Vegas look out Ricky's Army are coming

As everyone one knows I'm a big Sports fan and one Sport I love is Boxing in fact its probably the ultimate Sport. Well every so often it throws together two fighters that you just know are going to produce a Classic.
In fact seven days from now in Las Vegas the sport has come up with one such fight in fact its been built as the fight of the 21st Century, it will decide who is the best welterweight on the Planet.

So who is fighting well the favorite is American Floyd "Pretty Boy" Mayweather who by many experts is considered the best pound for pound boxer in the World. He shows a record of 38 wins in 38 fights with 24 knockouts, he has won 5 world titles at 4 different weights. His best wins are probably against Jose Luis Castillo, Felix Trinadad and Oscar De La Hoya.
Mayweather is a bit of a poser riding around in flash cars and boasting how good he is, so I reckon all the American fans will be quietly confident.

However over here in England we have our own man in Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton whom himself has won 4 world titles at two weights. Ricky is also unbeaten with a record of 43 wins from 43 fights 31 of which were knockouts. His best wins coming against Australian Kostya Tszyu, Luis Collazo, Juan Urango & Juan Luis Castillo (Hatton stopped Castillo Mayweather went the distance).

Hatton is quite a contrast to Mayweather, he's a typical northern down to earth lad who is straight talking and likes nothing more than a game of darts in his local pub with the lads.
His weight as fluctuated dramatically between fights, probably something to do with his love of Guiness and Takaway Food. Ricky's battle with the bulge

Jokingly he has had numerous Tee Shirts printed in the build up to this fight calling himself "Ricky Fatton" featuring his head on some fat blokes body. However don't believe one word of it, he is one of the fittest fighters of all time and will pressurise his opponent from the first bell. Mayweather seems to be coming 2nd best at most of the verbals he even resorted to wearing a Manchester Utd shirt to try wind up Manchester City fan Hatton at one press conference, hell he doesn't know how many of us really hate him know.

Mayweather may have the advantage of fighting on home soil but Las Vegas is set for a British invasion as many as 30,000 are making the 5,000 mile journey to support our boy. I can't wait for next Saturday two unbeaten superstars what more can you ask.

I don't know if its an omen but this week our Amateur Boxers gave their American counterparts a bit of a drubbing by 9 bouts to 2. read this GB V USA


Anyway for now I'll leave you with this tribute to Ricky Hatton, Mr Mayweather you need to be frightened very frightened.


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I reckon I'm Busy

Yesterday at work we had a visit from a large group of people representing the new owners. I took a few of them around part of the site, I think they are just getting a feel for what they have bought.
When we had finished a tour one of the senior ones told me he is coming back to site to talk with me next week.

On a different subject England Football team failed to qualify for the European Championships last night when they were beaten 3-2 by Croatia. To be honest they were garbage but manager Steve McClarens selections & tactics were a complete disgrace. This morning he has just been sacked, not before time in my opinion.
To drop your goalkeeper and play a young lad in his first competitive international match was stupidity, the lad bottled it and his career is probably destroyed.
Why was Wayne Bridge playing and Ashley Cole on the bench, there is no comparison. Why play with only one striker ? I could go on but the result says it all.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom last night, I had a good night at Pool. It was the Local Pubs annual competition Semi & Finals night. I’d qualified for the Semi and was drawn to play my mate Lofty. It started badly when he won the first two frames of a best of five match, he then was on top in the third and got down to relatively easy Black. Of course his mental block against me kicked in (can’t beat me at anything) and he bottled it big style.
As they say “the rest is history” as I turned up the heat to win the remaining frames in style.
The 2nd semi also went to five and was won by my League team mate Phil. Two long matches and we started the (best of seven) Final at about 10.40pm, it was going to be a late one. Once again the match went to the wire although I was never behind 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3 to set up a grand finale. Again my nerve under pressure held firm into the early hours as I took the frame to be crowned Champion.

Tonight I’m out again playing Table Tennis for Lofty’s team in the local league so of course I’m sure I’ll mention the Pool, hell you’ve got to when you have the Bragging rights.
Hope I play better than I did in the York League on Tuesday, I was abysmal losing three straight to a Player I always normally beat. Our team got a bit of a drubbing 8-2 although I was involved in both our points, one singles and a doubles.

On another note I've not been doing too well on the weight loss I reckon, I've been eating and drinking too much lately. I've not weighed in so you never know. I've another leaving do on Friday night, its paid for by the company and about 60 people are going. A night of free drink and food is always fun.

Ah well that’s my update, take care everyone.

Sport Sunday - Well done Brits

Well Done to Boxer Joe Calazaghie who was impressive in winning his World Super Middleweight Fight against Mikkel Kessler.

Well done to Golfer Justin Rose who topped the PGA European Order of Merit following his victory in Valderama.

Well done to recent Mum Paula Radcliffe who won the Ladies Race in the New York Marathon.

Well done to the GB Rugby League Team who thrashed New Zealand 44-0 in the 2nd test.

Some Weekends its just great to be a Brit.

Sport Sunday - One Down One to go

This weekend England were hoping for two World Champions but alas it wasn't to be for our first attempt in the Rugby Union World Cup Final. They lost 15-6 to South Africa in a tough if not spectacular game. But at the end of the day you have to hold your hands up and say well done South Africa you were the best team in the tournament and deserved your success.

I think the players can come home with their heads held high, they lost to a very good team but had their chances and could have won had a bit of luck gone their way.

The match hinged on a Try that England scored that was disallowed by the 4th Official (surprisingley Australian, thanks). It was dissallowed after studying the replays for quite a long time, we problay lost the World cup by millimetres.

You judge was his toe over the line :-

So far its been a bad week for England on Wednesday our Football team lost 2-1 in Russia and we now need a miracle to qualify for the European Championships. To be honest I wasn't surprised cos our manager Steve McClaren is a complete muppet, has never done anything in Football and never will, time for a change I think.

While on Football I've got to mention the Mighty Whites, another win yesterday, still unbeaten with 10 wins and 2 draws from our 12 matches and we've moved into the top ten (9th) in the division. Amazing achievement after giving everyone 15 points start. Yesterdays Goal Scorer was the prolific Tresor Kandol seen below celebrating with our manager Dennis Wise.

I've got to mention one of our rival clubs in Division One Hartlepool was hit by a tradgedy this week when one of their up and coming starlets Michael Maiden was killed in a car crash. There game was cancelled yesterday and my thoughts go out to his family & friends.

Back to World Champions and we stiil have a shot with Lewis Hamilton in the Brazilian Grand Prix. He leads the standings by the narrowest of Margins from Fernado Alonso & Kiki Raikkonen. He will start todays race (5pm out time) 2nd on the grid with his two rivals just behind him. Home town driver Fillipe Massa took pole in his Ferrari and will be trying to help team mate Raikkonen I reckon.

Hamilton is only 20 years old and if he wins will become both the youngest driver to win the title and also the first to win in his rookie season. Good Luck Lewis a country is right behind you.

A big sporting Saturday

First up this afternoon it was Football with England doing their chances in the European Championships a big boost with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Estonia. All the goals were in the first half then they sort of took their foot off the gas. Leeds United kept their unbeaten run going but were held to a draw at Elland road by early pace setters Leyton Orient. The Londoners even had a man sent off in an eventful match played in front of the divisions biggest crowd of the season.

Orient took a first half lead but Seb Carole equalised and Leeds had a great chance to win it but Tresor Kandol missed a late penalty, we'll forgive him he's scored a few this season.

Then this evening Leeds has become a very proud City following a great performance by their Rugby League team the "Rhinos", they overcame favorites St Helens in fact the thumped them 33-6 with a fantastic performance.

One of my friends Lofty and his wife "Anonymous" (well thats what she signs on my blog) are big fans so I reckon he can buy the beers at Pool on Monday.

Its been a great season for Yorkshires Rugby League Clubs with Castleford Tigers and Featherstone Rovers winning their respective play offs last week.

Finally it was the turn of Englands Rugby Union Team to play France in the World Cup Semi-Final in Paris. Well four years ago we won it and lets just say we will be defending it next week, result was a 14-9 victory for our boys, it was nearly as good as Argincort, by we just love beating the French.

In next weeks final we will face either South Africa or Argentina who play tomorrow.

Sport Sunday - Almost a Perfect Weekend

I haven't done a Sunday Sport Post for quite a while as I've just been concentrating on my main love for Leeds United. However this weekend has been good as I say almost perfect.


Obviously as mentioned yesterday the Mighty Whites continued their unbeaten run with a hard fought 1-0 victory over a good Yeovil team, the start to the season has been fantastic almost unbelivable. Following the 15 point deduction a lot of people expected the club to lay down and die, sorry folks you were wrong this is the start of something big. Momentum is building we look unstoppable.
Anyway as we are ten matches into the season I thought I'd post this video of the season so far, hell I'm so chuffed.



The Soccer team wern't the only one's to make the City of Leeds proud this weekend because Rugby League Side the Rhinos stuffed Lancashire Outfit Wigan Warriors 36-6 on Friday night to reach the Super League Grand Final. They will face favorites St Helens in the final but on their day the Rhinos are capable of beating anyone. The City of Leeds is buzzing with the success of their sports teams anything is possible.

Talking of anything is possible the Rugby Union World Cup Quarter Finals were played this weekend, England despite been champions just haven't really performed in the four years since that great day and everyone expected them to be hammered by one of the favorites Australia. But guess what a 12-10 victory sets up a semi-final clash with host nation France who also had a great win over the New Zealand All Blacks. Now who said the southern hemisphere sides are much stronger ?

Boxing and our up and coming superstar Amir Khan continued his rise to the world title with his 15th succesive victory over Scott Lawton to retain the commonwealth crown. The lad is only 20 years old but looks to have the speed and power to become a all time great.

I did say it was almost a perfect weekend because this was supposed to be when Lewis Hamilton became the youngest ever Formula One world champion. However a mistake in not changing his tyres soon enough in the China Grand Prix cost him as he crashed out. He still leads the championship but only by four points and it all goes down to the last race.

While I'm doing a article I thought I'd post this its probably the best song ever, I'm sure Airliebird will agree anyway.

Sport Sunday - Legends

On my recent vacation I was lucky enough to see and get a photo of this lady and she surely is one of the all time legends in the world of sport.
It is of course former romanian gymnast Nadia Comeneci who as a 14 year old in the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal became the first person to score a perfect "10". She did it on the Isometric Bars and in her Olympic Career recorded another five perfect scores. She enentually won 5 gold medals and numerous silver & bronze in her time in the sport.
In fact back in 1976 the scoreboards were not equiped to show "10" and her score actually came up as "1.00".

Anyway I would put this alongside the greatest sport performances of all time, performances that lift the standards for all others would you not agree ?

What other famous performances can you think of that are worthy of been classed legendary ?

I'd suggest some of these may be considered :-
Bob Beamons Long Jump World record that stood for about 30 years.
Roger Bannisters 4 minute mile, the first to achieve it.
Mark Spitz 7 golds at the same olympics
Steve Redgrave Gold in Rowing at 5 succesive Olympics

I sure you can come up with others ?

Sunday Sport - Only Winning Counts

Well for a fan of English Sport the saying "only winning counts" is haunting us this week, its just been a week of 2nds.

I'll start today with the Formula One motor racing and the prestigeous Monaco Grand Prix. Our boy Lewis Hamilton started the day leading the World Championship standings but was beating into 2nd place by Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard also leap frogged him in the overall table. I will add Lewis is doing fantastic in his first season at this level and is surely a future World Champion.

Also today another of our up and coming stars golfer Justin Rose lost in a play off for the PGA Championship to Denmarks Anders Hansen. Unlucky Justin but your time will surely come.

One sport we look like getting a win is in the Cricket Test match were we are totally dominating against the West Indies but alas the rain as arrived at Headingly and unless it changes the match will be abandoned as a draw.

While on Cricket even Yorkshire lost their first county Championship match of the season but one piece of good news is we still top the table.

Earlier in the week English team Liverpool were beaten 2-1 by Italians AC Milan in the European Champions League final despite been the best team and dominating much of the game.

While we are talking European Champions I'd like to wish former Leeds United Manager Jimmy Armfield all the best in his recovery from cancer. Jimmy was the manager that took Leeds to the European Cup Final back in 1975 when we were robbed by blatent bad decisions such as Clarks Penalty and Lorimers goal.

In fact I remember that day in Paris well, I was a teenager and making my first foreign trip it certainly got a bit scary when the fans got fed up with the cheating and tried to take the law into their own hands.

My Story - Paris 75

Was we cheated you judge for yourself :-

Sunday Sport - The point of no return

Disaster struck yesterday with Leeds going down 1-0 to Southampton, things started to go wrong in the 34th minute when Alan Thompson was sent off reducing us to ten men. The team battled bravely and hung on for almost an hour until Southampton sealed it with a late goal.
With two matches to play Ipswich (home) & Derby (away) we have now reached the point of no return.

Still on Soccer the MLS is looking interesting and its hard to pick a dominate team, nobody has won their three opening games.. I see this week New York Bulls have signed Colombian striker Juan Pablo Angel from Aston Villa, he knows where the net is and I reckon he'll score a lot of goals.

New York Red Bulls are joint top of the East section with Chicago Fire with both teams on 7 points from their first three matches. Chivas USA are top in the west also on 7 points but Colorado Rapids can equal that if they win their game in hand today.

On to Cricket and England are out of the World Cup after been trounced by South Africa (who seem to be coming good at the right time).

So we'll move on to the domestic scene and the county championships as they started this week. Yorkshire got off to a flyer beating Surrey by well over 300 runs. We look to have a decent team this year and could win it, no fewer than 4 players scored centuries Jaques Rudolph, Jason Gillesbie, Tim Bresnan & Craig White. Young Spin sensation Rashid took a few wickets and chipped in with 86 runs in the first innings.

New captain Darren "Dazzler" Gough bowled well but it was Matthew "Hoggy" Hoggard that did the real damage with four key wickets in the 2nd innings. Now which two bowlers should have been in the England team ?

Today its the London Marathon and who in their right minds wants to run 26 miles is beyond me but two of the World great distance legends are taking part Kenya's Paul Tergat and Ethiopian Haille Gebrselassie. There will be around 30,000 people in the event many raising money for numerous good causes.

The World Snooker championships have started and to be honest I usually find the early rounds boring but this year the first round has paired together two of the Worlds greats "Rocket" Ronnie O'Sullivan and Chinese sensation Ding Junui, expect fireworks.

Sunday Sport

Yesterday it was the most famous Steeplechase in the World "The Grand National", this year won by a 33-1 shot "Silver Birch". Before anyone asks I didn't back the winner I went for Hedgehunter which finished 9th. The race is over 4.5 miles and the horses have to jump 30 fences.Silver Birch (left) clears the last.

I actually once attended Aintree for this great event back in 1977, I was actually at Canal turn so only saw the horses pass twice but I will always remember it cos it was of course the year "Red Rum" won for the third time, the only horse ever to achieve this. I was in the City of Liverpool that day because Leeds actually played Liverpool in the Morning.

While we are on to Soccer last week I reported Leeds had pulled out of the relegation zone with victory on Saturday. Well they dropped back in on Monday when they threw away the lead at Colchester to lose 2-1.
However yesterday we beat Burnley 1-0 thanks to a goal from Matt Heath and although we are still in the relegation zone (3rd bottom) Hull, Barnsley and Leicester are clearly in our sites, we only need to move up one place. Luton look down and Southend arn't looking good.

The Cricket World cup is still going on and Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka look nailed on for the Semi-Finals but England are still in there fighting. It looks like we'll have to beat South Africa to qualify.

Today was the third Formula one Grand Prix of the season and it has just been won by Phillipe Massa, Our boy Lewis Hamilton continued his great form finising 2nd. What a start to a carreer for a rookie in his first 3 races he has now finished on the podium in every race (3rd, 2nd, 2nd). I know there is still a long way to go but Hamilton is in a 3 way tie at the top of the World championship standings with former Champions Alonso and Raikennen, he couldn't win it could he ?

I'll mention Rugby league for my blog friend Airliebird as her side recorded a good victory over Salford and now seem to be getting their act together. Super League looks tight this year but St Helens seem to be getting into gear however Leeds Rhinos, Bradford Bulls & Wakefield are all putting up a good Yorkshire challenge. I'll leave it to Airliebird to tell you about the player in the photo.Back to Soccer and I see over the Atlantic the MLS has started, I'm not sure how it works so if anyone can explain please do. Teams seem to be split into two divisions "East" & "West" with 7 teams in the East section but only 6 in the west. However it also appears there is some crossover of matches because today two teams who won their opening encounters Colorado Rapids from the West section entertain Chicago Fire from the East.The stadium above belongs to Colorado and is where todays match will take place. I haven't yet decided which team I'm going to support but and I'm not taking sides today as I have a blog friend in each place (Jenny "Colorado" & Regina "Chicago").

Todays other match New York Red Bulls play FC Dallas.

David Beckham had better get a move on as his team LA Galaxy have only one point to show from their opening two games.

League Standings :-

East - Kansas City Wizzards pld1 - 3pts, Chicago Fire 1 - 3, New England Revolution 2 - 3, Columbus Crew 2 - 2, New York Red Bulls 1 - 1, DC United 2 - 0, Toronto FC 2 - 0.

West - FC Dallas pld2 - 4pts, Houston Dynamo 2 - 4, Chivas USA 2 - 3, Colorado Rapids 1 - 3, Real Salt Lake 2 - 2, LA Galaxy 2 - 1.

Sunday Sport - The Great Escape

Yes "The Great Escape" is on, for four months my team Leeds United have been stuck at the bottom of the Championship table, the football world have been writing us off. But Yesterday we won again making 5 matches without defeat and the big news is we are out of the relegation zone. 4th bottom is a result believe me we will settle for that, the light at the end of the tunnel is shinning again.

Yesterdays 2-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle was massive, once again we went behind but the team backed by our fanatical supporters (biggest crowd of the season) never gave up. That man David Healy grabbed an equaliser just before half time and with 5 minutes left on the clock our Slovakian Centre Half Lubomir Michalik (photo below) rose highest to head home the winner.

Its been a massive weekend for Sport, today I'm going to watch the final round of the US Masters Golf it looks like it could be really close. I wish I was in Augusta watching it live that would be a great trip, maybe have to do it one day, it looks a great part of the world.

Australian Stuart Appleby is leading by one shot from Tiger Woods and Englishman Justin Rose (the one in red in photo), many others are in contention. Come on Justin.
In Formula One motor racing it was the 2nd round with the Malaysian Grand Prix, it was one by McClaren driver Fernando Alonso but another great performance from young Englishman Lewis Hamilton who came in 2nd.

In Boxing Welshman Joe Calazaghe made 20 succesfull defences of his Super Middleweight World Title by stopping his opponent, he is some boxer.

Rowing gets a mention this week as it was that event again "The Boat Race". For those that don't know anything about it the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford race along the River Thames in London over a distance 4 times greater than the Olympic distance. Its been going on for years and is an old English tradition, this years race was won by Cambridge.

England have been playing Holland at Tennis in the Davis Cup and won yesterday at 3-0 up so today's singles are irrelevant. Andy Murray and Tim Henman won their singles on the first day and yesterday a doubles win for Greg Rusedski and James Murray sealed the match.
Afterwards Greg announced his retirement and I reckon he's done pretty well (15 career titles) since moving to our country from his native Canada. He once held the record for the fastest serve (149mph). The Cricket world cup is still going on and its not looking great for England reaching the Semi-Finals following their 2 run defeat by Sri Lanka. Today they play Australia who have looked unbeatable so far.
Well done though to Bangladesh who yesterday beat one of the favorites South Africa. Violence reared its ugly head in Europe this week, first in Rome with clashes between the home sides Ultra's and travelling fans of Manchester United. Although I hate the Red Vermin of Manchester what happend was totally out of order. Of course the local police do what they always do in Rome and attack the English supporters with their batons and let the locals get
away with it. This always seems to happen in Italy the Police are bigger thugs than the fans at times, Similar things happend when Leeds went there, Liverpool also got a hammering.
I'll also point out Roma's so called Ultra's are a bunch of cowards and usually only attack other fans when they have significant more in numbers as happend against Middlesborough last season.
Not to miss out the Spanish Police of Seville did a similar Baton Charge into Tottenham supporters the following night. Why are some countries living in a time warp ?
While we are talking of Football violence it was this week seven years ago that two Leeds Supporters Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight were slaughtered on the streets of Istanbul at the hands of the scum that follow Galaterasary. You will always be remembered lads.

Billy's statue became a shrine to the two fans.

Every Leeds fans in Turkey actually turned their backs to the match in protest to it taking place following the murder of their friends.

Sunday Sport - Off the Bottom

The giant is stirring, Leeds United for the first time in weeks are off the foot of the table. Now unbeaten in our last four matches there is real belief that the dreaded drop can be avoided. Ok we are still in the relegation zone but are on our best run of the season a number of our stars are returning from injury. 6 matches to go 6 cup finals to play but we will escape.

Fridays match against promotion chasing Preston was a classic and Leeds always looked the better side despite the league table saying different. Ok Preston scored first after 5 minutes but Leeds pushed and pushed util they wore their Lancashire rivals down. Robbie Blake got a well taken equaliser after a great run by Creswell but it was left to man of the moment and arguably Europes top striker Northern Irelands David Healy to sneak in for the winner with only a minute to go.
Luton are now bottom and theve just signed Leeds ex manager Kevin Blackwell so thats them doomed then. I'll tip Southend, Barnsley or maybe QPR for the drop cos we are coming past them.

Other Sports well the Cricket World Cup is going on in the West Indies despite the sad murder of former England Player Bob Woolmer (pic below) who had been coaching the Pakistan Coach. Woolmer was murdered in his hotel room following Pakistans defeat to Ireland. Mystery still surrounds what happend and everyone from Betting Syndicates, Fanatical Supporters and even the teams players have been blamed.

As for the Cricket England are still in the Super 8 stage and have just beaten Ireland albeit a little non convincing. Australia are playing well and look almost unstoppable at times but with 8 teams still in it anything can happen.

Its the World Swimming Championships and the big news is that a French newspaper has printed allegations suggesting 5 times Olympic Champion Ian Thorpe (Australia) has used performance enhancing drugs. Thorpe denies this so we will have to watch this space. I for one will be dissapointed if its proved to have any truth because I see him as one of the Worlds great athletes.

Back to Soccer and its been a week of qualifiers and England have been pathetic again. A scoreless draw against the mighty Israel (5 matches one goal) just wasn't good enough. Of course we did score 3 in our next match but hell we should be looking for ten against the even mightier Andorra. Its time for manager Steve McClaren to go he clearly doesn't have a clue and continues to play players out of their best positions.

So far in qualifiers England have scored eight goals thats just one behind Nothern Irelands prolific David Healy who this week scored 5 in two matches against Liechtenstein & Sweden to put his country in with a great chance of qualification. He is Europes top scorer.