Issue 264 | July 13 2012
Oscar Pistorius talks exclusively to Sport
issue 264, July 13 2012 Radar 07 From caddie to baddy
Ian Woosnam on the error that cost him an Open Championship
09 The hardest men
The new book taking a closer look at wrestling’s biggest beasts
10 Chariots of Fire
What a good time for a classic sports film to be remastered
12 Editor’s letter
Why tennis needs to build on the great work done by Andy Murray
oFeatures this coming week
16 Oscar Pistorius
16 09
60
The most famous Paralympian on earth is coming to the Olympics – and he’s spoken exclusively to us
24 Beach volleyball
We chat to the girls who’ll be in the sandpit for GB this summer
27 Premier League
It’s still only July, but the transfer rumour mill keeps on turning
31 Luke Donald
The world number one talks to Sport ahead of his big Open bid
36 Graeme Swann
South Africa are here to play, but Swanny means business
Cover image by Jon Enoch, Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
extra Time
31
24
52 Gadgets
This summer, leave the family at home and take cool stuff instead
54 Sam Cooke
If everyone looked like her, what a wonderful world this would be
56 Grooming
A golf-themed range from Marks & Spencer? Top hole
60 Entertainment
An Arnie classic out on Blu-ray, and some decent new stuff too | July 13 2012 | 03
Radar
*p09 – The toughest men in wrestling
*p10 – We bring you
your chariot of fire
*p10 – Perfect ping-pong
T
hese are the four words that Ian Woosnam will never forget. Spoken by his caddie Miles Byrne in the final round of the 2001 Open at Royal Lytham, they ended his chances of a second, unlikely, major title. Woosnam began the day tied for the lead, and played a wonderful shot at the par-3 first hole for an opening birdie. He acknowledged the applause and with a smile, strolled to the second. “I was in the groove,” he recalls. “Some days you just feel good, as if things are going your way. You can’t plan it.” At the second tee, the caddie should have been smiling too. Instead, he was ashen-faced. “We’ve got two drivers in the bag,” he told his boss. The offending club meant Woosnam had one too many clubs (14 are permitted) and incurred an automatic two-stroke penalty. Woosnam did indeed go ballistic. He took out the offending club and hurled it into bushes. “I give you a job to do and you can’t do it!” he shouted at Byrne (pictured right). That opening birdie was effectively turned into a bogey and Woosnam, head spinning
with rage, followed up with two more dropped shots in the next three holes to kill his chances. He eventually finished tied for third. Incredibly, Woosnam didn’t sack Byrne on the spot – but did so two weeks later when the hapless caddie overslept and turned up late at a course in Sweden. As the Open returns to Lytham for the first time since that fateful Sunday, Woosnam tells Sport: “I get reminders about that 15th club all the time – it’s happened thousands of times. You know, the incident itself doesn’t bother me – it is just one of those things that can happen in golf. What bothers me is that people don’t stop reminding me about it. “It has got to be expected to an extent, but it is like someone turning around and saying to you ‘your dad’s just died’ time and again. How would you feel if that kept on happening? Every time someone mentions it, it hurts. “All the time, my caddie gets: ‘How many clubs you got in there?’ He’s not even the same caddie! In the second round at Augusta this year, I got that question three times by the sixth tee. By that time I had heard enough
and I got one of the security guys to take the guy away. They don’t need to say it. People think it’s funny, but it’s not. “You know, ‘if’ is a big word. Might I have become Open champion if the 15th club had not happened? Might have been.”
For our exclusive interview with world number one Luke Donald ahead of the Open Championship, turn to page 31...
Interview by Robin Barwick. Ian Woosnam was speaking courtesy of Mercedes-Benz, patron of the Open Championship
| July 13 2012 | 07
Andrew Redington/Allsport, Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images
“You’re gonna go ballistic...”
Radar
Wrestling for real F
Power show
rom the massive chunk of corned beef pictured left (it goes by the name of Brock Lesnar) to the days of ‘The Solid Man’ William Muldoon, this new book gets into the nitty gritty of the roughest, toughest men who’ve ever competed in professional wrestling. Focusing on both staged or ‘worked’ wrestling, such as the WWE, as well as MMA, it starts with the origins of the sport as a professional business in the 1800s and moves forward. From the story of Hulk Hogan having his leg broken deliberately by Hiro Matsuda to Kurt Angle’s addictions, it’s a well-researched glimpse into an always lively, sometimes sordid, business.
T
Shooters by Jonathan Snowden (ECW Press), out now,£14.99
Olympic insight U
nless you were very lucky with your London 2012 tickets, the only way of looking into the eyes of GB’s athletes this summer is at the National Portrait Gallery’s BT Road to 2012: Aiming High. From Mark Cavendish to the gymnastic team (left), the exhibition features some amazing images. Opens July 19, roadto2012.npg.org.uk
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
he Black Power salute of 1968 is a familiar image, but your eye probably isn’t drawn to the ‘other’ athlete on the podium. Silver-medallist Peter Norman of Australia was, however, complicit in the protest. He wore an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge and even suggested to Tommie Smith and John Carlos that they share a glove each, as Carlos had left his pair at the Olympic village. Salute, a powerful new documentary, covers Norman’s postGames ostracism by the Australian media and his reunion with Smith and Carlos in 2006. In cinemas from today; on DVD from July 30
| July 13 2012 | 09
Radar
Fire fliers
Turn the tables
I
t’s the music that plays in our head when we’re running to catch the bus (we change to Rocky when it’s raining), but there’s more to Chariots of Fire than just its iconic score. This Oscar-winning drama tells the remarkable, true tale of two British sprinters at the 1924 Olympics: Harold Abrahams, who fought to overcome
anti-semitism, and Eric Liddell, a devout Christian who refused to race on a Sunday. It’s been remastered for 2012 and is out as a new Blu-ray, with extras such as a tribute to director Hugh Hudson, a feature on the Paris 1924 Games and 45 minutes on Nigel Havers discussing his hair. (Okay, not that last one.) In cinemas from today; Blu-ray from July 16
C
hic table tennis tables from US firm Eleven Ravens blur the lines between sport and art. Take the top-selling Thesus (below), handcrafted from bamboo in a highly regulated, moisture-controlled environment to ensure it plays to perfection. How moisture-controlled it’ll be after we’ve sweated over it for an hour is another matter. From $11,000 up, 11ravens.com
Arclight, top, and the Raven: Edgar Allan Poe would approve of its macassar ebony twists
10 | July 13 2012 |
Radar Editor’s letter
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The crying game: Murray is a great example, but tennis needs a PR overhaul
The dilemma for tennis So Murraymania gripped the nation for a couple of days. What does that mean for his sport?
R Editor-in-chief Simon Caney @simoncaney
ight, finally, tennis has a hero. Andy Murray has long been admired, but now he is actually liked – and not just in Scotland. How can the sport capitalise? It is not as easy as it should be. Tennis is still seen as a preserve of the wealthy, much like golf, and parents don’t feel comfortable just turning up with their children. It is actually less to do with what tax bracket you fall in, and more to do with the public’s perception of how welcoming the average club is. After all, tennis has an advantage over golf in that the kit is not so expensive. It can be played, in a way at least, by two people in a park. So why do there seem to be so many hurdles to producing a nation of tennis players in the country that hosts the biggest tennis tournament there is? The Lawn Tennis Association is caught between a rock and a hard place. It has
around £60m to spend on tennis each year, and has to split that between growing its grassroots but at the same time promoting elite tennis – because it needs to turn promising youngsters into the next Andy Murrays, and thereby encourage more youngsters to want to play the game. Chickens and eggs have nothing on this conundrum. I’ve played golf for years and will happily stroll into any club. But I know as a sport it can appear hostile to newcomers (often because clubs don’t actually want them). Tennis feels the same. As a sport, it needs investment in taking the game outside the traditional club – its work with schools is great, but what about the weekend when parents want to be involved too? It needs a massive PR job to debunk the myth of the club; the work is being done, or at least it has begun, but not many people seem to know about it.
It’s a great shame that the doughty Mark Boucher has been forced to retire from international cricket this week. For many years, the South African has been a top wicketkeeper, a dangerous batsman and a terrific competitor – check out his sledging of Tatenda Taibu on YouTube if you get a moment. We wish him well and sincerely hope that the eye injury, caused by a flying bail, is not as bad as first feared. In a couple of pages’ time you will come to this week’s cover feature, an exclusive interview with Oscar Pistorius. His is an incredible story and, regardless of how he does on the track, his will surely be the defining image of London 2012. There are still plenty of people who argue he shouldn’t be competing until the Paralympics begin, but surely he is the embodiment of what the Olympics should be about.
Editorial Editor-in-chief: Simon Caney (7951) Deputy editor: Tony Hodson (7954) Associate editor: Nick Harper (7897) Art editor: John Mahood (7860) Deputy art editor: William Jack (7861) Digital designer: Chris Firth Subeditor: Graham Willgoss (7431) Senior writers: Sarah Shephard (7958), Alex Reid (7915) Staff writers: Mark Coughlan (7901), Amit Katwala (7914) Picture editor: Julian Wait (7961) Production manager: Tara Dixon (7963) Contributors: David Lawrenson, Robin Barwick Commercial Agency Sales Director: Iain Duffy (7991) Business Director (Magazine and iPad): Paul Brett (7918) Business Director: Kevin O’Byrne (7832) Advertising Manager: Steve Hare (7930) New Business Sales Executive: Hayley Robertson (7904) Brand Creative Director: Adam Harris (7426) Distribution Manager: Sian George (7852) Distribution Assistant: Makrum Dudgeon Head of Online: Matt Davis (7825) Head of Communications: Laura Wootton (7913) Managing Director: Adam Bullock PA to Managing Director: Sophia Koulle (7826) Colour reproduction: Rival Colour Ltd Printed by: Wyndeham Group Ltd © UTV Media plc 2012 UTV Media plc takes no responsibility for the content of advertisements placed in Sport magazine £1 where sold Hearty thanks this week to: Caroline Grenger and Kate Silvers, Paul Morgan, Nathalie-Lucy Attar, Lee Korman
Cover of the Year
Reader comments of the week
@Ilyas_Theus Twitter
12 | July 13 2012 |
I don’t believe that any self-respecting sport journalist could argue Spain have been negative in the last few years.
James, via email
Nice piece on investing in high performance in @sportmaguk with Messrs Redgrave, Brailsford & Keen: ‘cash is not panacea; coaching is key’.
Good list of British clubs’ most unbelievable signings in today’s @sportmaguk. One more - heavywt champ Joe Louis was on Liverpool’s books.
@simoncaney ed’s letter in @Sportmaguk - well put re @TigerWoods record compared to Jack Nicklaus #justsaying
@TJL1967 Twitter
@nicholasmiller Twitter
@Anareygolf Twitter
LAUNCH OF THE YEAR
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Couldn’t agree more with @simoncaney “I liken watching Spain to seeing a day of test cricket where 2 batsmen rack up 250 runs...”
Radar Frozen in time
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Pain in the rain To mildly mangle that hoary old axiom, you don’t have to be ‘mad’ to follow Andy Murray, but mild insanity and a stout umbrella certainly help. Here they are, then, thousands of Murray martyrs, sat on the former Henman Hill watching his heroic defeat in the men’s final – on a far-distant TV screen in the pissing, neverending rain. This shot was taken five days ago, but they’re still there as we write, waiting for it all to start again next year. Mentalists.
14 | July 13 2012 |
| 15
Oscar Pistorius
16 | July 13 2012 |
Fair game?
Four and a half years after being banned from competing in able-bodied races, double amputee Oscar Pistorius will compete at the Olympic Games. Sport spoke to him both before and after the historic selection decision that is destined to divide opinion... Photography by Jon Enoch
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Oscar Pistorius
’m meant to be in this position – I absolutely believe that,” he says now, with the defiance of a man who has battled long and hard to reach this momentous point. It was a battle that looked lost when, in January 2008, the International Association of Athletics Federations – the global ruling body for athletics – banned Pistorius from competing against able-bodied runners. The reason? After two days of testing in a German laboratory (with Pistorius' stride analysed alongside five able-bodied athletes), the IAAF concluded that his carbon-fibre Cheetah blades allowed the South African to run at the same speed as his fellow lab rats while expending less energy. In other words, he had an unfair advantage. It was a devastating blow for a man who simply dreamed of measuring himself against the world's fastest. But just five months (and some more testing) later, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled the IAAF's evidence was inconclusive, reigniting the dreams of Pistorius and other disabled athletes around the world. The then 21-year-old would have to wait another four years for all this to come to fruition though, the stress of a court battle and submitting his body to science seeing him fall 0.70s short of the 400m qualifying time required for the Beijing Olympics. When Sport first met Pistorius at London's Lee Valley Athletics Centre earlier this year, his participation in the London Olympics remained far from certain. Although he had already run the 'A' standard qualification time once in 2012 – clocking 45.20s in Pretoria – by March he knew he had to do it at least
“I
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Blades of glory: Pistorius wins the men’s 200m T44 at the Athens Paralympics in 2004
once more if he was to take the decision out of the selectors' hands. Back then, it looked unlikely. He'd had little sleep after spending most of the night running along Tower Bridge in a near blizzard while recording a film for his sponsor, BT, and he was coughing like a 50-a-day-man (which we're pretty sure he isn't). But, with our photo shoot wrapped up, he insisted he was fine to talk, with just one request – that he be given a few minutes to swap the blades (great for running, but little else) for his more comfortable, everyday legs. And that we please forgive his intermittent hacking... When you won Paralympic gold in 2004, you'd competed as an athlete for only a year. How long was it before you started to believe the Olympics was a possibility? “I think it was in 2005 that I started to think about the Olympics. That's when I came sixth in the final of the South African nationals, and was just over half a second off the 'B' qualification time for the Olympics. But, at my first Paralympics in Athens, I was just 17 and really kind of naive about the sport. I was very innocent with my blond curly hair and braces, and I didn't know half of my competitors. From a young age, though, I saw that if this was something I pursued, and I was very dedicated, I could be good at it. Now, after years of doing proper basework as a youngster, I'm coming into the times I've been training towards for several years.” Do you feel as though Olympic qualification is in your grasp? “Yeah, it’s in my grasp. I've made two 'A' qualifications in the past year, but there's still a lot of work that needs to be done in the next few months, too. That's one of the most important things I have to remember – one needs to stay realistic. You've done things properly once, but that doesn't mean you can do them again. I still have to run the 'A' standard one more time before qualification
is assured, because if I get the 'B' standard then it's up to the South African Federation to make a selection of what they think is the strongest team.” What sort of reaction do you get from able-bodied athletes when you're racing against them? “These are guys I've been competing against for five years, so they treat me just like any other competitor – it’s nice they don't see me as somebody they need to take it easy on or try extra hard. [Laughs] When I had my court case for my prosthetic legs in 2008, one of the positive things to come out of it was that there might have always been questions surrounding the prosthetics had we not gone through the testing. It definitely put a lot of the guys who may have had questions before the testing at ease after we accomplished the tests.” So you don’t get asked about them at all? “No, not really. It's all pretty well documented, and the one or two guys who I'm very close friends with know the case more in depth. The guys have a lot of respect for me and they know there are thousands of amputees around the world who have been top sportsmen who are using the same prosthetic legs I'm using, and yet no one's running close to the times I'm running.” You must feel like shouting that from the rooftops at times... “That's the funniest thing, when you get the odd scientist who says you have a 10-second advantage. I'm like, okay, that means everyone else who uses the prosthetics has a 10-second advantage, yet there are amputees who have been great college runners or university athletes and have lost their limbs and are running a lot slower on a prosthetic leg. That's something that, from a non-scientific or >
Phil Cole/Getty Images
“I'm so blessed,” says South Africa�s double amputee runner, with a warm smile. He�s still absorbing the news that broke on Wednesday last week. The news that Oscar Pistorius must have once believed would never come: he will make history by becoming the first amputee to run at both a Paralympic and Olympic Games this summer.
Oscar Pistorius technical point of view – from the practical side – you just can't explain. If there is an advantage, then the time should be faster, and that’s never happened.” When you have such a clear goal and firm deadline as you have with Olympic qualification, is it tempting to push yourself a little too close to the edge, physically? “I've always been somebody who wants to do the very best, but in track and field it's not about going hard for two days, burning out and then taking a day off to recover – you want to be doing consistent work. At the end of a session, if I have a 200m or 300m that I need to do in a quick time, I always try to beat my targets. But my coach will be shouting at me to ease down and slow up when I'm coming down the straight. Ultimately, I think it's a maturity thing – he does it because he knows that the next day I'll have to work just as hard.” How long have you been with your coach, Ampie Louw? “Eight years, so pretty much since the beginning – and we've come a long way together. He's been coaching for more than 30 years, so knows his game and he really understands me as a person. When I get to the track, there aren't many days when I don't want to work extremely hard, but he knows how to calm me down and make sure I don't burn myself out. He also knows the kind of sessions I need to do in order for me to get my weight to where it needs to be. My explosivity, my strength and conditioning are at an all-time high.” What was it like to become the first amputee sprinter to qualify for the World Championships last year, with a personal best of 45.07s? You left it pretty late... “It was pretty much the last day of the cut-offs. I knew what times my fellow South Africans had run in the season, and at that stage I think I was ranked second or third – so I needed to post a very quick time. Luckily, in that race, everything came together – the pressure worked in my favour, and I managed to produce the times I needed to get to Daegu.” Does it help to know exactly what's required in terms of a time? “Yeah, I'm an extremely calculated performer. I know what times all of my competitors have run, what their PBs and SBs (season's best) are; how they run their race, whether they go out hard or take it easy on the first 200m, how they kick... I believe one of the important things in our sport is to know your competitors because, ultimately, even if you're not racing their race, you need to race yours in accordance to what is happening on the track. I'm a student of the sport, I guess. I like analysing and breaking things down.” Were you satisfied with reaching the semi finals of the 400m in Daegu? “I was very pleased with reaching the semi final, but I wasn't too pleased with my actual
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performance in that race – I think I could've done a lot better. The time I ran was one of my slower times in 2011. I gained valuable experience from that competition though – and it was something I needed ahead of this year's Games, so I look back on it with fondness.” You also ran in the 4x400m relay, helping South Africa to a national record in the semi finals. How tough was it to swallow when you weren't picked to run in the final? “I was extremely gutted. It didn't make any sense. But the one thing I've always said is that, if I'm part of a team, I have to listen to the management and, if I am called up to work, I always do my job and make sure it's done properly. I ran a phenomenal first leg in the semi – we ran a sub-three-minute 4x400m relay. Then they changed the team and we ran half a second slower in the final, which just doesn't make sense. But, if I'm called up, I always give it my best – from my end, that's the most I can possibly be required to do.” Did the South African selectors give you any explanation? “Their explanation, which doesn't make any sense, was that it was based on factual and calculated information. Our sport is not open
“Usually in a 4x400m, the first leg is the slowest because guys accelerate from the blocks. But mine was second quickest” to critics – track and field is based on distances and times. The time I ran on the first leg was unbelievably quick. Usually in a 4x400m, the first leg is the slowest because that's when the guys have to accelerate from the starting blocks. But mine was the second quickest leg on our relay. When a comment like that is made, it's hard to understand. And when people are not subject to criticism, you struggle to get answers where you need them.” Away from the track, there’s a rumour speed is still important to you. True? [Laughs] “I enjoy speed. I grew up racing motorbikes and it's something that I think I'll always love, but I’ve actually sold all of my bikes. I had a boat accident in 2009 and, after that, a lot of things started to make sense with me. It was a pure accident, but there >
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Oscar Pistorius were a lot of areas in my life that I was taking unnecessary risks with. If you're dedicating so much time and energy towards a certain task, then go and make silly mistakes where you know there’s risk involved... it’s just an immature move, really. So, for the time being, I'm putting it on the back-burner. There'll be time for that. Though I miss the speed – and the bikes – a lot.”
Oscar Pistorius: The story so far... And you've sold something else that carried plenty of risk – the pet tigers? “They’re beautiful, but I'm not at home nearly enough to give them the attention they need and they were getting quite big. I had them at a camp next to my house, but I sold them to a guy in Canada who's got a private estate – it's a beautiful camp so they're quite happy. But I still have my racehorses.”
And that’s where Pistorius left it and us, coughing his way to the airport for a flight back to sunnier climes. What followed was three months of racing against a clock that was rapidly ticking down to the end of June, when the African Championships represented his final opportunity to claim a place in the South African Olympic squad – and, with it, his place in history. There, he won the 400m silver medal in a time of 45.52s, two-tenths of a second outside the qualifying time. It just wasn’t quite enough... r so we thought until five days later, when the South African Athletics Association named its team. Pistorius had made it – not only for the relay squad, but also for the individual 400m. Time to catch up with South Africa's most famous Olympian...
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Hannah Johnston/Getty Images
So, you're going to two Games this summer – how does that feel? “The news is definitely still sinking in – I’m so pleased with the result. I’ve been working really hard over the past few years, I’ve run the times I needed and I absolutely believe that I’m meant to be in this position. I was actually in the gym when the news came through – I think I had everyone running around trying to get in contact with me for a while. Although I desperately wanted that result, it was still a shock. Quite honestly, it was one of the best days of my life.” It’s a story that’s made headlines across the world. What effect does that have on you? “It's a great feeling – going to a big competition – so, once you're there, you know you need to work hard. There's more pressure than the actual excitement of just being there. Once you're there, you don't want to mess up – you want to produce PB or close to PB times. I think that's the balance you need to find, not thinking 'my job's done, I've made it to the event' – but knowing now you have an opportunity to go hard. This is the platform that you need to do
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your best. It's exciting, but there's a lot more pressure involved in that than excitement.” Will you feel a different kind of pressure in the Olympics than in the Paralympics, then? “Not at all. In either race, you want to do the best you possibly can. It doesn't matter if you win and run a terrible time – I'd rather come last in a race and post a PB. When you line up for any race, the distance is the same, the track surface is the same, the preparation and the race tactic is the same. You're out to run as best as you can.” Do you worry that if you take some big name scalps at the Games, it might reignite the debate over your prosthetics? “Not at all. It's such a small minority who try and voice their opinion, and you always have critics in life. I have people saying I've changed this on my prosthetic legs or I've done that and that must be the reason for my improvements, or that the technology has advanced. The technology on the prosthetics is actually quite old. It's carbon fibre, which has been around for about 30 years, and the design hasn't changed since 1996. Nothing on my legs has changed since 2004, so all the improvements have come from my training. I don't have to explain that to anyone – I know what is just and I believe in the fairness of sport.” Sarah Shephard @sarahsportmag
1986 Oscar Lennard Carl Pistorius is born in Johannesburg on November 22, with an important bone missing in each leg: the fibula, which extends from ankle to knee and supports the full weight of the body. 1987 At 11 months, Pistorius' parents make the agonising decision to have both his legs amputated in the hope it would allow him the best chance of living a normal life. Six months later, he gets his first pair of prosthetic legs. 2001 He becomes a student at Pretoria Boys' High School, where he starts to play rugby and water polo. 2003 A hospital pass on the rugby field gets Pistorius steamrollered and he shatters his knee. Three months later he starts the rehabilitation process at the University of Pretoria, under the guidance of athletics coach Ampie Louw. 2004 Takes part in his first sprint session on New Year's Day and, four weeks later, runs his first 100m race in 11.72s, smashing the existing Paralympic world record of 12.20s. In June, he trials the Flex-Foot Cheetah prosthetics and three months later wins 200m Paralympic gold, setting a new world record. 2005 Finishes sixth in the 400m at the able-bodied South African Championships – a run he says planted the seed of Olympic participation in his mind. Gold medals in the T44 100m and 200m follow at the BT Paralympic World Cup in Manchester. 2007 The IAAF amends its competition rules to include a ban on “any technical device that incorporates springs, wheels or any element that provides a user with an advantage over another athlete not using such a device”. 2008 In January, the IAAF bans Pistorius from all able-bodied competitions. He appeals at the CAS in April, and the following month the IAAF's decision is revoked. Fails to qualify for the Beijing Olympics, but wins three golds at the Paralympics in T44 100m, 200m and 400m. 2010 Sets a new T44 400m world record of 47.04s at the Aviva London Grand Prix. 2011 In January he wins three gold medals at the IPC Athletics World Champs (left). Two months later, he sets a new 400m best of 45.61s – inside the 'B' standard for the World Champs and Olympics. In July, he races in Italy and runs 45.07s to qualify for Daegu. 2012 In March, Pistorius runs an 'A' standard 45.20s at a meet in Pretoria, but fails to repeat the feat before the South African Olympic athletics squad is selected. Wins 400m silver medal at the African Athletics Champs, doing enough to convince selectors he should be part of the Olympic squad for London. Oscar Pistorius is a BT Ambassador. BT is the official communications services partner for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Visit bt.com/london2012
Beach Volleyball
Sets on the beach Sport chats to Zara Dampney and Shauna Mullin, who will be spiking and smashing in the sand as Team GB’s beach volleyball pair this summer
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That clothing rule change sparked tabloid outrage. What are your thoughts? Zara Dampney: “The rule change was basically to make the sport more accessible to more cultures. Some girls can’t wear bikinis for religious reasons, but they can get more involved in the sport. But I’m 100 per cent sure that all the athletes are happy with the outfit and it won’t change.”
Cold isn’t something you’re really used to, is it? Where’s the best place you go to play? Shauna Mullin: “The best place on tour, we think, is either Rome or Phuket in Thailand. We don’t really get to see the places we go to, though – for us it’s just a different bed, a different airport and a different set of sand.” Is the travel the best part of your sport? SM: “It is a good perk, but another great part of what Zara and I are doing is the partnership we have while we play together. It’s something that’s really unique in sport; there’s not really many sports in which there are two of you and you spend the amount of time we spend together – as well as how well we need to know each other.” How did you get into it? SM: “Before 2007, I was up in Scotland and Zara was in Sheffield at university, and we were both playing indoor volleyball.” ZD: “Because my home town is Bournemouth, I started playing in local tournaments on the beach when I was about 16, but always just
kind of had it as a hobby. Only when the Olympics were announced were we able to select whether we wanted to play indoor or beach volleyball, and I just kind of felt my personality and my physique suited beach volleyball more. So I started playing professionally when I finished university.” SM: “We were paired up by the coaches at the time. They thought that our dynamic and work ethic were a good fit, and that’s kind of how the partnership began.” How excited are you about the Games? SM: “We’re not really in the UK very much, so we’re not really part of the buzz in London. It’s kind of good because we’re able to focus on what we’re doing now.” ZD: “To have friends and family there, that unconditional support, will be really nice.” Finally, what’s the target for the Olympics? SM: “We’re aiming for a top-10 finish.” Zara Dampney and Shauna Mullin are having laser hair removal at The Harley Medical Group as part of their Games preparations
Secret code
The hand signals are made by the serving player’s partner to indicate what kind of block they’re intending to perform on each side of the court when the ball comes back. Here’s what they mean, so you can justify why you’re staring...
24 | July 13 2012 |
no block on player attacking left side
Block down the line
Block a diagonal shot
Decide based on hitter’s approach
Scott Heavey/Getty Images, Matthew Lewis/Getty Images, Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images, Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty Images, Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images
he women’s beach volleyball at Horse Guards Parade will be one of the most fascinating spectacles of the Olympics – and not just for the gaggle of voyeurs who half-jokingly applied for tickets. Britain are competing in the event for the first time ever, with Shauna Mullin (left, top) and Zara Dampney flying the flag for the girls – although their ranking of 56 makes them the lowest-rated duo at the Games. The International Volleyball Federation recently sanctioned the wearing of shorts and T-shirts in the women’s game, perhaps fearing for the health of the competitors if this glorious British summer continues. But don’t worry lads, it’s optional.
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Premier League Transfers
Arsenal
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Everton
Fulham
They need... to replace Robin Van Persie if he goes. Elsewhere, a physical presence is needed in midfield, and defensive cover wouldn't go astray either – Per Mertesacker hasn't cut it.
They need... to bulk up the squad. The new faces in midfield will add extra quality, so Paul Lambert needs another goalscorer to put chances away when Bent isn't firing. At the back, Dunne and Collins' combined age of 186 could be an issue, so cover is needed.
They need... to continue adding quality to the squad in order to attack on all fronts next season and restore themselves to the top four. Strengthening at the back and replacing Didier Drogba are the priorities.
They need... a goalscor... sorry, we're just so used to writing it! Having finally got two decent strikers, Everton's priority is to hold on to their big names (Rodwell, Cahill, Fellaini, Baines) and possibly find fresh blood at right back.
They need... some youth to bolster a small squad, plus someone in the midfield to replace the creativity of Danny Murphy and a quality goalscorer to lead the line and take the pressure off Clint Dempsey (if he stays) and new signing Mladen Petric.
They're likely to get... another Frenchman in the middle, as Toulouse's Etienne Capoue fits the bill (if the deal for Rennes' Yann M'Vila is dead). Up top, don't expect Wenger's interest in Marseille's Loic Remy (above) to fade easily. He could also sign a wildcard, such as CSKA Moscow's Euro 2012 star Alan Dzagoev.
They're likely to get... more defenders in first, with AZ's Danish international Simon Poulsen (above) having been linked. Up top, Danny Graham would be a shrewd signing, while Zenit's Aleksandr Kerzhakov (for more money) would guarantee goals.
They're likely to get... a fair few more faces across the line, with Porto's Hulk (to replace Drogba) and Maicon (above) – to finally add quality at right back – strong possibilities. Elsewhere, Internacional's Oscar (if he doesn't go to Spurs) or Luka Modric (if Oscar does go) will add options to the midfield.
All pictures Getty Images
Window of opportunity
They're likely to get... more faces to lead the line alongside Steven Naismith and Nikica Jelavic, with Hugo Rodallega a tempting free agent. At right back, Crystal Palace's Nathaniel Clyne would be the perfect choice, as long as Everton can avoid being outbid.
They're likely to get... a couple of cheap foreign faces to pad out the squad, while Jires Kembo Ekoko has impressed for Rennes and could fit the Murphy-shaped hole. Up front, Wolves' Steven Fletcher is likely to choose between Fulham and Sunderland.
Who does your club need? And which overpriced Euro flop will they end up getting instead? We present the facts take a stab in the dark
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle
Norwich
They need... genuine quality out wide (to supplement you, Stewart, definitely not to replace you), someone who can actually hit the target and some creativity in midfield. And possibly defensive cover. Good luck, Brendan.
They need... someone to replace influential figurehead Owen Hargreaves. Other than that, it's big-name signings that the City faithful demand, with full back and up front the main areas to strengthen.
They need... changes throughout their team to chase down City. New midfielders, a striker to replace Owen and Dimitar Berbatov, and a left back to give Patrice Evra a kick up the rear end would be a good start.
They need... to add to their strikeforce again, hold on to their now-discovered jewels in the midfield and possibly invest in some more defensive depth. Keeping Demba Ba on their books would certainly help as well.
They need... to add Premier League quality to their ranks and depth to their squad. Keeping hold of Grant Holt is a coup for Chris Hughton – now he'll be raiding his former clubs for some star names.
They're likely to get... Axel Witsel from Benfica (below) or Porto's Joao Moutinho – if the lure of an AVB reunion doesn't prove too much – to run the midfield, while Milan's Alexander Pato would complement Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck perfectly.
They're likely to get... Mathieu Debuchy (below), from Lille, to add extra width with his overlapping runs. Up top, Ajax's Luuk De Jong has been heavily linked and would offer a better alternative – and less controversial off-field headlines – than Nile Ranger.
They're likely to get... Adam Johnson (below) to slot in nicely on the wing. Roma's Fabio Borini looks a decent option up top, while Real's Jose Maria Callejon or Fulham's Clint Dempsey could slot nicely into the creative role behind the front two.
They're likely to get... frustrated by RVP (below) and turn their attention to Napoli's Edison Cavani or Real's Gonzalo Higuain. Athletic Bilbao's Javi Martinez would suit their attacking full-back style, while Michael Owen could replace Hargreaves in the physio room.
They're likely to get... Nile Ranger (below) over the line to offer him a fresh chance and Norwich a Premier League striker. At the back, Birmingham's Curtis Davies has been linked, while the arrival of the same club's goalkeeping coach could signal Jack Butland's switch.
| July 13 2012 | 27
Premier League Transfers
QPR
Reading
Southampton
Stoke
Sunderland
They need... defenders, a decent young striker to cover for old legs up top, and a midfielder to cover The Tweeting PhilosopherTM during his 12-match ban.
They need... Premier League experience to add to a successful team. Danny Guthrie is a good start, but more creativity will be needed in midfield and proven names are needed at the back and up top.
They need... a striker to take the workload off Rickie Lambert and a midfielder to share the burden with Adam Lallana. The Saints have made some shrewd signings already – it's just a case of finishing the squad with proven stars now.
They need... to add more depth to their defence, midfield and attack. With Ricardo Fuller and Kenwyne Jones likely to be on their way, a new striker is a must for Tony Pulis' men.
They need... to replace Asamoah Gyan and Nicklas Bendtner (stop sniggering at the back), as well as add a bit of quality out wide to back up James McClean and Seb Larsson.
All pictures Getty Images
They're likely to get... William Gallas (above) as a proven name to fix their defensive fragility, plus Ki Sung-Yueng from Celtic to add champion class (albeit from the Scottish league). Mark Hughes seems happy with his strikers, but it's been a while since he was united with a certain Paraguayan target man. Roque Santa Cruz to west London?
They're likely to get... raiding relegated sides, with Martin Olsson and Matt Jarvis able to offer alternatives at full back and on the wing. Up front, meanwhile, Michael Owen (above) has been heavily linked and might be tempted to rediscover his erstwhile England little/big man combination with Peter Crouch.
They're likely to get... Steven Fletcher if they want to spend the cash, while Spartak Moscow's Aiden McGeady (above) and Man City's Adam Johnson have both been linked – again depending on price tags and wages. At the back, Mallorca's Ivan Ramis looks a likely arrival.
They're likely to get... some surprisingly big names, with Pavel Pogrebnyak (see, a huge name) already over the line and John Madejski keen to spend to survive. Junior Hoilett (above) looks like a good deal for all parties, while Newcastle's Danny Simpson could add experience.
They're likely to get... David Bentley (above) or Junior Hoilett to add width, with Liam Trotter (Millwall) linked to offer support to Lallana. Jay Rodriguez has signed up top, but a cheap alternative would help. Michael Owen?
Swansea
Tottenham
West Brom
West Ham
Wigan
They need... quality in midfield to add to Leon Britton and new face Jonathan de Guzman, while trying to convince Scott Sinclair to stay – or find an alternative. A new striker to take the pressure off Danny Graham would be a clever move as well, while their defence needs boosting.
They need... to get players in to suit AVB's style as soon as possible. Gylfi Sigurdsson is a good start, but strikers are definitely needed.
They need... to find a way to strengthen their midfield and attacking options without spending much money, because that's one thing they don't have. Loan options and 'older players' look the most likely route.
They need... creativity to go alongside Mark Noble in the middle of the park, because Kevin Nolan is getting on a bit, while new blood is needed at the back. Up front, the Carlton Cole/Ricardo Vaz Te/Nicky Maynard options are unlikely to cut it at the top level, so more options are needed.
They need... to replace Hugo Rodallega up top and try to hold on to Victor Moses (or replace him). Wigan's counter-attacking style suits quick wingers, so expect a few more of them to arrive.
They're likely to get... Michael Krohn-Dehli (below) as another option in the middle. Laudrup's old team Mallorca should expect a raid, too, with Ivan Ramis and Angel Arizmendi two potentials.
28 | July 13 2012 |
They're likely to get... linked to every name under the sun, and attract a few big names. Internacional midfielder Oscar looks a replacement for Luka Modric (if he leaves), Jan Vertonghen will shore up the defence, while Joao Moutinho (below) could be tempted to reunite with AVB. In attack, Daniel Sturridge might cross London for more game time, with Adebayor likely to return.
They're likely to get... Rubin Kazan's Obafemi Martins back to the Premier League, possibly just on loan, and free agent Markus Rosenberg (below) in before scouring Premier League sides for cheap options. David Bentley hasn't moved in a few weeks – maybe he's around?
They're likely to get... Jamie Mackie to add proven Premier League performers to their front line, while Big Sam has been busy chasing veteran class in midfield, with Guti and Dejan Stankovic linked. At the back, Nathaniel Clyne (below) is surely ready to step up.
They're likely to get... Josh McEachran (below) in the middle of the park, with Ross McCormack looking likely to arrive from Cardiff to lead the line. Out wide, Blackpool's Matty Phillips has been linked, but he might be tempted to hold out for a bigger club. Mark Coughlan @coffers83
taylormadegolf.eu
@TaylorMadeTour
TaylorMadeEU
COOL HAND LUKE
Luke Donald
Unfazed by his lack – to date – of a major championship win, Luke Donald believes victory could finally be on the cards at next week’s Open uke Donald smiles a rueful smile when we put it to him – as diplomatically as we can – that his Open record can at best be described as ‘patchy’. “Er yeah, I suppose you could describe it like that,” he says. “I came fifth a few years ago [2009]. But, other than that, it’s not been much to write home about.” It is just that – his failure to so far win a major – that critics use as a stick with which to beat Donald, who the world rankings tell us is now clearly the best golfer on the planet. They argue that the world number one should be a major champion before he can really call himself the best. Donald though, a quietly spoken product of the Home Counties, has a steely confidence about him these days that doesn’t allow the naysayers to get to him. “I got to be world number one by playing the most consistent golf, and I just have to keep faith in doing the same things that got me there,” he says. “I was told recently that I’ve now been world number one for a total of 51 weeks [now 52], and only four players in history have done it for any longer. So I’m in good company, and I don’t think I’m doing too much wrong.” Those four, in case you were wondering, are Tiger Woods (an incredible 623 weeks as world number one), Greg Norman (331), Nick Faldo (97) and Seve Ballesteros (61). >
David Cannon/Getty Images
L
Luke Donald They all won majors, however – although Norman’s total of two was disappointing for such a dominant player.
Frederic J Brown/AFP/Getty Images
THE NEXT STEP Despite his bullishness, Donald will arrive at Royal Lytham & St Annes this week to tee it up in his 37th major, aware that only victory will persuade everyone that he can truly be described as the best in the world. “A major is the next step for me, obviously,” he says. “And I’d hope that once I’d won one, then others would follow. Certainly that’s how it felt when I won the [WGC] Match Play last year, a little bit like the floodgates opened.” That win, coupled with a stellar Ryder Cup in 2010, propelled Donald into the golfing elite. Previously he had always been known as a steady, doughty competitor, but there were others of whom greater things were expected. Lee Westwood, Paul Casey, Justin Rose... all were considered better bets to be a major champion, but it was Donald who burst through the field. He is now some way clear at the top of the world rankings. And even with that patchy Open Championship record, Donald can take heart from the fact that Royal Lytham has a history of producing great champions. Ballesteros won it twice here, in 1979 and 1988, Tom Lehman became world number
one less than a year after winning at Lytham in 1996, while David Duval had recently lost that title – to Woods – in 2001. Going further back in history, famous names adorn the Lytham roll of honour: Bobby Jones, Bobby Locke, Peter Thomson, Bob Charles, Tony Jacklin and Gary Player. “When you run off those names, it does sound like the cream rises to the top at Lytham,” says Donald. “But then usually the majors do that. There haven’t really been any unexpected winners there. Obviously I’d like to get my name on that list.”
THE LINKS FACTOR It will be Donald’s first Open here (he didn’t qualify in 2001), although he has fond memories of the course from his amateur days. “I remember that the first 10 or so holes are the ones where you want to make your score,” he recalls. “The finish was always very tough. But it’s a classic, straightforward links course. You need to be on your game the whole way round.” Last year Donald took an early bath at the Open at Royal St George’s, and he admits he has previously struggled to switch to links golf, despite winning last year’s Scottish Open at Castle Stuart. “Obviously we play a lot more parkland golf, and the tough thing is the adjustment,” he says. “Links golf is played more on the ground.
The wind is a bigger factor, the fairways are firmer, and the greens are different – slower – than we usually play. “I work hard all the time, but for the Open my main concern is the flight of the ball and controlling it in the wind. It’s just a question of working on the fundamentals, being in the right position at impact. I’ve had a tendency to get my hands too high and for the toe of the club to get stuck. There are always things to work on.” One thing in Donald’s favour will be the crowd, desperate for a first English winner of the Open since Nick Faldo in 1992. And while he plays most of his golf in the US, Donald has noticed increased levels of support for him on these shores. “Yes, definitely,” he says. “It’s happened in the past couple of years, really, that they have taken me in more – but I get extremely good support now when I play back in the UK. They’re a very appreciative crowd, and if you look at my last victory – at the PGA at Wentworth in May – the crowd was definitely a factor. There was a lot of encouragement there for me. Hopefully I can give them something to cheer about at the Open.” Simon Caney @simoncaney Luke Donald wears Ralph Lauren RLX. For details, go to ralphlauren.com. Ralph Lauren is the official patron of the Open Championship 2012
WHAT’S IN A NumbER? Being ranked world number one – or even in the top 20 – is no guarantee of success at the Open, as the results of the past 10 years demonstrate. Here is a list of the winners and their world ranking going into the tournament: 2002 Ernie Els 3 2003 Ben Curtis 396 2004 Todd Hamilton 56 2005 Tiger Woods 1 2006 Tiger Woods 1 2007 Padraig Harrington 8 2008 Padraig Harrington 14 2009 Stewart Cink 33 2010 Louis Oosthuizen 54 2011 Darren Clarke 111
thursday The Open Championship Day 1, Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, BBC2 9am
“THE CREAm RISES TO THE TOP AT LYTHAm – I’D LIKE TO GET mY NAmE ON THAT LIST” 32 | July 13 2012 |
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The Open Championship
The L just beast
Royal Lytham & St Annes may not be the most heralded course on the Open rota, but it is one of the best and fairest. Sport takes a close look at the five holes that will decide the final destination of the Claret Jug
egendary golf writer Bernard Darwin put it best, almost 100 years ago. He described Royal Lytham as “a beast of a course, but a just beast”. He added: “No one could fail to be impressed by its difficulties, which sets a golfer just about as ruthless as an examination as any course of my acquaintance.” Nothing has changed. Royal Lytham’s history of Open champions straight out of the top drawer is down to its ruthlessness, but also its fairness. So much in links golf can be put down to luck – a bounce here, a pot bunker there – but at Lytham, the best players will win out. It is not beautiful in the traditional sense – flanked by red-brick houses and a railway line – and, unlike many links courses, it is not directly against the sea. But in all other regards it is a
classic links. Its defence comes from the elements and its brilliant design – mainly, its perfectly placed bunkers and devilish greens. The big, booming hitters cannot overpower it because their drives can’t carry the trouble lurking in the fairways. It requires course management, strategy and a short game from the gods. It is no surprise that Seve Ballesteros won two Claret Jugs here. As Luke Donald says on the preceding pages, anyone wishing to challenge needs to make their score on the front nine, using the wind to their advantage. As they reach the farthest point from the clubhouse and turn for home, the course becomes a very different test – and it is here that the championship will be won and lost. Sport picks out the five holes that will decide the fate of golf’s best major in 2012.
Hole 18 413 yards, par 4
Hole 11 598 yards, par 5
Hole 14 444 yards, par 4
Hole 16 336 yards, par 4
Hole 17 453 yards, par 4
The prevailing wind almost always means that this is a three-shot approach. If anyone can cut the corner of the dogleg enough to be tempted in two, they will have a fiendish group of bunkers around the green to think about. The green is undulating too – this is no easy birdie opportunity.
A very tight driving hole. Four fairway bunkers on the right-hand side of the fairway, and one on the left – complemented by some thick rough – mean that only the accurate survive here. To the back-right of the green run out-of-bounds markers too, so most golfers will play safe with their approach.
No fewer than 14 bunkers adorn this hole, with the wind off the left. But it is still a birdie opportunity – a rare respite on the back nine. Seve Ballesteros famously hit his tee shot into a car park here in 1979, but still made a three on his way to becoming Open champion for the first time.
Two holes to go, but if you’re leading as you stand on this tee, you can be forgiven a knock-kneed moment. This hole is a brute. A dogleg left, it has a cluster of bunkers on both sides of the fairway, just where most drives will land. There’s a plaque next to one to mark Bobby Jones’ famous second shot en route to victory in 1926.
34 | July 13 2012 |
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David Cannon/Getty Images
One to go, the famous clubhouse looming large in the distance. The hole is arrow straight, with two diagonal lines of bunkers crossing the width of the fairway. It’s the ultimate closing hole to test the nerve and self-belief of anyone who wants to be crowned champion golfer of the year.
Top Spin South Africa are in town, and they have their eyes on England's number-one Test ranking. Sport caught up with the home team's master manipulator, Graeme Swann, ahead of an intriguing series en years is a long time in Test cricket. It's August 1999 and, after a humiliating 2-1 Test series defeat to New Zealand, England's cricket team slip to the bottom of the ICC rankings as young spin bowler Graeme Swann watches on. He had been brought into the squad but missed out on selection for the final Test. Ten years later, in August 2009, that same bowler steps up to the crease at a packed Oval and delivers – to use cricket parlance – an absolute doozy to Mike Hussey, forcing his forward defensive effort to shoot up in the air and into the hands of Alastair Cook. England have won the Ashes, and the feelgood factor is back in English cricket. Three years on, and the side hasn't looked back, winning on Australian soil (for the first time in 24 years) to defend the urn, before finally securing their spot as number one Test side in the world with a 4-0 series thrashing of India last summer. If England's fall and rise is a story of Hollywood proportions – and we'll have more
T
36 | July 13 2012 |
on that a bit later – then Swann is very much the central protagonist. Cast out into the international wilderness after a 2000 tour to South Africa came too soon in his career, he returned to the international fold with a one-day tour in 2007 and finally made his Test debut in 2008 – when his first six deliveries claimed two Indian wickets. Now a fixture of England's bowling attack, Swann currently sits eighth on the ICC Test bowlers' list, sixth in the one-day international rankings and top of the Twenty20 list. As if that's not good enough, Swann is just five wickets short of legendary spin bowler Jim Laker's haul of 193 Test wickets on the field. And, off the field, the imminent arrival of his second child is keeping him busy. It's fair to say that right now, life is pretty good for Swanny.... Do you ever get a chance to sit back and take in everything you've achieved? “No – have you seen our fixture schedule? I don't think it's worth sitting down and
Thursday England v South Africa: 1st Test Day 1, Kia Oval, Sky Sports 1 10am
taking it all in anyway. The time to reflect is when you're retired, you're in your 50s and 60s and your grandkid comes and sits on your knee and you can make him watch your delivery to Imran Farah again and again!” You're only five wickets off Jim Laker's England record for a spinner. Do personal milestones mean much to you? “I was only told that earlier this summer, actually, because I don't really follow stats very well. I hated maths at school, so I tend to stay away from them! Jimmy [Anderson] asked me the other day how many wickets I had – because he's got 500 wickets for England in all forms – and we had to dig out a couple of old programmes because I didn't know the details. Having said that, it's lovely when you get near to a milestone like that and people start talking about you in the same breath as guys like Jim Laker. It's humbling because I wouldn't ever put myself up there with a guy like that.”
You might break the record in the series against South Africa. Looking at their teamsheet, who are the key players you have to stop? “Obviously Jacques Kallis stands out as their best player over the past decade. He's a very good player who plays the ball very late – and he knows how to score a lot of runs, so he's a man to stop early. I think also probably the form player in world cricket at the minute is AB de Villiers, so he's another one to look out for. He's more known as a one-day player, but he's got a really good Test record as well. I also like Hashim Amla. I think he's a dangerous player because he moves his feet really well and he's a good player of spin bowling. To be honest, they're a very good team throughout. Having said that, I'd still rather have our top six than theirs, but I think they're going to be pretty formidable.” What about the bottom five? “Oh, definitely ours. I think if you check the stats, we're streets ahead of the rest for numbers 10 and 11!” > | 37
Lakruwan Wanniarachchi/AFP/Getty Images
Graeme Swann
Graeme Swann
TopplinG THe Top oRDeR
Swann and his teammates have their work cut out to stop the South African batsmen scoring. Just look at this lot...
AB De Villiers (Test ranking 3) Tests 74 Average 49.16
Runs 5,457 100s 13
“I like the pressure of having to deliver with the ball, but I wouldn't like having to deliver with bat and ball” Jacques Kallis (4) Tests 152 Average 56.78
Hashim Amla (7)
Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images, Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Tests 59 Average 46.98
Graeme Smith (10) Tests 99 Average 49.64
38 | July 13 2012 |
Runs 12,379 100s 42
Runs 4,464 100s 14
Runs 8,042 100s 24
What would constitute a successful series against South Africa? “A win in the series is a successful series – that's the bottom line. We'd take a 1-0 win, but we're after 3-0 obviously. They're number two in the world, we're number one – so winning the series is the only way it can be seen as a success.” The South Africans are obviously keen to take your spot at the top, but it's been yours for a year now. What made the difference and allowed you to get there? “It's a combination of everything. It's very cyclical how it works, though. Australia were unbeatable 10 years ago because they had the best players in the world – there's no two ways around it. As some of their best players have fallen off the scene, some of the new faces aren't of the same quality. That's just how it goes. West Indies in the 1980s were untouchable, too, but they're not the force they were. We've just been fortunate that we have a very good team together at the same time and some of the other teams are on a bit of a downward spiral. We're not a great team because of what happened in the winter against Pakistan, but we're going the right way about it.” Was there a feeling that the team took their foot off the pedal after reaching number one? That Pakistan series was quite a comedown. “I know other people who have said that, but I personally don't think so. We got to number
one and then we just ended in an unfortunate position of having five or six batsmen in horrendous form at the same time in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It certainly wasn't a case of taking our foot off the pedal, because I trained with the guys every day and I know we didn't. It wasn't bad luck – it just wasn't meant to be over there. We couldn't take our foot off the pedal under Andy Flower anyway – he wouldn't let it happen.” What's the secret behind your incredible first-over wicket record? “People ask that a lot and I've never come up with an answer to it. I've got no idea. When I was a kid, I used to bowl terribly in my first few overs and my dad used to always have a go at me and say if you're going to be a bowler, you have to have a good first over. But I don't know whether that's just coincidence. I think sometimes a change in bowler can bring a change in the game, so maybe I'm just fortunate. But there's no secret. There's nothing I do different to everyone else, as far as I know.” Were you always a bowler? “No, I always did both. I was an opening batsman in minor counties until I was 17. I've actually got a better record as an opening batsman for Bedfordshire than Alastair Cook – that's one stat I definitely know, and so does he because I've told him enough times. My bowling just took over as I grew up. As you get older, you tend to get pigeonholed more into one bracket. I'd love to bat higher. Actually, no I wouldn't; I love batting nine or 10. There's no pressure. If your team are batting well, you can sleep in the changing room. I like the pressure of having to deliver with the ball, but I wouldn't like the pressure of having to deliver with both bat and ball.” >
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Graeme Swann
QUICK QUESTIONS
You found yourself out in the international wilderness a bit in the years that followed the 2000 tour to South Africa. Looking back, would you change anything? “No, definitely not. It went well in the sense that I learned some serious lessons. I thought I knew everything and I thought I was the finished article, or at least good enough to play – maybe not quite the finished article – but I wouldn't go back and change it. Everything that happened in my career has shaped me into the player I am today. There are times when I look back at my time out of the team when other guys were being picked and I'd think: 'My god, how is he playing instead of me?' And I'd feel a bit ashamed that I had put myself in such a black book that I couldn't get in ahead of these guys who I was better than. Again, though, that's all character-building, and it makes you appreciate it more when you get back. We all have different stories and I quite enjoy mine to be honest. I had my chance, I did my best to blow it and I got redemption. Yes, I agree, it is almost like a Hollywood movie. Call me, Mr Spielberg!”
Things you never knew you never knew about Graeme Swann
Gareth Copley/Getty Images, Rex Features
How different was that South Africa tour to a modern tour? “Oh, totally. For me, I was trying to break records of Jack Daniels consumption and see how quickly I could burn my tour fee. Today, I'll go somewhere thinking about where the matches are, how many wickets I'm going to get, does the wind blow well for me at this ground, that kind of thing. I think international cricket on the whole these days sees a lot more people who go out there thinking about the cricketing side of things, not the off-field fun and thinking Sydney's a good night out. If you win a Test match, you still go out and have a big blowout. It's just that we're more than likely to have a fitness session the next morning these days.” After that tour, you spent a few unhappy seasons at Northampton. How close did you come to walking away? “When I look back at it, I wonder how I carried on on for so long because I didn't enjoy it for a good amount of that time. Everything went sour for me at Northampton with the coach. I didn't feel wanted by the club and it turned out they didn't want me there. It's fairly natural to start thinking I'd rather be doing something else, but I think if anyone had actually called my bluff and gone 'here's a job in the City for life', I wouldn't have taken them up on it because all I wanted to do was play cricket. It did get to the stage, though, where I was waking up and thinking: 'For f**k's sake – not another game of cricket.'” What changed? “I moved to Notts and everything changed overnight. I went into a new set-up and worked with people who had a new way of thinking. From the very first day I turned up at Trent Bridge, it's been the
40 | July 13 2012 |
Favourite wicket? “Mike Hussey in 2009 to win the Ashes. Favourite player to bowl at? “Mike Hussey because he's left-handed, he's a mate and obviously I got him out to win the Ashes.” Favourite holiday destination? “North Wales.” Favourite film? “Casablanca.” Who'd play you in a film? “Brad Pitt. Because he bowls good off-spin, obviously.”
“From my first day at trent bridge, it's been the best thing i've ever done. they reinvigorated my career” best thing I've ever done. They reinvigorated my career.” You're pretty vocal off the pitch. Are you the same on it? “I try and enjoy it, but I'm not vocal on the pitch at all. You can't hear anything in a Test ground anyway – only the bloke next to you – so I don't tend to say much on the field, and I never sledge when I'm bowling or fielding. You just look stupid if the bloke then hits a four. People think there's a lot of chat in international cricket, and there's just not. If you want chat on a cricket field, you play club cricket. In Test cricket, there's virtually nothing said.” You've just played the West Indies at home, the Aussies at home and now it's South Africa at home. How much nicer is it playing at home than touring? “Yeah, the home comforts are nice. It's a bit of a misnomer that we get to stay at home when we're in England, though, because you only get to stay at home when it's your home ground. You're in hotels the rest of the time, so we're basically touring 12 months a year. The home crowd and the familiarity of the grounds is the only thing that really counts.
We know the conditions because we grew up here and we've had to adapt to perform in them, but from a touring perspective it's almost identical to being away, except you can get in your car and drive around the country instead of being on a coach smelling Tim Bresnan's feet.” That must be hard, especially with such a young family? “Yeah, it is very hard because you miss so much. It's been a pleasure for me this week because I've been at home for five days and I've got to see my little boy for five whole days. When it gets to that stage, it is tough – but it's a brilliant life as well. You know when you finish you'll be so lucky if you land a job anywhere near as fulfilling as playing cricket, so you have to temper it. But yeah, it's hard from a family perspective because your 16-month-old baby doesn't understand why you're going away all the time.” How long do you think you'll carry on for? “I couldn't put a number on it. The plan is to keep going as long as I can and as long as I'm enjoying it. There's still life in this old dog.” Mark Coughlan @coffers83 Graeme Swann is a Love Cricket ambassador for Rubicon Exotic Juice Drinks. Go to rubiconcatchandwin.co.uk for your chance to win a trip to Sri Lanka and Sky Sports HD package
Who's first on the dancefloor on a night out? “Me.” Who should never be allowed to play the tunes in the dressing room? “Matt Prior.” Which teammate would you most/least like to be stuck in a lift with? “Most – Stuart Broad, so he can regale me with his wonderfully funny tales from public school. Least – Tim Bresnan, because his hygiene is appalling. His shorts smell like a sewage farm.” Who's got the worst dress sense in the Engla... ”Kevin Pietersen.”
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Boxing
In the air tonight: Tyson mid-tirade in the Lewis fight presser, asking after his tiger (probably)
Ahead of Saturday’s David Haye v Dereck Chisora bout, Sport recalls four other stunning out-of-the-ring heavyweight brawls Lennox Lewis v Mike tyson, 2002
MuhaMMad aLi v Joe Frazier, 1974
Faced with the sight of an oncoming Mike Tyson whacking his way past security, Lewis chose to bounce a few punches off his bonce in this pre-fight press conference. It ended with the two rolling on the floor and Tyson, perhaps unable to reach an earlobe, biting into Lewis’ leg instead. Afterwards, Tyson unleashed an obscene rant, telling one reporter: “I’ll f**k you in your ass, you punk white-boy.” Yikes! in the ring Lewis KO8 Tyson
Hyping their rematch, these titans sat to dissect their epic first fight on ABC’s Wide World of Sports show. But when Ali called his rival “ignorant”, Smokin’ Joe was up off his seat. Ali put an arm around him and the pair were soon grappling on the floor. Security quickly intervened, perhaps to Ali’s good fortune. “I think that Ali is probably clowning,” intoned host Howard Cosell, but there was little clowning about Joe Frazier. in the ring Ali W12 Frazier
Larry hoLMes v trevor BerBick, 1991
Mike tyson v Mitch ‘BLood’ green, 1988
Berbick was in a car park, surrounded by cops and a TV crew, complaining that he’d already been attacked by old rival Holmes. The camera suddenly pans to respected heavyweight great Holmes, resplendent in a white tracksuit, bounding across the top of a parked car before launching into a flying drop-kick of which Hulk Hogan would have been proud, landing right on top of Berbick. Some feud – their fight in the ring was in 1981. in the ring Holmes W15 Berbick
Hearing that Tyson was in Harlem, shopping at foppishly titled clothing store Dapper Dans, Green set off to find him in the hope of goading him into a rematch to their 1986 bout. All he got was a beating that left him needing five stitches and Tyson nursing a broken hand. “At that moment, he hit me – like a sissy, a homo, he ran!” whimpered Mitch, proving that homophobia is the last bastion of a beaten man. in the ring Tyson W10 Green
42 | July 13 2012 |
Saturday David Haye v Dereck Chisora, Upton Park, BoxNation 7pm
In cased you missed it, these two Brits got into a verbal exchange at the post-fight presser of Chisora’s loss to Vitali Klitschko in February. Chisora took off his jacket as he approached Haye (below), who responded by throwing his sweetest right hand in years (complete with bottle), downing Del. A melée ensued in which Haye proved less accurate with a camera tripod, the weapon with which he cut his trainer Adam Booth’s head open. in the ring We find out on Saturday. Haye is technically and athletically superior, plus Chisora’s come-forward style with his clubbing, roundhouse blows should be made for Haye. But that’s assuming Haye is fully motivated. The Bermondsey puncher hasn’t fought in a year and announced a (brief) retirement in that break. Whether he’s been living a spartan lifestyle – and if he’s really committed to boxing or just in this for one last payday – is debatable. Chisora is certainly hungry (though he has worked on his fitness, Haye admitting his rival looked “almost chiselled” in June) and surprised Vitali Klitschko by giving the Ukrainian a tougher test than expected. He also has the sturdier chin and his boxing has looked far sharper since his sloppy defeat to Tyson Fury in 2011. The safe bet here is Haye by points or even late stoppage, but if he looks rusty or his timing is off, this controversial bout could become an exciting, 50/50 brawl – entertaining both Londoners and Luxembourgers alike.
Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images, Dmitry Abramov/Bongarts/Getty Images
Boxing Bust-ups
david haye v dereck chisora, 2012
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7 Days OUR PICK OF THE ACTION FROM THE SPORTING WEEK AHEAD
JULY HIGHLIGHTS 13-JULY 19 » Athletics: Diamond League, London » p46 » JP Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s » p46 » Basketball: Great Britain v USA » p47 » Rugby League: Challenge Cup Semis » p48 » Best of the Rest » p48
Strike three Like so many punters in Las Vegas, Amir Khan is desperate for a big win on Saturday night. There are two pretty big asterisks next to his pair of professional defeats: the first coming when he was a still-wet-behind-the-ears 21-year-old; and the second occurring last December against Lamont Peterson, who has since failed a drug test (and the judges’ decision was hotly contested anyway). However, the now 25-year-old Khan has always aimed high – to breathe the rarified air of the pound-for-pound lists and be considered a worthy challenger to the likes of Floyd Mayweather Junior. To achieve such an admirably lofty goal, he simply cannot
44 | July 13 2012 |
afford a third high-profile loss at this stage of his career, against an opponent he’s expected to beat. This is a make-or-break contest in terms of Khan’s ambitions – and the man he’s taking on, Danny Garcia, has never been beaten before.
Overrated? “Khan is an overrated fighter. Peterson whupped him like an octopus and then he blamed it on the judges,” is the curt opinion of Garcia’s father and trainer, Angel. Leaving aside that we’ve not seen an octopus ‘whup’ anyone, his plan is fairly obvious. Khan can be hot-headed and Garcia senior’s rants seem designed to get under his skin; to have Khan come out angry and swinging. It’s a reasonable tactic. Garcia might only have 14 knockouts in 23 fights (all wins), but
the 24-year-old has a hard left hook. He used it to knock down the ageing but iron-chinned Mexican Erik Morales in his previous contest. A free-swinging brawl suits him better than it does Khan, who is faster, sharper and has the superior professional and amateur pedigree. Khan has promised to keep his cool and box to Freddie Roach’s gameplan. If he can do this, he’ll be in a strong position to outbox Garcia. However, even if the pre-fight goading doesn’t cause him to lose focus, Khan has a tendency to abandon his strategy when he’s hit and hurt. It’s this desire to fire back that made for gripping slugfests with Marcos Maidana in 2010 and Peterson last year. Whether Garcia has the tools to force Khan to exchange – and how Khan will react the first time he’s caught flush – are the tantalising questions hanging over this light-welterweight fight. It could either be a Khan boxing lesson, or just like two octopuses wailing away at each other.
Al Bello/Getty Images
Saturday BOxING | AMIR KHAN v DANNy GARCIA | MANDALAy BAy, LAS VEGAS | SKy SPORTS 1 2AM
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7 Days FRIDAY >ATHLETICS | SAMSUNG DIAMOND LEAGUE: LONDON | CRYSTAL PALACE NATIONAL SPORTS CENTRE | BBC TWO 6PM
Diamonds in the rough The annual gathering of top-class athletes inside London's increasingly decrepit Crystal Palace National Sports Centre takes on renewed significance this year. With the Olympics now within spitting distance, the two-day Diamond League event represents a chance for the likes of Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell (above) to acclimatise to the soggy track and stiff wind likely to greet them in Stratford a few weeks from now. The pair face off in Friday's highlight, the men's 100m, which also features Dwain Chambers and Mark Lewis-Francis – who will simply try not to embarrass themselves against two of the world's fastest men. Newly announced Team GB athletics captain Dai Greene's appearance in the 400m hurdles should be easier viewing. It's round two of the Welshman's pre-Games
FRIDAY RUGBY UNION | jP MORGAN PREMIERSHIP RUGBY 7s: POOL A | TWICkENHAM STOOP | ESPN 7.15PM
Four’s a crowd battle with Puerto Rico's Javier Culson – and after Greene set a new PB to finish just behind Culson in Paris last week, the pair are settling into a gripping rivalry. China's Liu Xiang will race in London for the first time in Friday's sprint hurdles – a race that pits him against America's Aries Merritt, who ran a world-leading 12.93s to win the US trials last month. A timely test for Brits Andy Turner, Lawrence Clarke and Andrew Pozzi then, the latter of whom won the GB trials in a relatively pedestrian 13.41s. Mo Farah goes in the 5,000m on Friday evening, while Saturday could see the return of Phillips Idowu in the triple jump after his no-show at the UK trials. Also on day two, Christine Ohuruogu will look to continue the gradually improving 400m form that saw her run a season's best 50.59s in Paris a week ago.
SUNDAY FOOTBALL | MLS: NY RED BULLS v SEATTLE SOUNDERS | RED BULL ARENA, NEW jERSEY | ESPN 9PM
Football, but not as we know it New York's Red Bulls are without a win in their past two games, thanks to an injury crisis that must make star striker Thierry Henry feel he's back in north-west London. The Frenchman (right) has been battling knee woes and was one of six men missing for the Red Bulls when they went down 2-0 46 | July 13 2012 |
Rugby sevens may not be an Olympic event just yet, but the sport will nevertheless feature in London in the summer of 2012. At the Twickenham Stoop this very evening, to be exact, when the third instalment of the annual JP Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s kicks off at the home of Premiership champions Harlequins. The hosts are joined in a London-focused Pool A by 2010 JP Morgan winners Saracens, London Irish and Wasps, with Premiership new boys London Welsh set to replace the now relegated Newcastle Falcons in Pool B next Friday. The top two sides from each of the tournament's three pools will progress to the series final, to be held in Bath on August 3. The absence of the Falcons means new champions are guaranteed, and the four sides in action tonight will all fancy claiming some early-season silverware. As such, it's no surprise to see strong squads, with fliers such as James Short (Saracens) and Topsy Ojo (London Irish) bringing guaranteed Premiership class to their respective line-ups. Star of the night, though, could be Ross Chisholm (pictured) – the Quins hot-stepper has pace to burn, as seen in a stunning 80-metre solo try against Gloucester in February.
to New England Revolution last weekend – only the second time this season the Red Bulls have failed to score in a match. On Sunday, Seattle Sounders visit the Red Bull Arena in a battle between the third-placed teams in both the Eastern and Western conferences. The Sounders were on a nine-game winless streak until last weekend's 2-1 win over Colorado Rapids, with coach Sigi Schmid claiming “rumours of our demise were maybe a bit premature”. The game against Seattle marks the start of a run of three home games for the Red Bulls – and one they will be desperate to kick off with a big W.
THURSDAY BASKETBALL | GREAT BRITAIN v USA | MEN ARENA, MANCHESTER | ESPN 7PM
SUNDAY MOTOGP | ROUNd 9: MUGELLO, ITALy | BBC TwO 12.30PM
Tuscan thriller
As Casey Stoner flew towards the finish on the final lap at the Sachsenring in Germany, he could reflect on an extraordinary turnaround – thanks to his title rival Jorge Lorenzo being taken out by Alvaro Bautista the week before, Stoner was about to go top of the MotoGP standings with a second-place finish. Then, inexplicably, he was flying off the bike and his race was over. A gleeful Lorenzo came through for that second place, and now the outgoing defending champion finds himself down in third, behind teammate dani Pedrosa as well. The series now heads to Mugello in Tuscany, where the omens aren't good for Stoner – he started on pole last year, only to be overhauled by Lorenzo and home favourite Andrea dovizioso late on. Further down the order, local star Valentino Rossi has continued to struggle on his ducati, and the team might actually be more interested in the day of testing that follows the race, as they attempt to get their bike problems sorted. British rider Cal Crutchlow continues to ride with a broken foot, against the advice of his doctors, but he won't be taking any time off to see the sites of Florence and Pisa as he continues to search for a maiden MotoGP podium. The series was starting to look predictable, but the dramatic crashes that have settled the last couple of races are a timely reminder that anything truly can happen in MotoGP.
Twenty years ago, while the US Dream Team of Michael Jordan et al destroyed all the competition en route to Olympic gold in Barcelona, the Brits failed to qualify – finishing bottom of their group and losing to the likes of Hungary and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Two decades on, and they will see how much has changed as they prepare for their first Games since 1948, with a warm-up match against the 13-times champions. Team GB will pin their hopes on Chicago Bulls small forward Luol Deng (above), the star of the British squad and its only current NBA representative.
Derek Blair/AFP/Getty Images, Tom Dulat/Getty Images, Patrick Smith/Getty Images, Tom Shaw/Getty Images, Mirco Lazzari GP/Getty Images
Back on court
The USA, meanwhile, boasts the likes of NBA megastars LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant, as well as 7ft 1in centre Chandler Tyson – that's a full two inches on the loftiest member of the British team, who'll be wishing they were a little bit taller. Despite GB's long-term improvement, triggered by investment in the sport after the London Games were announced, their warm-up games haven't been going too well – although six straight defeats mask some promising signs against superior opposition. Deng has only recently joined up with the squad, too, after a decent season with the Bulls in which he was selected for the NBA All-Star Game. There were encouraging signs in last Friday's clash with France, Deng's first appearance since his return, although for Britain this much-anticipated match-up remains a learning experience. | 47
7 Days SATURDAY RUGBY LEAGUE | CHALLENGE CUP SEMI FINAL: WIGAN WARRIORS v LEEDS RHINOS | GALPHARM STADIUM | BBC TWO 5.30PM
This weekend sees the semi finals of the Carnegie Challenge Cup, with Leeds Rhinos taking on Wigan Warriors on Saturday at Huddersfield’s Galpharm Stadium, while Huddersfield Giants play Warrington Wolves on Sunday (BBC Two, 5.15pm) at the City of Salford Stadium. If the form guides are anything to go by, Wigan will meet Warrington in a Challenge Cup final for the first time in 22 years. But since when did cup matches go to form? The pair have been the dominant forces in the Stobart Super League this season – but over 80 minutes, and with the prize of a Wembley appearance on August 25 at stake,
BEST OF THE REST
FRIDAY
AUSSIE RULES AFL: North Melbourne v Carlton, Etihad Stadium, ESPN 10.30am CRICKET Clydesdale Bank 40: Northamptonshire v Derbyshire, County Ground, Sky Sports 1 3.30pm
SATURDAY AUSSIE RULES AFL: Geelong Cats v Collingwood, Melbourne Cricket Ground, ESPN 10.30am RUGBY UNION Super Rugby: Reds v Waratahs, Suncorp Stadium, Sky Sports 3 10.40am
Gareth Copley/Getty Images
Rhinos seek cup comfort even the most ardent Warriors and Wolves fans won’t be taking anything for granted. Reigning Super League and World Club champions Leeds have had a dreadful season by their standards, which includes a 50-8 hammering at home to Wigan just six weeks ago. However, with class players like Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Peacock, Rob Burrow and Kallum Watkins no doubt relishing the challenge, they cannot be written off. Wigan have been hit by injuries, most recently the serious ankle injury suffered by their influential half back Thomas Leuluai in the recent Exiles game, so it promises to be an intriguing contest.
HORSE RACING Darley July Cup, Newmarket (July Course), Channel 4/Racing UK 3.20pm ATHLETICS World Junior Championships Day 5, Barcelona, British Eurosport 6pm
SUNDAY
This was looking like the breakthrough season for the Huddersfield Giants – just six weeks ago they were top of the league – but a spectacular loss of form has seen them plummet to seventh. Their confidence appears to be shot, and they will rely heavily on the kicking game of half back Danny Brough and the powerful runs of prop Eorl Crabtree to get them back on track. The Wolves have looked a bit shaky of late, and playing this crucial game just six days after a tough encounter with the Catalan Dragons will test their powers of recovery – not to mention coach Tony Smith’s policy of rotating his players.
TENNIS WTA Bank of the West Classic Final, Stanford University, USA, British Eurosport 2 9pm
MONDAY CRICKET West Indies v New Zealand: 5th ODI, Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts, Sky Sports 2 2.25pm
CYCLING Tour de France Stage 13, Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux / Le Cap d’Agde, British Eurosport 12.30pm
CRICKET Clydesdale Bank 40: Hampshire v Durham, Ageas Bowl, Sky Sports 1 1.30pm
CRICKET Clydesdale Bank 40: Lancashire v Middlesex, Old Trafford, Sky Sports 1 4.30pm
TENNIS ATP 250 Series: Croatia Open Quarter Finals, ITC Stella Maris, ESPN 4.30pm
CRICKET Clydesdale Bank 40: Leicestershire v Worcestershire, Grace Road, Sky Sports 1 1.30pm
ATHLETICS World Junior Championships Day 6, Barcelona, British Eurosport 2 5pm
FOOTBALL Newcastle v AS Monaco, Landsberg am Lech, Germany, ESPN 6pm
GOLF US Senior Open Day 2, Indianwood Golf & Country Club, Michigan, Sky Sports 2 8pm
CRICKET West Indies v New Zealand: 4th ODI, Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts, Sky Sports 3 2.25pm
TENNIS ATP 250 Series: Croatia Open Final, ITC Stella Maris,ESPN 7pm
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL USA v Brazil, Verizon Center II, Washington ESPN 1am
48 | July 13 2012 |
TUESDAY CRICKET Clydesdale Bank 40: Nottinghamshire v Hampshire, Trent Bridge, Sky Sports 1 4pm BASEBALL MLB: Cincinnati v Arizona, Great American Ballpark, ESPN 12am
WEDNESDAY CRICKET Clydesdale Bank 40: Essex v Middlesex, County Ground, Chelmsford, Sky Sports 1 4.30pm
THURSDAY CYCLING Tour de France Stage 17, Bagnères-de-Luchon / Peyragudes, British Eurosport 11.15am
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Extra time Gadgets
P60 Arnie gets his ass to Mars: his performance will quite literally melt your face off
Making the most of your time and money
Holiday helpers Top kit if you plan on getting off this miserable island this summer. Some of it’s waterproof, so will even work here too
1 BenQ LM100 Camera It can go up to five metres under water for up to two hours. All good, but can you even hold your breath that long? £149 | benq.co.uk 52 | July 13 2012 |
2 Kindle Touch Perfect for prostrate poolside perusing, so long as you don’t drop it into the water in shock when Dumbledore dies. What? Oh... £109 | amazon.co.uk
3 Scosche GoBATII The last thing you need when you’re navigating new territory is for your battery to die – so don’t let it, with this extra juice. £70 | eoutlet.co.uk
4 Scosche ClipSYNC Shove one end in your iPhone and the other in a USB port, and clip the whole sordid ensemble to your bag or person for easy storage. £20 | amazon.co.uk
5 Canon PowerShot D20 Has an underwater mode – which is great for finding and cataloguing hidden treasure. £280 | amazon.co.uk
6 Zomm Wireless Leash Links to your phone via Bluetooth, so you can find whatever you’ve clipped it to – be it smartphone, suitcase or spouse. £50 | zomm.co.uk
7 Kodak Playsport Brilliant handheld video camera for capturing summer shenanigans – and piecing them together the morning after. £90 | kodak.co.uk
8 X Mini II Purple Twist it, and it expands like an accordion, providing surprisingly good sound for a reasonable price. £27 | dixonstravel.com
9 foxL v2 Bluetooth Speaker Blast out Rule Britannia on the beach to show those deckchair-snatchers exactly who’s the boss. £169 | amazon.com
Extra time Sam Cooke
The Cooke W report
e don’t know much about history, biology or the French we took. But we do know that we love Sam Cooke. No, not the soul music pioneer who wrote the wonderful Wonderful World – although we do reserve a soft spot for such a classic. No, we’re talking about the club DJ and Page 3 model you see before you. We’re not the only ones. The same girl is currently an item with Euro 2012 and Team GB
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absentee Chris Smalling. That’s about as relevant as we could muster this week – a footballer present at neither of the summer’s two major international tournaments, and a 1960s pop song disavowing knowledge of some of the most fundamental of academic subjects. Whether or not Sam herself retains an interest in biology is anyone’s guess, but all seems to be anatomically correct. Next week: Herman’s Hermits and Gary Cahill’s missus.
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Extra time Grooming the cOllectiOn
Out in the Open
Marks & Spencer Matchplay
Avoid looking like you’ve been dragged through the rough at Royal Lytham & St Annes. There’s no halfway for ladies £13 for 200ml
From Royal Lytham & St Annes to Marks & Spencer, and their new Matchplay range. Having provided your dad’s clubhouse attire for years (probably), M&S has launched a host of grooming collections, with this the most timely of the bunch. Included in the Matchplay stable is (from left to right) the aftershave care splash, all-over body shampoo, deo stick and eau de toilette natural spray. The range consistently delivers a clean,
fresh fragrance that is, says Mr M&S, one for the ‘discreetly elegant, goal-oriented man who strives for excellence’. But don’t just take their word for it – they’re also introducing trained in-store advisors who can steer you toward the best hair and skin products suited to you, with a ‘Virtual Consultation’ option online. Just think of them as your own grooming caddy – except they won’t follow you round all day. marksandspencer.com
£22.50 for 100ml £29.50 for 100ml
£13 for 75ml
the fRagRance
the tOOl MOiStURiSeR Set
Gucci by Gucci Sport Pour Homme
Ted Baker The Right Tools Antiperspirant Deodorant, Hair & Body Wash and Body Spray
Inspired, apparently, by the free spirit and power of the ocean, Gucci Sport could well have shared the same origins as the Royal Lytham course itself. But it didn’t. That’s not to say its light body and citrus tones aren’t as pleasing or, indeed, captivating as this year’s Open course. Grapefruit is played off the aromatic, camphor quality of cardamom, while Corsican fig nectar adds an interesting contrast of fruitiness to the mix. And we really can’t fault Gucci on the choice of name. boots.com
£46 for 50ml
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If, like many of your shots, you don’t look pretty but keep on going, Ted Baker’s The Right Tools range will at least ensure you smell marvellously manly while you’re wildly swinging away out there. The sprays are fragranced with bergamot, sandalwood, cedarwwood and musk, while the body wash is scented with patchouli, geranium and eucalyptus. Also available as a hair & body wash/body spray gift set. boots.com
£4.10 for 200ml
£4.10 for 150ml
£5.10 for 150ml
© 2012 The Gillette Company.
A GREAT START CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. LIAM TANCOCK, 3X WORLD CHAMPION
NOTHING BEATS A GREAT START. facebook.com/GilletteUK
Extra time Kit 1
Push the boundaries
2
England’s cricket chaps are ruddy good with the old bat and ball at the moment – what better time to pad up and hit out?
1. Slazenger V500 Ultimate Cricket Bat Leather on willow has never sounded better, as an enlarged sweet spot, a power handle and an OctoPlus grip design combine to ensure maximum runs. £360 | slazenger.com
2. Slazenger International Cricket Helmet Whether facing a pace bowler or fielding in what we call the ‘one wrong move and kids are off the menu’ zone, this helmet with steel faceguard is a must. £50 | slazenger.com
3. Newbery SPS2 Camo Batting Gloves Soft cotton offers comfort, a leather backing promises protection and a camo pattern means you’ll blend in. If you’re batting in a snow-coated jungle. £50 | prodirectcricket.com
4. adidas Pro 2 Wicketkeeping Gloves Good for keeping wicket, even better for high-fiving successful bowlers, these come with ClimaCool tech, reinforced fingers and Octogrip palms. Owzat? £70 | 0870 240 4204
5. Puma Evospeed Cricket Spikes Puma have brought Usain Bolt’s favourite ‘light, flex and fit’ criteria to the cricket world. Pre-match chicken nuggets optional, but highly recommended. £95 | puma.com
6. Gunn & Moore Super Lightweight Pads Extended ankle, calf and thigh protection makes these a top buy. Plus they’re great for sliding around concrete floors on your knees, just so you know. £123 | prodirectcricket.com
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Rules of
A player is not deemed to be cheating if between his last round and the next, he lies about his whereabouts, slips down to Urban Golf and enjoys a spot of midweek practice, and shall not be reprimanded by the fossils on the committee for such a deliberate act.
World Number One, Luke Donald, says the new aboutGolf™ simulator will “improve any golf game”. We have twenty. You can use them to practice, play up to 60 different championship courses, or have a lesson with one of our PGA coaches. Using the best equipment to play better isn’t cheating. To book an hour this week, go to www.urbangolf.co.uk or call 020 7248 6800. Urban Golf rules.
Extra time Entertainment
The good life
BLU-RAY
Laughs, Arnie and a new Brit flick in the week ahead. See you at the party, reader! FILM
Comes a Bright Day Great to see a British thriller that doesn’t have Danny Dyer yelling “nawty” all over it, as Timothy Spall, Imogen Poots and Craig Roberts (superb in 2010’s Submarine) make up an exceptional cast of captives trapped in a jewellery store as a heist goes wrong. Reviews have praised the atmosphere and acting, but a poor script apparently makes the film a mixed bag. Maybe they needed to throw a few “nawties” in there.
MUSIC
Total Recall: Ultimate Rekall Edition Before the upcoming remake arrives, it’s the ideal time to watch Total Recall, complete with Arnold Schwarzenegger one-liners, a kung fu-kicking Sharon Stone and a three-breasted woman. Frankly, Colin Ballykissangel’s version has a lot to live up to – not least because this twisting sci-fi story of erased
BOOK
memories and dubious realities isn’t your typical Arnie actioner. Watch it now and it’s easy to spot its influence on films from The Matrix to The Bourne Identity. Out on Monday, this digitally restored edition has extras including the big man on commentary, totally recalling what it was like on set.
FILM
Batman: Earth One Geoff Johns
Greenwich Comedy Festival
Batman’s origin is given a modern re-imagining in this new graphic novel, which stars butler Alfred as a gun-toting badass and the Penguin as Gotham mayor. Met with hit US reviews before some new film apparently out soon.
Chuckle-inducers such as Dylan Moran (below), Mark Watson, Richard Herring and Peep Show’s Isy Suttie take part in this eight-day festival, which opens tonight in the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College. The open-air River Bar also allows you to grab a locally brewed pint or seven in the breaks between the acts.
Life is Good Nas
Detachment
He’ll never make a hip-hop album as good as his 1994 debut Illmatic, but then nor has anyone else. Instead, Life is Good shows what Nas does now: magpie-catchy beats from a variety of producers. As always, he’s at his most eloquent on the topic of New York City (such as inThe Don), while Amy Winehouse’s vocals are used by her musical hero on the soulful Cherry Wine.
Adrien Brody plays a substitute teacher who takes in a teenage prostitute (note to sub-teachers: not a great career move), but it’s inside-the-classroom struggles that are really wearing him down in this gritty drama. Said to feature Brody’s finest performance since his Oscar-winning turn in The Pianist, Detachment is in cinemas from today.
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EVENT