Phil's sporting blog

The Dark Side of Football

2011-12-24T12:02:00.000-08:00

Football in England has long been held up as an example to the world. Maybe not for its quality but its sheer money making potential. It has been shown to be a modern game shaking of the old style management of the 70's and 80's to become a modern sport which corresponds with the stadiums that it is generally played in.

Football is actually not the different animal that it was in the 70's and 80's. This has been shown by the conviction by the FA of Liverpool player Suarez and the impending trial of the England Captain John Terry. The major concern for me has been the attitude to some within football usually ex pro's. They have been apologising dramatically for the behaviour of these players.

The apologists are in denial about the state of their game a quarter of players are black yet there are only two black coaches. Only one Asian footballer in all 92 professional clubs and not one gay footballer. These are not statistics any modern organisation would like never mind the national game.

2003-RIP

2011-12-07T14:11:00.001-08:00

From world champions to champions of farce via a final appearance.What has gone wrong with English rugby? Is English rugby all bad. Like any difficult situation English rugby cannot see the wood for the trees. The world cup was that bad that there has been no talk of redeeming features for England, no shoots of recovery, just a mess. However anyone who has studied science will tell you that a negative result is still a result. So what have we learnt from the mess.

1. Martin Johnson was the greatest captain England has known but the transition to manager was a mistake. Was it too soon, was he too close to his players? All this is speculation the black and white stats of it say simply he failed.

2. The coaching staff was useless. In 2003 when England were a side packed full of experience and leaders the coaching staff was everywhere extolling the various virtues of what they did. This time round they were nowhere to be seen. This is far worse as this side were far younger and far less mature.

3. Be nice to everybody particularly your hosts. Part of the disastrous campaign can be without doubt attributed to its poor perception in the public eye. Whether it be drunken nights out or dodgy dealing with hotel staff.

4. Establish patterns of play. England went to the world cup with no idea of their best side. They did not know which style of rugby they wanted to play they were defensively child like. Offensively they were devoid of any plans.

Four years between world cups, should give you some ideas of these things. There appeared to be lots of false dawns during Johnson reign but none of it led to anything conclusive. Where now for England, it is hard to say four years is a long time but is it long enough to sort England out. Strong leadership is vital and at the moment that is sadly lacking from the RFU.

In Praise of Seven

2011-11-09T20:32:00.000-08:00

The rugby world cup has come and gone again and the trends of world rugby have spun again. In the mid 90's when I had my rugby awakening the trend in the back row was for large back rows. It was not unusual for England to take the field with three number 8's. The reason was bulk was king the bigger the bosh the more games you would win. This continued until the start of the new millennium and was exaggerated by the advent of the professional player and the love of the weights section of the gym. The classic scavenging 7 fell out of flavour for the ball carrying bruiser.

This changed at the end of the 90's when Neil Back finally got the run in the England side he deserved. Not only did he bring tremendous ball scavenging techniques but also great general ball skills, acting as much as a second scrum half as a back row. He also dominated the ground game. Ever since then the world has been looking for a similar player. The greatest 7 of the modern era is Richie McCaw as mentioned previously without him New Zealand would not be the same side and would not have won the world cup. Australia lost to Ireland partly because they were without David Pocock and partly because Sean O Brian was brilliant. Wales beat Ireland because Sam Warburton was outstanding, tackling anything that moves and winning everything on the floor.

England were awful because they played with three blindside/number 8 type players. They looked ponderous because without a link player they could not get their game going the backs were getting slow recycled ball. That led to ponderous and slow movements in the back line.

The moral of this blog is that any side that finds a great open-side has wrap them in cotton wool and only bring them out on the big occasions. Play without one because you think bigger is better and prepare for trouble.

Where now for English Rugby?

2011-10-30T13:29:00.000-07:00

English rugby has some issues, off the pitch the administration of the game is a mess with real issues regarding leadership. On-field issues are the subject of this blog particularly a world cup campaign that never got going.

England have always had tremendous expectations in the rugby world cup, a young side was going down under, they were just starting to come into form. Exciting backs such as Chris Ashton and Ben Foden were starting to lead the back line well. The forwards were developing into a tough unit with young players such as Dan Cole and Courtney Laws combining well with the older players such as Steve Thompson and Andrew Sheridan.

What happened in New Zealand was a disaster England never performed well and expectations were dashed. As so often rugby us a simple game that starts in the forwards. England's forward effort never got going. In the first game against Argentina it could be thought that England were on the way up. However off field antics were endemic of the form on the field. I think Martin Johnson was expecting men of the calibre he played with in 2003 and all the way through his Leicester career. Men such as Neil Back, Will Greenwood and Richard Hill. Instead he got a group of children who could not understand the limits of a good behaviour. The fact that they were not willing to accept that the behaviour off the pitch was not good enough showed on the field, People were hiding on the field, when it required somebody to take a lead when times were hard nobody stepped up.

England now have a major soul searching exercise to carry out. It stars with the coach and filters down. Everybody involved with the world cup has to consider what went wrong and whether they can take an active part in fixing the situation.

Rugby World Cup Late Summary

2011-10-29T14:54:00.000-07:00

Many words have been written about the world cup. Not one journalist has said that the wrong team won the tournament. New Zealand were the outstanding team, even getting over the loss of the talisman Dan Carter. They played classic All Black rugby, not the open rugby that they have played over recent years but the pragmatic, hard-nosed rugby associated with the all blacks of old. Richie McCaw was absolutely outstanding as a leader on and off the field, if he had have gone they would have lost the tournament.

As a tournament it was excellent, without a doubt the first rugby tournament where the minnows have competed. Whether they be from Eastern Europe, Pacific Islands or North America. They all competed with distinction and were only humbled by the tournament format.

The traditional rugby powers had mixed tournaments none more so than the enigmatic French. Losing to Tonga in the group to contributing to the excellent final. They were frustratingly enigmatic but that it is truly the French way. England and South Africa had forgettable tournaments worthy of their own blog.

The Welsh and the Irish were unfortunate to meet each other in the later stages of the tournament. The contrast between the two is stark Wales are on the way up with a good young side and potentially a captain who could be one of their greats. Ireland are on the way down with the end of a golden generation of players including possibly the greatest player to pull ona green jersey, Biaan O Driscoll. Australia have still not learnt to scrummage this is limiting the chances they have of winning the world cup.

As a tournament it was a truly fantastic tournament in a rugby mad country that deseves to hold it again despite the IRB having financial concers.

The Minnows of the Rugby World Cup part 2 (The Pacific Islands)

2011-10-01T10:37:00.000-07:00

As the group stages of the rugby world cup come to an end it seems appropriate to discuss the group of smaller nations. Samoa, Tonga and Fiji these are not like the eastern European nations or North American nations where rugby is a past time taken up by a small fanatical minority. Rugby in the Pacific Islands is at the heart of village and even national life. There is probably not a professional team in the world that does not have a Tongan, Samoan or Fijian on their books. There is also a number of international sides that are grateful to have a number of these natural born rugby players in their sides.

These countries do not have a fair deal and if the IRB does anything from the enormous funds it takes from the world cup it should protect the Pacific Island nations. These nations could be viable test entities challenging for glory at world level. The Tongans today beat the French which would happen more regularly if these players could get together more often. They are prevented from doing this because they have the demands of their professional clubs to fulfill. What other sport would handicap potentially good sides just because they do not have financial clout?

RWC 2011 (The smaller nations Romania, Georgia)

2011-09-15T13:27:00.000-07:00

It has been three months since I updated this blog, work, laziness etc have contrived to make me some what slow in my posting. However the rugby world cup has appeared and the writing bug has hit me again. After a week we could talk about the established nations of rugby and the problems they might be having the rustiness the etc. In the first week of the world cup it is most appropriate to talk about the smaller nations. The plaudits so far most go east to the Carpathians and Georgia and Romania, one a new nation and one a re-emerging force.

Rugby in Romania is an interesting but tragic story, it was the sport of the repressive communist regime of Ceaucescu and they were good at it. When the dictator fell the game fell but it was still played but not supported it flickered and nearly died, but thanks to the IRB and the rugby brotherhood it survived and in this world cup the Romanian nation exploded onto the scene as a side who might be a struggle to beat with strong organised forwards and solid defense. .

Georgia has rugby union as a national sport based partly on an ancient wrestling game played throughout the country the majority of the team play in the french leagues. The men of Georgia are large men who take pride in their forward ability. They again they played well against the Scots and I for one am looking forward to the clash of these two nations.

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Tour de France, is my heart ready to be broken again?

2011-06-15T14:04:00.000-07:00

The Tour de France is nearly upon us again and I am being bitten by cycling fever. Le Tour is a truly seductive event, it takes in some of the finest scenery in the world and the sheer brutality of the event is compelling and as a soap opera it is unbeatable. I want to believe in the Tour de France, I love the event, I remember watching LeMond beat Fignon by 8 seconds in a time trial around Paris. Then the drugs came and they have not gone away. Pantani, Delgado, Ulrich, Mayo and Vino great names in the Tour all drug cheats. Every year we have a new winner an every year since the Festina affair in 98' has become a drug cheat issue. Even the years of Armstrong are clouded by drugs and claims of endemic EPO abuse led by Armstrong himself.

So we come to the Tour de France 2011 before even one peddle has been turned in anger we are in a drugs controversy, the current champion Contador is claiming a false drug test caused by clenbuterol in tainted meat.. Yet I am feeling hope, the reason is the potential shown by Bradley Wiggins, an Olympian and champion cyclist he could win and he brings none of the baggage associated with previous yellow jersey wearers. I hope he wins and restore my faith, in reality he will fail and be beaten by a cyclist with a questionable association with drugs.

Sepp Blatter: the man who holds back progress.

2011-06-08T12:10:00.000-07:00

What a state world football finds itself in. Football is the only truly global game, a game that is simple to play and requires minimal equipment and is easy to understand is being destroyed by the man at the top of it. The world cups of 2018 and 2022 were decided by a small group of men. Some of which were brought by cash bribes, it is now obvious that whatever the sense of a proposition. The way to win a world cup bid was by cash. The proposition of a world cup in Russia is understandable, it is a powerful country with a footballing history. Qatar is a different proposition, no love for football or stadium.A world cup played in 55 degree heat does not make sense, it is now obvious that this world cup was purchased, with no thought to anything other than money.

Sepp Blatter was the man who took the world cup to Africa, a great achievement for the continent. Considering South Africa had held the rugby world cup and the cricket world cup it was inevitable Sepp Blatter has made enough errors in this job, no technology, bribed officials and a lack of sense and compassion for the game make him a target for the chop. He has been for another four years so let the madness continue.

The Henson Problem

2011-06-05T12:58:00.000-07:00

Gavin Henson made a return to the Welsh team yesterday. Gavin Henson is a tempting proposition for the Welsh coaching team. He tackles hard, kicks like a mule and has the potential to split a midfield with a pass. The problem is that his professionalism has been questioned all the way through his career. Should he go to the world cup? I think his lack of professionalism and dalliance with retirement and celebrity is symptomatic of a rugby player who has fallen out of love with the game and cannot think of anything better to do. More than any other sport rugby requires love for the game. The reason is because rugby is such a physically demanding game. The ability to take knocks and get up week in and week out requires not only physical strength but also mental endurance. Without a love of the game mental endurance is not likely to be in abundance. Added to this mixture the obvious resentment of some of his teammates it adds to the impression that Henson is back only to further his brand and celebrity.

The End of the Season Part One

2011-06-01T12:21:00.000-07:00

The rugby season has finally ended, what a season it was. I will start with the European cup, this as usual delivered a great tournament. In the sixteen years of the tournament it has rarely delivered a bad tournament year. This year Leinster delivered a second european cup. They were without doubt ideal winners for the tournament. They played with great style and the final was an outstanding game. Talking of the final it was absolutely outstanding to be there the atmosphere was brilliant and demonstrated the true essence of rugby as corny as that might sound.

In England the premiership was won by Saracens, they beat Leicester, It was not the most exciting of finals but it that was to be expected.Saracens won the final in a backs to the wall display. The real star of th final was young Owen Farrell a nineteen year old lad from a rugby league dynasty that could potentially be the next England number 10.

In Ireland the European Champions were beaten by the country cousins of Munster. The champions of the Celtic nations were Irish as well as the champions of Europe. This tells us two things, Irish rugby is not dead yet, the great generation of grand slam winners is being replaced. It also tells us that Wales and Scotland have a long way to go to be contenders.

Sport and City Regeneration

2011-05-18T13:08:00.000-07:00

This weekend Manchester had what could be called a golden weekend. Both football clubs won prestigious tournaments. United the premiership and City the FA cup. On the same weekend the city hosted the great Manchester run and the Salford City swim. This was followed by the City games which involved some of the worlds greatest sprinters, sprinting down the main street of Manchester.

Manchester is a great example of the power of sport in urban regeneration. Manchester is a former great city of the British Empire. It was known as cottonopolis due to the power of the cotton trade which passed through its exchanges. Marx and Engels wrote the communist manifesto based on the wealth and poverty of the city. The inevitable industrial decline happened and Manchester fell into disrepair and decay. The bright shining lights throughout the gloom was the football clubs, both City and United played football and produced some of the games greats Best and Sumerbee to name two.

Some where amongst the City fathers of Manchester sport was realised as redemption for a broken down city. The commonwealth games was bid for and won. The city was reborn. This led to the BBC choosing Manchester as its Northern base. Manchester United has dominated football and Manchester City is on the way up. Would the investment have arrived without a city council built stadium? The fantastically successful GB cycling team is based in Manchester this brings further investment into the city as the world visits Manchester to chase gold. Contrast Manchester with its near neighbour Liverpool, without doubt a more architecturally stunning city it has been in the doldrums for years. Both football teams play in Victorian stadiums, investment is short as Liverpool has no proof of carrying out large events like the commonwealth games. The same can be said of Birmingham or Bristol. The conclusion to this blog is that any city that ignore sport is not going to get investment.

The Punch and Rugby!

2011-05-17T13:25:00.000-07:00

Chris Ashton was punched and the media goes into an apoplectic fit regarding the ferocity of it. Rugby is a game of physical confrontation played on the edge of reason. Occasionally the red mist descends and fists are thrown.

Rugby has a some deadly sins that should be dealt with by the full force of the law. Gouging being the one I find particularly distasteful. A punch is what happens on the field occasionally. Citing is a step to far.

Thoughts on the Rugby World Cup Take 2 (intensity)

2011-04-04T12:31:00.000-07:00

Fortune would have it that I managed to watch three rugby games. Injury prevented me from playing. After watching the super xv game last week. I was concerned about the chances of the Northern Hemisphere sides in the world cup. The two top league matches have made me think again. The other game I watched was lower league which will be the subject of a later blog.

The first game I managed to see was a premiership match between Leicester and Harlequins. The context of the game was the the Quins needed to win to secure a place in the play-off finals. Leicester preferred to win with a big European game next week. The other game I watched was Magners league game between Leinster and Munster. These were two physically tight games where no quarter was asked or taken. The contrast with the Super XV game the week before made me think.

The super xv tournament is between franchises, this is strength and weakness. Strength as it allows national selectors to control players and no risk of relegation allows players to express themselves on the pitch. Weakness because the teams are manufactured. The two games I watched were between two old rivals. In England the game between Leicester and the Quins is an old rivalry between the city slickers from London and the yeoman from the provinces. In Ireland it was between the city slickers of Dublin and the dockers and farmers of Munster. These games would have meant something no matter what the competition. This is where Super XV loses out because of the manufactured nature of the competition the intensity goes out of the game and it becomes more basketball less rugby.

How does this link to the world cup? Northern hemisphere competition is always intense this might give them the edge in the world cup. Bad weather and close games are likely down in New Zealand this might give the pretty rugby will not survive in those conditions.

The 100 Word Coaching Manual

2011-03-29T12:15:00.000-07:00

Fabio Capello commented today that to coach the English football team he only needed 100 words. This got me thinking is this true? The English football manager job is one of the most high pressure jobs in the world. It is a job that breaks careers. It is like the president of the United States. Once you have been English football manager your career is over. In recent memory only Bobby Robson has managed to have a successful career post England.

What are the 100 words needed to coach England? Probably irrelevant, have we been making the hardest job in sport too complicated? Or has Fabio Capello lost the plot as many suspect. He is a man whose reputation has been dragged through the mud. It is not helped by the fact that he has made many U turns regarding the England football captain. He had a poor world cup beset by poor decisions.

The problem is that as much as the English public think that the England football team is fantastic. Occasionally these much vaunted players need direction. This direction has to come from a coach who understands his players and communicate simply his vision for the side. If 100 words are enough then the Euro championships in 2012 will be the test.

Super Fifteen Skills

2011-03-28T10:29:00.000-07:00

As I posted yesterday I am worried about how good the All Black backs will be in the next world cup. If you haven't seen the skill levels click on the video. Not sure how true it is but impressive none the less.

Super Rugby and World Cup

2011-03-27T12:17:00.001-07:00

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon today, I was sore after rugby yesterday. It seemed appropriate to spend the day channel surfing. I happily stumbled upon the super fifteen match between the Canterbury Crusaders and the Natal Sharks being played for the first time at Twickenham. What started as a relaxing afternoon of rugby watching gave me some serious food for thought regarding the world cup later on in the year.

After the six nation's I was hopeful about the state of the northern hemisphere rugby. the English were starting to develop a pattern. Ireland were looking like a side who remembered that they were a good side. Finally the French were beginning to play. So what has dented my confidence?

Firstly the crusaders, they were a side playing with the emotion that a damaged city could give them. They looked very sharp. It is obvious that The All Blacks have potentially an unstoppable midfield. Dan Carter deserves the title of a great player. He now has Sonny Bill Williams outside him this combination of two physical, skilful footballers could be devastating. Carter has it all pace, power and a brain. Sonny Bill Williams has an incredible offload that, given the right support opens up a field.

Of course a back line is only as good as the pack of forwards in front of them. The Natal sharks had a tremendous pack full of hard running South Africans. The Sharks pack also had tremendous heart which kept them competing until the end. They were bested by a Crusaders pack that had the raw boned, aggressiveness expected from a New Zealand pack. Every forward looked comfortable on the ball and every forward looked to run.

What could this mean for the world cup? I believe that as in most rugby matches the game will be won and lost up front, particularly the back row. I think that it will be finely balanced up front. It may all depend upon the weather. The Northern Hemisphere forward's will have the advantage if the weather is bad. especially if they can impose a mauling technical game. If the Southern Hemisphere win enough ball I fear any of the six nations sides will struggle. Out wide the Southern Hemisphere sides have a definite advantage. I don't think anybody can match Carter, Williams or Giteau.

Just prove it click the video to see All Black Skills:

The Scrum

2011-03-23T13:23:00.000-07:00

The six nations was a very interesting tournament as discussed in a previous blog. Rugby union as usual has an issue with the laws of the game. The biggest problem at the moment is the scrum.

At the moment the international rugby scrum breaks up the game and the flow of the game. The issue at the moment is the referee. Currently the referee calls the the two pack together, then crouch, touch pause and engage. Inevitably the scrum collapses the ball does not go in. The referee then either calls the scrum again or a penalty. This all takes time. My solution would be simple, no crouch or pause just touch and engage. This allows the props with the best technique to dominate the scrum.

The Curse of Nike

2011-03-22T14:14:00.000-07:00

England rugby were slightly premature with this Grand Slam winning advert.

The 6 nations 2011 in retrospect

2011-03-21T12:02:00.001-07:00

The six nations 2011 has ended. So what have we learnt; originally I tweeted that the southern hemisphere had nothing to fear. I think I may have been too hasty. Country by country I think the six nations has been an excellent build up to the world cup.

Italy

A six nations championship for Italy normally means one gutsy performance against a celtic nation, followed by a destruction by England and France. This time out the Italian's beat the French. This step should not be under-estimated. It shows progression, the most interesting and important thing about the Italian progression is that the back line has improved. Always competent in the forwards the improvement in the backs has meant Italy have made the step needed to make them genuine contenders and a danger for any of the world cup contenders.

Scotland

A bit of mixed bag for the Scots. If we look back to Autumn Scotland had improved beating a southern hemisphere side. February and March have not been kind, the real issue with Scottish rugby is resources. Lack of players means that Scottish rugby will always struggle. Andy Robinson has moulded his forwards into a tough set of players who never give much away. Tries were Scotland's problem and without a cutting edge Scotland will always struggle.

Wales

Wales are a side potentially blessed with creative flair. However; it seems to be stifled. Wales historically are a side that love to play ball in hand. It seems everything is not good in the principality. Wales have a coaching team that have fallen out with each other. The bigger problem maybe that Warren Gatland is stifling creativity. James Hook is played at fly half but looks scared to play his natural game. Blaming Gatland may seem harsh however he has form in doing this too players witness the Ireland side he coached.

Ireland

Ireland are an enigma. They struggled all the way through autumn looking shabby and dis-organised. This did not improve throughout the six nations, until the final match against England. Ireland walloped England, possibly this was to be expected. Ireland are a good side with world class players O'Driscoll and O'Connell among Ireland's greatest ever. I think the lack of form early in the season and the return to form now show that Ireland could be a world cup dark horse.

France

France were once again a reflection of the coaching strategy. Livremont goes through players too quickly. Beaten by Italy and England. Lucky against Ireland and Scotland. Blessed with potentially exciting players which France will turn up in New Zealand who knows?

England

England deserved this six nations championship. They were the side who were most consistent. Martin Johnson is proving himself as manager. They are a young side with great potential the forwards are developing into a tremendous unit. The backs are starting to function and look dangerous. Any side that can bring Jonny Wilkinson off the bench is always going to be a threat.

World Cup Prospects

The southern hemisphere will always benefit from home advantage in the next world cup. The fact it is in New Zealand should benefit the all blacks. However; pressure maybe the home sides downfall especially with the emotional pressure post Christchurch earthquake. France and England will always be a threat, Ireland maybe dark horses especially as this will be the last hurrah of a great Irish side. Wales have issues to sort out behind closed doors let them run and they could beat anybody. Scotland and Italy could cause upsets if taken too lightly. This world cup could be a fascinating tournament.

Time to Blog again

2011-03-07T13:22:00.000-08:00

England have had made a tremendous start to the six nations. I have decided to resume blogging sport once more not because of England resurgence rather the discipline is good for me. I wrote at about this time last year that Martin Johnson had to given time to be able to establish himself and establish a pattern of play. He has done this and with tremendous success. The forwards are playing with confidence and forceful English brutality. They have withstood the brutal scrummaging of the French and the fluidity of the Welsh. The half-backs are starting to find form with Toby Flood finally filling the large boots of a certain J Wilkinson.

Is their a concern yes the centre look short of ideas the back three are playing well. This covers up for the lack of creativity of Tindall and Harpe in the midfield. More to follow at the end of the six nations.

Not Again

2010-09-30T12:47:00.001-07:00

Here we go again, the Tour de France is again under the microscope, the current champion Alberto Contador has tested positive for a stimulant. He is protesting his innocence with talk of food doping. Whether he was doped or not it shows the sport is still rotten at its core. The cycling union has always talked about how the sport has changed and how it has had a fundamental move from its drug ridden past.

Cycling has been riddled with drugs since the early days. The book Rough Ride by the Irish cyclist Paul Kimmage is a warts and all autobiography of a professional cyclist. The issue of drugs is dealt with almost as a matter of fact part of the story. In fact drugs were a necessity to get through a punishing season. It seems like that the legacy of drug taking has continued. The drug taking legacy will not stop until those remnants of the past are taken out of the sport.

The American perspective of the Ryder Cup

2010-09-28T14:03:00.000-07:00

http://goo.gl/ALw7

Great article from the New York Times

Where Have the Rugby Crowds Gone

2010-09-28T13:50:00.001-07:00

The 2010 rugby premiership season has started and the rugby has been fantastic. Last weekend I settled down to watch Saracens versus Northampton. It was a fantastic game of rugby that ebbed and flowed. This has not been the only great game. The Exeter chiefs upset Gloucester and Leicester the pre eminent force in English rugby have struggled. Predicting results of games has been impossible which has been great. The big queston is where have the crowds gone with the product being so good.

It is sad to say but the answer maybe the quiet summer of rugby may have damaged the game.Football had a world cup that although not spectacular was surrounded by controversy and sex scandals. Cricket was like something out of a John Grisham novel with match fixing and bribery in the ascendency. Rugby had a quiet time no bloodgate, no speculation on the future of the England manager. It was just a productive summer of building for the future. The autumn internationals are now on the way and watch the crowds explode as rugby gets itself back on the back page.

The culture of American Sport

2010-08-17T20:00:00.000-07:00

They say the US and the Uk are two countries separated by a common language. I would add to that sporting culture. The US is a country obsessed with sport but not the game but the ritual. What do I mean by that? The US love the preparation for sport. This shown by the fact one of the top programmes on the American network HBO is a about the training camp for the New York Jets. Is it better than the european equivalent no just different.