All things sporting

We used to have a sport thread and I can't find one on here so here's a new one.

Mainly I needed somewhere to be crabbit. My team (Glasgow Rangers) went out of Europe last night to PSV.
We lost the first away game 1-0. And they deserved the win and last night we put in a dire first half performance that saw us go in 1-0 down (meaning we needed at least 2 goals). Again PSV deserved to be ahead. But what a difference a half time boot up the backside can make. A new formation, change of line up and Rangers came out firing.
But it was not to be. Six officials and they all missed a blatant handball on the line by PSV to prevent an equalizer. 6 of them missed it, and it was blatant. That would have been an instant red and a penalty- whole new game with Rangers dominant at that point.
Then five minutes from time a blatant penalty again- this time a Rangers player upended in the box right in front of the referee. It was so blatant the Rangers player who got possession was bending down to pick up the ball and go to the penalty spot with it when he suddenly realised the whistle hadn't gone.
There are penalties you say maybe, or question if there was contact, or accept it was hard to see for a ruck of players, but this was a stonewaller, right out in the open and right in front of the ref- I was watching the game with a mate who is a Celtic fan and therefore delights in Rangers loosing and even he said he couldn't pretend to claim it wasn't a blatant foul.

So is it time for tv replays to be used in football?
Two decisions with the potential to not only shape the outcome of a game but the finances of a club for the next year so should we have the extra ref watching replays?
I've mixed feelings about it as part of the game of football is the flow of the game which might be broken up if calls are constantly questioned and decisions awaited from the stand. But then again these are big decisions that often are wrong.

I've always been in favour of using TV replays in football matches. The amount of mistakes made because of poor judgement and other things that have ruined games and, on many occasions almost decided the outcome of the match entirely, makes it an easy decision for me. The flow of the game might suffer a bit, but not too much, and it is definitely a fair price to pay for fair matches

When things like last night happen in a game I tend to agree. But the position of the ref and officials in football is an odd one. They are part of the game as much as the players and have never been infallible.
Would the game lose something by making the judgements technical rather than allowing an individual to call it 'as they see it'?

I would hate football to become like rugby or American Football where live games are ruined by constant stops and starts. Football is a flowing game.

My team Rangers won the cup against ancient rivals Celtic. 1-1 at the final whistle, 2-1 by end of extra time.
And for once a good game of football. Neither side dominating and both going for it.

Can't wait for the Olympics! In London!

My family and I have applied for tickets! All the pretty lame stuff mind you, athletics qualifying, football, swimming qualifiers, and thanks to a certain someone: women's diving. I'd be amazed if we didn't win any of them, mind you they're expensive so maybe that is a blessing in disguise. Plus you have to register a credit card to apply for tickets with visa- some sort of secret deal no doubt.

An a different sporting note- Sheffield Wednesday are winning! Two-nill! Hooray! But Spurs are losing....which is... well....

Saradoc wrote:My family and I have applied for tickets! All the pretty lame stuff mind you, athletics qualifying, football, swimming qualifiers, and thanks to a certain someone: women's diving. I'd be amazed if we didn't win any of them, mind you they're expensive so maybe that is a blessing in disguise. Plus you have to register a credit card to apply for tickets with visa- some sort of secret deal no doubt.

An a different sporting note- Sheffield Wednesday are winning! Two-nill! Hooray! But Spurs are losing....which is... well....

woo! They are in division one now aren;t they?

Female diving is great to watch, don't you worry!

Thought I'd take the time to remember Seve Ballesteros who recently passed away. Very sad, he is probalby the first golfer I really became aware of and one I have always enjoyed watching! Thoughts with the family!

Can't say I'm too knowledgeable about Seve Ballesteros, but I've seen enough clips to see he was a real great golfer and a idle to lot's of people!


Also the sad news about the death of Wouter Weylandt after crashing his bike- not that I'd claim to be so deeply interested in pro-cycling that I actually knew who he was- it's still very tragic, and my thoughts go to his family.

The Scots invented golf but Seve Ballesteros showed the world how you play it. A sad loss.

Pettytyrant101 wrote:The Scots invented golf

Now, you shouldn't tell lies, Petty. You know perfectly well that the Bullroarer invented golf

Bullroarer was a Scots expat!

My team Rangers is playing right now- last game of the season, we are 1 point ahead of Celtic who are also playing right now as well. If we win we take the league, we lose or draw and celtic win they take the league! And 10 minutes in its 0-0 in Celtic game but Rangers are 3-0 up!! Whooooo- the leagues coming back to Ibrox at this rate!

update: 5-1 in the end! League Champions!!!!

Pettytyrant101 wrote:Bullroarer was a Scots expat!

My team Rangers is playing right now- last game of the season, we are 1 point ahead of Celtic who are also playing right now as well. If we win we take the league, we lose or draw and celtic win they take the league! And 10 minutes in its 0-0 in Celtic game but Rangers are 3-0 up!! Whooooo- the leagues coming back to Ibrox at this rate!

update: 5-1 in the end! League Champions!!!!

I betcha you'll do well next season too, what with my namesake in charge and all!

I don't know, hobbits and their silly religions...

One of the greatest moments in the history of one of the greatest sports.

Can't upload in my country. I must say, would it be right to opine that you are one of those patriotic Usahobbits I've heard tell of?

I hope Andy wins for Britain today...

In the press he only ever wins for Britain. He loses he's Scottish!

Pettytyrant101 wrote:In the press he only ever wins for Britain. He loses he's Scottish!

maybe so, but Andy is always clear that he is scottish first and foremost (in fact pretty much only Scottish!)
Shame about todays result, but his best run in paris so far!

Far more importantly I finally got online to see how much I have been charged for olympic tickets, to find it is a measly 2 out of 10 events applied for! I only applied for one big final (womans gym team final) the rest where lesser sessions with semis and a series of heats . 2 where general admission (crosscountry and triathlon!) so now seriously confused 20 mil appications for 6.6 mil tickets means roughly 1 in 3, without taking into account the more/less popular events, when the extra info comes out on 24th it'll make interesting reading!

Just as well I gave in to temptation and bought british grandprix tickets this weekend, consolation.. and a great weekend (been the last two years and love it!)

best tennos day for a while at Queens!

Britain will have two men in the Queen's Club semi-finals for the first time in the Open era when Andy Murray and James Ward take to the court at the Aegon Championships on Saturday.

Canadian grandprix qualifiying, bradleywiggins leading the Dauphine and the tennis boys and girls (elena blatcha made nottingham semis too) some much sport, I know what I am doing today

Congrats to Andy Murray on winning at Queens. (He'll be British tonight I shall have to watch the news and see!!)

Got that sneaky feeling that Andy will win Wimbledon this year- albeit I have the same sneaky feeling ever year!

Just back from a great weekend at the british grandprix!!
Got seats at the new farm curve, could see first corner, pit exit (and Button stopping not sure what is up with the pit crews this year, the number of mistakes is unbelievable!) and the new village complex.
Vettel didn't win and Alonso was v impressive!

All in all happy although sleepy now!

btw best race of the weekend was Saturdays GP3. Heavens opened just before start so on finishing the formation lap over half the fueld drove straight into the pits for wet tyres, putting a lot of the faster cars behind those who went to the start, lots of overtaking and mistakes due to the wet little brit made it from about 7th to 1st!

Sounds like a fun if noisy weekend! The Button thing was a farce, they seem to be blaming the lollipop guy buy I think it was guy witht he jack. He was watching for the um, whats it called? The screw the nuts on the wheels thing! And when it failed the guy threw it down to pick up another, the jack guy thought he was finished and lowered the car so the lollipop guy gave the go sign. Quite a cock-up though for F1.
I've always thought the most exciting races were in the lower level races. GP3 is always entertaining- especially in the rain!

I thought Hamilton had a cracking race.

Ears are still ringing, even though we had ear plugs!!!

Pit crews were crap! Di Resta was 7th till his pit crew had Sutils tyres out, not his, Vettel only lost as his pit crew were so slow, near collision in the pit lane and it's been like this all season!!! At least the championship might get a bit closer!