Given the Steelers thrive on their balanced attack, the nod for out-and-out receiving prowess has to go to Green Bay, who are, if nothing else, an aerial unit.
Greg Jennings and Donald Driver provide Aaron Rodgers with two of the very best deep threats in the league. They are tall, rangy, speedy, and possess sticky hands – perfect weapons in a game that could be decided or saved by a last-minute Hail Mary drive.
Although most of a team’s passing success can be attributed to the play and composure – especially in big games – of the Quarterback, every so often a great passer and a great pass-catcher come together to create something special. A good receiver can make a difference on his own, but it will be limited by the positions his QB puts him in. With Rodgers and Jennings, the Packers have a combo to rival the modern day tandems of Brady and Welker, Schaub and Johnson, Rivers and Jackson, and past master-duos such as Aikman and Irvine, Montana and Rice, and Warner and Fitzgerald.
What the Packers don’t want to do – as I believe the Jets did – is underestimate the consistency and toughness of the Pittsburgh pass-catchers. When the Jets kicked the ball away in the fourth quarter, allowing Pittsburgh the chance to drive down the field and run out the clock, they neglected to factor that the team they were facing is one of the best in short yardage situations. Hines Ward is a machine over the middle. He can catch and muscle with the best of them and is a good bet to hold on to the football even when snatching in traffic.
The Pittsburgh receivers are good additions to a ground and pound kind of game that has been given the youthful injection it needed by Rashard Mendenhall after the departure of Super Bowl record-setter, Willie Parker. Tomorrow we’ll look into the position of Running Back in more depth,
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Monday, 31 January 2011
Sunday, 30 January 2011
Super Bowl XLV Preview 1.2: Quarterbacks…
Pittsburgh Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger
With two Super Bowl titles (XL & XLIII) to his name already, Big Ben’s career resume is glittering, but his reputation is tarnished due to off-field issues ranging from drunken, inappropriate behaviour, alleged sexual misdemeanours and traffic incidents. Personally, I don’t think the gossip surrounding Ben’s behaviour has much foundation – he seems like too nice a guy and I reckon he’s only been fined for bringing the league into disrepute – something totally out of his control if the vicious rumours handed to the press by money-hungry girls prove to be false or exaggerated.
He’s a big time football star: that doesn’t give him the right to misbehave, but it does make him vulnerable in all sorts of ways. Temptations are manifold for a young man of physical and occupational stature, and those he declines are as real as the press need them to be as soon as they find a mouthpiece with which they can accuse. So the question people may ask, given the tumultuous season Roethlisberger has endured (serving a four game suspension as the curtain raised) is whether he has the mettle to stand tall in his third Super Bowl appearance?
I think he does.
Big Ben has, since he exploded onto the scene when Tommy Maddox went down, leading the Steelers to a league-best 15-1 record and the AFC Championship game, been a solid, driving force of this team; the heartbeat of the offence, he is the reason they have two Super Bowls and a league-leading 6 in total.
He is the reason this team plays tough, smash mouth football: it’s his style; his personality. When that kind of toughness and aggression comes from a QB, other teams better watch out. Roethlisberger will be calm, cool and collected in this game. He will make things happen. He will not be the reason his team loses and, if they win, it could very well be thanks to the hands of the man who has made Super Bowl MVPs 2 receivers.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
With two Super Bowl titles (XL & XLIII) to his name already, Big Ben’s career resume is glittering, but his reputation is tarnished due to off-field issues ranging from drunken, inappropriate behaviour, alleged sexual misdemeanours and traffic incidents. Personally, I don’t think the gossip surrounding Ben’s behaviour has much foundation – he seems like too nice a guy and I reckon he’s only been fined for bringing the league into disrepute – something totally out of his control if the vicious rumours handed to the press by money-hungry girls prove to be false or exaggerated.
He’s a big time football star: that doesn’t give him the right to misbehave, but it does make him vulnerable in all sorts of ways. Temptations are manifold for a young man of physical and occupational stature, and those he declines are as real as the press need them to be as soon as they find a mouthpiece with which they can accuse. So the question people may ask, given the tumultuous season Roethlisberger has endured (serving a four game suspension as the curtain raised) is whether he has the mettle to stand tall in his third Super Bowl appearance?
I think he does.
Big Ben has, since he exploded onto the scene when Tommy Maddox went down, leading the Steelers to a league-best 15-1 record and the AFC Championship game, been a solid, driving force of this team; the heartbeat of the offence, he is the reason they have two Super Bowls and a league-leading 6 in total.
He is the reason this team plays tough, smash mouth football: it’s his style; his personality. When that kind of toughness and aggression comes from a QB, other teams better watch out. Roethlisberger will be calm, cool and collected in this game. He will make things happen. He will not be the reason his team loses and, if they win, it could very well be thanks to the hands of the man who has made Super Bowl MVPs 2 receivers.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Saturday, 29 January 2011
Super Bowl XLV Preview 1.1: Quarterbacks…
Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers is the player of the moment. Every year, around this time, a champion comes to the fore; a team gels at the perfect juncture; destiny comes a calling.
The 2007 New York Giants won the NFC from 6th seed. Despite their heroic, road warrior effort, many, nay, most, assumed their endeavour would culminate with a loss to the undefeated (at that point 18-0) New England Patriots. Of course, as history will recall, it didn’t: the Giants won in the most unexpected fashion.
So there is a precedent for such underdog victories…but here’s the rub: despite not having won a Super Bowl since Brett Favre led the Packers over the Patriots at the end of the ’96 season (and Adam Vinatieri’s first, giving him an amazing 6 Super Bowl appearances and 4 wins – random trivia for you), and despite facing a team that have 2 of the last 5 Lombardi trophies gathering dust in their locker room, and despite being the sixth seeds and worn ragged from a three game cross country slog, they are actually the favourites to win this one.
I am surrounded by a warm glow at the thought of the Packers winning after calling it from the offseason, but I never anticipated the Steelers would be standing in their way*: the Steelers, the possessors of one of the NFL’s most vaunted defences; they play football twice a season with the brutal Ravens and come out smiling more often than not; the don’t win Lombardi trophies, they collect them.
• I actually figured the Steelers would miss the playoffs amidst Ben’s suspension, the Ravens’ and Texans’ ascendency and the necessity to reload after losing a couple of players through free agency and to injury. I was wholly wrong.
So the question is, can Rodgers man-up when it matters and cut-up the Steelers’ defence and win the first of what I hope could be many for this talented outfit, or will the experience and incessant brutality of the black and gold be too much for the up-and-comer?
He can do it.
Aaron Rodgers’ superb play this season is the reason the Packers are so dangerous – that and the quality of their opportunistic, fast-paced defence is top-notch, and Rodgers’ supporting cast is a fearless group of weapons ready to be deployed at any moment and in any way. He may only have been a starter for 3 years, but this is his sixth season with the Packers and in the league. He is not wet behind the ears anymore.
He had a bad(ish) game by his standards against the Bears and was intercepted twice. I doubt he will get out of this game pick-free, but he should be able to get away with one as long as he throws 3+ touchdowns, which I think he will. 230+ yards 3tTDs and 1 INT is my call, and I think it will be enough for the Packers to win on the back of a strong, clock-controlling running game, managed by Rodgers.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Aaron Rodgers is the player of the moment. Every year, around this time, a champion comes to the fore; a team gels at the perfect juncture; destiny comes a calling.
The 2007 New York Giants won the NFC from 6th seed. Despite their heroic, road warrior effort, many, nay, most, assumed their endeavour would culminate with a loss to the undefeated (at that point 18-0) New England Patriots. Of course, as history will recall, it didn’t: the Giants won in the most unexpected fashion.
So there is a precedent for such underdog victories…but here’s the rub: despite not having won a Super Bowl since Brett Favre led the Packers over the Patriots at the end of the ’96 season (and Adam Vinatieri’s first, giving him an amazing 6 Super Bowl appearances and 4 wins – random trivia for you), and despite facing a team that have 2 of the last 5 Lombardi trophies gathering dust in their locker room, and despite being the sixth seeds and worn ragged from a three game cross country slog, they are actually the favourites to win this one.
I am surrounded by a warm glow at the thought of the Packers winning after calling it from the offseason, but I never anticipated the Steelers would be standing in their way*: the Steelers, the possessors of one of the NFL’s most vaunted defences; they play football twice a season with the brutal Ravens and come out smiling more often than not; the don’t win Lombardi trophies, they collect them.
• I actually figured the Steelers would miss the playoffs amidst Ben’s suspension, the Ravens’ and Texans’ ascendency and the necessity to reload after losing a couple of players through free agency and to injury. I was wholly wrong.
So the question is, can Rodgers man-up when it matters and cut-up the Steelers’ defence and win the first of what I hope could be many for this talented outfit, or will the experience and incessant brutality of the black and gold be too much for the up-and-comer?
He can do it.
Aaron Rodgers’ superb play this season is the reason the Packers are so dangerous – that and the quality of their opportunistic, fast-paced defence is top-notch, and Rodgers’ supporting cast is a fearless group of weapons ready to be deployed at any moment and in any way. He may only have been a starter for 3 years, but this is his sixth season with the Packers and in the league. He is not wet behind the ears anymore.
He had a bad(ish) game by his standards against the Bears and was intercepted twice. I doubt he will get out of this game pick-free, but he should be able to get away with one as long as he throws 3+ touchdowns, which I think he will. 230+ yards 3tTDs and 1 INT is my call, and I think it will be enough for the Packers to win on the back of a strong, clock-controlling running game, managed by Rodgers.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Friday, 28 January 2011
NFC Conference Championship
NFC
Chicago Bears (2) Vs. Green Bay Packers (6)
The Story…
Perhaps the most storied of rivalries in the NFL, the Green Bay Packers/Chicago Bears biannual meetings are normally consigned to the regular season. A playoff grudge match of such proportions has, amazingly, occurred only once in these two long-standing franchises’ shared history, so as a form guide, we’re forced to look at their intra-divisional matchups.
The Bears, to the surprise of many, topped the NFC North after splitting the series with the Packers. The Pack have been in every major team’s rear view mirror for the last season or two as Rodgers emergence as an elite QB has turned them from a broken jigsaw into a team capable of seeing the big picture. This was supposed to be their year, but a couple of shaky losses in a conference that was this year flipped on its head.
The rivalry began way back in 1921 and has stretched over 181 regular and postseason contests. Between them, the clubs have 21 NFL Championships, with 4 coming since the Super Bowl era began (3 to the Packers, 1 for the Bears).
The Bears currently edge the series 92-83, with 6 ties throughout history. Astoundingly, they have NEVER met in the playoffs in the Super Bowl era, with their only postseason tussle coming in 1941 and going to Chicago by a 33-14 decision.
Who will win this, the most salivating matchup football fans could’ve hoped for..?
Prediction…
The Packers will win. Yes, oh yes, they will. Way back in August (on the 22nd, I might add) I predicted the Packers would win the Superbowl this season. I’m standing by that prediction and believe that they will win against this Bears team, who will be shown to be out of their depth. Mike Martz has had a great season with Jay Cutler, but their explosive start – exploiting the stuttering opening of many contenders – kept them in the playoffs when the back end of the season showed them to be just above average. If Cutler has a meltdown or fails to finish the contest, the Bears are screwed. Matt Flynn has proved himself a competent backup, and is definitely capable of utilising Green Bay’s deep threat should Rodgers go down with another concussion.
I think it’ll be close, but a solid win for the Packers. I reckon the Wisconsin outfit will notch up a 10 points victory over their most hated opponent.
Recap…
The Packers did as predicted and ran out winners, but by a mere 7 points that were under threat until the very last. The Bears didn’t do much wrong in this game and fought well considering Cutler was taken out early. Rodgers had another solid game and threw for 244 yards, but failed to throw a passing touchdown for the first time this postseason. He did, however, get into the endzone with his legs, as did James Starks, whose presence this January has helped the Packers no end. After Cutler went down, Caleb Hainee stepped in and threw 1 TD with 2 INTS to match Rodgers pair of picks.
The difference happened to be a defensive touchdown courtesy of BJ Raji, whose pick six effectively ended Chicago’s realistic chances of tying the game by opening up a 14 point margin, which the Bears only managed to reduce by half.
The Packers advance to face the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. Will it be 4 for the Wisconsin bunch, or a record 7 for the Steel-town stampede?
Tune in this week for positional breakdowns…
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Chicago Bears (2) Vs. Green Bay Packers (6)
The Story…
Perhaps the most storied of rivalries in the NFL, the Green Bay Packers/Chicago Bears biannual meetings are normally consigned to the regular season. A playoff grudge match of such proportions has, amazingly, occurred only once in these two long-standing franchises’ shared history, so as a form guide, we’re forced to look at their intra-divisional matchups.
The Bears, to the surprise of many, topped the NFC North after splitting the series with the Packers. The Pack have been in every major team’s rear view mirror for the last season or two as Rodgers emergence as an elite QB has turned them from a broken jigsaw into a team capable of seeing the big picture. This was supposed to be their year, but a couple of shaky losses in a conference that was this year flipped on its head.
The rivalry began way back in 1921 and has stretched over 181 regular and postseason contests. Between them, the clubs have 21 NFL Championships, with 4 coming since the Super Bowl era began (3 to the Packers, 1 for the Bears).
The Bears currently edge the series 92-83, with 6 ties throughout history. Astoundingly, they have NEVER met in the playoffs in the Super Bowl era, with their only postseason tussle coming in 1941 and going to Chicago by a 33-14 decision.
Who will win this, the most salivating matchup football fans could’ve hoped for..?
Prediction…
The Packers will win. Yes, oh yes, they will. Way back in August (on the 22nd, I might add) I predicted the Packers would win the Superbowl this season. I’m standing by that prediction and believe that they will win against this Bears team, who will be shown to be out of their depth. Mike Martz has had a great season with Jay Cutler, but their explosive start – exploiting the stuttering opening of many contenders – kept them in the playoffs when the back end of the season showed them to be just above average. If Cutler has a meltdown or fails to finish the contest, the Bears are screwed. Matt Flynn has proved himself a competent backup, and is definitely capable of utilising Green Bay’s deep threat should Rodgers go down with another concussion.
I think it’ll be close, but a solid win for the Packers. I reckon the Wisconsin outfit will notch up a 10 points victory over their most hated opponent.
Recap…
The Packers did as predicted and ran out winners, but by a mere 7 points that were under threat until the very last. The Bears didn’t do much wrong in this game and fought well considering Cutler was taken out early. Rodgers had another solid game and threw for 244 yards, but failed to throw a passing touchdown for the first time this postseason. He did, however, get into the endzone with his legs, as did James Starks, whose presence this January has helped the Packers no end. After Cutler went down, Caleb Hainee stepped in and threw 1 TD with 2 INTS to match Rodgers pair of picks.
The difference happened to be a defensive touchdown courtesy of BJ Raji, whose pick six effectively ended Chicago’s realistic chances of tying the game by opening up a 14 point margin, which the Bears only managed to reduce by half.
The Packers advance to face the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. Will it be 4 for the Wisconsin bunch, or a record 7 for the Steel-town stampede?
Tune in this week for positional breakdowns…
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Thursday, 27 January 2011
AFC Conference Championship
AFC
New York Jets (6) Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (2)
The Story…
For the second year in a row, Rex Ryan has steered his trash-talking Jets to the AFC Championship game. Last year, they lost to eventual runners-up, the Indianapolis Colts, in a game that magnified the gulf of experience between the two teams – most notably their Quarterbacks. But the New York Jets are a different team, now, and they hope to extinguish the memories of watching Super Bowl XLIV on television and replace them with a plane ticket to Texas.
The Steelers are something else. I have never heard them compared to the Patriots of the last decade – the team that won three of four Super Bowls and gave rise to the legend of Brady, Bruschi, Vrabel and Mr. Ice, Adam ‘I now play for the Colts’ Vinatieri – but maybe they should. The Steelers have slunk to two titles from the last five. Winning tonight gives them a shot at claiming a .500 Super Bowl success record. That’s ludicrous. Sure, they’ve got to roll over the Jets first, but they have homefield advantage, playoff experience and a nonchalance about their talents – like a boxer who, with every landed punch, paints the Mona Lisa in Blood on the wall – that puts the fear of god into those lining up to play in Pennsylvania.
Prediction…
The Jets cost me over a grand in the first week of the playoffs, and I have to wish they’d been playing Pittsburgh when I needed them to lose. I think they will struggle to out-muscle a team that operates in a similar fashion, but with many more years experience. I imagine the Jets may take a while to bed into this game, with the home crowd and the distracting waving of the terrible towels playing a part in the first half – look to Pittsburgh to shut-out New York in the first quarter and build an enthusiastic lead by the half. Wouldn’t it be ironic if the Super Bowl XLIII MVP, Santonio Holmes, came-up with some late game heroics for the Jets and beats his old buddies when it matters most? Provided the Jets don’t leave this one too late, they will make a decent game of it. But I can’t see Pittsburgh laying down, so they’re my pick to make it to the Super Bowl.
Recap…
The Steelers got out of the blocks quickly in this one and raced to a 24 point lead at the half, shutting out the Jets for the first thirty minutes. As predicted, the Jets fought a tough game, but left it too late to start the comeback. I’ve often thought that the Jets would go the season undefeated if games were 5 quarters long, but in the available 4, they often lose out due to their slow-starting behaviour.
Sanchez could become the Jim Kelly of his generation if he keeps this up, provided, of course, that he gets a lot better and the Jets get unluckier still.
One thing I must do is call out Rex Ryan’s decision to kick away in the fourth instead of attempting the onside kick. With less than five minutes remaining and in a five point hole, giving the Steelers the chance to burn time off the clock – possibly scoring again and ending any chance of a New York comeback – there is no excuse for kicking deep. The best case scenario is that your D stops their O in 3 and forces them to punt…probably right back to where you started. Ryan has the biggest balls on record in the NFL, so it isn’t his bottle I’m questioning. It’s worse. It’s his tactics. I didn’t expect to be saying that post-game, but it’ll confuse me for a while yet, I think.
So the Steelers march on by a score of 24-19 and the Jets lose at the same point for the second year running. They are getting better, though – maybe next year.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
New York Jets (6) Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (2)
The Story…
For the second year in a row, Rex Ryan has steered his trash-talking Jets to the AFC Championship game. Last year, they lost to eventual runners-up, the Indianapolis Colts, in a game that magnified the gulf of experience between the two teams – most notably their Quarterbacks. But the New York Jets are a different team, now, and they hope to extinguish the memories of watching Super Bowl XLIV on television and replace them with a plane ticket to Texas.
The Steelers are something else. I have never heard them compared to the Patriots of the last decade – the team that won three of four Super Bowls and gave rise to the legend of Brady, Bruschi, Vrabel and Mr. Ice, Adam ‘I now play for the Colts’ Vinatieri – but maybe they should. The Steelers have slunk to two titles from the last five. Winning tonight gives them a shot at claiming a .500 Super Bowl success record. That’s ludicrous. Sure, they’ve got to roll over the Jets first, but they have homefield advantage, playoff experience and a nonchalance about their talents – like a boxer who, with every landed punch, paints the Mona Lisa in Blood on the wall – that puts the fear of god into those lining up to play in Pennsylvania.
Prediction…
The Jets cost me over a grand in the first week of the playoffs, and I have to wish they’d been playing Pittsburgh when I needed them to lose. I think they will struggle to out-muscle a team that operates in a similar fashion, but with many more years experience. I imagine the Jets may take a while to bed into this game, with the home crowd and the distracting waving of the terrible towels playing a part in the first half – look to Pittsburgh to shut-out New York in the first quarter and build an enthusiastic lead by the half. Wouldn’t it be ironic if the Super Bowl XLIII MVP, Santonio Holmes, came-up with some late game heroics for the Jets and beats his old buddies when it matters most? Provided the Jets don’t leave this one too late, they will make a decent game of it. But I can’t see Pittsburgh laying down, so they’re my pick to make it to the Super Bowl.
Recap…
The Steelers got out of the blocks quickly in this one and raced to a 24 point lead at the half, shutting out the Jets for the first thirty minutes. As predicted, the Jets fought a tough game, but left it too late to start the comeback. I’ve often thought that the Jets would go the season undefeated if games were 5 quarters long, but in the available 4, they often lose out due to their slow-starting behaviour.
Sanchez could become the Jim Kelly of his generation if he keeps this up, provided, of course, that he gets a lot better and the Jets get unluckier still.
One thing I must do is call out Rex Ryan’s decision to kick away in the fourth instead of attempting the onside kick. With less than five minutes remaining and in a five point hole, giving the Steelers the chance to burn time off the clock – possibly scoring again and ending any chance of a New York comeback – there is no excuse for kicking deep. The best case scenario is that your D stops their O in 3 and forces them to punt…probably right back to where you started. Ryan has the biggest balls on record in the NFL, so it isn’t his bottle I’m questioning. It’s worse. It’s his tactics. I didn’t expect to be saying that post-game, but it’ll confuse me for a while yet, I think.
So the Steelers march on by a score of 24-19 and the Jets lose at the same point for the second year running. They are getting better, though – maybe next year.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
Murray Eyes Final...
This is how the Spanish press imagined today's Aussie Open action to be reported:
Andy Murray has beaten world number 46, Alexandr Dolgopolov in the Australien open Quarter-Finals and will progress to the Semi-final stage where he will meet Rafael Nadal...
Oh, wait...No he won't!
Rafael Nadal was BEATEN is straight sets today by compatriot, David Ferrer. Nadal appeared to be struggling with an injury from the second game onwards and slumped to a shocking 6-4, 6-2, 6-3.
Ferre, the seventh seed, has produced the biggest upset of the tournament by dispatching the man who many assumed would stroll to another Grand Slam title and become the first man since Rod Laver to hold all four majors at once in the process.
But Nadal's career is becoming increasingly hampered by injuries. Today - on the day of his second consecutive injury-plagued trip Melbourne - is the one year anniversary of his last retirement from the Australian open. In 2010, stepping out of the contest handed the match to Murray and opened the door for him to progress to the final where he lost to Federer.
And Rafa might have done it again... Ferrer will play Murray with the intention of raining on Britain's parade and securing the cup for Spain on behalf of his fallen compatriot.
With a pair of former champs likely to be contesting the other semi, anything could happen. But if Murray's ever going to win, this might be his best chance...
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Andy Murray has beaten world number 46, Alexandr Dolgopolov in the Australien open Quarter-Finals and will progress to the Semi-final stage where he will meet Rafael Nadal...
Oh, wait...No he won't!
Rafael Nadal was BEATEN is straight sets today by compatriot, David Ferrer. Nadal appeared to be struggling with an injury from the second game onwards and slumped to a shocking 6-4, 6-2, 6-3.
Ferre, the seventh seed, has produced the biggest upset of the tournament by dispatching the man who many assumed would stroll to another Grand Slam title and become the first man since Rod Laver to hold all four majors at once in the process.
But Nadal's career is becoming increasingly hampered by injuries. Today - on the day of his second consecutive injury-plagued trip Melbourne - is the one year anniversary of his last retirement from the Australian open. In 2010, stepping out of the contest handed the match to Murray and opened the door for him to progress to the final where he lost to Federer.
And Rafa might have done it again... Ferrer will play Murray with the intention of raining on Britain's parade and securing the cup for Spain on behalf of his fallen compatriot.
With a pair of former champs likely to be contesting the other semi, anything could happen. But if Murray's ever going to win, this might be his best chance...
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Happy Birthday Tiimo Noodlepip...
World famous artist, Tiimo Noodlepp, is 22 years old today.
In his honour I have created the belowe work of art depicting said luminary as a puff-smoking dragon.
We at THE HARE hope he appreciates it as much as we appreciate his continued contribution to the enrichment of our lives.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
In his honour I have created the belowe work of art depicting said luminary as a puff-smoking dragon.
We at THE HARE hope he appreciates it as much as we appreciate his continued contribution to the enrichment of our lives.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
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