New beginnings...

Hello everybody! Just a quick message for those who are interested with what I've been up to of late. You may have noticed that I've been posting less regularly in the past few weeks, which is merely a result of being back at uni and unfortunately having actual work to do! But I will keep posting as and when I have things to say and time to write for the blog.

Since I've been back at university, I've taken up an exciting new opportunity. For the next term, and perhaps longer, I will be a sports editor at York Vision. Vision is one of two campus newspapers in York, and has won the Guardian Student Publication of the Year award five times in the last decade, including most recently in 2011. I'm really looking forward to working with the great team at Vision and helping the paper (an in particular the sports section) go from strength to strength. It has a reputation for top quality journalism, and I hope to be able to contribute to that over the coming months.

I have also recently taken on sub-editing duties for The Student Journals. This is a really important part of the journalism process and is a really useful skill to learn. Already in my first few days at Vision, I have benefited from what I have learnt sub-editing for TSJ. I've been doing this for about a month already and will continue to do so.

So in summary, I've been broadening my horizon's beyond this blog, which has been a great vehicle for my writing during the summer. I will keep updating it when I can. I would just like to finish by thanking everybody who has ever read the blog, for your support and kind words. It's been a great encouragement as I pursue a career in journalism!

Much love

Michael

“Maybe we couldn’t”: Are Americans about to elect Mitt Romney as their President?

Four years is a long time in politics. It must feel like a lifetime for Barack Obama. In 2008, he was the young, charismatic Senator from Illinois who wowed not only America, but the world. His powerful and emotive rhetoric, his convincing and reassuring tone, made him one of the most popular political figures in the world. Today, he is but a shadow of his former self. The message of hope as exemplified by those iconic posters and the slogan “Yes we can,” has been replaced by a sense of disappointment. Last week, in the first Presidential debate of the 2012 campaign, Obama was soundly beaten. In a political landscape where personality often takes precedence over policy, Obama has somehow let slip from his grasp the affections of the American electorate. What was at one stage unthinkable might, on 6 November, become a reality. Barack Obama might fail to be elected for a second term as President of the United States of America.

Fortunately for Obama, the 2012 crop of Republican candidates for the presidency left a lot to be desired. There was Newt Gingrich, whose policies included a vow to build a moon base. There was Rick Perry, the Texan governor whose hilarious inability to remember the third agency of government he intended to cut destroyed his chances. There was Herman Cain, former chairman of a pizza company (no joke), who stumbled on a question about Libya as though he had never heard of the country, and then ended his campaign after accusations of sexual harassment. There was Rick Santorum, who held rather antiquated views on same-sex marriage, abortion and contraception. Even more fortunate for Obama, some of the more charismatic Republican figures, such as former Alaskan governor Sarah Palin and New Jersey governor Christ Christie, chose not to run on this occasion, as did the businessman and television star Donald Trump.

So Barack Obama will compete with Mitt Romney for the chance to serve as President of the USA for the next four years. Romney is an enigmatic character. The platform for which he stood to become the Republican candidate was incredibly far removed from the platform he once used to be elected as Governor of the liberal state of Massachusetts. Even now, weeks before the election, it is difficult to get Romney to commit, one way or the other, on most issues. Romney is the archetypal “baddie”. He wouldn’t be out of place in Jim Henson’s Muppet Show, as a character intending to knock down the Muppets’ theatre to drill for oil. His announcement in last week’s debate that he would cut funding to PBS, home of another of Henson’s creations, Sesame Street, might just make that a reality.

The election campaign has been gaff-central. The advantage Obama has had, however, is the scale of his gaffs. The President has been found wanting on numerous occasions, but he hasn’t committed the cringeworthy offences of his opponent. A recently surfaced video, in which Romney writes off 47% of the population of the USA who will never vote for him, is remarkable. It is true that Romney is terminally unable to win over African American and Hispanic voters. But surely it is his job to try, rather than castigate them (or, as has been the case in some Republican governed states, change the voting regulations to try and make them ineligible). Obama has not yet faced such a disastrous gaff. Trust me, if he had, Fox News would be all over it and we would all know about it.

Obama’s problem, though, is the disappointment of his first term. It is human nature that, when given a choice between “likely to fail” and “proven failure,” people would chose the former. I am not suggesting that Obama’s term has been totally disastrous. But his opponents have been able, with relative ease, to portray his economic, foreign and in particular healthcare policies as having missed the target. Obama brought much of this on himself through his undoubtedly feel-good but perhaps too ambitious campaign in 2008. Expectations were high, and despite some bright moments, there have been far too many disappointments. Suffice to say, any other year, with a strong Republican candidate, and Obama would be packing his suitcases and moving his papers out of the Oval Office.

The American electorate, then, finds itself between a rock and a hard place. Neither candidate has instilled confidence that they can bring positive change in the next four years. To be brutally honest, neither has yet said much at all about what they would do in the next term, instead resorting to the personal attacks on their opponent and vague statements which have made the aftermath of elections so hard to predict. The fact that Mitt Romney is anywhere near Obama in the polls shows just how dissatisfied the American people have become with their President. That Romney currently leads is a damning indictment. And come 6 November, if the American people chose to elect a man like Mitt Romney, then Barack Obama can only have himself to blame.

Wonga, Newcastle United and football’s moral compass

On Tuesday, Newcastle united announced a brand new sponsorship deal with the infamous payday loan company, Wonga. This has led to heated debates about whether the deal is moral. In my latest contribution to Natter Football, I take a look at the club, the deal and why the criticism borders on hypocrisy.

http://natterfootball.co.uk/2012/10/wonga-newcastle-united-and-footballs-moral-compass/

Ruthless Cod Army put York in their Plaice

York City were left to rue not making the most of a brilliant spell early in their game with Fleetwood, as the visitors came out 2-0 victors. In a battle between the two sides who achieved promotion from the BlueSquareBet Conference Premier last season, high-flying Fleetwood continued their charge up the League Two table and sit 3^rd after ten games with six wins. York, however, look likely to have to settle for mid-table after a third defeat. The Minstermen sit 14^th and, whilst looking strong enough to stay clear of the relegation places, have a long way to go if they are to challenge for the play-offs.

The end result was in stark contrast to York’s bright start. The first 30 minutes saw York dominate in both possession and chances. In truth, it was probably the best spell of football I have seen in my year attending York City games. The pre-match rain continued to fall, making the surface skiddy which helped York’s quick, zippy passing. Within a minute, Matty Blair and Michael Coulson had worked Town keeper Scott Davies. As time passed Fleetwood got more in to the game, but York were the stronger team and continued to create chances. For half an hour, York were battering the Cod Army.

But the first goal changed all that. After it, City began to panic and lost the composure which had seen them threaten Fleetwood’s goal with effortless ease. Up to the goal, central midfield man Danny Parslow had barely seen the ball; York’s attacking was so fast and efficient, the ball was zipped from defence straight up the wings and into attack. But when York’s defence failed to close down on the edge of the box, Junior Brown was allowed the space to fire a shot just inside Michael Ingham’s right post from 25 yards. It wasn’t particularly deserved, and was the team’s first clear chance of the half. But it shell-shocked York, who were happy to hear the half-time whistle when it came.

But if the last ten minutes of the first half had been poor from the hosts, the second half was even more disappointing. Gone was the fluid attacking play that had defined the first 30 minutes, replaced by more frantic play. York were playing like a team who were a man down; Fleetwood’s players dominated midfield as though they were outnumbering their counterparts. Whereas York began resorting to the long ball as a sign of desperation, Fleetwood used it throughout to a more devastating effect. City centre backs Chris Doig and Chris Smith were terminally unable to deal with the high deliveries. This gave the visitors’ a couple of good chances before they added a second. The best saw David Ball round Ingham but fire his shot across goal, coming out off the far post; the rebound was blocked on the line. But finally the run of play told, and as Smith again did not deal with a long ball, Steven Gillespie was put through and slotted home.

York’s early display was so good that they may still have had a strong claim to have deserved a point. But in truth, Fleetwood looked comfortable after that opening spell and despite the odd chance, York didn’t look likely to pull the game back. And were it not for a couple of top class saves from Ingham, the reverse may have been greater. As it is, York have to move on to the weekend, as Rotherham United are the visitors. Back-to-back home games gives York their best chance to bounce back to winning ways.

Ingham, 7, another great goalkeeping display, though could work on kicking distribution

Fyfield, 7, lively on the overlap early on, and did little wrong defensively

Smith, 3, struggled with high balls all day, should have done better for second goal

Doig, 4, also had trouble with long ball and seemed on different page to Smith

Challinor, 6, solid defensively and going forward, throw ins always a threat

Parslow, 5, rare quiet game, was unable to control the middle of the park

(Bullock - 70'), 5, minimal impact after coming on

Blair, 6, was unable to sparkle in second half when called upon

McLaughlin, 6, in an overcrowded central midfield had only slight influence

(Taylor - 83'), 4, only major contribution was to set up a late chance for Town

Walker, 7, as usual, put himself about and worked incredibly hard for team cause

Chambers, 5, attacking runs came to no avail against stout defence

Coulson, 6, heavily involved early on, but dropped off as game wore on

(Johnson - 70'), 5, a couple of bright moments but also a couple of sloppy ones

Italics indicates Man of the Match

Europe wins it for Seve

Europe came from behind to record a record breaking victory in the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club. Late on day two, Europe trailed 10-4 and only pulled it back to 10-6 overnight thanks to some heroics from Ian Poulter. Nonetheless, it was still an uphill struggle, but Europe chipped away at the American lead throughout, before Martin Kaymer holed a clutch put on the 18^th green to confirm victory. The final score was 14.5-13.5, meaning Europe not only retained the Cup, but won it outright.

The final day singles went back and forth on a crazy afternoon. Every time Europe got a run together, the Americans would hit back. But the tone was set by Europe’s lead-out players, with the top 5 matches all ending in European victories. Luke Donald led by example, and was 4 up with 4 to play. A minor wobble was overcome, and he beat Bubba Watson 2&1. Rory McIlroy won by the same margin over Keegan Bradley, despite having overslept and having no practise time. The Northern Irishman never trailed at any point in his match. But the star was Paul Lawrie who, without fuss, annihilated the in-form Brandt Snedeker 5&3. Snedeker was level par in his round, but Lawrie collected four birdies and an eagle in a mistake-free round.