Poetic Justice

It has been reported that around 16 million people watch each NFL game, which on a week where every one of the 32 teams play, means around 256 million people across the globe are tuning in to see their idols do battle. However, there have been even more eyes on America’s pride and joy lately than ever before, down mainly to a one Mr Colin Kaepernick whose decision to not stand for the national anthem split the nation. Donald Trump’s reaction to the problem couldn’t have been more Donald Trump if he tried, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now’ he said in a speech in Alabama at the height of the debate. My opinion is very simple with regards this, fair play, kudos, stand up – or rather kneel for whatever you believe in. Use your platform to fight for what is a very noble cause, I applaud the NFL and its players for its take on this matter. No laws have been broken, just a few angry, grumpy, middle aged, bald eagle loving, men offended, the code of conduct merely states you ‘s...

I am going to presume you all know the ins and outs of the Ched Evans case and instead I’m going to skip to transcribing my feelings over the news of his acquittal. It didn’t take long for me to find numerous messages on social media abusing and threatening the girl who made the claims that she had been raped by Evans. Why can she simply walk away from all this whilst Evans’ career, guilty or not guilty has been totally ruined? This is a perfect example of the horrible smog that surrounds rape culture in the modern age. The fact that Evans has been proved not guilty doesn’t not necessarily mean that the girl ‘lied’, the decision ultimately lay with a jury that made a decision in their own eyes as to what they deemed happened in that hotel room all those years ago. If a woman is unable to speak out about a crime for fear of hatred and abuse, then the criminal justice system is not doing its job to protect. She shouldn't have to hide behind a horrible background for fear of failing...

 1 - You moth be joking! During the recent European Championship final in Paris between Portugal and France an infestation of moths descended onto the pitch. The insects attracted a lot of attention throughout, mainly due to their vast numbers and the game's poor quality. However it wasn't until the 16th minute that one moth Ronaldo limped off injured but not after making a new friend. stepped up to become the internet's newest star. As a crestfallen Cristiano Ronaldo lay injured on the Saint Denis turf one moth settled gently between his eyebrows and thus took his place as the web's latest viral trend. The moth now has various facebook and twitter accounts in his honour. 2 - Fowl play at Ewood Park. As Blackburn took on local rivals Burnley at Ewood Park it seemed that the two Lancashire clubs were heading for an uneventful derby day draw. That was until one fan took it upon himself to release his pet chicken onto the pitch. Causing quite a stir, the chic...

THE GOOD The Underdogs Regardless of who wins the European Championship on Sunday the tournament will most likely be remembered for the unlikely run of a plucky Welsh side. Despite a battling defeat to England in the Group stages the Welsh barely put a foot wrong beating Slovakia, Russia and Northern Ireland before putting a much fancied Belgium team to the sword in style. Gareth Bale was the obvious star man in the line-up and he stepped up to lead from the front but it was the other lesser known names around him who were ultimately responsible for sending a relatively unfancied international team to the very forefront of world football. Although Wales stole the show much praise must also be given to plucky Iceland. It was impossible not to fall in love with the spirit and determination shown by those from the competition’s most remote nation. Even when Iceland embarrassed England in the last 16 I found it particularly difficult to begrudge them. However they ultimately fell in t...

SARACENS – 1 st (Champions) My Prediction: 1 st Review: Saracens produced an incredible season winning both the Premiership and the Champions Cup (previously the Heineken Cup), the first time an English team has achieved such a feat since Wasps in 2003-04. Saracens now boast a side crammed with international superstars and household names and will be just as hard to stop next season. The only major blip on the Barnet based club’s record came at the hands of Wasps where they were beaten 64-23, other than that Saracens topped the table with relative ease and were never really under any threat in Europe either. A fantastic season by England’s best rugby club, it looks hard to look past them for another domestic title next year. Star Man: Alex Goode – Named Aviva Premiership Player of the Season and immaculate in the Final, Alex Goode has been flawless. With Mike Brown struggling as of late it shouldn’t be long before the Cambridge born fullback is back in the England starting 15....

This weekend the Premiership final will be contested by the two sides that finished first and second in the regular season. Saracens who topped the pile will be making their fifth appearance in a domestic finalin seven years, whilst for Exeter it will be their first ever outing in English rugby's top match. The game promises to be full of massive match-ups and battlegrounds but below I've listed four of the key areas and factors which I believe will be fundamental to the outcome of the game. -The Number 10 duel- Owen Farrell has made Twickenham his second home in recent times but his fitness may remain a potential issue. Regardless of what Saracens say, there is no way to claim full fitness until its been tested in the heat of battle.  Farrell's opposite number will be the Northern Irishman Gareth Steenson. The Chiefs kicker has been with Exeter since there Championship days and is a hugely popular figure amongst the Sandy Park faithful. Steenson collected the Golden B...

My name is Henry Justice, and I must have done some terrible things in a past life because I ended up a supporter of a little known Nottinghamshire club; Mansfield Town. Of course, I am proud of my club and wouldn’t leave them for the world, but things could have been very different. At the age of twelve I moved to Leicestershire and if I’d got into football a little later I could have perhaps been a fan of Leicester City and on the verge of celebrating one of the biggest fairy tales in English football. As it happened things didn’t turn out like that and the fates gave me the mighty Stags. To be fair to my boys we did win the Conference in the 2013 campaign, for which I’m eternally grateful, but in comparison to our Midlands rivals its pretty trivial. As a result of being from the Midlands and not a regular at the King Power, I disliked Leicester, amongst many others, Notts County, Chesterfield etc. Maybe it was jealously or just the fact I loved to hate them because all my friend...