Scotland is top destination for Mountain Biking

just got back from the scottish highlands...great time...lovely weather...great conditions for mountain biking had a blast on my bike...cycling furious uphills...blazing downhills...brilliant stuff really...lots to do...you can cycle anywhere in scotland...that's if ur good...if not?...well you fall off there's a wealth of bog standard tracks to race down...plus some professional stuff to challenge the curious...7 stanes is the new hot spot...a huge variety of tracks for all skill levels...sounds good...might visit next year...fingers crossed won't be heading to fort william quite yet...it's got a world cup downhill track down the side of ben nevis...scary spiders...only for the pros or the suicidal...need better kit to challenge those slopes if you like mountain biking you'll love scotland...lots to do for all abilities...ideal for new learners or heavyweight pros...top stuff

Zidane incident incites much controversy

What the media say
Well it seems there's more to the Zidane headbutting incident than was originally implied.

News stations and media representatives across the world have been launching private investigations into the issue. Many media organisations believe that Marco Materazzi used a series of obscene insults and remarks to provoke Zidane. Opinions vary but all have a central theme; Materazzi insulted Zidane's family or heritage. Fifa is currently investigating and will take appropiate action if required.

My take
Zidane has a history of violence in football and has long suffered racist slurs against his Algerian heritage. If he was indeed provoked during the match then Materazzi should be punished harshly and Zidane's own punishment reconsidered. Under the circumstances Zidane's action was to some extent justified.

It would be a shame if Zidane's fabulous career was tarred by this incident. If he was provoked then the least Fifa can do is prove his innocence and save the reputation of a proud man. Zidane deserves better than this for his swansong. We must remember his years of service to the game and accept him for what he is: flawed but brilliant.

Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/5169342.stm

Italy prepare to put the doubters in their dust trail

With the mounting criticism and scandal back home, many of the Italian players are buoyed by the chance of proving themselves on the world stage. For Italian footballers this is not only the opportunity to prove their superiority but their integrity and honesty. For a country famed for its diving and occasionally slimy tactics the side are playing good honest football. Thirteen of the players are from clubs facing possible relegation and, instead of creating a negative atmosphere, this has helped the men to really bond as a team; a fact clearly evident on the pitch. The players have spoken of their anger at the mounting scandal and the scathing criticism but relish the opportunity of channeling their anger into 'something positive'. For the Italians football has never been more important.

Where did Schweinsteiger come from?

I've just watched the highlights of the Germany vs Portugal game and I'm at a loss for words. How on earth did Schweinsteiger, a little recognised player, come from nowhere to score two goals and a deflection off an opposing defender? His performance was electrifying to say the least.

His first came from the left wing, a cutting shot that sailed past Ricardo with little difficulty. Five minutes later, after 61 minutes of play, he blasted a free kick into the box that ricocheted off Portugal's Petit and into the goal. Surprisingly Petit's fellows held no noticeable ill against him.

Seventeen minutes later Portugal's misery was compounded as Schweinsteiger blasted a shot straight into the goal from 25 yards. When Figo sailed onto the pitch at 76 minutes, his startling cross softened the blow a little as Gomes headed the ball straight past Kahn. But it was too late for redemption. To the joy of coach Klinsmann and the wild crowds, Germany claimed a little sweetness from the tournament with a decisive bronze medal.

PlayStation 3 vs Xbox 360

Console history 101. For the last few years Microsoft and Sony have been spitting in their pitched battle to create the most powerful console ever made. The initial idea was that of performance; the best graphics, speed, memory and spec. But the lines have become blurred in the lengthy development passage. The Xbox 360 was the first out the blocks with it's two tier pricing. For a considerable amount extra buyers could buy the best with its 20GB hard drive (shock horror; go buy an iPod), wireless controller (my favourite feature; highly usable and comfortable and functional) and of course, the trump card, Xbox Live. The games are exemplary with Halo 3 on the way, but while the graphics are mind-blowing they fail to deliver the initial promise. For a dedicated games machine the spec is below par, superior graphics are available already on PC and the PS3 looks set to blow both out the water. Regardless the Xbox 360 is still a great contender. That is until Microsoft tried to turn it into a Media Center. The Xbox 360 is now compatible with Microsoft's Media Center PCs (hands up those who didn't see that one coming). Wireless connectivity allows you to access photos and music from the PC on a Xbox. Which is useful of course. But it misses the point. Games consoles are what the name suggests; for playing games. PC compatibility is great but why not just scrap the Xbox and buy a better PC? The more features Microsoft tries to squeeze out of the Xbox the more it undermines its original purpose. The Xbox is becoming less of a console and more of an entertainment centre. This is a console war right? For games? Enter the PlayStation 3. It is stamped with the typical no-nonsense Sony approach. It is designed to play games in the same way the Walkman was made to play music. And look at the spec. Only one of the PS3 will be available in the UK. The good one. Hallelujah. It will come with a 60GB hard drive (did you hear that Xbox? Curl up in a corner and die), wireless controllers and a new High Definition Eyetoy camera (watch this space; the games are going to be fantastic). There is no doubt that the PS3 is designed to play games to the highest standard yet. And to put the icing on the cake it comes with Sony's new High-Def baby: Blu-Ray. The Xbox has struggled to match this feature with its new HD feature. Unlike the Xbox, the PS3 will use Blu-Ray disks from the off. None of the Xbox games were first produced on HD disks but the PS3 will have HD games from the start. While Microsoft is forced to haggle games companies to use the new technology, Sony has already set its standard. And with its own movie production company Sony can introduce DVDs that use Blu-ray too. The games department at Microsoft must be screaming... It seems that Sony has the High-Def front covered and the superior spec might lure the gamers who want the best performance. And that's what it's about. Building the best games console. It's your choice: entertainment centre or dedicated games machine?

The future of English football

I was listening to Radio 2 today and some bloke made a very valid point (this is quite rare on Radio 2; usually it's just a moderated argument/semi-brawl that is interrupted frequently by music to phase out the swearing.) The bloke said that if England want to ever win a world cup again then the changes need to come at club level; instead of hiring foreigners we need to build English sides into English sides with English players. 'Bang on,' I shouted to the bafflement of the neighbourhood.

New Footie Kit

Well it's been a while. But I can safely blame the delay on my recent shopping spree. At JJB on Sunday I acquired, after much oh-so-vital bouncing, a new football. It's the Joga 3 Futsal Tournament ball. For those who don't know, futsal is like a stylish form of football, with a smaller less bouncy ball, no keeper and a small goal. Think of it as a street form of football. Sort of. The Joga ball is made by Nike and is specially constructed. It only bounces three or four times from a two metre drop and is slightly smaller than average with a tough coating for widespread use. It is incredibly useful for practising tricks and control. I have been using it recently to improve my left foot control. I am naturally right footed but am gradually becoming more reliant on my left. Two footedness is very handy for one-on-one confrontation, allowing you to off-foot an opponent easily. Essentially you can play one foot off the other and transfer back and forth to confuse opponents. It is quite impressive and increases passing and control fluency. Also I acquired the official Adidas Teamgeist ball of the World Cup. It's a replica of the ones used in the actual WC tournament and is very nice indeedy. It offers excellent and easy control and, for a forward player such as myself, provides a range of opportunities. It curves very nicely and it soon becomes evident that the standard of freekicks in the tournament is not entirely player reliant... As it happens my favourite style is a mid to high curling shot, so I'm nicely set up with the Teamgeist. To finish off the kit list I acquired a new Nike football vest. It's one of those Drifit ones that are supposed to minimise sweating but actually does bugger-all in 40 degrees of heat and full-on glaring sunlight. Nevertheless it is doubtless an improvement on a woolly jumper. I certainly look the part in a if-I-grow-my-hair-I-might-pass-as-Ronaldhino kinda way. Very pretty and relatively functional. Well it's good bye from me. I'm going to listen to the Five Live coverage of Germany vs Italy. Joga Bonito. (Don't ask what that means; it was on my Joga ball in nice curly letters. Could be Spanish swear words for all I know.) EDITOR'S NOTE: 'Joga Bonito' means 'Play beautiful' in Portugese.