Tall the new trend

                                             Photo Source: http://www.livetennisguide.com/

Who says being lanky means we are not coordinated?  I took a walk down to my local tennis courts the other day and saw a group of boys tennis players practicing and they all looked so tall.  During their break I asked one of boys what High school do you boys go to?  The boy look at me funny and said with a smirk we are still in primary school.  I was seriously shocked they were not only all tall for their age but could also move well which is not necessarily the case with tall athletes.

Greg Bishop's article provides an intriguing insight into the emerging trend in the mens tennis game which is, big equals results.  Using specific examples of recently successful mens tennis players like Robin Soderling and Tomas Berdych who are over 6 feet 4 inches tall, Bishop immediately supports his claim and captures the reader's interest by stating that both players have enjoyed success over tennis icon Roger Federer in 2010.  Bishop employs the use of fairly relevent sources, seeking insight from retired professionals now commentators Justin Gimelstob and Darren Cahill as well as the perspective of Roger Federer himself who claims that it is becoming more difficult to face these big players.  However, Bishop fails to gain a comment from the article's main men, the successful giants of the game Robin Soderling or Tomas Berdych.  A comment from either player would have provided greater insight as to why they believe the taller men of the game are now starting to achieve great success and whether they attribute it to a specific factor or not. 

Bishop employs a sound structure for an online article by declaring the essential information in the first three paragraphs of the story which included the players involved, their achievements throughout 2010 and the range of tennis surfaces these players accomplished these results on.  Bishop perhaps could have improved the structure of the article by elevating Roger Federer's comments towards the earlier stages of the story as opposed to the end.  Federer's stature in the game as a not only a legend but also a current player who these tall players are starting to have success over is of greater interest and relevance to the reader than the comments of coaches and tennis commentators. 

All in all the article is very interesting and informative in highlighting this growing trend of tall player success in mens tennis and is thus a good portayal of an online sporting article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/30/sports/tennis/30power.html?_r=1&scp=53&sq=&st=nyt

All Blacks arrogance is perhaps all that can stop them at the moment



Photo Source: http://www.waikato.ac.nz/



It is true the All Blacks haven't won the coverted Rugby World Cup for a fair while and have over recent years been dissapointing losing to European sides like France.  However, if their form throughout this season is anything to go by expect the Kiwis to not only lift next years world cup trophy but also dominate and humiliate its opponents in the process.  At this stage the only thing I can see that will unravel this juggernaut is themselves by getting overconfident and not being mentally prepared for the task which lay ahead. 

Chris Rattue's article quite comprehensively sums up the current blistering form and positive environment surrounding New Zealand's All Blacks rugby team.  Throughout the opinion article Rattue effectively employs the use of emotive language to reveal to the reader the honest nature of his comments, claiming that despite being a devoted critic of the team in the past he now can admit that the side is reaching amazing new heights. 

Unlike many online articles, Rattue's opinion piece is served best without the use of sources as his reasoning as to why the All Blacks are now such a force are comprehensive and convincing enough.  These noted reasons include attributing praise to coach Graham Henry for his persistance and individual player application, to the team for not being afraid to adapt to new rule changes by playing a more expansive and riskier style and displaying a level of consistency across all matches played both home and away and at altitude or at sea level. 

Rattue's article is also well balanced by as he selectively portrays the essence of the story which emphasises the amazing form displayed by the side and his attributing reasons for this at the beginning and in the body of the article.  Towards the end of the article Rattue identifies less important information such as possible hurdles for the side in the future and potential reasons why the South African team is currently struggling to cope with the power of the Kiwis. 

The article is a good piece of opinion writing as it is both honest and fair in its communication of opinion and reasoning which are essential elements in this style of writing. 

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10668143

Is Andy's mum really the answer?

Photo Source: news.bbc.co.uk

 

The final grand slam of the year is approching and many questions have been raised.  Can world number 1 Rafael Nadal secure his place in history and capture the last title that currently elludes him or can Andy Murray fulfill his destiny and win his first grand slam title.

The article written by Mike McGrath essentially addresses the point of view Brad Gilbert who was the former coach of Scottish tennis player Andy Murray, that at the present time Andy Murray's mother would be the best fit as his coach.  The article which is expressing a simple viewpoint achieves its goal which is to depict Gilbert's view and successfully eleaborates why he is of this opinion by including appropriate quotes which complement the story, "now when he looks over to his box he has nobody to be mad at. He can't be mad at his mum!". 

Although the story achieves this primary goal, it is however extremely narrow, in that it does not express any analysis into these comments.  The article does not explore any reaction from any other relevent parties such as Murray's last coach Miles Maclagan (who he axed in July 2010), current players who are being coached by family members or Murray and his mother Judy themselves.  The article is also missing pieces of information which would not only add to the article's credibility but also add to the reader's insight into the story.  The article explains that Gilbert coached Murray for 16 months until 2007, however there is no mention of why this association ceased and who was to blame for their parting ways.  The fact that this information is left out leaves the reader to assume that Gilbert's comment "He can't be mad at his mum!", refers to the notion that during their association together Murray often directed anger towards him.

McGrath's article is a fairly poor online piece of journalism as it diplays a very narrow point of view which requires the reader to seek further information to fully comprehend key aspects of the article and does not display alternative reactions from relevent parties on this view held by Brad Gilbert.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/tennis/3106583/Brad-Gilbert-Andy-Murrays-mother-can-be-his-coach.html

The blame game begins

                                    Photo Source: http://www.balls.ie/2010/08/18/the-rage-of-harry-kewell/

For the sake of us proud Australians, I don't think I need to mention the disaster that was our 2010 World Cup performance.  However, just when we thought it couldnt get any worse, a civil war is brewing.

Liam FitzGibbon's article quite simply addresses the recent controversy and potential legal action surrounding arguably Australia's greatest ever football player Harry Kewell and former player now football analyst Robbie Slater's comments that Kewell's recent injury drama's at the world cup led to team critisism and should be an indicator that Kewell has reached the end of his intrnational career.  The author Liam FitzGibbon concisely illustrates the history leading up to the altercation which stems from an article written by Slater two weeks earlier.  FitzGibbon effectively demonstrates the viewpoint of Harry Kewell through his manager Bernie Mandic by selectively displaying the appropriate quotes in sequence from the most important in the introduction (which highlights the Kewell camp's stance of possible legal action over the issue) to the least important towards the end of the article.  In addition to the good structure displayed, FitzGibbon also provides the reader with opinions from the relevent parties involved including Kewell's manager, Robbie Slater and the stance of Football Federation Australia (FFA).

Although the article is fairly straight forward in its portrayal of this issue, it lacks a few integral pieces of information which would further add to the credibility of the story.  Firstly, there is no indication about the near future of Harry Kewell's committment to the Australian team despite the comments made by Slater.  In addition the author makes no mention of the whether there has been any communication between Kewell and Slater following the incident also there is no mention of whether Kewell has addressed the issue with Football Federation Australia despite them mentioning they do not want to be involved.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/legal-action-not-ideal-kewells-manager-20100818-12f17.html

Intro / Is this man the answer to Liverpool's prayers?

Being a lover of all sports from football to table tennis I must say the next few months will offer up a feast to satisfy the biggest sporting appetite with Rugby League and AFL finals quickly approaching and all European football commencing.

My blog will explore the media's coverage and representation of numerous sports and sporting issues from across the globe, so follow me here over the next 10 weeks and feel free to share your comment.

                                             

                                              Photo Source: Photograph: Ng Han Guan/AP
                                                http://www.guardian.co.uk/


I have a confession to make. I simply loath the reds, otherwise known as the Liverpool Football Club. However, the clubs recent financial problems and inability to challenge for titles over the last few years has made it harder for me to continue hating them and easier for me to pity them, which is kind of sad. Although news that a takeover bid is immenent may be the news you reds fans have been searching for.

The Guardian article, recently written by Tania Branighan introduces the world to Chinese national Kenneth Huang, a prospective buyer of English Premier League side Liverpool. The article is successful in achieving its primary objectives which are to familiarise the reader with who this man is, what his recent activities involve and revealing his possible ambitious intentions for English football. The simple structure employed by the author Branigan, chronologically tracks the main events in Mr Huang's life from education to his involvement with other sporting teams such as the Cleveland Cavaliers. Branigan also adds to Mr Huang's identity by making contrasts between he and other foreign owners or bidders by expressing her opinion that he is not a tycoon but rather a "deal maker, backed by sovreign wealth".

Despite Branigan's good structure and use of contrast and descriptive language to portray identity and familiarise the reader with Mr Huang, there is a lack of supporting input from those who would know the man himself. Branigan uses quotes from sports bloggers and former colleagues however fails to provide insight from current colleagues or close acquaintance which would give the article more scope and credibility in depicting who this foreign character is to the reader. Branigan also fails to deliver certain key details such as why Mr Huang has demonstrated a disliking for media interviews as well as not being able to corroborate whether Mr Huang was a US citizen and his exact date of birth. Branigan cites that this information was unable to be attained as the British media company which Mr Huang hired was unable to confirm these details, perhaps contacting other sources in both China and the US may have provided greater insight into these queries.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/aug/02/kenneth-huang-liverpool-buyout-profile