Wrap - Diamond Dodge

1. The Show - Major League Baseball. A huge event for MLB Opening Night in Sydney - a massive moment in the USA sporting calendar. More knowledge and game tips could have helped the crowd, but it is like the Olympics. Turn up and learn. Diamondbacks outgunned in the hitting box all week and need some new injections there. Trumbo is our Shaun Marsh - feast or famine. The Dodgers were better supported but were not a team that endeared themselves in every angle of their week. The upshot of the whole thing was that our stadium was just superb, the game was given a massive shot in the arm here and many of the current crop of senior and junior players now have magnificent learning and insight into that world of possibility.

2. Adam Scott. On the precipice of the best in the world. A great effort from the lad. When is that broomstick putter being banned?

3. Sheffield Shield. As predicted, everyone worried that the MLB was at the SCG took themselves and their families down to Canberra to watch it live at Manuka. The crowd I think cracked 500 people. Moises Henriques excelled with a 140 under pressure. He and Hazelwood (6/50) took control on Day Three with a 300 plus lead. There will need to be a miracle from one of Shaun Marsh at 500/1, Mitchell Marsh at 50/1 or Marcus North at 40/1.

4. The Wayne Rooney EPL goal from half way v West Ham. Only matched by the Melbourne Heart's Orlando Engelaar. Super stuff to take on the arrogant goal keeper. Liam Reddy has a history of embarrassing gaffes!

5. Australia v Pakistan in the 20-20 World Cup. Honestly, does anyone really care? The ICC are killing the game slowly and the India-England-Australia takeover would have made things better for themselves, but maybe better than the ICC could muster.

6. Manly v Parra. A more determined and resolute effort from Parramatta, but their concentration and leadership under pressure is horrible. Where is young Hunt (Neil's son) for the halves? They need zip there and someone who knows how to steer the team to a victory...who rallies when the two points beckon. They did this five times two years ago.

Those who know baseball will recognise that the Diamondbacks' Parra, was the last batter dismissed in both games. That is a bad sign for the other Parra

7. What is going on with NZ rugby in the Super 15? Perhaps they are getting bored and are happy underperforming. Western Force showing more than in recent memory. Interesting seeing the Reds give the refs a blast. The thought of a betting scandal looms large in those parts.

9. I heard a whisper that Fat Tony was driving that missing jet.