Bourne Again

Captain James Tarkowski rescued Everton from the death; lashing home a 91st-minute equaliser after an uncharacteristic Bournemouth mix-up in their own penalty area, as Everton continued their fine unbeaten start to the season with a priceless 1-1 draw.

After a promising start; the Toffees were left to rue their sudden lethargy; as they suddenly allowed Bournemouth to wrest control of the match and make progress. In one of those exchanges; it was impressive midfielder Alex Scott who found the time & space to fire past an exposed Jordan Pickford and put the home team in front.

Everton; who had a notable chance from Thierno Barry earlier on to open the scoring; were then left to defend resolutely in the second half; with Tarkowski & Vitaliy Mykolenko putting in some vital challenges to keep the deficit at one. They could hardly believe their luck when two Bournemouth players went for the same clearance at a harmless ball; leaving Tarkowski with space to fire home.

Hays-Maker

One of the strengths of the Golden State Valkyries is indeed their depth; how deep it is; as evidenced by their league-leading bench scoring. And tonite it was the turn of veteran Tiffany Hayes to come up big; as she produced a twisty-turny 22-point performance to power the Valkyries to another big victory over one of the league's dark horses: Chicago Sky.

Unlike their previous win against the Los Angeles Sparks; which saw them lead comfortably from coast-to-coast; they actually struggled a bit in the early part of this one; before coming back to take control and eventually win by a comfortable margin of 20 points.

As usual, Hayes was abetted by the usual suspects of Gabby Williams, Veronica Burton and Cecilia Zandalasini; who all took their turn at beefing up the Golden State attack. For the Sky; they will regret not doing more when they had the chance; but in the end DiJonai Carrington couldn't continue her hot streak and they should really have went more with 6'7" center Kamilla Cardoso who had a decent size advantage over any of the Valkyrie bigs.

The Greatest Soundtrack

There have been many good soundtracks over the years. In the 1980s, Top Gun of course produced a soaring soundtrack with the legendary 'Take My Breath Away' from Berlin with its distinctive bass sound and 'Hungry Eyes'. And Dirty Dancing did its number with 'She's Like The Wind' by a surprisingly decent Patrick Swayze and 'The Time Of My Life'.

There was also Moulin Rouge; with its central theme song of 'Lady Marmalade' proving a hit; along with the epic duet of 'Come What May' starring both Ewan McGregor & Nicole Kidman.

But the greatest soundtrack of all time should be The Greatest Showman. With a string of original hits; there are enough classics on this soundtrack to last a lifetime. What stands out are the themes behind them  and the inspirational message they carry. From the inspirational 'From Now On'; to the delicate 'Tightrope' and the epic 'Never Enough' by Loren Allred; this soundtrack is so good we should end the debate right now.

Valkyries Stay Golden

The Golden State Valkyries continued their impressive sophomore season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA); this time coming up with a morale-boosting 84-78 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks.

The Valkyries have made their name this year with their relentless defense and three-point shooting; and this was again the case today; as their swarming defense and Cecilia Zandalasini's hot outside shooting proved too much for the Sparks to handle.

Credit to Los Angeles though; they did come back well when the game looked well beyond them; and in fact won the 4th quarter 31-20. But it was the early impetus controlled by the Valkyries that finally got them the win.

Full Nelson

More sad news came out of the National Basketball Association (NBA) this morning; with the news that Don Nelson; the acclaimed coach of the Golden State Warriors, had passed away at the age of 86. A storied player with the Boston Celtics; it was in head coaching that Nelson really made his name in; with an innovative and unique personality setting him apart from the other head coaches of his time.

And it was probably his tenure with the Golden State Warriors in the early-nineties that brought him his greatest fame; when he managed the legendary 'Run TMC' trio of Chris Mullin; Tim Hardaway & Mitch Richmond that torched the league with their explosive; run-and-gun style. He was also one of the longest-serving coaches with the best track record; usurped only by other legendary coaches such as Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs.

One In A Million

Liam Brady was a one-of-a-kind footballer. Talented; mercurial; elegant. You just didn't see many of him these days. And his book 'Born To Be A Footballer' is exactly that; something that cannot be replicated.

I have read many football autobiographies; but this is the best I've ever read. Better than Fowler; better than Vieira and better than The Basketball Book. The thing I like about it is his engaging style; he writes as if you're a friend; and you know he is saying it exactly as it is. He also does not repeat himself; something which many football autobiographies tend to do.

You are treated to an exact hometale of how Brady came to be a footballer; from his aspiring growth at Arsenal; through to his time in Italy and finally back to England. All through out, you hear about how his time at Italy wasn't all roses; how even a talented footballer like him faced rejection; his views on that Thierry Henry handball incident; and his colorful run-ins with fellow pundit Eamonn Murphy.

U just couldn't put it down.

Thrilla In Cambodia

Ilhan Fandi, the much talked-about man these days; came up big for Singapore again; as his sensational 101st-minute winner propelled Singapore to an opening match win in a Thrilla In Cambodia.

Singapore looked the more accomplished of the 2 teams; and they took the lead after 22 minutes when Shawal Anuar took an opportunistic pot-shot that beat a poorly-positioned Hul Kimhuy in the Cambodian goal.

The second half though was a different story; as the Cambodian substitutes Chanthea & Sa Ty added pace & impetus down the flanks. Suddenly Cambodia looked threatening; and their persistence paid off when right-back Ouk Sovann lashed home a brilliant drive at the hour mark to draw the home side level.

There was more VAR drama to come; as a late goal from Singapore was correctly ruled out for offside on substitute Jacob Mahler. But that was before the late show from another substitute Ilhan Fandi; who picked up a pass from Song Ui Young & smashed in an acrobatic winner with virtually the last kick of the game.

Spanish Eyes

Madonna was on stage for the half-time show; so it was fitting that her hit 'Spanish Eyes' were smiling at the end of this 2026 World Cup final. It was not a great final to be honest; the first half was still decent; but the second half was about as laborious as it could get; bringing to mind memories of the 1990 World Cup Final between West Germany & Argentina that was just about the worst game of football you could see.

Just like that day, Argentina chose to play defensive and try to ride it out to penalties; banking on the fact their goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is certainly better at saving penalties than his opposite number Unai Simon. In the end, Spain's perseverance paid off; as Nico Williams' brilliant cut-back header was swept home by fellow substitute Ferran Torres.

For Argentina; their dream run of 4 consecutive miracle escapes finally came to an end. Their luck finally ran out in the end. For 117 minutes; they did not muster a single shot at goal; with only Guiliano Simeone's effort right at the end just about their only meaningful target at goal. I personally thought they should have gone toe-to-toe with Spain; but I guess coach Lionel Scaloni had other ideas.

Darker Shade Of Blue

Everton kicked off their Pre-Season preparations with a comprehensive 4-0 away victory over Dundee at Dens Park. It was a surprisingly accomplished performance from David Moyes' men, who may have been weeks behind in schedule compared to Dundee but looked anything but.

Beto opened the scoring with a trademark turn-and-shot that took a fortuitous deflection off Owen Bevan; but it was then the turn of Dundee reserve goalkeeper Harrison Sharp; who looked anything but sharp in gifting the next 3 goals to Everton; first with a lackadaisical clearance that rebounded in off Thierno Barry; then a scuffed clearance that was turned in by Harvey Foster; and finally another calamitous sequence that led its way to Dwight McNeil's fourth.

It was nice to see some of the Everton youngsters getting game time. The likes of right-back George Finney; centre-back William Teemu and striker Braiden Graham all came on in the second half; and for large parts looked accomplished. Tim Iroegbunam also looked assertive in central midfield in the first half; and Tyler Dibling had a decent outing out wide on the right.

The Final Countdown

So it all comes down to this. After the greatest World Cup in history, we have the two best teams left standing. Who's gonna win it? My bet is still with Spain. They are clearly the better team; as evidenced by their comprehensive 2-0 victory over previous favorites France. They seem to execute a controlled composure over the game; as befits their DNA and their academy principles of talent. patience and possession.

Argentina have been somewhat lucky over the past 4 rounds; requiring a near superhuman effort against Cape Verde; 3 fantastical goals in 11 minutes against Egypt; extra-time brilliance against Switzerland and yet another last-ditch effort against England. Surely that luck has to run out some time. With Messi and their passionate team; you can't quite count them out. But I just have this feeling that Spain will have too much for them.

Writing's On The Wonderwall

It's an all too familiar script. England take the lead; start to panic; play defensive; and end up throwing it away. This time, it was old enemy Argentina who inflicted the latest heart-break in England's World Cup journey now lasting 60 years.

After a slugfest of a first half that looked more like a WWE bout, England looked to be heading into dreamland as Anthony Gordon finished brilliantly from an astute Morgan Rogers cross. England had Argentina on the ropes; but then what happens? Thomas Tuchel; supposedly the tactical mastermind for England; makes a few crazy changes that alters the complexion of the match.

He brings on defenders Dan Burn & Nico O'Reilly; huge defenders when the Argentine attackers are rather small? Worse still; it signals to the whole team that they must now start defending; and that is exactly what Argentina wants. Soon enough; the Argentines start dominating; and as is their style; they breakthrough in the final minutes via Enzo Fernandez's stunner and Lautaro Martinez's header; both from Lionel Messi assists as England's tiring defence finally fell apart.

The Spanish Armada

Spain put up a magnificent performance to upset favourites France 2-0 and reach the World Cup Final; of which they surely will be considered favourites against either Argentina or England.

France, looking nigh-on unbeatable in this tournament, put up their worst performance when it really mattered; and there will be an inquest into how they played so badly on such a big occasion. Lucas Digne, looking out of his septh at left-back, gave away a needless penalty when he blindly attempted to clear & ended up fouling an onrushing Lamine Yamal.

Things got worse for France in the second half; when their defence parted like the Red Sea to allow Pedro Porro to play a one-two with Dani Olmo and stride on unmolested for the second goal. For all their attacking talent, France failed to fluster; with Kylian Mbappe; Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise all having sub-par games. Even substitutes Desire Doue and Rayan Cherki failed to produce the goods; as coach Didier Descamps started getting increasingly desperate.

Fr Spain; they look back to their 2008-2012 best, with Rodri bossing the midfield; and the talents of Dani Olmo and Mikel Oyarzabal coming to the fore. Their strength in depth is also unparalleled; with the likes of Pedri, Gavi and Ferran Torres waiting on the bench.

Georgia On Their Minds

England booked their date in Atlanta, Georgia after a titanic semi-final against Norway in which they edged it 2-1, but it was close...

Norway had the temerity to take the lead through Andreas Schjelderup's teasing cross-shot, and might even have made it 2-0 had Alexander Sorloth chosen to pass to a wide-open Erling Haaland instead of going it on his own.

Their one mistake late in the first half allowed in-form Jude Bellingham to score the equalizer; but as the second half started, it was Norway who looked the more likely with a succession of corners that were causing England increasing palpitations.

In fact; from one of those; they actually scored through Thorbjorn Heggem; but it was unfortunately overturned by VAR after Haaland was caught pushing Elliot Anderson. Left-back David Wolfe also hit the bar as the England defence seemed to be teetering.

It was still anyone's game until into extra-time; when a mistake by the previously-reliable Orjan Nyland allowed Bellingham to pounce again and seal England's victory.

That Little Bit Extra

In a pulse-shredding Quarter-Final not for the faint-hearted, Argentina bested Switzerland 3-1 by the skin of their teeth; needing extra time to come up with the goods just when it seemed like the match was headed for the dreaded penalties.

Argentina had taken the lead early through Alexis Mac Allister's header from Lionel Messi's corner; and they looked good value for their lead till Switzerland upped the ante after half-time. Suddenly; they looked more & more menacing as Argentina seemed to back off; and it was not the biggest surprise when Dan Ndoye found space inside the penalty box to slot past Emiliano Martinez and bring the Swiss level.

Just when it seemed Murat Yakin's men had the upper hand though; a moment of madness from Breel Embolo turned the match on its head. For no apparent reason, he decided to do an Oscar-worthy simulation; with the referee first giving a yellow card to Leandro Paredes before going the other way & showing Embolo his second.

The match now turned again; but Argentina were still struggling to break through against a compact & disciplined Swiss unit; who were now operating in a defensive 5-3-1 formation. Until the moment of truth when Julian Alvarez unleashed an absolute stunner deep into extra-time to beak Swiss hearts. Just for good measure; they even counter-attacked and scored a third in stoppage time; with substitute Lautaro Martinez following up well after fellow sub Thiago Almada's shot was saved.

By George, They've Done It

In perhaps the most lop-sided trade in NBA history, the Boston Celtics have traded their superstar Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for 36 year-old Paul George. George is a legend in his own right, but at 36 years old; surely his best days are behind him. Brown though is in his absolute prime; a living legend in Boston together with Jayson Tatum; and someone who has actually led them to a storied NBA championship and coming off his best season.

It brings to mind another lopsided trade years ago; that of Charles Barkley; who was traded by the 76ers to the Phoenix Suns for Jeff Hornacek, Tim Perry & Andrew Lang. It was just about the most ridiculous trade anyone could have hoped for. Just like in that case, the Celtics probably have reached their limit with Brown. Behind the scenes, there was probably some unrest and maybe he did feel underappreciated at Boston despite his exploits; culminating in their disastrous loss to the 76ers in the Playoffs last season after being up 3-1.

Heat Check

The Miami Heat have pulled off one of the biggest blockbuster deals in NBA history; getting superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks for a whole host of players & draft picks. Of course; this deal has been brewing for some time; with Giannis & the Bucks' relationship having soured after their historic NBA championship win back in 2021.

It's safe to say things haven't developed since then; to the point that previous head coach Doc Rivers & Giannis had some disagreements; leading to Giannis' frequent injury problems last season; the failed experiment with Damian Lillard; and now ultimately this.

But who gets the better of the deal? I dare say Milwaukee. At 31; Giannis' best days may be behind him; and his form & injury problems look set to mount up in the coming seasons. The Bucks on the other hand; acquire a legit superstar in sharpshooter Tyler Herro; someone you can surely build your team around; and a whole host of draft picks that may yet serve them well in the years ahead. Let's see how this one plays out.

That Kolek Moment

A rather bizarre scene happened at the New York Knicks' championship parade recently; one that surely doesn't happen very often. Tyler Kolek; a 6'2" reserve point guard of the Knicks; was mistaken by security to be a crazed fan trying to literally hop on the bandwagon.

Not sure who should be more ashamed; him or the security officer involved. I'm sure he wasn't best pleased; as it shows he is simply not famous enough lol. Averaging about 11 minutes per game; it is not like he doesn't play at all. Perhaps the security officers just weren't big Knicks fans.

Africa Calling

I just love Morocco. The reigning African champions are so pleasing on the eye it's untrue. Playing with a confidence & swagger that was unimaginable just 10 years ago; the Atlas Lions now look to build on their semi-final showing at the last World Cup.

It's safe to say they gave Brazil a real scare in this one. The record 5-time champions are used to having things their own way; but on this day; it was them who were making the mistakes. I didn't quite like their line-up to be honest. Igor Thiago of Brentford should not be their first-choice striker; and Roger Ibanez & Douglas Santos are nowhere near Cafu & Roberto Carlos at full-back. Also; the fact they are still relying on Casemiro & Fabinho in the middle of the park shows there's not enough good players coming through.

On the other side, Morocco are vibrant and looking good. Achraf Hakimi is the best right-back in the world; and on the other flank; Manchester United's Noussair Mazraoui is not a bad choice either. On the right wing; you have the manacling flair of Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz; of which all good things seem to flow through. But the one that really excites me is 18 year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi in the center of the park. For one so young; he seems so composed and elegant in central midfield; with a good engine to boot. It's no wonder that Manchester United is now keeping tabs on him.

The Stars-Spangled Banner

32 years ago, when the USA last hosted the World Cup; they were almost a joke. It seemed that any team could beat them. Fast forward to now; and things could not be more different. Managed by former Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino; they are a team packed with stars; such as former Chelsea ace Christian Pulisic; Juventus mainstay Weston McKennie and Crystal Palace's outstanding defender Chris Richards.

And the way they played this morning; with a sharpness and pace that was just beautiful to watch; in their 4-1 hammering of Paraguay; meant that they have to be taken seriously. With a 4-2-3-1 formation that plays to their strengths; they rely on speed on the wings and penetrating passes to overlapping runners. And with wing-backs like Sergino Dest & Antonee Robinson; this suits them down to a tee. In striker Folarin Balogun; they also have perhaps the hottest striker in the world; as evidenced by his two confident strikes.

There is also a touch of nostalgia to their team; with no less than 3 sons of former legends. Giovanni Reyna; son of Claudio; capped off the night with an outstanding fourth; while Timothy Weah (son of Ballon D'Or winner George) impressed on the right wing and Sebastian Berhalter (son of coach Gregg) was another substitute. It will be very interesting to see how the US progresses in this tournament.

Mexico Wave

Mexico opened the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the best way possible; beating South Africa 2-0 in a style that could yet make them the dark horses for this tournament. Riding the wave of their frenetic fan support; they were confident & stylish on the biggest stage; proving too powerful for a South African team that always looked second-best.

South Africa made things difficult for themselves; with Sphephelo Sithole losing the ball in dangerous territory deep in his own half; allowing the impressive Julian Quinones to open the scoring with a low drive. Things got worse for the Africans when Sithole was sent off for a goal-denying foul on midfielder Brian Gutierrez.

Mexico basically sealed the win shortly after when Fulham legend Raul Jimenez headed home from Roberto Alvarado's cross. But there was still more drama to come when 36 year-old substitute Thema Zwane was dismissed for a careless slap on Alvarado; before Mexico captain Cesar Montes was himself sent off after another goal-denying challenge on Khuliso Mudau. There was also an appearance for 17 year-old Mexican prodigy Gilberto Mora; who became the second-youngest player to appear at a World Cup after the legendary Pele.

The Trump Card

With Donald Trump watching the game; the New York Knicks could not deal with the pressure & surprisingly lost to the San Antonio Spurs in a thriller at Madison Square Garden; meaning the series is now back on a knife-edge at 2-1 to the Knicks.

It was not just Trump; a whole host of celebrities were there such as Timothee Chalamet;; Spike Lee; Jay-Z; Derek Jeter and Tracy Morgan. It was perhaps all too overwhelming for the Knicks; who looked nervous in decisive moments and ultimately cost them the game.

On the other side; San Antonio played like their lives depended on it; and it showed. With a grit & determination facading a must-win game; they stayed cool under pressure and were simply more decisive in the pivotal moments.

The Spurs are a handful for anyone these days. With a young & athletic line-up such as De'Aaron Fox; Stephon Castle; Devin Vassell & rookie Dylan Harper; they are a tough match for anybody; and it was this exact line-up that they relied on to see them through the final crucial moments. Perhaps fittingly; it was Castle & then Fox who came up with the big shots to take the game beyond the Knicks' reach.

New York, New York

In 1999; the 8th seed of the Eastern Conference miraculously reached the NBA Finals behind the scorching play of Latrell Sprewell; only to meet a team too good to beat; Tim Duncan & the San Antonio Spurs.

27 years later; it is exactly the same but only reverse; the Knicks are now dominant over a supposedly-stronger Spurs side; and this could very well be a sweep if we aren't careful. The only difference of course; is that the Knicks are the underdogs; proving even more remarkable.

There have been some comparison to the 2004 Detroit Pistons; another unbelievable team that had no superstars but an incredible team ethic. Ditto now. The Knicks have Jalen Brunson; but who else? The likes of Josh Hart; Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby are hardly household names; but man they are good.

With the Villanova combination and Anunoby's superb versatility; they are a handful for anybody; never mind their team chemistry already. But the key player right now is Karl-Anthony Towns. Long criticized & even ridiculed; he is proving everyone wrong & playing with a vengeance; at the same time nullifying the Spurs' biggest threat Victor Wembanyama.

So this much awaited Finals could be over before we know it; the Knicks are back on their home-court and it could well be a a sweep. Except this time - everyone is surprised.

Missing The Beat

For all its hype, 'Michael' turned out to be pretty disappointing. I'm just surprised it did so well at the box office & was rated the third-highest selling biographical movie of all time.

It started out pretty decently; with Michael Jackson starting out with his brothers in the Jackson 5 and seeing how his early brushes with his strict father might have impacted his future personality. However; as the movie goes on; it borders into mediocrity and does not tell anything about Michael which you don't already know.

Surprisingly; it delves almost all the positives of Michael's life & career; with no mention of his child pornography charges; his controversial ways or even his sister Janet. As such; it wastes a glorious opportunity to explore deep into his character and let people understand who he really is. In the end; some of the concert performances seem a tad long-drawn too; and you find yourself seemingly watching a second-grade Jackson concert instead.

It also ends rather abruptly at the Bad concert tour; which is still relatively early in his career. It does have a sequel though; but there is a lot of improvement it could reach out for.

Missing The Jackpot

In a rather surprising move; Liverpool have sacked manager Arne Slot after seeming to renew his contract. He has gone from hero to zero so quickly after just one season from leading Liverpool to an impressive Premier League title-winning campaign.

On hindsight though; perhaps he just had to go. Their title defence has been nothing short of shambolic. After a few lucky last-minute victories early in the season; they only papered over the cracks; as a stunning run of losses saw them out of the title frame pretty early on.

His signings have also been a big part of it. After having spent a British record £450 million in the transfer market; they were supposed to get better. Instead they got worse. Alexander Isak; the protracted £125 million signing was a huge disappointment; struggling with form & fitness; and basically looking a shadow of his former self at Newcastle United. Even worse was Florian Wirtz; perhaps the best player in Germany; that could not handle the transition to the Premiership and spent most of the season looking bamboozled.

Another problem was the team harmony. Mohamed Salah; so long a legend at the club; was reduced to 'interview chaos' as he couldn't get along with Slot and was amazingly benched for some high-profile matches. In the end; his impending departure proved a real bugbear for the club; with him either starting or not starting also proving a problematic scenario.

So I guess there was no other option. Andoni Iraola is the man most likely to get the job; and he has done an impressive job taking Bournemouth to 6th in the league and one of the most eye-watering sides. The question though will remain: if he can bring his success to Liverpool; or have it all erased in the blink of an eye.

To Hull & Back

The most expensive match in football history ended in dramatic fashion as usual; as Oli McBurnie poked home a 95th minute winner to send Hull City back into the Premiership at the expense of lucky 'Spygate' losers Middlesbrough.

Hull had only finished 6th in the Championship and were arguably the worst team in the Playoffs; but after an exhausting 46-game season and the Spygate scandal; they have finally achieved the unlikely. They are a team that excels more out of possession than in; with Boro unable to muster up any clear-cut chances despite having the lion's share of possession.

Thoughts will now turn to the new season; and whether Hull can survive in the top flight and maybe become another Sunderland. At first glance; they do not have much Premier League quality nor experience; with only John Lundstram; now 32; a former standout at Sheffield United.

Brave New World

Thomas Tuchel; no stranger to controversy; has done the unthinkable. He has left out a whole host of top stars for England's World Cup squad; something which simply has never been done before.

Phil Foden; Cole Palmer; Trent Arnold-Alexander; Harry Maguire; Luke Shaw; Morgan Gibbs-White; Jarred Bowen; Adam Wharton & Lewis Hall can now enjoy their summer in Barbados after being left off the plane to US; Canada & Mexico this June. All were considered near-certainties; as Tuchel stressed the preference of the 'team' over 'individual' selection.

In their place are some shocking additions such as John Stones; who has hardly featured for Manchester City this season due to injury; Ivan Toney, who seemed way off the radar in Saudi Arabia; Jarrel Quansah, a forgotten man now at Bayer Leverkusen; and Jordan Henderson, the Brentford midfielder thought way past his Liverpool best.

The pressure is now well & truly on Tuchel; as the country bids to end their long 60-year wait to win the greatest prize on Earth.

Gang Of New York

There's something special about New York basketball. Through the years; whether good or bad; the New York Knicks have always gained an oversized spectrum in our collective consciousness. Maybe it's the storied history; maybe it's Madison Square Garden; but there's something riveting and almost hallowed when we talk about this particular NBA franchise.

We remember that memorable run in 1994; when Patrick Ewing and his physical team nearly made it to the Promised Land; only to be denied by The Dream's Team; where no-one was about to stop Hakeem Olajuwon that season. We remember that 1999 run; when the Latrell Sprewell-inspired team defied all the odds and became the first 8th-seeded team to nearly win it all. We remember Allan Houston's long-hanging jumper that fell through as the Knicks upset the top-seeded Heat.

And now this season; there's finally a reason to believe again. It's not just a possibility; but this season the Knicks feel like they could really do some business. They weren't all-conquering in the Regular Season; but as the Playoffs have progressed; it seems the chemistry of this team is now reaching Championship proportions. As the Pistons and Cavaliers slug it out in a Game 7; the Knicks showed their mettle in demolishing the Philadelphia 76ers (not an easy team themselves) in a 4-0 sweep.

Jalen Brunson is the undisputed leader of the gang; but he is ably supported by center Karl-Anthony Towns and a trio of athletic wingmen: Josh Hart; OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. The favorites are of course still the defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder; but if the Knicks can reach the Finals again; you never know what might happen.

It's A Kind Of Magic

The NBA Playoffs season is well & truly in the air; and there are exciting matches all round. None more so than in Orlando; as the surprising Magic have now taken a 2-1 lead over the much-fancied Detroit Pistons. This could be one of the greatest 8th seed v 1st seed upsets since the days of Baron Davis & the Golden State Warriors.

There's something about this Magic tram. They kind of underperformed in the Regular Season; falling to the dreaded Play-In Tournament where they just about made it out to secure the 8th seed. After stunning the Pistons in Game 1; they were beaten convincingly in Game 2. And in Game 3; they managed to build a substantial lead into the 4th quarter; only to see the Pistons come roaring back to take the lead themselves.

But this Magic team seems to perform best when the chips are down. With the multi-dimensional talents of Paolo Banchero; Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs; they are a match for anybody; and they reeled off the final points with some tough shots to take this even contest. They thought they could prove a handful when they get the chance; and that's exactly how things are shaping up now.

Deck The Dewsbury-Hall

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall saved the day for Everton; rattling in an improbable 91st-minute equalizer at the end of a pulsating 2-2 draw with fellow high-flyers Brentford in the English Premier League.

It had all started so badly for Everton; as an innocuous long ball from Brentford somehow found its way to an advancing Kevin Schade; who was tripped by Jordan Pickford as he bore down on the Everton goal. Igor Thiago; now just behind Erling Haaland with 21 goals for the Golden Boot; rifled in an unstoppable penalty to put the Bees in front.

Everton are made of stern stuff these days though; and after some sustained pressure; it was main striker Beto who nodded them level after being picked up well by Idrissa Gueye's flighted cross.

Brentford came out energised for the second half though; and after their period of sustained pressure; it was Thiago again who put them back up after he rather fortuitously deflected in Michael Kayode's toe-poke shot. Things looked doomed for the visitors; until Dewsbury-Hall's late heroics rescued the day; and ensured both teams are still on course for European qualification.

Sing When You're Winning

Singapore wrapped up a successful Asian Cup 2027 qualification campaign with a 1-0 victory over Bangladesh in front of 30,000 bouncing fans at the National Stadium. It was a night of celebration all round; with the host nation already qualified thanks to their nerve-wrecking 2-1 away victory of Hong Kong in the previous round of matches.

With Shazza performing 'Home' and even Iman Fandi performing as part of the pre-match festivities; the match certainly had an air of celebration about it; and Singapore played its part with a customary victory to ensure it finished top of Group C with an unbeaten record. It was right-winger Harhys Stewart who did the honors; steering home a pot-shot after the ball had broken neatly to him after Glenn Kweh's initial shot was parried by the Bangladesh custodian Mitul Marma.

Bangladesh; featuring Leicester City superstar Hamza Choudhury in their side; started a bit timid but grew into it as the match went on; and were actually the more dominant side in the second half. They had chances to equalize; notably when Safuwan Baharudin was forced to clear off his line in the first half; and their best chance came in the 79th minute; when substitute Mirajul Islam hit the post after latching on to Choudhury's cross.

City Of Angels

City have never looked this good. And Liverpool have never looked this bad. All this came to fruition in a supposedly-close FA Cup Quarter-Final that turned into an embarrassing 4-0 exhibition for City. Liverpool's previously invincible aura is now in smithereens; not helped by the ever-hanging cloud of legend Mohamed Salah's impending departure; that culminated in the former fan favorite's dismal game; first missing Liverpool's best chance that could have made this contest all so different; followed by a penalty miss when they were already 4-0 down in front of a half-empty stadium.

City; after a slightly shaky start; are now looking more ominous by the week; and this performance seemed to exemplify that return to supremacy; with their famed passing game now reaching overdrive. Part of that resurgence stems from their influx of new talent; not least 21 year-old Nico O'Reilly; who is looking greater with every passing week and is now surely a lock for the England starting spot at left-back for the coming World Cup 2026. Add to that the mercurial talents of Rayan Cherki and the indisputable wing-play of Jeremy Doku; and suddenly the world has a problem again.

Erling Haaland has not had the greatest form in 2026; scoring only 5 goals in 19 appearances; but alas; he was back to his best today; scoring a near-perfect hat-trick as the Liverpool defence just failed to keep up with the Norwegian's sublime movement. By the time van Dijk & company had woken up from their slumber; they were already 0-4 down and game over; cut open time & again by the marauding City attack.

Beto The Devil You Know

There are some nights where everything works like magic. Where every player plays well and everything goes according to plan. And the opposite happens for the opposition. Well this was exactly that. Everton; while going OK; were still decided underdogs against a powerful Chelsea side.

In the end though; it was the exact opposite. Chelsea; already reeling from 3 consecutive losses that saw them torpedoed out of the Champions League by reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain on a 2-8 aggregate; should have smelt something fishy happening. Liam Rosenior is in trouble and the team know it.

And the way they started was symptomatic of it all. Too casual; and too careless. Robert Sanchez looked a bundle of nerves in goal; and he wasn't helped at all by a sloppy defence and midfield that saw Jorrel Hato and Romeo Lavia also giving away cheap balls in possession.

Everton on the other hand; were everything Chelsea were not. Hungry and energetic in possession; they pressed well and found the moves when it mattered. The pleasant surprise was Beto; so lambasted this season for his lack of goals and commitment; came up trumps in both; first with a coolly-dinked finish; then a decisive shot that surely Sanchez had to take the blame.

By the time Iliman Ndiaye did his trademark run and jink and arrow into the top corner; it was done & truly dusted. It was one of the greatest Everton performances ever seen; one that made a superstar team like Chelsea look very ordinary indeed. Everton are now remarkably just 2 points behind Chelsea and 3 behind Liverpool; with Champions League qualification now a distinct possibility. While Chelsea stay mired in 6th and in danger of losing everything this season.

A Whiter Shade Of Pale

Arsenal's Ben White was the man of the moment; first prodding home at the far post to give England the lead; before turning villain by committing a rash foul on Federico Vinas in stoppage time to hand Uruguay a penalty and salvage a 1-1 draw in a glorified friendly at Wembley before the World Cup finals 2026.

Both teams were rather cagey in this one; as they seemed more intent not to lose than actually going for the win; but England did show some nice touches from their attackers such as Noni Madueke; Marcus Rashford and substitute Cole Palmer. Shoutout also to Everton debutant James Garner; who acquitted himself well in the middle of the park; covering ground and breaking up play; as he usually does at his club Everton.

For Uruguay; they would have been delighted to come away with a draw. Managed by El Loco himself Marcelo Bielsa; they looked slightly shaky while playing out from the back; and the general feel is they are a little too reliant on their main superstar Federico Valverde. As usual; they also have a tendency for over-aggressive tackles and may lose their composure when things don't go their way. On this night though; it did.

In The Nico Of Time

Nico O'Reilly - surely a lock-on to start for England at left-back in the coming World Cup 2026 - was the man of the moment; coming up with 2 decisive headers to power Manchester City to a much-needed Carabao Cup final win over heated rivals Arsenal.

While the first half was very much a close & tight affair; City found the energy to turn things up in the second half; and Arsenal inexplicably looked tired & withdrawn, It could be that the long-drawn pressure of going for all four competitions is taking its toll; plus an injury-stretched squad and the constant need to 'not bottle it'. Whatever it was; Arsenal looked out of it and were there for the taking.

Mikel Arteta should also look at himself. The right side of City's attack was looking dangerous; and he surely should have brought off the nervous Piero Hincapie for Riccardo Calafiori much earlier than he did; looking how the latter looked threatening and even hit the post with Arsenal's closest effort so far.

As it was; it was not a great surprise that both goals came from City attacks on the right; with Rayan Cherki lifting in a cross that was howled by the equally-nervous Kepa Arrizabalaga; who perhaps should have been dropped in favor of the steadier David Raya. The second goal was more of the same; with right-back Matheus Nunes this time crossing in a classic right-back to left-back combo that spoke volumes of City's domination.

In the end; the beating was so severe that Cherki resorted to doing the legendary keepie-uppies in the Arsenal half; surely the greatest humiliation any team could face. It was that kind of a night.

No Hollywood Ending

Wrexham; perhaps the team most in the news these days; nearly produced another miraculous upset; taking the lead twice against the best team in the world Chelsea; before finally falling short after going down to 10 men and fading off in extra time.

In an epic encounter at the Racecourse Ground, Sam Smith (not the singer) raced clear to put Wrexham ahead in the 18th minute; but Chelsea fought back & levelled 5 minutes before half-time; after an unfortunate goal-line clearance from George Thomason ricocheted off his own goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo into their own net.

In the second period; Wrexham found the wherewithal to take the lead again; when Josh Windass; son of the Hull legend Dean Windass; saw his long shot deflect in off Callum Doyle to set the stage for another major upset. Alas they would not hold the lead for long; as defender Josh Acheampong found a way & rocked the ball into the roof to bring Chelsea level again.

The turning point of the contest was arguably the sending-off of George Dobson in the 93rd minute. Wrexham seemed to fade after that; and goals from Alejandro Garnacho & Joao Pedro ensured there would be no fairy tale for Ryan Reynolds' men on this night. Chelsea will look forward to a slightly bigger team in Paris Saint-Germain in midweek; while Wrexham will continue their spirited push toward the Premiership.

Harden To Believe

One of the big trades coming out of the NBA recently is the high-stakes gamble between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Clippers; with the Cavaliers acquiring superstar guard James Harden in exchange for young All-Star Darius Garland.

After the smoke had settled; I can see that both teams have benefited from this one. For the Cavaliers; it is a move for the now; with Harden instantly pairing up with another superstar guard in Donovan Mitchell; that instantly puts the Cavaliers into title contention. For the Clippers; it is one for the future; with 26 year-old Garland; at 10 years younger than Harden; setting them up nicely for things to come.

It is of course a bit sad to see Harden departing the Clippers; he is someone you always love to watch; and his excellent form this season has propelled the Clippers back into Playoff contention after a disastrous 6-21 start. However; perhaps the rumors of him not getting along with Kawhi Leonard are true; and with Garland representing a new wave of optimism; the Clippers surely had to bite at this one.

No Apology Needed

I'm not really a big OneRepublic fan; but this was a pretty good concert I must say. Even though we've seen them before; they seemed bigger on this one; more confident, more vocal and with that much more swagger. Maybe it is their added experience; that added prestige, but somehow there was considerably more energy to this one than before.

Ryan Tedder is a pretty decent singer; but I felt he was trying a bit hard to stretch his voice at times; which led sometimes to feeling it was in danger of being over-strained. The band got off to an early start with Good Life; before settling into a litany of their famous fast songs such as Rescue Me, Run & Something I Need. The problem with them is that some of their fast songs sound a little similar; which is OK if you're a big OneRepublic fan but not so much if you're just drifting along.

The high points, not unexpectedly, were their big songs such as Secrets, Apologize and Counting Stars. Especially Apologize; when the first beats come on; it really does signify their biggest song, even though it was their first. And while Counting Stars really brought everyone on their feet, it was an appropriate finale; the more measured If I Lose Myself that brought the night to a suitable close.

Taking It All

The latest documentary to roll out from Netflix is 'Take That'; a comprehensive 3-episode blockbuster of the greatest boyband in the world back in the 90s. The thing I like about this documentary is well; its completeness; it covers never-before-seen juicy details and doesn't hold anything back.

As such; we see things we never saw before; such as the rift between Gary Barlow & Robbie Williams that eventually led to the latter leaving; and the continued jealousy as Williams soared way over Barlow in what nobody really expected. In the end though; perhaps inevitably as they started to mature; true sense meant they got back together again.

My favorite is actually the final episode; when the story zooms in on their re-birth if you will. Just like Pet Shop Boys; Roxette and a host of others; I actually liked them more after their peak period; when I felt their songs were actually better and maybe less teeny-boppyish. U know what I mean ;-) the Patience days when they seemed to find a new level. I also struggled to hold back a tear when I saw Williams reuniting with the band again after years away... that was something to behold.

The Race Is Run

There were many juicy Champions League matches to choose from; but I chose the Real Madrid v Benfica one. Why? It was simply the hottest ticket in town; everyone was talking about it; and not just for football terms of course.

Real were already leading 1-0 from the first leg coming back to the Bernabeu. But you could never count this Jose Mourinho-led Benfica team out. As if to a tee; they even took the lead on this warm; tense night in Madrid. Veteran Rafa Silva; retired from the international game but very much still on the club scene; is regarded as something of a hero in his second stint at Benfica; and who else but him to prod home on the second attempt after a near-own goal from Marcos Asencio.

Just when the nerves were coming in though; up stepped Aurelien Tchouameni; who steered home brilliantly from Federico Valverde's cut-back to calm the Madrid nerves and put the match back on Real's terms. And it got better for them; when who else but Vinicius Jr latched on to another through-ball from Valverde; and passed brilliantly into the side netting after racing clear.

Real progress to the next round; where a mouth-watering clash with Manchester City awaits.

Point God

One of the big news coming out of the NBA recently is the retirement of Chris Paul; one of the greatest point guards in the history of the game. At 40 years old and playing in his 21st season; the man aptly named 'Point God' had defied the laws of longevity in recent seasons; but it looks like the time has finally come.

At 6'0", Paul was not the biggest; but he more than made up for it with his unparalleled court intelligence; heart and devasting elbow jumper. He played for a host of teams; but is perhaps best remembered for his time in the Los Angles Clippers as the chief protagonist of Lob City; when he threw alley-oops to Blake Griffin & DeAndre Jordan at will.

Not surprisingly; he was coveted by many teams; and his time in both the Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets saw him come pretty close to winning the NBA championship. Sadly though; he could not quite achieve the ultimate accolade. Perhaps sadly too; his time at the end was perhaps an ignominious way to exit after a glorious career; with him perhaps antagonizing people the wrong way and ending up with an abrupt booting-out at the Clippers again, of all teams.

How does he rank overall in the pantheon of legends? For point guard; I rate him only behind Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, John Stockton and Steve Nash. That's pretty high territory. His complete court coverage and leadership make him stand out. He was also in the All-NBA First Team 4 times; which means he was the best point guard in the world for 4 seasons.

A Lot Of Fight

The National Basketball Association (NBA) seems to be taking something of a resurgence in recent times. With stars and entertainment on a high; the league seems to be more high-profile than ever; and the competitiveness has taken on a new level. With that new level however, has come up a new level of fights and violence, exacerbated by the prevalence of social media.

Fights of course are nothing new to the NBA; back in 1977 we had the infamous Maurice Lucas v Darryl Dawkins boxing match; then came the Larry Bird v Julius Erving affair in 1984; when Dr. J seemingly couldn't take the dominant Bird's trash-talk. But it seems to be happening rather often in recent years.

Probably the greatest brawl of all time occurred in 2004 in the 'Malice at the Palace'; a fight so legendary it became a Netflix documentary. The defending champion Pistons were bring humiliated at home by the upstart Indiana Pacers; and with the game winding to an end; the touch-paper was lit by a hard foul by Ben Wallace on Ron Artest; which eventually led to everyone getting involved and players chasing down fans in the stands.

Another notable fight occurred around 2021-22 when LeBron James and Isaiah Stewart got into it; with blood streaming down Stewart's face and him not giving it up even when the situation seemed to have been diffused with coaches; referees and everyone else holding them back.

And it was Stewart who was again involved in the league's latest altercation; when the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons met the red-hot Charlotte Hornets; who were on a 9-game winning streak. What began as a hard foul by Moussa Diabate on Jalen Duren developed into an all-out brawl; with Miles Bridges & Stewart getting involved & all hell breaking loose. There used to be a saying that NBA players was soft. That is certainly not the case now.

Beto Late Than Never

Everton have been having a bit of a topsy-turvy season; with stunning away victories buffeted by lethargic home displays. Thus as they lined up for an away game with a talented Brighton & Hove Albion outfit; it was anybody's guess which version would turn up.

The match was rather cagey; with both teams seemingly scared of each other's good form rather than trying to go for the win. And it all looked like going wrong for Everton again; when Pascal Gross; something of a cult hero in these parts; swept home after a lovely dummy from substitute Charalampos Costoulas. It was a lovely homecoming for Gross; who made a romantic return to his former club after a sojourn in Germany with Borussia Dortmund.

Brighton looked like they had sewn it up when Kaoru Mitoma finished neatly; but it was disallowed for an offside on Joel Veltman. Just when it seemed Everton were doomed; up stepped substitute Beto to fire home after Jake O'Brien's shot was palmed out into the danger zone by Bart Verbruggen. In the end; Brighton would be disappointed to give up the victory in this late manner. But for Everton; their upswing continues on; with their unbeaten run now reaching 4 games.

Mile High Victory

This was shaping up to be a delicious match-up. The Denver Nuggets had the surprise return of their star player Nikola Jokic after 16 games out; and the Los Angeles Clippers were the hottest team in the NBA; going at a 16-3 clip after a dismal 6-21 start. And by and large; that was exactly what we got. The intensity was awesome; players fighting for every ball; true Playoffs-style.

In the end though; it was the Nuggets who proved too strong; utilizing their relentless offense and unbridled chemistry to suffocate the Clippers in the 4th quarter. Jokic had a stellar game on his return; looking like he was never away; but he was ably supported by sidekick Jamal Murray (who is looking more & more like a Scottie Pippen to Michael Jordan); and supporting cast such as Peyton Watson; Jonas Valanciunas and Tim Hardaway Junior.

What makes the Nuggets more ominous is that they actually went 10-6 during the time Jokic was out; which even included absences to key starters Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson. That actually forced the rest of the team to play better; such as small forward Watson, Spencer Jones and even Bruce Brown. That's why they have such a deep & loaded squad now; with tremendous chemistry; that makes them a serious force to be reckoned with.

Past Tense

The latest movie blockbuster is 'Back To The Past'; a Hong Kong sequel to the seminal 2001 series 'Step Into The Past'; a science-fiction inspired trip back to the Qin Dynasty for a modern policeman. Kind of like an antithesis to Back To The Future; the film brings back the sterling cast of Louis Koo; Raymond Lam; Jessica Hsuan and others; thus ensuring its nostalgic appeal back to the good old days.

With its strategic premise; you get a sense that this film could have been more. But with a good dose of humor; a relatively fast-moving story-line and its nostalgic cast; this makes it just about a hit. However; its strength is also ultimately its failure. By relying on the sequel method and bringing back all the old stars; it more or less makes it a sure-fire hit. But that is exactly the problem it is trying to overcome. Honk Kong shows nowadays are more or less showing the same stars in every show such as Bosco Wong & Charmaine Sheh; and there is just not enough new talent recognized enough to make a breakthrough.

Garnering Attention

We need to talk about James Garner. From being a nobody at Manchester United; he was shipped off to Everton; like so many rejects before him; such as Phil Neville; Tim Howard; Darron Gibson; Tom Cleverley; Morgan Schneiderlin and Louis Saha. While some were good like Neville & Howard; some were bad like Cleverley & Schneiderlin. But now; he is looking like he could be the best.

His initial start at Everton wasn't great. He was only doing average and everyone was complaining he was yet another Man United reject who couldn't make the grade. Slowly but surely though; he has established himself as a hardworking player capable of expressing himself at both ends of the floor. Over the past season or so; he was formed an indelible partnership with the experienced Senegalese international Idrissa Gueye in the centre of the park; and a key component of Everton's rise this season.

What stands him out is his ability to play both sides of the park; thus influencing proceedings and controlling the tempo of the game. His outstanding stamina has allowed him to start every single game this season; surely an unheard of statistic. And nowhere were his traits better shown than in the recent 1-0 win at Villa Park; where he shone and broke up play at every opportunity. With Thomas Tuchel watching from the stands; there is even talk that he may have an outside chance for England at the coming World Cup. Now that would be something.

Up The Toffees

It was the most unexpected victory. The stage was all set for Aston Villa to win again and go a mesmerising 4 points behind league leaders Arsenal. This was after both Arsenal & Manchester City dropped points in a rare occasion. Villa had been the hottest team in the world; winning their last 11 straight matches at Villa Park (8 in the league); and having not lost at home in the past 15 months. Furthermore; Villa had never lost to Everton in their last 13 meetings in the league; winning 9 & drawing 4. Everton were also having a threadbare squad; with no less than 7 first-team players out; either through injury; suspension or the AFCON. Their bench only had 8 players; of which two were 'keepers and two unknown defenders in Reece Welch & Elijah Campbell.

So this made the victory all the more remarkable; on a par with that stunning 10-man upset at Man United earlier in the season. Their away form is actually better than their home form; and it's the style of David Moyes; tough & rugged away from home to squeeze out 1-0 results. Merlin Rohl had sounded the alarm after hitting the post after only 12 seconds; and it was an ominous sign of what was to come. Thierno Barry has been looking the part recently; and Everton perhaps don't need another striker now that he has come of age; scoring the winning chip and winning almost everything in the air.

For Villa; their fans looked aghast as if it couldn't quite be happening. They had expected an easy victory; but it was anything but. Morgan Rogers; the favourite for England at the coming World Cup; had one of his worst games ever; having about 8 chances but squandering them all; especially when he seemed to be skying them higher & higher. They tried to get back into the game but on this night; Everton's impressive willpower and tactical know-how proved too much to overcome.