Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini, managers of Manchester United and Manchester City respectively, epitomise the vagaries of top sport.

The FA Cup might not be what it once was but Wigan's shock win in the final against Manchester City over the weekend was still the stuff of fairytales.

Two schools of thought about All Black selection have been aired lately.

Netball umpires need to be armed with yellow cards and to be encouraged to use them.

Weak football officials have helped to create the problem child of football, Liverpool's Luis Suarez.

Good on Phoenix football captain Andrew Durante for standing up the other day and taking a shot at one of the club's owners, the increasingly voluble Gareth Morgan.

OPINION: It was Rickie Fowler who brought home to me how much professional golf has changed.

OPINION: Life in the New Zealand Davis Cup tennis team is seldom straightforward these days.

OPINION: To read many of the descriptions of Jesse Ryder since his brutal attack, you would he was the most troubled sports star in history. But is he?

OPINION: What a revelation Brendon McCullum has been as the New Zealand cricket captain this summer.

Shooter Donna Wilkins has added some vital spark to the Central Pulse netball team in the build-up to this year's ANZ trans-Tasman championship.

OPINION: These are worrying times for golf wonder boy Rory McIlroy, and his legion of fans.

It's been a long time between drinks for New Zealand women's tennis.

Boxing is fast going the way of professional wrestling, and Sonny Bill Williams is hastening the slide.

I was duped by Lance Armstrong last week. Not about whether he was a drugs cheat. I've never doubted that. Despite his vehement protestations, there's been far too much evidence.

Ryan Nelsen's imminent move to Toronto has become a bit messy but that shouldn't cloud the way we view one of our rare football greats.

What an incredible overreaction there was after New Zealand were bowled out for 45 by South Africa in the first cricket test at Cape Town.

For equestrian star Mark Todd, his New Year honour is a case of better late than never.

OPINION: Sophie Pascoe, who reached Michael Phelps-like standards at the Paralympics, is giving Halberg Awards voters headaches. Or she should be.

Rob Waddell brings impressive credentials to his new role as chef de mission of the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games teams.