Volleys from heaven

Seeing Peter Crouch's superlative volleyed goal against Man City has led me to rack my brains for my favourite volleyed goals.

1. Frank Worthington for Bolton v Ipswich in 1979.

2. Marco Van Basten for Holland V Russia 1988.

3. Glenn Hoddle for Spurs V Notts Forest1979. The ball not touching the ground from the keepers kick until it hit the back of Peter Shilton's net.

4. Robin Van Persie V my team Charlton 2006.

5. Paolo Di Canio for West Ham v Newcastle 2000.

What's your favourite?

Jocky on the oche

I've just returned from holidaying in the southern hemispere to the news that someone who was prominent for a time in my sports-mad teenage years has passed away. In the eighties I loved watching the darts world championships on telly. Dad put a dartboard up in my bedroom as I took inspiration from the exploits of the leading players. Jocky Wilson wasn't my favourite player, my favourites were the Crafty Cockney and 'Old Stoneface' John Lowe.

Wilson won the world title twice, to Lowe's three (in three separate decades) and Bristow's five, their combined tally still short of Phil Taylor's thirteen. They had some classic contests. If you haven't seen this 1989 clip yet it may bring back some memories. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/darts/17503460

And yes, darts is a sport not a game, requiring both skill and mental stamina, and to a lesser degree physical stamina, but not one you'll see at the Olympics any time soon to go alongside 'outside darts' - archery.  However, the tug-of-war was once an Olympic event so you never know!

The greatest spinner

Shane Warne has just been inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.

Currently known for:

 Has been known for:

Best known for:

Match that Murali!

Form is temporary. Class is permanent.

The Russian pole vaulter, Yelena Isinbayeva has been struggling for form since returning from her 2010 sabbatical. A new rival, Britain's Holly Bleasdale has made great improvements - her 4.87m vault in Lyon indoors made her third on the all-time world list.

But last night in Stockholm Isinbayeva showed her class by breaking the world indoor record with a vault of 5.01m. She also holds the outdoor record at 5.06m. Bleasdale came second with 4.72m and if she continues her progress could be a real shout for an Olympic medal.

But, as they say, and Isinbayeva has proved, form is temporary and class is permanent.

Which reminds me of what David Coleman said about Alberto Juantorena at the 1976 Montreal Olympics: 'The big Cuban opened his legs and showed his class'.

For some more Colemanballs: http://www.btinternet.com/~homepage/ballsa.htm

Target 5,000

The World Indoor Athletics Championships begin on 9th March in Instanbul and one of the stand out events is the women's pentathlon. The 60m hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump then 800m will all be completed on the same day.

 Chernova

 Dobrynska

 Ennis

  
The likley competitors have all been in fine form. Jess Ennis running the fastest 60m hurdles this year in Birmingham in a personal best time of 7.87 while World Champion Tatyana Chernova ran 8.02 in the Russian championships. Ennis got a PB of 6.47 in the long jump with Chernova jumping 6.61.

The invitees will be confirmed tomorrow but may well inlcude the Russian Yekaterina Bolshova who recently scored 4896 points and the Olympic champion Natalya Dobrynska who scored 4880 points at the Ukranian indoor championships. Ennis's PB is 4937 points. The world record is held by another Russian - Irina Belova with 4991 points scored 20 years ago.

We could well see a new world record and 5,000 points breached. I think Jess will prevail. Can't wait.

Representing yourself and your country

Boys:

Men:

Nuff said.

Doctor, you cannot be serious!

Happy birthday to the gifted and entertaining John Patrick McEnroe Jnr, 53 today. His career can be remembered for seven Grand Slam singles titles, his superb record in 1984 of winning 82 matches and losing just three and of course his tantrums:

Birthday congratulations also go to #46, The Doctor Valentino Rossi, 33 today. The greatest motorbike rider of his generation, if not ever.