Quick Hits – 3

1. 

   Just incredible

   Watching Roger Federer win his 16th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open yesterday I was struck by a singular thought; do sports fans truly appreciate the genius of the Swiss master? What I mean by this is have we come to the stage now that we just take his achievements for granted, expecting him to sweep up all the big prizes in sight? I personally feel that it is only when his record is viewed through the prism of time will we then realise how great he really is. For now we can admire his play and marvel at his stunning levels of consistency. But it will only be when we’re all old and grey, and no tennis player in the intervening years has come close to matching Federer’s marks of greatness, will we truly understand how unique he was.

Quick Hits – 2

1. 

   Got it wrong v Stoke

   After Arsenal’s defeat at Stoke today in the FA Cup 4th Round it looks as if its Chelsea’s trophy to lose again this year, with the Blues being the only member of the so-called Big Four left in the competition. The holders dispatched Preston with ease on Saturday and the absence of Didier Drogba and Michael Essien has not slowed Carlo Ancelotti’s men in their tracks. Arsenal fans will be wondering why Arsene Wenger saw fit to field a second string side in a game that was very winnable if he’d gone with his first eleven, and in a competition that gave the Gunners a reasonable shot at success. With their next four league games coming against Aston Villa, Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool Wenger obviously took the long view. He’s clearly prioritised league success, but with United and Liverpool already gone this seasons FA Cup is an easier shot than usual and its Carlo Ancelotti, rather than the man in charge at the Emirates, who’s wised up to that fact.

Quick Hits – 1

1. 

   Not happy

   Was looking forward to seeing how Man United would react to their shock defeat in the FA Cup last Sunday when they faced Man City in the Carling Cup 1st Leg. Of course the snow in England has delayed that tie. Listening to Sir Alex go out of his way to criticise his players after the loss was a strange experience, as it happens so rarely. But whoever plays in red next time needs to make sure they improve massively because if they don’t improve they won’t be playing for Ferguson for much longer.

When the halo slips

Not smiling anymore

If we are to presume that the floodgates of infidelity are a long way from closing then it is very likely that by the weekend Tiger Woods will have as many confirmed mistresses as he has major titles. The score currently lies 14-11 in favour of his golfing achievements. How quickly things change when you think that just over two weeks ago Tiger Woods appeared as the man who had it all. Now it remains to be seen just what he’s left with when this incredible episode reaches a definitive conclusion.

Vodafone All-Stars in Argentina

Happy holidays

There is surely never a bad time for a weeks holiday in Buenos Aires, but there’s even more reason than usual to envy the 32 hurlers making up the Vodafone All-Stars panel that departed for the Argentinian capital yesterday. Not for them endless talk of budgets cuts and spending reviews, at least not for a blissful week in the sun anyway. The reward for the chosen hurling elite of 2008 & 2009 is the trip of a lifetime to the city known as the “Paris of South America.” With a chance to enjoy temperatures approaching 30 degrees celsius as the Southern Hemisphere summer kicks into gear, and to share a friendly trip with fellas they’d often view as mortal enemies on the field of play, it’s no wonder everyone on show was grinning from ear to ear. Click here to see the lads getting ready to check in at Dublin airport yesterday.

Balon d’Or 2009 – Top 20

Not that there was ever much doubt but once his brilliant header flew past Edwin Van Der Sar in the European Cup final Lionel Messi was always going to be this years recipient of the Balon d’Or. The little genius from Argentina lit up European football throughout season 2008-09, playing an instrumental role in Barcelona becoming the first Spanish club to do the treble.

“The thief of St Denis”

So we’re not going to South Africa but our exit from the World Cup qualifying stages was not as straight forward as I thought. I wrote earlier that I’d be happy to eat my words and there’s a massive helping of humble pie in front of me now. A pair I dismissed earlier, Keith Andrews and Glenn Whelan, were immense. Captain Robbie Keane worked his socks off and Damien Duff recaptured past glories. How Liam Lawrence is not a regular at Stoke is beyond me, he was our most creative spark. As we found out though when Thierry Henry switched to Gaelic Football in setting up Gallas for the crucial goal, football is a funny old game some times.

Caught in a Trap

Who's fooling who?

Football: Watching Ireland play France last Saturday night was a painful experience and I fear tonight’s return game in the Stade de France could be even worse. It’s a strange feeling heading into a game holding little faith in the team you support, but as Trappatoni’s side take to the pitch in Paris later my expectations will be at rock bottom.

A Question of Sport

Give Us Back Our Sport

It was standing room only in the National Library last evening as the latest event in the Library Late series took place. A talk entitled “Give Us Back Our Sport” commenced with RTE’s Tom McGurk acting as chief questioner, flanked by our best known sporting pundit Eamon Dunphy and one of this nations greatest practitioners of sports journalism, David Walsh of the Sunday Times. At question primarily was the underlying uneasiness being felt by all three concerning the state of modern sport. Had we come to a point almost a decade into the 21st century where commercialism had devoured the games we held so dear, where corruption in both its financial and physiological forms was distorting the events we were watching live on our televisions?

Football round up

Under serious pressure

1 – Another false dawn for Liverpool after a shambolic defeat at Craven Cottage. Two red cards, 3 goals conceded, Torres a major doubt for Wednesday’s crunch game at Lyon and Gerrard definitely out. How much worse can things get for Rafa Benitez? His power base within the club is secure after he saw off Rick Parry and negotiated a huge contract with the American owners last season. But Benitez knows the sack won’t be as distant as it appears now if a majority of Liverpool fans decide enough is enough. When that line is crossed Rafa will most definitely start to hear the Fat Lady clearing her throat.