its Friday so it must be Sicily – (I’m playing in one of the most beautiful clubs on earth tonight, mercati generale) – I remember being there for the last World Cup and being shocked that the matches weren’t being aired on the national free view stations – and so there I was walking around the outer suburbs of Catania looking for a cafe that might have a match on – clearly for someone who looks forward to World Cups 2 years ahead, this was a desolate situation to be in – specially in a country with such football pedigree – oh well, Berlusconi and his ways eh? …..

Found on a UK sports gambling site, these crazy juxtapositions are obviously taking the piss, but you can almost see their points. Tiger would take any other sport to a new level, especially here in the US. Cricket is still a mystery to much of his audience…

If you’re anywhere near your computer/radio today at 11am US ET, you can hear acclaimed author Joseph O’Neil talk on NPR about his globally celebrated novel ‘Netherland’. Better yet,for your summer read pick up a copy of this fascinating tale of cricket (in Staten Island of all places) spun together with the dark days of 9/11 in New York.

Our Sportswide don Gilles Peterson leaves no ball unused when it comes to his sports reporting, as this time he waxes passionate about a ‘classic’and underated sport, cricket. You can catch Gilles’ very own top ’spin’ when he hosts the Mulatu & The Heliocentrics event May 20 at Koko in London…..let the games begin:

you’ve got to love Test Match Special on BBC Radio 4. its about as eccentric and extreme as any sports commentary can be anywhere on this globe. I mean to have a bunch of raconteurs just letting off verbal gas around a five day game of cricket is about as indulgent and beautiful as radio can be.