Sport has been one of the driving passions of my life. I still play tennis and love rugby, soccer, cricket and great achievements. Usain Bolt is my latest hero . . . I have three particular teams that I’ve followed since I was five or six years old. The All Blacks, Manchester City, and Lancashire County Cricket Club.
This weekend was a great weekend for the Blacks and the Blues. The All Blacks went to Sydney to play a wounded Australia and triumphed in a tough, competitive, hard game of international rugby. Dan Carter ran the game superbly and Graham Henry outcoached his counter part, Robbie Deans. Despite having two tries disallowed, the All Blacks ran out narrow winners and I was able to go to bed a happy man.
A few hours later, I watched Manchester City triumph versus Wolves. Manager Mark Hughes is under amazing pressure having spent 100 million of Abu Dhabi money to strengthen the side and we have started the season with 2 wins out of 2 plus an amazing victory mid week against European champions Barcelona, in Barcelona.
City are playing beautiful attacking football just as the All Blacks play beautiful open rugby. It’s one of the best feelings around when your team puts in a performance, does the business, does it with the right attitude and the right values, and wins. Given the All Blacks haven’t won a World Cup since 1987 and Manchester City haven’t won any trophy since 1976, it’s a particularly beautiful feeling this morning.
Wherever you are, I hope your team wins this weekend (unless they’re playing mine). And I hope your kids are fans . . . and players.
And to make it a trifecta, Lancashire’s Everyman Hero Freddie Flintoff led England’s cricketers to an on Ashes triumph . . . What a week!!
