London 2012 Paralympic Games - An Introduction to Wheelchair Basketball

With the London 2012 Paralympics games getting under way yesterday, as a viewer, as an avid sports fan, I have to concede it’s a new experience.
I credit my effort to tune in ahead of the Diamond League meet in Zurich that featured superstars like Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, possibly down to the games being held on home turf, in addition to Channel 4 covering the competition, which makes the spectacle more accessible to the armchair enthusiast. Ticket availability problems seem to be a thing of the past as well with a broad spectrum of ticketing options available.

It is immediately evident on tuning into the Paralympics that sporting venues like the Excel Arena, Olympic Stadium, Aquatic Centre and the Velodrome respectively have entertained capacity crowds from the off, despite the games only now in their second day of proceedings.
Such interest is not confined to the dedicated stadia, initial television viewing figures accumulated during Channel 4’s coverage of  GBR v GER men’s wheelchair basketball peaked at 3.3m. About three times the average UK audience for a live Premier League game.

Prior to broadcasting specific disciplines, Channel 4 utilises a simple ‘Lexi guide’ to each sporting classification.
This for me is essential to many viewers and a big plus during coverage. With so many different Paralympic classifications with varying degrees of sporting aptitude dictated by athletes ‘disabilities’ or more accurately, abilities, as the Paralympics is all about what you can do, not what you are restricted from doing.
These guides give an audience a greater understanding and involvement of what is to unfold.


Here is the link to the Wheelchair Basketball Lexi guide;

http://lexi.channel4.com/wheelchair-basketball.html


Men’s Preliminary Group B - Team GB v Germany - 30/08/12

With such encouraging audience figures for Team GB’s opening wheelchair basketball game in Group B’s preliminary round against the Germans, you should very well feel aggrieved for missing it, shame on you.


The game itself, a replay of the European championship final was a compelling one, both GB and Germany trading the lead over the course of the match, after the Germans early dominance.
At one time leading by a gap of 18 points, arguably attributed to Great Britain’s nervy start in front of a packed home crowd majority.
It proved to be a great advert for the sport as I’m sure the Paralympic platform will prove to be for so many sporting pursuits on show.

Despite a convincing first half lead for the Germans of 18 points, the capacity crowd on hand at the North Greenwich Arena was in for a treat, a true British fight back was to unfold in the 3rd quarter, concluding in a Team GB lead of 53 points to the Germans 47.
Terry Bywater was amongst the top scorers for GB spearheading an incisive ’pass and move’ attacking style throughout the third quarter with the influential Ade Arogbemi who was easily the fastest man on court to overturn the 18 point margin inflicted by Germany.

The fourth quarter was a much more tense affair with GB attempting to build on their 3rd quarter resurgence and Germany looking to assert their dominance once again to see off the hosts.
Despite the guidance of head coach Murray Treseder and leadership of experienced mainstay 44 year old Simon Munn, who himself has stoically represented Britain since Barcelona 92’ and newly appointed captain Abdi Jama who won a bronze medal in his first Paralympics in Beijing as well as being a double European champion at junior level, Team GB struggled to maintain their authority over the German side.

Both sides traded the lead throughout the fourth and final quarter of regulation time.
The long arms of Jan Haller affording Germany an overriding power going forward with renewed impetus and quickness on rebounds, coupled with Passiwan leading the scoring, arguably the most gifted player on the court.
The assistance of Wolk provided efficiency by definition, the only way the Germans know how.

With the game tied at 66 - 66, the last attack fell to Team GB’s consistent scorer Terry Bywater with 3.5seconds of the game remaining.
Bywater had amassed 19 individual points thus far, however the chance came and went with Terry off balance and narrowly missed the basket.

For those wondering, the basket in wheelchair basketball is the same height as regular basketball.

At the final whistle, scores were level at 66 points a piece, over time was inevitable.

Many experts summise that who scores first in overtime goes on to win, and so it proved to be.
Germany took the immediate initiative with the first two baskets, and in truth GB looked fatigued and laboured as the first period of overtime ensued with a lack of control when in possession becoming more telling on the GB players.

Germany stretched to a seven point lead, putting the game beyond GB.

Final score: Team GB 72 - Germany  77


In the post match interview, Great Britain’s influential captain Abdi Jama was upbeat declaring ‘Team GB played well but didn’t have the edge, Germany played well, think if we build on this it’ll be ok. Crowd was right behind us and helped push us on’

Great Britain’s Australian head coach Murray Treseder was objective in pointing out the technical differences between the two sides;  ‘gave too many turnovers, and their quicker rebounds and quality in possession was the difference’.

Plenty to build on however, with an abundance of quick fire fixtures coming GB’s way in the coming days.

Up next is Canada for Great Britain, the reigning silver medallists, with kick off scheduled tonight at 21:15. Coverage courtesy of Channel 4.

Murray exercises Wimbledon demons to win gold for Team GB

Andy Murray rose to see off Roger Federer in straight sets in the Men’s Singles Olympic Final, and thus, win gold for Team GB.

The Swiss was powerless and impotent to the relentless Murray charge, driven on by a 15,000 sell out Centre Court crowd at Wimbledon.

Andy has never beaten Federer in a competitive five set contest, and recently lost to the world number one in the Wimbledon final a month ago.

For Andy, the heartache and anguish of losing in the Wimbledon final is now replaced with jubilation, adulation and a sense of redemption for the 25 year old Scot.

He has little time to savour the golden delights of his singles final triumph however as he is set to compete alongside 18 year old Wimbledon Junior champion of 2008 Laura Robson in the mixed doubles final against Belarusian top seeds Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi. The British pair, guaranteed at least a silver regardless.

A kin to his inner battle and victory, he is the first British man to win the Olympic singles final since Josiah Ritchie propelled himself to Olympic gold in 1908.

The first class display for Team GB in the tennis keeps them third in the Olympic medals table behind China and USA, with an unprecedented 16 Gold medals so far, an incredible achievement for Great Britain.

After carving up safe passage to the final via a straight sets victory over Serb Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals, Andy picked up where he left off, coming out all guns blazing, racing to a 6-2 first set lead.

Federer appeared shell shocked, the crowd firmly behind Brit Andy Murray from the off, which must have unsettled the great Roger even just a little.
A string of unforced errors ensued as Andy had answers for all the questions being asked by the Swiss with controlled aggression and critical precision.

Murray looked in inspired form, having things all his own way it seemed, breaking Roger’s serve and winning the first set in 37 minutes.

Despite a strong start from the Scot, he evidently sealed the first set in the Mens Wimbledon final in similar fashion, an air of caution could be observed on Centre Court.

Neverless, what was to follow I can only describe as the very best I have ever seen Andy Murray play tennis.
With dominant prowess, he remained in the driving seat, his strong second serve proving solid as he accelerated through the gears to a 5-0 lead in the second set.
In doing so, Murray prevented Federer from winning a game in the best part of an hour, unprecedented, before taking the second set 6-1.

As per Olympic tennis rules, the 2 set lead Murray had achieved would be enough for victory in the previous rounds, determined through the best of three sets. However, the final is to be decided over five sets rather than three, a rule the viewer would not begrudge on this occasion.

As a viewer immersed in a potential history making moment for British tennis and for Andy Murray, you could feel the tension, the crowd was deafening and on their feet, a caldron of noise, playing every point.

I fully expected a fight back from Federer, the king of grass court tennis for the best part of a decade, winning Wimbledon a record 7 times.

The fight back I had envisaged never really materialised despite the third and potentially decisive set being a closer affair. Murray was diligently better and deserved of the comprehensive lead he had created for himself.

Murray’s power from the base line proved too strong for a lack lustre Federer who cut a visibly dejected figure, it was beginning to look surprisingly ominous.

Roger’s serve was breached once more, this time in the 5th game of the third set, for the final time.
Andy’s superior service game afforded only one dropped point, as he won the third set 6-4, closing out the match in style with an ace.

A straight sets victory over Roger Federer, particularly on grass is no easy feat, Andy did so in emphatic style, and so it proves to be the capture of the biggest title of his career, a crowning moment for arguably the ’nearly man’ of men’s tennis in recent years, with enough talent and determination to reach major grand slam finals, however just coming up short in the final.

Encouraging performances throughout the London 2012 Olympics showed a rejuvenated Scotsman, playing the best tennis of his career.

Former British number one Tim Henman, who now commentates on the BBC’s tennis coverage had this to say:

"What a response from 28 days ago. To win 6-2 6-1 6-4 on Centre Court...he's not only beaten Federer, he's taken him apart. To go from 2-2 in the first set to 6-2 5-0 - that doesn't happen to Roger Federer!
There were tears of disappointment after the Wimbledon final but he should enjoy every minute of this."

Next up for Andy is the US Open, with this new found vigour and a morale boosting display bode well, can he lay his grand slam hoodoo to rest?

Peltier latest addition at Elland Road - Next up, a striker?

Leeds United have completed the transfer of Lee Peltier from fellow Championship club Leicester City.

The deal done is for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £600,000.

The former Liverpool Trainee, who made only four appearances for the Merseysiders, none at senior level also had spells at Yeovil on loan before moving to Huddersfield Town in 2009 before moving to big spenders Leicester in 2011 for a fee of £750,000.

In total, the highly rated right back signs for Leeds, despite offers from other clubs including former employers Huddersfield, on a 3 year deal having amassed almost 200 league appearances.

It is believed Huddersfield’s ‘Players player of the season’ during the 09/10 season will be given the number 2 shirt vacated by transfer-listed Paul Connolly.

Leeds manager Neil Warnock has long been an admirer of Peltier, capped for England at Under 18 level, and becomes Warnock’s tenth summer signing as the Whites reshuffle continues.

Summer recruits include goalkeepers Paddy Kenny and Jamie Ashdown, defenders Jason Pearce and Adam Drury, midfielders David Norris and Paul Green and forwards Luke Varney and Andy Gray.
Jamaican international midfielder Rodolph Austin is set to complete his transfer from Norwegian side SK Brann on Sunday.

Striker

With veteran manager Warnock on the look out for a striker, although not to be rushed into a decision in the transfer market, perhaps one Jermaine Beckford who plys his trade at Peltiers previous club Leicester, would be worth a shout?

It’s of my belief that Leeds are in need of additional firepower up top, a 20+ goal a season calibre front man is required for United to realistically challenge at the upper echelons of the Championship.
Whilst Ross McCormack did well in the role last season with a return of 19 league goals, despite the Whites stuttering to a 14th place finish. The Scot is believed to be looking for a new deal to keep him at Elland Road beyond the closure of the transfer window.

The outgoing Snodgrass with 13 and Argentine Luciano Becchio with 11 were the only two players in double figures last campaign.

Many Leeds fans are divided on the issue of Beckford and a possible return, citing financial limitations of any potential deal being stuck between the two clubs.

Rumour has it that Beckford is unhappy with the Foxes amid growing tension with Leicester boss Nigel Pearson and would be open to a move back to Leeds.

He received a warm reception from the Leeds faithful during last seasons final game, turning out for the foxes, acknowledging the home fans fondly before being substituted at half time.

Jermaine was said to be taken a back with the warm welcome on his first visit to Elland Road as an opposing player, saying he didn’t want to score against Leeds, as at no other club has he been valued and treated so well and with such positivity.

Would you welcome back the former Elland Road number 9?

Aston Villa: Captain Stiliyan Petrov's Leukaemia in Remission

　

Aston Villa today announced that club captain Stiliyan Petrov’s battle against Leukaemia is in remission.

It was during last season, on the 30^th of March that ‘Stan’ was diagnosed with acute leukaemia. The condition was revealed following tests conducted after Villa’s 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League, where Stiliyan had developed a fever.

The official statement from the club read:
"It is with great delight that we can confirm on behalf of our long-standing captain, Stiliyan Petrov, that Stan's acute leukaemia is in remission."

Villa’s statement went on to say the battle is not yet over: "Stan's fight is not over. There will be further battles to overcome in the days, weeks and months ahead.

"But he would like to share with you this tremendous news now."

The Bulgian midfielder, capped more than a hundred times for his country has undergone four months of chemotherapy, in which time, new manager Paul Lambert and his predecessor Alex McLeish kept Petrov in his role as captain despite his absence from the team set up.

On the 5^th of July, Stiliyan’s 33^rd Birthday, he visited his fellow team mates at the clubs training ground Bodymoor Heath, where the players were reporting for their first pre season training session. He was presented with a cake by the playing staff, singing happy birthday to him with a round of applause following.

The statement continues: "Stan would like to take this opportunity to express his deep gratitude to the medical staff who have looked after him so well since his condition was diagnosed just over four months ago."

"He also wishes to place on record again his profound sense of appreciation for the incredible outpouring of love and support he has received from Villa fans, his team-mates and colleagues at the club, as well as football fans and many more people around the world during this period."

"He and his family have been moved by the depth of feeling stirred in so many people and he has taken great strength from it, too."

"On Stan's behalf, the club would like to thank everybody for continuing to respect Stan's privacy and his family's throughout his ongoing battle against acute leukaemia and for those who have raised awareness of the condition.

"Stan remains very committed to this crusade going forward."

I’m sure everyone will join me in wishing Stiliyan Petrov continued success in his fight against Leukaemia and speedy recovery.