I am delighted to announce I am joining RTE Television Sport for it's Olympic coverage. I will be working as a commentator for the period of the games. When I worked on the London 2012 games I was so impressed with the organisation within RTE. One person who I will miss is Bill O'Herlihy. I met him in the canteen on my first day in RTE four years ago. He asked me what my speciality subject was and I said ''Table Tennis'' and he giggled and said ''Only Protestants'' play that:) That was Bill, no holding back and always having a laugh.
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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 I love Sports and I really enjoy my beloved game of Ping Pong. For 25 long year's I played Table Tennis at a high level in Ireland and at a reasonable level Internationally. I started at the age of 12 and played nearly every day. Within 18 month's of learning, I was travelling the world playing for Ireland under 14 age group. I started as a defensive player and played that style for 6 year's. I changed my style to an offensive player with help from my father and my Japanese Coach Tadashi Hiraga. When I look back to 1992 when I decided to change to offensive, I remember the gruelling hour's with Dad in his work office, playing in various locations and I fondly remember playing in the HSE ( former eastern health board) Office.
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 Jose Mourinho & Chelsea, From Champions To Also-rans
I remember watching Jose Mourinho burst onto the International stage when he was Porto Manager. His team beat Manchester United in the Champions League and Mourinho ran down the sidelines celebrating. Nobody expected it and it was talked about for weeks after. He had the charisma that was missing in football and he was a breath of fresh air. It seems like most of his success has come from teams that have exceptional players and clubs that have unlimited budgets. He won with Porto but he had Deco, Carlos Alberta and Alenichev. Rafa Benitez won the Champions League with a Liverpool team that did not have the level of players that Mourinho has been blessed with. So having won the Premier League last year it’s highly questionable why the wheels have come off this season. I have noticed that when his team starts losing, he seems to be unable to turn it around unless his boss offers him fifty million to spend on players. At the very beginning of the season he lost the head at his Physio\doctor Dr Eva. Their was a misunderstanding and his two doctors ran into the pitch to treat a player who was injured. The rule states that only one team doctor must be on the pitch at any given time. Given this mix up, Mourinho went into a foul mouthed rant at Dr Eva and she was subsequently suspended and is now suing Mourinho directly over unfair dismissal. By all accounts she was close to the players and part of the team. Morale was crushed when she was given her marching orders. Players doubted Mourinho’s decision and since then the club has gone into free fall. He began avoiding media interviews and then started answering in yes and no answers. Silly nonsense from a child is more like. Alex Ferguson never treated the media and fans with such disrespect. You never see Gary Monk, Mark Hughes or Mauricio Pochetino acting in that ridiculous manner. If I saw my boss carrying on like that I would start to question his authority. Players after matches phone each other while driving home and start talking about his tactics, his authority, his decisions and that then starts a virus of negativity in the dressing room. I have never witnessed a Chelsea side lose to Bourmouth or Leicester. This is shocking stuff and will dent the already sore ego of Mourinho. He was rightly sacked today. I would have wielded the axe months ago. If he wants to be more successful in 2016 he needs to take a good look at himself. Author John Bowe When I began playing Table Tennis in my youth I never dreamed I would be ranked number 1 under 14 in Ireland in the space of 18 months. It happened so quickly but it happened becaused I played table tennis everyday. Ireland was going through a recession, U2 were making headlines and tap water was free. For a moment I thought it was 2015. Yes the similarities are incredible and back then life was not much different apart from phones and gadgets. I started playing table tennis in school and I was encouraged to practice at lunchtime and after school. I was playing football but soon kicked that to touch. I independently decided at 12 not to pursue footy and focus on TT instead because I was improving so I was more motivated to practice. (Makes Sense - No Bullshit) The coaching I got was very good and I soon became a defensive player.
The one difference now for kids growing up involved in Sport is this incessant belief that they should play 4-5 different sports to keep them busy or to succeed. Let's knock that on the head for starters. When I hear Children and Parents tell me that Jim does Hockey on a Monday, Rugby on a Tuesday, Football on a Wednesday and Table Tennis on a Thursday I shudder at the thoughts of it. Times have changed and kids are now starting Table Tennis at 6 years in some cases. It is too late starting at 13 now and hoping to become a top player. I totally understand Parents keeping kids busy but I have children exhausted at TT training because their schedule is to harsh. One reason a young athlete will want to continue playing TT is because they see improvement. If not then they give it up. If they practice at 4 sports they will never be the master of one and only average at all. The lesson here is to focus on the one whether it is Hockey or whatever. I completely realize that my coaching situation growing up was special but I made the best of it. Yes, it's ok to play 4 different sports for fun but to realistically improve in competition you must choose the one that best suits you. I see some parents encouraging their children to play TT everyday and I can see children improve very quickly. This is great to see but if you play Sport for social reasons then enjoy it, but don't expect a return, and if you want to become champ, then focus entirely on the one. Good luck JB Parents who have children involved in Sport should read this
http://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-sunday-telegraph/20150927/281672548750019/TextView I presented my first World Cup Rugby show with Rugby Legend Brent Pope and Joe Harrington of Joe.ie on Saturday. The new show will be on for the duration of the Rugby World Cup 2015. The show will then continue as Riffs and Refs after the World Cup.
Toyota are the main sponsors and we are delighted to have them on board. This Saturday we start from 1pm-3pm discussing Ireland's form and first win, and their forthcoming games. I will be talking with Brent and Joe about Youth Development in Ireland and finding out if "10,000 hrs of practice" really makes you a champion? plus some amazing interviews from sporting greats. All this and more Saturday 1pm Radio Nova 100.3fm www.nova.ie Since I began to step away from competitive Table Tennis in 2009, I have been able to see the positive changes that have been implemented by the Irish Table Tennis Association and how that has impacted on players around the Country. When I was starting Table Tennis back in 1986, our association was based in an office in a house in Santry, and Tony Martin who was and I am sure still is a very efficient and organised volunteer. Because it was people like Tony, Marie Martin, Marie Hughes, Ken Strong and Arthur Brett who kept the whole show on the road. Without their input we would not have had an association. In more recent times Joe Hickey has come in and brought the association into the 21st Century and I can see first hand, even when I venture out to Blanchardstown HQ to see the great work that has been achieved. The Association has now moved from a house to a big office worthy of the Sport at hand.
I was a little surprised to hear recently that Club Donic in Lucan has had some difficulties. I hope the club can continue in some form or another. We need to house the players in another club or in some other capacity. I am hearing they have set up a new club at a new school in Griffeen Table Tennis Club Lucan. Conor Nolan is the new coach with support from Phil, Conor and Jacqui. All Donic members were invited to join. So overall Irish Table Tennis is in a good condition. One big question remains is how do we get Table Tennis into our primary and secondary schools and have it played everyday ''Yes Everyday''? The WIS programme has been of huge importance and a great help. It is really a starting ground and to give a new club a boost. I had a fantastic introduction to TT at school and was able to practice everyday and play a competition at the weekend. I do believe without that training I would have not made the Irish Team and would not have been able to play for Eiker TTC in Norway or for Perpignan France. I coach in a few schools around Leinster and still one big challenge is to get the young children to practice everyday. The head of Sport tells me the hall is not available everyday and this story echoes down the corridors of most schools. Unfortunately some children are involved in so many sports that they play Hockey on a Monday, Swimming on a Tuesday, Soccer on a Wednesday and so on. Remember this is the wrong approach. Ok maybe finding a sport you like but taking years to decide is a waste of your time and your coaches time. Pick one and stick with it and give it 100%. One strong possibility would be to have a teacher based in the school who is heavily involved in the Sport and who is paid through the Dept of Education as opposed to having a TT coach placed in the school. A teacher who knows the Principal well can pull a few strings and implement a club within the complex and hopefully aim to having facilities available for TT everyday. Winning trophies and medals help and can get you more pulling power within the school. If you fail to win a division in the Leinster league or another league, I am afraid your chances of getting TT more hours than Rugby and Hockey is not going to happen. Last weekend I watched China once again push aside all opposition at the World Championships. It's actually scary how good those guys are. They throw the whole body into shots and give it 200%. Serves are amazing, Speed and footwork is the best I have ever seen and the appetite to hammer the opposition is frightening. It's WAR! They win the battles and the war. So what are we going to do to improve European Table Tennis? Well firstly Ireland must look after themselves and send our players abroad to countries that appear to excel at TT. Training in Ireland is fine providing it's everyday and that the coaching is on hand like it is in the English Premier League. That's the level that has to be pursued. Players like Ashley Robinson, Gavin Maguire, Paul McCreery and John Murphy have been abroad and have seen how the sport is approached in Germany, Sweden and other Euro Countries. It is great having those chaps involved with our juniors. I do believe small steps are required and that if we can attempt to match England and aspire to Liam Pitchfords level then its a step in the right direction. For the moment we are going to have to watch Ma Long and Fang Bo dominate our Sport for the next couple of years because Europe is way behind and needs to catch up quickly. Yours in Sport John Bowe The new season of Penny Dreadful kicks off on May 3rd on Sky Atlantic. Myself and some other Ping Pong players, Tom Davis, Maciek Symanski and Sarah Timlin will make our TV Debut in episodes 4 or 5. The new series is set to be even more exciting than Season 1.
Watch season 2 trailer here below https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YdeSNcAWos Here are some photos of me hanging out with Reeve Carney who plays Dorian Gray and with Johnny Beauchamp. Looking forward to the new series and special thanks assistant director Michael Queen for his help. JB |
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