What I'd like to see (part 1)

What I’d like to see in the world of sport over the next 12 months:

England U21’s to beat Germany U21’s - If the Confederation Cup is a ‘major international tournament’ then so is this. England have won this tournament on two previous occasions but not for 25 years and the senior side has not been in a final during that period either. Just making the final is a good omen (the successful Greek, Czech, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian teams of the last decade can all be traced back to teams that were finalists in this tournament) but to beat the old enemy would make lifting the trophy that little bit sweeter. I just hope people watch the final.

Chance of happening - 6/10

Kobe Bryant to change his jersey number to 22 - We get it. Jordan wore 23, you wear 24. Ok, you’ve won 4 titles and an MVP but you should feel lucky that I’m offering you 22.

Chance of happening - Kobe has stopped returning my calls

A drug-free Tour de France - I grew up looking forward to the first few weeks of July for the Tour. In fact any kid who can watch seven odd hours of cycling for three weeks on TV in the middle of summer is almost certainly going to grow up as an avid sports viewer. Over the last few years, the race has become somewhat of a farce; numerous cyclists getting banned, teams withdrawing in shame, allegations that have overshadowed the race basically every year. And yet, from the darkness comes light in the shape of arguably the greatest cyclist ever, Mr. Lance Armstrong. I just hope, whether he embodies the light in the form of the yellow jersey or not, his and his fellow cyclists exploits on the road take all the headlines.

Chance of happening - 2/10

Jenson Button to win the F1 Championship - He’s endured slow cars and been overshadowed by team mates only to finally find the right situation in this years tumultuous and uneven championship.

Chance of happening - 8/10

Roger Federer to win his 15th Slam - This could take a week, a couple of months, or maybe the best part of the year but it seems like an inevitable accomplishment for the 4-time Swiss sports personality of the year (and I thought I’d never get a chance to use that stat).

Chance of happening - 15/10

Mayweather v Pacquiao v Cotto - Not sure how this will all play out but at least one, if not both Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Miguel Cotto will get their shot at the best pound-for-pound fighter in the game. Pacquiao has been so impressive over the past few years and equally as entertaining. The Cotto fight may be the more likely and the better spectacle but there can be few fight fans who wouldn’t want to see who would come out on top between ‘Pacman’ and the undefeated and former pound-for-pound king ‘Money’ Mayweather.

Chance of Pacquiao v Cotto happening - 8/10
Chance of Pacquiao v Mayweather happening - 5/10

Me watching England in the World Cup - I made a drunken promise to another drunken man. Essentially unbreakable.

Chance of happening - Ask me in a year.

Kevin Pietersen not to lead England to victory in the Ashes - It’s not that I don’t want to see England win, in fact I think they have a decent chance against a waning Australian side and would enjoy seeing them return the Ashes to these shores, but it can’t be all about KP. England are overly reliant on the batsman and while it may be hard to see them winning without Pietersen being the catalyst, it would be fantastic to see someone else step up.

Chance of happening - 5/10

Freddie Flintoff not to lead England to victory in the Ashes - So 4 years ago.

Chance of happening - 1/10

My Fantasy Baseball team to turn the corner - Don’t ask.

Chance of happening - I said don’t ask

Lyoto Machida v Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson - Marquee UFC fights are often advertised but this would be as intriguing a match up as any between the unbeaten Machida and the dynamic Jackson. ‘Rampage’ is scheduled to fight Rashad Evans next, the man Machida dismantled for the Light Heavyweight title, but, assuming he comes through that unscathed, would likely challenge the Brazilian at the end of the year or the start of next. Machida has a bout with Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua at UFC 104 to immediately contemplate but must know that Rampage, who has only lost to Forest Griffin while beating the likes of Dan Henderson, Wanderlei Silva and Chuck Liddell in the last four years, is the main challenge to his mantle.

Chance of happening - 6/10

The next great Italian defender/midfielder/forward to introduce himself - Needed. One sign of hope. Just one.

Chance of happening - 4/10

An exciting heavyweight boxer - Yes Wladimir Klitschko is a very effective pugelist. Yes I did watch him outclass the previously unbeaten Ruslan Chagaev. Yes I know he hasn’t lost in five-ish years. Unfortunately, the only interesting fight out there for him would be against his brother and that won’t happen and the two Ukranians are the only two vaguely elite heavyweights that have been on the scene since Lennox Lewis.

Chance of happening - 2/10

A rookie wage scale in the NFL - Maybe we should keep the current system in which players who have never played a minute of the professional game become the highest paid players. Who knows, it may spread to blogging.

Chance of happening - 3/10

The FA to retire the League Cup - The football calendar is overly congested as it is and few would miss the tournament. It is demeaned by the near ambivalence it is shown until the quarter-final stage and offers a European reward that would be a better prize for the 7th placed team in the Premiership. The football calendar is overly congested as it is.

Chance of happening - 1/10

UEFA to return the Europa League to a knockout tournament - Talking of cups that people don’t care about until nearing the finish line…

Chance of happening - see above

A female sport’s star that makes me want to watch them play - The odd athlete, the occasional swimmer and a few tennis players have been close but really, when would you turn over the TV from a men’s sporting event to watch the women’s equivalent?

Chance of happening - 36DD/10...kidding…kidding!