Tag Archives: surreal

Xavi talks about his love of Bruce Springsteen and Diego Maradona

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It's top secret: Barcelona superstar Xavi talks dinner with De Niro and Diego

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UPDATED:

22:30 GMT, 7 December 2012

Barcelona's midfield maestro Xavi tells Sportsmail's Alex Kay about his sporting heroes, his unwavering loyalty to his club and his love of Robert De Niro, Bruce Springsteen and Argentina legend Diego Maradona.

Maestro: Xavi (centre) pulls the strings in Barcelona's midfield

Maestro: Xavi (centre) pulls the strings in Barcelona's midfield

Who is your sporting hero

I have said I think Paul Scholes is the best midfield player of the last 20 years. He is a great role model as well.

Of course, though, like most Barcelona central midfielders, my idol was Pep (Guardiola).

What would you be if you weren't a sportsman

Like so many of the players I started at La Masia at the age of 11. I can't ever imagine not playing for Barcelona, let alone not playing soccer for a career. I don't ever want to play anywhere else.

Hero: Xavi believes Paul Scholes is one of the best central midfielders in the past 20 years

Hero: Xavi believes Paul Scholes is one of the best central midfielders in the past 20 years

Career highlight

In terms of what the game means, how can you ever beat playing a World Cup final that you win You can't is the answer.

The best game I ever played in was when we beat Real Madrid 5-0. The feeling of total superiority was incredible. We just stood in the dressing room afterwards clapping ourselves. It was a surreal experience.

… and the worst moment

It was when we found out, as a team, about team-mate Eric Abidal's liver cancer. It put everything else into perspective. I remember thinking how strong he was and he was encouraging us as much as we were encouraging him.

In perspective: Xavi says being told about Eric Abidal's liver cancer was the worst moment of his career

In perspective: Xavi says being told about Eric Abidal's liver cancer was the worst moment of his career

If your house was burning down, what one possession would you save

Just the things that can't be replaced. There is no money in the world that can replace the jersey you were wearing when you lifted the World Cup.

What's your favourite song

Losing My Religion by REM. I love all of their stuff.

What's the programme you can't miss on TV

I don't actually watch many shows. I will either watch movies or football. I enjoy to watch games in the Premier League and will also watch movies a lot as well.

That is how I relax.

Last film you saw

The Lincoln Lawyer. It was really good.

If you could have dinner with three famous people, who would it be and why

People I admire in the things that I like. I would choose Robert De Niro, Bruce Springsteen, and Diego Maradona.

Born to run: Xavi idolises rock star Bruce Springsteen

Born to run: Xavi idolises rock star Bruce Springsteen

Can you cook

I am competent enough but I won't try anything tough. Probably just pasta, grilled chicken, and a little olive oil.

Your favourite holiday destination

Ibiza is a popular vacation place for a lot of the players in Spain. If you go in the summer there are some of the world's most famous movie and music stars so nobody cares about soccer players.

In a film of your life, who would you like to play you

I am not known for being a tall player so you would have to take that into account. Probably somebody like Matt Damon.

Tell us a secret…

We were playing at the Bernabeu when I was about 18 and things got a little heated between the players. Raul came up and gave me a cuff round the ear and said calm down. He is one of my great friends now – but what he was saying is: 'Know your place, kid, there is hierarchy.'

Best of enemies: Former Real Madrid star Raul clipped Xavi round the ear to put him in his place

Best of enemies: Former Real Madrid star Raul clipped Xavi round the ear to put him in his place

Andrew Flintoff visited by Mike Tyson ahead of boxing debut

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Ex-world champion Tyson inspires Flintoff ahead of boxing debut in Manchester

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UPDATED:

00:01 GMT, 9 November 2012

Andrew Flintoff has revealed a pep talk from former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has spurred him on as the countdown continues to his boxing debut.

Former England cricketer Flintoff will take to the ring at the Manchester Arena on November 30 after embarking on a strenuous training regime under the tutelage of Irish legend Barry McGuigan and his son Shane.

And a visit from Tyson has inspired the 34-year-old to push himself to the limits between now and fight night.

One on one: Mike Tyson offers advice to Andrew Flintoff as he prepares for his boxing debut

One on one: Mike Tyson offers advice to Andrew Flintoff as he prepares for his boxing debut

‘It was amazing to meet Tyson because as a kid he was one of my heroes,’ Flintoff said. ‘So to have him come down to the gym – not only that, but to talk to me about it all was amazing.

‘He spoke a lot about the emotion of boxing and it was all relevant to how I was feeling. So to hear it from Mike Tyson made me realise it was okay for me to feel like that too.

‘He talked a lot about what he went through pre-fight and in the run up to a fight; the emotional states he was in and the nerves he experienced before he fought.

‘He is obviously one of the best boxers ever, so hearing what he had to say gave me a lot of inspiration. I went on the pads in the front of him which was a pretty surreal experience.

Watching brief: Tyson with Flintoff's trainer Barry McGuigan

Watching brief: Tyson with Flintoff's trainer Barry McGuigan

‘I have really taken his comments on board and I’ve just got my head down and am working hard to make small improvements each and every day.’
Flintoff has shed more than three stone in preparation for his fight against an as yet unnamed opponent.

But he has come in for severe criticism from promoter Frank Maloney, how believes Flintoff is giving boxing a bad name.

'Giving Flintoff a professional licence with no experience of boxing is a joke. It gives our sport a bad name.’

Dream team: Tyson and Flintoff pose after the former world champion paid a visit

Dream team: Tyson and Flintoff pose after the former world champion paid a visit

‘Olympic rower James Cracknell did something similar, went into a pro heavyweight fight and was knocked out in seconds. They haven’t named an opponent for Flintoff yet but even if they find some guy who’s lost his first four pro fights, he will still be in against someone with amateur experience.

'It will be a terrible shock when he gets hit on the chin by a heavyweight.’

Maloney was also deeply critical of the British Boxing Board of Control, saying: ‘It is a disgrace they have given Flintoff a licence. I told the chairman, Charles Giles, that he should be sacked for approving this scandal.’

Haile Gebreselassie should not be like us – Laura Williamson

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Why this giant of athletics shouldn't be like the rest of us

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UPDATED:

22:00 GMT, 15 July 2012

'You're sweaty,’ says Haile Gebrselassie, one of the greatest distance runners of all time, with that infectious grin taking over his face; his eyes bright.

Of course I am. We have been running — well, I have been running. Gebrselassie, meanwhile, has barely broken out of a walk — through central London on a surprisingly warm summer morning.

It is a surreal experience. Commuters turn and stare as we jog through Green Park, wondering if this 5ft 5in man with the incomprehensibly slender hips, small steps and distinctive running style is the four-time world 10,000 metres champion and former marathon world record-holder.

Running duo: Haile Gebreselassie with Laura Williamson

Running duo: Haile Gebreselassie with Laura Williamson

He runs that way, his arms crooked, because he used to carry his books in his left hand on the long walk to and from school.

‘Always you hold your book on the left side,’ he says.

‘You have to hold not just this book, otherwise it drops. To take care of your book, my left hand is not active. It is more relaxed.

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VIEW FULL ARCHIVE

‘Plus, I was barefoot. It’s easy to develop that strength. I had my first shoes when I was 14, I think.’

Gebrselassie is 39 now. Think of the pounding that fragile body must have taken over the years; the miles upon miles he has covered during gruelling, three-hour training runs near his home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

That he nearly made it to a fifth Olympic Games is a remarkable feat in itself, but his disappointment at missing out on London is tinged with realism.

‘Training the way I want to train, it’s not any more there,’ he says. ‘Of course the motivation is still there, but the discipline…

‘Mentally you don’t accept it. But physically Yes. I wanted to run fast.But physically No, this is your maximum.

‘You’re very disappointed. When people run fast and sprint, when your body’s not replying… ’ He trails off.

‘That’s how the rest of us feel,’ I say.

He smiles gently, but his eyes give him away: Gebrselassie isn’t used to feeling ‘like the rest of us’.

Legend: The Ethiopian runner will be remembered for years to come

Legend: The Ethiopian runner will be remembered for years to come

That’s when it hits me. I’m not sure I want to see him run in London, anyway. I think I’d prefer to remember him destroying opponents on the track before he moved up to the marathon and excelled at that as well.

I felt the same when I watched Venus Williams’s meek first-round exit in the women’s singles at Wimbledon this year. I feel the same about Paula Radcliffe’s attempts to end her Olympic hoodoo in London.

Should we applaud these athletes’ brave, determined struggles against injury, illness and their refusal to accept the passage of time

Key question: Is it better to go out at the top of your game or keep trying until you fail

Key question: Is it better to go out at the top of your game or keep trying until you fail

Or is it acceptable for us to feel a certain tinge of sadness; wishing that they had gone out in a blaze of glory befitting their careers

I am convinced it’s the latter.

I’m glad I will be able to look back on my four-mile run with Gebrselassie with fondness. I was sweaty and he was not: I don’t want him to be ‘like the rest of us’.

Haile Gebrselassie is the mentor to the G4S 4teen programme, helping 14 young athletes achieve their dream to compete at London 2012: www.g4ssport.com

What they said

Team USA basketball star and 2008 Olympic gold medallist Seimone Augustus laughed, more than a little embarrassed, when I asked her what she knows about the Team GB girls she will face in Manchester this week: ‘Erm… I’m going to learn a lot. Read me their names. Three of them play in the States I know their schools.’

Who Azania Stewart (on the ball) is one of the Team GB players

Who Azania Stewart (on the ball) is one of the Team GB players

Safe to say the likes of Russia and Australia may provide a bigger threat to the USA’s crown than the first British Olympic women’s basketball team at London 2012.

… And this is what I've been doing this week

Wincing at Shun Fujimoto’s exploits in the 1976 Olympic Games during the BBC’s excellent Faster, Higher, Stronger documentary about gymnastics. He competed on the pommel horse and rings despite having broken his right knee – helping Japan to win the team gold medal.

Enjoying fricasseed salmon and organic chicken at Tottenham’s impressive new training complex before Andre Villas-Boas met the written press. I wonder how long that will last (the food I mean, obviously – not the manager)…

In attendance: Laura went to Andre Villas-Boas's conference for the written press

In attendance: Laura went to Andre Villas-Boas's conference for the written press

Watching Perri Shakes-Drayton’s 53.78sec PB as she won the 400 metres hurdles at Crystal Palace on Friday night. She said: ‘Today I thought to myself, “Come on girl. Pull your socks up”.’ She did – running the second fastest time by a Briton.

Performance of the week

Bradley Wiggins’ ‘perfect’ ride in the Tour de France time trial on Monday. ‘Winning’ doesn’t do it justice — he decimated the field.

Those gangly legs earned him the nickname ‘Sticks’ but they seemed to motor with barely any effort and his back was so level you felt he could have carried a pint of lager around the course without spilling a drop.

Star man: Bradley Wiggins has been in fine fettle

Star man: Bradley Wiggins has been in fine fettle

Chris Ashton ready to take on Bryan Habana

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Ashton ready to take on Habana, the cheetah dead-heater, with England braced for South Africa

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UPDATED:

21:15 GMT, 6 June 2012

Bryan Habana famously earned an honourable draw in a race with a cheetah, but the Englishman who will aim to keep up with him on Saturday has never tested his speed against wildlife. Instead, Chris Ashton once tried — and failed — to out-run an old motorbike.

Asked if he had ever raced an animal, as his Springbok rival did in a promotional stunt some years ago, the cross-code wing said: ‘No, I haven’t. I’ve raced against a “Plak 90” (Honda C90) though and I got beaten! That was in Wigan. It was a really old motorbike that was sort of plastic, it was strange. I spent a lot of time on it. I raced it in a field somewhere.’

It is a surreal image and the story was highly amusing for Ashton to recall. But he knows he has a serious task on his hands in the first Test at Kings Park, Durban. Habana is South Africa’s most experienced player now and is back in try-scoring form.

Tough task: Chris Ashton will try to keep Bryan Habana quiet

Tough task: Chris Ashton will try to keep Bryan Habana quiet

The tourists’ most prolific finisher is not sure if he has the edge when it comes to pace against his older opposite number, saying: ‘He looks quick on TV! He’s pretty good at everything, isn’t he As well as being fast he’s quite bouncy as well, but hopefully I’ll be ready and I’ll have a bit of help.’

Ashton is preparing for a different encounter to the fast-and-loose game against the Barbarians 11 days ago which saw him rediscover his scoring touch with a hat-trick. He knows the Springboks will bombard England with high kicks and has been readying himself for the barrage.

Spot prize: Bryan Habana tests his speed

Spot prize: Bryan Habana tests his speed

‘Catty (England coach Mike Catt) has had us doing a lot of that, catching high balls, this week, so I’d like to say we will be prepared for it. It’s a trademark of how they play and our back three will have their work cut out. It’s something they are really good at — kick-chase, getting under the ball and winning it back.

'It’s almost a 50-50 contest when the ball goes up in the air, so we’ve got to make sure we’re up there and we’ve got support, because it is something they use as a weapon and use it well.’

LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS: Will.i.am carries torch in Taunton

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Crowds flock to see Black Eyed Peas star Will.i.am carry Olympic torch in Taunton

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UPDATED:

20:06 GMT, 21 May 2012

The Voice judge Will.i.am carried the Olympic Torch on Tuesday.

The Black Eyed Peas star was cheered on by thousands of people as he ran through Taunton carrying the flame.

The United States-born music producer was a surprise addition to the line-up on day three of the relay.

Where is the love: Black Eyed Peas star Will.i.am carried the Olympic torch through Taunton

Where is the love: Black Eyed Peas star Will.i.am carried the Olympic torch through Taunton

Will.i.am, 37, looked at ease in the warm weather as he jogged through the Somerset town centre.

The Metropolitan Police Torch Security Team, which runs alongside the torchbearer, kept a watchful eye on the cheering crowd.

The music producer's torch was 'kissed' by that held by 26-year-old taekwondo instructor Chloe Lock, from Honiton, Devon, to light the flame.

Popular man: The crowds flock to see Will.i.am

Popular man: The crowds flock to see Will.i.am

Before he started running he was passed his mobile phone and was tweeting as he set off down the road under Union Flag bunting and surrounded by screaming fans.

He held his phone in the air indicating to people to follow him on the social networking site.

After a couple minutes he waved to the crowd while smiling broadly.

Crowd pleaser: Will.i.am carries the torch to the cheers of the watching crowd

Crowd pleaser: Will.i.am carries the torch to the cheers of the watching crowd

Multitasking: Will.i.am looks at his phone while carrying the torch

Multitasking: Will.i.am looks at his phone while carrying the torch

He also turned around to perform a short moonwalk to the delight of onlookers.

Thousands turned out to watch the torch travel through the town unaware of the surprise appearance.

They waved colourful flags and children held homemade torches made from bright yellow and red paper.

Will.i.am's turn in the relay was over in under five minutes when he passed the flame to the next runner, biathlete Emma Fowler.

Speaking after his run, the music star said: 'That was like a surreal moment.

'I remember in 1984 the Olympics in Los Angeles, me being a little Will watching it on TV wishing I could be at the Olympic Games.

'I had that flashback when they handed me the torch to run in Taunton.

'It's like a blast moment and a surreal moment and a can't believe it moment all at the same time.

'I got a little more nervous this time than all the things I have done.

'I am not holding a flame when I am performing in front of people and the last thing you want to do is make a mistake with fire in your hands.'

Will.i.am said: 'I'm a huge Olympics fan. I want to see the swimming match, I want to see Usain Bolt.

'I want to see if he's really that fast because I want to race him one day. I wouldn't win but I want to see how close I would come.'

The star said he was amazed at the number of people who had turned the relay through Taunton into a real family occasion.

On the run: Will.i.am jogs through the streets of Taunton

On the run: Will.i.am jogs through the streets of Taunton

Job done: Will.i.am passes the Olympic flame to Emma Fowler on the relay leg through Taunton

Job done: Will.i.am passes the Olympic flame to Emma Fowler on the relay leg through Taunton

'I just saw everyone coming out, excited that the running of the torch was here in their neighbourhood, in their city and pride for the city,' he said.

'To see families and little kids and their parents and everyone just having a good time – I am so glad I came here. It's great people, great energy, a great vibe.

'There's one area, it's like a village of houses and it looked like the neighbourhood I came from in Boyle Heights, where the neighbours looked after the neighbours, and it looked like a real community and that reminded me of the community I come from.'

He confessed he had never been to a cricket ground before and added: 'But I reckon I would be pretty good.'

There were no mishaps for Will.i.am, real name William Adams, unlike earlier when the torch went out for the first time during the 2012 relay and had to be relit.