will we finally learn from THESE Olympics?

As i sit and the countdown kicks off with The Who to what is possibly the best Olympics yet, the thought does occur to me ; What happened to our hopes and dreams these Olympics?

London showed us Great Britain knows how to put on a show, the Mayor of London was magnificent and our nation came together. But where do we all go from here?

Truth be told, when it all started 16 days ago, I wasn't to impressed with the Opening Ceremony. It was decidely British and since we are quite exposed to their music, ideas and sports, it wasn't something that hit me for a six.

But the sports, volunteers and crowd were fantastic. London scores a century with this one for sure. Something we will remember for along time. However, there are also other highs and lows we should take note of and in the process of bettering ourselves, take stock and evaluate ourselves HONESTLY.

Lee Chong Wei is a Shining Star and an example of triumph thru adversity. Almost written off from the roster 2 months ago, he made the Finals through much pain and medication and very little training. When you think of the likes of Nadal missing out, we are truly blessed that LCW made it that far. All we could ask for is that he try his best and as we all saw, he ABSOLUTELY did that. He left nothing more on the court. On the day, he just wasn't good enough and Lin Dan got the gold, but LCW united the country. That hasn't happened in a long while and the Rakyat truly missed that.

That resulted in many columnist and journalists commenting that Sports united the country where politicians failed. True. Politics has divided this country just like in any other. Sports will always be the great uniter and leveller.

Thats why I, as a sportsfan know and believe in this as do many others. Politics have NO place in sports. Yet, time and again, year after year, we make the same mistake. Lord Sebastian Coe did and fantastic job getting London the Olympics, put on a great show and may have a career in Politics should he choose to do so, but first and foremost as an ex Olympian, he did an exemplary job with London 2012. Add David Beckham to the team, more than enough has been said about his participation, and also Philip Beard, recently appointed CEO of QPR by Malaysian businessman Tan Sri Tony Fernandes. In a nutshell, these people know about Sport, hence London 2012's success.

So, where are our ex Sportsmen? Seems strange that we have so many of them but very few actually serve the nation. Instead, we have politicians, businessmen, cronies and head of organisations in charge. Don't get me wrong, these people may be successful in their chosen field, but do they actually know what our sportsmen and women go through to succeed?

It's a fact, that those born with the silver spoon can't relate to someone who struggles to work and save to make ends meet and then even sacrifices more to succeed in sports. A case in point, is Pandelela's mother in UK at the Diving Centre walking around with money she saved to buy a ticket to watch her Pride and Joy in action in the Semis. But, surprisingly, none of our many officials were on hand to either help her or give her a pass. I won't be surprised to hear that many VIP's had tickets though. Just think of the sacrifices her mother made to get her there.

We constanly think that Patronage and Corporate figures will guarantee our success in sports. Compare us to other countries and you'll be surprised, we got it wrong.

Another case in point is  Mike Krzyzewski, coach of the US Basketball team and Gold Medal Winner at 2 Olympics. He doesn't coach a NBA team. He is one of the most successful University Coaches in the America, coach of Duke. That is a grassroots coach that came through the system to be successful at an International meet.

It worries me that we probably have no one like this here in many popular sports. It worries me that
we had no participation in athletics and gymnastics after doing well in regional games. These sports though make the back pages with stories of scandals and politiking rather than the sportsman and womens prowess.

A read through the back pages of most of our local papers will tell us of in fighting, misappropriation of funds, little Napoleans with Lifetime tenure in Associations. This then results in our low participation in Games but high participation of officials at Games. Strange but true. And then we wonder why parents dissuade their kids for pursuing a career in sports.

At the same time, we pay top dollar to see Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, the BPL clubs visits us yearly and we host F1 for more than a decade. Yes, local corporate companies pay for the privilege to be a part of that, but very few spend on developing Malaysians to reach the top tier.

Being in the industry, I notice the difference. Local associations don't have proper contracts, or even at times legal representation. It all seat of the pants stuff. Thats fine if you're Michael Schumacher in a car, but when you're an organiser, that's downright unprofessional.

Compare that to the foreign names I mentioned above and the array of contracts and lawyers and image right consultants they have. We look decidely amateur. This is the landscape of sports in the world today, the World #2 largest industry after Health. If we want to be a part of that, we need to get professional quick.

It's no coincidence that in Malaysia, sports that have very little political inteference have done well. Think Squash and Bowling. These projects started decades ago with the likes of the late Datuk Alex Lee and Mej (R) Maniam. Mej Maniam is currently with the Asian Squash Confederation based in India and coincidently India have a up and coming young girl just like our very own Nicol David.

With Bowling it was the likes of Sid Allen and Datuk PS Nathan that brought it to our notice with fantastic performances for the team. Sure, there are many others involved as well, but the structure and processes were put in place by these people.

In our National Sports Council as well, there are many that very competent, but they are too few of them and more cronies, yes men and politicians in the field. Frankly, these servants of sport, are outnumbered.

When oh when will we wake up and smell the roses? As I listen to the strains of My Generation by the Who putting a cap into London 2012 feather, I can't but hope it happens soon.

Investigate if only someone dies?

This is with regards to the absolutely ludicrous racing racing accident this past weekend in Putrajaya. In the midst of the celebrations of the 1 Millions Youth Festival, there was a drag race. At night. This http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blLKHIXSuTc&feature=youtube_gdata_player, will show you the situation before and during the accident.

My questions are the following :-

1. Who authorised using a public road for the race?
2. Why were there NO Marshals seen?
3. Why wasn't there sufficient lighting on the audience, so there can see where they're going?
4. How did the ambulance arrive so quickly, which means authorities knew about this, but Police absent?
5. Who organised this and why aren't their names being publicised?
6. The Min Of Sports says, there are NO sanctioning bodies for such races. As usual you don't know what you're talking about!
7. Your deputy seems to know more, as his statements suggest.
8. Are Criminal Negligence charges going to be brought up against the organisers for conducting and illegal
    racing activity without proper sanctions?
9. Was there public liability insurance taken out for the event?
10. The Min says other events like this were done. So he knows and approves of this?

In this Malaysia that we live in, does life mean NOTHING? Who approved and allowed this? How can this happen? Who is responsible and will be accountable?

As an organiser of Sports Events, we ensure the best and safest situations for the rakyat to enjoy the event. Was any of that considered here?

The Millions spend or unspent?

Well, by now its well documented that Man City have edged out their crosstown rivals United by goal difference to bag their first BPL. Many say money was the deciding factor and I agree but have a different view.

In sports, when you win, you did everything, ok mostly everything right. Which brings us to the losers. Now there have been mistakes and this is the time to take stock, Figure out what didn't work and hence you lost. Margins were minute, but that's what sport is coming to these days.

Man City spent millions investing in players as did Man U for the past few decades. What has been lacking is the money is suddenly scarce at Old Trafford. They haven't spent big and wisely. And they sorely needed to. Rio, Giggs and even Scholes have been on their last legs for years. Where are the replacements?

Since they've been winning title after title, the cracks have been papered over. But now its there for all to see. Fergie thinking of offering Scholesly another contract? Surely there must be someone else out there that can emulate him?

Has the noose tightened some much on the finances that even Fergie is looking at options inside his squad. The Glazers used the Ronaldo money to pay the banks and now it show. Indeed it has shown for some time, but big wins against inferior teams in the BPL has made them look like blips. Honestly, Man U have NOT looked like the Man U of old.

Look at the facts, Chelsea imploded with the AVB issue, Arsenal were lost sheep for 3 months, Tottenham faltered due to lack of depth, Liverpool failed to deliver consistently. This year has seen the likes of Newcastle and West Brom do well. Add Swansea and Norwich to that. Overall, the quality of play in the BPL has dropped. The interest and drama has increased.

How many really TOP players are in the BPL? A world X1 if you can. Maybe Rooney only. The rest have been mediocre thanks to more games and eyes on them in the media. Quality wise, there are 4 English managers in the BPL, the rest aren't. Another reason why they will fail miserably in the Euros.

But I digress, Man U owbers have let the team down. Fergie has let the team down. He should be the 1st to demand an influx of talent. In the penultimate game of the BPL, the players on the pitch were worth more than Man Citys'. But not better. Never better.

Yes, Man City spent a whole shit load of dough, but Mancini kept it together even through the Tevez/Balotelli saga and came out tops. Written off 4 weeks ago, he pipped Fergie to the post. And Fergie know he let the fans down. Of all managers in the BPL, he does have the most say with the owners. Or does he?

How do we prepare for this?

This past month, most sports and football fans will have been shocked into the actual world we live in by 2 incidents. Fabrice Muamba's collapse during and FA Cup game at White hart Lane and Stillian Petrov's discovery of acute Leukaemia.

Seeing Muamba collapse and get CPR right there on the field, hearing his heart stopped beating for over an hour and the Petrov news is a hard pill to swallow for many. Sports fans have many such pieces of news in the past and the future is sure to bring more.

There are however some notable successes of athletes beating the odds and illness. Being sick myself, I have followed keenly these stories and used them to encourage me from time to time. Most notable is Lance Armstrong and those 7 Tour de France victories after battling cancer. The fact that he made it back onto a bike itself is a miracle, but he used it to propel him to unparalleled success. It took a lot of heart and every sinew of all muscles especially the brain to do that.

Muhammad Ali still battles Parkinsons, as does Michael J Fox. Jonah Lomu got a second chance with a kidney transplant and even played rugby in England with the dream on donning the All Blacks jersey again.

Alonzo Mourning played for the Miami Heat, had a kidney transplant and came back to win a championship with the Heat. These are some of the stories that Fabrice and Stillian need to encourage them to recover and life a fruitful life.

Once this happens to you, the outlook of life that you have will totally change. A support group needs to be in place to help you through the difficult days and long nights. Unfortunately for us in Malaysia, our health system is geared more to combat the illness rather than help and strengthen the patient as well.

Just recently, embarrassingly an injured players in a televised match locally, had to walk out and get a cab to seek medical attention for a game related injury. Questions asked about the medical personnel on standby have NOT been sufficiently answered.

I hope and pray that it doesn't take an incident like that from the Lane to wake those responsible up. I don't think they realise its a human life at stake. What if it was their son or daughter? This scant respect for life is yet another reason why many parents are shying away for pursuing sports for their kids career.

As John Wooden said, "Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability."

A weekend of upsets!!!!

Wot a weekend! First in Sepang, blistering heat on practice and qualifying days and then on race day, the heavens opened! Umbrellas and the like went flying, the cars wished their paddles weren't flappy.......and Lo and Behold, Ferrari actually won. That's HOW BIG and upset it was. Sergio Perez was collosal and now is on the radar.

Fiji beat the favourites New Zealand in the HSBC 7s in Hong Kong and it was a HUGE match. Brilliant playing and absolutely gutsy display from the Fijians.

The to top it all of, Liverpool lose for the 1st time this season at Anfield. Calls for King Kenny to resign are getting louder, everyone seems to have caught that deadly football managers disease, Romanabrohamovichty.

But I've saved the best for the last, the dead have awaken! After 2 and half years of being dead and buried, with obituaries being written on his death every week, TIGER is alive. He won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, injured or not. Brilliant. Now what will the naysayers do? It's a flash in the pan they will say, a fluke.

Whatever it is, like William Arthur Ward said, Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.

The Development of Sports

I've been quiet for some time. Had some medical issues. Now it's time to resurface. Too bad this piece has to be kinda negative. For 3 years we have run the Junior Football League. Picked up rubbish, carried goalposts, drew lines on the field, nailed spikes into the goalnets etc.

Now when we've finally got some traction and 3 years of data to be able to talk to a top 6 EPL club to send malaysian kids there on an attachment, THIS is when others want to "develop" kids as well. Now that all the blood, sweat and tears have been shed, Now that the hard work in the trenches has been done, "Some" body wants to join the party.

In the US, England and Australia, sports development is done by professionals, hence the array of trophies, athletes, winners and record breakers. Here however, Politicians want to develop their handshaking abilities and give speeches and many are only too happy to jump on that bandwagon to help them win elections.

When oh when, will be grow up and join the real world? Till then, our kids will continue to just DREAM.

Massacre at the Lane

As a rule, I only start watching the BPL around November, as I am involved in football 24/7 and it just gets a little tired. So I spend the "off" months watching the Tour de France, Rugby, some basketball, beach football and more importantly movies.

Well, this past Sunday, I thought I was watching a game, but it ended up being a movie nite. Being a fans of the Reds, I thought, this would be a good game. My best mate, a Spurs fan was in town and it promised to be a good nite.

It started off badly, to put it mildly, and then progressively got worse. The good guys, Liverpool were getting hammered. As in all movies, the heroes get walloped first and then make a comeback sweeping the floor with the bad guys. No such thing this time!

The "Bad guys" were good ad getting better by the minute. The speed at which the football was played made me think that they had Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Tyson Gay on the bench. Could football be played any faster. At this point, poor Arsenal fans who were watching may think, "Isn't this they way we are supposed to play with our young lads?"

Good God Almighty, this is why Malaysia is where it is. We are exhilarated by watching this kinda football, but we can't emulate it. The touches and speed come from years and years of playing games at pace. Not thinking about what to do when you get the ball but knowing where it's going next and sending it on its way.....immediately!

Sufficed to say, the Reds turned out being the bad guys, pummelled from the 1st round onwards and left punch drunk at the final whistle. They have to learn from their mistakes. Kudos to Dalglish though, he stood there with the players and didn't cower in his seat.

Spurs fans have been in this position before and have always played flamboyant, devil may care football. This time they showed intelligence as well and slowed the game down showing restraint and tactics. That was great to watch. This looks like a mature team.

Act 2 was Man U v Chelsea, which I thought the Blues would nick. They played breathtaking football and had 21 shots on goals and some of their 1st time touches and passing was a sight to behold. Frank Lampard showed he is too pedestrian for the team, with Ramires, Meireles, Sturridge, Torres and Mata keeping the ball on the ground and at super quick pace.

The Red Devils were happy to take advantage of the mistakes the the Blues made and it was all over in 45 minutes. Torres goal and subsequent, confidence sucking MISS will haunt him for some time. Poor chap. He will start scoring though, but this will leave lingering doubt.

All in all, it was a great weekend for football, and Spurs fans are the big winners. After years in the shadows and with some doubt in their mind, this team could make the grade and cause some real damage. Best of luck guys.