For the sports loving couch potatoes amongst us, this weekend was a veritable feast of events spread across this impressive globe of ours. And then there was Beyonce!
The sporting world amazed and baffled me in equal measures over the weekend and probably a lot of active participants in the weekend that was as well.
There were firstly the things I simply didn't get.
The Super Bowl
Let's get one thing straight the Blogathonrunner is not the greatest fan of the annual American Football jamboree, but still appreciates that it is a skillful, athletic contact sport and as sporting dramas go, the one that was played out between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers was a classic one.
I ask you this question though blog readers. Did the founding fathers of this sport envisage a national competition with an end of season endurance battle between two teams lasting five hours with a pop concert at half-time?
When watching a major sporting event taking place in a different time zone the Blogathonrunner takes several things into consideration. Firstly, a simple matter of do i actually like said sport? Secondly, is it a matter of national importance, with my fellow countrymen and women competing. Finally, am i really willing to trade a valuable commodity that is sleep in order to hopefully look like a smiling zombie when i attend work the following morning. What the Blogathonrunner does not account for is arguably 75% of the sports event viewing experience consisting of advertisements, or in the case of watching BBC coverage of the Super Bowl in Monday morning, Mark Chapman having to fill probably more time on our TV screens than he's ever done in his entire media career.
American Football you have a long way to go to truly increase your fan base by simply one person. If you could guarantee i'd be in bed by 2am, i may just be willing to do a deal with you.
Have the Penalty Boxes and the Rest of Football Field Swapped Places?
Demba Ba of Chelsea FC fame got slightly more than he bargained for from Fabricio Coloccini when Chelsea took on Newcastle at the Stadium Formerly Known as St James's Park, on Saturday. Primarily a broken and bloodied nose. Not forgetting that his team mates in his absence managed to lose the match as well. Ouch all round I would think.
His beloved manager (I say this tongue and cheek of course) Rafa Benitez, may well have had a valid bone of contention to pick with Harold Webb, the referee during this match.
If Coloccini had unintentionally squelched Demba Ba's nose with his foot anywhere outside the penalty box, a Webb's whistle would go straight to his mouth and Chelsea would have a free kick. Coloccini whether unintentionally or not would most likely be on the borderline between a yellow and red card (an amber one shall we say) as well. Yet the kicking nose incident occurred in the penalty box on Saturday and neither whistles or cards were even brandished. I've seen players be sent off for kicking players below the waist. Is kicking above the waist not considered dangerous or simply a foul?
It's like referee's minds work completely differently at times when a player enters the penalty box. They think oh crikey i actually have to make a decision that may have an effect on the actual match. Oh sorry i forgot! Referees are actually paid to do that.
I did get some things however this weekend
Never let it be said representing your country doesn't mean anything to tennis players.
Yes if you think the Super Bowl was an endurance event this weekend, try telling that to Tomas Berdych and Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic and Stan Wawrinka and Marco Chiudinelli of Switzerland, who slugged it out for over seven hours, with the Czech eventually winning to earn their Davis Cup team a measly one point in the tie. What was rather more impressive was the fact Berdych and Wawrinka were back exchanging tennis playing pleasantries the next day for another four sets, with Berdych being conqueror and consequently the Czech Republic being tie winners.
In this often mercenary world of sport, it's lovely to see that playing for your country means so much to some. Djokovic is another fella with this endearing attitude. Of course he credits his involvement in the Davis Cup winning Serbian team in 2010, as the thing that catapulted his career to where it is now.
Athletes from other sports, namely England footballers, could do well to follow such an example.
The Classic Proof History Does Not Win Matches.
The Italian Rugby Union team are never going to be the All Blacks of Europe by any stretch of the imagine. One thing they did prove on Sunday during their Six Nations match against the Rugby Charmers of France however, if you play to the best of your god given ability and to your strengths and have the will and determination to want it more than your opponents, sometimes that is enough. Brava Italia!
Bravo to Sebastian Chabal's, known to many French Rugby Fans as the Caveman for his comments on twitter. Rude but valid "Oh Merde!"
Finally the depressing. We learnt yesterday that apparently possibly 680 football matches played across Europe were rigged in some shape or form, including a Champions League game in England, rumour has it involving Liverpool.
The Blogathonrunner grew up loving sport. It is the best drama in the world because you should have no idea what the hell is going to happen. If i wanted my sport scripted, i would have switch over to Downtown Abbey!
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