Friday 9 October - The Internet versus the TV....

Welcome along to the first edition of the sporting week blog, known as Three Points in the Bag.

As I type this it is the eve of England's penultimate World Cup qualifier against the Ukraine, to be exclusively shown online. The match was due to be shown by Setanta Sports, but after it folded earlier this year no other channels showed any interest in it.

I wonder why? Maybe it is because England have ALREADY qualified for the 2010 Finals in South Africa after winning all eight of their previous games. I will restrain myself from calling it meaningless as it is far from that for the Ukrainians who still have a chance to qualify for the playoffs, but we English need to calm down.

Fans frustration that they can't start their Saturday night in the pub watching the game can be excused, but the claim that the internet is on the brink of stealing football from our living rooms and drinking houses is wide of the mark. If it had been a crunch game I am sure the likes of ITV would have bid for it but it is not. To be honest, I was not planning on watching this game anyway. It will be dreadful entertainment as pretty much all the England qualifiers have been, and its pretty clear that Capello has already made up his mind on the majority of his squad for next summer so there is little of interest for me - if not then why has he left out the Premier League's top English scorer, Darren Bent? Also, with an online server supporting no more that a million logins, these figures hardly signal a new dawn for football viewing.

Change is not a bad thing but we should ask ourselves why now, rather than what next? Ultimately, television companies did not want to bother with the Ukraine game and neither do I. Bring on the draw for the finals in December when we can start plotting our way to the final (or should that be the quarter final?)

So Fergie's been up to his old tricks, but we can't be too harsh - I mean he is a knight of the realm and that should mean he can criticise anyone, right? Poor Alan Wiley. Its not his fault he looks like he has swallowed a chest of drawers. I suppose Sir Alex was happy enough to have unfit Alan as a more stationary "butcher's dog" a fortnight earlier when Manchester United won the derby against City, keeping an eye on the injury time clock. Face it, referees aren't as fit as players. Many have other jobs and are in their late thirties, but are still fitter than they were in the past; I'd fancy myself in a sprint against Graham Poll, Jeff Winter and Paul Durkin any day, running forward or backwards Paul.

Oh and someone give John Barnes a job, if not for his "talent" then to reduce Global Warming. Notice how he cycled to and from work everyday while manager of Tranmere but the morning he was sacked he said "sod this", and was filmed loading his bike into former sidekick Jason McAteer's car for a lift. Come to think of it, if I got sacked I'm not sure I'd be in the mood to ride my bike home through Merseyside...

This season of Formula One has been fantastic. Now, I am no expert by any means, but I reckon my lack of indepth knowledge has actually helped me enjoy this rollercoaster of a year all the more. If you haven't been watching these are a few of the things you have missed: sponsorless Braun come out of nowhere and start winning, Hamilton's car is terrible, Hamilton's car is worse, Hamilton's car is getting better, wait its the best now, Massa has an incredible crash, Schumacher comes out of retirement to replace him, no wait he doesnt, instead its the worst driver ever seen, Button tries not to become World Champion despite his lead, Renault found guilty of cheating, and of course the Max Mosely scandal.

There have been many complaints aired that this is no longer a sport and it cannot be trusted. But in reality Formula One hasn't been a sport for a long time - it is entertainment and its brilliant. There is no level playing field, drivers and their teams push and bend the rules to win. Of course, if fans stop believing in it there is a real danger they will stop following it, but arguably this season has been one of the most exciting and engaging ever. Pure? no. Unpredictable? All the way. I know I'll be tuned in for Brazil next week.

It may be the end for Steve Harmison's international career in top class Cricket. I think this is the right decision. The first reaction is always to recall memories of his excellent spells with the ball in the past, even as recently as the last Ashes test, but the selectors need consistency in a tour, especially one away against South Africa. He'll have some fantastic memories of the international stage and has been brilliant for cricket, particularly in the North East. Long may he put strong performances in for Durham. One cannot rule out a return for England back on home soil in the future, but I see that as unlikely. It'll probably come down to whether Plunkett steps up to the plate in the coming months.

I'd like to end this blog with a thought about the inclusion of Golf and Rugby sevens in the 2016 Olympics in Rio. I do not deny that both these sports have great tradition and are enjoyed around the world but I fear they will not be mean as much to the players and fans as the Olympics should.

The Olympic tennis tournament is an example of a sport not universally regarding the Olympics as the pinnacle. In the past, big name players have instead focused on the four majors, as in Golf, where there are ranking points and large prize money at stake. Football is another example of this tension, shown by the home nations' inability to come to an agreement for a Great Britain side for 2012. Worries such as these may well be eased over time, but the problem remains today that these sports may not see a gold medal in the same special and important light as it is seen by sports which have been pushed out of the 2016 Games as a result of these inclusions; notably Squash and Karate. How will this effect the popularity of these smaller sports when they no longer have the prestigious Olympics help promote them and for their athletes to work towards?

Nevertheless, I'm sure Brazil will welcome these new additions with open arms. It will be a fantastic couple of years for the nation who will also host the Football World Cup in 2014.

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