Thursday 19 November 2009

The Greatest Sporting Icon of the Noughties

An online debate was sparked by Josh Pettitt in the Cardiff Journalism School newsroom which has spread across WordPress and Twitter flaming debate.

The Greatest Sporting Icon of the Noughties is the issue, and personally I feel there is only one possible choice.

Men such as Michael Schumacher, Lance Armstrong and Ricky Pointing have all been hugely successful since 2000.

Though Michael Brown’s suggestion of Usain Bolt raised a very valid point, and one which goes straight to the crux of the issue.

Bolt, since blasting onto the sprinting scene with his blistering world-record times at Beijing of 9.69s (100m) and 19.30s (200m), has seen the Jamaican become a sporting icon: as an example to youngsters; a remarkable and unique physical specimen; but also with his trademark bolt stance.

Usain and his trademark Bolt

Icons

Cathy Freeman was iconic at the Sydney Olympics. In her head-to-toe suit she carried the hopes of Australia and her Aboriginal heritage.

Freeman iconic at Sydney in 2000

There are many images of Andrew Flintoff during the 2005 Ashes, from celebrating wickets to consoling Brett Lee at Trent Bridge after the Australian tail-end almost pulled off a remarkable victory.

There are many other examples but frankly only David Beckham can really justify the tag of The Greatest Sporting Icon of the Noughties.

The Player

For a start: the cornrows, the shaved head, the mohawk and now the mullet.

Beckham’s hair alone and the attention it has received and inspired others to follow is probably enough to give him this accolade, but his actions have been far more important over ten-years.

Since scoring from the half-way against Neil Sullivan’s Wimbledon on 17th August 1996, he was an instant superstar.
His last-gasp-goal at Old Trafford against Greece in 2001 shattered the ill feeling the nation felt towards him after that incident against Argentina in 1998.

Steve McClaren’s decision to leave him out of his teams for the failed qualification campaign for the 2008 European Championships was later seen as a huge factor in England’s poor performance; and the reinstatement of Beckham to win a record number of caps for an outfield England player (109) by Fabio Capello – a world renowned manager and judge of ability – shows the class the man oozes.

He has played for four of the most glamorous clubs in the world: Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan and LA Galaxy and enjoyed success at all (the Galaxy having just reached the final of MLS).

Although the latter may not be the most famous or decorated club, the money they spent on Brand Beckham put previous feeble attempts by US franchises to promote the sport with the likes of Franz Beckenbauer, Pele, Johan Cruff and George Best – some of the greatest players to have ever played the game – into perspective, and demonstrate the importance the man carries as an icon and player second.

He has been BBC Sports Personality of the Year, inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame and twice runner-up in FIFA’s World Player of the Year.

The Brand

His marriage to Posh Spice propelled him even further into superstardom in 1999, for a decade which was to see Beckham move the attention on footballers from the back pages to gossip columns and magazines.

He has fronted multi-million pound advertising campaigns from Police, Calvin Kline, Gillette to even Sharpie pens, and was even reportedly bought by Real over Ronaldinhio because of his ability to sell shirts as a world-wide sporting icon.

He was one of football’s pioneers to negotiate image rights into his contracts: simply, put a picture of David Beckham and any other sports star to anyone in the world – and Beckham will be recognised considerably more.

He was named in the Time 100 last year, has been recognised by the Queen with a CBE and has been a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF.

***

Beckham may not be the most loved, or may not have won the most amount of football’s prizes since 1st January 2000, but as a sporting icon, he is light-years ahead.

Though he may not be the sharpest knife in the draw

The other contenders:

Roger Federer

Ryan Giggs

Zinedine Zidane

Lance Armstrong

Michael Schumacher

Usian Bolt

Cristiano Ronaldo

Shane Warne

Ireland Call for FIFA to Maintain Principles

Well Done is Better than Well Said
John Delaney, President of the Football Association of Ireland has summed up the issue perfectly. FIFA must adhere to this and replay the World Cup qualifier if they wish to maintain their integrity.
The France captain, Thierry Henry, clearly handled the ball in extra time to give France an equalising goal on the night, and a winning score in the tie to qualify for South Africa 2010.

FIFA talks constantly of fair play, sportsmanship and ambassadors in the game, but to allow France to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa through such an act of cheating would be a travesty, and would destroy all trust and confidence in the organisation as well as the integrity of the game.

Wednesday 4 November 2009

Johnson Takes One Step Forward and Two Steps Back

The England team to face Australia on Saturday is a bizarre mix of a positive, forward thinking backline behind a dull Leicester dominated pack.

Shane Geraghty who has been in fantastic form for Northampton since his switch from London Irish is named along-side 2003 superstar Jonny Wilkinson - named for the first time in 18-months. Dan Hipkiss at outside-centre offers a powerful yet quick and thoughtful runner; while Matt Banahan on the wing will be a key member of England’s future.

World Cup winner Steve Thompson makes a miraculous start – a fit Dylan Hartley surely would have got the nod. But it is behind the front row where questions should be asked, as Leicester and conservatism dominate.

Martin Johnson clearly sees something in captain Steve Borthwick. He is by no means world class, though he must offer strong leadership off the pitch, and he does act as some stability in the England side – a side which has been constantly changing since Johnson took the helm.

Partnering Borthwick is Leicester lock Louis Deacon. He is a solid Premiership player, but does not stand out and does not suggest he is ready to make the grade at international level.

With the mysterious shunning of Nick Kennedy, putting faith in 20-year old Courtney Lawes – named on the bench – would at least have shown some ambition.

Lawes is young and will be a staple in the England team in years to come. He is dynamic around the park, and although inexperienced – he can only gain this and improve with game time.

The back-row is less controversial. Lewis Moody secured his place by winning the 7-shirt off Steffon Armitage during Leicester’s win over Harlequins last week; and Tom Croft is one of the few certain starters given his performances in South Africa during the summer.

But it is Jordan Crane’s selection over James Haskell which is largely Johnson trying to prove a point. He stated in the summer those who left to ply their trade in France would be overlooked for national selection.

Haskell, who learnt from the best in Lawrence Dallaglio at Wasps, is probably the team manager’s attempt to save face after injury, necessity and ability has forced him to name two regular starters in France’s Top 14 in his starting XV.

The game kicks off at 2.30pm (GMT) at Twickenham and is live on Sky Sports 2.

England Team to face Australia on Saturday, November 7 at Twickenham, London

U Monye (Harlequins); M Cueto (Sale Sharks), D Hipkiss (Leicester), S Geraghty (Northampton), M Banahan (Bath); J Wilkinson (Toulon), D Care (Harlequins);


T Payne (Wasps), S Thompson (Brive), D Wilson (Bath), L Deacon (Leicester), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), T Croft (Leicester), L Moody (Leicester), J Crane (Leicester).



Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), D Bell (Bath), C Lawes (Northampton), J Haskell (Stade Francais), P Hodgson (London Irish), A Goode (Brive), A Erinle (Biarritz).