Hayden Meikle

Football might be awash with petulant players, filthy-rich clubs and excessive hype, but it is still beautiful - and it is still a game. Sports editor Hayden Meikle completes a two-part interview with The Beautiful Game author and rabid Arsenal fan Tom Watt.

Many people remember Tom Watt for playing barman Lofty in Eastenders.

Rugby may be losing its grip on the nation but most New Zealand fans still think Graham Henry is the right man to coach the All Blacks through to the 2011 World Cup.

Otago and Highlanders winger Lucky Mulipola has been suspended for four weeks and may receive further sanctions depending on the outcome of an assault case.

Welcome back.

Baseball arguably holds the least mass appeal (globally) of the four major American team sports but is almost certainly the most under-rated.

Earlier this week I explained, quite convincingly I thought, why Chelsea would win the Premier League this season and why Liverpool would finish second and why Arsenal would continue their slide.

The St Kilda Saints will chase a men's double in the finals of Dunedin club basketball at the Edgar Centre today.

You could waste hours trawling the internet for Premier League season previews, or you could simply use my guide to the months ahead.

There is no off-season quite like the football off-season.

• Don't be too quick... Nothing gets people's dander up quite like secondary school sport.

North Otago rugby great Barry Fox declared his glittering career closed after he helped Valley win the Citizens Shield on Saturday.

• Swimming with the fishes I know a few things about swimming.

Caversham coach Steve Fleming hopes Chatham Cup disappointment will not affect his side's chances of winning the southern league title.

Three Kings United coach Paul Marshall had his list of penalty-takers all set to go but was pleased he didn't have to use it on Saturday.