Sport – Page 4 – Slugger O'Toole

“This has been custom and practice, I have just put it in writing.”

Pete Baker on March 13, 2012, 3:14 pm

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Apparently, 161 publicly-funded press officers are not sufficient to keep Northern Ireland’s troublesome press pack in check… The Belfast Telegraph has gotten hold of a “confidential memo” [not yet online] from the NI Minister of Culture, Sinn Féin’s Carál Ní Chuilín, to the various arms-length bodies (ALBs) within the department’s remit setting out “a proposed media communications protocol”. From the BBC report DCAL said the objective was to promote best practice in communication and to ensure that the media and the public were …

“a good test of how Irish culture is changing…”

Pete Baker on February 28, 2012, 4:34 pm

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In the Irish Times, Fintan O’Toole considers a recent discussion document from the GAA’s director general, Páraic Duffy – on “GAA amateur status and payment to team managers” [pdf file]. From the Irish Times article The GAA is arguably closer than any other body to being, for both good and ill, the archetypal Irish organisation. It’s no great stretch to suggest that what’s happening there is a good test of how Irish culture is changing. Or, as the case may …

Ireland v England ODI

Pete Baker on August 25, 2011, 2:49 pm

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In a reduced overs innings [42 overs] Ireland restricted the Eoin Morgan led England One Day International side to 201 for 8 at Clontarf. Morgan made 59 from 65 balls. Ireland had won the toss and put England in to bat. Cricinfo scorecard. Radio Test Match Special live coverage. Or Guardian or BBC text commentary. Ireland require 202 from 42 overs. Duckworth-Lewis may come into play… Added D/L applied to England’s total. Ireland now require 203 from 42 overs. Apparently they were …

Morgan to captain England for historic Dublin game

Pete Baker on August 22, 2011, 4:05 pm

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Cricketing maestro Sachin Tendulkar narrowly missed, again, his century of centuries [lbw for 91] in the fourth, and final, test match against England as India failed to avoid a fourth defeat in the series. And, on Thursday 25 August, the One Day version of the new top ranked Test side will play Ireland in Dublin for the very first time. Former Ireland batsman, Dublin-born Eoin Morgan has been named as captain. For England. England National Selector Geoff Miller said: “The squad we’re looking to take to Ireland involves …

There’s a certain section of the GAA which follows the rule of Omerta…

Mick Fealty on July 26, 2011, 10:22 am

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Fascinating contribution on the Nolan Show just now from sports writer Terry McLaughlin talking about some of the extreme violence that can break out on the football pitch (though, Ulster Hockey has a less widely known reputation for mixing it on the pitch too). Intriguingly he notes that there is some reluctance to go to civic authorities to gain some redress for what in some cases are little less than aggravated assault. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He …

Tour de France 2011: Crikey Cadel!

Pete Baker on July 24, 2011, 5:16 pm

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If the story of the first half of this year’s Tour de France was that French television car, the story of the second half has been one of daring, courage, and strength. In the process the maillot jaune has passed between three riders on three consecutive days, finally settling on the shoulders of Cadel Evans ahead of today’s final stage – leaving him in position to become the first Australian to win the race. It all kicked off on the second day in the Alps …

Our golfing facilities won’t make the cut for a long time

Brian Walker on July 24, 2011, 12:30 am

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I’m told I can claim as close a connection with the British Open as most punters, even if it was in 1951 at Royal Portrush and I was 2 years old. In those innocent days spectators could sidle right up to the tee. Just as somebody was about to drive off, I’m told I piped up: ”What’s that man doing Daddy?” and got no more than a dirty look. I hate to think what would happen today. Like anybody with half a …

Tri-Nation Tournament: Scotland v Ireland

Pete Baker on July 12, 2011, 11:35 am

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Yesterday’s opening One Day International game in the Tri-Nation Tournament in Scotland, Ireland v Sri Lanka, was a wash-out. But today’s, Scotland v Ireland, is underway. Scotland won the toss and elected to field. After 11 overs Ireland are 63 for 1. ESPN Cricinfo scorecard here. And, thanks to PaulT in the comments, here’s the Cricket Scotland TV live coverage. Update Ireland 320 for 8 from 50 overs. Adds Scotland 323 for 5 from 48.3 overs. Scotland win by 5 wickets …

2011 Tour de France: Stage 9 Carnage

Pete Baker on July 11, 2011, 7:09 pm

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If the “defining moment” last year was a breach of Tour etiquette in the mountains, the first week of this year’s Tour de France has been notable for the number of bone-crushing crashes and big name retirements. Most of the crashes, but not all, have been caused by road conditions and/or rider error. It’s a rest day today, after 9 testing stages, and the cyclist welcoming that respite the most has to be Dutchman Johnny Hoogerland. In yesterday’s stage he was part …

ICC reverse World Cup 2015 decision

Pete Baker on June 29, 2011, 12:25 pm

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Yesterday, as RTÉ and the BBC reported, the ICC Executive Board approved the recommendation that there should be a qualification process for the World Cup 2015. They also decided to reverse their previous decision to restrict the competition to 10 teams by approving a continuation of the 14 team format [10 full members and 4 qualifying associates]. For now. The flip-side is that the ICC World Twenty20 tournaments in 2012 and 2014 will not be expanded – only 12 teams will …

ICC Chief Executives’ Committee recommend “qualification process” for World Cup 2015

Pete Baker on June 27, 2011, 2:19 pm

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Both RTÉ and the BBC report that the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) have approved the recommendation of the Cricket Committee that there should be “a qualification process” for the Cricket World Cup 2015. But they haven’t recommended increasing the number of teams taking part from the ten originally proposed. From the CEC press release. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 The CEC recommended that there should be a qualification process for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 but did …

Young Mr McIlroy and “the human capacity to get over a bad experience”

Mick Fealty on June 20, 2011, 2:45 pm

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There’s a lot of things to be said about Rory McIlroy’s golfing career, most of it better left said by him on the golf course than by some gobs**** on the internet… One might be that Portrush has a better chance than its had in sixty years to host one of golf’s majors.. But the Guardian has what is for me one of the most important lessons the rest of us can draw from his immediate story: Mr McIlroy’s brilliant …

Bahrain Grand Prix: money vs human rights?

Patrick Corrigan on June 3, 2011, 10:22 am

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The World Motor Sport Council – Formula One’s ruling body – is to decide today whether or not to hold the Bahrain Grand Prix in the face of violent suppression of human rights protests in the country. The oil-rich state was due to host this year’s opening race back in March, but this was postponed due to the anti-government protests and the brutal response by the Gulf kingdom’s authorities. Indeed, according to news reports, a quarter of the staff of …

ODI: Ireland v Pakistan

Pete Baker on May 30, 2011, 5:09 pm

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After a disappointing performance in the first One-Day International against Pakistan on Saturday, Ireland’s cricketers won the toss and elected to bat today at Stormont. And they’ve set Pakistan a solid target of 239 from their 50 overs. As the cricinfo report says, A brilliant, belligerent century by Paul Stirling gave Ireland hope of levelling the two-match RSA Series in Belfast today. An ODI win for Ireland against Pakistan, a full ICC member, could have implications for Ireland’s ICC World Cup 2015 hopes. Cricinfo scorecard …

The Heineken Cup – an Irish success story.

ItwasSammyMcNally on May 20, 2011, 10:50 pm

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This is the sixteenth year of the Heineken Cup and so far we have had 4 Irish victories. If Leinster beat Northampton in Cardiff’s Millennium stadium tomorrow(Saturday kick off 5pm) that will make it 4 Irish victories in the competition in the last 6 years- two each for Munster and Leinster – an incredible record. Unfortunately, this season, a resurgent Ulster exited to Northampton in the quarter finals, the first time they had qualified for the knock out stages since …

“The Olympic Flame will shine a light right across every Nation and Region of the UK…”

Pete Baker on May 18, 2011, 2:27 pm

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The BBC reports the announcement of the first 74 locations on the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Route across the UK – starting at Land’s End, Cornwall, on the morning of 19 May 2012. They have an interactive map too. The torch will arrive in Northern Ireland on 3 June and will travel to Portrush, Londonderry, Newry and Belfast. As the short version of the LOCOG press release notes The cities and towns, in every nation and region of the UK, will …

The missing “unanimous” ICC Cricket Committee recommendation

Pete Baker on May 12, 2011, 2:35 pm

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Both the BBC and the RTÉ reports picked up on Irish cricketer Trent Johnston’s tweet following the ICC Cricket Committee meeting at Lord’s yesterday to note a further development in the ICC World Cup 2015 story. Here’s Trent Johnston’s tweet Unanimous decision by ICC Cricket Committee to recommend to the Chief Exec Committee there be a qualifier for CWC 2015. A great result! Trent Johnston is a member of the committee, and he was present at the meeting, so there’s no reason to …

ICC Executive Board to revisit World Cup 2015 decision

Pete Baker on April 19, 2011, 1:17 pm

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As the BBC reports, the International Cricket Council President, Sharad Pawar, has requested the ICC Executive Board to revisit the decision to exclude Associate and Affiliate Members of the ICC, including Ireland, from the Cricket World Cup 2015. From the ICC statement …after receiving representations from the Associate and Affiliate Members of the ICC, the ICC President Mr Sharad Pawar has decided to request the ICC Executive Board to revisit the issue in Hong Kong in June. Mr Pawar said: “I …

Stand up for the Ulstermen (and the Leinstermen).

ItwasSammyMcNally on April 9, 2011, 6:03 pm

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With Rory in the lead in the US Masters in Augusta and Ulster in the quarter finals of the Heineken Cup for the first time since they won it in 1999 – it could be a sensational weekend for Ulster sport. … if Ulster beat Northampton (away) on Sunday they will have a home semi-final and the possibility of an All Ireland Heineken Cup final in Cardiff in May – just the preparation Ireland need for the world cup. …if …

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 “will comprise the existing 10 Full Members”

Pete Baker on April 4, 2011, 9:43 pm

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As the BBC reports, at the ICC Executive Board meeting at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai on 4 April 2011 it was agreed that The Executive Board confirmed their decision made in October 2010 that the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand and the ICC Cricket World Cup in England in 2019 will be a 10-team event. The Board agreed that the 2015 World Cup will comprise the existing 10 Full Members, however, they gave notice …