History will be kind to me because I intend to write it

London Sport Magazine:

Climbing Walls in London

September Event Previews

Labels: Climbing, London

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 11:00 am | Permalink | Comments

Burnley 2 Southampton 3 (23/9/06)

Southampton fans who made the long trip north left Burnley chuffed with a 3-2 victory - their first since 1971 at Turf Moor - and a sun tan. They were fortunate for both. The unseasonable sunshine had been unpredicted, unlike the result, which had been favoured by the bookies who reasoned Southampton would snatch an away win. Forward Grzegroz Rasiak, who has a knack of scoring against Burnley, fired a brace to propel the Saints to third in the table, only a point behind the leaders.

Bertie Bee - the Burnley mascot - was caught cursing the heat in the toilets before kick off, sweat dripping from his unmasked forehead. The heat soon caused tensions boil over in a fiercely competitive match between two teams who have started the season well.

After assisting his side's fourth-minute goal, home captain Wayne Thomas saw straight red in the 16th minute after needlessly elbowing Jhon Viafara to the ground in the wall, when it was Burnley’s free kick. Until then Thomas's team had looked assertive and in charge having scored with their first shot on goal.

From Michael Duff's long throw from the right, Thomas had flicked the ball onto a grateful Steve Jones - an impressive summer signing from Crewe - who pivoted and crashed the ball home.

Striker Andy Gray had scored in the first minute against Stoke in the previous match, and Burnley had held on to the win, but yesterday Thomas's hot-headedness cost his team ultimately. “It was unbelievable stupidity which cost us,” Steve Cotterill the angry Burnley manager said of his defender's challenge. "I'm convinced we would have gone on to win that.” Cotterill, when asked whether he will strip Thomas of his captaincy, said “I'll sleep on it.”

George Burley, the Southampton manager, agreed that his team were fortunate. "They are right to feel hard done by. They deserved something from the game from the way they battled with ten men. I wasn't particularly happy with they way we played. You have got to look at three goals and tremendous finishes. That's what has won us the match."

It took only two minutes for Southampton to equalise after Thomas' exit, as the home side struggled to reorganise their defence. A cross from Chris Makin, marauding down the left, found the head of Rasiak. These chances are the Polish international’s bread and butter, and he finished easily past Brian Jensen's outstretched left hand.

Although Burnley nosed themselves back in front before half time through a poorly defended free kick, from which Gray scored a glancing header into the bottom left hand corner, the heat soon sapped their energy in the second half.

Nine minutes after the restart Southampton left midfielder Rudi Skacel cut inside, found space and time to rifle a 20 yard drive past the sprawling Jensen. Rasiak's winner after 54 minutes, was almost identical to his first goal - a header assisted by Makin again. The two goals took him to eight goals for the season, and Southampton will be looking or more of his clinical finishing if they are to realise their lofty ambitions come May.

Man of the Match: Grzegroz Rasiak. Southampton's Polish striker showed some neat touches and the ability to out-think defenders. His two goals were the difference between the sides.

Attendance: 13,051

Burnley: Jensen; Duff, Thomas (c) (sent off 16), McGreal, Harley; Elliott (Sinclair 28), O'Connor, Hyde (Mahon 79), Jones (McCann 66); Noel-Williams, Gray (booked 61). Unused subs: Lafferty, Foster.

Southampton: Davis; Wright, Baird (c), Pele, Makin; Belmadi (Dyer 85), Idiakez, Viafara (booked 52), Skacel (Surman 84); Wright-Phillips (Jones 65), Rasiak. Unused subs: Miller, Bale.

Referee: D Drysdale, Lincolnshire.

Labels: Burnley, Championship, football, Southampton

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 12:24 pm | Permalink | Comments

Chris Coleman on Panorama programme, from Fulham Press Conference, 21/9/06:

Was Sam Allardyce right to be implicated?

‘Bollocks. What did we see? A lot of provocation; a lot of ifs, buts and maybes. Sam’s name was mentioned a lot, but because his son Craig has been involved in deals – but I don’t know Craig so well. Sam has come out and said that he has never been involved in anything like that, and I’ve no reason to believe he has. I totally believe him 100 per cent. He’s one of the best managers we’ve got in the game… There was no hard evidence to say that Sam Allardyce has taken a bung.

‘Does it go on in the game? Maybe, it’s been talked about for years. But without hard evidence, what are we going to do?’

Have you ever been offered a bung?

‘No, never. I can honestly say that I have never been offered a bung.’

Harry tapping up?

‘If that’s tapping up a player, then I’m guilty of it also. How else do you sign a player? An agent says, “so-and-so is not happy at a club, do you like him?” Of course! What are you going to say? “ No, I’ll tell you if I like him when he becomes available.” No, you say, “I like him, he’s a good player.” That’s the way it goes. I can’t see that as tapping up a player. He’s not called up the player himself, and said: “Do you fancy coming?”, that’s tapping up a player, and he’s not done that. There’s a lot of bullshit if I’m honest.’

Nathan Porritt – youngsters being touted without your knowledge?

‘I’m sure it has happened, because we have had players touted to us from other clubs. Unfortunately that’s the murky world of it now. It’s not just football, it happens in all business – the rules are bent by most people. I’ve been touted players from other clubs, and I’m sure agents have touted some of my players. What do you do? I don’t know.’

Labels: Chris Coleman, football, Fulham, Quest, Sam Allardyce

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 11:11 pm | Permalink | Comments

Eurosport: Wednesday 20 September

League Cup games

Villa beat Scunthorpe

Chesterfield shock Manchester City

Labels: Aston Villa, Chesterfield, football, League Cup, Manchester City, Scunthorpe

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 1:18 am | Permalink | Comments

Eurosport match reports

Blackburn 4 Manchester City 2

Tottenham 0 Fulham 0

West Ham United 0 Newcastle 2

Labels: Blackburn, football, Fulham, Manchester City, Newcastle, Premiership, Tottenham, West Ham United

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 8:35 pm | Permalink | Comments

Norwich 0 Crystal Palace 1, Carrow Road, 17/9/2006

In the September sunshine a roof-raising rendition of ‘On the ball, City’ - the oldest song in football, so the locals say - typified the optimistic atmosphere felt at Carrow Road before kick-off yesterday. The home supporters didn’t sing with such passion at the final whistle however. A crunching Shefi Kuqi header in added time for Crystal Palace - his first goal for the club - rewarded Palace’s second half dominance, and secured a vital one nil win to keep their hopes of promotion alive.

Fifth in the Championship going into the match, top scorers with 13 goals, and in Robert Earnshaw, the league’s top marksman - Norwich fans had every reason to be positive before kick-off. Added to all that, their opponents were on a woeful run, and had a defensive record as leaky as Delia Smith’s kitchen colander.

Both teams understood the importance of the game. While Palace were placed in twelfth - seven places behind their hosts - only a solitary point separated them. Indeed, yesterday morning only seven points separated Cardiff in second and Barnsley in 18th.

The first half was played with appropriate high-tempo and gusto, however without any end product. The home side edged the half, though Palace had, by some way, the best chance.

Michael Hughes, Palace’s skipper, was played through by his striker Clinton Morrison. The Republic of Ireland forward’s cute inside out pass left Hughes with a clear run on Paul Gallacher’s goal. Perhaps it was the amount of time he had been afforded to think about which way to shoot that caused him to scuff a shot which Gallacher parried with ease.

For Norwich their summer signing Lee Croft provided electricity down the right, and he was the man of the first half. His probing runs and pace were Norwich’s main threat.

After the break Norwich’s centre-back Gary Doherty, who was stand in captain after Adam Drury had been ruled out through an ankle injury, headed over on 50 minutes. Palace weathered the early storm and as the heat got to the Norwich players, Palace pushed them further back.

On 60 minutes Palace thought they had scored, after Morrison had bundled the ball past Gallacher. He was adjudged to have used his hand, however. The disallowed goal provided a belief for his team, and they pushed on with renewed purpose. When Kuqi came on with 17 minutes to go, Palace could have been two up, but for some excellent close-range saves by an inspired Gallacher.

The deadlock was broken in the 91st minute, when the substitute - a £2.5m dead-line day signing - rose above his marker to crash in a Mark Kennedy corner. The home supporters were silenced, being particularly put-out by the fact that the Finnish international Kuqi had previously starred at local rivals Ipswich.

It was the away fans who were left singing at the end of the game: ‘And it’s Crystal Palace, Crystal Palace FC, who are by far the greatest football team that the world has ever seen.’ Well, not quite. But this is certainly a springboard for Taylor’s team, and with this reinvigorated confidence, they will be pushing for promotion come May.


Norwich City

21. Paul Gallacher, 4. Jason Shackell, 7. Lee Croft, (for 17 Hughes 85mins) 15. Youssef Safri, 16. Patrick Boyle, 18. Paul McVeigh (for Jarvis 87 mins), 20. Dickson Etuhu, 24. Jurgen Colin, 27. Gary Doherty ©, 33. Carl Robinson (for Thorne 79mins). Subs: 12. Lee Camp, 5. Craig Fleming, 8. Peter Thorne, 17. Andy Hughes, 23. Ryan Jarvis

Crystal Palace

28. Gabor Kiraly, 2. Matt Lawrence, 4. Darren Ward, 6. Leon Cort, 7. Jobi McAnuff, 8. James Scowcroft, 11. Clinton Morrison (for Kuqi 73mins), 15. Mark Kennedy, 17. Michael Hughes © (for Green 70mins), 18. Gary Borrowdale, 20. Danny Butterfield. Subs: 12. Julian Speroni, 3. Danny Ganville, 9. Dougie Freedman, 25. Stuart Green, 32. Shefki Kuqi

Referee: Andy D’Urso

Ass. Referees: Simon Beck and Martin Dexter

4th Official: Glenn Hambling

Booked: Palace: Morrison 60 and Kennedy 60
Norwich: Safri, 60

Labels: Championship, Crystal Palace, football, Norwich

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 8:31 pm | Permalink | Comments

Eurosport

Champions League Group stages: Game 1 match reports

Sporting Lisbon v Internationalize Milan match report / live scoring

Bayern Munich v Spartak Moscow match report / live scoring

Labels: Bayern Munich, Champions League, football, Internationalize Milan, Spartak Moscow, Sporting Lisbon

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 7:35 pm | Permalink | Comments

ONE TO WATCH Will Clarke, European and World U23 Triathlon Champion

Have you heard of that young triathlete who somersaults across finishing lines, and happens to be U23 European and World Champion? No? Well, let me introduce you to 21-year-old Will Clarke, who, in September, somersaulted his way to victory in the U23 World Championships in Lausanne. If triathlon is the UK’s fastest growing sport, then Will is the perfect guy to promote it: tall, physically lean – each groove and sinew of his rippling body formed through hours of daily practice for years – with tousled blond locks, and a beaming, ready smile. Further, he is intelligent, media trained, forthcoming, and – most importantly – successful.

And he’s gallingly successful. He is one of those annoying people who have always been good at whatever they have turned their hand to. A highly competent swimmer by eight, and a competitive distance runner at 12, Will was advised by his French teacher to attend a talent identification day in Loughborough when he was 16.

‘Mercy monsieur’, he might have said as breezed through the competition, and gained a coveted place on the World Class Start programme. It was through this scheme that Cambridgshire-born Will first became acquainted with triathlon, and immediately he was provided with a top coach. ‘I gained a lot of fitness when I got a coach, and ever since then I really improved. I have been improving a lot every year’, Will says, with belief but not boast.

Having swum and run for years, did he find the cycling discipline hard? ‘No, not really. Cycling came quite naturally to me’, he chirps. Indeed at the recent World Championships, it was his powerful cycling leg that gifted Will an unassailable lead. With just the running stage to go – his strongest suit – Will had gained a massive minute-and-a-half advantage.

‘I had a bit of time to burn; time to celebrate, and I could enjoy the finish’, he says. But seriously, somersaulting? ‘The somersault thing is something I do a lot, because the crowd love it’, a huge grin breaks through, almost bashfully.

Will knows what is needed to win, knows how to please the crowd, and is destined for success. He concludes his studies (sports science with management) at Loughborough University – which is also home to the elite British triathletes’ training centre – next June, having taken half a year off for this important triathlon season.

After he graduates Will plans to move up to the senior level, leaving the U23 category – which he has dominated – behind, and push for a place in the British team at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. ‘It’ll be nice to have Bejing as a practice run, but I am more than likely to do better in London 2012’, he says. ‘I’ll be a bit older, wiser, stronger.’

He will be 27 then, and hopefully at the peak of his powers. If he continues to improve, there is no reason why he cannot win the gold medal for Britain in 2012. You never know, he may still be somersaulting to victory.

Labels: Triathlon, Will Clarke

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 4:49 pm | Permalink | Comments

A Beginners Guide to…Clay Pigeon Shooting

I was once embarrassingly jilted for not being able to shoot at events with elegant Harris-Tweed wearers, being deemed improper, or incomplete. Feeling rather foolish I would watch the shoot with the children and the women, serving piping-hot ox-tail soup whenever the men required it. When the shotguns would sound, my heart would race, and adrenalin would pump.

This was a completely different world to me, and one in which I didn’t belong, or so I was led to believe. So when I was asked if I would write this article I jumped at the chance for an hour lesson, if only to see how hard it would be, and to assuage some inferiority demons.

Before I could get my hands on the beautifully crafted shotgun, placed tantalisingly on the table before me, I was made to understand the safety etiquette. This seemed straight forward, although important. Aside from the safety-catch, the trigger-finger, and the direction of the gun when not in mounted shooting position (upwards, so the ammunition simply dissipates like rain after 300yds, were one to accidentally fire), the key was to never feel rushed.

Having been provided with ear-protectors, a shooting jacket, and a cap (to protect me from flying ‘debris’) the instructor and I made our way to a drive. While he was going through the safety issues again, and telling me where the clay-pigeons (which are saucer-shaped targets made of clay, weighing about 100g) would fly from, to, and when best to take a shot, I was immensely enjoying holding the shotgun in two hands.

It’s hard to describe, but the little boy who wants to play cowboys and Indians came out in me. I felt empowered, and strong, pulling up against the weight of the heavy gun. Finally it was time to shoot.

Standing sideways-on with my legs straight, shoulder-width apart, and slightly leaning on my front foot, I brought the gun up to rest on my shoulder, its butt wedged into my cheek. ‘Pull’, I called. The clay whizzed out of a trap about 60ft away, and, as predicted, it flew in an arc. Just before it reached its apex, hanging in the blue sky, I squeezed in the trigger – BANG – my eyes had easily followed the clay, and they winced as the clay was shattered into innumerable pieces. Wow. The rush, and satisfaction was fantastic. Immodestly, I couldn’t hold back my beaming smile.

During the hour I attempted two other drives. The clays were coming at all angles, and despite missing a few – as is natural for a beginner – I hit most of them, including some competition clays. Aside from the obvious hand-to-eye co-ordination, it soon became apparent that posture, smoothness and general majesty is the real order of the day.

‘I need more lessons at that’, I joked to my instructor – and perhaps I’ll have some. Shooting is amazingly addictive and exhilarating. I can totally understand why so many people enjoy it, as it can indeed open another world. Anyone, so long as they look the part and can shoot, can get involved, and it's not ridiculously expensive. Perhaps I’ll look up that ex-girlfriend, now I can tick the shooting box.

Labels: Clay pigeon, London

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 3:22 pm | Permalink | Comments

Andre calls time - A retrospective

Many thought he would call an end to his career this time last year, when, although pushing his body to the limit, and being the oldest competitor in over three decades, he was defeated by the current star of tennis - Roger Federer - in the US Open final. That day typified Andre Agassi’s mettle, more so than his recent US Open defeat to Billy Becker, a little-known German qualifier. Agassi, the tennis legend who became one of only five men to have won all four grand slams, fought with characteristic tenacity against the present undisputed world number one, and almost achieved a fairytale victory in front of 23,000 adoring fans at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Now, a year on, Agassi has had enough.

Agassi’s last grand slam final, a year ago, and his sixth at Flushing Meadows – the world's richest single sporting event – was held on the fourth anniversary of the horrific 9/11 attacks. After a solemn day in New York, Agassi’s performance was propelled by an emotional and jingoistic crowd, all willing the 35-year-old former world number one to defy the march of time, and overcome the stacked odds, to a victory over the world’s dominant Swiss tennis star, Roger Federer.

At one set all, 4-2 and 30-0 up, the crowd were gripped by the prospect of their hero edging a set closer to his ninth grand slam title. However, the superlative Federer slipped into a higher gear and played his opponent, 12 years his senior, off the court with exquisite ground strokes.

Agassi, who had considered ending his career when his sciatica flared up in the first round of the French Open earlier in that year, had, since then, had four cortisone shots in the spine, one more than is usually advised by doctors. As he congratulated Federer, “the best I’ve ever played against”, on his 6-3, 2-6, 7-6, 6-1 victory, Agassi made a salute to the crowd, perhaps as a farewell. Emotionally stirred, he said “I just want to thank you guys for the last twenty years”, causing many to wonder whether they would see their battling hero on court again.

Federer was the first to compliment Agassi. “To play him in this situation, with him towards the end of his career and me on the top of my game - I knew that this was going to be very special. I look up to him because he's been around so long with great results. There's a lot of respect from my side.”

It seemed fitting that Federer, who after the final in September had won 23 consecutive finals with a style, focus and athleticism that typifies a new generation of tennis player, showed such reverence towards the elder statesman, Agassi. “It’s the most special one for me, to play Andre in the final of the US Open. He’s one of the only living legends in tennis we still have”, said Federer, who became the first man in the Open era to win Wimbledon and the US Open back-to-back in consecutive years. Similarly, Agassi described the type of game that Federer plays as paving the way for tennis in the twenty-first century. “He plays the game in a very special way. I haven’t seen it before.”

Two decades before it had been a fresh-faced Andre Agassi who had won similar plaudits from players, fans and pundits alike. Agassi, whose career earnings total $30 million, has eight grand slams, and over 60 tournament titles under his belt. He is one of only five players in tennis history to have won the men’s singles titles at all four of the grand slam events over the course of his career. Undoubtedly one of the greatest players of all time, he is also arguably the most popular.

Christened Andre Kirk Agassi, he was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, and being the most talented of his siblings, became the focus of his sporting father’s attention. Emmanuel ‘Mike’ Agassi, ethnically half Armenian and half Assyrian, was an Iranian Olympic Boxer at the 1948 and 1952 Games, before emigrating to the United States. When his father became a U.S. citizen, he changed his family name from the Armenian Agassian to Agassi.

Having given a two year old Andre a full-size tennis racket, tennis-mad Mike encouraged his four children to practice. Growing up, he and his siblings would hit 3,000 balls a day, everyday. By the age of ten, Agassi was beating fellow precocious US talents including Pete Sampras, Jim Courier and Michael Chang. When he was 14 years old, he was enrolled in the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida.

Turning professional in 1986, shortly after his sixteenth birthday, Agassi went on to win the last tournament of the 1987 season (Itaparica, Brazil) and the first of the next (Memphis). His total of six tournament wins in the 1988 season propelled him from 25th to 4th in the world rankings. By December 1988, an 18 year old Agassi had surpassed $2 million in career prize money, and in achieving this in only 43 tournaments he became the quickest player in history to do so. Twice in that year he reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam, only to lose to more experienced professionals. In the French Open he lost in a thrilling five set match to Mats Wilander, and in the US Open he lost to Ivan Lendl in four sets.

In spite of his superb talent, Agassi refused to adhere to the traditional rules of tennis correctness. He embraced a rebel image, growing his hair to rock-star length, sporting an earring, and wearing colourful shirts that pushed tennis’ strict sartorial boundaries. However, his bad boy image proved popular with both corporate sponsors and female fans worldwide. Millions of dollars worth of endorsement deals rolled in and he was seen on the arm of a number of women, including Barbra Streisand.

The colourful Agassi quickly gained a reputation on the tour for exceptional natural fitness, thus allowing him to outlast most players over the course of a long match. His fitness and athleticism were augmented by a crisp backhand and a chilling ability to return serves, both usually triggered from the baseline.

Agassi, although known as a baseline player, often made contact with the ball inside the baseline, unlike most baseliners who strike the ball between 4 to 8 feet behind the baseline. Never blessed with the quickest serve, he relied on guile and variation. Even in the twilight of his long career, Agassi is still arguably the best service returner in the game. For example when fellow American Andy Roddick boomed one of the fastest ever serves to Agassi – 149 mph (240 km/h) – he was able to return it into play.

Agassi chose not to play at Wimbledon from 1988-90, and publicly stated that he did not wish to play because of the event’s traditionalism, particularly its predominantly-white dress code which players at the event are required to follow. Many observers at the time speculated that Agassi’s real motivation was that his strong baseline game would not be suited to Wimbledon's grass court surface.

Agassi reached his first Grand Slam final in 1990 at the French Open, where he was defeated in four sets by the veteran, Andrés Gómez. Later that year he lost in the final of the US Open to Pete Sampras. The competition between the two young American players became the dominant rivalry in tennis over the rest of the decade. In 1991, Agassi reached his second consecutive French Open final where he faced his former Bollettieri Academy-mate, Jim Courier. Courier emerged the victor in a dramatic rain-interrupted five-set final.

Agassi decided to play at Wimbledon in 1991, leading to weeks of speculation in the media about what he would wear. He eventually emerged for the first round in a completely white outfit. Reaching the quarter-finals at this, his first attempt, in 1992 he went all the way in a dramatic five-set final with Goran Ivanišević, breaking his Grand Slam duck. Despite 37 aces by Ivanišević and Agassi’s baseline tactics, supposedly unsuited to grass, he was victorious, and displayed a remarkable humility after his victory. “To do it here is more than I could ask for,” he said. “If my career was over tomorrow, I had a lot more than I deserved.” Fittingly, Agassi was awarded the BBC’s Overseas Sports Personality Award at the end of 1992.

Following injuries and subsequent wrist surgery in 1993, Agassi came back strongly in 1994 and won the US Open, beating Michael Stich in the final. En route to the final he defeated five seeded players and became the first unseeded champion since Fred Stolle in 1966. He then captured his first Australian Open title in 1995, beating Sampras in four-sets. He won a career record seven titles that year and he became world number one for the first time in his career in April, holding the position for 30 weeks on that occasion. Agassi also compiled a career-best 26-match winning streak during the summer hard-court circuit, which was ended by Sampras in the final of the US Open. In 1996 Agassi won the men's singles Gold Medal at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, beating Sergi Bruguera of Spain in straight sets in the final.

1997 was a poor year for Agassi. He won no top-level titles and in November his ranking sank to number 141 in the world. His form was perhaps affected by the intense publicity surrounding his high-profile, turbulent relationship and marriage to actress Brooke Shields, whom he had married in California on April 19, 1997.

“I was playing a lot of golf, going out a lot, enjoying Brooke's world,” said Agassi. “It was nice not to have the responsibility I've known since I was a child.” However, the charms of Hollywood soon wore thin and the couple divorced amicably just ten days shy of their two-year wedding anniversary.

Realising he missed playing competitive tennis, Agassi started on a much-chronicled weight training programme and diet and began training with a purpose. He shaved his balding head, began a rigorous conditioning program, and worked his way back up the rankings by playing in Challenger Series tournaments (a circuit for professional players ranked outside the world's top 50). Perhaps most remarkably, the one-time rebel emerged as a gracious and thoughtful athlete, looked up to by younger players. After winning matches, he took to bowing and blowing two-handed kisses to spectators on each side of the court, a gesture seen as a rather humble acknowledgment of their support for him and for tennis.

In 1998, Agassi won five titles and leapt from No. 122 on the rankings at the start of the year, to No. 6 at the end of it, making it the highest jump into the Top 10 by any player. He won five titles in ten finals, and finished runner-up at the Miami Masters.

Agassi entered the history books in 1999, nearing the age of 30, when he beat Andrei Medvedev in a five-set French Open final to become only the fifth male player to have won all four Grand Slam singles titles (a feat last achieved in the 1960s by Roy Emerson), whilst also becoming the only player besides German tennis star, Steffi Graf, to win all four plus an Olympic gold medal for singles. He followed that up by reaching the Wimbledon final, where he lost to Sampras. He then won the US Open, beating Todd Martin in five sets in the final, and finished the year ranked the world number one.

Agassi and Graf began dating, and two years later the couple announced they were expecting their first child. The high-profile pair married on October 22, 2001, in a private ceremony in Las Vegas. Steffi Graf gave birth to a baby boy, Jaden Gil, just four days later. In October 2003 the happy couple announced the birth of their second child, a girl whom they have called Jaz Elle.

With a growing family to look after, and with the bones beginning to creak, people began speculating when Andre Agassi would retire. Defying his age, and obviously wanting to play for as long as possible, Agassi’s fans can be certain that their hero did not retire without good reason.

After his final defeat last September he hinted, perhaps, that he would go on for just one more year. “Over the last 20 years I’ve come full circle. It’s been an amazing journey and discovery of each other as I’ve grown up out here. To be here at an age where I can take in that sort of love and be at an age where I can embrace it is a tremendous feeling. As of now, my intention is to keep working and keep doing what it is I do. You know, the only thing better than the last 20 years will be the last 21 years.”

Andre Agassi was given an emotional standing ovation yesterday, and he couldn’t hold back the tears, bawling uncontrollably as he waved a fond farewell to the fans who couldn’t fail to adore his honesty. “The love was rising up from the crowd like a waterfall.” The tennis world will sorely miss such a charismatic character whose personality and popularity has influenced crowds and touched an emotional nerve the world over. However, given the genetic inheritance of two record-breaking tennis greats in Agassi and Graf, it is likely that we have not heard the last of the Agassi tennis dynasty.

Labels: Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Tennis, US Open

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 11:07 am | Permalink | Comments

England Women one match away from World Cup

England 4 - 0 Holland, The Valley

A Kelly Smith hat-trick and a Rachel Yankey free-kick steered England women to a 4 - 0 win over a cowed Netherlands team at The Valley on Thursday night.

The victory took Hope Powell’s England team to within touching distance of next year’s World Cup in China, with only a tricky away fixture in France to play.

England’s chances of surpassing the disappointment of last year’s home European Championships - where they ended bottom of the group after two defeats in three games - remain alive. They go into the France game leading the qualifying group, and needing only a point to secure advancement to China 2007.

The Smith factor

Smith, a 27-year-old forward afforded a free role for England by Powell, such is her talent, has missed out on World Cup tournaments before due to injury, and England’s failure to qualify.

At Euro 2005 England were without her, and used a youthful squad which looks to be ripening into a force to be reckoned with in time for the World Cup. They remain unbeaten in qualifying, with six wins out of seven, including a 13 - 0 thrashing over Hungary away.

Powell, who was awarded an OBE for her services to women’s football in 2002, was a substitute when England were defeated by Germany in the quarter-final of Sweden 1995 - England’s sole appearance at the World Cup, and knows what it takes to compete at the highest level.

She believes that with a fit Kelly Smith, things can happen for her team. “Kelly is desperate to play in the World Cup”, Powell said after the match. “With the run of injuries she has had, I’m not sure the world has seen the best of Kelly Smith.

“Kelly, I believe, is one of the best players in the world, and she did well tonight - it goes to show the potential she has”, Powell continued.

Defeated Holland manager Vera Pauw agreed, calling Smith: “The best in the world”, and the female equivalent of Zinedine Zidane. Pauw lamented the fact that there was not a player of Smith’s quality at her disposal as her team could only muster one shot on goal, and that coming in the 88th minute. “We were totally outplayed”, said Pauw.

Totally outplayed

It took only nine minutes for Smith to open the scoring. Mary Phillip - the only current English player to have gone to the World Cup, and stand-in captain for the injured Faye White (who underwent cruciate ligament surgery on Friday, and is estimated to be out for seven to nine months) - found space after marauding forward from her centre-back position, before clipping the ball over to Smith outside the Dutch box on the right. A neat swivel left a defender wrong footed, and Smith steadied herself before rocketing the ball passed the full-stretch Dutch goalkeeper and captain, Marleen Wissink.

Holland were rocked, and the defence couldn’t cope with the cunning of Smith, the trickery of 19-year-old winger Karen Carney and the physicality of Eniola Aluko, another teenager.

After more fluent England passing, in the 23rd minute Smith found herself being held-back in the area, and England were awarded a penalty. Fara Williams - the midfield general who has scored three penalties in the qualifying campaign thus far - stepped aside as Smith placed the spot-kick in the bottom right-hand corner, sending Wissink the wrong way.

Holland managed to concede only the two goals before half-time, despite looking clueless against England’s attack. But it took only four minutes after the re-start for Smith to seal her second international hat-trick. Her run and shot, which deflected off the impressive Carney and looped over the helpless Wissink, won her the match ball, and a bottle of champagne as player of the match.

The scoring was completed in the 66th minute when Rachel Yankey managed to find the net from a direct free-kick, which Smith’s persistence had won, deep out on the right. Yankey, open-mouthed with embarrassment, trotted back to her half.

Only two years ago Holland had been able to keep within touching distance of England, but now the gulf has widened. “The way England have grown from a team that we could play against, to a top level team is unbelievable”, Pauw continued, showing a reverence toward the achievements of Hope Powell.

Powell - England women’s first female and full-time coach - remained objective in her post-match analysis. “It was a very pleasing result. The three points were paramount.

“We have to build on this to try and ensure we get the result we need in France. It’s important that we enjoy what we have achieved tonight, but it’s important that we recognise the quality of France.”

France showdown

France, who were clear-cut favourites before the qualifying campaign, will now need to beat England on 30th September in Rennes in order to qualify for China. “We are going to give it 110%, and we can’t ask for more than that. Hopefully the result will take care of itself”, Powell said.

There is a feeling that if England can keep up this momentum, perhaps they could go on and do the unthinkable and achieve World Cup success. There is the small matter of keeping the French at bay before then though. But with a fit Smith, anything is possible. As Pauw said, “if Kelly Smith is fit, England will win.”

Labels: England, Football World Cup, Holland, Hope Powell, Kelly Smith

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