What price a Galactico

Finally, everyone has what was desired. Gareth Bale gets to don a Real Madrid jersey, the Spurs are richer by an incredible 100 million Euros and the Bernabeu gets to see him play along side Ronaldo and Neymar. With a shirt bearing the number 11, he would need every bit of the talent and determination that he put on show last season in the BPL to be able to justify his record breaking tag. Whether he is able to break the Champions League hoodoo that has haunted Real since 2002 is something we will have to wait for next year but the La Liga shall tell us whether Real can leave Barca in their wake with their prized acquisition. While Tottenham expressed their displeasure at having to let Bale go, they wouldn't certainly mind the overflowing coffers that can now buy at least three quality players to mount a serious challenge in the league. There will be no Jose this time around in Madrid but another "special one" should grab the eye balls nevertheless.

Another early loss for Federer and the chinks in the armor have started to look more like gaping holes. He used to struggle against two handed backhands but in Tommy Robredo he had an opponent who plies the same trade as him. The former champion again came up short and things are well and truly over for the erstwhile magician. Nadal continues to blaze through on hard courts and is the man to beat. With Novak and Murray in the same half, the title is his for the taking and he is all set to end the year as the number one ahead of Djokovic.  The 17 grand slam title record is now truly under threat and it would probably just take another couple of years before we have a new all time record holder and the matador from Mallorca would be a worthy successor.

Relieving yourself in public looks like a culture thing for the English. First, it was Monty who showed that he is no chicken when it comes to bouncers and then KP, Anderson and Broad followed it up with an Oval sprinkle. That was an answer to nature's call said Swann but it does look like Flower has managed to put in an irksome habit in his players' nature. The final evening of the Ashes ended in controversy when the umpires called it a day (or night) with England in pole position to chase down a sporting challenge set by Clarke. While that was deserved comeuppance for the Poms, they having benefited from dicey light calls earlier in the series, it just highlighted the reluctance on part of the establishment to let go of the old rule book and inject a sense of urgency in the game. If test cricket is to survive, the spectator needs to be given her due and unless the game tries its best to have the players on the pitch and not the dressing room, the stands will keep on becoming emptier.