tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39121366666016923392024-01-31T09:25:33.984+00:00Pseuds' corner and home of the frustrated hackThis is where the pseudonyms gather to show off their wares. Come frustrated hack and unpublished journos, share your work with those less and more fortunate than yourselves.
email entries to pseudscorner@hotmail.co.uk for considerationUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger488125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-45220487661721378742011-10-23T22:53:00.003+01:002011-10-23T23:02:11.742+01:00Farewell, Super Sic: A tribute Marco Simoncelli - GalactusI'm still in something of a state of shock at the news that Marco Simoncelli, at the age of 24, died after an horrific accident at the MotoGP race at Malaysia's Sepang circuit in the early hours of this morning.After losing the front end of his Gresini Honda RC212V he slid into the path of the oncoming bikes of Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi. Neither rider was able to avoid hitting him. In theUnknownnoreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-10462213721787872072011-03-30T15:44:00.000+01:002011-03-30T15:45:27.873+01:00The return of motorsport – mimitigIt’s been a long hard winter for all of us, and for the MotoGP paddock it has not been the return to sport that they would have anticipated. At a rough count, about 90 percent of the paddock is Japanese and so this first race of the season, in the desert, is a tough debut.Honda were hoping to open the 2011 season full of the joys of leading all the times in testing. New signing Casey Stoner wentUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-13803552502856679022010-09-07T22:35:00.001+01:002010-09-08T01:44:38.303+01:00Sport Matters – mimitigFor the past week the sporting world has been obsessed by two affairs. One the usual of the Transfer Window – an example of how two disassociated words have become a phrase known even to not terribly keen football supporters such as I. The second is another two word phrase: “spot-fixing” – this time a phrase not known to keen cricket followers (I would suggest) unless they are part of the murky Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-58157671547383287702010-09-01T15:15:00.001+01:002010-09-01T15:19:19.393+01:00Champions league pretenders - Premcorrespondent<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />I hate Notting Hill Carnival. The rum is cheap. The music is loud. Even the roll-ups roll ups handed round taste rotten. And to top it all off I always wake up in bloody <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Glasgow without a penny and have to hitch a lift home. xStill, London Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-13231072298470903182010-08-24T08:06:00.002+01:002010-08-24T08:09:10.206+01:00Paying the penalty - Premcorrespondent<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> xAs I feared, the Tangerines could not build on their stunning first game with an away win at the Emirates. At 1-0 down I hoped to see how well <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Blackpool dug in. But then a man sent off made a farce of the test. xNot to take anything away Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-39312145551746247072010-08-15T23:20:00.008+01:002010-08-15T23:39:12.627+01:00Oh mister tangerine man... - Premcorrespondent#<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />So much for a world cup that was more Jordi Cruyff than Johnan. Mismatched games, stars falling short of expectations and frustrating tactics made much of it interesting rather than thrilling. #And so to the Premier League. Or Premiership; whichever of the two they are calling the first division these days.#Off I went toUnknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-56337969275554320922010-07-22T21:07:00.000+01:002010-07-22T21:08:05.227+01:00Are we nearly there yet? – mimitigWhilst this is a phrase that, for many of us, echoes the little voice of childhood as we sat in the back of Morris Travellers or Hillman Minxes as parents seemed to drive for ever to the north or west in search of holidays, it is surely what the legs (if they could speak) of the peloton are asking today.Today being the second rest day of this year’s Tour de France, the answer is 525.5 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-8072209323032167842010-07-20T19:18:00.000+01:002010-07-18T19:24:06.167+01:00World Cup 2018 - cissethedogThis year’s World Cup has been ok, not great, not rubbish. But I suspect the long term trend is towards a blander, cagier ‘product’. This is not good.These changes have four main objectives: Feature a wider variety of playing styles More coverage for smaller teams/playersSupport the referees with technology, but not to burden them with any extra subjective decisions. Make some things simpler, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-32403639847178217722010-07-18T15:19:00.002+01:002010-07-18T15:27:12.812+01:00For the love of the game - ebrenAn email, a mad dash home, a cross-town trek. Arriving late, padding up, waiting on the boundary, taking off the pads after a single delivery, fielding, losing, drinking. This week I have played four games of cricket, losing three.There’s something horrible about losing a game of cricket. Eight times out of ten you can see it coming, sometimes for hours, but there’s nothing you can do about Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-89971652885061173392010-07-07T09:39:00.000+01:002010-07-07T09:40:14.069+01:00When the Hell welcomes the Tour - mimitigCycling fans (are there any out there?) have been wondering when this year’s Tour de France would really kick off.Le Grand Depart in Rotterdam was very low key for anyone who wasn’t actually there. Cancellara rode brilliantly to secure the Yellow Jersey through a time trial, again, but everyone else, except maybe David Millar, was way too cautious in the wet conditions and it was what Paul Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-11661595843393463172010-06-14T05:47:00.000+01:002010-06-14T05:56:48.606+01:00Rob Green lights up the bar - Margin Watching football in a bar at 11:30am raises some questions. For a start, do you meet up with friends for breakfast before the game? We decided not to. But then do you drink throughout the proceedings? Those of you who know me best know there is only one answer to that, though we genuinely kidded ourselves otherwise for a short time. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:Unknownnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-46704654515379919242010-06-11T20:49:00.003+01:002010-10-25T21:26:43.896+01:00Pre-game nerves, Califnornia style - MarginSo as it turns out, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />California is different. Very different to New York in fact. x<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />“I hate soccer” was the first thing I heard about the sport I love, and I heard it without solicitation. xThe gruff and seemingly rather negative Mike who runs Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-54915873438174743252010-06-10T20:51:00.004+01:002010-06-10T21:03:02.516+01:00The Big Game - Margin I landed in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Brooklyn three days ago. Didn’t know anything about the place other than it was cheap, but it turns out where I stayed was a lot like Hackney Wick. A few fashionable arty types have taken over a couple of abandoned warehouses as workshops or opened coffee shops. But mostly it’s just poor, industrial, andUnknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-62371211591681315532010-05-17T17:35:00.002+01:002010-05-17T17:43:19.917+01:00England can win – by mimitigI’m not going to plunge into an explanation of that headline straight away – too much of a shock for our readers. Let’s ease our way into this unlikely situation.So while club football is almost over – Chelsea have done the double and Dundee crushed the hopes of the Highlands beating Ross County 3-0 in the Scottish Cup - and with at least a few weeks to go before the Football World Cup takes overUnknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-20907567305161841852010-04-12T11:25:00.003+01:002010-04-12T11:28:23.737+01:00MotoGP Strikes again – mimitig11 April 2010 – the start of the new MotoGP season. So important to the BBC (who trailed the opening F1 race for weeks) that it was relegated to Freeview only on BBC3.What a shame and what an opportunity missed by the broadcasters because while the opening race of F1 was a drone fest, the first race of MotoGP2010 was a belter.Last season saw the man widely accepted as the GOAT (Greatest Of All Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-62771926251886982752010-04-01T09:56:00.003+01:002010-04-01T10:07:46.282+01:00Yellow and red overlapping footballs - EbrenThere's something insidious about corporate boxes and sponsor tickets.At one level, you know that the cash companies provide means more money for the clubs and - in theory - cheaper tickets for the fans. But it's not right. The FA Cup final filled with officials not fans. And a European Cup quarter final at the Emirates with a man from Little-Rock Arkansas sitting to my left, because he works forUnknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-76208731587823249052010-03-27T09:38:00.000+00:002010-03-27T09:39:57.374+00:00Welcome to the new Decayde - mimiThat is “decayed” not some kind of American pronunciation of where we are living. This is not a Decade. This is a new decayed.So why? Well where to begin. With the boys who kick balls – oh that’s the big money place. Well they seem pretty decayed. At the top of the league it’s not about football it’s about mistresses and headlines in the lavvy tops.At the bottom of the league, it’s still lavvy Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-45538245119314220832010-01-22T00:58:00.000+00:002010-01-22T00:59:30.808+00:002009: a review - mimitigAlmost three weeks into the new decade and already I am wondering what were the highlights of 2009. What are the big important memories of a year that was post-Olympic and pre-World Cup?There were great achievements for lots of sportsmen and women and teams. Hey, Tiger Woods probably counts all of those in his portfolio – after all, if we are to believe the papers, he’s had more than a netball Unknownnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-15432720557672072012009-12-10T20:43:00.000+00:002009-12-10T20:44:47.734+00:00Why the BBC and the Public will get it wrong, again - MimitigHello dear readers – it’s that time of year again. Yes the time when otherwise unengaged and uninitiated so-called “fans” will vote for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.So the first hurdle to overcome in this ridiculous charade is how the shortlist is arrived at. Does anyone know how? All I know is that at this time of writing, neither of my two sporting heroes of the year seem to have Unknownnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-52221368350870415512009-10-23T10:36:00.002+01:002010-06-06T10:55:12.103+01:00Thank you: what a weekend of achievement - mimitigAre any of you old enough to remember Archie Bell? Probably not but this song is right there in my head as we celebrate yet another British World Champion.Jenson Button signed off on a fairytale season in Brazil by winning the Drivers’ Championship in Formula 1 and ensuring that his team, Brawn, won the Constructor’s title.Jenson, Jense, JB however you cry him, becomes the 10th British F1 World Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-43530394249547555762009-10-06T16:40:00.004+01:002009-10-06T17:48:26.818+01:00Ryan Giggs: Missing you already... - PremCorrespondentNo meaningful football for almost two weeks! This must be the longest break since the big freeze of 1963, when your correspondent was obliged to light bonfires on the pitch to thaw the ground - in April! Undersoil heating has put a stop to that (and promoted the global warming that means that undersoil heating isn't necessary after all). So, with England qualified for the World Cup and very few Tutor GNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12760511105741259932noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-81490739846232501122009-10-04T22:55:00.001+01:002009-10-04T22:55:37.713+01:00Entering the final phase: Motorsport 2009 - mimitigThe weekend of October 3 and 4 saw both Formula 1 and MotoGP move into their final phase. Formula 1 went racing in Japan: after that only two races left and both flyaways – to Brazil and the finale at first time track Abu Dhabi.MotoGP was in Portugal and Rossi, leading the Championship by 30 points going in to the weekend was looking to maintain his record of nine visits to Estoril and nine Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-82114019583784595492009-09-03T14:58:00.001+01:002010-06-06T20:59:48.243+01:00Kicking the Bottle - PremCorrespondentYou know it was a good weekend if it doesn’t end until Wednesday, and only then because you finally remember there isn’t a Swiss Cottage in that part of north London after all. But that’s enough of my week. There was some football played and some damned fine football at that.Lets start at Old Trafford with what might prove a crucial clash for champions league qualification come May.Arsenal playedUnknownnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-27621222040221342532009-08-25T07:49:00.001+01:002009-08-25T07:49:59.741+01:00Untested expectations - PremCorrespondentSorry for the late report. Woke up with the sort of hangover you can only get from a bender with Greaves and Best at the height of their powers. Not that I had one of those. Too many footballers on orange juice these days. But I’m older now and the kebab was still moving when I left the shop, which may have played a part. Anyway, partying like it’s the 1960s, Spurs players enjoyed a sober glass Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912136666601692339.post-20499169870872539522009-08-24T13:16:00.002+01:002009-08-24T13:18:50.697+01:00Oh it’s the Ashes – mimitigCertainly this is how the England team felt after Headingly . After a chastening, humiliating experience in Australia 18 months ago, who, honestly, hand on heart, would have put money on England regaining the Ashes this summer?There were many at the start of this summer who thought the Aussies, number one Test side, would land on these shores and roll a weak England side over. So we went to Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10