and claiming the world number one title. She seems as convincing as any numberone could be now that she has overcome the psychological barrier of winning her first Grand Slam. Given her talent and power, she could be number one in the womens game for a while yet as long as she stays fit and healthy - it doesn't look like she's peaked. She also has that typical dry humour from Europe and has become a definite favourite of mine.
Special mentions to those who didn't quite make it - they hadn't quite won enough...
Caroline Wozniacki
There were bound to be a few tennis stars who'd miss out including Ivanovic below and the former world no. 1 Wozniacki. Caro is definitely a babe and one of women's tennis rising stars. I have no doubt she will win a Grand Slam - once she does, there may be no turning back and she and Azarenka could be fighting for the world no. 1 title for years to come. Did I mention that she's a Liverpool fan too, and has been dating rising golf star, Rory McIlroy? Just hope Rory ain't a Manchester United fan.
Charlotte and Sam Harrison
Picking who is hotter out of Whangarei's hockey sisters is a bit like picking your favourite child. The two blondes are part of a Black Sticks hockey team that is enjoying a bit of a renaissance - at the right time too. The Harrisons are now New Zealand hockey's most recognisable names and will be around for a long time yet - they're only in their early 20s.
Ana Ivanovic
Ivanovic is a bit of a forgotten name in women's tennis but her looks have definitely not been forgotten - especially by golfer Adam Scott. If the Serbian doesn't win anymore Grand Slams, at least she can look back on that French Open win, having reached the world no. 1 ranking and the millions she has earned on the court and on magazine covers worldwide. Having said that, Ivanovic looked like she was on the verge of a big comeback.
Leah Fortune
The Brazilian/Texas soccer star is a cutie pie - but it's her crazy throw-ins which she is more famous for.
And finally...
Sarah Burke
Canadian free skiier, Burke sadly died earlier this month (see my earlier blog post) after sustaining a fatal injury while on a training run in Utah. A genuinely beautiful person inward and outward who will be hugely missed by her peers and fans. The final mention goes to her.
With the tests on both sides of the Tasman concluding faster than the Australian Open men's final on Saturday, it means that we have now entered the part of the season where limited overs cricket is centre-stage - in fact for much of next month, we will witness either Twenty20 or 50 over cricket only on both sides of the Tasman.
Of course, due to the early finish to the tests, we will have to wait till Friday to see if young Auckland all-rounder Michael Bates rates as an international star - something that is a bit tricky to judge given who they're playing.
Bates along with his Auckland teammates, Ronnie Hira and Colin de Grandhomme have been selected to feature against Zimbabwe - Hira and de Grandhomme will only feature in the Twenty20s unlike Bates who will feature in both Twenty20s and one dayers.
However, of course if you are that impatient for your fix of high-quality Bates, part 1 of Downton Abbey's critically acclaimed Christmas special airs on Wednesday night on Prime at 8:30pm. Is Mr Bates guilty or innocent of killing his ex-wife? Will Anna actually be able to see much of his newly-wed husband? Time to set the MySky to record that and then Crowd Goes Wild.
I'm doing this pitch for Prime after claiming on twitter that Alistair Wilkinson was lying when he said he does the news with his pants on.
Anyway enough of the American TV-like ad pitch, back to whining about why-the-heck the Australians have brought back the much-maligned triangular series for the 50 overs games.
Australia had originally ditched the format that started as Kerry Packer's World Series of Cricket in the late 1970s featuring the West Indies and England, after India whitewashed them 2-0 in the last Finals series in 2008. In fact, they were the last country to employ this format after England and India had ditched this years before - going with 5-game series.
Ok, maybe Cricket Australia officials think they'll get bigger crowds for India v Sri Lanka games this time around given the huge migrant populations from each country at present. But still, it just means 3 more meaningless games to what can be termed as quite a meaningless competition in comparison to the test series.
And so what if Sri Lanka made the Finals series. Would it be considered a big achievement for them compared to their 1996 World Cup win?
50 over cricket is becoming more and more like the ugly duckling of cricket compared to the likes of Twenty20 and test cricket. It is neither here nor there and had its heyday back in the 1980s. It's saving grace is the fact the current Cricket World Cup is based on the 50 over format.
But outside the World Cup, people don't really care despite the many changes the ICC have made to the game in recent times to make more exciting that killer mid-stage between the 20th and 35th overs which has put most people to bed at times.
Nevertheless, it is a bit of a nice step-up from Twenty20 to test cricket - although is it really necessary given how well David Warner and Mitchell Starc have moved seemlessly between the Big Bash and the tests? It is also a bit of a money-spinner having people stay at the ground for 8 hours compared to the 3 for a Twenty20.
But you just wonder how long 50 over cricket will last given Twenty20 cricket is now clearly the duck that lays the golden egg for the global game of cricket and given test cricket's sanctity in the eyes of true cricket fans.
For the record, Australia's Commonwealth Bank Series will start next week after the Twenty20s against India and will feature India and Sri Lanka with the finals to be played in early March just before football season starts. New Zealand play Zimbabwe in a Twenty20 and 3 one dayers before taking on the mighty South Africans in 3 Twenty20s and 5 one dayers prior to a 3 test series starting in March.
It will be South Africa's first cricket tour of New Zealand since 2004 - crickey, that was my first real cricket series, remember Chris Cairns smashing that 6 into the top of the Railway Stand at what turned out to be Carisbrook's last ever international match to win the game for New Zealand.
Surely South Africa must be the number 1 side in the world after they won their series against Sri Lanka while the English got smoked by the Pakistanis in the Emirates.
Ah don't you love Grand Slam men's tennis.. Those long days and nights watching men hit a yellow ball and waiting to see who will crack first.. Grand Slams have a knack of becoming marathons for players and spectators and modern Grand Slam tennis has seen quite a few record-breakers in recent times.
Could that be down to the superb quality of the men's field at the moment - and we're not even counting the big 4.
After all, when the first set of the Australian Open men's final lasted as long as the entire women's final, that says something about how incredible men's tennis has become in recent times.
On a side note, it's quite incredulous that the men are paid the same as the women in terms of prize money even though the men have played for nearly 5 more hours than the women in the Final - and just to put it out there, I love Vika as much as Tim Tebow as I think she is quite hot.
But heck, the game isn't about the money. It's about the game especially when the bloody thing can't seem to end.
So here are 3 of the greatest "timeless" tennis matches ever..
2008 Wimbledon Final - Roger Federer v Rafael Nadal
Until this year's Australian Open, this was the longest Grand Slam final in history and probably the most surreal. Let's not forget, the canvas roof at Centre Court only came up in 2009 so this was still played under Britain's cloudy summer skies and the last to be affected by rain. A rain delay meant this game was played under fading light at 9:15pm local time. It'll probably be hailed as the greatest tennis match ever played and certainly the defining match of the Nadal-Federer rivalry.
2010 Wimbledon 1st round - John Isner v Nicholas Mahut
11 hours and 5 minutes. Enough said. Ok, I will say a bit more about the "timeless" game which needed three days to complete and is (hopefully) a bit of an anomaly in this era of instant noodles and ultra-fast broadband. It didn't really matter that John Isner prevailed 70-68 in the 5th and deciding set - Nicholas Mahut played an equally important role in this match which captivated even those who don't follow tennis. Deservedly, a plaque was erected the following year at Wimbledon's Court 18 to commemorate the longest tennis match ever played - and one whose record should stand for eternity really.
2012 Australian Open Final - Novak Djokovic v Rafael Nadal
Possibly a strong contender to usurp the Nadal v Federer final in 2008 as the greatest tennis final ever played. 5 hours 53 minutes of breathless tennis that dragged on into Monday morning - and I don't think it's a public holiday on Monday in Melbourne or the rest of Australia either so there will be a lot of weary eyed people across the West Island this morning. But it was probably worth it as tennis again brought out the best of two of its greatest players. Perhaps, this might be the game that confirms the Serbian Djoker's place amongst the game's legends if it hadn't been already.
With the Phoenix struggling to get the crowds in and new owner, Gareth Morgan, imploring fans to come or the team goes, a storm is gathering amongst the public relations staff at Welnix to get the crowd averages back up to what they were.
They've started with the Black Out The Heart at the stadium this afternoon when the Phoenix host the Melbourne Heart. Fans are being asked to turn out in black - easy for this country I guess given what our most followed sports team wears.
The Phoenix may need more themed events like this to get the crowds back. In fact, this could be the way to really establish the Phoenix in a city where sport is not the only show in town. The Welnix consortium could look at the way the Wellington Sevens is marketed as one big party with the rugby as the sideshow - perhaps every game needs to be marketed as a themed party with the football as the sideshow.
E.g. the next game against the Brisbane Roar could be marketed as a Show of Love game given its proximity to Valentine's Day - bring a date along and his/her ticket is half-priced. Then, there's the fact that Phoenix games are often subjected to the worst of Wellington's weather - those rainy, windy encounters could be turned into Wet, Rainy parties with plenty of plastic macks.
Marketing is more required for the mundane regular season games; the fans will turn up if Wellington hosts a playoff game as we have seen in the past, but the regular season games are part of the main source of revenue for the Phoenix and need to be sorted out now.
Yes, traditional football fans and the Yellow Fever will shriek seeing their Phoenix home games turned into parties like the Sevens or Twenty20 but they will probably shriek more if Wellington loses the Phoenix for good because they're the only ones at the stadium.
Something definitely needs to be changed at the Cake-Tin and since the game itself can't be changed, the spectator scenery could be.
Liverpool - A Cup Team?
Liverpool's Premier League campaign thus far has been quite forgettable but their campaigns in the Cups have been the complete opposite. It helps that Liverpool's only non-league obligations this year are the FA and Carling Cups but it still doesn't dilute what they have achieved so far in both competitions.
Liverpool beat Manchester City over two legs to reach the Carling Cup Final - and while Cardiff is the form team in the Championship, they are very much the underdogs and Liverpool fans are expecting none other than the trophy and with it, a ticket to European football.
A few days after that, Liverpool beat the other Manchester club to progress further in the FA Cup. They await the draw now knowing that none of the top two in the Premier League are in the competition. Yes their fellow Champions League chasing rivals, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham still alive but given who they've taken down this season not just in the Cup but occasionally in the league, Liverpool have no one to fear.
After all, cup football is all about getting the results that matter in a one-off situation which Liverpool have appeared to be always good at - they have a good record against the likes of Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea in the league, and have always progressed far in European football's knockout stages.
All you need to really do is just stuff the midfield and have one lone striker up front against a really good side. Just contain the midfield and hit them on the counter-attack - look at Kuyt's winner against Man United, the perfect finish to a Liverpool counter-attack.
And perhaps now that the Premier League is about to reach the home stretch, these confidence boosting results in the Cups could be the lift Liverpool need in one big but tricky push for Champions League football. Given Arsenal and Chelsea's equally erratic form, Kenny Dalglish and the Kop have to feel, their team is right in the mix - they just need to start putting away teams at home which has been their big failing.
Liverpool is realistically looking at Europa League football at this stage which is some improvement over last season and not too bad an achievement given the race for the Champions League is so tight. But for a club that only just missed out on the title two seasons ago, it's not quite enough and given how much the owners have invested into the club in terms of players, Liverpool must feel this season has been a disappointment and there is room for improvement.
At least, there's the possibility of a cup in the cabinet to make this season seem not too bad.
If you love thrashings, you would have thought you were in heaven today.
Firstly, the New Zealanders managed to bowl out Zimbabwe twice in one day and win the one and only test in Napier.
Then, Viktoria Azarenka, now Belarus' most famous athlete absolutely smoked Maria Sharapova to win her first Grand Slam title. It remains to be seen if Azarenka can take the next step and become the dominant ladies player amongst her peers.
What we do know for now is this list: the biggest hidings in test cricket history - taking only innings wins because let's face it losing by an innings and a bit more runs is a definite sign you have taken a bit of a hiding.
Pakistan beat New Zealand by an innings and 324 runs, Lahore, 2002
The Kiwis have always tended to struggle with the weather and dry conditions of the Indian subcontinent. This was one test they never ever mustered. They allowed Inzamam ul-Haq to score 329 and guide Pakistan to a 643 first innings lead from which they never recovered from. They were bowled out for 73 in the first innings and while they managed a more respectable 246 in the 2nd, were comfortably beaten.
Australia beat England by an innings and 332 runs, Brisbane, 1946/47
England have never liked playing in Brisbane and have suffered some of their worst losses to the Aussies there. This one takes the cake though - the first Ashes series played in Australia in post-war time saw the great Don score 187 as Australia scored 645 in their first innings. England could only muster 141 and 172 in reply with Keith Miller taking 7 wickets for 60 in England's first innings.
West Indies beat India by an innings and 336 runs, Kolkata, 1958/59
In the 1950s, India was very much a "minnow" and they were put away quite convincingly by a talented West Indies side featuring allrounder Sir Garfield Sobers. Another demoralising 600 plus score was set and India could only reply with 124 and 154. It was the worst thrashing from a visiting side until 2002.
Australia beat South Africa by an innings and 360 runs, Johannesburg, 2001/02
Hard to believe that this was the 1st test since Steve Waugh was relieved of captaincy of the Australian one day side following their early exit from their own VB Series - the same series was won by Shaun Pollock's South Africa, the same side who people said could have the measure of this great Australian side. Australia as usual did not read the script and put on yes, another 600 score - this time 652, 204 of those runs coming off Adam Gilchrist's bat. McGrath was spared batting duties and took 8 wickets in the game as South Africa were dismissed for 159 and 133 in front of their very proud supporters.
England beat Australia by an innings and 579 runs, The Oval, 1938
The greatest thrashing of all time in test cricket and probably will be for a while yet. The new record breakers would need to score close to England's 903 - Len Hutton scored 364 of those runs, the highest by any Englishman in history. Australia's replies weren't too bad - 201 and 123 but they were really just passengers in a ceremonial England victory and one that maintained the Ashes in England.
By the way, New Zealand's big win over Zimbabwe by 301 runs is the 8th largest win by an innings in test cricket history and naturally is their largest ever win.
