Ex-cricket chief rubbishes Pietersen’s claims October 12, 2014 FORMER cricket chief David Collier has rubbished assertions from maverick Kevin Pietersen that ex-coach Andy Flower was the root cause of a bullying culture within the England camp. The South African-born batsman has accused Flower of building a regime in which he governed by fear, while also allowing bullying to prosper during his five-year reign [...]
Wigan prop Flower devastated after Grand Final punch dismissal October 12, 2014 DISGRACED Wigan prop Ben Flower admits the spectre of his Super League Grand Final dismissal against St Helens at Old Trafford on Saturday evening will overshadow the remainder of his career. The 26-year-old received his marching orders just two minutes into the clash after knocking St Helens’ Lance Hohaia to the turf and landing a [...]
Britain’s most successful F1 driver? Lewis Hamilton equals Nigel Mansell’s record of 31 wins after Russia GP October 12, 2014 Lewis Hamilton extended his championship lead with ease at the Russian Grand Prix today, dominating the track in Sochi to secure his ninth win of the season, giving him a 17 point lead over teammate Nico Rosberg. With just three stages left to go, Hamilton is in pole position to record his second Formula [...]
Theatre review: Speed the Plow October 10, 2014 Speed the Plow | The Playhouse Theatre | ★★★☆☆ There’s something very patronising about the coverage of Lindsay Lohan’s stage debut in David Mamet’s Speed the Plow. “Didn’t she do well for turning up?”, “Didn’t she do well for only forgetting one line?”, “Didn’t she do well for not being absolutely freaking terrible?” We should, perhaps, give [...]
Film review: Annabelle October 10, 2014 ★★☆☆☆ Annabelle, a creepy, possessed Victorian doll, was one of the stars of last year’s horror hit The Conjuring, despite only appearing in a handful of scenes. So it’s perhaps unsurprising that she takes centre stage in this prequel, which plays like a Buzzfeed list of fright-movie cliches. Creepy children, moving dolls, enclosed spaces, [...]
Film review: The Rewrite October 10, 2014 ★★★☆☆ The Rewrite opens with Hugh Grant playing a charming yet socially inept Englishman abroad, trying to pitch script ideas to film studios. He’s not having much luck because his character Keith Michaels hasn’t written a hit since his Oscar-winning debut Paradise Misplaced. Depressed and nearing bankruptcy, he takes up a creative writing professorship in [...]
Something for the Weekend: City A.M.’s picks for your days off October 10, 2014 For a bite to eat: BBQ Lunch at Stepney City Farm Top chef Ben Tish cut his teeth at Salt Yard bar and charcuterie and this Saturday he’s bringing his meaty treats to Stepney City Farm for a charity barbecue. On the menu will be burgers from his successful new restaurant Ember Yard. Booking [...]
Euro 2016 Qualifier: Roy satisfied as Rooney edges closer to record October 9, 2014 ENGLAND 5 SAN MARINO 0 SATISFIED England manager Roy Hodgson played down the importance of breaking goalscoring records last night after his team maintained their 100 per cent start to Euro 2016 qualifying with the most perfunctory of thrashings. Almost two years to the day since Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck netted in a 5-0 [...]
Club chiefs bemoan concept of Premier League matches abroad October 9, 2014 EUROPEAN football chiefs have poured cold water on talk of Premier League matches being played overseas, insisting they are unlikely to drop their opposition to the plan. Clubs are believed to be re-examining the proposals and could take regular-season fixtures to major international cities such as Hong Kong and New York as soon as the [...]
Schwarzer rues Qatar World Cup October 9, 2014 EXASPERATED Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has launched a scathing attack on governing body Fifa over its decision to give Qatar the 2022 World Cup and its refusal to publish a report into the bid process. Schwarzer, who has 109 international caps, said he had played international matches for Australia in Qatar’s stifling summer heat and [...]