- This topic has 31 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 8 months ago by
.
- Posts
I’ll consider my bottom spanked. I was just looking at it from the perspective of laying Richards, and with several competitors peaking and perhaps having more to come.
edit: re Jeter. That’s why I don’t bet! Useless judgment. I love watching though.
One good thing about Jessica Ennis winning Gold.
We had a German in 2nd and a Pole in 3rd in Berlin.
Just like the old days eh.
- Total Posts 17716
A superb performance from Sanya Richards and a richly deserved championship gold. Ohuruogu, as suggested, was nowhere (the BBC’s attempts to make excuses for her were bordering on nauseating).
I was actually quite disappointed by David Greene in the 400m Hurdles, despite his inexperience, but Kerron Clement proved the 7/4 to be nothing short of ludicrous (especially so given some of the short prices offered in other events this week). The young Trinidadian in fourth is one to watch for the future.
I was glad to see Phillips Odowu take gold in the Triple Jump, but only from a ‘medal for Britain’ perspective. He appeared suitably moved by his accomplishment, which was good to see, but I have a horrible feeling that he’ll soon be back to his ‘I’m bullet-proof, I’m Superman’ antics. If he should prove me wrong then he’s come a long way since Beijing and I will gladly change my position (not that my disapproval means much in the grand scheme of things).
I still have Jeremy Wariner and Alyson Felix running for me this week, the former impressing in his first outing in the 400m, but I’m quite interested in the men’s 200m. Usain Bolt is going to win, of that there is little doubt, but the betting without him certainly appeals. Wallace Spearmon came in to the World Championships as the US’s favoured runner, but both he and Shawn Crawford have failed to build on otherwise promising starts to their careers. Indeed, Spearmon didn’t seem to give Alonso Edward any chance in his heat, but following an impressive victory the 5/2 about the Panamanian (without Bolt) looks worth taking.
I was glad to see Phillips Odowu take gold in the Triple Jump, but only from a ‘medal for Britain’ perspective. He appeared suitably moved by his accomplishment, which was good to see, but I have a horrible feeling that he’ll soon be back to his ‘I’m bullet-proof, I’m Superman’ antics. If he should prove me wrong then he’s come a long way since Beijing and I will gladly change my position (not that my disapproval means much in the grand scheme of things).
The Five Live coverage indicated he has found (or maybe re-found) God in the interim, which I suppose could explain some change in demeanour.
In the same way as we get b1, v1, cp1, etc. next to racehorses to signify the application of aids, how long before athletes such as Phillips get a little cross or one of those fish symbols next to their names on all TV graphics?
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
A superb performance from Sanya Richards and a richly deserved championship gold. Ohuruogu, as suggested, was nowhere (the BBC’s attempts to make excuses for her were bordering on nauseating).
I was actually quite disappointed by David Greene in the 400m Hurdles, despite his inexperience, but Kerron Clement proved the 7/4 to be nothing short of ludicrous (especially so given some of the short prices offered in other events this week). The young Trinidadian in fourth is one to watch for the future.
I was glad to see Phillips Odowu take gold in the Triple Jump, but only from a ‘medal for Britain’ perspective. He appeared suitably moved by his accomplishment, which was good to see, but I have a horrible feeling that he’ll soon be back to his ‘I’m bullet-proof, I’m Superman’ antics. If he should prove me wrong then he’s come a long way since Beijing and I will gladly change my position (not that my disapproval means much in the grand scheme of things).
I still have Jeremy Wariner and Alyson Felix running for me this week, the former impressing in his first outing in the 400m, but I’m quite interested in the men’s 200m. Usain Bolt is going to win, of that there is little doubt, but the betting without him certainly appeals. Wallace Spearmon came in to the World Championships as the US’s favoured runner, but both he and Shawn Crawford have failed to build on otherwise promising starts to their careers. Indeed, Spearmon didn’t seem to give Alonso Edward any chance in his heat, but following an impressive victory the 5/2 about the Panamanian (without Bolt) looks worth taking.
A remarkable performance – it sounds as if you have avoided all the short price jollies that lost and only backed the ones that won.
Given the number of short priced losers (no doubt many in accumulators) and very limited each-way betting I suspect bookmakers have done pretty well.
Even allowing for a poor preparation it seems most unlikely Ohuruogu will be quick enough to win another 400 metres at this level and I would suggest stepping up to 800 metres might be the way to go.
Hard to be too critical of Greene but when it mattered most he came up short. Hopefully, that was mainly due to tiredness rather than freezing on the big occasion.
- Total Posts 17716
There’s nothing remarkable about it, stilvi – Kerron Clement, Jeremy Wariner, Alyson Felix and now Alonso Edward (without Bolt) were my only bets of the week and all have been detailed in this thread.
I see little point in taking the overly short prices about the likes of Sanya Richards (who I was merely making a case for in response to your decision to lay her) and Usain Bolt when, as Yelena Isinbayeva proved, things can go drastically wrong.
The only other bet I am considering is Blanka Vlasic (10/11 with Exrabet) in the women’s High Jump.
Quote –
We had a German in 2nd and a Pole in 3rd in Berlin. Just like the old days eh.
Just needed a loud mouthed Yank to roll up and take all the credit for the win (and perhaps an Italian to capitulate meekly after three events).
What about the latest controversy ?
Is "She" female or not ?
South Afrcan runner, Caster Semenya ( what an ironic surname
), won gold in the 800 metres but the 18 year old may be forced to return the medal if she fails a gender-verification test.She has sprung from nowhere and suddenly won gold in the World Championships; her race times improving by up to eight seconds.
Fellow competitors have been highly suspicious of her – many have cast suspicion on her actual gender and one fellow 800 metre runner is in no doubt that "she" is a man.
I watched the race last night and have to say that I too am highly suspicious. She looks like man, is built like a man, has slim like hips like a man and she runs like man. She actually looked as if she was holding back and could have won by half the track; such was the ease in which she controlled the race. In the end, she bided her time from the front before sprinting away from a top class women’s field.
To use a horse racing analogy; it was akin to a group one winner up against selling platers.
My hunch is that that Miss Semenya is more male than female.
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
She is a He IMO. Why does it ‘take weeks’ to find out? Can’ t they put him/her in a room and pull his/her pants down or is it not as straight forward as that?
On a more serious note, If she passes the test, we have a serious athlete competing out there. It was an incredible performance. I heard him/her interviewed today, sounded quite a deep voice and she/he was pretty annoyed as you would be if your gender was challenged…..She is a He IMO. Why does it ‘take weeks’ to find out? Can’ t they put him/her in a room and pull his/her pants down or is it not as straight forward as that?
fantastic comment crizzy lmao
To be fair, she won too easily in my opinion – if she was a she I would be suprised.
But I still think the IAAF should have kept this a private investigation – as michael johnson rightly pointed out – it should be handled as a drug doping investigation. There should be proof before the athelete is named.- Total Posts 17716
I think there have to be (reasonable) doubts about the validity of Semenya’s status as a female athlete, but I have heard rumours that Usain Bolt is to undertake similar tests to prove that he’s human
That was some performance tonight and, with another world record annihilated, he looks capable of dipping under 19 seconds for 200m. The guy’s a phenomenon, though there was some promise of something resembling a rivalry with 19-year-old Panamanian Alonso Edward taking silver. He’s young and inexperienced, but he’s run 19.81 in a World Championship final and looks to have a big, big future.
A quick word too for Blanka Vlasic, who overcame a supremely one-sided crowd to topple Ariane Friedrich in the women’s High Jump.
I think I might give up betting on horseracing and stick to athletics
A quick word too for Blanka Vlasic, who overcame a supremely one-sided crowd to topple Ariane Friedrich in the women’s High Jump.
Maybe I didn’t watch enough but I didn’t think the crowd were anything other than supportive of their own athlete and respectful of the others. Not sure what more you were expecting. Friedrich appeared to take her defeat pretty well.
- Total Posts 17716
Why pick up on such an innocuous comment, stilvi?
I was simply making the point that, despite overwhelming support for Friedrich (she was orchestrating the entire stadium at one stage), Vlasic held her nerve to come through what was obviously a very tense final.
As for Friedrich taking her defeat well, who said she didn’t?
Quote –
We had a German in 2nd and a Pole in 3rd in Berlin. Just like the old days eh.
Just needed a loud mouthed Yank to roll up and take all the credit for the win (and perhaps an Italian to capitulate meekly after three events).
I think the Italians will just support which ever side has the most medals.
Why pick up on such an innocuous comment, stilvi?
I was simply making the point that, despite overwhelming support for Friedrich (she was orchestrating the entire stadium at one stage), Vlasic held her nerve to come through what was obviously a very tense final.
As for Friedrich taking her defeat well, who said she didn’t?
Why mention it in the first place? It was hardly what you would call a shock victory and as I said what did you expect from a home crowd. Perhaps you wanted to remind everyone that she was one of your winning tips?
I don’t think anyone suggested she didn’t take it well. That was an opinion rather than a reply – what was that you were saying about innocuous comments?
), won gold in the 800 metres but the 18 year old may be forced to return the medal if she fails a gender-verification test.
fantastic comment crizzy lmao
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.