HOLD THE BACK PAGE:DOESN'T TIME fly? In nine days time, Tiger Woods will – how shall we put this? – honour the first anniversary of his car crash into a fire hydrant as he departed the family home after his then-wife Elin Nordegren discovered his extra-marital activities.
A lot has changed for Woods, the world’s richest sportsman, in the 12 months since then. For one, he is no longer the world number one. For two, he has – for the first time in his career – gone through a season on tour without managing a win on either of the main circuits, the US PGA Tour and the European Tour.
But there have been signs in recent days that Woods has at least managed to get some perspective on the journey he has travelled since his unfaithfulness to his wife was brought into the public domain and since he underwent therapy for his sex addiction.
Apart from letting his feelings be known on Twitter (he introduced himself to the social networking site with the words, “What’s up everybody. Finally decided to try out Twitter!”), Woods has given a couple of interviews in the US this past week – one on ESPN radio and another to magazine Newsweek – where he acknowledged the affairs that cost him three major endorsements and eventually led to his divorce.
In the half-hour interview on the Mike and Mike show, Woods claimed he was an “infinitely” happier person now than he was a year ago and also that he had been surprised by the support of fans and close friends.
And in the Newsweek article, he wrote: “Golf is a self-centred game, in ways good and bad. So much depends on one’s own abilities. But for me, that self-reliance made me think I could tackle the world by myself . . . it made me think that if I was successful in golf, then I was invincible. Now I know that, no matter how tough or strong we are, we all need to rely on others.”
He later added: “At first, I didn’t want to look inward. Frankly, I was scared of what I would find – what I had become. But I’m grateful that I did examine my life because it has made me more grounded than I’ve ever been; I hope that with reflection will come wisdom.”
But perhaps the clearest indication that Woods is a changed man – off the course – came when he talked about his two children. “Giving my son, Charlie, a bath, for example, beats chipping another bucket of balls. Making mac (macaroni) and cheese for him and his sister, Sam, is better than dining in any restaurant.”
Off-field action more exciting than on
THE OFF-FIELD shenanigans relating to the whole World Cup bidding process for the 2018 finals has been far more exciting than anything produced on any pitch in recent months, with the infighting between the European nations involved showing scheming and dealing and a clashing of cultures that makes you wonder how we all ever came together in the first place. United States of Europe? Dream on.
One thing is certain when the powers-that-be at Fifa come together on December 2nd in Switzerland to made a decision on the bidding wars – the 2018 showpiece will be held in Europe, somewhere or other.
It could be England, or Spain and Portugal.
It could be Russia, or the Netherlands and Belgium.
But the animosity between the competing countries is a thing to behold.
Back in May, Lord Triesman – the chairman of the English bid – had to resign after accusing Spain and Russia of bribing referees.
Then we had the Russians casting aspersions on the social habits of teenage drinking in England and the high crime rate there.
Now, we have a situation where the English bid team are blaming the media – a traditional default option – for harming its chances of winning the World Cup finals for the first time since 1966.
The latest attack on the media relates to a planned BBC documentary on Panoramadue to be screened on November 29th, less than a week before the Fifa voting takes place.
The BBC has been told that screening the programme would be “unpatriotic.”
From an Irish perspective, we should all be hoping that England manages to win the bidding on the off chance that Ireland actually manages to qualify again for a major finals. From a purely selfish standpoint for Ireland’s supporters, North and South, the finals in England would give far more of them the chance to get there.
Cheaper transport, cheaper accommodation – everyone by then, if not already, will have a relative working there – and a familiarity with the language.
Unless we’re stationed in Newcastle, of course.
All Blacks’ greatest mystery
THERE ARE, for sure, some great mysteries in life. The serious, as in the search by physicists for the Grand Unification Theory; or the not-so-serious, as in where on earth do those missing socks disappear to in the washing machine? And, then, there is the real conundrum: how come the All Blacks who, thankfully, will breathe some life into the Aviva Stadium when they take on Ireland today, have only ever won ONE World Cup in rugby?
As Gerry Thornley put it during the week, the All Blacks are to rugby what Brazil are to soccer. Yet, of the two superpowers, winning a Rugby World Cup should be the easier task: for starters, there are only a handful of serious contenders going into the game’s showpiece every four years; and, more so, there’s the intimidating factor, the awesome power and the sheer brilliance the Kiwis bring to the pitch time and time again. Except, it seems, when it really counts: in the World Cup.
It was interesting the other day to get a close-up view of how the All Blacks go about their business, even if initial attempts to get pitch-side were rebuffed by a couple of security guards wondering (bizarrely) if I’d had the permission of the “Scottish Rugby Union” to be there. Anyway, the New Zealanders themselves were far more accommodating than the hired hands and walking away some time later it was with the observation that the All Blacks are normal and regular men who still bring good-natured intensity to a fun soccer kick-about on astro-turf but who are transformed into rugby superbeings when an oval ball is thrust into their hands.
In fact, the players were even given a constant reminder of their place in the world of sport each time they walked up the staircase to the first floor of their hotel in Castleknock: one of the framed sporting memorabilia on display was a signed All Blacks jersey commemorating their win over Ireland here in 2005.
Next year New Zealand play host to the World Cup and, as ever, they will head in as the number one-ranked team in the world and as hotter favourites than ever. They will also be under more pressure than ever. New Zealand have won just one World Cup – the inaugural competition in 1987 – and were the only team to make it to the semi-final stage every time between 1987 and 2003, a sequence which ended at the hands of France in 2007 when they were knocked out in the quarter-finals.
Indeed, France (twice) are one of only three countries to have beaten the All Blacks in the World Cup, along with South Africa (twice) and Australia (twice). The most incredible statistic, though, is that the All Blacks have a zero, zilch, nada record with the Aussies as their Antipodean neighbours have beaten them on the two occasions they met – losing 16-6 in the semi-final at the old Lansdowne Road in 1999, and losing 22-10 also at the semi-final stage in 2003.
Apart from the recent set-back when losing the Bledisloe Cup – in Hong Kong – to their old adversaries, all the signs are the All Blacks will again be the team everyone has to beat. They have the best backs, the best forwards and, as a team, are simply the best.
They have the most capped All Black back ever in Mils Muliaina and the most capped All Black forward ever in Richie McCaw . . . and, apart from such huge experience, they have a string of talent (feel the hairs stand on the back of your neck when Sonny Bill Williams is unleashed from the bench) fighting for starting places.
The other day, backs coach Wayne Smith talked of this All Blacks team being probably the hardest working he has worked with in his time – as player, coach and assistant coach – which gives an insight into what they are all about as they go about continuing their mystique.
Back in June of 1987 when the All Blacks crushed France in the inaugural World Cup final and we all thought it was just the start of a regular winning sequence, the number one hit record in the British charts was, appropriately enough, Star Trekkin’ from The Firm. Who’d have thought we’d be waiting all that time since then for the star-trekking Kiwis to get another number one hit of their own?
Today’s outing is another step along the preparatory road in ensuring next year’s homecoming won’t again result in disappointment.
For today, though, let’s enjoy the presence of the All Blacks simply for who they are and what they represent.
Fab Vinnie worth keeping an eye on
F I N A L S T R A W:THERE MAY be more high-profile matches on the GAA club front this weekend, but one result worth looking out for is the Leinster Junior Football Championship semi-final where a certain Vinnie Murphy (right) will be in action for Dublin representatives St Monica's against Carlow's St Andrews at Dr Cullen Park tomorrow.
The one-time All-Star – he won his only award in 1992, the year Dublin were beaten by Donegal in the final – and All-Ireland winner (he came on as a sub in 1995 against Tyrone) is now into his 40s but continues to line out at full forward for Monica's, where he fills the role of player-coach.
Murphy – whose inter-county career with Dublin was split into two, from 1988-1996 and then 2000-2001, and which also featured a once-off appearance in the Kerry hurling team when he lived in the Kingdom from 1996-2000 – may be carrying a few extra pounds these days, but his longevity on the playing fields is testament to the passion he still has for the sport.
Duncan heading for a desert storm
THERE’S TROUBLE brewing in the caddie shack ahead of next week’s Dubai World Championship, the season-ending tournament on the PGA European Tour. While the likes of Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell go chasing the financial pot of gold to determine Europe’s number one for the year, the bagmen are faced with a question of ethics.
Although caddies whose players are contracted to TaylorMade and Nike have been given an exemption from wearing the “caddie uniform” – which is actually a polo shirt made by Ralph Lauren featuring the player’s name, country flag and Race to Dubai position after the Hong Kong Open – no immunity has been granted to those who have their own personal deals, more specifically a bagman who goes simply by the name “Duncan”.
Duncan’s affinity is with Amnesty International, a charity he has promoted on tour for over two years. However, his request to be given the same exemption as those associated with the big golf manufacturers has so far fallen on deaf ears. “I don’t think I’m asking for heaven and earth to be moved, I’ just asking for things to be fair,” said Duncan, who caddies for the Spaniard Alejandro Canizares.
