CRICKET: This year’s biannual international fancy dress competition for cricketers has finally come to an end, with Australia running out winners after judges deemed their colourful canary yellow/green trim outfit more hilarious and demeaning than the boring black worn by New Zealand. 
Australia also won the sideshow cricket match, with Shane Watson making a second successive ton to take the Aussies past their target of 201 a give them a six wicket win. Off-spinner Nathan Hauritz (3-37) had earlier restricted New Zealand to 200-9.
Khana Amir KO the Kosher Kid
BOXING: When Bolton’s Amir Khana and Dmitriy Salita go turban to yarmulke on December 5th it will be the first time in history a Musilim has duked it out with a Jew.
In a world title bout, we mean.
From what BBM has read so far, Salita, known as the Kosher Kid, doesn’t appear to be very scary. As a strict follower of his faith, the bout must begin after sunset has signalled the end of the Sabbath. Furthermore there are up to 70 annual Jewish holy days a year on which the Kosher Kid won’t fight. He also follows strict Jewish dietary laws and stays within walking distance of a synagogue while in training.
“Anyone who wants a good whuppin’ from me is just going to have to wait until sundown,” once said Salita.
Which is exactly what Khana will have to do to defend his WBA crown at Newcastle’s Metro Arena..
Salita waffled: “I have a personal relationship with God that I won’t compromise. My boxing is such a big part of my life, yet it can’t and won’t get in the way of my religion.”
Righto, Dmitriy. Excuses, excuses.
BASKETBALL: The US are a superpower when it comes to inventing rubbishy sports. Baseball, American Commercial-Break Handball and Lacrosee, just to name a few.
Basketball is better, if only because it’s a pleasure to see the latest hottie on the arm of ladies-man Jack Nicholson.
The Chicago Bulls beat Utah Jazz 102-101 in a pre-season game at London’s O2 arena last week. It was the culmination of a four-day mission to promote the sport in the UK.
Team GB star Luol Deng featured for the Bulls, finishing joint top scorer with 18 points.
Deng, playing only his second game in eight months after recovering from a stress fracture he suffered back in March, is on a six-year contract worth over ?40m.
Not bad, eh?
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
“I CAUGHT it on TV for a second and I fell asleep,” – Utah Jazz rookie Eric Maynor acclimatises to London ahead of the NBA friendly by taking in a ‘thriller’ between Liverpool and Chelsea.
“PRESIDENT De Laurentiis is a volcano. He knows very little about world football and needs to learn a lot. He does not breathe enough the atmosphere of the dressing room. I have nonetheless had the chance to appreciate a splendid person. Our last meeting was very cordial, but I told him that if he asked me three questions about cinema, I would not know the answers. On the other hand, he would remain silent if I asked him three questions about football. I said so without malice, because I am not holding any grudges,” – sacked Napoli coach Roberto Donadoni certainly isn’t holding any grudges. Oh no.
“MR Conn identified himself to me at the high court some four months ago. An insignificant little man, I dismissed him with some comment accusing him of bias whereupon he protested that he always tried to present a balanced view. My loud laughter in response nearly resulted in my being spoken to by court officials,” – Kuddly Ken Bates can’t be accused of bias considering he admitted being an insignificant little man while taking a pop at Proper Journalist David Conn in his programme notes.
