WHAT’S HOT WHAT’S NOT
HOT JOHN McENROE
THE American was guilty only of exaggeration when he said Serena Williams would be ranked ‘about 700’ on the men’s tennis tour. Unruffled by the fall-out, the 58-yearold laughed his way through a gentle interrogation on The Late Show in America and is aware, as we all should be, that in an interview on the same programme four years ago, Serena said more or less the same thing anyway.
TONY CLUBB
IT’S hard to overlook the performance of 17-year-old Jack Walker as Leeds beat St Helens in Super League. The full-back is one to look out for. But Clubb gets a gold star for courage as he prepares to make his comeback for beleaguered Wigan tomorrow. It is only 58 days since the big forward had a kidney removed.
ELLAND ROAD
LAST season’s promise came to nothing for Leeds United but new owner Andrea Radrizzani (right) has lifted spirits by buying back their famous old ground after 13 years of private ownership. Leeds have vowed to work with the council to redevelop the land around the stadium and this seems a small but welcome step on the long road back to respectability.
NOT CALUM CHAMBERS
THE word is that the Arsenal defender may soon be on the move despite vowing to return ‘on another level’ after a season on loan at Middlesbrough. A shame, then, that the talented 22-year-old couldn’t put in a better performance against Germany for England’s Under 21s. As England wilted, he looked suspect in the air.
THE REMATCH
THE prospect of seeing Nigel Benn and Steve Collins back in the ring two decades after they last met is so unappealing that even Benn’s son Conor has asked his dad not to do it. Both men are in their 50s and although Benn (right) says the fight is about ‘closure’ the chances are that it is actually about money. Neither men should get a licence for this absurd event but this bout will happen, and we all know it.
HASEEB HAMEED
THE curse of the England opener has struck the Lancashire batsman whose horrid form for his county has ruled him out for the start of the South Africa series. More worrying is that with the Ashes looming, England’s top order already has an unsettled look about it. Less than six months out and Australia are early favourites.