For the first time since 2007, we have an NBA Finals without the Lakers in it. Seems a bit strange. Almost not-quite-real. But we may have to get used to it — Kobe isn’t a kid anymore, and Mike Brown doesn’t seem like an inspired hire as coach. So, Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks?

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After another day of Fifa madness, including the Jerome Valcke e-mail (Qatar “bought” the 2022 World Cup), a Sepp Blatter press conference at which he barely kept control over surly and mocking journalists … and Sepp’s assertion that “Fifa is not in a crisis” … Well, any reasonable observer would have to say that he/she […]

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I suppose that is not nearly specific enough, as a headline. First question is, “Which scandal?” In this case … talking about today’s. What happened? Fifa has suspended two of its six continental federation chairmen (and executive committee members) as the ethics committee prepares for a full investigation into charges of bribery … and one […]

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I wasn’t sure we would get the Champions League final in Abu Dhabi. Seems like we don’t get all that much on TV, sports-wise, without paying lots of dirhams, and we didn’t do that with our TV package. But we did get it, on three Al Jazeera sports stations, and it was fascinating to watch […]

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This can’t be right, can it? Nothing about bobblheads is bad. David Eckstein is nodding in agreement even as I write this. However, the New York Mets seem to believe their bobbleheads are cursed. Or, at least, the people whose likenesses are represented by bobbleheads. Maybe too many people are sticking pins in the bobbleheads? […]

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Blow. Up. Fifa.

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This has gotten nutty. Everything Fifa does as an international body is kinda wacky, but they are topping themsevles day by day. The latest: Fifa is calling on presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam and fellow executive committee member Jack Warner to speak at an investigate hearing into possible bribery. This has to do with the […]

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I talked to Carlo Nohra today about the upcoming Fifa presidential election. Nohra is the chief executive of the UAE domestic soccer league and a very bright guy, and he also worked several years with Mohamed bin Hammam, who is Sepp Blatter’s opponent in the election. I will be doing a piece on bin Hammam […]

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I love bobbleheads. Have I mentioned that? I have a bobblehead of David Eckstein on my desk here at The National in Abu Dhabi. Whenever I bump the desk, Li’l Eck gives me a little nod. It may be the only baseball bobblehead in a city of more than 1 million people. Thanks again, Michelle, […]

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Ten games all kicking off at 4 p.m. in England. Five teams facing potential relegation. It’s almost too much to follow, if you are trying to keep up the image of actually working — at work. All I know at halftime of those 10 games is this:

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