The Springboks do it again, 4 time world champs!

                               

In a thrilling display of grit and determination, on October 28th 2023 South Africa etched their names in Rugby World Cup history once again, defeating New Zealand 12-11 in a nail-biting final at Stade de France in Saint-Denis (Paris), France. This triumph marked South Africa's fourth Rugby World Cup title, cementing their position as one of the sport's most dominant teams. From the outset, the match was a tense affair, with both teams showcasing their defensive prowess. South Africa's resolute defense, led by captain Siya Kolisi, proved to be a formidable obstacle for the All Blacks, who struggled to break through their unwavering wall of green and gold. South Africa's flyhalf Handre Pollard proved to be the difference-maker on the night, maintaining his 100% kicking record in Paris and guiding the ball through the posts with four crucial penalties. His accuracy and composure under immense pressure were instrumental in maintaining South Africa's lead throughout the match.  

How a US billionaire's investment will grow the sport of squash worldwide

This summer (2023) it was announced that billionaire investor Mark Walter has made a major investment in the sport of squash (likely over $10 million). Walter, who is the co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chelsea Football Club, has acquired a stake in Squash Media & Marketing (SMM), a commercial entity created and managed by the Professional Squash Association (PSA). The investment is part of a larger strategy to grow the sport of squash globally. 

The Last of the Mohicans

(Author's note: this article was originally written in September 2016. I thought I would repost it given that the sport of squash is being voted on soon by the LA 2028 Organizing Committee)

Six years ago I got terrible news.  The squash club just down the street from my home on 8th Avenue, where I played or coached almost every day, was finally scheduled to close permanently.  It was the last squash club that existed in downtown New York City and it closed its doors a short while later.  Hundreds of members of the squash club were shocked.  Playing squash was a ritual for many people, something which was abruptly taken away from them.

King Khan

(Author's note: Originally published in 2010; I am reposting this now because squash is about to get voted on by the LA 2028 Organizing Committee)

In my youth the best squash players I heard about were the two consecutive World Champions from Pakistan, Jahangir Khan and then Jansher Khan.  Given how long they remained at the top of the game, I naturally assumed they were the two best squash players up to that point in history.  But recently I discovered that there was another Khan, named Hashim, who preceded the other two by about two decades. And Hashim Khan may just have been better, given what he achieved and how he did it.  Either way, these Khans are three of the best players to have ever played the game.  I am sure anyone in Pakistan would tell you they are the three best ever.

Another global sport that Ryan Reynolds invests in

In November 2020, Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney made headlines when they announced that they had purchased Wrexham AFC, a semi-professional football club in North Wales. The duo, who are known for their work on films and television shows such as Deadpool, Free Guy, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, had no prior experience in football management, but they were determined to turn Wrexham into a success. 

Ryan Reynolds invests in Formula One

 

Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney and Michael B. Jordan are the latest celebrities to invest in Formula One, joining Otro Capital and RedBird Capital Partners in a 24% equity stake in Alpine Racing. The deal struck this summer (2023) is reportedly worth €200 million, which values Alpine Racing at approximately £706 million. 

France Stuns All Blacks in Rugby World Cup Opener

And...we are back from a summer break with a bang! Last night, September 8th 2023, the Rugby World Cup kicked off as hosts France stunned the sport's most dominant team historically, the All Blacks, by 27 points to 13. The match, played at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, was a pulsating affair that saw both teams trade blows in front of a passionate crowd. The French started brightly and took an early lead through a try from Damian Penaud. The All Blacks responded with a try of their own from Mark Telea, but France continued to press forward and were rewarded with a second try from Penaud, this time in the corner. The All Blacks fought back in the second half and reduced the deficit to just three points, but France were not to be denied. Two late tries from Melvyn Jaminet and Antoine Dupont sealed a memorable victory for the hosts. 

Is the world's toughest running race in the Sahara? (probably)

The Marathon des Sables is a six-day, 155-mile ultramarathon that is held every year in the Sahara Desert. It is considered to be one of the toughest foot races in the world, and is known for its extreme conditions, including scorching heat, blinding sandstorms, and high winds. The race is open to anyone who is physically and mentally prepared for the challenge. In order to enter, participants must complete a qualifying race, such as a marathon or ultramarathon. They must also carry all of their own supplies, including food, water, and equipment, for the duration of the race. The Marathon des Sables is not for the faint of heart. It is a grueling test of endurance, and only the very best athletes are able to complete it. However, for those who are up for the challenge, it is an unforgettable experience that will test their limits and push them to their very best. 

A fresh face amongst golf's major winners

A week ago, on July 23rd 2023, US professional golfer Brian Harman won the 2023 British Open Championship in emphatic fashion. Harman is a PGA professional from Savannah, Georgia. He turned pro in 2009 and has since won three tour events, including the Open result.  He has made 238 out of 346 possible cuts on tour, had 26 Top 5 finishes, and made over $30 million in prize money. Curiously, he is described as a right-handed golfer who plays left-handed. He is known for his solid ball-striking and his ability to grind out rounds. He is also a very good putter, which has helped him to win several tournaments. Harman is a quiet and unassuming player who does not get a lot of attention. However, he is a very talented golfer who has quietly established himself as one of the best players on the PGA Tour.  

Jonas Vingegaard: The Danish Giant Who Conquered the Tour de France

Jonas Vingegaard is a Danish professional cyclist who rides for UCI WorldTeam Team Jumbo–Visma. He is the reigning champion of the Tour de France, having won the race in 2022. He is currently over ten minutes ahead of the second place cyclist and looks set to ride into Paris on Sunday (July 21st 2023) to reclaim his Tour title this year. Vingegaard was born in Hillerslev, Denmark, on December 10, 1996. He started cycling at a young age, and quickly showed promise in the sport. He turned professional in 2019, and joined Team Jumbo–Visma in 2020.  

A new king of the tennis court

Carlos Alcaraz is the new king of Wimbledon. Today, Sunday July 16th 2023, the 20-year-old Spaniard defeated Novak Djokovic in five sets in the final, becoming the first player to win the title at such a young age since Boris Becker in 1985. 

Auckland Rugby Showdown

The All Blacks, New Zealand's national rugby side, are the most successful rugby team in the world. They have won the Rugby World Cup three times and they have a winning percentage of over 77% in international matches. This means that any team that plays the All Blacks is facing a very tough challenge, and even more so when playing them on their home soil. New Zealand is a passionate rugby country. The All Blacks are considered national heroes, and the atmosphere at a rugby match in New Zealand is electric. This can be a major factor in home advantage, as the crowd can really get behind the team and create a hostile environment for the opposition. And the All Blacks have a unique playing style. They are known for their aggressive running game and their ability to score tries from anywhere on the field. This can be a very difficult style to defend against, especially in New Zealand, where the conditions are often favorable for running rugby. 

Danny Ricciardo will dazzle again

Daniel Ricciardo is an Australian racing driver who currently races in Formula One for the Red Bull second team, Scuderia AlphaTauri. He previously raced for Red Bull and this year was picked up as a test driver for the season, but this week (July 12th 2023) was promoted to the grid by Red Bull after they unceremoniously sacked rookie Nyck De Vries. 

Eubanks euphoria!

Chris Eubanks had a remarkable run at Wimbledon this year, reaching the quarterfinals for the first time in his career. He started his break throughs in London with a 4-set win over British 12th seed, Cameron Norrie.  This week (July 11th 2023) Eubanks pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament so far, defeating world No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas in a five-set match. Eubanks is playing in the quarterfinals against Medvedev tomorrow, Wednesday July 12th. Eubanks' performance at Wimbledon has been a major breakthrough for the American. He had never previously made it past the second round of a Grand Slam, and his run this year has seen him rise to a career-high ranking of No. 35 in the world. 

And your Major League Rugby winner is the New England Free Jacks

The 2023 Major League Rugby Championship Final was played today, Saturday July 8th 2023, at SeatGeek Stadium in Chicago, Illinois. The match featured the San Diego Legion and the New England Free Jacks, who were the top two teams in the league's regular season. The Legion entered the match as the favorites, having won a league-record 14 consecutive games. However, the Boston-based team were able to pull off the upset, winning 25-24. 

Will the Koepka express keep on running?

The 2023 U.S. Open golf tournament is being held at the Los Angeles Country Club (LACC) from today, June 15th 2023, until Sunday. The tournament is one of the big 4 majors of the year. The last major result, the PGA Champs last month, was a real upset to the golf world, in that a player from the breakaway LIV tour, Brooks Koepka, won the title. That and other factors likely prompted the US PGA and the LIV tour to discuss merging for the good of the game. It will ensure that all of the world’s best players are present at all 4 majors going forward. The major tournaments follow their own rules and 2 of the 4 denied the PGA Tour's attempts to limit the major fields to only PGA players. 

Winner, Winner, Chicken Nuggets Dinner!

The Nuggets professional basketball team, based in Denver, Colorado, (aka 'the Mile High City'), won their first NBA championship in franchise history last night Monday June 12th 2023, defeating the Miami Heat 94-89 in Game 5 of the finals. The Nuggets were led by Nikola Jokic, aka the Joker, who was named the NBA Finals MVP after averaging 33.8 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game in the series. The Nuggets were the underdogs entering the series, but they never backed down from the challenge. They won Game 1 on the road in Miami, and they never looked back. They won three of the next four games, including Game 5 in Denver. This victory was a culmination of years of hard work and dedication. They had made the playoffs in four of the previous five seasons, but they had never been able to get over the hump and reach the NBA Finals. But this year, they were finally able to put it all together. 

Marvelous Messi

Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest soccer player of all time. He has won a record seven Ballon d'Or awards, a record six European Golden Shoes, and in 2020 he was named to the Ballon d'Or Dream Team. Until leaving the club in 2021, he had spent his entire professional career with Barcelona in Spain, where he won a club-record 34 trophies, including ten La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles and the UEFA Champions League four times. With his country, he won the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The 2021 Copa América victory led Argentina to a spot in the 2022 Finalissima, where Messi was the winning captain. 

Novak Djokovic: The Greatest of All Time in Men's Tennis

As of today, June 11th 2023, Novak Djokovic has to be considered the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) in men's tennis. He just won his 23rd Grand Slam singles titles, surpassing Rafael Nadal's total of 22, for the most in the sport's history. Djokovic has also been ranked world No. 1 for a record total of 387 weeks, and he has finished as the year-end No. 1 seven times on the ATP tour, more than any other male tennis player including the likes of Roger Federer, Ivan Lendl, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe or Björn Borg. Against this list of tennis players, he has won not only more Grand Slam titles than the rest, he’s also the only male player to have won all four Grand Slams twice, i.e., a 'sweep' of all four in one year. 

Biggest change in the sport of golf in a generation

The PGA Tour and LIV Golf Tour, a Saudi-backed upstart, have proposed a merger that would see the two leagues combine their assets and operations. The deal, which is still in the early stages, would create a new golf league that would be very lucrative for those in power. 

Manchester City win league and FA cup and are on the verge of historic treble in Europe

There is a town in the north of England where soccer (“football” in the UK) is religion. The town is Manchester.  There are two main rival teams there that compete in the English Premier League, the highest professional soccer league in Britain with only the best club teams playing in it. If ticket prices and club valuations and player salaries are anything to go by then, all things equal, the English Premier League is probably the strongest and most competitive sports league in the world, of any sport.