The Return of King Henry

It is being widely reported that Thierry Henry is set to return to Arsenal on a 2 month loan deal from his MLS club, New York Red Bulls. The French superstar and undoubtedly the greatest striker ever to play in the Premier League just needs to fill out insurance paperwork to complete the deal.

Anyway, this will probably be the last blog post for 2011 so have a great New Year!








I'll leave you with some of Thierry Henry's finest goals..

New Zealand "Third Best" Sporting Nation in the World

Ah the icing to a glorious sporting year for New Zealand...


Courtesy of TVNZ

Kiwis have always considered themselves to be overachievers in the sporting arena and now the figures prove it, with New Zealand placed third on a list of top sporting nations per head.

The list, compiled by greatestsportingnation.com, analysed the sporting achievements of every country for 2011 and found New Zealand to be just behind Jamaica and Norway in their 'Per Capita Cup'.

Jamaica's strong showing at this year's Athletic World Championships in South Korea gave them the top spot with 2541 people per point (ppp) awarded.

Norway was narrowly in second place (2623 ppp) with points coming from 26 different sports, with an overall victory in cross-country skiing pushing them higher up the list.

New Zealand also scored across a high number of sports with 18 different codes represented in their score of 3618 ppp. The All Blacks' Rugby World Cup win was listed as New Zealand's one significant win.

Australia finished outside the top 10 per capita with 7050 ppp, while the website labels Jamaica and New Zealand 'outsiders' in the top 10 as the only two non-European countries.

In the overall standings the United States have won the top spot for the fourth consecutive year, beating out Russia, China and France by scoring points in 50 different sports for a total of 8276 points.

New Zealand came in at 24 on the overall standings with a points total of 1182 points up three places from last year.

Points are awarded across 80 sports during any event considered to be the premier international event for that sport.

For sports such as football and basketball where there was no global tournament in 2011, continental tournaments are used, but less weighting is given to those sports.

2011 in Review: My Films and TV Programmes of 2011

This is a bit like UK Autocar magazine's annual Christmas Day edition where they do a special 'road test' of e.g. the Concorde, the Channel Tunnel boring machine, USS Nimitz, etc.

This is only my view. I do realise I am not a film/TV critic..

Best TV Series of 2011
Dexter - bloody as ever.. except I've been forever put off by the gruesome death of Rita Bennett..

The Kennedys - cheesy but great.. riveting viewing and great acting by Greg Kinnear, Barry Pepper and Tom Wilkinson as the Kennedy triad..

But in my opinion, the best TV series of 2011 was....

Downton Abbey Season 2 (ok yes I'm now well and truly a Downton Abbey fan)

My Movies of 2011 
(I count King's Speech as a 2010 film as it was released in NZ in 2010)

5.Never Let Me Go - absolutely heart-breaking, heart-wrenching yet beautiful story.. a parable of things we tend to take for granted in our lives..

4.Contagion - very flat action-wise but otherwise very realistic and very correct.. finally a sci-fi film that actually has the science to back it up.

3.Drive - Ryan Gosling. Brilliant.

2.X-Men: First Class - the X-Men franchise reboot takes it back to its roots with a brilliant story.. Michael Fassbender convinced me to love Magneto - and he was played by Sir Ian McKellen after all!

1.Senna - the best sports film ever made IMO. Period.

(Tintin, The Iron Lady to come of course..)

Worst Movie of 2011
I actually quite enjoyed Transformers 3 - definitely an improvement on the 2nd one..

My tip would have to be - Sherlock Holmes 2 - the trailer has "Sucks" written all over it.

Plays You Might Have Missed over the Holidays

Here are some plays you might have missed over the holiday period while you were in the land of Nod..

SNAPSHOT - NFL Playoff Picture with 1 Week Left

AFC
1.New England Patriots (12-3) %
2.Baltimore Ravens (11-4) #

3.Houston Texans (10-5) #
4.Denver Broncos (8-7)
5.Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4) #
6.Cincinnati Bengals (9-6)

In the hunt:
Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans, New York Jets (8-7)

NFC

1.Green Bay Packers (14-1) $
2.San Francisco 49ers (12-3) #

3.New Orleans Saints (11-3)* #
4.New Yprk Giants (8-7)
5.Detroit Lions (10-5) #
6.Atlanta Falcons (9-5)* #

In the hunt:
Dallas Cowboys (8-7)


NB:
* - yet to play this round (Atlanta at New Orleans, 8:20pm, MNF on ESPN)
# - clinched playoff spot 
$ - clinched home advantage throughout playoffs
% - clinched first round bye 


Teams 1 and 2 earn first round bye
Team 3 will host team 6 in first round 
Team 4 will host team 5 in first round


Team 1 will host lowest ranked winner
Team 2 will host highest ranked winner

How Far Can the Patriots Go? And a Look at the New Year's Day Bonanza!

It will be a great holiday period for the New England Patriots.

Despite being 17-0 down at halftime against the Miami Dolphins, the Patriots rallied strongly in the 2nd half to win 27-24. The win improves their record to 12-3 and means the Patriots will have a bye for the first weekend of the playoffs. A win next weekend at home to Buffalo - a likely one it has to be said - will mean the Patriots will be the number one team in the AFC and have home advantage throughout the playoffs as long as they win all their games.

Amidst all the hype and coverage about the Green Bay Packers' quest for the perfect season and Aaron Rodgers' MVP form, the Patriots have quietly gone about their business of making the playoffs. In fact, much of the coverage of the Patriots this season has been rightly dedicated to their porous defence which has been covered up extremely well by yet another record breaking season for Tom Brady.

The Patriots lost two in a row to the Steelers and Giants and lost for the first time to Buffalo. However, since that loss to the Giants, the Patriots rallied and took advantage of the stumbles by the Ravens, Steelers and Texans to be in the driving seat for the top seed in the AFC.

They are definitely in good nick going into the playoffs.

But the weaknesses are still apparent in the side. The defence is still porous as ever but is improving. However, they've lost star defensive end, Andre Carter for the rest of the season - a big loss in my opinion. Nevertheless, they've had injuries all over the defence this season and have coped reasonably well.

But playoff football is quite different and more do-or-die, suiting the likes of the Steelers, Ravens and Jets if they make it. As the Patriots found out last season, the bye also doesn't tend to help and the Jets look fresher.

The Patriots will probably face the Jets if they make it as the Jets would be the lowest ranked team going into week 2 but they might have figured them out this season after beating them in New York for the first time in two seasons. Their chances will improve greatly if the Bengals or Raiders get through as those are teams the Patriots have done very well against in recent times.

If the Patriots are to go all the way, the offence will have to be absolutely outstanding and one of the best ever seen, given the defence will more than likely concede its 20 points. Tom Brady is having one of his best seasons if not quite his best and the offensive line has been one of the best in the NFL this season.

Brady could do with more support from his other wide receiver, Chad Ochocinco. The Ocho hasn't quite put up the numbers of his star billing unlike the other wide receivers, Wes Welker and Deion Branch and tight-ends, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez - perhaps the playoff stage will be the stage for him to shine since his move from the Bengals in the summer.

So conclusion, I think the Patriots can win the AFC Championship and play in a star-studded Super Bowl against the Green Bay Packers. They'll beat the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens en route to the destiny they should have reached in 2008. We'll see new records broken in the offence this post-season in what is very much a golden era for quarterbacks.

While the Patriots, Ravens and Steelers' future is guaranteed, the same can't be said about the AFC West and the NFC East.

The AFC West is now down to the Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos after San Diego and Kansas City lost meaning we won't have the scenario where all teams are 8-8 and the Chiefs go through on division head-to-head record. Both Raiders and Broncos will be at home for their key encounters with the Raiders hosting the Chargers and Broncos hosting the Chiefs. A Broncos win means they'll be playing well into January. The question is after that long 6-game-winning streak, has Tim Tebow run out of puff or was that performance against Buffalo a hangover from the loss to the Patriots?

One of those AFC West games would have made NBC's Sunday Night Football if the Cowboys had beaten the by-then already eliminated Eagles on Sunday. But Michael Vick surprised and Tony Romo was KO'd early in the game and it leaves us with a winner-takes-all game in New York between the Cowboys and Giants.

These two much hated rivals take each other on for the 2nd time in a matter of weeks and the last time they played the Giants came away with the spoils. It's the division that no one wants to win and aptly it's come down to this do-or-die game. Any man would be very brave to say they know who will win this given how the season's gone.

But the tips have to be made... I'll say Tim Tebow will have one more bullet left in the armoury against the Chiefs and take the Broncos into the playoffs and Tony Romo will come back from his bruised hand and lead the Cowboys into the playoffs.

The Bengals will make the playoffs as the wildcard with the Ravens and Steelers winning their games.  

So my tip for the playoffs:

Detroit at Dallas
Atlanta at New Orleans
Pittsburgh at Denver
Cincinnati at Houston

New England, Baltimore, Green Bay, San Francisco bye




     

French (Football) Revolution

It appears that the billionaire bug that first hit English football has well and truly hit France.

Following the takeovers of Chelsea and Man City by billionaires in the last 10 years, Paris St Germain and now AS Monaco in Ligue 1 have been taken over by billionaires.

PSG are now riding high in this year's Ligue 1 after many seasons of mediocrity.

Russian billionaire, Dmitry Rybolovlev, is hoping to do the same for fallen giants, AS Monaco who are now struggling to survive in French football's 2nd tier.

AS Monaco have been crowned French champions 7 times, the last time in 2000 and made the Champions League final in 2004 after knocking out big-spending Chelsea in the semifinals.

The man called the Potash King in Russia hopes to bring that same form and glory back as well as turn the principality in the middle Cote d'Azur more well known for its royal family and annual Formula 1 race into one of France's footballing powers.

While this move may not be popular with France's other clubs, this could be the sort of financial push French domestic football needs in order to compete with the likes of the English, Italian, Spanish and German leagues.  The takeovers of Chelsea and Manchester City have actually been good for the Premier League enabling more clubs to be open to foreign investment as well as opening the race for the title - a once 2 horse race is on the verge of becoming a 6 horse race.

French football has been quite competitive in recent times after the dominance of Lyon early in the century. It should remain competitive even with PSG and Monaco now bankrolled by billionaires - and Monaco's time will almost certainly be at least 2 seasons away given they are not likely to push for promotion this season. Hopefully, it might even keep more of France's best playing in the country too.

It is said money doesn't buy you happiness. But in football, it almost usually does.



 

2012 NFL Quarterbacks

Kellen Moore - one of the best college QBs ever

Assuming all of them have no season-ending injuries, who will be the starting quarterbacks in 2012?

New England - Tom Brady
NY Jets - Mark Sanchez
Buffalo - Ryan Fitzpatrick
Miami - Kellen Moore
Pittsburgh - Ben Roethlisberger
Baltimore - Joe Flacco
Cincinnati - Andy Dalton
Cleveland - Colt McCoy
Houston - TJ Yates
Indianapolis - Peyton Manning; Andrew Luck to back up

Andrew Luck may have missed out on the Heismann but he'll
probably still be the number 1 pick in the draft.

Jacksonville - Blaine Gabbert
Tennessee - Jake Locker
Denver - Tim Tebow
Kansas City - Matt Cassel
Oakland - Carson Palmer
San Diego - Philip Rivers
Dallas - Tony Romo

Baylor star, RG3 could be Redskins' answer at QB

Philadelphia - Michael Vick
NY Giants - Eli Manning







Washington - Robert Griffin III
Green Bay - Aaron Rodgers
Chicago - Jay Cutler
Minnesota - Christian Ponder
Detroit - Matthew Stafford
New Orleans - Drew Brees
Atlanta - Matt Ryan
Carolina - Cam Newton
Tampa Bay - Josh Freeman
St Louis - Sam Bradford
Arizona - John Skelton
Seattle - Tarvaris Jackson
San Francisco - Alex Smith; Colin Kaepernick to back up

NFL Team of the Season?

With voting for the Pro Bowl finished and since there are only 2 rounds left of the regular season, I decided to bring forward my NFL team of the season..

Offense -
QB - Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
RB - Arian Foster, Houston Texans
RB - Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills
WR - Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions
WR - Wes Welker, New England Patriots
OT - Chad Clifton, Green Bay Packers
OG - Jahri Evans, New Orleans Saints
C - Dan Connolly, New England Patriots
OG - Logan Mankins, New England Patriots
OT - Bryan Bulaga, Green Bay Packers
TE - Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

Defence -
DE - Andre Carter, New England Patriots
DT - Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions
DT - Vince Wilfork, New England Patriots
DE - Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings

LB - DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys
LB - Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers

LB - LaMarr Woodley, Pittsburgh Steelers

CB - Darrelle Revis, New York Jets
CB - Kyle Arrington, New England Patriots

S - Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers
S - Eric Weddle, San Diego Chargers

Special Teams -
K - Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland Raiders
P - Britton Colquitt, Denver Broncos
PR - Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals

Crazy Fan 1 Goalkeeper 1

Hooliganism reared its ugly head in Dutch football this morning. AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper, Esteban Alvarado was attacked by an Ajax Amsterdam home fan during AZ's Dutch Cup game at Ajax. In self defence, Alvarado kicked the fan before stadium officials grabbed a hold of the crazed fan and took him away.

Unbelievably, the referee issued a red card to Alvarado and sent him off - the official reason: for attacking a spectator ala Eric Cantona although Cantona had already been sent off at that stage.


In protest, the AZ coach ordered his players off the field, fearing for their safety and the game was abandoned.  

It all sounds like a scene from a football game in some developing country in Eastern Europe, South America, Asia or Africa. But this is the Netherlands, Amsterdam and Ajax, one of the most famous clubs in Europe.

Shameful really. And I hope that fan is given a life ban from football and has his balls chopped off.

Here Comes The Real Jack Bauer

Jack Bauer, no not the fictional CIA agent in 24 but the New Zealand cyclist and friend from Otago University days, featured on the 6pm news tonight. Introduced as a former bass player, Jack is featuring in the prestigious NZ road cycling championships in Christchurch this summer and spoke to One News about his methods and prospects for the future with his new pro-team, Garmin-Cervello - the same team as fellow Kiwi, Julian Dean and Brit star, David Millar.

Here is the link: http://tvnz.co.nz/othersports-news/bauer-ready-big-time-video-4667350

Thank you, Jack.. you're now the closest most famous person I now know.. sorry, Chris Smylie..

2 Minutes Special - Recap 2011

What is my sporting moment of 2011... Drum roll please..

Top 5 Sporting Moments from 2011

Which is my number 1 pick? Find out tonight on a 2 Minutes Special after 10pm! 

Warriors Making Grand Final

Survival Sunday

Tebow Time

New Zealand beat Australia in 2nd cricket test in Hobart

2011 Rugby World Cup Final
(no video highlights as the IRB has clamped down hard on YouTube videos - but you all know what happened...)

2011 in Review: Personal Perspective

Dear friends,

2011 has been quite a year. To use the good or bad tag on 2011 would be too black and white. However, it was quite up and down.

From a personal perspective, it has been quite an exhaustive year - earlier in the year I had a change of jobs and later in the year I had a change in flats. 3 years and over is probably the cue for change for me.

Then there was the Christchurch earthquake in February - definitely the big non-related sports story of the year; its effects still linger beyond red and black country as we approach its one year anniversary.

Perhaps it was this tragedy which inspired the All Blacks to Rugby World Cup victory on home soil - definitely one of the moments of the year for me (you'll find out on Wednesday night if it is the moment of the year for me).

The Rugby World Cup was exhilirating but exhaustive. Everyone including myself was just relieved once it was over and done with. A monkey off the back and for once a chance to enjoy the summer after knowing we're World Champions.

So to 2012 and the start of a new Olympiad cycle. Hope springs eternal especially with the year starting off with weddings galore.

But for now, time to take a break from my fast-paced, sports filled life. Perhaps it's just as well mum took away the Sky at our place in Dunedin. I was getting to the stage where there was just too much sport to follow.

There's always the option of live streaming video too.

Anyway have a great Christmas and New Year!

Dave

SNAPSHOT: Holiday Season Football!

NFL
NFL Playoff Picture (according to seeds as it stands) -
*clinched playoff spot

AFC -
1.New England Patriots (11-3)*
2.Baltimore Ravens (10-4)*
3.Houston Texans (10-4)*
4.Denver Broncos (8-6)

5.Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)*
6.New York Jets (8-6)

In the hunt:
Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)
Tennessee Titans, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers (7-7)
Kansas City Chiefs (6-8)

NFC -
1.Green Bay Packers (13-1)*
2.San Francisco 49ers (11-3)*
3.New Orleans Saints (11-3)
4.Dallas Cowboys (8-6)

5.Detroit Lions (9-5)
6.Atlanta Falcons (9-5)

In the hunt:
New York Giants, Chicago Bears Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals (7-7)
Philadelphia Eagles (6-8) - must win division

English Football
The festive period of football in England has started early this year with games starting on 20 December.

Here are the 8 fixtures to watch during this festive period:


Premier League - 
Blackburn Rovers v Bolton Wanderers, 21 December (NZ time) - Relegation six-pointer

Tottenham v Chelsea, 23 December
Reading v Brighton, 27 December
Middlesbrough v Hull, 27 December

Liverpool v Newcastle, 31 December
Crystal Palace v Leicester, 3 January
Man City v Liverpool, 4 January
Newcastle v Man United, 5 January

2011 In Review: My Gym Programme

2011 was yet another successful year for this avid member of Les Mills gyms in Wellington. The result: a very sore body that needs a break for 4-5 weeks. I probably won't be back at the gym till the last week of January.

The year started with a goal to bench 100kg. I comfortably hit it and was starting to bench 110kg towards the end of 2011.

And after years of looking them down, I even started doing classes at the gym. I started doing BodyCombat classes at Les Mills and it turns out I liked them.

Ok yes there was a girl involved. Quite a hot one actually. Probably the hottest girl I've ever seen at the gym.

Anyway, coordination and fitness wise BodyCombat is a boon. And a killer too. A friend told me that 5 weeks in a row of BodyCombat classes is absolutely brutal - I must admit it was a bit like my Ashes cricket series and I think I came out on top in 3 of those sessions. It probably also doesn't help doing weights and mountain biking the day before.

Lesson learnt.

Anyway here are my stats for 2011 showing the max weight, and weight I started the year at -


Arms/Chest - 
Bench press - 110kg, 80kg
Bench bells - 25kg, 17.5kg
Fly deltoid bells - 17.5kg, 15kg
Incline (low) - 80kg, 60kg
Fly deltoid - 170kg, 150kg
Rear deltoid - 110kg, 100kg
Low row - 80kg, 60kg
Bicep curls - 120kg
Wrist curls - 100kg

Legs -
Rear squats - 90kg, 40kg
Deadlifts - 70kg, 60kg
Leg press - 140kg


Plus Abs 


Classes - 5 x BodyCombat, 1 x RPM

Anyway, I'll probably be back at the gym last week of January, first week of February. I may kick off with BodyCombat before hitting into the weights later. I feel my fitness could still be improved. I do have 2 free RPM classes up my sleeve.

Crystal Ball of Sport for 2012

If the world doesn't end as some Mayan claims it will, this is my predictions for the sporting year of 2012.

• New England Patriots beat the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl in Indianapolis
• New Zealand to draw cricket test series with South Africa 1-1
• Manchester City win English Premier League
• Liverpool win FA & League Cups and take final Champions League spot
• Barcelona become first team to win back to back European Cups
• Southampton, West Ham and Middlesbrough win promotion to the Premier League 
• Germany win EURO 2014
• Miami Heat to win NBA title
• Chicago Blackhawks win Stanley Cup
• Rory McIlroy becomes world no. 1, wins Masters
• Roger Federer wins his last career Grand Slam at Wimbledon but Novak Djokovic is no. 1 in the world
• Crusaders win the Super rugby title
• The Reds will struggle to make the playoffs without Quade Cooper
• China finishes top of 2012 London Olympics ahead of the USA and Great Britain
• New Zealand wins Olympic gold in the rowing, cycling & discus throw (male & female) 
• All Blacks win Rugby Championship
• Argentina finish last in Rugby Championship

2 Minutes - 19 December 2011

 

Tonight, the psychology of an unbeaten streak - and after it ends.

Tebow Time is OVER

Stop the Press.

After a magical and remarkable 6 match winning run, the ride is over for the Denver Broncos following their 41-23 loss to Tom Brady's New England Patriots.

Tebow Time has ended. For now at least.







It was an amazing run while it lasted, starting back in October when the Broncos rallied to beat the Oakland Raiders and start their amazing 6 game winning streak to the top of the AFC West. So many late comebacks in the 4th quarter. So many wins at the death or in overtime.

It was thrilling to watch both for Broncos and non-Broncos fans. Even non-Broncos fans secretly wished it would continue but ultimately reality would finally catch up in the form of a decent football team.

And despite the Patriots' inadequacies in the defense, they are still a phenomenal football team and knew this would be a big statement win if they pulled it off.

And they did. Tom Brady's mega offense again triumphed over what has been an outstanding Denver Broncos defence.

And add the Jets' loss to Philadelphia means the Patriots win the AFC East. Add also the Texans' loss today and suddenly the Patriots are in the driving seat for a first round bye.

Anyway, kudos to Tim Tebow for bringing so much excitement as well as giving glory to the name of Jesus Christ with his demeanour and success. What a stunning and unforgettable run and hey it's definitely not over for them.

Tebow Time could easily restart and continue into the playoffs.

Despite Tebow Time being on hold for now, the Tebowing is alive and very much kneeling....
http://tebowing.com/

Packers' Quest for Perfection : DENIED

IT'S OVER..

The Packer's quest for perfection has been abruptly and surprisingly ended at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs. It means Tom Brady and Dan Marino can breathe a sigh of relief as the Patriots' and Dolphins' unbeaten regular season records remains intact for another season.

The Chiefs played absolutely out of their skins in their first game since the sacking of coach Todd Haley earlier in the week. Their secondary was brilliant and Rodgers had undoubtedly his worst game of the year. Kyle Orton's short passing game was far more effective and the Chiefs spent plenty of time in the Packers' half.

The Packers now will have to regroup with two games at home against their divisional rivals, the Bears and Lions.

It appears the first few weeks of December have been very bad for unbeaten sides worldwide - Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur & Liverpool also lost their unbeaten records this month in the Premier League.

But as they say, the best way to bounce back from a loss is a win the following week.

2011 (Entertaining) Sporting Moments of the Year