FIFA
So much has been written about Fifa in the past week, it’s worth remembering that most of the allegations of corruption are old old news. Still…
- Thanks to the efforts of the US, could this be a game-changer for football? Perhaps, but reform is a long shot if the alternatives to the indefatigable Blatter are trying to “out-Sepp Sepp“.
- You can tell a lot about someone looking at their friends. Ah, Sepp and Vlad, a right pair.
- So, how do we kill the beast? For Fifa, money talks, so the sponsors really should do their bit. Here’s how the numbers stack up for an effective breakaway.
- Before we get all sanctimonious, the FA isn’t exactly a paragon of virtue.
- With the all the timing of an unfaithful husband bringing home some cheap petrol-station flowers, Fifa’s film United Passions is about to be released. You have to laugh.
- And if you want to laugh and cry, John Oliver’s take-down from last year is worth watching over and over.
OLYMPICS
Before we all forget, the Olympics is a pretty grubby thing too. Heroin ganglords, a history of scandals, and no-one wants to host the thing any more.
TENNIS
Nadal and Djokovic play tomorrow (depending on when you read this), but this could be the last great moment of their long and brilliant rivalry. If Nadal wins, and goes on to win the French Open for a 10th time, he will be defying the odds and age.
Meanwhile, the current crop of French players have missed their moment. And one point of debate: does tennis need TV replays?
FOOTBALL (NOT FIFA)
- As an antidote to corruption, check out Messi’s recent wonder goal.
- Does Arsenal’s FA Cup victory put Wenger into a new category?
- Taking ghost writing to a new level: you can now just “channel” (ie make quotes up). Perhaps the clue was in the title: I Am Zlatan.
- Gerrard infographic.
- Remembering Heysel, 30 years on. A harrowing first-person account.
BASKETBALL
The case for and against LeBron James as the NBA’s greatest.
CRICKET
As Alastair Cook reaches the top of the England Test runs table, a new coach is hired. But how much impact can Trevor Bayliss really have? Luckily, England have Ben Stokes – a dying breed. What has happened to the world-class all-rounder?
Happy reading, and see you next Tuesday.
Thoughts? Comments? Shout: newsletter@minto.net.
