Shaquille O'Neal: The personification of 'Sport-tainment'

The lines between sport and entertainment have become more blurred over the years, not only in US – where the SuperBowl half-time show seems to generate as much interest as the game itself - but also in the UK.

I’m told that behind closed doors, Arsenal FC now refer to themselves as a sports entertainment brand.

But this clip seems to suggest we have some way to go (thankfully) before catch we up to the Americans.

Seven-foot two-inch, Shaquille O’Neal is a basketball legend. And his entrance to the 2009 NBA All-Star game – a clash between the best players from the Eastern and Western Conferences – is a sight to behold.

' mce_href=''>Shaq with Jabbawockeez.

I wonder if there’s a place for this in the UK sports market?

Can it ever be right to bet against your own team?

Since their peak at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, stock in the England team has fallen so alarmingly Gordon Brown should consider the 'Red Rose brigade' a serious candidate for nationalisation.

And as with the banks, nobody it would seem is to blame. I've found solace in various justifications over the years. It's the coaches' fault. We need to blood younger more exciting players. Our players are exhausted, give them more down time. Injuries. The coaches again.

Having passed through Anger, Denial, Bargaining and Depression I've finally arrived at the final stage - Acceptance. Last week, it finally dawned on me: We are simply hopeless.

So, it's fair to say I'm looking forward to Saturday's game against reigning 6 Nations champions Wales in Cardiff about as much as, well, the England team probably.

In light of such pessimism I'm tempted by a cheeky bet on the Welsh, who are currently 7-1 to beat England by 16-20 points and a very tempting 8-1 to win by a margin of 21-25 points. A return of £40 for a £5 stake would certainly cushion the blow, but is it right? Or is it as a colleague of mine argues, ‘blood money'!?

Disappointingly the bookies haven't come up with any comedy bets for this weekend's matches. So, what else can we bet on during England's inevitable humiliation on Saturday?

Inside the mind of master tactician David Pleat

Good evening all…

Ever wondered what goes on inside the mind of  David Pleat?

Apparently, a load of incomprehensible gobbledy-gook if this ridiculous feature by The Guardian is anything to go on.

I think – on closer inspection – it tells me that Manchester United defender Namaja Vidic doesn’t give the ball away very much. T’rrific.

If this insight is the sort of thing Pleat scrawls onto the chalkboard during his team briefings its little wonder he finds himself in the commentary box rather than in the dugout these days.

What is Luiz Filipe Scolari's football IQ?

Watching Chelsea labour brainlessly to a home draw against Hull City on Saturday it dawned on quite a few of us in attendance that perhaps Luiz Felipe Scolari doesn’t know what he’s doing – and some decided to let him know as much.

So the timing of Electronic Arts' announcement that the affable Brazilian will play a starring role in its latest release – Football Academy – by offering gamers ‘hints and tips on how to become a true football expert’ is unfortunate to say the least.

The new title, available on the Nintendo DS from March, enables gamers to play 14 mini games that test football knowledge – from identifying players and teams to understanding formations – in order to discover their football IQ.

Now, when Nintendo introduced Nicole Kidman as an ambassador for its Brain Training game viewers were shown the actresses ‘Brain Age’ which improved dramatically through practise between the ad and its follow up some months later.

Will EA tell us Scolari’s football IQ? I do hope so but I’m guessing not.

An ad break will guarantee a goal - but nipping off to the loo almost certainly wont

I think the entire country knows what happened during the closing stages of last nights FA Cup replay between Everton and Liverpool but in case you missed it a quick recap.

Having suffered through 118 minutes of mind numbing dross the least the viewing public deserved was to see the winning goal – but instead we were treated to an ad break . As soon as the ads came on you could bet your bottom dollar someone would score and of course they did.

It reminded me of a season ticket holder who sits behind me at Chelsea, who when games aren’t going our way nips to the toilets in the belief that it will somehow prompt the team to score.

Some games he’ll disappear to the gents, to the great annoyance of those in his row, five or six times in a half. Each time he trots off to the loo, I too inexplicably hope that somehow his absence will bring us a goal. But in my 15 years of sitting in front of my fellow Blue we have scored the square root of bugger all during his trips to the lavvy. Yet still he goes and no doubt always will.

Last nights coverage was farcical but not unprecedented. In 2005, ITV cut away to an ad break as Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher battled its out on the final lap of the San Marino Grand Prix.

Today though, spare a thought though for young match winner Dan Gosling – his finest moment overshadowed by the incompetence of ITV.

Abramovich, Pavlychenko and Arshavin are all crooks - or at least that's what these New York City detectives seem to think

Do those American TV drama writers know something we don’t?

It would appear fans of London clubs Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal should be concerned about the activities of their Russians – Roman Abramovich, Roman Pavlychenko and Andrei Arshavin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4oVU2zy1QQ

Unfortunately for Arsenal fans there is a ‘no refund policy’ for items bought in the January sale…