A week of sport

A week is a long time, so I thought I’d do a roundup of the week’s sport for this post.

The main story of the week has to be the death of the ex-England, Newcastle, Ipswich and Barcelona manager Sir Bobby Robson at the age of 76. Sir Bobby finally succumbed the cancer he had successfully fought off five times. In a career that spanned a lifetime, he was one of the most respected managers in the game winning the FA cup and Uefa cup at the unfashionable Ipswich Town in a thirteen year reign.

After these achievements, the England job beckoned. Hounded by the media during his first few years, Robson managed an England side that reached the quarter finals of the world cup in 1986, going out the Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal and then the greatest individual goal the world has ever seen.

Then in 1990 Robson took England a stage further, reaching the World Cup semi-finals, only to be beaten on penalties by West Germany. If England would have won, they would have been favourites for the final. Whilst Robson did not achieve victory, he guided England further than any other manager since Sir Alf Ramsey in the 1966 triumph.

After England, he managed abroad, winning friends in Holland, Portugal (where he met a young Jose Mourinho) and Spain. However, his last managerial job was the one he always wanted – Newcastle United. He took United back into Europe, finishing fourth in the league. He never got that elusive piece of silverware and was sacked for underachievement – Newcastle finished 5th. What they would give to even be the Premier League now. Many would argue that everything fell apart after Robson’s departure.

Robson’s last public appearance was at St James’ Park last Sunday at a charity game – a re-run of the 1990 World Cup semi-final which England won 3-2. He will be remembered as a great manager and player, but also as an excellent ambassador for the sport who no-one had a bad word for.

In other sports news, the return of Michael Schumacher to Formula One has many fans foaming at the mouth. The horrendous crash of Felipe Massa (a piece of another car hit him whilst driving at 120mph) has led to another sporting comeback. This year is turning into the one of the comeback, with Lance Armstrong being another one to return to the sport that made him famous. Whether Schumacher will emulate some of the success that made him the most successful driver in F1 history is yet to be seen, but he is sure to bring more publicity to the world’s greatest car chase.

One of the successes of the week has been Britain’s swimmers, particularly the women. Gemma Spofforth won the 100m backstroke - setting a world record in the process – whilst Jo Jackson and Rebecca Adlington won silver and bronze respectively in the 400m freestyle. Fran Halsall won silver in the 100 freestyle, whilst the women also won bronze in the 200m freestyle relay. There are also more medal opportunities as Jackson and Adlington have both qualified for the 800m freestyle final.

Britain’s female swimmers are enjoying a golden age, and despite the swimming suit argument, they are among the best in the world at the moment. Hopefully they will succeed at the Olympics in 2012.

Talking of hosting tournaments, the decade of sport is really starting to take place. Britain has the Olympics in 2012, the Rugby League World Cup in 2013, the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and the Rugby Union World Cup in 2015. There is also the hope of the football world cup in 2018. This really would be a way to grow oneself out of recession.

There are many more sports stories, but I think that will do for this week.

And in the news this week...

I’m currently sitting here backing up my home’s desktop PC, which is taking far too long, so I thought I’d whip out my laptop and write a post.

We’re backing up the computer because I’m planning to wipe it shortly. This is due to my brother leaving for South Africa on rugby tour for two weeks on Thursday. This gives me loads of time to work on the computer (which he has wrecked), as well as re-claim the PS2. Mom is also preparing a de-fumigating of his room. Apparently I’m off to buy the suit later so I don’t catch anything when/ if I go in there...

Other than that, I’ve been spending my time applying for jobs sporadically, and failing to get work experience because I’m not on a media studies/ journalism based degree, although newspapers recommend doing your BA in a subject that is not media studies/ broadcast journalism.

Nonetheless, I’ve been using the time usefully. This has included reading, by which I mean reading for fun – something I don’t get to do very often at Uni. I’m currently reading the excellent ‘Stalingrad’ by Anthony Beevor. I’m about 260 pages in. I’ve also read some Reginald Hill, Ben Elton, Stephen King and Ian Mortimer. My course books will be bought soon though, and I’ll crack on with those.

In addition to this, I’ve been making my way through the Simon and Garfunkel albums I got for my birthday (all 5 of them, plus a concert DVD!). There are some interesting variations on some of my favourite tracks, and some of the more folksy ones are becoming fast favourites with me. I’m sure my housemates will rejoice to hear me belt them out come September...

Finally, I’ve spent some time working on a big project for Leeds Student. I hope that in the next few weeks this will prove to have been a fruitful use of my time and also give me a good article. And for the eagle eyed among you, you won’t find what the project is about in my previous post – I’m keeping this one very close to my chest! In addition to this I have written a first draft of an article for ‘The Guide’ issue and starting to plan ‘The Guide’ for features.

Well, as the song currently playing reminds me, “I’ll continue to continue” on backing up the computer.

Hitting the 'write' note

Well, having reached the grand old age of 20 and still unemployed for the summer, I have tentatively began to start on projects for next year.

Academic projects, I hear you cry. Nope, I’m currently brainstorming and researching projects for my new position at the Leeds Student as Features Editor. One of the joys of this job as opposed to being a News Editor will mean that I can plan and write in advance. Hence I am making a start.

The first ‘issue’ of LS will be ‘The Guide’ issue. This will hopefully be out in Fresher’s week and will be a guide for students (both new and old) to the University of Leeds. I’ve had some basic ideas about this, such as student support, the University, the Union and a few others. I’m hoping to write one on the support available at the Uni, something I believe is crucial.

Looking into the actual issues (of LS), this is more interesting. Some tentative ideas have been wide-ranging. From ones about student alcohol use, student politics, politics in general, the recession and student living to ones about student suicide, sport societies (chess, etc) and recycling. Wide ranging, I’m sure you’ll agree.

Whilst I am still gutted to have been removed from news, especially in the manner I was, there are possibilities in features. And despite this, I will have control and act as a guiding voice in News to begin with, so I’ll have some input!

If anyone has any thoughts for features (or news stories), let me know and I’ll have a think. You could even help me write it, if you want!