Monte's Multiple / Jaymes Monte / 19 May 2009 /

What came first - the chicken or the egg? It's one of life's oldest conundrums. And it got me thinking about an equally puzzling modern day conundrum, what came first - the internet or... Wikipedia?

Without Wikipedia, how did people even know what the internet was? Yet without the internet where would Wikipedia be? They'd probably have to write it all down on paper and call it a book-i-pedia or something ridiculous like that!

Once you've deliberated over this week's multiple conundrum, have a think about my modern day conundrum, answers on a postcard please...

Bet One: Football - UEFA Cup
Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk do battle with Germany's Werder Bremen on Wednesday night for the right to be the final victors of the UEFA Cup as we now know it.
It is ironic that in this last ever final of the UEFA Cup in its current format, that there should be so many firsts. It will be the first time that the final has been held in Turkey and it is the first time that a Ukrainian team has competed in a major European final. Furthermore, the winners of the final will have their name engraved on the trophy for the very first time.
Bremen's impressive semi-final, second leg away victory over compatriots Hamburg came at a cost. They will be without top scorer Diego, who has six for the tournament, and striker Hugo Almeida who both miss out as a result of bookings they picked up in that semi-final. Striker Claudio Pizarro is also a doubt through injury.
With Diego in the side I would have favoured Bremen here, but such has been his influence throughout the tournament, they must be taken on without him.
Selection: Lay W Bremen to beat Shakhtar @ [2.7]

Bet Two: Cricket - England v West Indies - 1st ODI
England's bowlers continued to make a mockery of the West Indies as they twice collapsed once the ball began to swing and suffered another innings defeat in Chester-le-street.
The recurring theme throughout their tour so far has been the constant moaning about the temperature and whether conditions of this early British summer. And unfortunately for the tourists I don't see there being much reprieve when they arrive in Leeds for the first ODI of the tour.
In the shorter format of the game, there is much more focus and pressure on taking your catches and slack bowling is more severely punished meaning that the West Indies must find a tolerance of these colder climates from somewhere otherwise this English procession looks set to continue.
England's test squad doesn't appear to have had any weak links throughout the two test matches, and they can add to that team the impressive Eoin Morgan, and established ODI players Dimi Mascarenhas and Owais Shah at Headingley.
Selection: Back England to beat West Indies @ [1.62]

Bet Three: Cricket - IPL
Shane Warne's Rajasthan Royals must win their final game of the group stage if they are to stand any chance of retaining their IPL crown. Luckily for them, the game comes against this year's whipping boys Kolkata Knight Riders.
The Royals find themselves in this position due to a defeat at the hands of Delhi Daredevils in their previous outing, but that should not put you off as Delhi have been rampant throughout this tournament. Shane Warne will thrive on this opportunity to show off his captaincy skills and feed off the pressure cooker atmosphere as he did when beating the Mumbai Indians.
Mumbai needed just four runs from the final over with three wickets in hand, but a combination of inspired captaincy from Warne and kamikaze running between the wickets from Mumbai gave an unlikely win to the Royals. It's that sort of fight and determination which should see Warne and his side take victory here and then hope that other results go their way and they make it to the semi-final.
Selection: Back Rajasthan Royals to beat Kolkata Knight Riders @ [1.7]

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