Analysing the AFL Broadcast Deal

At 2:15pm this afternoon, the AFL is expected to announce its most lucrative payday, ever.

The AFL is expected to announce the finalized sale of its new TV rights – for the next five seasons – worth more than $1 Billion.

The exact details of the deal, which we see Foxtel, Channel 7 and Telstra control the AFL Broadcast rights until 2016, are not yet fully known. However the basic breakdown of the agreement is. It is understood that Foxtel will come up with over half of the billion-dollar price tag – around 55% - leaving Channel 7 to pay the remainder. Furthermore, it is thought that Telstra has agreed to pay $100 Million for the exclusive online broadcast rights.

But enough with astronomical numbers, the real question is, what does this all mean for Footy fans?

The most obvious talking point is that due to having the controlling stake in the rights, Foxtel will now be able to show every single AFL game live, except for the Grand Final. This has led Foxtel to announce a new station – Foxtel AFL – which will be a dedicated AFL channel, allowing customers to watch every single game of the AFL Season, live.

Channel Seven meanwhile, will control the broadcast of four games each week, with plans to sell as many as two of those contests, either to Channel Nine or Ten. However, Channel Seven executives have been adamant in their comments that they will only sell games for the right price, and if a substantial offer is not made, they will be more than happy to broadcast all four games.

The biggest change to Channel 7’s telecast, will be that Friday Night Football will now be shown live, each week on the network. The delayed telecast of Friday Night Football has been an issue of much contention as of late, but it appears a compromise has been reached. The AFL has agreed to push the first bounce back slightly to accommodate Channel 7, but has done so on the back of contractual obligations stating the network must show the match live.

This is a massive change from the current AFL programming set-up.

The announcement of the new broadcast deal, comes on the back of an absolute bumper round, in terms of AFL broadcast figures. The ANZAC Day blockbuster between Collingwood and Essendon drew almost 1.5 Million viewers, a jump of over 300’000 from last year’s clash. Also, it is reported that the Geelong Hawthorn clash drew over One Million viewers nationally.

After some pundits had recently claimed that AFL ratings were in a steady decline, these most recent figures clearly rebut any claims of a downturn.

Yet another important element of the new rights deal is how it will affect the negotiations between the AFL and its players, as they work towards a new collective bargaining agreement. It would seem that players are well within their rights to expect to receive a windfall from this bumper day for the AFL, and have reported requested that they receive 27% of all future AFL revenue, a number which will surely jump on the back of this new deal.

However one thing remains clear in the wake of the deal.

AFL is, and will almost certainly continue to be, the biggest game in town.

The new TV rights deal will only further saturate the market, with broadcasters striving to maximize the return from their purchase. Expect to see masses of Foxtel AFL advertisements, as the Pay TV broadcaster will attempt to use this new trump card, to bring in more subscribers.

But ultimately, I think it is a good deal for fans.

The days of waiting until 8:45 on a Friday night for the first bounce will be long gone, and all fans will have the ability to watch every game of the round, without delay and with unprecedented coverage.

Sounds like win-win to me.

The Top 5 Sports Upsets

Upsets are what make sports truly great. They give sports it’s romance, it heightens the excitement and allows all fans the chance to dream.

Even the smallest and most unlikely of underdogs, they always have a chance of pulling off a miracle. And lets face it, we all love cheering for the underdog.

With the Memphis Grizzles on the verge of an historic upset in the NBA Playoffs, here’s what I consider to be the five biggest upsets in sporting history.

5. Socceroos beat England 3-1

On the 14th of February 2003, the Socceroos shocked England, and recorded perhaps the biggest upset in soccer history.

A shocked crowd watched on at Upton Park, as the Socceroos stormed to a much-deserved 2-0 lead, thanks to goals from Harry Kewell and Tony Popovich.

Little known English-man Francis Jeffers pulled a goal back for England in the 69th minute, before a late goal from Brett Emerton put the match beyond all doubt, just six minutes from time.

Not only was the match significant for the Socceroos, but it also marked the dawn of the Wayne Rooney era for England, as he became the youngest ever player to represent the Three Lions, at just 17 years of age.

4. The Golden State Warriors dispatch the Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks entered the 2007 NBA Playoffs, on the back of one of the most successful seasons, in recent NBA history.

They dominated the league, amassing an astonishing 67 wins over the 82 game season, and were the number one seed in the NBA Playoffs.

Their match-up with the eighth seed Golden State Warriors was expected to be a walkover for the Mavericks.

Six games later, the Golden State Warriors had made history, becoming the first ever number eight seed to eliminate their much-heralded opponent.

The frenzied home crowd – at the Oracle Arena – fuelled Golden State to a sensational win, which to this day remains the only time in history in which the number one seed has been eliminated in the first-round of the playoffs.

3. James “Buster” Douglas KOs “Iron” Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson went into his World Heavyweight Title defense – in February 1990 – undefeated and it didn’t look like anyone would change that anytime soon.

The self-proclaimed “Baddest Man on the Planet” was expected to punish and brutalize his unheralded opponent, with “Buster” Douglas entering the fight a 42-1 underdog.

In fact, many pundits even viewed the fight as a “tune-up”, with a showdown between Evander Holyfield looming on the horizon for “Iron Mike.”

Yet, in the tenth round, Douglas shocked the world, flooring Tyson with a vicious right hand, which was also the first time Tyson had been knocked down in his career.

With that, “Buster” Douglas became the undisputed World Heavyweight Champion.

2. The USA defeats the USSR

The 1980 Winter Olympics took place right in the middle of the Cold War, between the worlds two superpowers, the USA and the Soviet Union.

The two sides were set to face in the semi-finals of the Ice Hockey tournament, with the Soviets heavily-favoured.

The US team was made up of college and amateur players and seemed no match for the might of the Soviet squad, who had claimed eight of the last nine gold medals in the sport.

Yet on this day, the US team somehow managed to pull off what many consider to be the greatest upsets in sporting history, in a match that is now known as “The Miracle on Ice.”

Adding to the upset, was the fact that the two sides met in an exhibition match, earlier in 1980, and the Soviet’s crushed the young US side 10-3.

It’s been said that by many that if this match was played 100 times, the Soviet Union would win 99 times, but the encounter on the 22nd of February, 1980, was that one time when the US somehow found a way to win.

Sport Illustrated declared the win the greatest sporting moment of the 20th century, and the result has inspired a Hollywood movie about the 1980 team.

American commentator Al Michaels’ famous call of “Do you believe in miracles” has become engrained in American Sporting legend, as the result was not only seen as a victory on the ice, but a victory for American society against the Soviet threat.

1. Upset upsets Man ‘O War

Champion thoroughbred Man ‘O War is considered to be one of the greatest racehorses of all time. His career record stand at 20 wins and only 1 defeat, with the only defeat coming in an upset loss in the 1919 Stanford Memorial.

Man ‘O War’s conqueror not only inflicted the only defeat on an illustrious career, but it is also believed by many to have coined the very term “upset.”

The 100-1 underdog Upset entered the 1919 Stanford Memorial, given no chance at all to win the prestigious race. However, as we now know, the thoroughbred raced to a historic victory.

Man ‘O War continued his amazing career after the race, which led to the champion being named the best racehorse of the 20th century.

Yet, in that race at the Stanford Memorial, Upset won the day, and successfully pulled off one the very best upsets in sporting history.

Collingwood are 2011 Premiers, at least in a fantasy realm

The Collingwood Magpies are the 2011 AFL Premiers. The Collingwood juggernaut blitzed the competition before vanquishing Geelong 117-102 in the Grand Final, completing what was an undefeated season for the club.

Collingwood superstar Dane Swan added the Norm Smith Medal to his trophy cabinet, placing it alongside the Brownlow Medal he won just days before.

Fremantle’s goal-kicking machine, Matthew Pavlich, led all comers en route to collecting his first ever Coleman Medal.

Well, at least that’s the case according to AFL Live.

After a four-year hiatus, AFL Live is the latest attempt to break into the sport videogame industry, which has exploded into a multi-billion-dollar worldwide phenomenon. EA Sports’ Madden NFL franchise has generated in excess of US$3 billion since 1988.

FIFA Football ’11 has sold almost two-and-a-half million copies since its release in September 2010, only to be surpassed by the success of 2K Sports NBA 2K11, which has sold in excess of three million copies.

At a time when the AFL is fighting to try and expand beyond traditional boundaries, history suggests that perhaps a videogame could be just what they need.

The NFL is a great example for the AFL to follow. It’s a national sport exclusive to one country, yet has to contend with at least two other majors sports for supremacy. Traditionally, there were regions of the United States that were seen as football states, just as there were some that were basketball or baseball states.

An integral facet to the long-term success of the National Football League was whether it could establish itself against those other sports, and become the true national sport.

Sound familiar?

With the integration of Madden Football, the NFL was able to not only strengthen its existing fan-base, but also reach out to a new generation of potential fans, specifically the younger fans who would play its videogame.

The kids playing the game then began to pay more attention to the actual league, they bought merchandise and attended games, all of which helped the NFL grow in ways that were previously unimaginable.

Those kids that were playing Madden as a kid are adults now, and have become lifelong fans of the NFL; a league that has become one of the most heavily attended in world sport. 17,531,413 fans attended NFL matches over the course of the 2010 Season. The 2011 Super Bowl was the most-watched television show in US history, averaging 111 million viewers.

Research conducted by Neilsen found that NFL games have 44 percent higher ratings amongst video-game households compared to non-video-game households. Unquestionably the success of the Madden franchise, continues to draw increased attention to the NFL, which has helped the league grow and flourish.

The biggest reason why Madden helps the NFL is down to the quality of the games.

Put simply, they’re brilliant. They’ve for years been the benchmark for all sporting video games, which paints the league in a positive light. Conversely if the Madden games were poor, it would portray the NFL is a negative light, making it a less attractive proposition to potential fans.

That is the biggest problem facing the AFL and Big Ant Studios, the developers of AFL Live.

AFL video games have been consistently lacklustre, a trend that desperately needs to be reversed.

Whether this latest attempt can do so is yet to be seen, but if they can, the AFL would be taking a giant step towards its goal of national dominance.

Kobe Bryant fined over Anti-Gay Slur

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant was fined US$100,000 by the NBA for the alleged use of a homophobic slur. NBA Commissioner David Stern branded Kobe Bryant’s comments as “offensive and inexcusable.”

During Tuesday’s encounter with the San Antonio Spurs, after being called for a technical foul, Kobe Bryant stormed to the Los Angeles Lakers bench.

He then threw a towel, and shouted “Bennie” at NBA official Bernie Adams. Bryant then leant back on the bench and appeared to hurl the insult “f—ing f—-t” at referee Adams.

The incident was caught by the TNT cameras in use for the nationally televised game.

This led TNT Analyst Steve Kerr to say “take the cameras off him right now, for the children watching at home.”

In a statement issued before facing the Sacramento Kings, Kobe Bryant issued a regretful apology.

He stressed that his words came out in the heat-of-the-moment, and that they “do not reflect his feelings towards the gay and lesbian community and were not meant to offend anyone.”

Bryant also expressed his worry over the way his fans – especially younger fans – may have viewed his comments. He outlined his “concern…for those who follow what I say…or look to me as a role model, not to take what is said as a message of hate or a license to degrade or embarrass or tease.”

A statement released by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) – a leading gay rights activist group – slammed Kobe Bryant for what HRC called “a disgrace… to use such horribly offensive and distasteful language, especially when millions of people are watching.”

Kobe Bryant again reiterated his apology today, saying that although his comment was taken out of context, “it’s nonetheless wrong, and it’s important to me to own that.”

It’s an episode the Los Angeles Lakers wouldn’t want, as they prepare to begin their quest for a third-straight NBA Championship.

NBA Playoffs - The 5 Teams That Can Win The Championship

This NBA season will be remembered as one of best ever, without question. We’ve witnessed literally hundred of great games and almost as many Blake Griffin dunks.

We saw the creation of a new NBA superpower in the Miami Heat, only to be usurped by the rise of the Derrick Rose and his Chicago Bulls.

Some NBA Superstars left traditional homes for greener pastures, whilst others were traded out to new surroundings.

It really was a season for the history books. Yet the fun stuff hasn’t even started yet.

The 2011 NBA Playoffs tip-off this weekend. After battling through a grueling 82-game schedule, the top sixteen teams sit just sixteen wins away from getting their hands on the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.

Before the race to the championship gets underway, let’s break down the top five teams and their realistic championship aspirations.

5. THE BOSTON CELTICS

The Boston Celtics have been here before.

As they prepare to mount another tilt at NBA glory, the entire organization knows what it takes to get to the NBA summit. The Celtics have made the NBA finals in two of the last three seasons, and were victorious against the Los Angeles Lakers, in 2008.

With that being said, the Boston Celtics have endured somewhat of a slide this season.

The ‘Big 3’ – Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen – are all that extra year older, and have battled injuries all season. The nucleus of this Boston Celtics team, was put together prior to the 2007 season, and it’s clear that time is finally catching up to these Celtics.

Rajon Rondo has continued to improve for Boston, yet his subpar shooting ability and lack of clutch confidence makes him a liability for the Celtics late in games.

Rondo is one of the best players in the NBA during the first 45 minutes of any game, but his late game struggles have the potential to derail championship dreams in Boston.

Yet perhaps the biggest ‘X-Factor’ for this Boston Celtics side is the departure of Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Many – especially those within the playing squad – saw Kendrick Perkins to be the heart and soul of the Celtics line-up. His tough play and commitment to the cause epitomized everything that the Boston Celtics pride themselves on.

Head Coach Doc Rivers even said that if Kendrick Perkins wouldn’t have been injured in Game Seven of last year’s NBA Finals, it would’ve been the Celtics who were victorious, not the Los Angeles Lakers.

His loss also hurts from a match-up standpoint, because if the Celtics come up against the Orlando Magic or the Los Angeles Lakers, they lack an inside presence to control Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum respectively. It’s a big loss to overcome.

This Boston Celtics side cannot be written off however. The experience mentioned earlier is the intangible for the Celtics. If they can stave of Father Time for another month, and get some favorable match-ups, they still very much have a shot at winning another title.

4. THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS

The San Antonio Spurs are in a very similar situation to the Boston Celtics. They’re a team with a wealth of experience, and have achieved the ultimate success four times in the last twelve seasons.

They were brilliant throughout the first three-quarters of the season, storming to the league’s best record. However they have started to tail off in the last month or so as injuries finally caught up with the Spurs.

San Antonio boast a line-up that features three career All-Stars – Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker – which fits perfectly into the theory that a team needs at least two superstars to win a NBA Championship.

However, the All-Star credibility of their leader – Tim Duncan – is very much in question this year.

Tim Duncan has established himself as a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, ever since he left Wake Forest and graduated to the NBA thirteen years ago.

Over that span, Tim Duncan has a plus 20/10 average, a feat that not many players can boast over a career of that span. He has led the San Antonio Spurs to each of their four NBA Championships since the 1999 season.

Yet this year, Tim Duncan is not an All-Star, he’s not even close. His average has fallen to just 13 points and 9 rebounds. They’re still impressive numbers, but they represent just how quickly age has caught up with Duncan.

If the San Antonio Spurs were to win another title in June, they need the Tim Duncan of years gone by; unfortunately that Tim Duncan may be gone.

Although in the absence left by Tim Duncan’s decline, Argentinian Manu Ginobili has turned in another impressive season. Ginobili has been the catalyst for this San Antonio Spurs team and has improved upon his career averages, across the board.

His season has been nothing short of sensational.

It’s incredibly rare that the team which finishes the season with the best record is not one of the favourites for the championship. But that’s the fate of this San Antonio Spurs team.

Like the Boston Celtics, their experience means that they cannot be counted out by any means, but I just cannot see the Spurs beating any of the next three teams.

3. THE MIAMI HEAT

This Miami Heat team was created to win championships.

Ever since LeBron James famously announced he would be “taking his talents to South Beach”, championship glory has not only been the goal, but the expectation.

Whilst at times this season the Miami Heat have looked every bit a championship contender, there has been many occasions when they haven’t looked anywhere near the mark. It has been the most expensive Jekyll and Hyde routine in history.

The irony in this Miami Heat side is that after establishing a core trio that was supposed to make Miami an NBA Superpower, the lack of any support will be their downfall.

The trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh has been huge for the Heat, averaging over 70 points, 22 rebounds and 13 assists per contest. The production of those three cannot be questioned. But the rest of the Miami Heat squad has barely shown up at all this season.

Winning an NBA Championship is a total team effort.

Michael Jordan had a great supporting cast throughout his championship years with the Chicago Bulls; Magic Johnson played alongside a host of Hall-of-Famers with his ‘Showtime’ Lakers. Even Kobe Bryant and the current Los Angeles Lakers have a team stacked with great talent.

LeBron James should know that it takes a total team performance to win a NBA Championship, the lack of such a performance is what cost his Cleveland Cavaliers squad over the past two seasons. On each occasions, LeBron James was the best player in the league, yet his team failed to reach the NBA finals.

The Miami Heat still manage to reach third on my list of Championship favorites, purely because of the sublime skills of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, and those two have the ability to carry the Heat in the early round of the playoffs.

But to win, or even reach the NBA Finals, Miami will need the rest of their team to step-up. If not, they’ll quickly be bounced out against either of the next two squads.

2. THE CHICAGO BULLS

The Chicago Bulls have been the biggest surprise story of the 2010 NBA Season.

A win against Deron Williams, and the lowly New Jersey Nets, would ensure the Chicago Bulls finish the season with the league’s best record (62-20). That is a 22 win improvement on last year.

At the beginning of the season, no-one was predicting this from the Chicago Bulls.

Derrick Rose has emerged, as not only the leader for his Chicago Bulls team, but as an elite player in the NBA. He should without doubt be named the league’s MVP. His output this season – 25 points, 8 assists and four rebounds per game – has been well above his career average.

In the last two seasons Derrick Rose showed flashes of brilliance. This season however, Rose has brought that brilliance every night. He has been one of the main reasons that this Chicago Bulls team, has gone from tough opponents in the playoffs, to title contenders.

However, as amazing as Derrick Rose has been, the overall team play for Chicago is the reason for their stellar season.

The same argument that casts doubt over the Miami Heat’s title credentials strengthens Chicago’s.

The Chicago Bulls are the hardest working team in the NBA this season. They play lock-down team defense, and crash the boards in every contest, as shown by being ranked second in the league in both Rebounds and Points Allowed per game.

The play of Luol Deng, Keith Bogans, Joakim Noah, Kurt Thomas and Ronnie Brewer is just as important to this Chicago Bulls team as the play of Derrick Rose and fellow All-Star, Carlos Boozer.

This makes Chicago a lethal team to meet in the playoffs, and a deserved favourite. There is no such thing as an easy game against the Chicago Bulls. Over a seven-game playoff series, that makes defeating them a monumental challenge for their opposition.

The only thing that has stopped me from putting this Chicago Bulls as the outright favorite is the pedigree of the next squad on the list. But they should meet in an NBA Final, it will be a spectacle to behold for all basketball fans.

1.THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS

As the saying goes, “to be the man, you’ve got to beat the man”, something that no team in the NBA has been able to do over the last two seasons. Until someone steps up and beats the Los Angeles Lakers, they’re the favourites.

The Los Angeles Lakers have had their share of troubles and forms slumps this year; yet they still appear set to claim the Number Two seed in the Western Conference.

A win against the Sacramento Kings, in the final game of the season will see them finish the season 57 wins and 25 losses. They would also have a comfortable first-round matchup with the New Orleans Hornets.

They appear destined for a historic three-peat.

Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers have been the measuring stick in the NBA for the better part of the last decade.

Another championship this season would give the Lakers their sixth title since the year 2000. That means that they will have won over half of the NBA titles this millennium. Only Bill Russell’s Boston Celtics squad of the 1950-60s, and Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls of the 1990s can claim to have enjoyed a period of similar dominance.

It is almost impossible to see how any team will stop the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers not only have such an immense advantage through their playoff pedigree, but they still have the burning hunger to win.

With Kobe Bryant on the cusp of leading Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, Ron Artest and Derrick Fisher into another post-season campaign, it appears certain that another Championship will be headed to Staples Centre.

The 2011 PGA Masters: What we know now

South African Charl Schwartzel held off a cast of contenders en route to claiming the 2011 PGA Masters at August this morning. The South African won his first major title, finishes two strokes in front of Aussie duo Adam Scott and Jason Day.

In what was one of the more stunning and enthralling PGA Masters in recent history, Schwartzel birded the last four holes at the famous Augusta National, coming from behind to eclipse the field.

The 2011 Augusta Masters are now in the rearview mirror, but it has shed some valuable light on the events, that will shape the 2011 season and beyond.

The Youth Movement

One thing that is for certain after witnessing a truly brilliant tournament, is that the future is definitely now for the young stars of golf.

Nine golfers that finished in the top twenty are 30 years of age, or under.

Runner up, Australian Jason Day, is only 23 years of age. Rory McIlroy – who capitulated over a disastrous final round – led the Masters through the first three rounds, at the tender age of 21.

Even the performance of 19 year-old Japanese starlet, Ryo Ishikawa, showed great signs of things to come finishing two under par, a score good enough for 20th place.

Looking purely on the form shown in the PGA Masters, Day and McIlroy both certainly appear to have great careers ahead of them, and will be in the fight for many more Green Jackets in the future.

Adam Scott

Adam Scott burst onto the golfing scene, after taking out the coveted PGA Players Championship, back in 2004. Since he turned pro in 2000, Scott has claimed 19 tour victories, and reached his highest ever ranking – World Number 3 – in 2007.

However, he has been haunted by inconsistency, especially with his putting game. It was this trouble that led to Scott switching to the “Broomstick” putter, and after his performance over the weekend, the dividends are already clear to see.

If he can carry his play from the 2011 PGA Masters throughout the rest of the season and beyond, Scott will definitely be in Major contention in the future.

Tiger Woods is back

Just in case anyone forgot, Tiger Woods is the most talented human being ever to pick up a golf club.

The front nine of his final round at Augusta National was the perfect example of just how good Tiger Woods can be, as he stormed to the top of the leaderboard with four birdies and an eagle in eight holes.

Woods cooled off somewhat however on the back nine, finishing even over that span.

Yet the fact that Woods was able to bounce back from a horrid third round performance – shooting what was thought to be an tournament killing 74 – proves that after almost two years spent in the golfing wilderness, Woods’ agony won’t last much longer.

His performance will only fuel his confidence, as he resumes his quest to overtaking Jack Nicklaus, as the most successful player in the Major Era.

He currently sits five titles behind Nicklaus, but off the back of his performance over the weekend, it’s hard to see Woods not taking the mantle from Nicklaus.

2011 Masters Preview

This weekend, Ninety-Two of the world’s best golfers, will take to the course in the opening Major Championship of the season. The 2011 PGA Masters will tee off – at the iconic Augusta National Golf Club for the 75^th time – with the hopes of claiming one of the most prestigious prizes in all of Golf, the Green Jacket.

Winning at Augusta, is still seen to be the pinnacle of the golfing mountain, much of which comes down to the exclusivity of the event. The Masters has the smallest field of any of the majors on the PGA Tour, with roughly 40% fewer entrants given the privilege to compete, when compared to the other major championships.

So before the first ball is hit in anger this weekend, lets break down some of the top contenders, primed to take home this year’s Green Jacket.

TIGER WOODS

For the better part of the last decade, Masters predictions have often come down to “Tiger or the field”, a result of Tiger Woods unprecedented dominance over the golfing world. However, in 2011, we all know this isn’t the case anymore. Speaking purely on his form – and not the much-publicized upheaval in his personal life – Woods is in the midst of his longest ever form slump. More than 18 months have passed since his last win on the PGA Tour – The 2009 BMW Championship – and he has looked a shadow of the dominating figure, who took out that event, with an astonishing 19 under par performance.

The question for Woods’ has never been his skills - he has arguable already established himself as the greatest golfer ever – instead it is his mentality that has come under scrutiny. If Woods is able to find his past greatness at Augusta, nothing will stop him claiming his fifteenth Major title.

PHIL MICKELSON

The man who for years, seemed destined to toil away in Woods’ shadow, “Lefty” now casts his own shadow over the golfing landscape. Mickelson currently sits in sixth place on the World Golf Rankings. He also comes to Augusta as the defending champion, winning by 3-strokes in 2010, claiming his fourth major.

Mickelson does have the tendency to be a bit wayward off the tee, however this isn’t always punished at Augusta, certainly not to the extent it is at the other majors.

Mickelson mirrored his preparation from a year ago – competing in the Shell Open – which coupled with his experience and past success at Augusta, should have him amongst the contenders on Sunday.

MARTIN KAYMER

Although his name isn’t as recognized as Woods or Mickelson, there is no denying Kaymer’s immense quality, which has seen him take the mantle as the world’s Number One ranked player.

Kaymer had an unbelievable 2010 season, winning four PGA titles, including the PGA Championship at Whistling Straights. It was his first Major title. He also capped off the season, by leading the European Ryder Cup Team, to a famous victory at Celtic Manor in Wales.

Kaymer has carried his fine run of form into 2011, winning his third Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January, and finishing in second place at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

If Kaymer maintains his outstanding play over the weekend, there is no doubt that Kaymer will be well and truly in the mix come Sunday afternoon.

LEE WESTWOOD

Westwood is considered by many to be the best player on the PGA tour, not to have won a Major. He came painstakingly close in 2010, finishing Runner-Up at The Masters and the British Open.

Westwood’s quality is beyond question; he currently sits second in the World Rankings, and has amassed twenty-six titles over his career. He even briefed reigned supreme as World Number One, as he usurped Tiger Woods at the head of the rankings, in October last year.

Yet, Westwood has always suffered to shine in Major play, something that he will be desperate to change this weekend. If he does, Westwood has a great shot at winning his maiden Major Championship.

PREDICTION
Tiger Woods will finally return to the winner’s circle this Sunday, and resume his chase of Jack Nicklaus’s record of eighteen Major triumphs.

I believe that, after battling with inconsistency and mental anguish since his tabloid fall from grace, Woods’ will recapture the form that has seen him named PGA Player of the Year on ten occasions.

At his best, Woods’ is still head-and-shoulders above every other person on the planet with a golf club in his hand, and will show it at Augusta. Not only is Woods a great golfer, but also he is a true champion, and has shown his immense class time and time throughout his career.

As the saying goes, ‘Form is temporary, class is permanent’, and I expect that to shine through once again for Woods as he adds another Green Jacket to his wardrobe.  

MADDEN 2012 COVER CAUSING CONTROVERSY

The upcoming NFL season may be in doubt, but EA Sports Madden 2012 will definitely be hitting shelves later in the year. It seems even the possibility of a strike-ruined season cannot stop the EA juggernaut.

Madden NFL Football has long been at the forefront of gaming evolution and has become as much a part of the NFL as big hits and touchdown passes. Upon its annual August release, fans clamor to get their hands on the new version. Even in the shadow of a potentially strike-effected season, Madden continues to revolutionize its field.

For the first time in the history of videogames, EA Sports are giving fans the world over, the chance to vote for whom they want on the cover of this year’s game. However, this has dumped a whole heap of controversy on EA’s doorstep.

EA Sports established a 32-player bracket system for their voting, with players with the fewest votes being eliminated in a tournament-like system, until ultimately there is a winner. That winner looks almost certain to be Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Michael Vick.

This isn’t sitting well with the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) who are calling for EA Sports to remove Vick from the tournament.

Vick returned to the NFL as a starter last season, after having served 23 months in prison, being charged with Dog-fighting. Dog-Fighting is a barbaric ‘sport’ and form of gambling, that forces dogs to fight one another, often to the death. Vick was convicted of running several dog-fighting syndicates from the basements of his houses.

However, despite the calls from PETA, EA Sports president Peter Moore says that, if he wins the fans vote, Vick will be on the cover.

Moore has recently stated that due to Vick’s outstanding season – that saw him finish second in the league MVP voting and win the Comeback player of the year – he deserves his shot. He also acknowledged PETA’s requests to pull Vick from the competition, but stated, “…I'm not here to comment on what he did. I personally believe that Michael served his time.”

Vick has also been using his Twitter site to encourage his fans to vote him onto the cover, showing that he believes that he has earned the opportunity to be considered.

Personally, I’ve long been a fan of Michael Vick’s, and found a lot of enjoyment in watching his tremendous season last year. He is great for the NFL, as his tremendous skill makes his “must-see television.”

Obviously, his involvement in organized Dog-fighting was despicable and cannot be defended. However, as Moore said, Vick has served his time and paid his dues. He lost everything, declaring bankruptcy before he entered Federal Prison. This was the man who signed a contract worth in excess of $70 Million with the Atlanta Falcons. In 2006 Vick has endorsement with Nike, Coca-Cola, PowerAde and many others, at the moment he’s endorsed solely by Unequal Technologies – a company that makes Football pads.

By all accounts he has done above-and-beyond what is expected of him ever since his release from prison. He works with several charities in the US, and gives speeches at schools across the country on the importance of staying in school and getting an education. He’s striving to have a better life, inside and outside of the NFL, this is something that should be embraced and used as an example of someone changing for the better.

Vick’s actions will never be forgotten; he’s even spoken of how they’ve haunted him, yet it’s time that we forgive him. If he appears on the cover of Madden NFL 2012, this would show that the NFL community has, at least that would be a start.