Michael Lintorn

I shun legendary sportsmen like Lionel Messi, Rafael Nadal and Michael Schumacher and instead opt to idolise the goods-but-not-greats of the world like Ezequiel Lavezzi, Gael Monfils and Robert Kubica, the logic being that there is more joy to be had celebrating the scarce highs of their careers.

There are two pretty large exceptions to that rule though: my all-time favourite player Alessandro Nesta holding a genuine claim to being the best defender of my limited lifetime and my clubs of choice West Ham and Lazio spending most of their existence being neither good nor great!

The first bet I remember winning came backing Brazil to win 2-0 with Ronaldo scoring first in the 2002 World Cup Final. Approximately three of my ten thousand scorecasts since have come good.

My greatest ever win was supposed to come backing Dimitar Berbatov to be Premier League top goalscorer in 2010-11 at 40/1, but the dead-heat finish proved a bit of a choker.

Sport is, rather sadly, my life, with my main “achievement” of recent years being to make it to each of West Ham’s 48 games in 2010-11. I had started off describing the plan as “the perfect season”, though oddly that title didn’t seem quite so appropriate come May!

• Betchecker: Huge wins on Betfair as Bolton hold Arsenal
• Premier League News: Wilshere worries add to Arsenal gloom
• Valencia v Barcelona: Visitors to recover and seal first-leg victory
• Premier League Betting: Everton the big deadline day winners
• Betchecker: Big odds on Betfair as Suarez-less Liverpool shine
• European Transfer News: Motta, Muntari and Krasic on the move
• Man City Transfer News: Late entrance for creative midfielder
• Opta Stats: More joy for Arsenal goal machine away to Bolton
• Tottenham Transfer News: Two strikers linked on deadline day
• Serie A Betting: Tricky travelling tests for Juventus and AC Milan
• Opta Stats: Blackburn revival to continue against Newcastle
• Opta Stats: Sunderland v Norwich
• Opta Stats: Bolton v Arsenal
• Opta Stats: Blackburn v Newcastle
• Opta Stats: Aston Villa v QPR
• Opta Stats: Wolves v Liverpool
• Opta Stats: Tottenham v Wigan
• Opta Stats: Manchester United v Stoke
• Opta Stats: Fulham v West Brom
• Opta Stats: Everton v Manchester City
• Opta Stats: Swansea v Chelsea
• Liverpool Transfer News: Late push to bring Tevez to Anfield
• European Transfer List: Five biggest January movers so far
• Feyenoord v Ajax: Game-raising hosts to win De Klassieker
• FA Cup Betting: Birmingham and Norwich set for travelling joy
• QPR Transfer News: Hoops keen to buy from relegation rivals
• Watford v Tottenham: Spurs to bounce back from Man City loss
• FA Cup: Leicester to avoid upset, Millwall to cause one
• Newcastle Transfer News: Dutch winger linked with Magpies loan
• Clasico Reaction: Real Madrid reunited by Barcelona ref rage
• Liverpool v Man City: Defensive resolve to see Reds through
• FA Cup Opta Stats: Watford v Tottenham (and all W ties)
• FA Cup Opta Stats: QPR v Chelsea (and all Q-S ties)
• FA Cup Opta Stats: Liverpool v Man United (and all L-M ties)
• FA Cup Opta Stats: Everton v Fulham (and all D-H ties)
• FA Cup Opta Stats: Arsenal v Aston Villa (and all A-B ties)
• Premier League Question: Which Football League bosses will rise?
• Copa del Rey News: Miraculous Mirandes reach the semis
• Liverpool Transfer News: Reds eye up South American pair
• Cardiff v Crystal Palace: Hosts to fire their way to the final
• Coppa Italia Betting: Inter's form to continue away to Napoli
• Euro 2012 News: Totti comeback talk gains momentum in Italy
• Chelsea Transfer News: Work to do to woo Shakhtar star Willian
• Bundesliga Betting: Bayern Munich surrender winter lead
• Championship Transfer News: West Ham aim high for a striker
• Betchecker: Big prize on Betfair as Man United win at Arsenal