KEY POINTS:
The English soccer premiership continues to sweep all before it, boosted further this season because no single club is beating allcomers.
The premier league comes into its own around Christmas for a soccer lover on this side of the world and the latest batch of matches have surpassed
expectations.
Christmas/New Year is often a pivotal premiership mid-point where title credentials are waved in opponent's faces or dropped on the floor at a time when our own sports offerings rate between a lull and a dead zone.
So far, the cricket contest between Bangladesh and the Black Caps is battling for survival. It is an honourable series - another step for Bangladesh in what, hopefully, will be a rise to mirror that of the wonderful Sri Lankans - but not a tantalising one. Bangladesh lack the big names, or any names we recognise.
Across the ditch, the weekend saw a cricketing battle between Dravid and Goliath.
Indian Rahul Dravid's tribulations as an opener represented yet another triumph for the international sports team dynasty that is Australian cricket. The Australian cricketers are so good that their deeds actually live up to television commentator Bill Lawry's eulogistic words.
Back to soccer. A number of clubs with dynastic intentions are battling for the English crown.
The latest action started with an almost unbelievable Boxing Day ding-dong between Chelsea and Aston Villa which continued into the weekend with more high drama. Cracking stuff.
The English premiership juggernaut is not without problems. The game prices itself out of the family market, a few players' off-field behaviour is disheartening, a few fans are no better, referees are under increasingly intense pressure, and most people agree the competition would be enhanced by more English stars.
Then again, the poor fan and player behaviour may get exaggerated coverage, television makes the game available to most even if ticket prices don't, and the influx of foreign players has raised the levels to amazing degrees and given the premiership the feel of being the world's No 1 sports competition.
Vitally, every game is played in front of a vibrant and packed house, which translates wonderfully via television. The commentaries are also spot on, informed and invigorating but not intrusive. It's a fantastic package.
The problem for the premiership is that recent title races have not been great contests. One team has tended to run away with the title or it has been only a nominal two-horse race.
It could turn out to be the same this season but there are at least signs that a battle might ensue involving Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool - the four clubs who have enjoyed spells of dominance during the past 40 years.
Liverpool created the first dynasty, initiated by the legendary manager Bill Shankly. His successor Bob Paisley, from the famous Anfield backroom, faced a difficult task matching Shankly.
Shankly didn't exactly help the situation either, attending the Liverpool training sessions where players still referred to him as "boss" and later advising other clubs who called him. But Paisley endured, and trumped Shankly's trophy count.
Paisley claimed that he suffered through not having Shankly's gift of the gab for the press. But Paisley did okay in this department as well. "Mind you, I've been here during the bad times too - one year we came second," are among his memorable quotes.
Times changed though and Liverpool have been overshadowed by the modern-day premiership successes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.
You could argue all day about which club has achieved the most, although for my money there has been no better side to watch than Arsene Wenger's Arsenal when Thierry Henry reigned supreme.
For glamour and sustained title challenges, nothing matches Sir Alex Ferguson's United. of course. Chelsea were often dour but virtually unbeatable champions for a couple of seasons.
A four-way duel would lift the premiership to even greater heights and that ranks highly on the sporting wish-list for 2008.
World cricket has no such question over who wears the crown.
Australia are extraordinary and each new generation raises aspects of their game, even if old stars are missed.
There are constant themes. The mid-1980s Australian revival and all that has followed has been built around a tough, thou-shall-not-pass batsman and captain. From Allan Border to Steve Waugh to Ricky Ponting, this particular torch gets brighter and brighter.
In the one day game, Australia keep coming up with unique matchwinners. The Dean Jones-Michael Bevan-Michael Hussey thread is a classic example of that.
Of their current and recent stars, Adam Gilchrist may prove the hardest to replace. It's difficult to envisage another wicketkeeper able to be, at times, the dominant batsman of his age. When Gilchrist does retire, he will leave a big hole in the one-day set-up, although his test batting is probably a luxury for which Australia can compensate.
Players such as Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath don't grow on trees either. The chances of finding a new McGrath probably outweigh the prospects of another Warnie popping up. But this continual blending of established world beaters and tough emerging stars is remarkable. New players arrive test ready for Australia, whereas in New Zealand's case, they usually try to learn on the job and barely cope.
Disappointingly, Sachin Tendulkar cut himself out during India's final innings at Melbourne. The chance that the masterful Indian might tear a new-look Australian attack apart was the most enticing prospect of the weekend.
But even the brilliance of Tendulkar was never going to save India. Like us, maybe he even marvelled, if reluctantly, at another Australian victory charge.
