Why so glum old chap?

Buenas Dias to you all!

Now I understand in the last 3 weeks since I previously filled in this space, I have seen my readership increase by a whole 1 person, so KUDOS to you Blow Job Campbell, your following warms my heart quicker than that hot cup of Coco you had this morning.

As pleased as I am that BJ Campbell is my new best friend, I am however somewhat rattled. So much so, that my basketball game tonight not only saw me curse in disgust at the teams (My own actually) performance but actually got me excited about the upcoming cricket season. Something I usually dread more than that tense moment where you are sitting in the waiting room at the doctor's, only for him to tell you that NO you do NOT have an STD.

But why am I so rattled? Well last evening, not only did I witness an amazing Turkish Grand Prix, but also witnessed Lewis Hamilton at his conservative best. Watching Lewis race is something I liken to visual brilliance. Everything from his aggression on the track, to his inability to manage a set of tyres and YES I would be lying if I said the guy wasn't the epitome of handsome *cue Homosexual remarks* but Hamilton makes Johnny Depp look like a side show freak. But why? Why am I so rattled!?

Well after an amazing race which saw the Red Bulls ruin their own race and consequently blame it on one another, Jenson Button and Lewis showed the true values of the sport, conducting in safe and exciting overtaking in the dying laps. Regardless of their cars being inadequately fuelled, gave the spectators a dose of life, doing what the Red Bulls should have done. Button's move on Hamilton was calculated and precise, characteristics of his driving style whereas Lewis was tenacious and aggressive in returning the favor and making the move stick, with both drivers realising that F1 is a team sport and not doing anything that could be deemed too dangerous.

Ecstatic with another Mclaren win for the season, I was naturally jubilant. But was Lewis? I mean the guy has just completed his first win of the season and has potentially boosted his hopes of a shot at a second World Championship. But his reaction after the race and his conversation with the race engineer's were subdued and reserved. Why? Could life in F1 and with Nicole Scherzinger (excuse the spelling) not be enough?

Being a fan of Lewis however, I wasn't not going to be a detractor. In fact I thought about it, and well not only was his reactions perfect, I thought it was the perfect 'up yours' for all his critics. Here is a guy who has achieved so much in such a short time in the sport, no matter what the guy is to achieve, you just know that people who may despise him, will always do so.

Lets start with the incident in Melbourne, being a citizen of this great country, I am the first to say that I love Australia and Melbourne. BUT! Are we a sensitive society? Are we a society of numb and conservative nature? Lewis did the wrong thing, but really the way the press here are continuing to grill him over his 'hooliganism' on the road is dispicable, and I put this down to the fact that we are so far away from this sport, that their was nothing better to report on. Oh and the small matter of our Tabloids being some of the most boring news items on the globe. What a kick in the face it must be to us, when Lewis tells us we need to 'get over it.' Clearly we do, clearly F1 has, so much so, Hamilton and his friends are not even attending the hearing. I mean seriously the guy did 'Doughnuts' on the road to please his viewers, now there is not a weekend that goes by where I don't find a Douschebag in a VL Commodore doing exactly the same. A hearing? For doing 'Doughnuts.' Ridiculous.

Add to this the comments from one, Nigel Mansell last week. Calling Hamilton spoilt and lucky to be where he is? Claiming the kid had millions of quid at the age of 7? His Grandfather worked on the London Underground for goodness sake. You are more likely to find the Crack Whore in Camden earning more money from welfare than him.

Finally, the daft comments of his peers that he is a dangerous driver? Because Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna were just amazing disciplined drivers who never stepped out of the square, let alone the racing line?! They are the two greatest drivers to ever grace the sport and their attitude and desire to win made them so, and do I see Hamilton achieving similar heights? I most certainly do. Give the guy a break, he is a rare talent with a penchant for speed, sit back and observe. Learn something or just simply admire the kid, without concentrating on his attempt to be squeaky clean to the media and that pathetic book he wrote. The guy is a racer, please do not turn him into anything but that.

GO MCLAREN! F1 is a team sport Sebastien Vettel.

Buenas Dias to you all!

Now I understand in the last 3 weeks since I previously filled in this space, I have seen my readership increase by a whole 1 person, so KUDOS to you Blow Job Campbell, your following warms my heart quicker than that hot cup of Coco you had this morning.

As pleased as I am that BJ Campbell is my new best friend, I am however somewhat rattled. So much so, that my basketball game tonight not only saw me curse in disgust at the teams (My own actually) performance but actually got me excited about the upcoming cricket season. Something I usually dread more than that tense moment where you are sitting in the waiting room at the doctor's, only for him to tell you that NO you do NOT have an STD.

But why am I so rattled? Well last evening, not only did I witness an amazing Turkish Grand Prix, but also witnessed Lewis Hamilton at his conservative best. Watching Lewis race is something I liken to visual brilliance. Everything from his aggression on the track, to his inability to manage a set of tyres and YES I would be lying if I said the guy wasn't the epitome of handsome *cue Homosexual remarks* but Hamilton makes Johnny Depp look like a side show freak. But why? Why am I so rattled!?

Well after an amazing race which saw the Red Bulls ruin their own race and consequently blame it on one another, Jenson Button and Lewis showed the true values of the sport, conducting in safe and exciting overtaking in the dying laps. Regardless of their cars being inadequately fuelled, gave the spectators a dose of life, doing what the Red Bulls should have done. Button's move on Hamilton was calculated and precise, characteristics of his driving style whereas Lewis was tenacious and aggressive in returning the favor and making the move stick, with both drivers realising that F1 is a team sport and not doing anything that could be deemed too dangerous.

Ecstatic with another Mclaren win for the season, I was naturally jubilant. But was Lewis? I mean the guy has just completed his first win of the season and has potentially boosted his hopes of a shot at a second World Championship. But his reaction after the race and his conversation with the race engineer's were subdued and reserved. Why? Could life in F1 and with Nicole Scherzinger (excuse the spelling) not be enough?

Being a fan of Lewis however, I wasn't not going to be a detractor. In fact I thought about it, and well not only was his reactions perfect, I thought it was the perfect 'up yours' for all his critics. Here is a guy who has achieved so much in such a short time in the sport, no matter what the guy is to achieve, you just know that people who may despise him, will always do so.

Lets start with the incident in Melbourne, being a citizen of this great country, I am the first to say that I love Australia and Melbourne. BUT! Are we a sensitive society? Are we a society of numb and conservative nature? Lewis did the wrong thing, but really the way the press here are continuing to grill him over his 'hooliganism' on the road is dispicable, and I put this down to the fact that we are so far away from this sport, that their was nothing better to report on. Oh and the small matter of our Tabloids being some of the most boring news items on the globe. What a kick in the face it must be to us, when Lewis tells us we need to 'get over it.' Clearly we do, clearly F1 has, so much so, Hamilton and his friends are not even attending the hearing. I mean seriously the guy did 'Doughnuts' on the road to please his viewers, now there is not a weekend that goes by where I don't find a Douschebag in a VL Commodore doing exactly the same. A hearing? For doing 'Doughnuts.' Ridiculous.

Add to this the comments from one, Nigel Mansell last week. Calling Hamilton spoilt and lucky to be where he is? Claiming the kid had millions of quid at the age of 7? His Grandfather worked on the London Underground for goodness sake. You are more likely to find the Crack Whore in Camden earning more money from welfare than him.

Finally, the daft comments of his peers that he is a dangerous driver? Because Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna were just amazing disciplined drivers who never stepped out of the square, let alone the racing line?! They are the two greatest drivers to ever grace the sport and their attitude and desire to win made them so, and do I see Hamilton achieving similar heights? I most certainly do. Give the guy a break, he is a rare talent with a penchant for speed, sit back and observe. Learn something or just simply admire the kid, without concentrating on his attempt to be squeaky clean to the media and that pathetic book he wrote. The guy is a racer, please do not turn him into anything but that.

GO MCLAREN! F1 is a team sport Sebastien Vettel.

From the top down: The good and bad of competitiveness

As I sit here, Macbook in hand, short black forever by my side, I ponder the week that has been. As I do this, I am staring down the barrel of another Hawthorn loss for season 2010, and wonder whether that trip to the Marquee of the AFL in September is at all possible. Couple this with another season of 'what if' for my baby Gunners as we struggle to hold on to that lucrative third position in the English Premier league. Needless to say that my year as an avid sports fan is well and truly staring down the murky heights of oblivion. Ringing in my ears are the audacious words someone once told me, that they refuse to follow sports teams plainly because of the heartache one suffers on a constant basis. I mulled over this statement for quite some time, before realising that the passion and courage we all witness in sport certainly tops the feelings of even the most dire individual.

Being a professional in some form of life is something we all crave, whether it be reaching the top of one's corporate ladder or even seeing the fruit of your own hard work within something as small as your local community can provide some of life's most rewarding experiences.

Almost every weekend my two closest friends and I engage in a competitive round of golf, traditionally a gentleman's game, I can safely say that all etiquette is thrown aside as the two of them battle it out for the right of 'weekly bragger.' The week that ensues provides the laughter, arrogance and spice that defines competitiveness. On the one hand we have the flashy golfer. Expensive clubs, golfing quips who will grace us with shrills of frustration and club throwing that would rival an Olympic Javelin athlete, without fail, providing the entertainment that Golf usually would not. The other side of the coin showcases all that is inspiring and at the same time, despised in sport. The conservative sportsman, watching and waiting for his moment to strike, almost like a seasoned Sniper surviving the throngs of warfare. Using simple clubs, and always playing within himself, as a neutral third party, I cannot help but want to snatch his Hybrid and snap it in half!

Based on the nature of the result and which way it swings, my email inbox awaits with glee for the barrage of abuse that comes courtesy of these two competitive turtle doves. I will hear more jokes and insults between the two of them than I would courtesy of Ari Gold in an Entourage episode, and with this spurs the human gene of competitiveness. Is it something that testosterone just oozes? I personally hate losing more than anyone I know, but the real beauty of competitiveness is brought out at the most adverse times.

As the NBA Playoffs roll on, it certainly is the most exciting time of the year for me. Considering the NBA might as well be a religion to me, the most amazing scenes are witnessed first hand at the sight of competitive edge. All in an attempt to raise that trophy, celebrate with your teammates, sharing in the success of victory. The purity of victory for me, is a feeling that cannot be replaced by anything in life. Any accomplishment of varied magnitudes is an irreplaceable feeling. The birth of a new-born baby, closing on a million dollar deal or signing the deeds on your own home. That own personal victory spurns the competitor in us all, defining the human spirit's most admirable and perhaps, most evil trait.

So Ladies and Gentleman, as I embark on my potential life as a writer, I look to win, I want to be the best I can be, will I have you as a readership applauding me? Or simply ridiculing the drivel I splurge on this blog? Either way, as this year rolls on with the excitement of the NBA Playoffs and more importantly, the world's most anticipated hallmark event nears. The 'Rainbow nation' will display all that is competitive about the human race, in the most extravagant way of all. Bringing together what we love to believe as the pinnacle of competitive spirit.

Until next time, one can only hope the negative plight of political Junta's, economic 'junk' crisis and political differences will have decreased, considering that the world we live in today consists of such negative news, I like to look to the competitive nature of sport and the glory it is associated with. Making me realise what a great society we live in, and how the power of adversity can bring out the best in us all.

*Cue Hans Zimmer and his inspirational sound*