Mark Reason.
The Lions are coming and a Tiger might just have found his claws again, writes
JANUARY Australian Open tennis (16-29) Great Britain may be in love with Andy Murray, again anointing him BBC Sports Personality of the Year, but can the world number one find a way to beat Novak Djokovic at Melbourne. The Serb has won five of the last six Aussie Opens and he has beaten Murray in four of those finals. What Else to Watch Tennis ASB Classic Women’s (2-7, ASB Arena) The quality of the field is astonishing, but is it just a jamboree for middle-aged tennis fans or can it help improve the sport in New Zealand? Wellington Sevens (28-29) Maybe the police will back off, the beer and food will improve and half the fans will watch the rugby. And maybe Donald Trump will become president of the USA. Hang on a minute ... FEBRUARY The Black Caps (Jan 30, Feb 17, 19, 22, 25, March 1, 4) We don’t like cricket, we love it. It’s a festival of one day and T-20 bash against Australia and South Africa. What Else to Watch Super Bowl LI (5, Houston) Will Lady Gaga wear bigger shoulder pads than the players? Auckland Nines (4-5, Eden Park) Johnathan Thurston and the Cowboys ride into town. 2, round 5, MARCH New Zealand v South Africa (8-12 Dunedia, 16-20 Wellington, 25-29 Hamilton) New Zealand are an improving test side, but there is no greater current test than South Africa. It’s a series for the purists, but I can think of no better place to be in mid March than a grassy knoll at the Basin Reserve. What Else to Watch Australian Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton tries Kanye West’s lyrics for egotism (26) to outgun full throttle APRIL The Masters (3-9, Augusta) We thought it was the end of an aura, but there were signs in December that Tiger Woods may have the game to make a comeback. His record at Augusta is astonishing. Could he win the title back at 41? He’s got more chance than defending champion Danny Willett. What Else to Watch Anthony Joshua v Wladimir (29, Wembley) Finally someone will be able to call themselves ‘the’ heavyweight champion of the world again. ANA Inspiration (March 30 – April 2, Rancho Mirage) Lydia Ko defends her title with new coach, new caddie and hopefully a revitalised body World Cycling Championships (12-14, Hong Kong) Who’s the best at going ovals? Klitschko in World Snooker (15-May 1) Do you remember Dene O’Kane? Just asking. (You’ll find him on Waiheke Island or flogging a bit of real estate) Championships MAY French Open tennis (28-June 11) In an era of power tennis the French Open often throws up more good matches than the other majors combined. Oh, and can you remember who won the women’s title last year. Clue: Spanish. No, not Rafael Nadal, you baguette, it was Garbine Muguruza, one of eight different winners of the women’s title in the past decade. What Else to Watch Louis Vuitton Cup (26-June 12) Skippered by Glenn Ashby, team New Zealand duke it out with the Brits and the rest of the boats in what promises to be an incredibly exciting qualifying series. Monaco Grand Prix (28) It’s iconic, and a bit of a procession unless it rains. JUNE Lions Tour (3-July 8) When the Lions last toured New Zealand, the big Irish lock Paul O’Connell was so freaked out that he attacked his teeth every night and obliterated his gums with the furious brushing. The Lions can take New Zealand on physically, but can they match them mentally both off and on the pitch? Most of the smart money will be wearing black. The Lions have an incredibly tough schedule (in fact it is already starting with the Six Nations and the finish of the club season) and will have serious casualties by the time they play the first test in Auckland on June 24. The fascination around the All Blacks is just who will line up in their midfield. You could make a case for Beauden Barrett, Sonny Bill and Rieko Ioane. You could make a case for Aaron Cruden, Charlie Ngatai and Anton Lienert Brown. Or Ryan Crotty. Or... It scarcely matters, we’re backing the Blacks. What Else to Watch America’s Cup (17-27, Bermuda) More behind the sofa action US Open Golf (15-18, Erin Hills) It’s a new major venue and the Wisconsin cheeseheads could make it a rowdy one. Women’s PGA (29-July 2, Olympia Fields) The Women’s PGA is starting to go to some serious golf courses and that should suit Ko. Jim Furyk, not known for his length off the tee, won his only major at Olympia Fields, so Ko should start favourite. ICC Champions Trophy (1-18, England and Wales) New Zealand play Australia and England in the space of five days, so wear ear muffs and fasten your sofa belt. JULY Lions Second and Third Tests Wellington; 8, Auckland) Wellington probably represents the (1, Lions’ best chance of a victory and more great photo opportunities for New Zealand’s prime minister. It’s a shame Eddie Jones and Joe Schmidt are not with the Lions, because the quality of banter won’t be the same without them. Mind you, nor will the Lions. I wonder if anyone is giving odds on how many tries will be scored off cross kicks during the series. What Else to Watch Wimbledon (3-16) Do you remember Chris Lewis? Once upon a time he was the best junior tennis player in the world. Now Lewis lives in California now where he coaches American kids... US Women’s Open (3-16, Bedminster, NY) Will president Trump jet in to present the trophy at his own course? Open Championship (20-23, Birkdale) The last time the Open was at Birkdale, there was no Tiger Woods for the first time in years and Greg Norman, at the age of 53, nearly won the darned thing cheered on by Chris Evert. What a weird and wonderful world it was. Tour de France (1-23) Will the wheels have fallen off the dodgepots at Team Sky by then? ICC Women’s World Cup (Jun 26-July 23) New Zealand have probably the best woman cricketer in the world in Suzie Bates and more players in the ICC team of the year than any other country. AUGUST Super 18 Final (5) Can three teams from New Zealand make the final? And will we be suffering rugby fatigue by then? What Else to Watch Athletics World Championships (4-13, London) A lot of men and women who may or may not have taken drugs triumph against a lot of other men and women who may or may not have taken drugs. And every country in the world is strangely convinced that all their own athletes are clean Women’s British Kingsbarns) A magnificent new venue just down the coast from St Andrews. Open (5-21, US PGA Championship Quail Hollow, NC) I’ve just got a sneaky feeling that Rory McIlroy might be worth a punt at this one Women’s Rugby World Cup (9-26, Ireland) Ireland tried to convince the world it can stage the men’s World Cup and New Zealand tries not to get irritated by England. All Blacks v Australia Yeah, we know you didn’t get a Lions test in the South Island, so here’s the patronising consolation prize. (10-13, (26, Dunedin) SEPTEMBER US Open Tennis (28 Aug – Sept 10) Last year a Swiss beat a Serb and a German beat a Czech. It is 13 years since an American won the men’s title and 15 years since an Aussie prevailed. So i’m rooting for a final between the marvel hero Jack Sock and comic book arch villain Nick Kyrgios. Oh, and Kyrgios needs to win the title and then tell a politically incorrect joke at the expense of U.S.A. What Else to Watch New Zealand Women’s Open, (28-Oct 1, Windross Farm, Auckland) Lydia brings the tour home with her to an old potato and dairy farm Evian Championship (15-18) Ko battles exhaustion President’s Cup (28-Oct National, NJ) Steve Stricker, Tiger Woods, Davis Love and Fred Couples try to continue this American captaincy thing against the good guys from the rest of the world. All Blacks (9, Plymouth; 16 The fun tour v v on. 1, Liberty Argentina, New SA, QBE, Auckland) of the provinces continues. OCTOBER New Zealand v Samoa Mount Smart) The Big Bash comes to Auckland as the Kiwis and Samoa knock great lumps out of each other. New Zealand have the forwards and the power game to beat anyone, but there are worries about the current brains trust on and off the pitch. Hopefully Kieran Foran will be back with his licence for Shaun Johnson to play. What Else to Watch Australia v England The Rugby League World Cup opens with the sight of brave idiots running off down the tunnel for a negligible concussion check and then running back out again. Baseball post season (3-22) Diamonds are a boy’s best friend. (28, (27, Auckland, Melbourne) NOVEMBER Melbourne Cup (1) My favourite image of 2016 remains the Irish owners of Heartbreak City jumping up and down and then mugging the interviewer – ‘‘Who wants it?’’ ‘‘But you finished second (by a nose).’’ ‘‘I don’t care, I don’t care. We finished second. We would have been happy with last.’’ The poetry of sport. What Else to Watch Rugby League World Cup (26 Oct – Dec 2, Australia) The authorities try to pretend not a three-team tournament All Blacks (v France, Scotland, Wales) And the brand plays it’s DECEMBER Rugby League World Cup Final (2, Brisbane) But what if England beat the Kiwis in the semi-final? Let’s not go there. What, not go to Brisbane? Of course we’re going to the Gold Coast. The Kiwis will win the final, then we’ll get a job and the Aussies won’t give us any benefits. Sweet as. What Else to Watch Cricket: West Indies and Australia We’re still waiting for a date, but who isn’t? Good luck, bonne chance and a happy New Year.