Game on in London

Since the end of Euro 2012 it has been a barren and desperate few weeks for us sport fans. We’ve been left clutching at the thinnest of sporting straws to keep us going. Heck, I even got mildly excited about last weekend’s boxing.

The beauty of the Olympics is that it exposes us to sports that would normally slip under the radar- James Calvert

But all that changes this week when the summer’s next major event gets under way. And events don’t get much more major than the Olympics do they?

You would have to have spent much of the last couple of years living under a rock (and a large, isolated one at that) not to know that this edition of the world’s biggest sporting event is taking place in London.

And, with the world’s eyes focused on England’s capital, the question now is whether this two-week sporting extravaganza will run smoothly or will it be plagued by issues, as some more pessimistic observers have suggested.

I’m personally expecting it to run seamlessly, despite the concerns in the build-up. The British love a good old spectacle, and having had so long to prepare for this one and having spent so many billions on it, we are probably about to enjoy an Olympics of the highest order.

With 304 different events taking place, there’s something for everyone on the menu. And I think it’s fair to say there is plenty of scope for sporting history to be made this summer. Records will be broken, surprise winners will emerge and no doubt there will be one or two tales of amazing achievements against the odds.

Of course, everyone will have their personal favourites when it comes to the events themselves. Those sports they just love to watch. But the beauty of the Olympics is that it also exposes us to sports that would normally slip under the radar.

Archery, to pick an alphabetical example, is not something I would consider a personal favourite (despite harbouring a secret belief that I would actually be quite good at it). But you can bet your bottom dollar I will be watching it on the television with eager enthusiasm just like tens of millions of other non-archery fans around the world. It’s just what you do when the Games are in town.

Then there is the football, although, of course, I have made it pretty clear that I believe it has no place muscling in on the Olympic action. However, that won’t stop us Maltese following it with interest, especially as we wait for proper football to get under way again.

Swimming, rowing and cycling are three other disciplines which will grab my attention, as they will plenty of other casual observers. In my case mostly because Team GB have a decent chance of emerging from them clutching a bit of gold.

But of course, the undoubted star of the show is the athletics. To me it is these events which are the very essence of the Olympics. If I were to watch nothing else over the course of the games (utterly improbable), then I would certainly tune in for the track and field events where the Olympic spirit is at its peak.

On the downside I notice my old pet hates are still very much alive and kicking: synchronised swimming and the walking race. I will never be able to get my head around the point of the former, while the latter just makes me want to sneak up behind the competitors and scream “Stop messing about and run, for God’s sake!”.

You want athletes to be pushing themselves to the very limit, not looking like they are hurrying to the shops for a carton of milk. Sorry, but I need to have a rant about these two so-called ‘sports’ every now and then. At least once every four years.

On a final and slightly sideways note, I am even quite excited about Friday’s opening ceremony itself. The British are nothing if not experts at pomp and ceremony, and you don’t get more pompous or ceremonial than this.

Add in the fact that Trainspotting director Danny Boyle is in charge of the whole thing and we could have an opening party of epic proportions on our hands. One that grabs the imagination of the billion-plus people who will be watching it.

Rumour has it that it is going to be a stunning display based on perfect timing, precise coordination and impeccably symmetry.

Sort of like synchronised swimming. Only with a purpose.

Give Carroll till Christmas

I have high hopes for Brendan Rogers, I really do. I honestly believe he could turn out to be the best thing to happen to Liverpool in a very long time.

But I think the former Swansea manager is making a big mistake by showing Andy Carroll the door so quickly and without even letting the big man show him what he is capable of.

Rogers seems to have formulated an opinion of the striker based on past performances. And that’s not the best form of management.

As far as I can tell, he hasn’t even met Carroll in person since he took over at Anfield. The striker was on an extended summer holiday following Euro 2012 and Rogers’ statements seem to indicate the two have only spoken over the phone.

But that hasn’t stopped him dangling a ‘For sale’ sign round the player’s neck.

I appreciate that Rogers obviously has a game plan and he may not believe Carroll fits into it. And I also appreciate that new signing Fabio Borini may be better suited to Rogers’ vision for Liverpool.

But, if for no other reason than common decency, wouldn’t it have made more sense to actually meet the player and talk to him face-to-face before ushering him in the direction of the door? Why not give him to Christmas and then put him up for sale?

Maybe there is more to it than we are being told. Maybe Rogers has been instructed to raise money by selling players if he wants to have more to spend. But it just doesn’t feel like this was anyone’s decision other than the manager’s.

I was the first to get on Carroll’s case last season when he spectacularly failed to live up to his price tag or the expectations that were placed on his head.

But based on his performances towards the end of the campaign plus his good showing for England in Ukraine, I think he deserved slightly better treatment by his new manager.

This is one of those decisions that will either be entirely forgotten in a few months on the back of some impressive Liverpool performances or one that will come back to haunt Rogers over the course of the season if things are not going as well as hoped.

Time will tell.

Newsflash: Van Persie signs new contract

Reports suggest that Robin van Persie has put pen to paper on a new two-year contract, which is fantastic news for the player.

Apparently, under the terms of the new agreement he will get a new iPhone, 500 minutes of talk time and unlimited texts…

Sorry, Arsenal fans, when I heard that one last week I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist come Sunday.

Your say

“I read your column last Sunday which, as usual, contained many interesting and debatable issues. You state quite correctly that ‘loyalty is not a word modern footballers are overly familiar with’ yet, in mitigation, look at their role models: managers and club chairmen.

“Pre-Jean-Marc Bosman, players were treated like a business commodity to be used and abused and made a profit out of at the drop of a hat (and still are to some degree). Now the wheel has turned full circle with the players dictating the shots when nearing the end of their contract and, while two wrongs never make a right, it’s difficult to sympathise with the clubs’ boards.

“Boards get rid of a manager if instant success is not achieved – and I mean instant – and mangers reciprocate when the opposite is achieved, that is, success. They then want away to bigger and seemingly better clubs who never gave them the chance to practise their profession when they were unknown and unsuccessful.

“Brendan Rogers and Paul Lambert spring to mind recently, and in the opposite corner, Everton’s David Moyes and Wigan’s Roberto Martinez (how many others can you name?) where loyalty is clearly mutually evident and valued by them and their respective chairmen.

“Finally, and this is a point I have raised with a great many people, none of whom knew the answer – including myself – so I thought I would ask the Oracle (only kidding). Why was there no third-place play-off at the recent European Championships? Portugal versus Germany playing free and without fear would have been great.

“Thanks for your great column.” Pete Murray, e-mail.

No idea why there wasn’t a third place play-off in Euro 2012, Pete. Having said that, I can’t remember there ever having been one at the European Championships. Or am I wrong? JC

sportscolumnist@timesofmalta.com
Twitter: @maltablade