Sports Fix <Sports-Fix>

Sprinting into retirement 672 giorni fa
 


Former Olympic and world 100m champion Maurice Greene has announced his retirement.

The 'Kansas Cannonball' hangs up his spikes with an impressive array of Olympic and World titles to his name, not to mention the two world records he is still owner of.

Niggling injuries have been cited as the reason for releasing himself from the pressures of the track, but the current state of world athletics could not have been too difficult to walk away from.

A sport polluted with drug cheats and doping investigations – the glamour of the games will need to be carefully polished to recapture the imagination of the public who now read more pages on bans than races.

Greene was never found guilty of any drug involvement but the sudden explosion in his performances from 2000 and his muscular tight frame led many to suspect some sort of 'juice' was involved.

Lets be clear he has never been guilty of drug taking but are we sure there is anyone clean in successful 100m sprinting?

A 33 year old winning a gold medal at the Olympics in Beijing with no drug shadow hanging over him would have been unlikely. The Marion Jones admission and guilt shook the sport and the next big bust is just around the corner. With medals now being stripped retrospectively were the Olympics just a risk too far?

Whether or not you like to believe in the honesty and integrity of your favourite athletes it is clear that athletics and 100m sprinting in particular is swimming in very murky waters. I heard it recently compared to dvd piracy or illegal music downloading, and this is a frightening proposition.

Maurice Greene leaves for us a legacy of success and a hole in the theatre of sprinting. The sport leaves Maurice Greene with wealth beyond his imagination but a question mark at the end of his name.
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Muttiah Muralitharan734 giorni fa
 
So at last Muttiah Muralitharan finally passes Shane Warne's record of the highest test wicket taker of all time.

But still the question remains is he better than the Australian? Well Australians don't think so that's for sure. But lets face it, there's a pretty simple answer to the question. Yes.

If there's one sport that can rely on the stats to prove a point then it's cricket. The Sri Lankan has not only taken more wickets, he's done it in fewer matches and at a better average than Warne - and he's still playing.

Those in the Warne camp will call Murali a cheat amid claims he's a chucker. But infact the Sri Lankan, after numerous tests which concluded he bowls within the law, has never been banned from Cricket.Unlike gues who? Yep, Mr Warne who was barred from playing in 2003 for testing positive for a diuretic!

By the way the unenviable honour of being Murali's 710th victim fell on England's Paul Collingwood who ironically enough was fooled by an off-spinner that the bowler admitted afterwards so supposed to turn in completely the opposite direction! Oh well no one's perfect.
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McClaren's finally gone...and good riddance746 giorni fa
 
No-one wanted Steve McLaren in the first place. He'd been average at Boro and but was suddenly good enough to manage England??? Last night was the worst night in English football for a very long time and it wouldn't have happened if we'd gone for Martin O'Neill or waited for Phil Scolari last summer. Lets hope someone can persuade Jose Mourinho to come and save us. Doubt it.
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New balls please...Sports Fix cricket rant...753 giorni fa
 
the MCC are spending loads of money on testing out a pink cricket ball to replace the white one used in one day matches. They think it'll be easier to see for the players especially under flood lights.

I wonder what kind of money's being wasted on this pointless exercise. Why do they need to spend a whole winter deciding if it's easier to see a flourecent t ball compared to a scuffed up old muddy white one? surely it's obvious that a big pink blob coming down at you is way easier to pick up even if it's Steve harmison at his devastating best .

Maybe we should be worrying more about investing in actually teaching emerging English talent how to hit the the ball properly without giving away their wickets - forget what colour it is!
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A note from the Everton fan here at Sports Fix...755 giorni fa
 
'There's nobody better than Mikel Arteta, he's the best little Spaniard we know'.

That's what Everton fans sing when they watch their beloved Blues being orchestrated by the little midfield magician from San Sebastian.

Arteta is some player. He would have to be! After all he beat off the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney to be crowned the inaugrual North West Premier League Footballer of the Year.

Despite not being recognised by his country as yet to the disbelief of most of those who have seen him play at Goodison Park, the former Rangers star has become a thorn in most Premier League outfits' sides.

And far from bemoan his misfortune at being behind Cesc Fabregas and Xabi Alonso in the Spain pecking order, Arteta has being wowing crowds, winning plaudits universally.

While Ronaldo picked up every gong going last season and the excellent form shown by both Fabregas and Rooney this season, you might have expected one of the seasoned internationals to receive the accolade.

But instead it was Arteta, who has plugged away to drive Everton into Europe, who has pipped them all to the prize.

Proof that outside the Premier League's respected top-four, there is an abundance of talent readily on display.

Evertonians will now be hoping that Arteta can push the club on as David Moyes look to once again break into the top-four.

Many people had expected Tottenham to do so, could it be Everton or will Newcastle United, Portsmouth or Manchester City be the unfancied side planning for Chaampions League football next season.
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Oh dear England...756 giorni fa
 
England need a miracle to qualify for Euro 2008.

Let's be honest, the damage was done that afternoon at Old Trafford last October when a team boasting the country's finest failed to break down the minnows of Macedonia.

Everyone expected England to win Group E with ease when the draw for the 2008 European Championships qualifying campaign was made.

And while even the most committed fan might have feared the trips to Croatia and Russia, England should have had enough in the locker.

But the wheels came off the qualifying campaign with that embarrassing lack-lustre goalless draw at the home of Manchester United and Steve McClaren's honeymoon as national team boss was over.

Now it would seem that England's hopes of playing in Austria and Switzerland next summer are too and so could be the manager's reign.

There is some hope, however distant and unlikely it may be.

i) Israel must take something off Russia on Saturday, because there's no way you would ever say that Guus Hiddink's men would slip up in Andorra

ii) Croatia, who only need a point to get over the finals line have got to lose in Macedonia - you can't see them slipping up there - as well as at Wembley

At least the Scots know that if they upset the odds and continue their amazing giant-killing form by beating world champions Italy at Hampden Park on Saturday they will be there.

Alex McLeish's Bravehearts have beaten France home and away and are sure to give their customary passion and pride as the Tartan Army get ready to dust off its best tournament kilts.

How different would England's campaign have been had McClaren's men shown such battling qualities?
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