SEEN Sport Magazine Issue No. 4

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BARCELONA YOUTH ACADEMY

WILFRID KAPTOUM | DON KING| DELON ARMITAGE | SUPERBOWL | ASIAN CUP | HUGO DIXON

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ISSUE

elcome to SEEN Sport Magazine. Building on the success of issue 3 we have made a special effort to bring our readers a diverse selection of captivating photo features and exclusive in-depth exclusive interviews.

We traveled to Spain to shoot our cover story, a rare photographic insight inside the state of the art Barcelona youth academy at the Joan Gamper Sports city. After a truly memorable weekend we were blessed to witness the skill and the unique philosophy that has made La Blaugrana the crowning glory of world football.

SEEN

Several months of emails, phone calls, hard work and perseverance paid off when we managed to secure time to talk to one of sports most iconic figures, the larger than life boxing promoter Don King. We discuss his return to big time boxing in 2011, his hopes of possibly promoting “The Rumble in the Jungle 2” and a host of other intriguing subjects.

With the Six Nations in full swing we caught up with Delon Armitage as he reveals his true feelings about being controversially banned by the RFU. Rob Tringali captures all the action at America’s biggest sporting event “The Super Bowl” and Qatar confirms it has earned the right to host the 2022 FIFA world Cup as Japan win a compelling Asian Games.

We would like to thank everybody who helped make this issue possible and for sharing in our belief that there is always room for an independent point of view and creative sports photography.

With special thanks to Steve Tomkins and the family of Hugo Dixon.

SEEN Team

Publisher - Cleva Media Tel: +44 (0)208 133 8696 www.seensportmagazine.com Editor - Karen Reid editor@seensportmagazine.com Picture Editor - Eoin Mundow pictures@seensportmagazine.com Art Director - Karen Reid Advertising Sales adsales@seensportmagazine.com Contact Cleva Media for all image licensing requests: pictures@clevamedia.com www.clevamedia.com

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INSIDE|SEEN 04

ASIAN CUP

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BARCELONA YOUTH ACADEMY

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DON KING

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SUPER BOWL

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Qatar welcomed the participants of Asian Games and displayed why it is becoming the destination of choice for many leading sporting events including the World Cup

Total Football takes precedents on an unforgettable sunny Saturday morning in Sant Joan DespĂ­. The future stars at the Barcelona youth academy welcome us and mesmerise

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Recognised as the world’s most successful and charismatic boxing promoter, Don King discusses the past, present and his big plans for the future in fascinating interview.

A stunning photo feature capturing all the drama and magic of the Super Bowl. The Green Bay Packers battle it out with The Pittsburgh Stellers in Dallas.

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DELON ARMITAGE

An exclusive in-depth no holds barred interview with the talented London Irish rugby star Delon Armitage and photo-shoot.

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HUGO DIXON

We celebrate the life of the much loved and respected independent photographer, showcasing some of the defining sports portraits that will live long in the memory.

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ASIAN CUP 2011

Ryoichi Maeda of Japan and Gu Ja-Cheol of South Korea and Yasuyuki Konno of Japan battle it out

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atar played host to the Asian Games with Japan prevailing as champions after an enthralling tournament. The country proved beyond doubt that it has the infrastructure, technology, passion and support of it’s people to succeed in welcoming the participants of the World Cup in 2022.

Photographer Matthew Ashton spent a month documenting the tournament and captured the unique spirit and cultural diversity of the games.

t during the semi final in the Al Gharafa Stadium in Doha, Qatar.

A Qatari woman reads an Arabic sports newspaper as football fever grips the nation.

Japan female fans dressed in traditional Kimono’s cheer on their team.

Harry Kewell of Australia, Hwang Jae-Won and Cha Du-Ri of South Korea compete for the ball during their Group C first-round match.

Mohamed Elsayed of Qatar celebrates with Talal Al-Blous after scoring a goal.

A dejected Tim Cahill of Australia reacts after Tadanari Lee of Japan scores the decisive winning goal during the final.

Khaled Muftah of Qatar fouls Shinji Kagawa of Japan during the quarter final match.

Japan’s captain, Makoto Hasebe

e, holds up the Asian Cup after his country’s extra-time victory over Australia in the Asian Cup Final

BARCELONA YOUTH ACADEMY

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ust like watching Barça destroy Real Madrid 5-0 in El Clasico, the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper is a sight to behold. The sports city, which is named after the founder of the club opened in June 2006 and cost 68 Million Euros. The state of the art facility is the training headquarters for the Barcelona first team and home of the world’s most successful football academy.

In 2009 the first team relocated to the sports city and under the guidance of Pep Guardiola won a historical treble. The move sparked a new synergy at the club, as the stars of the first team rubbed shoulders with the stars of the future.

The new “Masia” is due to open in June 2011 on the site at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper and will offer the residents vastly improved facilities. SEEN Sport magazine were invited to see why the success of today is assured for generations to come.

(Words & photos by Eoin Mundow)

Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper spans 13

5 grass pitches, 4 artificial grass pitches 2 press areas, 4 first aid areas & 1 dressi

36.839 M2 and is equipped with:

s, 1 multi-sport pavilion, 1 grandstand, ing room building.

Barcelona first team Coach Pep Guardiola

Quotes courtesy of FC Barcelona

LEADERS OF THE NEW SCHOOL Johan Cryuff proposed the blueprint for the Barcelona youth academy to then President Josep Núñez in 1979.

His ideology was based on his own experiences at the Ajax academy, which was the birthplace of “Total Football”.

Under Cryuff’s leadership the club flourished and this was the beginning of a golden age for the club. The Dutch master was also responsible for guiding and inspiring a young Pep Guardiola to become one of the finest midfielders of a generation.

As new era begins at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, FC Barcelona coach Guardiola is carrying on the fine work of his predecessors with the help of his assistants Tito Vilanova and Aureli Altimira. The trio, who all benefited from the youth academy when they were younger understood the need to embrace change. Having outgrown the facilities at the Masia, the first team joined the reserves and youth teams at the sports city. The unity and camaraderie that has been created as a result of the move has been invaluable within the club As I arrive at the ground I see a youth team match finishing in a resounding victory for La Blaugrana. After the match the young Barça players wave politely to their families from the pitch, graciously offer their condolences to the opposing team and head for the dressing rooms to shower.

As one set of pupils finish their work for the day, another youth team emerges onto pitch number eight and continue in the same vein securing a comprehensive win.

The style in which Barça play derives from a unique blend of “Total Football” and tiqui-taka traditional Spanish one

touch football. Fluidity, confidence whilst in possession, inter-changing positions and movement are essential components of mastering the technique and philosophy. No matter what the age or sex of the players the results are more often the same. They play with such exuberance and freedom that you are almost lost in a trance. The skill, control and composure instilled in all the youth teams from an early age, as young six years old are simply mesmerising.

As the proud parents and families cheer on their children, there is an unwavering sense of pride that resonates around the Joan Gamper sports city. Tito Vilanova explains why the new set-up at the Joan Gamper has been so beneficial; “When I trained at the Masia and the rest trained at the new Sports City, it could seem that reserve team players were a long way from the first team. That doesn’t happen now” “This close proximity between the first team and the youth squads is an added motivation for the young players.

It makes them see the possibility of reaching the first team one day. Being able to train in such open spaces gives a feeling of tranquility that is vital for our work”.

Barcelona’s youth system has often been imitated, but never replicated with the same success and saying “success breeds contempt” does not appear to apply to Barcelona.

Many football fans, clubs and managers may be envious of the skill and finesse that La Blaugrana display each time they step onto the pitch, but rarely will you find a true soccer fan that does not enjoy the style in which they play.

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FCB ALEVĂ? D v SAINTS B (13 - 0) The young wonder kid Labinot Kabashi or Labi as he is known to his teammates displayed a mesmerising array of skill, scoring four goals against Saints B. The young starlets of the Barca academy play such fluid football and ooze confidence as that they simply dissected their opponents at will. The players movement and understanding of the game is frightening at such a young age. It was truly awe inspiring to watch these Eleven year olds display similar skills to their heroes Messi, Xavia and Iniesta. Look out for Albert Portas, Daniel Molina, Luke SanllehĂ­, William Verdaguer, Alex Calatrava and of course Labinot Kabashi as these kids represent the future of FC Barcelona.

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THE CAMEROON CONNECTION Wilfrid Jaures Kaptoum was discovered by Samuel Eto’s private foundation. The project was launched by the former Barcelona striker in 2006 with the vision to offer talented children from his native Cameroon the opportunity to receive education, training and for the exceptionally gifted a chance to follow in the footsteps of the prolific “Indomitable Lions” captain.

The foundation has unearthed some magnificent football talent and Barcelona embraced the scheme, accepting several young players into their prestigious youth academy. Wilfrid Jaures Kaptoum is one of the latest sensations to light up the Cadet B side. He possesses all the attributes required to achieve his goal and break into the Barca first team in the future.

Blessed with great strength, vision and an unequivocal desire to compete, one can only watch in awe as he glides across the pitch demanding the ball, looking for an opportunity to penetrate the opposition’s defence. Always probing, an intelligent player, Kaptoum displays maturity beyond his years.

His goal scoring ability, tactical awareness and outstanding technique at set pieces makes him indispensable to the Cadet B team. At 14 years of age he’s still very young, but Wilfrid Jaures Kaptoum is a future Barcelona star in the making. Remember the name.

FC BARCELONA B V RAPITENCA (3-0) As the midday sun beats down in Sant Joan Despí and the temperature rises to 14 degrees, Barcelona’s Cadet B team get into their rhythm after a languid first half. The atmosphere becomes more upbeat as Adama Traore scores the opening goal and then the cracks start appearing in the Rapitenca defence, as they wilt under the pressure applied by this talented team. Mohamed Ouriachi adds to the score five minutes later and as the game draws to it’s conclusion a young Spanish forward called Sergio Buenacasa, who has impressed the club immensely in his first year at the academy emerges from the bench to clinch victory.

Wilfrid Jaures Kaptoum takes a corner

FC Barcelona Cadet B players emerge from the dressing room to face rival Rapitenca

DON KING

Much has been written and said about Don King. The infamous promoter has definitely courted controversy over the last 37 years and as a pioneer in the sport he is responsible for delivering some of the most memorable and highest grossing prize fights in boxing history.

Now at 79-years-old, the self-ordained “Godfather of Hip Hop” is fighting back the only way he knows how following the recent death of his beloved wife of 50 years, Mrs. Henrietta King.

In an exclusive interview we discuss Don King’s long and illustrious career as he returns to the forefront of boxing by promoting some of the defining fights of 2011 , showing no sign of slowing down in his quest to keep pushing boundaries and outshine his rivals .

Interview & words by Eoin Mundow Photos by David Martin-Warr /DKP

THE KING IS BACK 2011 looks like it could be a good year for Don King Productions. You are promoting possibly the new star of Heavyweight boxing in Odlanier Solis; does he have the skill and dedication to beat Vitali Klitschko and go on to unify the title?

Solis is a very good fighter, he is undefeated, he’s a Cuban gold medallist and he has every opportunity to beat Klitschko. So he has to go in there, dedicate himself, redouble his efforts and I think he will come out the victor - and once he gets that, you know the sky is the limit!

Having beaten David Haye already in the amateurs, is a fight between the two something you are keen to pursue should Solis beat Klitschko in Germany?

Definitely. I think he is a good fighter, Solis. Ahmet Oner bought him to me and made a partnership with me.

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Ahmet Oner seems to be very high on him. Solis is young, he’s strong and he has a great opportunity to win and solidify the title. I think it would be great! You have every chance to do that and it would revolutionise the sport of boxing because you will bring it back to internationalism. Whereas the Klitschko’s are just European fighters.

Do you still love the sport as much as when you promoted “The Rumble in the Jungle”? Does the fire still burn in you to promote boxing?

I promote people!! You know, this is what it is and boxing is my catalyst to bring them together, and the fire is always there because working together works. Working with people of all hues of the rainbow, every race, colour, creed and religion we can promote humanity, and boxing is life.

You know the ups and downs, the joys

and the sorrows, the anguish and the excitement and exhilaration. You have got to deal with your problems right before they are at hand. You can’t call time-out and send for a substitute, you can’t run out of gas, there ain’t a gas station in sight.

You must deal with your problems that confront you and be able to resolve them and move on. So this is what boxing is compared to life. So boxing is man-to-man, you know what I mean? So that means you have to deal whatever there is at hand. So, saying that, I want to continue to promote people and to find ways and means to be able to connect.

To be able to talk to them and to talk about you know, we are our brother‘s keeper and peace is the way rather than obstreperousness, divisiveness, hatred and all that type of stuff.

The quality of most pay-per-view

events has diminished; do you think promotional companies such as Oscar De La Hoya’s Goldenboy Promotions have underestimated the art of being a boxing promoter?

I think that fighters like Oscar De La Hoya, I applaud him for being there, but he is guilty of the very thing that he was complaining about when he was fighting!

He didn’t have the self-support, he didn’t have the substantiation, he didn’t have the enthusiasm that was out there, he thought he wasn’t given the people support that he richly deserved. Now in practice, he’s in the position, he is doing likewise.

The undercards, which I call co-features, leaves a lot to be desired. They underestimate people, so therefore they don’t give the people what they want. If you give the people what they want they will respond. So it’s a lot of hypocrisy that exists now in the promoters of today that didn’t exist in the promoters who were trying to get a promotion involving the people, promoting the people, talking to the people and giving them the excitement of a fight that had decision making qualities that would persuade vicariously the world on different things that they would do by transference.

That means you can use whatever your problem is and transfer it to the fight, get inspiration and go out and continue what you were fighting for.

They don’t have that today and I think that is one of the big things that is missing, so when I do come around and I get a promotion, I involve the community unity, I involve the people and I’ll give you the cliché that I have coined; “I’m a promoter of the people, for the people and by the people my magic lies in my people ties” Your mega shows in the nineties featuring Mike Tyson, Terry Norris, Julio Cesar Chavez, and Julian Jackson amongst others always had a tremendous undercard. Does any of the blame lie with the today’s fighters that compete in the main event that want to keep all the money, which means you can’t put on a decent undercard?

ODLANIER SOLIS

ODLANIER SOLIS Don King will be hoping that his new protégé Cuban Olympic gold medalist, Olandier Solis, can become the new jewel in his promotional crown.

Undefeated Solis challenges WBC Heavyweight World Champion, Vitali Klitschko, on March 21st at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany. The fight sold out within minutes of tickets going on

sale.

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Floyd Mayweather Jnr. Photo by Eoin Mundow

“HE IS A TERRIFIC FIGHTER AND IF WE EVER DO GET IT TOGETHER BELIEVE ME – HE WILL BEAT PACQUIAO!” That’s part of it. Greed has always been a part of it and a lot of them [the fighters] don’t want to recognise the fact that they are not Muhammad Ali, they are not a George Foreman, they are not a Roberto Duran, they are not a Sugar Ray Leonard, they are not a guy like Julio Cesar Chavez that can bring cultures and countries with them as a fan base.

So they demand these high amounts of money without being able to earn the mettle of what the other people have done.

They make the comparisons; you pay

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“A” to this one so you got to give me this when they are not even in the same ilk or class.

Those are problems you are going to have and you have to be able to talk to the fighters. But you have got to give the people what they want, because if the fight is the main event and turns out to be a dud or whatever, then you have got something else for them to see.

In Spring yourself and old rival Bob Arum will co-promote for the first time in five years when Miguel Cotto takes on Ricardo Mayorga. Are you enjoying working with Bob Arum? And do you think the two elder statesmen can show the younger promoters how it is done?

Well, the mere fact that we are together is already demonstrating that, ‘Lonesome Bob‘ as I call him.

It is a real pleasure and a privilege to be co-promoting with a real promoter.

He’s got what Merrill Lynch would say “A breed apart”.

So you know regardless of what can-

tankerousness, his idiosyncrasies, you do know that you have got a professional, and working together is a pleasure, creating the magic of excitement.

That is what we are doing and the undercard is superb. You got one lady who is fighting on there that got four to five pages in the New York Times, which is unheard of.

So you have to change why Bob Arum is comfortable in his state of mind, why Miguel Cotto will go out there and wipe out Mayorga. Ricardo Mayorga is his own enemy; he is the biggest opponent he has. The biggest opponent he has is Ricardo Mayorga not Cotto!

Mayorga can knockout Cotto but he can’t deal with himself, he will knock himself out!

So you have a provocative promotable fighter, the most promotable fighter is Ricardo Mayorga. So you have a champion that Arum is trying to groom to go back to Antonio Margarito and the rest of them, he has already laid his plans, so hopefully we can upset his plans on March 12th.

You are very close to Floyd Mayweather Jnr, is there any possibility of working together to give the boxing fans what they want – Mayweather v Pacquiao or is Al Haymon (Mayweather’s manager) a sticking point?

Well, you know Floyd Mayweather Jnr is the best fighter in the world, whether he is with me or without me. He is the best fighter in the world!

He leaves a lot to be desired in his public relations and his promotable skills with the people. In the PR war they are taking advantage of him because he is just a young kid from the ghetto, but he stands up for what he believes in and I admire and respect that in him. Hopefully one day we can get it, I don’t want the train to pass us by in the meantime. But he is a terrific fighter and if we ever do get it together BELIEVE ME – he will beat Pacquiao!

So I will go on record to say this guy will be the first to go over and applaud Pacquiao should he be victorious, but I don’t think so. But that is what makes it so exciting, that’s what makes it so big and Floyd just called me last night trying to get an airplane to fly him to Dallas for the Super Bowl.

All these things, those are nice conversations but we have to come together and come to grips of the reality of this business and make these things happen. So I’m looking forward to getting Floyd in there and getting squared away.

What was your biggest ‘coup de gras’ in signing a fighter?

Well, Muhammad Ali! You would have to say that because he was the beginning, he was at the top of his game when he came to me. To be able to get Muhammad Ali and have the relationship I had with him, the Greatest of all time. I coined a phrase; “Every knee must bend, every head must bow, every tongue must confess, thou art the greatest, the greatest of all time, Muhammad, Muhammad Ali!” Well we did that. We walked that walk we talked that talk. He was a people person and he was the only fighter that I knew who stood up four years in exile for a cause. If you don’t stand for

nothing, you don’t live for nothing.

Muhammad Ali was the people‘s champion and he not only talked the talk, he walked the walk in the prime of his career. There is no telling how good Muhammad Ali could have been.

History has recorded him as the greatest, but that is with four years absence at the prime and the peak of his career that he lost. If he had been fighting those other four years it would have been an addition to the greatest. So it will always be an unknown factor. If he is as good as he was with the four year layoff, what would he have been if he had the four years at the prime of his life to be fighting?

So I just love the man. I love what he stands for I love the people. Muhammad Ali was like the Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the end!

As arguably the most successful African American promoter in history, not only in boxing, you also promoted the Jackson’s’ Victory tour. Do you think you have inspired the new generation of entrepreneurs such as Jay-Z and P. Diddy?

You can ask them, but let me tell you

this. James Brown was the “Godfather of Soul”; Don King was the “Godfather of Hip Hop”!

We changed the game. The game used to be cup and hold, and hold tight and don’t let go.

So the thing here that you have to understand is we are like when Shakespeare and them were going round and playing on a ukulele or little banjo and they would tell the state of the union what all the rappers would tell the story of the community and the story of the ghetto, the stories and of the high profiling.

The same as they did in the time of King Louis in France and when Shakespeare and all of them were out there, the Bard of Avon telling the state and the nature of the people. What you are seeing in the revolution today was taking place years and years ago through songs, dance and entertainment and was the revolt of the persecution.

The love songs they came from pain and anguish, so we had to be able to fight. Don’t forget I took all the magicians to Africa; I took them across the world to a continent they held from

Muhammad Ali. Photo by Jeff Julian/Fightwire Images 29

DON KING FACTS 1. The Rumble in the jungle transmitted live and viewed by a staggering one billion people worldwide 2. Don King has promoted over 500 world championship fights.

3. Nearly 100 boxers have earned $1 million or more in Don King Productions-promoted fights.

4. Don King has promoted or co-promoted seven of the 10 largest pay-per-view events in history 4. Guaranteed Sugar Ray Leonard a $10 million purse to fight Roberto Duran in Montreal.

5. Promoted the Jackson Five’s Jackson’s Victory Tour in 1984.

6. Mike Tyson became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Muhammad Ali in 1986.

7. Don King sold HBO the rights for the heavyweight unification series for $26M. 8. First promoter to establish his own television network, the Don King Sports and Entertainment Network, in 1982.

9. Don King was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York in 1997.

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their ancestry ethnically. From BB King, James Brown, Sister Sledge, all of the song- writers and producers. I took them there to Africa and then again I took them to the “Thrilla in Manila”.

So it’s about history in the making, it’s about people. Music is the ribbon that ties humanity together no matter who you are, where you are or where you come from. Music ties that theme together. We put a little addition to Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and we added a little rhythm and blues and a little salsa.

It is the embodiment of what people are about in the struggle.

Without the struggle there is no progress.

Do you think it would be possible to do another “Rumble in the Jungle” or something similar? You mentioned the three-day music festival, would you be able to transfer that into the modern day for example with possibly Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Jay-Z? Well there is every possibility, every possibility, if we can get the stars to be a part of it and to be part of the people. We represent the masses not the classes; but we unify the masses and the classes.

Judge and yet ye not be judged, that is the theme. You know the only way I can know what you are thinking is by borrowing your eyeballs and walking in your shoes.

So we have to be able to deal with what is real and I think the promotions a possibility and I think it’s time that we should come together, working together works.

You are great friends with former President George W Bush. If you had to promote a prizefight between the George W Bush and President Obama, what would it be called? And who wins and why?

Well that has been the battle for 400 years. You know you have to understand that George Walker Bush was revolutionary too. He had a cabinet that not even members of his party could recognise, that he would be able to give people of colour positions of power and decision making. He had the most inter-diverse cabinet in history. No one had a diverse cabinet like George Walker Bush. He prepared the road for Obama; you know to come to pass. Obama truly is the greatest black president we’ve had in the history of our whole country and they compare him with circumstances that are incompatible.

It’s impossible to be compared with the ingredients, the embodiments and support, the built-in mechanisms of pain.

And by pain here is what I mean.

Obama is to blame for everything that happened from The Johnstown Flood, the Lindbergh kidnapping, World War II, for anything that has transpired in 200 years of our glorious nation.

Obama is the cause of it. You know what I mean?

So you have got to understand that dealing from those odds and from that perspective, you have got to understand that George Walker Bush was a revolutionary and Obama is the result of the revolution. So it’s a draw, a no contest.

Ha ha ha.. (Don King laughs) You would make a good politician.

I’m just calling it like it is.

Finally how would Don King like to be remembered?

I want to be remembered as a man who looks through the day for all

people to be clothed in dignity. I think now would be the time when all these people are fighting in the Middle East, I think my shot would be, if I was the governments of some of these countries, of which I am an ambassador of Israel and peace in the Middle East.

My shot would be to recognise the Palestinian state right now, while this crisis is going on and they recognise an Israel state and then come together, you know what I mean and be able to work together. You know just as I was going to do the peace fight in 1976 with Anwar Sadat, Menachem Begin with Jimmy Carter and then unfortunately Anwar Sadat got assassinated in a dress parade. We were going to do a big, big fight there for peace and we were going to work so that all the money went to the charity in the Middle East.

Anwar Sadat’s wife was heading it up and I think now as a gesture out of the blue, of all the fighting that is going on, the revolution that is going on in Egypt, I think it would be a move now for Israel and the United States to

come to grips with the Palestinian state. It would be a shockwave that would go through the Middle East and the rest of the world.

Like S.K.D is what we say in the ghetto, Something Kinda Different.

It would be a major coup if it could be worked out, that for peace and for working together and the manner of understanding love and wisdom and understanding. It would be something kind of wonderful!

“MUSIC IS THE RIBBON THAT TIES HUMANITY TOGETHER NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU COME FROM” 31

“JAMES BROWN WAS THE ‘GODFATHER OF SOUL’; DON KING WAS THE ‘GODFATHER OF HIP HOP’”

SUPER BOWL XLV

Nick Collins #36 of the Green Bay Packers return

Aaron Rodgers was instrumental in securing the Vince Lombardi trophy for the Green Bay Packers after a fifteen-year hiatus.

Rob Tringali captured all the action during an intriguing Super Bowl in Dallas.

Having held off a resilient Pittsburgh Steelers comeback in the second half, the Packers managed to win their thirteenth title and brought pride back to title town.

ns an interception 37 yards for a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter

Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers passes against the Pittsburgh Steelers

James Jones #89 of the Green Bay Packers is tackled by IkeTaylor #24 of the Pittsburgh Steelers as Ryan Clark #25 flies through the air

Mewelde Moore #21 of the Pittsburgh Steelers rushes with the ball as Pat Lee #22 of the Green Bay Packers attempts to tackle him

Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates with Clay Matthews #52 after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV

Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers holds up the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV

Diyral Briggs #53 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers

DELON ARMITAGE

Delon Armitage att

Twenty seven years old, highly talented and in the prime of his career, London Irish full-back Delon Armitage burst onto the international scene in 2009 during the Six Nations and was embraced by the British media.

Following an alleged altercation with a UK AntiDoping Officer after the 25-24 defeat against Bath at the Madejski Stadium, Armitage was controversially banned for eight weeks, ruling him out of the Six Nations. A subsequent appeal was rejected by the RFU and Ian Unsworth QC described Armitage’s behavior as “aggressive, bullying, persistent and threatening.”

Frustrated at missing the Six Nations, the negative press coverage he his received and the sanction imposed upon him. In an exclusive interview, Delon Armitage reveals exactly what happened, his passion for the sport he loves and his hopes of returning to the England squad.

tacks during the Six Nations match between Ireland and England at Croke Park, 28th February 2009.

Interview & Photos

by Eoin Mundow

ROUGH

JUSTICE? Much has been written in the press about the ban you received; do you feel that you have not been portrayed in the best light?

Yeah, definitely I think from what has been written and said about me is wrong. We went to court and this guy was claiming that I pushed him, I verbally abused him, I did all this stuff and actually in the court when he was asked did I push him, he said no.

They (the RFU) want to be strong on things like that and make sure it doesn’t happen especially with the Olympics coming, but I think it’s a bit unfair using me especially at this time in my career with the Six Nations coming and the World Cup this year. I thought it was a bit unfair and a bit harsh.

After speaking with most of the players about it, they thought it was a bit harsh and didn’t believe I got eight weeks for something like that. They themselves have even admitted they have done

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worse to a drug tester. So I thought it was a bit harsh to get eight weeks.

I understand the incident happened after the match, which you lost when Olly Barkley scored with the last kick of the game. Could you explain what happened?

It’s not just rugby, for anyone who plays a sport, you know I think they need to realise that a professional player nowadays, it’s not like it was before where there is no money involved and you’re not standing to lose anything, your livelihood, you have to supply for your family. I don’t think they understand that we have a job to do and they have a job to do and that’s it. You know players when you lose like that you feel it. It doesn’t matter what sport it is, it’s hard to take losing in the last minute after we had eight losses on the bounce. My first reaction

was I know I can lose my head quickly so my first thought was get in the changing room and lose your head in there, because that is the only place that you can in professional sport.

Especially as the game was live on television and I just thought that the privacy of the changing room was taken out.

You know I didn’t go chasing after him to have a go; I went to where I felt I could go, in the changing room.

So he came into the changing room after the match and were you unaware as to whom he was?

No, see that’s the thing. After losing I stormed down the tunnel straight to the changing room and someone reached out and tried to grab me and I knocked their hand out of the way, I went into the changing room and the next minute that’s a push.

NO COMMENT

go the other way and I’m hoping it won’t. There are all these questions I have in my head that haven’t been answered because when you go to court you can’t speak, what they say goes and I think it was a bit harsh. Then they write it up in the papers and now I look like this villain that has attacked this 65-year-old guy and I just think that is a bit harsh.

You know, and then I’m getting done for that. I was still venting and I wasn’t even listening to him and that’s how frustrated I was about the game. The next minute he is saying he told me, but when you tell someone something you get eye contact with them and speak to them.

You don’t go to them aggressively and grab them and he did that and especially after losing a contact sport and someone grabs you, you are going to lose your head and that’s what happened.

You know in the changing room I lost my head and I said some things that obviously I regret and obviously he has to do his job as well. But sometimes I just think they have to use some common sense. You know if they are going to do a professional sports player sometimes they are going to have to realise that the guys are not going to be in the best of moods after losing, especially in the last minute.

Sport, whether it’s football, rugby whatever sport that is the reality and if you are going to start giving people eight week bans for venting their frustration away from the public eye then you know guys are going to start getting one year bans and this is going to

Did you have high hopes for the ban to be overturned at your appeal?

I did have good hopes. You know they banned me and by the time I got back there for the appeal it had been three weeks and I was hoping they would say: fair enough, we didn’t have a sanction for that. He has done three weeks, he has missed four games and there is no sanction for this. This is his first and he has learnt his lesson.

Which I have, because I would never intentionally do that, especially to a drug tester. I know full well they are part of the game now and they need to do there job. But, I mean my big thing is – two minutes to tell the player to calm down, I’m drug testing you, I have to stay with you, I’ll give you two minutes just to calm down and then we have to go in this room. No problem at all!

They used to do that, but I don’t know what has changed. The worst thing is I participate in the drug-testing programme called “Whereabouts” and they can come and meet you wherever for one hour of the day, you have got to let them know where you are. I have done it; I have had about 50 tests in the last two years and never had a problem.

But one thing comes up and I have an eight-week ban. You know I find it kind of tough, I was hoping the appeal would go well, maybe they would half it or just anything so I could get back involved with the Six Nations, but obviously they fear to get it off.

We spent five hours in there and probably after an hour I could have said they weren’t going to change their minds because they just couldn’t help the fact that they wanted to call in a match official and they were not

budging whether it was written in the IRB statement, that they are not match officials, they didn’t care. So I was disappointed about that.

So you have been tested on numerous occasions and also on this occasion and it came up as a negative result?

Yeah, I mean I have never had a drugs problem and they know that. I have never been tested positive, it has always been negative and it wasn’t a problem about being tested. They know that’ it’s just the fact that we had lost a game and I was in a bit of a temper. I could have been anyone. It could have been another player, coach or whatever. But the reality is people who are actually involved in professional sport know what players have got to lose, they understand these things and obviously they are saying we don’t care and that’s the way it is.

You go on the field and do what you are told and that’s rugby.

You know clubs and players have a lot to lose. One minute you are in the Premiership earning good money, the next minute you are in the Championship and you have to get a job during the week and that is the reality. You play the game, you shake hands and have a drink, and it’s not like that anymore. I feel a little bit hard done by.

So you feel your passion for the sport has been somewhat misinterpreted?

If I didn’t care about the game and they came down, there probably wouldn’t have been a problem, you know we lost again, nine games in a row, who cares, go and have a drugs test and then go out on the piss and you know whatever.

But people do care about their jobs and it’s not always going to be perfect and to pick someone out like that and make them look they are a villain in the paper as well by portraying them going round pushing old men and abusing them. What reason would I have to abuse this guy? What reason?

You know he is doing his job and obviously the proof is in the result. I have got nothing to hide. You know the guy

“I’M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN, STAYING FIT, GETTING STRONGER AND EVERYTHING IS GEARED TOWARDS GETTING MYSELF ON THAT PLANE TO NEW ZEALAND.” has just lost a game and that deserves an eight-week ban?

I understand the England coach Martin Johnson has been very supportive to you over the last year. Have you had much contact with him regarding the issue?

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Obviously they know about it and I’m sure they have their opinion on it, but I feel really grateful for Martin, he has kept me involved and even though I can‘t play on the weekend I have been training with them, which is brilliant.

I have been keeping my head down training and just trying to keep in the mix.

The Six Nations is over for me, but hopefully I keep fit and I can come back strong, keep playing well for London Irish and hopefully get involved again with the squad for summer.

You’ve been training hard with the England team, have you been at the Six Nations games?

I have been watching and the boys have been doing really well, which is difficult, but great for the boys. It was coming and I’m obviously just disappointed not to be part of it. Especially after how the guys were playing in the autumn this was coming and I’m just really disappointed that this had to

happen. Obviously I’m missing out on I think a great squad coming together and you know I just have to sit down and watch. I hope I can make my way back into the squad with the last few games I’m going to have at the end of the season.

France are obviously a very talented team, are there any players that really stand out for you?

I think Dusautoir is playing really well, he is coming on and getting stronger and stronger. He has always been a good player. Obviously Maxime Medard, and I thought (Clement) Poitrenaud had a brilliant year last year and I think he is getting back to that form again, slowly. I think they have a good mix, they are bringing in a player like (Francois) Trinh-Duc who has grown into that number 10 shirt, he is getting stronger especially with his defence, his attacking game is getting a lot stronger.

The way that they can just bring in

guys here and there and obviously their front row with that experienced head in Servat, I think they have a great squad.

You spent your formative years in France with Nice, is a return to France something you would consider in the near future? And would you enjoy playing against these guys week in week out?

Definitely, I’ve always said I would like to return back to France one day and to get the chance to play with or against these guys would be great. I think they are great players and the French philosophy of how they try to play rugby that hasn’t changed since I was growing up there and I like to think it’s the same.

They like throwing the ball around at the back and I think that is suited to the way I like to play rugby. You know if I one day get the opportunity to go back to France and play I would definitely not turn that down.

You are a very creative player; do you think the French style of rugby is more suited to your game?

Yeah definitely, it helps when you’re in the South of France and the weather is dry and you can throw the ball around. That was my big change coming to England - by the time you get to September or October the weather is cold, it’s already raining and in France up until November you are playing in mouldies.

Obviously from 13 onwards I learnt how to play the game and the way I play with a bit of flair, throw the ball, just have a go and you know attacking rugby I think I would definitely like to revisit that, go back and play again.

Do you think the Top 14 is the best league in Europe?

From watching a few games on the television this season I haven’t been that inspired. At the minute I think the toughest league is the Premiership, but I think the French league with all the world-class players coming and slotting into different teams, I think it’s

getting a lot better. Obviously when all the French players left before it wasn’t the best, I was watching games that were low scoring, there was a lot of kicking, but I think they have reversed that and there is a lot more attacking in the game. It’s a bit more attractive now.

The RFU have mentioned imposing a sanction on players who choose to play in France. Would this affect your decision to leave England?

I’m sure it’s going to affect a player’s decision to leave, but at the end of the day you have one career and you have got to decide are you still going to be in that England squad? Have you got a chance of playing? Or do you want to go and experience something different?

All these questions come up, but at the end of the day you have got to be a bit selfish sometimes and make the decisions. If you look at it financially in France and you want to play with some of the best players in the world, you know you have to weigh up all these decisions.

Obviously your first ambition is to play for England and you just have to go on from there. You know some players like Jonny (Wilkinson) for instance made that decision and he is enjoying what he is doing I think. He made the right decision. You know if he was in England he would probably play only five games a year or two years, but he has gone over there and played a whole season.

I think you definitely have to take those opportunities; he ended up at a great club and is doing well for himself.

You know there are things to weigh up, you would like to think you could play in the quarter final or semi-final of the Heineken Cup and still have a chance to play for England, even if you’re abroad.

Looking forward after this recent experience, what is the main thing that drives Delon Armitage? And what are you looking to achieve?

I have been playing rugby for quite a while now and have not won any silverware, so that is something I’m looking to achieve with my team or England. My main aim now is to get myself back in that England World Cup squad and I’m going to do everything I can, staying fit, getting stronger and everything is geared towards getting myself on that plane to New Zealand.

Do you think England stand a good chance of winning the World Cup? Definitely. I think if we can keep learning, progressing the way we are, I think it’s massive if we can beat these big, tough teams. In the Six Nations now with France, Scotland, Ireland and Wales if you can beat those teams it will give us a massive boost going into this World Cup. We have friendlies obviously before that, but each game I think we have shown a bit of progression, so hopefully if we keep doing that I think we can do really well in the World Cup. France play New Zealand in the groups stages and will knock them out. That will make everyone smile!

There you go, we’ll have a France v England World Cup final.

Photo by Mike Haberfield

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SVEN GORAN ERIKSSON

REMEMBERING HUGO DIXON

In November 2010 a good friend to many within the photography and publishing industry passed away at the young age of 46. Having worked extensively as a music photographer for over twenty years, Hugo Dixon built up a reputation for capturing unique and intimate portraits of some of the worlds leading musicians A mutual friend Matt Velazquez first introduced me to Hugo in 2006 as the anticipation of England winning the World Cup in Germany gathered pace. Hugo illustrated what turned out to be another false dawn for England perfectly prior to the tournament. His iconic images of England manager Sven Goran Eriksson praying summed up the hope and inevitable dejection of a nation.

Hugo asked me if our photo agency would be interested in representing him, as he wanted to share his sport portraiture with a wider audience. Over the coming years we built up a good relationship. My job was made much easier as his ability to build a great rapport with his subject and put them at ease always resulted in a photo shoot that truly reflected the athlete’s personality.

We would often talk on the phone and as is the case so often within this industry we never got the opportunity to meet in person for that ever-elusive beer. Hugo personified everything that is positive in an independent photographer. His humour, honesty, skill and amiable personality were his greatest assets. They attributed greatly to his success and popularity, which is hard to find today. His passion for photography was self-evident, as was the warmth and affection that tinged his voice whenever he mentioned his family. SEEN Sport Magazine would like to honour and remember Hugo in the best way possible, by sharing his wonderful work with our readers.

Words by Eoin Mundow

JONNY WILKINSON

SEBASTIEN LOEB AND CO-DRIVER DANIEL ELENA

JOHN TERRY

RICKY HATTON

Census Johnston applies the pressure in the centre of the ruck. Stade Toulousain v Perpignan (USAP), Top 14, Stade Municipal, Toulouse, France, 23rd October 2010

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