A certain well-known betting company uses the slogan “Everyone has an opinion – what’s yours worth?” And they’re right – in sport, everyone does indeed have an opinion. It’s an industry which for many reasons inspires more people to expound these opinions more vociferously and adamantly than, say, politics or art manage to do. Websites, newspapers, magazines, blogs, fanzines and more all voice their views on the events of the sporting world, and here at Sport.co.uk we’re no different.
The Monday Morning Musings brings you its unashamedly incomplete, ill-ordered and occasionally-irrelevant ruminations on the weekend’s activities. What’s our opinion worth? Given that it’s just been Grand National weekend and we’re feeling ballsy, how about the 9 million South African Rand Charl Schwartzel has just pocketed along with a tasty green jacket for his wardrobe...
Masters Sunday is one of the great occasions in sport. And last night we were treated to a glorious exhibition of golf, a see-saw of emotions not just for the players competing for the iconic green jacket, but for any golf fan watching from home. Eight players had at least a share of the lead at some point on the final day. There is no other sport in the world in which such competitiveness exists, and it made for enthralling viewing.
Predicting the eventual winner was a thankless task once Rory McIlroy started to lose grip of his composure and talent, and few would have backed Charl Schwartzel at any point over the four days, but to finish the Masters with four consecutive birdies is nothing short of phenomenal, particularly when we consider that very few others were doing likewise: Jason Day and Ryo Ishikawa were the only other players to birdie both 17 and 18. It was a real test of nerve for all players at the front of the leaderboard, and Schwartzel held his better than anyone else.
One of the wonderful things about being a golf spectator is that you get a real sense of the different players' personalities, from the implacable KJ Choi to the likes of Ian Poulter, who can play no other way than with his heart on his sleeve and his emotions on show for all to see. And because we're lucky enough to see these talented sportsmen up close, it's inevitable that we all have our favourites, and struggle to maintain any semblance of neutrality when watching momentous events unfold in the manner they did last night.
And so, from a Brit's perspective, to see Lee Westwood play tee-to-green golf fit to win the Masters, but then consistently fail with his putter, was disappointing. To watch Luke Donald out-powered but never over-awed, and playing superlative golf throughout only to roll back into the water on the 12th was gutting (especially after BBC’s Ken on the course had shown us not half an hour previously that such an occurence was unlikely to happen!) But worst of all, to see young McIlroy, at just 21 years of age, throwing away his overnight four-stroke lead so quickly and so suddenly, was both heart-wrenching and a tad embarrassing. The old adage that golf can be a cruel game was never more true than between the 10th and 13th holes of the Northern Irishman's round yesterday; remember that McIlroy, while not playing particularly well, still led at the turn.
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What we can draw from this year's Masters, however, is that Britain's wait for its next major Champion will surely not be too prolonged. The three above players, along with Justin Rose, Ian Poulter and several others (Graeme McDowell has of course already acheived the feat), have the talent to win the top prizes in golf. The temperament, and that crucial other attribute all Champions possess - luck - seem to be missing at the moment, but it is impossible to think that things will not work out more kindly for the Brits in the near future. McIlroy's time will come, and soon.
Golf commentary, like cricket, really puts football's offering to shame. After listening to the genuinely enlightening and informative insights of Peter Aliss, Andrew Cotter and Wayne Grady, and having enjoyed Michael Atherton and co throughout the past four months, it makes the parallel experience of an evening with any of Alan Shearer, Andy Townsend, Mark Lawrenson or Ray Wilkins a pretty painful one.
The biggest events in any sport instantly create a host of armchair experts with little or no pedigree in the sport. At Sport.co.uk we’re particularly looking forward to discovering this autumn, once again, that any number of Tom, Dick and Harrys, whose love for rugby had somehow previously passed us by, suddenly know more about Toby Flood’s tactical strengths and weaknesses that the great Martin Johnson does. The Grand National at Aintree, however, is the ultimate example of unjustifiable armchair expertism. It is an annual celebration of having absolutely no idea what we're on about. And so it was when we settled down, four cans of lager and an overcooked barbecue burger in our bellies, to watch the race at 4.15 on Saturday afternoon. Titbits of information garnered from morning's papers were passed around, the odd insider's tip from work was revealed in hushed tones, there were even some outlandish claims to know the winner's identity already, and with absolute certainty. It's a fine event, and the prestige surrounding it makes for excellent sport, but those who actually know what they're talking about must find the whole occasion pretty painful.
Was Sir Alex Ferguson actually listening to the National on Saturday at Old Trafford? Only a man as comfortable in his job as Ferguson is could possibly be so presumptuous. Truly the Scot treats Manchester United as a personal fiefdom. Imagine the furore if, say, Steve Kean or Avram Grant had done something similar; there would be calls for their heads.
Alan Curbishley used to receive heavy criticism while at Charlton for reaching the number of points that would assure survival, but then losing form and slumping to a dull mid-table finish. Given the downturn in fortunes at the Valley since his departure, such criticism now seems ludicrous, but a similar scenario has been developing at Sunderland, and Steve Bruce must accept his share of criticism twofold - for failing to motivate his players, and for failing to replace Darren Bent. The fight, organisation and team spirit shown by the Black Cats before Christmas has gone completely, while Bruce had a full two weeks after selling Bent before the transfer window closed. There can be no complaints with his bringing in Stephane Sessegnon and Sulley Muntari, but the lack of a goalscorer since January has been as predictable for Black Cats fans as it has been painful.
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A few miles down the road at St James' Park, meanwhile, Alan Pardew had only a matter of hours to try to replace his top scorer Andy Carroll. When Liverpool stumped up £35 million for the striker, Newcastle's aims for the rest of the season were reduced to just one - assuring that when they come to spend that money in the summer, they will be to offer any potential new recruit the promise of top flight football. That should be a formality, but for both North-East Premiership clubs, this season can't end soon enough.
Chung Yong Lee - is there a more underrated player in the Premier League? Lee typifies everything that Owen Coyle's new-look Bolton represent, marrying tireless hard work with skill and technique. A little gem of a footballer.
Daniel Sturridge's excellent recent form could not be coming at a more pertinent moment. Just as £50 million man Fernando Torres continues his barely believable 648 minute goal drought at Chelsea, Sturridge, who didn't cost Roman Abramovich a ruble in transfer fees, is firing on all cylinders. Sturridge is clearly not a man who suffers from a lack of confidence, which is a characteristic common to all top strikers. His other attributes - pace, power and an eye for goal - also suggest that he has a long and prolific future ahead of him in the Premier League.
The result of Blackpool vs Wigan next weekend will, one suspects, go a long way towards determining the fate of the two clubs. It is an enormous match of football, and with the title race looking all but sewn up in favour of Manchester United, the relegation battle may prove the most intriguing aspect of the final six weeks of the season. And intriguing it is; at least seven sides are still fighting for their lives, and Saturday's match at Bloomfield Road is just one of several mammoth fixtures at the bottom of the table.