It’s day two of the Open Championship and Padraig Harrington is in contention. There are many who think that this could be his year. A course he knows well and he’s bang in form. The omens are good. There is every chance that the Irishman will be there or there abouts on Sunday evening. But can he make the transition from European Order Of Merit Winner to Open Champion? For Harrington to breakthrough into the domain of Major winners he will have to tap into the 1%. The 1% is a place beyond hard-work. A place beyond solid technique. A […]
Read More...Martin Perry
GAA: Limerick – The Quiet Suppression
In the All-Ireland hurling semi-final, Limerick tore into their opponents Wexford with a bristling intensity from the off. All energy and focus, they emerged worthy winners and there was great anticipation as to how champions Kilkenny would handle the expected Limerick intensity onslaught. Well they handled it alright. After ten minutes they had scored two goals and from there on in, Limerick were playing catch up. Limerick were caught cold. Slow out of the blocks, the game had slipped out of their hands before they had got into it. So why is it that teams freeze on the big occasion? […]
Read More...Football: Jamie Carragher – Bottler?
Firstly this is not a debate about whether Jamie Carragher is a ‘bottler’ or not. It’s questioning why a player would consider giving up their international career. This tells us more about the disaffection Carragher feels about the England set-up. Many fans feel the same way. Once diehard nationalists no longer care about the England team. One underperformance after another at major events, supported by mediocre, unambitious football has alienated fans. And players it seems. It doesn’t look like fun. Steve McClaren must view Carragher’s decision as a wake up call. Players don’t want to be part of the set-up. […]
Read More...Football: David Beckham – Good For Morale?
Even before he is officially unveiled, LA Galaxy president Alexei Lalas informs us that David Beckham’s imminent arrival has had an adverse affect on the Major League side. LA Galaxy are near the bottom of the Western Division. The phone-ins are asking the sports psychology experts, ‘So how will Beckham’s arrival impact on the morale and team-spirit of the Galaxy’? It could go two ways: 1) Beckham’s presence and huge wages could cause resentment amongst his colleagues. For his 125m. they will expect him to better than Pele and Maradona combined and win every game by himself. They will feel […]
Read More...Football: Chelsea – What Are It’s True Values?
Chelsea Chief Executive, Peter Kenyon, has spoken recently of the need for the club to make, at least, the final of the Champions League in order for them to be acknowledged as a ‘world brand.’ But many diehard fans, who would rather see their team win the Premiership, don’t agree. There may be developing a sense of disconnect between these fans and the club they support. A gap in credibility which refuses to be bridged by clever merchandising. Football clubs have been driven by a deep-rooted set of values which provide the foundation for everything that happens at the club. […]
Read More...Tennis: The Champions Masterclass
It’s the fifth set of the Wimbledon’s mens single final. Rafael Nadal is pounding Roger Federer. He has vital break points at 2-2. It’s a pivotal moment in the game. The champion is on the ropes. Minutes later Federer heads for the chair 3-2 up. There is a spark in his eye. A spring in his step. And with it a sense of knowing. A sense that champions get. That this is it. This is the moment. The turning point. And so it proves. He has taken all Nadal has got to throw at him. Nadal is finally beaten. So what is […]
Read More...Football: Fernando Torres – Know Your History
So Fernando Torres is to join Liverpool from Athletico Madrid for 26m. Is he going to be the catalyst that finally ignites Liverpool’s title challenge? Or will he join Stan Collymore, Emile Heskey, Craig Bellamy and Djibril Cisse, and fail to live up to the publicity and hype? If he is to make a difference, the first thing I would do if I was working with him, would be to steep him in history. I would create a specific induction process for him. An induction into the history of great Liverpool forwards…Liddell, Thompson, Hunt, St. John, Keegan, Toshack, Dalgleish, Rush. […]
Read More...Football: Fernando Torres – Know Your History
So Fernando Torres is to join Liverpool from Athletico Madrid for 26m. Is he going to be the catalyst that finally ignites Liverpool’s title challenge? Or will he join Stan Collymore, Emile Heskey, Craig Bellamy and Djibril Cisse, and fail to live up to the publicity and hype? If he is to make a difference, the first thing I would do if I was working with him, would be to steep him in history. I would create a specific induction process for him. An induction into the history of great Liverpool forwards…Liddell, Thompson, Hunt, St. John, Keegan, Toshack, Dalgleish, Rush. […]
Read More...Tim Henman – And Mr Henman
Another summer. Another Wimbledon. Henman Hill packed with expectant fans. Living on hope. It’s been like this for years. Hope followed by disappointment. So what, if anything could Tim Henman have done differently to have broken his personal stop situation and taken the Wimbledon crown. If I had been providing sports psychology services for Tim, I would have suggested a radical experiment. It is one he may not have liked. I would have asked Tim to tell his father Anthony to stay away. Every year you see Mr. Henman alongside Mrs. Henman and Lucy Henman. Perched right over the court. […]
Read More...GAA: Dublin – The Over Arousal Factor
It’s the Leinster Football Final and Dublin are hosting Laois at Croke Park. It’s an even game when suddenly Dublin score two goals in as many minutes to knock the stuffing out of Laois. After the first goal, Dublin forward Mark Vaughan begins taunting the Laois defender Darren Rooney in an aggressive ‘in your face’ manner. Later on in the game two more Dublin players, Alan Brogan and Kevin Bonner indulge in further taunting of the defeated Laois players. ”You try playing in front of 82,000 people in a Leinster Final” is the response from Dublin’s 1995 All-Ireland winning senior […]
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