In September of last year I decided to watch Donald Trump deliver one of his many Republican primary speeches that would somehow land him the Republican nominee position he was so intent on having. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz were two other candidates and 15 other's  along with Governor Jeb Bush. I watched Trump for 45 minutes on Youtube talk to a crowd of over 28,000 people. The Rolling Stones would have been proud of that number of people turning out for a gig.

The one difference was Trump had no guitar and no band supporting him. He was alone on stage saying what he wanted, doing what he wanted and not worried about the consequence's of his words. He's a billionaire real estate guy, who took over his father's business and turned it into a global fortune. The Rapper and Actor Ice Cube has said that Trump is the American Dream, does and says what he wants and is rich.

His rise to power in US politics has been nothing short of phenomenal. His use of nicknames for his oppnents Marco Rubio (little Marco) Ted Cruz (lyin Ted) has added spice to what would be another boring US political campaign. He has hit the nerve of people in the US and around the world who are totally fed up with the Liberal Left running the world into the ground. Talking a great story but ultimately getting nothing done. Obama, Merkel and Cameron all fearing the consequences of offending anyone or being OTT politically correct. Some people alike are just tired of that type of society. They relish straight talking and someone who says what they are really thinking but to afraid to say.

Trump has mentioned ISIS, Economy and Borders as 3 of his main proposals for change. He addresses the audiences as "Folks" as Reagan once did. He talks to you like he knows you. A leader and a showman but a formidable opponent. Some people are offended by his actions because the media portray him as a dictator and a foolish man and somebody who is potentially dangerous.

I always remember watching Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry, Magnum Force. Their was an Asian girl in his apartment block who was doing everything she could to attract Harry's attention. She even let herself in to his apartment and got into his bed. He wasn't bothered and was indifferent. He had Alpha male qualities similar to Trump. You're either with him or against him but he does not care either way. To say Trump's female vote will be low is being way off the mark. Actually I believe many women will vote for him.

Some will say ''Where's his policies''? What politician in the history of politics has actually gone and implemented policies. It's all talk with Obama and I would have voted for Obama but now he has been a real let down. He stands for nothing and just comes across as weak. The Chinese Premier, Saudi King and Cuba's leader ''Castro'' didn't even bother to turn up to welcome Obama on official state visits. He is seen as somebody who real leader's don't take seriously. Trump said that if Putin or the Saudi King do the same to him he will turn Air Force one around and go home. The best negotiating position is to Walk away and mean it.

​I see Russia as instrumental in establishing a coalition of Allies to go and destroy Isis. Daesh are becoming a massive pest in society and the ridiculous ideology they are spurting out is unacceptable. They must be defeated soon. Obama has alienated Russia by bringing in sanctions against them to stop them seizing control of strategic hotspots in Eastern Europe. If Obama had chosen to talk to Putin and work things out instead of sanctioning him then the relationship would be stronger. Trump will fix this no doubt.

So in November Donald Trump will become the next President of the United States Of America for all the reason's I mention above unless some scandal happens between now and then but he has shown strength in the past controversies and seems to get stronger. Clinton and her email scandal has already started her downfall. Scandals ultimately destroy candidate's and I believe Hillary Clinton's Achilles heel is her email server hack.

JB

​Watch the video below! Incredible

youtu.be/OCabT_O0YSM

The Summer Olympics 2016 kicks off on the 5th August. I am really looking forward to commentating on the Table Tennis, a sport which entered the Olympic programme in 1998 at Seoul. This is not my first time commentating on the sport for RTE as I was involved for London 2012.

China has won 24 of the 28 Olympic gold medals contested since the sport entered the Games in 1988. They achieved clean sweeps at the London 2012 and Beijing 2008 Games, winning all four golds up for grabs (individual and team for both men and women).

Sweden for many years had the expertise of Jan Ove Waldner however that has all changed now so I cannot see any other players to cause an upset from a European nation. In the men's individual event, London 2012 gold medallist Zhang Jike faces an even greater challenge in Rio. He will be trying to achieve what no player has managed so far – to defend the men's Olympic singles title. Watch out for Europe & Japan In the Men's singles  Japan's Jun Mizutani and Germany's Dimitrij Ovtcharov.

In the Team event China will win both the women's and men's team events.

The China ladies & Men's team are also phenomenally good. It's scary how dominant they are so if I see another country lift the trophy then it will be the biggest shock in Olympic Sport in the last 30 years.

See you all for the games and may the best athlete and team's win:)

​JB

Rory Mcllroy has raised concerns about the Zika virus ahead of the Rio Olympics 2016. Mcllroy has said that if the virus continues to hamper the event then he will consider withdrawing from the August games. He has said that he and his partner may wish to start a family sometime soon and that the Zika virus could cause birth defects and that's a risk he is not prepared to take.

The recently crowned Irish Open Golf winner pulling out would be a massive blow to the Irish team. Their are major doubts over the Rio Olympics even taking place now and a superstar athlete raising these issues will only put more fuel on the fire.

JB

I first came across a negative achiever when I was seventeen and completing the Leaving Certificate. Like everyone at that age I was naïve and thought I knew everything. I was trying to do as good as I could and get the best result I could. I was hanging around with a couple of mates and one of them was constantly saying the teacher was useless, the School is crap and that he himself never studies. However with all this negativity amongst the group instigated by one person, he had brought the group morale down and everyone then started saying negative things.

When June came along that year, that person who was spreading negativity like a virus got the highest marks. This was the guy who's tongue was black from all the negative attitude, who never studied a day in his life but yet ''Got the highest marks''. Makes you wonder?  I bet if you think right now about a friend who is like this you might decide to either confront them about their behaviour or maybe avoid them. Life is too short folks for hanging around people who are overly negative. They never actually help to improve things and are better off on their own.

Imagine this person was in your Sports team and saying all kinds of stuff. He/She would be getting the results and you would be struggling to score or hit a winner due to your negative outlook caused by the Negative Achiever. They drag you down. Don't let them and by reading this and understanding how life works you can now spot the signs.

Since my Leaving Cert I have met 2-3 other individuals with this mentality. And guess what? I notice the bad traits immediately and steer clear at all costs. Enjoy your life and stay positive even under the toughest of challenges.

JB

I have just heard the tragic news regarding the untimely death of legendary musician Prince. The outpouring of grief on Twitter & Facebook is reminiscent of the shock that shook us all when David Bowie passed earlier this year. Prince was different in many aspects including his illusive attitude towards the media.

My brother Edwin introduced me to his music. Prince had so many hits and was an influence to so many bands and artists. His music even crossed over into Rap & Dance when MC Hammer used a sample of "When Doves Cry" on his jam "Pray".

My heart is hurting but we all have the comfort knowing that we were blessed to have been part of his journey.

​RIP Prince, Symbol, Purple Prince....

I have had to put something together regarding Johnny's Pick on John Clarke's Biggest Jukebox which airs before my Riffs & Refs show on Sunday 10am-2pm. Their has been an overwhelming response to John's show on Nova and I was delighted to be asked to choose a classic hit on the show every Sunday at 1.40pm. I am receiving so much interest on twitter relating to my choice of song every Sunday. Email johnb@nova.ie for suggestions

Here is the playlist to date:
Human League - Feeling Fascination
Mike & The Mechanics - The living years
Andy Williams - Can't Get Used to Losing You
Phil Collins - I Wish It Would Rain
Dionne Warwick - Say A Little Prayer
Ten Sharp - You
Julian Lennon - Too late for Goodbyes
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Nowhere to Run
Escape Club - Wild Wild West
The Isley Brothers - Summer Breeze
Kate Bush - Babooshka
Hue & Cry - Looking For Linda
Robin Beck -First Time
Maxi Priest - Wild World
Elvis - Its Only Love
The Bachelors - My Diane
Holly Johnson - Americanos
Sam Brown - Stop
BA Robertson - Bang Bang
PHD - I won't let you down
Grace Jones - Slave to the Rhythm
Dave Stewart Barbara Gaskin - It's my party
The Supremes - You keep me hanging on ( Good Morning Vietnam)
Ryan Paris - Dolce Vita
Queen - The Invisible Man
Howard Jones - Things Can Only Get Better
Sophie B Hawkins - Damn I Wish I was your lover
Dan Hartman - I can dream
Robbie Neville - Ces't La Vie
Nik Kershaw - I won't let the sun
Kenny Loggins - Nobodys Fool
Erasure - Blue Savannah
Curiosity killed the Cat - Down to earth
Soulsister- the way to your heart
Paul Carrick - Dont shed a tear
Kim Wilde - Keep me hangin on
Duran Duran - Rio
​The Hooters - All you Zombies
​

Last night Maria Sharapova gave an interview to the media relating to a banned substance she is alleged to have taken since she was 16. Meldonium was not on the banned list until January 2016 so she didn't do anything illegal up to that date. However her team including her doctor and solicitors failed to notice that the drug was included on the new banned list which was explained in a mail 22nd Decemeber 2015. In the 27 year's of my mediocre Table Tennis career I never once had to take any substance for my health and if I was sent a new list of banned substance's I would check myself if any medication I was taking was included. I would also ask my GP to check the list for names of drugs that may go under a different alias.

Andy Murray tweeted in 2013 ''Read and respect the rules and everything is very simple''. He was referring to an incident between WADA & Marin Cilic and Vicktor Troiki. Troiki failed to turn up for a test and Cilic tested positive for a banned substance. Murray called them ''Unprofessional''. With the Olympics only a few months away, their is a dark cloud over Russian Sports and this Sharapova revelation only deepens the crisis even further.

Nike last night suspended their sponsorship deal with Sharapova and no doubt other companies will follow suit. The question on everyone's lips is, If the substance was banned recently, then surely it should have been banned year's ago but didn't appear on the radar. Can we assume that Meldonium which increases physical capabilities has somehow helped Sharapova since she was 16? Lot's of questions...

I really hope we don't have any more bans and that all sports remain clean.

John Bowe