In depth 24-minute interviews with the stars, coaches and power brokers in the world of sport. Rob Bonnet goes behind the glamour to see what makes them tick and examines the risks and rewards in a competitive business.
Roman Sebrle, Olympic champion, decathlon
The World Athletics Championships in Japan finish this weekend and the unofficial title of the world’s greatest all-round athlete will be at stake. The decathlon’s ten disciplines are considered one of track and field’s ultimate tests. The reigning Olympic champion and world record holder is Roman Sebrle from the Czech Republic. But a world championship title has so far eluded him. He talks to James Helm about his preparations and how his career and life were inches from disaster after he was hit by a javelin earlier this year.
31/08/07
Keith Quinn, New Zealand rugby commentator
Now that the Rugby World Cup is in full swing, can the favourites and current world number one team New Zealand shrug off the accusation that they’re “chokers”? The All Blacks may dominate international rugby year after year, but since winning the inaugural competition in 1987, every World Cup has seen them crash out in the latter stages of the competition. Keith Quinn was the voice of New Zealand rugby for 34 years – for this tournament he’s in France as a fan only. He talks to Rob Bonnet about the All Blacks’ apparent big game fragility and why he believes the game of rugby might be under threat at home.
14/09/07
Brian Burke, General manager, Anaheim Ducks
A week before the new NHL ice hockey season begins in the US, Extratime talks to one of the most outspoken managers in the competition. In June 2007 Brian Burke led the once-unfancied Anaheim Ducks to win ice hockey’s greatest prize, the Stanley Cup. Burke makes no apologies for his team’s combative style and says he looks for “pugnacity, truculence, belligerence, hostility and testosterone” in his players. Why does he describe ice hockey as “the most exciting sport in the world, and the fastest sport without an engine”?
21/09/07
Steve Nash, Two time winner of the NBA’s MVP award
On the eve of the new NBA season in America Extratime meets the man who won the competition's coveted MVP (Most Valuable Player Award) for two years in a row in 2005 and 2006. On first appearances Canadian, Steve Nash, can appear an unlikely recpient. At six-feet-two inches tall and weighing less than two hundred pounds he has his work cut out against athletes in the NBA whose average height is six-feet-seven inches and can weigh more than 300 pounds. But what Nash lacks in size he makes up for in skill and he's regarded as one of the best playmakers in the NBA. As his coach at the Phoenix Suns, Mike D'Antoni, once said "There's an air of serenity that attaches to Nash, even when he's running around like a squirrel on speed.” Rob Bonnet talks to Steve Nash in New York.
28/09/07
Serena Williams, Winner of eight Grand Slam singles tennis titles
In her longest ever TV interview Tennis star Serena Williams talks about her life and career which has brought her 8 grand slam single titles. Together with her sister Venus the pair revolutionised the women’s game with a fearsome blend of skill and athleticism. In 2002 /03 the sisters had a near total monopoly of the grand slams squaring off against each other in 5 out of 6 finals. However since then there have been doubts about Serena s’ commitment to the game as she’s pursued other interests such as acting and modelling. She talks to Rob Bonnet in Stuttgart. Is she still motivated to reach the heights of 4 years ago?
05/10/07
Jelena Jankovic, Women’s World Number 3 tennis player
The last major tournament on the women’s professional tennis tour for 2008 starts in Madrid today. The top eight women’s players in the world will be competing for a first prize of a million dollars. Among them is world number three, Jelena Jankovic, from Serbia. Her rapid rise in the game is matched by that of compatriots, Ana Ivanovic and Novak Djokovic who are also among the top five players in the world. What sparked Serbia’s sudden success? Jelena Jankovic talks to Rob Bonnet.
07/11/07
Rafael Nadal, Current Men’s World Number 2 tennis player.
He’s got three consecutive French Open wins to his name, charisma and talent to burn – and he’s still only 21 years old. But why does John McEnroe wonder aloud whether Nadal’s body can keep pace with his blistering game? And after twice being beaten by his great rival Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final, will 2008 be the year he wins the tournament he calls the most important in the game? Rafael Nadal talks to Rob Bonnet.
11/01/08
Laird Hamilton, Big Wave Surfer
Laird Hamilton is a man who can truly be said to have changed the face of his sport; he is the greatest big-wave surfer of all time. He helped to pioneer techniques that made it possible for surfers to ride the biggest breaks in the world, but it was his death-defying drop into the infamous Teahupo'o break in Tahiti in August 2000 that cemented his reputation. He talks to Rob Bonnet about riding the world's most dangerous wave, his passionate love for the ocean and why he considers surfing to be an art as much as it is a sport.
18/01/08
Felipe Contepomi, Argentine rugby player
The 2007 Rugby World Cup saw Argentina confirm themselves among rugby’s elite when they reached the semi-finals and then beat the hosts, France, in the play off for third place. But can their hard earned status be sustained? Argentina still does not have a place in the annual international competitions – the Six Nations and the Tri-Nations. Felipe Contepomi was one of the Argentina’s star players at the World Cup. He talks to Rob Bonnet.
25/01/08
David Stern, NBA Commissioner
The National Basketball Association is now a global sporting phenomenon. Its games are seen in more than 200 countries in 42 different languages. But how has that affected the US national team which failed at the Athens Olympics and the 2006 World Championships despite being full of top NBA talent? Critics point to a celebrity star based culture undermining the once invincible “Dream Teams” of the past. Extratime is in New York to meet the NBA Commissioner, David Stern, who’s been in the job since 1984. He talks to Rob Bonnet.
01/02/08
Wladimir Klitschko, Heavyweight boxing champion
The heavyweight boxing division has been without a single undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis retired in 2004. Now four boxers hold different versions of the heavyweight title. One of them is Ukrainian, Wladimir Klitschko, who wants to unite the titles and claim the right to be the “true” world heavyweight champion. His first step on that quest will be his fight against the Russian, Sultan Ibragimov, in New York on February 23. Extratime meets Klitschko at his training camp in Palm Beach, Florida. Can he rescue the heavyweight division from years of mediocrity and reignite public interest? Wladimir Klitschko talks to Rob Bonnet.
08/02/08
Mark Davies, Managing Director of Betfair
Betfair is a London-based company which has been described as synonymous with on-line sports gambling in the same way that Hoover is with vacuum cleaners. Betfair was launched in 2000 and it now handles about 5 million transactions per day. But what effect is this instantaneous betting having on sport - and the punters who wager not only on winners, but also on losers? Betfair’s managing director, Mark Davies, talks to Rob Bonnet.
15/02/08
Paul Nicholls, Champion racehorse trainer
Ahead of one of the most eagerly awaited horse races in decades Extratime meets the man, who at his stables in Somerset in England, is training the two top contenders for the prestigious Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival next week – one is the defending champion, Kauto Star and his closest rival, Denman. Such is the brilliance of these two horses that some see it as the greatest head-to-head race in more than 40 years. Clare Balding talks to champion trainer Paul Nicholls. How does he assess the chances of Kauto Star and Denman before the Gold Cup on March 14?
08/03/08