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Contents
ISSUE 01, JUNE/JULY 2012 5 A Quick Word
A quick word from the sportsdesk before we get the ball rolling.
6 Safety in numbers
Sometimes sport ain’t nothing but a numbers game.
8 Tennis - History Beckons
The three kings of mens tennis look to etch their names into the record books.
13 Football - Summer Lovin The Euro’s are always good for an upset or two. We try level out the playing field.
16 Golf - New Era
With the US Open just around the corner, we look at the current golfing landscape.
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21 Rugby - Back To Basics
Heyneke Meyer has promised a return to traditional South African rugby. Is that a good thing though?
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24 Cricket - Blood Sport & The Old Enemy
They say cricket is a gentlemens game, we tend to disagree.
28 The Months Ahead
The world of sport never sleeps. Don’t miss a thing with our look at the months ahead.
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A Quick Word
Buy A Ticket, Take The Ride Go on live a little. i promise, it’ll be worth your while.
“These are humble beginnings, but we are not humble men.”
admin@hollywoodbets.net
Hot damn! I hope you’re as excited to read this fine piece of literature, as we were to write it for you. This is no ordinary sport magazine, and it isn’t a how-to betting guide. This my friends, is its own beast. In honour of two of our favourite pastimes, we’ve gathered together a ragtag bunch of sports junkies and betting men. We threw them in a room, with a couple of supplies – alcohol, cigarettes, pen, paper, television and a Hollywoodbets account – and they walked out with a profit and a magazine. This magazine. These are humble beginnings, but we are not humble men. I don’t know about you, but I love being proven right, even more so when there’s a pay-off to sweeten the deal. Enough about that, let’s get onto
the sport why don’t we?
enemies, with South Africa and England facing off in both cricket and rugby. It will be made abundantly clear to you where our allegiances lie. Finally we have a look at the US Open and the new era that is sweeping across the golfing landscape. If that doesn’t get you a little hot and bothered, then I don’t know what will. Let’s get this show on the road then why don’t we?
We stand on the precipice of one hell of a winter of sport, summer for those of you from across the equator. Europe will do battle in Poland for the first time since WWII, with the battle for supremacy being confined to the football field this time around. I fancy a flutter on the French, for this is football after all, not war. Speaking of French, Nadal and Djokovic will be out to make history on Just the tip, it’s all you really need. the clay of Roland Garros, and who would bet against them. Rafa seeks his seventh Yours Truly title, and few (myself included) would Commodore Vegas bet against the King of Clay notching up another historic achievement. Then of course there’s the battle of the old
CONTRIBUTORS: Commodore Vegas | Maverick White | BlueskiPalooski | Matt Cee | Damien Kayat blog.hollywoodbets.net
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Horseracing Safety in numbers
durban july
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With the Durban July just around the corner, we thought we’d give you a couple facts that might help you in picking a winner on the day.
Anthony Delpech moved level with record holders Harold “Tiger” Wright and Anton Marcus when he rode Igugu to victory last year. Having won aboard Bold Silvano in 2010, he will be seeking an unprecedented hatrick on July day, as well as the outright record for most July wins by a single jockey.
3,000,000 The field will compete for a share of R3 million, making the Vodacom Durban July one of Africa’s richest races. There will be approximately 55,000 spectators at Greyville cheering their horse across the finish line. The theme for this year’s event is “Material World”, with racegoers encouraged to decrease their carbon footprint.
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Lucky for some, unlucky for others, the number 13 is synonomous with “The Rugby July”.
Only six runners drawn on the extreme outside have managed to win since 1917. The most famous of these came in 2003 when Dynasty, drawn in the sticks, overcame all the odds, opening up down the final stretch with a spectacular final furlong to finish a length clear of Yard-Arm.
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Since the distance of the race changed to 2200m in 1970 only 5 horses carrying 55kgs or more have won. However, 3 of those wins have come in the last 5 years with Hunting Tower (2007), Pocket Power (2008) and Bold Silvano (2010) all crossing the line with more than 55kg’s on their back.
In the week prior to the 1960 July Handicap, the Springboks faced off against New Zealand at Ellis Park in a test match. The Springboks pulled off a momentous victory, with left wing and no 13 Hennie Van Zyl scoring both tries as the Boks ran out 13-0 winners. One week later all eyes were on Left Wing, a colt trained by Syd Garret and ridden by Percy Cayeux, who was odds on favourite to take spoils. Wearing the number 13 saddlecloth, he duly obliged, making it a lucky day for all those superstitious punters.
52
The race has been won 32 times by a threeyear-old, but in the last 20 years,they have accounted for 52% of the winners. All eye’s will be on Jackson to see if he can join some esteemed company by entering the winners circle before the age of 4.
Click for the July ante-post betting.
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A
ll eyes of the tennis world have become fixated on the red clay of Paris with what is undoubtedly the most pivotal period of the tennis calendar. With the freshly hewn grass of Wimbledon looming the stakes could not possibly be higher for the giants of the male and female game. This is when a season, even a career, is defined. And one could not find two more divergent struggles than those at present in the male and female game.
A Few Great Men
The male game is probably at a point of historical significance that we cannot fully comprehend. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have elevated the game to a stature that not even the grandest theatre can replicate. If world number one Djokovic were to reign triumphant in Paris there would be three players on the circuit who have completed the career grand slam. He would also become the first man since a certain Rod Laver to capture all four slams in a row. It would be an immense achievement, but this isn’t Rod Laver Arena or the frenzied atmosphere of Flushing Meadows. The red clay of Paris has only one master and he is looking to make some history of his own. Rafael Nadal is aiming to surpass Bjorn Borg’s tally of 6 French Open titles, an achievement that would cement his reputation as the greatest clay court player of all time. And it is hard to argue with either history or form. A 46-1 record at Roland Garros coupled with victories on the red clay of Monte Carlo and Rome suggest that the indomitable Spanish bull will be hugely difficult to usurp on court Phillipe Chatrier. Two successive final defeats of Djokovic should give him the confidence over a man who had seemingly dismantled Nadal’s charge up the pantheon of tennis immortality. Roger Federer comes into the tournament on the back of a successful clay court season, with that memorable victory over Tomas Berdych on the bizarre blue clay of Madrid a definite indication to his rivals that he will be no walkover. The Duracell bunny of the male game will be making his charge towards a 17th Grand Slam victory in Paris, knowing that two victories will take him ahead of Jimmy Connors with all-time victories at Grand Slam events. Yet it is difficult to envisage the Swiss master conquering both the Spaniard and the Serb on clay, and it is likely that more Roland Garros heartbreak will be on the way for Federer. He should be suitably prepared.
A Few Good Men
The rest of the male draw seem destined to play the role of intriguing footnotes, the source of anecdotal articles such as Murray’s quest to find his inner Fred Perry or the seemingly anaemic American charge. Murray could perhaps be the most unfortunate man in the history of tennis. A true talent, a world beater on his day, he has to compete with three of the best players of all time on a weekly basis. Injury concerns also shadow the lanky Scot and it is almost impossible to conceive of anything
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“It is a tale of three kings; a past king, Federer, the current king, Djokovic, and the king of clay, Nadal.“ other than heroic defeat for a man so invested with hope that you can almost see him bursting from it. More intriguing possible charges
could come from Tomas Berdych, seeded 7, and Fernando Verdasco, 14th. Berdych reached the semi-final stage in 2010 and impressed on clay this season, reaching the final in Madrid and losing a tight semi-final to Novak Djokovic in Monte Carlo. If he can hold his temperament, one could easily see him in the mix come the business end of the event. Verdasco is somewhat of an enigma in many ways. He can be utterly amazing one day and seem completely disinterested the next. But who can forget that epic semi-final defeat to Rafael Nadal in the 2009 Australian open, a match where Nadal had to go to the very recesses of his soul to win. He also defeated Nadal in Madrid on the blue clay, and he could be the kind of guy who
could shake up the draw with one amazing performance. David Ferrer can never be discounted on his favourite surface, and the French contingent can always threaten under the galvanising force of a very partisan crowd. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet, Gael Monfils and Gilles Simon represent powerful a French contingent that could run quite deep at this tournament. But forget the subterfuge, it is a tale of three kings; a past king, Federer, the current king, Djokovic, and the king of clay, Nadal. And he doesn’t want to be dethroned just yet.
There For The Taking
The female side of the draw is the complete antithesis of the males with far more questions than answers. It seems quite indicative
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of the ladies game at the moment that trying to locate an outright favourite causes quite some confusion. Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova have been the ladies to beat on clay this season, each winning two events. Yet doubts over the American’s fitness and the Russian’s ability to handle the pressure linger and this opens the door to a vast range of candidates. Defending champion Li Na could be a real contender, with a dramatic final defeat in Rome suggesting she has the ability to go all the way again. That up and down affair in Rome almost seems to encapsulate the ladies game at the moment, one that seems to be waiting for someone to seize the initiative. World number one Victoria Azarenka looked to be the lady to do just that after winning her maiden Slam in Melbourne earlier this year, with the victory coming in the midst of four successive tournament wins. She seems to have lost some of that momentum though, and will really need to dig deep to get any change out of Paris. A more likely contender comes in the guise of perennial underdog Francesca Schiavone, seeded 14th. Her form is not great, reflected in her 14th world ranking, yet two consecutive finals including victory in the 2010 final against Samantha Stosur indicate that the red clay ignites something inside of Schiavone that bares some similarity to Goran Ivanisivic’s love affair with Wimbledon. Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki will have quite a point to prove and perhaps might benefit from the absence of the number one ranking that seemed to weigh heavily on her shoulders. Stosur’s pugnacious fighting abilities could come in handy at a tournament that demands attrition, while current Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has a point to prove following her capitulation in last year’s event after leading the eventual champion Li Na 3-0 in the decisive set of their fourth round encounter. Ultimately it seems that the female draw is extremely open, and while Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will go in as favourites, they will have their work cut out to survive a catalogue of banana peels along the way.
SW 19
When the red dust has settled on perhaps tennis’s most boisterous battlefields all eyes will turn to certainly the most romantic. Wimbledon 2012 promises to be as engaging as ever, for much the same reasons as the French Open. A male draw with 3 masters alongside a female draw awaiting a conqueror. Federer’s reign of domination at SW 19 has been well and truly gate-crashed by Nadal and now Djokovic. Defeats to Tomas Berdych and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last two quarter-finals has strangely positioned Wimbledon as a bogey slam for Federer, a seven time former champion. He will once again have to deal with the Nadal-Djokovic factor. Both Nadal and Djokovic looked a class apart in last
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“The phantom threat that is the Williams sisters lingers throughout with Wimbledon being their most coveted hunting ground.” year’s competition, with the slower speed of the surface playing tidily into the baseliner’s hands. Much of the momentum for the tournament will be gleamed from the French Open, but one should not expect to look any further than the Serb and the Spaniard for the Wimbledon title. The draw does however have various potential antagonists in the mix. Former finalist Tomas Berdych finds the grass courts much to his favour and could prove extremely dangerous. Big serving Janko Tipsaravic has showed signs of steady improvement. John Isner has had some good victories, particularly in the Davis Cup where he defeated Gilles Simon, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and even Roger Federer, and his game seems to be evolving in a way that suggests that he could be America’s best chance of Grand Slam glory.
where he can mount a proper charge for the elusive Slam at Wimbledon. It seems the stars may be aligned, Chelsea winning the European Cup, the Olympics coming to London. Wimbledon could be Murray’s, and Britain’s, time to taste Grand Slam success. On the womens side of the draw, the defending champion Kvitova should be a force to be reckoned with. Her aggressive style completely dismantled It has been 32 Maria Sharapova in last year’s final, and Grandslams since we her impressive indoor winning streak have seen a back to of 32 matches indicates her ability back winner in the womans draw. The last to perform on the quicker surfaces. to do so was Justin Sharapova is however having somewhat Henin-Hardenne, who of a clay court resurrection, indicating followed her win at the that perhaps she has the drive and US Open with a win in Murray Madness determination back, enough perhaps Melbourne. And how can one speak of Wimbledon without to be able to reclaim her Wimbledon mentioning Andy Murray. The mythical expectancy on crown. Much like the Williams sisters, his shoulders to become the first British man to win off-court distractions have played some a Grand Slam since Fred Perry in 1936 will no doubt role in performance malaise of recent be a major focus of the media and indeed the broader seasons, yet she seems to be achieving a tennis community at SW 19. His recent appointment consistency now that had seemed to esof Ivan Lendl as full-time coach can only be a good cape her, and it would not be surprising thing for Murray, as he attempts to ride the dual crest to see her return to the winners circle of Henmania and Murray madness. One feels that when the final ball has been hit and the perhaps if he were to not progress too far in Paris, final screech heard. that in collaboration with Lendl this could be a year The phantom threat that is the
Williams sisters lingers throughout with Wimbledon being their most coveted hunting ground. Eight championships between them should give any lady in the draw something to think about. Their enigmatic ability to win, in particular Serena, makes them a real danger. Azarenka should do quite well on the grass while it can be expected that the likes of Na, Wozniacki and Stosur progress to the latter parts of the competition. 27 year old Marion Bartoli, finalist in 2007, could be one to watch out for in the tournament. She has shown that she can beat the best on grass and has a point to prove coming off the back of an uninspiring clay court season (minus the French Open).
Standing At The Threshold
The following two slams will go a long way to determining history, in the men’s draw, and establishing one, in the ladies. This could just end up, bearing in mind this is an Olympic year, being the most dramatic and defining seasons in the history of the sport. Damien Kayat
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EURO 2012
Football is a game played by gypsies and watched by gamblers. With yet another major tournament on the horizon we take a look at the European Championships through the eyes of a football junkie.
It’s
a fact well known to those that know it well that the European Championships is one of the toughest and most tightly contested tournaments in world football. There are no easy matches here. No small island nations making an appearance on the back of a wonderful qualifying campaign in the Oceania zone. These are the best that Europe has to offer, just qualifying is an achievement. The World Cup may have become a bit diluted in recent times, but the Euros remains just as fiercely contested as they ever were. The Championships will break new ground this year, heading to Eastern Europe for the first time in a move that has been questioned by many. The buildup to the games has been plagued by talk of racism, hooliganism and the odd topless protest. What worries me the most though, is that this tournament comes at the end of yet another draining European season, and as witnessed in 2010, it certainly has an effect on the quality of football on display. But as they say, money never sleeps, and neither do footballers, unless it’s with their teammate’s wife. Back to the football though, where we can expect a special blend of excitement and unexpectedness, which makes this one of the best tournaments around, and also a damned hard one to bet on. Oh yes, you have your favourites, you always do, but that didn’t stop a bunch of confectioners from Greece taking the cup back to Athens. This is football, and in football you never know. There will be only one certainty this summer. John Terry will lift the trophy, even if he doesn’t kick a ball.
Find Me a Winner
Let’s start at the top why don’t we? Spain have been the bookies favourites for some time now, but I’m skeptical. No team has ever defended the Henri Delaunay trophy, which is not surprising given the strength of opposition on hand (or foot as it were). Spain will be looking for an unprecedented hatrick at major tournaments, but without Villa’s finishing and Puyol’s perm, they just don’t look the same team. Their brand of tiki-taka football has driven opposition players (Nigel De Jong) to shameless acts of violence in recent times, but they are beatable. With Ramos in the centre of defence and Torres upfront, they may win a beauty pageant, but football is not decided by good looks, just ask Franck Ribery. Their main contenders will be “Ze Germans”. They may not have the best history of winning things in Poland, but this group of ex-Turks, Poles and homegrown Germans have quite a formidable team. They tick all the boxes, but as we witnessed with Bayern Munich, that is not a surefire recipe for success. If they make it out of a tough group, which they will, there is no reason why they can’t emulate the team of ’96 and become European champions. After falling just short at their last 3 major tournaments, questions will be asked of their big match temperament, I just don’t know if they’ll have all the answers. The other big name team in Group B, Netherlands will enter the tournament with a point to prove. Widely condemned following the World Cup final for their ultra-violent tactics, this bunch of droogs will hopefully make a return to the total football that won them supporters the world over. They were near perfect in the qualifiers, but they do find themselves amongst esteemed company in the group stages,
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Football meaning a slip-up against Portugal or Denmark could prove costly. How the English are fourth favourites I’ll never know. Half their squad is in the casualty ward and their only real footballer will miss the first two games of the tournament. Throw in an owl for a manager, a smattering of Liverpool players, a race-war and you’ve got a team that could very well be catching the early flight home. Expect typical English football, full of industry, crunching challenges, screaming and pointing. It’ll all end in tears though, with a missed penalty or an errant red being blamed for the demise rather than their lack of quality across the park. I really like the look of this French team. Gone are the mutineers from the 2010 World Cup, with Le Sulk kicking his heels in the esteemed Chinese Premier Division. Laurent Blanc has brought much-needed discipline and structure to this talented bunch of footballers, and provided Karim Benzema can stay fit they could go all the way here. They have about as much depth as a paddling pool though and injuries could easily curtail their chances. This is a new generation of French footballers, and I for one am looking forward to seeing them perform on the biggest stage. Then there are the others. For various different reasons they aren’t fancied to go very far, but it is that very reason that they can never be discounted. Everyone loves a dark horse, and they are scattered throughout the Euros. Poland, backed by a partisan crowd doing the Poznan should find themselves in the knock-outs, and from there it’s anyone’s game. Also in their group, the Russians have shown a capability on the big stage with a semi-final appearance in 2008. And then of course you can never discount the Italians, who may bore you to tears, but they do know tournament football like no other.
The Auld Onion Bag
Along with the winner, everyone always wants to know who’ll finish top-scorer. The choices are many, but there is value to be had all around. The favourite is Mario Gomez, who will undoubtedly lead the line for Germany, as he looks to shake off the demons of his Champions League Final ‘mare and blast the Germans to another major championship. Looking down the list, two players have caught my eye. Karim Benzema will be the focal point of the French attack and with the likes of Nasri, Ribery and Cabaye providing the artistry and vision from midfield, he could be heading back to France with a golden boot in his duffel bag. Provided of course that he and his wingman Franck Ribery can stay away from the gluttony of Ukrainian wenches. Now I’m a big believer that host countries are at a huge advantage during major tournaments, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see Poland making it deep into this tournament. Their hopes and dreams are solely placed on the shoulders of Robert Lewandowski. The lanky Polish frontman has had a stellar season in Germany where he won the league and cup double with Dortmund. As much as 100/1 just a couple months back, he still seems worth a dabble at 20/1. Poland have themselves perhaps the easiest groups, so get on him early because that 20/1 ain’t going to be around for long. Commodore Vegas @CommodoreVegas
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Poland couldn’t have gotten an easier group if they had picked it themselves. But heed my warnings, nothing is cut and dry at this tournament. Each one of the teams in this group will have aspirations of finishing top and avoiding a potential meeting with Germany in the quarterfinals. The Russians are favourites to finish top and should be difficult to beat given their impressive defensive performances in qualifying. They’ll look to soak up the pressure and hit teams on the counter with the likes of Dzagoev and Arshavin offering them pace and guile out wide. The Greeks may as well be coached by a bus driver as their tactics will include a London double-decker and a fridge stocked full of baklava. It won’t be pretty. The Poles, as host nation are expected to progress from this group, and look worth a punt at 5/2 to finish top of the pile. As for the Czech’s, they look a team passed their sell-by date, with the infuriating Milan Baros leading the line for them. Just as irritating is their scrum-capped keeper who will need to be at his best if they are to get out of the group stages.
Summary: I wouldn’t expect too many goals in this group considering these teams defence-minded approach to the game. The Russians and the Poles should progress here, but don’t turn your backs on those greasy Greeks, they are not to be trusted.
Group A Winners Russia Poland Czech Greece
13/10 5/2 37/10 42/10
Group C is bound to throw up a few surprises. It has all the ingredients necessary for drama, with the current and former World Champions joined by the crafty Croatians and the plucky Irish. The defending champions seem a bit short on firepower and they won’t have it all their own way, with the astute Italians challenging them for top spot. Chelsea proved this season, that tiki-taka football is beatable, so I’d be wary about backing them to go all the way again. Italian coach Cesare Prandelli will have to keep an eye on the volatile Mario Balotelli, who has already threatened to kill anyone who should choose to throw a banana at him on the street. The Croatians have reason to be quietly confident, with Luka Modric proving the ace in their pack. If Nikica Jelavic can continue the form he showed at Everton towards the back-end of the season, they may be in with a chance of a quarter-final berth. Ireland have been given little to no chance in this group, but they also have reason to believe they can progress. They have beaten the Italians twice in recent years, and with their own Italian tactician at the helm, they could spring a surprise or two.
Summary: I’m going to take the easy way out here, by tipping Spain and Italy to go through. If anyone was to prove me wrong it would be the Croatians, with the Irish lacking the quality to challenge Europe’s elite.
Group C Winners Spain Italy Croatia Ireland
11/20 3/1 7/1 16/1
Top Goalscorer M. Gomez 8/1 R. Van Persie 9/1 K. Benzema 12/1 C. Ronaldo 14/1 K. Jan-Huntelaar 18/1 F. Llorente 18/1 F. Torres 18/1 R. Lewandowski 20/1
If Germany are to win this tournament they are going to have to do it the hard way. This group is perhaps one of the toughest I’ve ever seen at a major tournament. All four teams find themselves in the world’s top 10 and making a first-round exit would be considered a failure for whoever should suffer that fate. Germany are group favourites and rightfully so having qualified with a perfect record. Portugal snuck in through the play-offs, but I expect them to head home with their tail between their legs. Theirs will be an acrimonious exit, with images of Cristiano Ronaldo wailing like a banshee beamed out across the globe. The Danes arrive with only one striker in their squad, and not a very good one at that. Nicklas Bendtner will lead the line for Morten Olsen’s team, so expect the head in hands pose to make an appearance or two. All eyes will be on Christian Eriksen though, with the young Ajax schemer tipped to light up this tournament. As for the Dutch, they certainly have the talent, but sometimes talent alone isn’t enough. Coach Bert Van Marwijk will have to teach Arjen Robben to pass the ball, otherwise it may be a long, or short tournament for the Oranje. Group C Winners
Summary: This group will be tighter than Benni McCarthy’s Pirates jersey, but I expect the big names to get through unscathed. The Germans should claim the not so vital top spot though, meaning a probable reunion with Poland in the quarters.
Germany 11/10 Netherlands 27/10 Portugal 42/10 Denmark 15/1
How are the English favourites to win this group? I imagine you find yourself asking the same question. There is no better bet in the first round than taking France for the group win here at a very generous 17/10. With Rooney twiddling his thumbs for the first two matches, the English are going to struggle for goals. For Ukraine, much will depend upon the aging legs of Andriy Shevchenko, which doesn’t inspire much confidence. They will have home advantage, which may be enough to see them through, but I wouldn’t bet on it. Sweden have an interesting mix of youth and experience and if their mercurial striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic shows up, he may just set the tournament alight. They do have a good record against the English having lost only once in their last 13 meetings. As I stated earlier, the French will be the team to beat amongst this bunch and should they get off to a winning start against the English, the group honours will be theirs for the taking. The English, well they are on a hiding to nothing here, with a group stage exit looming for the Three Lions.
Summary: France will win this group at a canter, while I expect Sweden to sneak through in second spot. Their meeting with England in the second round of matches could prove decisive, and with no Rooney, England will go crashing out.
Group D Winners England France Ukraine Sweden
16/10 17/10 9/2 6/1
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Golf
THE AMERICANS HAVE HAD THE RULE OF THE ROOST FOR MUCH OF THE LAST DECADE, BUT THAT HAS ALL CHANGED OF LATE. WITH A NEW CROP OF EUROPEAN STARS ON THE RISE, THERE’S BEEN A CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT THE TOP. THE WORLD’S BEST DESCEND ON THE OLYMPIC CLUB FOR THE US OPEN THIS MONTH AND FEW WOULD BET AGAINST ANOTHER EUROPEAN RAINING ON THE YANKS PARADE.
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Golf
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s a golf fan, there are few tournaments that one anticipates more than the US Open. Throughout the year we are consistently treated to two tournaments a weekend and as an added bonus the differing time zones in Europe and America make it possible to literally watch golf 24 hours a day, Thursday to Sunday. However, as much of a treat as that may be, the feeling of watching some lesser known player drain a winning putt in the Justin Timberlake Open pales in comparison to watching one of the maestro’s of the game sink the winning
Tiger Woods: From Hero to Zero
What sets golf apart from a majority of competitive sports is that it is an individual game. When a player is out on the course he may receive assistance and input from his caddie, but that is it. This is not rugby or football, where a lacklustre performance by an individual or two can be negated by a solid showing by the rest of the team. In golf a poor day or even a single poor shot is heavily penalised and time and time again we witness a player string together three great rounds, only to blow up during the fourth, leaving his dreams in tatters. On the other hand, those who have the capacity to get on top and stay there are richly rewarded and, unlike the Chelsea team, don’t run the risk of having John Terry hop on the podium and steal their trophy, pay cheque and wife. Here mental strength is of the utmost importance and for over a decade there was one man whose ability to keep a cool head and get the job done stood out from the rest of the pack, Tiger Woods. Since 2000 Tiger dominated the game like no other and say what you will about the past greats, none of them dealt with the competition Tiger did. His record is one that will more than likely not be equalled in the modern version of the game as a host of young players have broken onto the scene and will make it impossible for a single player to dominate the way Tiger used to. His record in the US Open is astounding; three wins in eight years in the toughest competition out there cannot be ignored. Despite the fact that his reputation has now been tarnished beyond repair as details of his private life shocked the sports world, golf fanatics cannot ignore the contribution he made to the game. Few other sportsmen were as respected as he was and he encapsulated everything that professional golf is about. Fortunately for the other golfers out there, he is not the player he used to be and this has opened the door for others to step up and make a name for themselves.
putt in a Major. Each of the four majors are popular for their own reasons and the US Open is no different. What makes this one special is that it is very, very difficult for a player to shoot a low score. Why do you think the golfing world was turned on its head last year when Rory McIlroy shot a winning score of 268 (-16)? Consider that in 2006 and 2007 the winning score was +5, what he did should have been impossible. In a tournament characterised by long fairways, high cut rough and undulating greens there is no-one who could have predicted such a strong performance from the young man from Northern Ireland and when he lifted that trophy the entire golfing world knew they had just witnessed something special. Traditionally the world’s best have won this one, and the last twelve years have seen some of the biggest names in golf etched on the trophy. Since 2000 the only real upset I can think of was when Michael Campbell won in 2005 and perhaps when Geoff Ogilvy won in 2006, but even then Ogilvy was a hot young prospect so it wasn’t a shock win. Apart from that, the likes of Tiger Woods and South Africans Retief Goosen and Ernie Els have dominated and won five between them. South African golf fans will always have fond memories of this one. In 1994 Ernie Els broke the American dominance of the tournament with an impressive win at Oakmont and managed to repeat the feat again in 2007, when he won at Congressional. Then in 2001 and 2004 Retief Goosen stamped his authority on the game and became only the second non-American to win here in 22 years. So do the math, in the 22 years between 1982 and 1994 there were only two players not from the United States to win this and both were from South Africa.
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A New Era
Since Tiger fell off the scene the golfing world has had the opportunity to watch as the game and this tournament have become increasingly competitive. When Lucas Glover won in 2009, the United States celebrated as one of their own ensured the trophy would remain on their shores. Then came Graeme McDowell in 2010 and the European golf contingent went wild as the first European player since Tony Jacklin in 1970 lifted the trophy. One can only imagine the hangover suffered by members of golf clubs in Northern Ireland as the very next year another of their home grown talents, Rory McIlroy, broke all sorts of records to blow away the competition.
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“When he lifted that trophy the entire golfing world knew they had just witnessed something special.“
“Tiger has shown no reason why he should be considered 2nd favourite here.”
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“I’ve yet to see anyone walking the streets in a t-shirt with Bubba Watson’s face on it.”
Watson’s face on it and unless worth your while, with a couple of tips. I run into Molly Watson in the First off, Rory McIlroy is favourite and at 8/1 near future I can’t imagine it offers little value. Yes, he can win it but in a field will ever happen. With golf that consists of the world’s best, 8/1 makes no betting we follow our heads, appeal to me. Then Tiger Woods (12/1) is second as our judgement is not favourite. This is the real humdinger that has left clouded by blind loyalty to me scratching my head and it is not the first time a team. Secondly, the prices it has happened this year. . What has he done this What does this mean though? Does it reflect the offer immense value and season to show he can mix it up with the world’s improvement in the standard of the game across Europe although finding the winner may prove best? He won the Arnold Palmer? Well done Tiger. or was it a flash in the pan which will only be repeated difficult, when you manage to do it you Apart from that he managed a dismal T40 in both in another 40 years? In my mind that’s what makes this are richly rewarded. This isn’t football, the Masters and the Players and managed to miss year’s tournament so interesting. As a South African, closer where your winning bet on United returns the cut in the Wells Fargo Championship that was affiliated to Europe than the States, I know that I will be little to nothing and I promise no-one in wedged between, yet despite this bookies cannot hoping for another European winner but that remains to the world is going to pat you on the back find it in themselves to finally give it up and start be seen and honestly, I can’t wait to see how this year’s when you back them to beat Swansea. This offering a price that looks at least semi-decent on Since the news the under-performing philanderer. It’s sickentournament pans out. is golf, and when you find a winner I can guarantee that the feeling of pride you feel broke of his numer- ing. The really sad part is if he does manage a ous indescretions in A betting perspective will cause you to boast in person and via miraculous win, those who back him will leave 2009, Tiger Woods Now what use would all this reading be to you if you every social media outlet you have at your has managed only feeling robbed. didn’t get at least some betting advice from it? I’m disposal. That feeling of pride will come one win in 28 starts. The rest of the field looks about right as the presuming that most of you bet to make money. I know from the fact that you beat the odds, and That win came at likes of Westwood, Donald, Mahan and Watson the Arnold Palmer find themselves in and around the top of the betI certainly do. Often this becomes tricky when our teams through the use of your knowledge of the Invitational earlier ting whilst those with a chance but who have yet come up against stiff competition and despite our gut intricacies of the game managed to defy this year. to really kick into gear this year find themselves feeling that the game is one to stay away from, we go the bookies and claim a handsome reward. ahead and throw a unit or two on them anyway. Then they For years to come you will remember around the middle. The real value lies in the likes lose and the disappointment of the loss is exaggerated watching your player drain that putt and of Schwartzel, McDowell and Van Pelt who are by the fact that had we not bet we could have brought a as an added bonus you’ll be able to watch hovering around the 50/1 mark and this is where I shirt, or a TV, or a house with that money. future tournaments on the sexy 50 inch flat will be looking. I suggest you do the same. As I see it, golf offers an attractive betting option for two screen you purchased with your winnings. main reasons. Firstly, a financial loss is not accompanied Matt Cee by that feeling of complete disappointment that goes @Matt_Cee The 2012 US Open Betting hand in hand with your team suffering defeat. I’ve yet to Now that I’ve subjected you to a ceaseless see anyone walking the streets in a t-shirt with Bubba array of opinions, let me make this all
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Just The Tip
This month sees a renewal of the Anglo-Boer conflict as the English return to these shores to take on a Springbok side in the midst of a regime change. It’s a return to tradition in more ways than one. The New Springbok coach fits the bill of traditionalist down to a tee and he is expected to return the Boks to a tried and trusted Blueprint. Is that the way forward in a game of ever-changing law changes? Well turn the page and find out.
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his piece could’ve been titled “Why I hate the English” and list 101 reasons why I despise them so. However, I have been urged to give a fair and objective preview of the South Africa versus England Test Series. Despite that, my prediction is for the Poms to lose 5- 0 on tour. The Boks will win the test series 3-0 and I can’t see the tourists winning their two midweek games either. Now let me explain why.
Although the majority of the squad went to the 2011 World Cup, they spent most of their time tossing dwarves around and getting their heads rubbed in the cleavage of their ex-girlfriends. As much as I despise the Poms, you have to acknowledge them for their love of a good old fashioned scandal. I’m sure they would have taken many life lessons out of that experience, but I seriously doubt that they learnt anything rugby wise. And that’s perfect for the men in Green & Gold. There’s no doubt that the Boks were robbed against Test rugby is all about playing winning rugby, no frills, the Aussies in the World Cup. We all know how Bryce no fuss, just making sure you get the desired result in Lawrence shafted us and I’m sure if we hadn’t been 80 minutes. This comes down to the quality of players playing against 16 men, we would have gone on to win the coach has at his disposal and the depth he has in the semi-final and the final and keep our rightful title his squad. With Heyneke Meyer being appointed as as World Champions. But that’s just me. Since then, we head coach of the national team, he inherits a squad have seen a lot of movement in the Springbok setup, brimming with experience, quality and natural born Pieter De Villiers was given the golden handshake, winners. His counterpart, Stuart Lancaster, is in a John Smit, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Guthro Steencompletely different boat. His squad resembles that of kamp have all retired from the international game and Club XV. Jaque Fourie has made himself unavailable for the Make no mistake; Lancaster has done a fine job since next two years. Losing those 5 players, along with the taking over from Martin Johnson. He has restored some unavailability of Fourie, would cripple any international credibility in the English game since their no show at side. However, the Springboks aren’t just any side. One the World Cup. The problem for him is that he brings a only has to look at the players replacing them to see squad to the Republic looking short of experience. Toby why. Bismarck Du Plessis comes in for Smit, Andries Flood, who looks like he would be asked for ID at a bar, Bekker for Matfield, Eben Etzebeth for Botha and then is the most experienced player in the touring group you have the likes of Juan de Jongh, Francois Steyn and with 46 caps. Pat Lambie all queing up to take over from Mr Fourie. I
think we can safely assume that the Boks will win the series, but the biggest question at the moment is who will be in Heyneke Meyer’s run on XV? If it was up to me, I would select the Sharks 22 that did duty against the Stormers on the weekend, however, this article wouldn’t get published and I wouldn’t get paid, so to please all of you, let’s go through the form players that should be selected:
Loosehead
The Beast. There’s no doubt that the big number 1 has evolved into one of the best scrummagers in the modern game and he will be the rock around which Heyneke Meyer will pick his tight forwards. Add in his handling skills and running game, and the Beast is a shoe-in for the number one jersey. With CJ Van Der Linde more intent on munching on Australian flesh these days, this opens the door for Coenie Oosthuizen and Dean Greyling to pick up splinters on the bench.
Hooker
Bismarck du Plessis would have been one of the first names the new coach would have penciled in. John Smit did a fantastic job in leading the Boks from the number 2 jersey for the last 6 years, but there is no doubt that the man taking over from him has been the best hooker in world rugby for some time now. He does the basics better than any, he is one of the top ball pilferers in the Super 15 and his ball carrying ability is top notch. Bizzie is the complete player and any coach in the game would have him in their run-on side. Adriaan Strauss should be his understudy, but this is South Africa and sometimes the wrong decision is made when it comes to team selection. This opens the door for Chilliboy Ralepelle, again.
Tighthead
Jannie, the other two plus three, will be handed the starting spot and the good doctor deserves it. Meyer is a coach intent on continuity and with the Beast and his brother lining up with him week in and week out at the Sharks, there’s no reason to break them up.
Second Row
I like a mix of youth and experience and as you would have just seen, I also like clichés. So, here’s my mix of young and old: Eben Etzebeth and Andries Bekker are my selections for the 4 & 5 jersey. Etzebeth has been the find of 2012. Rynhardt Elstadt was talked up as being the next “enforcer” in South African rugby a few months ago, but Etzebeth has given him a solid back hand and taken that title away from him. His rise to prominence has been dramatic and he has been the standout tight lock in Super Rugby. He should be handed his first Test cap in this series and expect him to partner his Stormers team mate, Andries Bekker, in the second row against the tourists. Bekker’s form has been a little iffy of late, but there’s no doubting his quality and as they say, form is temporary, but class is permanent and that gives me another cliché.
Loose-Trio
With Schalk Burger and Juan Smith out for the foreseeable future, this opens the door for a few of the young
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“I’m going for the most exciting player in the game, the player with the X factor, the man with the tightest shorts in Pretoria, Francois Hougaard.” guns to show if they can cut it at the top level. My back row would look a little like this, Pierre Spies at 8, Willem Alberts at 7 and Marcel Coetzee, being the bolter at 6. With the Boks losing Bakkies Botha, they lose a lot of their muscle. Alberts has rightfully earned the nickname of “the bone collector” and he provides the grunt that every pack needs to get go-forward ball. Spies is a favourite of Meyer’s and since he has been given the captaincy armband at the Bulls, his game has got back to level that made him one of the most dangerous runners in the game. Coetzee has shown since the Currie Cup that he can adapt to the big stage. He always gets over the advantage line, can jump at the tail of the lineout and is more than capable at the breakdown. Plus, he tapes his ears like Corne Krige used to and I know we would all like to see him show his inner-Krige and knock one of the Poms out cold.
Scrumhalf
With all the talk being around whether Fourie du Preez will be handed the Springbok captaincy, it seems as if everyone has forgotten about a certain Bulls number 9. Seeing as this is my Springbok team and I like all things young, I’m going for the most exciting player in the game, the player with the X factor, the man with the tightest shorts in Pretoria, Francois Hougaard. I’ve never really known what the X factor is exactly, I googled it and saw that it’s a singing show in America that was won by some obese man with curly hair. I don’t know how good Hougaard’s singing ability is, but I do know that he is the one player who can change the course of a test match. He would be one of the first
players I select and I hope like hell Heynecke Meyer sees it this way too. Expect to see FDP starting at 9 for the Boks with Hougaard warming his buttocks on the bench.
Mvovo’s pace and try scoring ability has made him one of the most dangerous players in Super Rugby and Pietersen has never let the Green and Gold down, plus he plays for the Sharks. Pat Lambie, will start at fullback as his kicking and running game will suit the Flyhalf pattern that the Boks are likely to employ. On a side I have always been a fan of Morne Steyn’s. When this note, if I have to hear Andy Capogstagno mention one guy is on song, no other kicking flyhalf comes close. more time that he comes from Michaelhouse, I might Looking back at all successful international teams of throw up. the past, there’s one thing that keeps popping up, a The English have a huge task ahead of them. Looking goal kicker with an 80% success rate. Steyn is the man through the players that have been made available to that should be a pivot until Johan Goosen comes back Heyneke Meyer, he could pick a Springbok B side and from injury. Elton Jantjies seems more intent on getting still get the desired result. Frans Steyn, Ruan Pienaar, himself another ridiculous haircut, than putting in Gio Aplon, Heinrich Brussow and Bryan Habana are consistent performances. Steyn is consistent; Jantjies all world class players and will feature in the series can’t spell consistent, so that makes Morne the man to at some stage. Meyer and his team will get their bury the Poms. campaign off to the perfect start and I can’t wait to hear what excuses the Poms come up with at the end Centres of the series. I’m a big fan of Jean De Villiers and Juan de Jongh. Both players know their way to the try line and their defence Blueski Palooski is rock solid. With Jaque Fourie deciding that money is @BlueskiPalooski more important than playing for your country, the time has come for de Jongh to cement his spot at 13. De Villiers continues to deliver quality performances and Click don’t see why these two can’t become one of the best pairings in the game. for the
Back Three
With the current Sharks wingers Lwazi Mvovo and JP Pietersen both in vintage form of late, you would think that they would be a shoe-in for my XV, and they are.
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Oh well, oh well.
The clouds have gathered and a storm is brewing. Those who surive the storm will be crowned the best test playing nation in the world, and according to our cricket mad writer, that’s all that really matters, don’t it?
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What have we here? Surely it must be a cricket feast for sore eyes? Allow me to put down my cigarette and raise my glass in appreciation of the mouth-watering encounter we have in store. The two top test nations in the world will meet in the country that birthed the game, both having emerged from the fractured early-2000s to surge ahead as the leaders in the test arena. The English reign supreme, whilst the South Africans currently play second-fiddle. A win for South Africa will usurp the English of their place at the top of the pile, which in my opinion; is the rightful berth of the Proteas. Oh, and on a side note, there are a few one-dayers and T20’s to boot. However, I doubt many of
you will care much about these cursory contests, as the real substance of this series is in the longer format. I’ll take you to the source. Unless, of course, you are a T20 World Cup aficionado, and it that case I can’t help you. You are too far gone. But I digress; nothing will get the old ticker racing quite like the test series we have in store. Are the South Africans ready to take their rightful place at the top of the test rankings, essentially, are they ready for England, in England? I would think that they are. And you will find out why in a minute. Reading is a process for the patient, and I urge you to bear with me while I make my point. England are at the top of the test
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“The South African’s intention will be to spread the legs of cricket’s homeland and defile it, by beating the English at their own game.” rankings for one reason, and one reason only, home form. South Africa are behind them for the exact same reason, except reversed. The English treat their hallowed turf as a fortress, and spout belligerent warnings to all who attempt to penetrate it. For England this is their comfort zone, their chastity belt. The South African’s intention will be to spread the legs of cricket’s homeland and defile it, by beating the English at their own game. Hum ho, how bitter it will be, the taste of the own medicine. The reason for the English success at home is that the conditions are tailor-made for their bowlers. This is no under-handed tactic; no slimy, sneaky, snake-like manoeuvre attributed to the brains of the reptilian
Queen. This is cricket man, they all do it. In India the pitches are low and slow and if you are a batsman, you will face a proliferation of spinners. Wickets in South Africa are generally hard and fast, like drug addicts and cheap women (though Kingsmead these days could be the equivalent of James May in a corduroy jacket). If you go there and are not prepared, the ball whistles past your face quicker than a carcass picked clean in the desert sun. In the same vein, when you travel to Old Blighty, you get clouds covering cool conditions which aid movement in the air and movement off the seam. Over recent years England have been the kings of pitch-it-up and swing it, and in the words of the pompous Mark Nicholas, “James Anderson is one of the
best there has been”. Oh Mr Nicholas, how I have news for you.
Steyn vs Anderson
We’ve all been subjected to the banal aural barrage of English commentators lauding their attack as the world’s best. James Anderson is the poster child for this well-worn rhetoric, the English cricketer of the year for 2011/12 greedily snatched the award right from the hands of the waiting Alistair Cook. Anderson truly is an incredible fast bowler, and in all the buffoons that pollute the English cricket team, he is one of my favourites. At the beginning of his career he was all over the place, like a cocker spaniel on speed, and on occasion looked the part. Old South African tearaway Nantie ‘Wayward’ Hayward must have chuckled sadistically at the proceedings, I know I did. However, grins of glee were to turn to grimaces of horror in 2010, when Anderson came of age. Equipped with an impeccable
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Cricket line and length and the ability to swing the ball back around a lamp post, Anderson became almost unplayable, especially in the land of his birth. There was only one man who could do what he did better, and he had been doing it for longer. His name was Dale Steyn. Steyn burst onto the South African scene with more pace than he knew what to do with. He bowled at a speed faster than that of Arjuna Ranatunga on his way to lunch, or Andrew Symonds powering through his first beer after training. He struggled to tame his blistering
these two venom-slingers and the rest of the world’s bowlers continues to grow. Currently he is embroiled in a series against the West Indies, so his figures may still improve, but not by much. He has 222 wickets in 55 tests (10 more than Steyn), at an average of 28.54. He has ten 5-wicket hauls and has claimed 10 wickets in a match on only a single occasion. Halt! you say. But that’s not fair! Anderson only grew a pair and stopped chucking down piles of rubbish in 2010. What do you say to that Maverick? How does your poison arrow fare now? Again I will supress a vitriolic rant and will let the numbers do the talking. Since January 2010, Anderson has 117 wickets at an average of 24.23. He has done this in 26 test matches over 50 innings, and even for this rude and brainless fascist, it is impressive. When you compare this to South Africa’s nuclear warhead, it is not far off. However, in this time, Steyn has claimed 100 wickets in 20 test matches over 38 innings at an average of 21.84. At that average, in 12 more innings, he would easily surpass Anderson. If that isn’t a statsgasm of victory, then I don’t know what is.
“I don’t know anybody, not even raving psychotics, who would take Stuart Broad over Vernon Philander.” nature into accuracy, but this came in time and with a tad more maturity. Since New Zealand visited South Africa in 2007, Steyn has been the most fierce and deadly fast bowler to hurl a spherical leather object through the air. He has since reduced Paul Collingwood to a jittery mess of a man and sent Craig Cumming to hospital, among many other achievements of a less vicious and bloodthirsty nature. The ability to pass 150 clicks regularly, coupled with pin-point line and length, mind-bending swing and hostile aggression, mixed together in a immaculate exhibition of pace-bowling. He is the fast and the furious. He is also the best on the test cricket block. Kind reader, if you don’t believe me, look at the stats. As Doctor Thompson once put it, sportswriters are “a rude & brainless subculture of fascist drunks” who are “more disgusting by nature than maggots oozing out of the carcass of a dead animal”. We cheat and gamble our way through life and if Thompson is to be believed, we are not the most reliable bunch. Dear reader, I may not be one to be trusted. But numbers, they do not lie. From the beginning of 2007, Steyn has 240 wickets in 45 tests at an incredible average of 21.48. In this time he has no less than fifteen 5-fors and has claimed 10 wickets in a match four times. This is far and wide better than any of the comparative sub-humans that surround him. Mr Anderson brings up the rear in what is essentially a two horse race, as the distance between
Cracks in the Pitch
Now that my grudge with Nicholas is all but purged, the next step is to find a way to get him to read this. However, my patient audience, this is not your concern and I will not burden you with the details. Your motivation lies in the series ahead, which is South Africa’s for the taking. I have had my beady eye trained from behind my glass on the current series between England and the West Indies, and in terms of the top test nation, I am not convinced. The English top order has remained typically resolute and their captain with the hit-me face, Andrew Strauss, has found a return to form. His smug air of superiority and weasel-like attributes inspire inside me a rage that all the camomile tea in the world could not quell, but he is scoring runs for a change. Their middle to lower order (which is so reputable, you know) have struggled against bowlers a shade of the quality of what the South Africans will storm their shores with. England still struggle to fill
the elusive number six position and their latest recruit is a silly looking ginger boy who looks iffy against the short ball. Bairstow will not last. How could they even deal with the logistics of having him on tour? If you took him out for a training session on the beaches of Durban or the Caribbean he would more than likely burst into flames like a vampire. Against the Windies, Broad has been the chief destroyer, looking far more dangerous than Anderson, who in the first test, actually battled to swing a ball. Swann has not looked particularly threatening, even against the West Indies ramshackle batting line-up, and once again the English are on the hunt for a proper first-change. Despite his test match winning record, I don’t believe Bresnan will be good enough against the Proteas and they should get rid of him. The man that should be warming up for South Africa against the West Indies is Steven Finn. Tall and lanky, the ball emerges from the clouds in a heady potion of pace and steepling bounce and his slightly shorter length would provide the necessary variation in an English attack that is becoming all too predictable. In terms of the best bowling attack in the world, I feel that award would go to the South Africans, not the English. You have already been shown how my allegiance lies with Steyn over Anderson, and I don’t know anybody, not even raving psychotics, who would take Stuart Broad over Vernon Philander. The quickest to 50 wickets in over 100 years, with the uncanny knack of pitching it in just the right place and doing just enough with the ball, he attacks the stumps relentlessly and in England, he will be nightmare to face. After the English batsmen see off these two livewires, there is Morne Morkel waiting to hurt them. He is in some fearsome form, taking the most wickets in the IPL on slow Indian tracks. The only advantage the English have here is in the spin department. But in England, it is the seamers who will do the damage.
Ready for Glory
Since South Africa were gifted their golden ticket back into world cricket, they have made the voyage to gloomy England on four separate occasions. Two of these series were drawn, and the others were shared at one apiece. The last time the Proteas were there, in
THE STATS DON’T LIE: STEYN VS ANDERSON IN TEST CRICKET TESTS
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WICKETS 272 BOWLING AVERAGE 23.18 ECONOMY RATE 3.39 STRIKE RATE 40.9 BEST FIGURES 7/51
17 10 WICKETS IN A MATCH 4
5 WICKETS IN AN INNINGS
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267 WICKETS 30.05 BOWLING AVERAGE 3.14 ECONOMY RATE 57.2 STRIKE RATE 7/43 BEST FIGURES 12 5WICKETS IN AN INNINGS 1 10 WICKETS IN A MATCH
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“Sport has become the ultimate reality show for the sadomasochist, as politics and money continue to blight almost all forms of every game.” 2008, they took the series 2-1 in a historic victory for the fat captain. This is around the time that England were beginning to make their charge up the test rankings and Graeme Smith, well pleased with the success, began to make his charge on the pastries. It doesn’t matter sir, the important thing is that he was there, as were most of the Proteas squad likely to make the trip in July. Smith, Amla, Kallis, De Villiers, Boucher, Morkel and Steyn were all a part of that historic tour, and don’t you be forgetting it in a hurry. I’m not finished. Like an internet hacker or agent provocateur, the South Africans have been infiltrating the English from the inside. Proteas opening batsman Alviro Petersen has been plying his trade with Essex this season, and has played for Glamorgan in the past. His short season has not proved earth-shattering, but he did rack up an impressive 145 against his former teammates. Jacques Rudolph has been playing for Surrey, where he has been consistent with the bat, a sprinkling of half-centuries but no centuries to date. The first test will also be played at the Oval, Surrey’s home ground. Vernon Philander has been playing for Somerset and troubling all batsmen that have the ill
fortune of facing him. The way he is bowling at the moment, I would rather be doused in gasoline and set alight than face him in the test arena, partnered by the world’s best, Dale Steyn. He has two 5-fors already in his short stint in the county game, and all those who thought he would not adapt to English wickets, I implore you to think again.
Thank You, and Farewell
In this foul year of our lord, 2012, the Proteas may be the only beacon of light. Sport has become the ultimate reality show for the sadomasochist, as politics and money continue to blight almost all forms of every game. It is not as if this is new, it has always been this way, but in contemporary society the stakes are higher. Why would the Proteas be a ray of sunshine you ask? Only because I support them, and those I support never win. This piece may have been bias to the point of rebuke, but check the facts, I’m not wrong. Come July 19th, I will sit back, relax, and rub my hands with glee as the English aimlessly gamble about like the rabbits that they are. When Smith accepts the Basil
D’Oliveira Trophy, I will revel in Strauss’ dismay as the Proteas make the English cry like a bunch of disgraced televangelists. But that’s enough for now, time is fleeting and I have used the last arrow in my quiver of whimsy. Rather I leave this in the hands of you, esteemed reader, and you do with it what you will. But when you are watching the English reeling, gasping for air and searching for their collective gum guard, just remember that Maverick told you it would be so. Maverick White @IAMaverickWhite
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Sporting Calendar Here’s some sporting action to keep you warm this winter
Cricket
Other Eng vs WI ODI Series 16 - 22 June 2012 Various, England
Daily News 2000 2nd June 2012 Greyville
SL vs Pak ODI Series 7 - 18 June 2012 Various, Sri Lanka
Rising Sun Gold Challenge 9th June 2012 Clairwood
Zim, SA & Bang Tri-Series 18 - 24 June 2012 Harare, Zimbabwe
Tour De France 30 June - 22 July 2012 France
Eng vs Aus ODI Series 29 June - 10 July 2012 Various, England SA vs Eng 1st Test 19 July - 23 July 2012 The Oval, London
Rugby Australia v Wales 9 - 23 June 2012 Various, Australia N Zealand v Ireland 9 - 23 June 2012 Various, New Zealand South Africa v England 9 - 23 June 2012 Various, South Africa IRB Junior World Champs 4-22 June 2012 Stellenbosch, South Africa Currie Cup 11 August - 27 October 2012 Various, South Africa
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Vodacom Durban July 7th July 2012 Greyville Click for the latest AntePost Betting
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Mercury Sprint 14th July 2012 Clairwood London Olympics 27 July - 12 August 2012 London, England Click for the latest olympic betting
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Canon Gold Cup 28th July 2012 Greyville United States Moto GP 29 July 2012 Laguna Seca British Grand Prix 13-14 July 2012 London
Golf US Open 14 -17 June 2012 Olympic Club, California BMW International Open 21 - 24 June 2012 Gut L채rchenhof, Germany
Formula 1 Canadian GP 10th June 2012 Le Circuit GillesVilleneuve, Montreal
European GP 24th June 2012 Valencia Street Circuit, Valencia British GP 8th July 2012 Silverstone, Milton Keynes
Hungarian GP 29th July 2012 Hungaroring, Budapest German GP 22nd July 2012 Hockenheimring, Hockenheim
AT&T National 28 June - 1 July 2012 Congressional CC, USA John Deere Classic 12 - 15 July 2012 TPC Deere Run The Open Championship 19 - 22 July 2012 Royal Lytham and St Annes, UK WGC Bridgestone Inv. 2-5 August 2012 Firestone Country Club
Football
Tennis French Open 28 May - 10 June 2012 Roland Garros, Paris
EURO 2012 8 June - 1 July 2012 Ukraine & Poland Olympic Football 25 July - 11 August 2012 London, England 2014 World Cup Qualifiers 9 - 10 June 2012
Aegon Championships 11 June - 17 June 2012 Queens Club, London Wimbledon 25 June - 8 July 2012 Wimbledon, London Mercedes Cup 9 July - 15 July 2012 Stuttgart, Germany Olympic Tennis 28 July - 5 August 2012 Wimbledon, London
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