The winner of the William Hill Sports Book Of The Year 2010 steps up to the stage. He starts his acceptance speech, but something catches in his voice. He wipes a tear from his eye. Try telling rugby hardman Brian Moore that winning the world's richest sports book prize doesn't mean anything.
And yet sports writing is still dismissed by some as best confined to the back pages of newspapers. The prize, though, is slowly changing perceptions. Previous winners in its 22-year history include Nick Hornby for Fever Pitch (which arguably not only elevated sports books to a whole new level but also changed how football itself was viewed) and Laura Hillenbrand's horse-racing spectacular Seabiscuit - the film adaptation of which was nominated for seven Oscars in 2004.
Very rarely are these books straightforward tales of sporting success or failure. Indeed, as the judge and BBC sports broadcaster John Inverdale says before the announcement, the common thread binding all the books on this year's shortlist is how emotionally powerful they are.
Certainly, the 2010 shortlist suggests sports writing has never been in such rude health. Earlier this year, well before the longlist was even announced, The National spoke to Luke Jennings for his outstanding memoir Blood Knots.
It became the first book about fishing to feature at the awards, but he said at the time that far from being straightforward nonfiction packed with angling anecdotes, it was "a way to talk about the more profound issues and elements of a life story. Angling is in a sense a metaphorical activity, in that you're searching - blind - in an impenetrable dimension."
Highbrow stuff, then. But in fact, even the term sports book is misleading. This year's shortlist is stacked with histories, dramas, psychology, science and war.
The nominee Catrine Clay, resplendent in a Manchester City scarf, admits her biography of her team's most famous goalkeeper, Bert Trautmann, isn't really a sports book at all.
"It says it all in the title: Trautmann's Journey: From Hitler Youth to FA Cup Legend", she says. "He was a fantastic goalkeeper, and most people know him for playing on in the 1956 FA Cup Final with a broken neck. But this was a man who grew up in Nazi Germany, who was a paratrooper by the time he was 17.
"An unbelievably tough guy. I just got the feeling that when he carried on in the final it was as nothing compared to what he had to do for Hitler in Russia. I just want people to read this and think what they would have done in the same position, as impressionable young men in Germany."
As Inverdale notes later, Trautmann's Journey is also very moving in its latter stages, when it explores what happens to a sportsman's psyche when he or she ages.
Not all the books on the shortlist are as unconcerned with the specifics of actual sport as Clay's: Matthew Syed's Bounce is a Malcolm Gladwell-esque treatise on what makes a champion (10,000 hours of quality practice as a child, it turns out), and Duncan Hamilton's A Last English Summer is a reflective travelogue taking in cricket's past and present.
But as Dan Topolski - winner of the very first William Hill Sports Prize back in 1989 - says to the assembled journalists and publishers, sports writing no longer exists in a ghetto in any case. It's just great writing, full stop.
Unfortunately for Topolski, he didn't enjoy the generous renumeration the winner receives these days. But, he says, the prize was very important in the process of adapting his tale of the London Boat Race, True Blue, into a 1996 feature film. And certainly it does have a function beyond celebrating a particular year's best sports books.
It acts, not least, as a bulwark against the reams of hilariously poor sports "autobiographies" ghosted by jobbing journalists - which reached a nadir in 2006 when the England and Chelsea footballer Ashley Cole's depressingly bland My Defence sold just 4,000 copies.
Compare that with the winner of the prize two years ago, the cricketer Marcus Trescothick for his very personal autobiography charting his battles with depression. And in 2002 Lance Armstrong won for a similarly enthralling look at his life rather than his sport (cycling).
It was no surprise, then, when Andre Agassi's Open (admittedly co-written by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author JR Moehringer) - which hit the headlines earlier this year for its sensational revelations about his drug use - made the shortlist. And, of course, that the winner should be, as Inverdale says, an autobiography that is full of "genuine wit, insight, and forthright opinion".
Brian Moore's Beware of the Dog is certainly not the easiest of books to read, detailing the England rugby player's harrowing early experiences of abuse, and the constant battle with his inner self that drove him to success on and off the rugby field.
But what comes across is not just a passion for sport, but for life itself. And when I speak to Moore afterwards, he's positive that the decision to write it himself was, in the end, the right one - and not only because he felt his first, ghosted autobiography published in 1995 needed putting right.
"Look, Stephen Jones did a great job. But a ghostwriter can never really tell the story of their subject, get under the skin of them. It's just not possible. But also, when that was written, I was right at the end of my playing career. Having had 15 or 16 years perspective has been so beneficial.
"Having said that, it was a traumatic experience writing this. I was going over painful stuff. And I was well aware that autobiographies are, on the whole, rubbish. Particularly football ones.
"And the reason they are is because they're a money-making exercise, which is ironic because the footballers don't actually need the money. They couldn't give a damn, they're giving a few quotes over the phone... and because they don't care, the books won't reveal anything. I genuinely don't know why people buy them."
So why did he feel the need to write his story himself?
"Because I had to. I hope one day to be immensely proud of it. One of the things the book tries to deal with is the constant sabotaging of good things by my alter ego. And that process won't ever stop. It's happening now. And some days I'm more successful at dealing with it than others."
Today, then, is a successful day for Moore. And, happily, for sports writing as a whole.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Biog
Age: 50
Known as the UAE’s strongest man
Favourite dish: “Everything and sea food”
Hobbies: Drawing, basketball and poetry
Favourite car: Any classic car
Favourite superhero: The Hulk original
The low down on MPS
What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and sustained posture are the main culprits in developing trigger points.
What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The biog
Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists.
Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.
Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
MATCH INFO
Liverpool v Manchester City, Sunday, 8.30pm UAE
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MATCH INFO
Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
RESULTS
Catchweight 63.5kg: Shakriyor Juraev (UZB) beat Bahez Khoshnaw (IRQ). Round 3 TKO (body kick)
Lightweight: Nart Abida (JOR) beat Moussa Salih (MAR). Round 1 by rear naked choke
Catchweight 79kg: Laid Zerhouni (ALG) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ). Round 1 TKO (punches)
Catchweight 58kg: Omar Al Hussaini (UAE) beat Mohamed Sahabdeen (SLA) Round 1 rear naked choke
Flyweight: Lina Fayyad (JOR) beat Sophia Haddouche (ALG) Round 2 TKO (ground and pound)
Catchweight 80kg: Badreddine Diani (MAR) beat Sofiane Aïssaoui (ALG) Round 2 TKO
Flyweight: Sabriye Sengul (TUR) beat Mona Ftouhi (TUN). Unanimous decision
Middleweight: Kher Khalifa Eshoushan (LIB) beat Essa Basem (JOR). Round 1 rear naked choke
Heavyweight: Mohamed Jumaa (SUD) beat Hassen Rahat (MAR). Round 1 TKO (ground and pound)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammad Ali Musalim (UAE beat Omar Emad (EGY). Round 1 triangle choke
Catchweight 62kg: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR). Round 2 KO
Catchweight 88kg: Mohamad Osseili (LEB) beat Samir Zaidi (COM). Unanimous decision
liverpool youngsters
Ki-Jana Hoever
The only one of this squad to have scored for Liverpool, the versatile Dutchman impressed on his debut at Wolves in January. He can play right-back, centre-back or in midfield.
Herbie Kane
Not the most prominent H Kane in English football but a 21-year-old Bristolian who had a fine season on loan at Doncaster last year. He is an all-action midfielder.
Luis Longstaff
Signed from Newcastle but no relation to United’s brothers Sean and Matty, Luis is a winger. An England Under-16 international, he helped Liverpool win the FA Youth Cup last season.
Yasser Larouci
An 18-year-old Algerian-born winger who can also play as a left-back, Larouci did well on Liverpool’s pre-season tour until an awful tackle by a Sevilla player injured him.
Adam Lewis
Steven Gerrard is a fan of his fellow Scouser, who has been on Liverpool’s books since he was in the Under-6s, Lewis was a midfielder, but has been converted into a left-back.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
How Alia's experiment will help humans get to Mars
Alia’s winning experiment examined how genes might change under the stresses caused by being in space, such as cosmic radiation and microgravity.
Her samples were placed in a machine on board the International Space Station. called a miniPCR thermal cycler, which can copy DNA multiple times.
After the samples were examined on return to Earth, scientists were able to successfully detect changes caused by being in space in the way DNA transmits instructions through proteins and other molecules in living organisms.
Although Alia’s samples were taken from nematode worms, the results have much bigger long term applications, especially for human space flight and long term missions, such as to Mars.
It also means that the first DNA experiments using human genomes can now be carried out on the ISS.
Reputation
Taylor Swift
(Big Machine Records)
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
FIGHT INFO
Men’s 60kg Round 1:
Ahmad Shuja Jamal (AFG) beat Krisada Takhiankliang (THA) - points
Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) beat Akram Alyminee (YEM) - retired Round 1
Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Bhanu Pratap Pandit (IND) - TKO Round 1
Men’s 71kg Round 1:
Seyed Kaveh Soleyman (IRI) beat Abedel Rahman (JOR) - RSC round 3.
Amine Al Moatassime (UAE) walk over Ritiz Puri (NEP)
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
RESULT
Australia 3 (0) Honduras 1 (0)
Australia: Jedinak (53', 72' pen, 85' pen)
Honduras: Elis (90 4)
More on animal trafficking
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
