HERE’S HOW IT works. Every week, we choose six of the weekend’s biggest sporting events. Then we ask six of TheScore.ie’s finest minds to have their say. Come Monday, everybody looks and feels a little bit sillier than usual.
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s the Pick 6.
Meet this week’s pickers *drumroll*:
- Steven O’Rourke: pick king
- Hugh O’Connell: man of few words
- Tony Cuddihy: expecting a 99 ice cream when he sits down to watch The Toy Show
- Niall Kelly: currently cat-sitting
- Adrian Russell: loves darts, despite what he says
- Patrick McCarry: eating mince pie
Boxing: Richard Dawson v Andrew Flintoff
SOR: On paper, it seems obvious to say the boxer, Dawson, will have too much for the cricketer. However, the nature of the fight – just four two-minute rounds – benefits the novice. I wouldn’t be surprised if Flintoff won a decision but common sense dictates Dawson must win.
HOC: Dawson. Flintoff is a cricketer and he can’t get away from that.
TC: As ridiculous as Usain Bolt’s promise to play for Manchester United or Michael Jordan’s stint with the Birmingham Barons, and you get the feeling that Freddie is just doing this to fill out his Sky TV pay packet. Frankly, I know nothing of Richard Dawson save for the fact that he’s two stone heavier than the pie afficionado. A sound wooping for Flintoff.
NK: Since the Simpsons stopped being good, I try to avoid Sky One so I haven’t been watching From Lords to the Ring. I know nothing about Richard Dawson but unless it’s a complete ready-up, a boxer should beat a cricketer.
AR: We all hope it ends with guest referee Giant Haystacks losing his cool and suplexing Freddie into the front row of B-list celebs, right? Unless this is as scripted as Saturday afternoon wrestling, I’m going for my boy Dickie Dawson.
PMC: This has to be a set-up for Flintoff to win otherwise it won’t be good TV. No knock-outs but Freddie will get his career off to a 1-0 start.
Premier League: West Ham United v Chelsea
SOR: Eight Chelsea wins and two draws from their last ten games with West Ham is the kind of form that even Rafa Benitez can’t undermine.
HOC: Chelsea. Is a FACT
TC: I’ve already predicted a 2-0 win for Chelsea over on the Fantasyland feature, so allow me to hedge my bets slightly and go for Rafa’s third draw on the bounce.
NK: The smart money says that this has 0-0 written all over it again but, unlike the Chelsea fans, I trust in Rafa.
AR: I’ve taken quite the beating over in the TV listings piece cos I said this game might be tasty. Quite literally if, like me, you like a bacon buttie with your lunchtime kick-off. I’m backing Rafa’s Chelsea reign to get going here.
PMC: Chelsea to win this by the odd goal in five. Rafa has been boring everyone silly so far but a Hammers goal will spark the boys in Blue and they’ll nick a filthy one.
Horse Racing: Hennessy Gold Cup (Newbury, Saturday 3.10)
SOR: Thankfully my streak of killing the horses I pick ended a couple of weeks back. That’s good news for Tidal Bay who started this season with a win at Wetherby in early November and I expect Ruby Walsh’s mount will romp home again here.
HOC: Bobs Worth (Hugh politely declined to provide an explanation but seemed pretty confident. To the bookies!)
TC: I’m having Tidal Bay for Ruby and Paul Nicholls.
NK: It would genuinely be easier to pick the Lotto numbers this week. I like Teaforthree though.
AR: Tidal Bay. As long as there are no follow-up questions.
PMC: I’m going for Tidal Bay as it has romped home in some big outings this year and Paul Nicholls trains ‘em good.
Munster SFC Final: Castlehaven v Dr Crokes
SOR: Back-to-back Munster titles and a third provincial crown since 2005 for Crokes for me. I’d also like to point out I’m perfect on my GAA pick six, eh, picks, so far which is more than I can say for my NFL picks.
HOC: Crokes for me.
TC: Dr Crokes here, by more than six points too.
NK: Castlehaven are about to get Gooched. Crokes to win.
AR: Crokes should do it but I’ll back Cork champs Castlehaven just to be contrary.
PMC: I’m going for Dr Crokes and Colm Cooper as they’ve scored a tad more freely on their way to Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Golf: Tiger Woods World Challenge
SOR: This is as much a real sporting event as X Factor was last week. However, the tiny field does make it a bit easier to pick a winner and so I’m going for Keegan Bradley.
HOC: For no particular reason other than he has had a decent start, I am going for Jim Furyk.
TC: Nick Watney’s made a nice start, so why deviate?
NK: A small field so I’ve nothing to lose by going for an old favourite in Jason Day.
AR: G-Mac‘s due one
PMC: My man here is Webb Simpson. Was looking good in the first round until a bogey on the last. Looked solid in the Ryder Cup.
NFL: Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears
SOR: I said it in the Redzone and I’ll say it again here, Seahawks have won just one of six games on the road this year while the Bears have only lost once at home. Chicago for me.
HOC: Dem Bears.
TC: Expect a close one, but expect a narrow Chicago Bears victory.
NK: Don’t mind the numbers, Big Jay Cutler keeps getting the job done. Go Bears!
AR: Bears’ QB Jay Cutler is the baddie jock in every sub-par American high-school movie. And the Seahawks are a cool team who need a win. Seattle.
PMC: Seattle had their moment in the spotlight last season but will not trouble the Bears… too much. Bears for me.
Good luck to Freddie. He’s a likeable character.
Agreed. I think they’re being a tad bit harsh here. He seems a genuine enough chap.
He shouldn’t be anywhere near a ring. Boxing is not something you can just pick up. I like Freddie but he’ll realise soon enough this ain’t his game. Barry won’t put him in with anyone remotely decent. But if Fred decides to box on, a short sharp shock isn’t far down the road.
totally agree Les
Is there something up with the pics? They’re coming up as huge as my phone
Was going to ask the same thing, they’re MASSIVE on my phone!!
#TeamFred
This is making a mockery of the sport. I never thought I’d see the day when professional boxing would succumb to such celebrity-centric, populist X-Factor type nonsense!
Okay, so maybe it was there already… but still.
Freddie did a lot of hard work and training took a lot of punishment to be only doing it for money- he comes across as a decent guy never anything really bad about him- I have to say I admire the effort and would love to be able to do the same- will watch it hope its a good fight but I think Dawson will be to technical when it comes down to it- don’t think it’s staged he seems the type to go in and have a go if an injury comes so be it
I hope both Freddie and Dawson have a good fight and both walk out of the ring nice and safe.I have respect for anyone who steps into the ring aka the chamber of truth.
Boxing at its best is a true sport which requires skill,fitness, mental focus and at its most brutal can end in tragedy.Michael Watson, Gerald McClellan and many others have obtained life changing injuries and some even paid the ultimate price.
This was part of my thinking too James. I admire Freddie for giving it a go, but when he gets in the ring, he’ll realise then where he is. I also admire anyone, anyone brave enough who gets in a ring.
Freddie is a likeable guy, on that everyone can agree. He has done a good amount of work for charity too. He has a good sense of humour about himself too. Should he be a boxer? That’s not for anyone to decide bar Freddie himself and the BBBC. They licensed him on his second attempt. His skills are weak on the fly on the wall show mapping his progress. So far he has gotten in shape but that’s really about it. He keeps his elbow low on his left hook meaning it will not have any power so it’s straight punches he will be depending on. He doesn’t seem like the king of guy that would have anything more than a three or four punch combination at best. He is not devoid of skill though. He has heart enough to go for to toe. I agree he is nobody’s choice for a fighter but remember he won’t be facing a top notch opponent tonight. It will be a journeyman fighter. A good all rounder devoid of big power and killer instinct. So he will basically be facing a more experienced version of himself. Can he win? Of course he can. Win or lose it doesn’t matter overall. It’s just for entertainment and any resulting career will be short lived although this is unlikely. Just enjoy the event and treat I as a bigger version of ‘White Collar Boxing’
I’d happily get in the ring with Freddie! The guy can’t throw proper punches and I bet he can’t take a decent shot either. If he fights anyone decent he is going to meet the sandman zzzzzzzz .
I reckon Freddie would happily introduce you to the sandman James!!
I spent years in a ring Fergal, now I’d be giveving Fred 6″ in height and a stone in weight. But all the years i spent boxing, id take him out.
@fergal 20years full contact martial arts background and some boxing fights hasnt been done yet! Least I’m not ashamed to put my pic in my profile.
I’m very confident in my abilities @6″3 110kgs I’d fancy my chances with Freddie.
Once you mentioned the old “using my real picture” you’ve lost the point.
It makes you sound like a petulant teenager that hates losing an argument.
Fair Play Les and Paul. Ye knock what Freddie is doing yet ye reckon ye can beat him!! Such a pair if donkeys, one contradicting himself and one wannabe boxer, go figure yourselves out. Fred has had 4 months training, try your hand at cricket for 4 months and take him on. Sad that ye can’t respect another’s efforts. I’m a big boy now, I’m 11, grow up ye morons.