Posts made in June, 2018

Who Would Have Known Alex Gidman Would Retire From Cricket So Soon!

Who Would Have Known Alex Gidman Would Retire From Cricket So Soon!

At 34, Alex Gidman, a long time cricket player is forced to retire from the sport he so much loved due to an injury he sustained in his left index finger. Alex was injured towards the end of the last season during a pre-match drill at Durhama.

As last resort, a joint replacement surgery was opted for when he could not flex the joint. The recovery form this surgery, however, did not go as planned. It was to take two weeks, unfortunately, according to Mike Hayton, a specialist, Gidman will not be able to reach the fitness levels required to play professionally.

Gidman is a former captain of Gloucestershire. He played for this team for over a decade after which he signed a two year contract with Worcestershire where he was a batsman for 18 months prior to his injury.

In his career he made 11,622 first-class runs, 4473 in one day cricket and 1448 in T20 alongside 103 first-class wickets and 71 in list A. In 2014 he scored 1278 runs at 45.64 including his career best 264 making this his most prolific first-class season. He then made his move to Worcestershire.

At Worcestershire he struggled with his bat at New Road County. It is so sad that he did not get to play Durham at Chester-Le-Street.

Gidman said, “Obviously my manyyears at Gloucestershire included the majority of my success but I have really enjoyed the last 18 months meeting some fantastic people at Worcestershire. I can’t thank the many coaches, team-mates and supporters enough. It is my wish for everyone whom we have played with to have the best of luck in 2016 and more years to come.”

Steve Rhodes, director of cricket at Worcestershire had this to say, “On behalf of all the players and coaches, we are extremely disappointed for Alex”.

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Horse Racing: Big Blow to Alberta as Northlands Track is Hosting its Last Season of Horse Racing

Horse Racing: Big Blow to Alberta as Northlands Track is Hosting its Last Season of Horse Racing

The 116 years old Edmonton’s Northlands Track in Alberta will close down after 2016 season of horse racing. We know of a number of eye catching fun places that goes to shatters because of a new investment plan and, well, the Northlands track is no different.

Vision 2020, as the redevelopment plan of Northlands track is known, will shut down the 64 hectares of the site on August 20, 2016 after the 87th running of a Canadian derby.

The Northlands Track is run by a non-profit organization and boasts of creating employment to over 7000 people in the province. Cathy Kiss, Northlands vice president said, “There is going to be change”.

Brian Bygrave, director of Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association of Alberta said, “Without Northlands, racing in Alberta would look awfully bleak”.

This does not go without saying that the industry will have to look at new venues. Horse owners and clients are concerned whether to breed their mares or to cancel their investments respectively.

There is a Balzac track but it is not yet complete since it has facilities of thoroughbred horse racing. Thoroughbred horses cannot use similar tracks to those of standard bred since they need stable and different track surface.

The only option left will be that of using local casinos to bet in the off track betting system.

The fall down of more than a century old racing track will bring rise to a new investment that will also benefit the community around Northlands track.

Virginia Park to the south and Bellevue to the east will benefit from increased amenities and their property values will be tripled as well. Safe to say it also has its perks.

Tony Caterina, Northlands councillor and board member said, “The possibilities are endless”.

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Tennis: Tennis Is Set To Go Back To Forest Hills Stadium

Tennis:  Tennis Is Set To Go Back To Forest Hills Stadium

Forest Hills stadium has remained dormant for a number of years. In fact, it was just rotting away as it waits for the wrecking ball to get it out of its misery. Therefore, if the walls of forest Hill stadium could say something, the previous home for the US Open would have a lot of stories to tell as there have been so many great moments that happened at this stadium.

Forest Hill was built in 1923 and   a lot of great players have played there including Chris Evert, Rod Laver, Arthur Ashe and Billie Jean King.

In addition to that, a lot of memorable concerts have taken place at the stadium such as Barbra Streisand, The Beatles and Frank Sinatra.

Immediately after the 1977 tournament, the US Open relocated to Flushing Meadow after leaving the West Side Tennis club. There were other tournaments that continued to happen at the West Side Tennis Club and it also continued to host concerts in the 1990s. However, the cost of maintain Forest Hill stadium became too costly. As such, the facility had to be closed for almost 20 years.

Forest Hill stadium stayed unused for many years until 2013 when immense renovations brought its life back. The reopening of the stadium in august 2013 followed with a Mumford &Sons concert. Just like in the past, the schedule of shows, events and additional renovations has continued. Now, tennis is returning to the stadium in fact, New York Empire will play its home matches at the stadium.

The tennis direct Bob Ingersole said at the West Side Tennis Club, “We are on a big upward swing for the last couple of years in bringing the concerts back and we are bringing the professional tennis back to the stadium.”

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Basketball: UCLA’s Basketball Team Has Not Performed Well As Expected

Basketball: UCLA’s Basketball Team Has Not Performed Well As Expected

With only five regular season games remaining on UCLA’s schedule, it seems that Bruins will win all the titles to secure a spot in the NCAA tournament. Furthermore, each game has its own pressure.

Steve Alford, the UCLA Coach shown that that it is going to be challenging.

Alford declared earlier this week that his team has not reacted under pressure. On Thursday, he said it again after his team lost to Utah and he accepted accountability for lack of mental toughness.

“That has been me and not the team,” Alford said. “This is because, any time I apply a bit of mental pressure on them, they did not manage it well.”

Since UCLA team performed better last season in a must win situations, it did not add up to him. Alford said Kevon Looney was a tough player but left for the NBA draft.

According to Alford, only two of his players, Isaac Hamilton and Bryce Alford have shown the same resilience as that of Norman Powell.

Steve Alford said, “ This is a different team and whether the talks have been more of encouragement or short term than long term, this is a team that handles that of approach way better than any other.”

Bryce Alford said that the coaches had set long-term goals such as going undefeated at home. By the end of the season, they knew exactly what they needed for them to secure a place at the NCAA tournament. This year, the coaches are more focuses on single games andsometimes shorter time frames.

“Before we start playing any game, they give us at least three key areas that we need to put more focus on,” Bryce Alford said.

Unlike the previous season, UCLA’S coach is not planning to emphasize NCAA tournament to his players.

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Cricket: Michael Clarke Returns to the Game He Has Loved since He Was 10 years!

Cricket: Michael Clarke Returns to the Game He Has Loved since He Was 10 years!

Nervous or not? I will let you be the judge of that. Michael Clarke, 34, returns to Pratten Park, where he first played cricket at the age of thirteen, watched by his parents; Deborah and Les.

Unlike any other player today, he brought his own bat, ball and soundtrack to his comeback game at inner-western Sydney.

As the saying goes, ‘when you fall own, get back up’, so did Clarke by defying all odds against him. This is the same game he left last August when he was defeated, thereby announcing his retirement.

And who better to support him other than his wife Kyly who gave him the good-luck kiss before the game together with their three months old baby Kelsey who attended too.

Clarke also came with his PR and personal sponsors. “I’m probably different” is what he said to Fox Sports.

He stood out from his teammates when he put on a black shirt with white stripes. His teammates, they have white with black stripes shirts.

The Australian test team are playing in Christchurch, a mere 2140 kilometres from Ashfield.

Clark is batting against Randwick and Petersham at number 3.

While on his third ball, it would have turned out disastrous but as we know Clarke, he saved the game by providing a small edge falling just short off the slips.

Clark had said he would not rule out a return to first-class cricket when interviewed by The Sunday Telegraph.

He fled being run out when he climbed back to his fold after running a single.

He finally gave in just after 2 pm. He had a LBW for 48 runs.

Clarke signed every kid’s shirt and scrap of paper during his breaks reminding them to always say ‘please’.

Safe to say the crowd was larger than usual. He said, “No matter who I play for, I always get nervous before I bat”.

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