I’m not silly. I know being an elite athlete is about the worst thing you can do to your body. Strange as it may seem, all that fitness really isn’t good for you. So I’ve opted for what I thought was a much safer pursuit as a couch potato. Over the years, I’ve swum world…
Category: Sports
Reinstating Armstrong a dopey idea
One of the more bizarre stories of the past few days is that 12 former Tour de France winners — just under half of the 25 still living — think Lance Armstrong should get his seven ‘titles’ back. Which is about as laughable as the Wolf of Wall St, Jordan Belfort, reinventing himself as an…
The hard men of the peloton
With the World Cup over, all that’s left to be revealed is whether Holland’s Arjen Robben will be made an honorary Italian for his diving prowess or if Russia can blow more money in four years’ time than the $51 billion it spent on the Sochi Olympics. As the Brazilians bid farewell to the remaining…
Selfies and the misnomer of spectator sport
A couple of months ago, German cyclist Marcel Kittel slumped exhausted to the road after winning the Dublin stage of the Giro d’Italia. As he sat on the ground grimacing, Irish cycling enthusiast David McCarthy jumped in with his camera. “Kittel collapsed after the line today so instead of giving him a hand up I…
At last, a new Lleyton Hewitt emerges
This story contains predictions of the next Aussie tennis legend. Please touch timber before reading. For 18 years, Lleyton Hewitt has almost single handedly held Australian tennis together with his scrambling court play, never-say-die intensity and impassioned ‘C’mon’s. There have been encouraging cameos from the likes of Matthew Ebden, James Duckworth, Peter Luczak and Chris…
Harry Potter and the Unseen Game of Rugby
As the Wallabies took the field on Saturday night for their encounter with Les Bleus, Harry Potter was growing gills for his next challenge in the Tri-Wizards Tournament. Foolishly, I had agreed a week earlier to allow my progeny to watch the Goblet of Fire instalment without first checking the sports calendar. I thought I…
Lewis Hamilton goes diva
For years, Sebastian Vettel has been not only Formula One’s top driver but its greatest prima donna. After his treatment of former teammate Mark Webber, it has been particularly satisfying to see him reduced to just another Sunday driver this season. Vettel’s woes continued at the Monaco Grand Prix overnight when he announced to his…
Please, please, can we ditch the podium kiss?
It’s a job hundreds of women apply for each year, the privilege of kissing a sweaty, pungent cyclist still dripping through his lycra after a long day in the saddle. Other perks include 12-hour days in all weather conditions, two-star accommodation with shared bathrooms and smiling at sponsors till your face aches. You’re not allowed…
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