November sports reviews – 7/11
So it’s late. I’m watching High Fidelity. You know, the John Cusack ‘finding yourself’ adaptation of Nick Hornby’s novel that is probably most notable for Jack Black’s devilishly demonic dancing. It’s good. You’ve seen it but probably don’t remember it or read it and smile at the reference.
Anyway, anyway, anyway…the story revolves around, well, music, but more importantly the perspective of the past, future and present, or as we mortals tend to call it, life. The uncertainties, the insecurities, the mistakes and the moments that fill our weeks, months and years are acutely displayed to the extent that it strikes a chord in the viewer. But this isn’t a movie review. No. Well, it kinda is so far but, like most things in my life, it got me thinking about sport. Sad but true. It’s a curse really.
So let’s complete this rather rambling segue; life is only as good as the last few seconds we have had the pleasure or displeasure of experiencing. Fact. When its bad, all the great occasions that have littered our lives are painful reminders of better days. When it’s good, the most regrettable nadirs of our existence are forgotten or even trivialised. One minute we feel like we are worthless, the next, we are rock stars. Oh the fragility of humanity…
So that’s the psychoanalysis, here’s the basic sports translation…what have you done for me lately?
The marriage of the 24/7 media and the corporate nature of modern, professional sports means that the spotlight is so aggressive, so fierce, so blinding that a individual or team can be horrific or heroic all in the space of a single game. Indeed, one bad performance can render the portfolio of prior work virtually worthless – ask the renaissance man himself David Beckham, or current pariah Rio Ferdinand, just don’t ask Michael Owen, he must be pretty sick of it right now.
And the next few days will provide a few more prime examples of the theory that has managers working part-time and lawyers working over-time. Don’t believe me? Read on dear viewer. Come on. If you got past ‘John Cusack’ you can make it to the finish.
In honour of High Fidelity, which is winding to a close, the top 5 sportsmen with something to prove this weekend: David Haye (more to come on that), Joey Porter (It’s an NFL thing), James Hook (starting at full back as the Welsh try to beat New Zealand for the first time in 56 years), Manuel Pellegrino (If Real lose to cross-town rivals Atletico he could be out of a job) and, naturally, Rafa Benitez.
The fixtures:
David Haye v Nikolay Valuev
The former Cruiserweight, current loquacious and aspiring future Heavyweight champion of the world – or ‘David’ – meets the former circus attraction, current WBA Heavyweight title holder and aspiring actor (seriously) – or ‘Goliath’ – in Germany on Saturday night with Haye trying to become the first British heavyweight champ since Lennox Lewis retired in 2003.
Standing in his way, and while doing so probably blocking out the sun, is the 7 foot tall, 22 stone leviathan that makes anyone called ‘big’ John look much more like ‘little’ John. The Russian giant has only ever lost once, a close points defeat to Ruslan Chagaev in 2007, but looked susceptible in beating the 46-year old unretiree Evander Holyfield in Zurich in his last fight.
Haye, a venerable KO specialist, enters the bout as the favourite and has talked a good fight to this point. He has heavy hands but has questionable stamina, can be overaggressive and has been floored a number of times in his career. His opponent – who really should have his name in capitals or something to explain how big he is…VALUEV…there we go – has never been on the floor.
It should be close, it should be brief and there should be a new champion come the final bell. Haye to win by KO in round 4.
Chelsea v Man Utd
United have suffered a dearth of positive results at the home of their main foes over the last couple of years and come into this game 2 points adrift of their Chelsea and with apparent defensive frailties. The Blues have been unstoppable at the Bridge, the class of a seemingly equalized division – not even Portsmouth are as bad as we first thought and the top-4 is as instable as it has been in almost 5 years – and not lost to United at home since 2002. They’ve won every home game to date under Ancelloti while conceding just one goal, in their opening game of the year.
The key to the match? The battle between Didier Drogba and Nemanja Vidic. Vidic has not been the same player since being torched by Fernando Torres at Old Trafford last term, is without mainstay partner Rio Ferdinand and faces arguably the most in-form, dangerous forward in Europe right now.
I like Drogba to win that battle and lead Chelsea to victory. 2-1.
Liverpool v Birmingham
While watching Liverpool’s disheartening and probably disastrous draw in France on Wednesday night, it became clear that Liverpool are three things; A. still a very good team, B. a side devoid of luck and C. the contemporary embodiment of the ‘what have you done for me lately’ culture. Rafa has lead the Reds to 2 Champions League finals (the same as United and one more than Chelsea and Arsenal during the decade), 2nd place in the Premiership (and only Chelsea and United have won the league during the Spaniard’s tenure) and back into realm of significance of elite world football.
In sport, as in life, a memory is a double edged sword. For now, for this team, a look back at the past should quell the doubters. It wont of course, but it should.November
Liverpool win and, for now, the head-on collision of ‘crisis’ talk in averted. 3-1.