1. Coach of the Year? Is it Bellamy again - or is it Jason Taylor? For the first year in a long while, the wholesale sacking of NRL coaches has not occurred. For the Tigers to still be in contention is a minor miracle. Henry at the Titans has done well. Is it true that when Farah has not played they have won 90%?
The Sharks as minor premiers will be a good achievement. Once again, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk - absolutely non-combustible. Never injured. They hold the team together and make it formidable. Surely the Broncos and Storm are the premiers...or will the Sharks defy the silliness of Fifita and actually win their first? They need more speed men involved.
2. AFL. What about Hawthorn? Whenever they are on the line...they deliver. The fifth 'less than six point' wins this year by beating a surprisingly resilient Collingwood. The last round effort of Melbourne (terrible 100 point loss to Geelong), Richmond (horrible 100 point loss to Swans) Tanking of lesser teams? The Western Bulldogs' loss to Freo was awful. Ross Lyon may be on the nose over in Freo with talk of Fyfe moving on...surely not.
The AFL season starts after the NRL and then ends wit ha week's break before the finals...player welfare or not enough footy? Swans v GWS at 3.20pm on sat 10 September...a cracker!
3. Wallabies. Talk of knifing Chieka is becoming deafening. He is exposed by using a number of blokes past their use by date...Cooper is number 1. Has he ever played well for the Wallabies? Gee it is a struggle to remember it, if he has.
4 .Steve Smith. Hard to think an Aussie skipper needs a rest. Here's an idea...don't play ODI cricket at all. Just captain test cricket. And Warner does not need a rest? You will recall he had a brilliant EPL series this year and has played in all games everywhere bar a finger injury.
How Zampa was not selected ahead of Jon 'Doorknobs' Holland is unbelievable. The Dutch Dud. Zampa is a wicket taker and will win games for Australia in time. Holland is a statistic.
5. How predictable these days is a Mitchell Starc 'bowled' or 'LBW' of an opposing opening batsman in ODI cricket?
6. EPL. Chelsea, Man City and ManU look to have returned to dominance for season 2016-2017.
7. I noticed Parramatta have started signing blokes again - the impressive Vave from Manly for starters. Wicks and Edwards have joined Norman in contract extensions. A halfback? That Aiden Sezar who left the Titans for the Raiders this year has been a great signing. Parra need a sensible pick up at a reasonable price like that - NOT Adam Reynolds. Jeff Robson? Cheap but too slow. A bit like young Daniel Mortimer.
8. It must be said that outside of Andy Murray, is there a greater "bridesmaid" in world sport than Daniel Ricciardo? Before the GP officianados get upset...maybe Mark Webber was a bigger one.
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Wrap - Triple Triples
1. The Olympics never seems to go long enough. Once you establish your time zone routine, it gets rhythmic! Some tremendous middle distance work from our runners and we seemed to be more alive and focused there than we were in the pool. What about the shenanighans of the swimmers and the rubbish pedalled about McKeown going off with Swedish swimmers...half cut no doubt.
Ms Chiller (who looks far from chilled) has the worst job in the world, keeping all those randy, non-drinking binge loving drama queens and kings in line. Throw them all in the cess pit of the Olympic village and lock the key. Gee they must annoy the athletes who have not completed their events as yet.
2. I am impressed with the storytelling and fables being created by athletes and team officials (accreditation disgrace) and by key individuals about hold ups and thefts. The Brazillians must regret ever putting their hands up. Why is a third world Policeman so often a less emotional, non understanding beast. I'd be counting up that cash with the fines imposed. Could be a big drink post Olympics I suspect.
3. Great moments: Bolt triple triple; Mo Farah double double; Brazil's soccer win; our pentathlete; the track events and relays are exciting; the cycling and rowing are good to see too. Our star?
Our dud? Jenneke...men's and women's hockey...women's soccer...Rugby 7's were terrible too.
4. Wallabies. I must say that was the weakest performance by a Wallaby team for some time...maybe since we played England a few months back. They were soft and disinterested. lacking leadership. Chieka is on notice now. He had a dream run. God knows how he even starts to address it. It was a diabolical disgrace. So many empty seats up high in the stadium and so many more ahead. That game is in trouble.
5. Australian Cricket. barely any better. Outside of Starc, Smith and Warner, I don't think any of them are safe. We could be seeing an absolute broom through that lot soon. Hazelwood for mine - and Nevill - were the most disappointing two. Voges hopeless...
6. Rugby League Top 8. Almost decided. Roosters looked like semi finalists today. Canberra still look shaky for mine.
7. AFL. Swans well placed...still think Adelaide have more running in them than most others. Hawthorn shaky at present but know how to do it.
Ms Chiller (who looks far from chilled) has the worst job in the world, keeping all those randy, non-drinking binge loving drama queens and kings in line. Throw them all in the cess pit of the Olympic village and lock the key. Gee they must annoy the athletes who have not completed their events as yet.
2. I am impressed with the storytelling and fables being created by athletes and team officials (accreditation disgrace) and by key individuals about hold ups and thefts. The Brazillians must regret ever putting their hands up. Why is a third world Policeman so often a less emotional, non understanding beast. I'd be counting up that cash with the fines imposed. Could be a big drink post Olympics I suspect.
3. Great moments: Bolt triple triple; Mo Farah double double; Brazil's soccer win; our pentathlete; the track events and relays are exciting; the cycling and rowing are good to see too. Our star?
Our dud? Jenneke...men's and women's hockey...women's soccer...Rugby 7's were terrible too.
4. Wallabies. I must say that was the weakest performance by a Wallaby team for some time...maybe since we played England a few months back. They were soft and disinterested. lacking leadership. Chieka is on notice now. He had a dream run. God knows how he even starts to address it. It was a diabolical disgrace. So many empty seats up high in the stadium and so many more ahead. That game is in trouble.
5. Australian Cricket. barely any better. Outside of Starc, Smith and Warner, I don't think any of them are safe. We could be seeing an absolute broom through that lot soon. Hazelwood for mine - and Nevill - were the most disappointing two. Voges hopeless...
6. Rugby League Top 8. Almost decided. Roosters looked like semi finalists today. Canberra still look shaky for mine.
7. AFL. Swans well placed...still think Adelaide have more running in them than most others. Hawthorn shaky at present but know how to do it.
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Wrap - Olympic Pet Hates
1. Michael Phelps. Once upon a time we thought Spitz was a legend winning six gold medals! When you crack 25+ you are an absolute phenomenon. However, a disappointing exit from the pool deck. Phelps was worthy of being chaired around the pool by all his competitors. We will never see this record broken in our lifetime. We thought Thorpe was good! This bloke is the best ever in any Olympic sport. Some mantle. Hopefully he stays well adjusted and does not resort to domestic violence and nipple cripples.
2. Unfortunately Channel 7 have been a total disgrace with their coverage. Outside of Bruce McIvaney, they struggled. Great to see Graham Manou is still hitting the ING signs in life. He did it twice. Although I definitely learned a lot from Russell Mark at the shooting this morning. He was very good. This bluff and crap approach to finals and replays of events already completed is amazing. The stunning 10,000m win by the great Mo, was squeezed in between the long jump which no one really cares about. No idea.
2. How hard is it to win a NRL comp? At this time of year you can see how much teams are struggling with injuries and pain. The Cowboys have hit the wall. The Sharks have struggled without Gallen (doesn't Fifita know how to give away a penalty?). The Broncos are back (v Parramatta, but who wouldn't be!)...it is becoming very interesting. The Storm are superb. How they can be so consistent over so long is beyond me - all with Billy Slater out of the team. The other stunning thing is Cameron Smith never misses a game - no injuries, pain or whinging. He is their lynchpin.
3. Jarryd Hayne may just be headed to the semis with the Titans. Great field goal. Neil Henry has done an amazing job. He did an amazing job at that niteclub in Melbourne with us that night at that dodgy casino bar they shut down a few years back too.
4. What is it about Rugby 7's...easy come easy go? No real care and concern if you lose seemingly. The women did wonderfully well. The blokes sounded like they did better in the post tournament drinkathon. F1J1 impressive.
5. Cricket - Starc dominant. Lyon solid, but ...Holland? If you can't get wickets there in Sri Lanka, you'll never get them. To have them 5/25 and now out for a million....please. No spirit or stick sadly.
Pakistan well placed v England and only need 6 wickets to draw the series. Having said that if England get a small lead, Anderson and Broad will serve it up to them! That man Moeen Ali struck yet another ton. Surely it is time for Ian Bell to return. Their middle order is woeful. Meanwhile everything bad about West Indian cricket was on show in India's cakewalk.
6. Gee I like these Campbell swimming sisters. Cate says she has 'choked' and half an hour later she goes into the 4 x 100m relay and leads Australia to silver when she got in the pool at sixth place. Brilliant. They will be back. Less media and more social media by all reports.
7. AFL. Their season is escalating with brutal intensity and fitness across a long season. The contests and fitness is amazing. So many teams are lifting their tackling and scrambling now. The game has risen to a new level over many more clubs.
8. An Olympic World Record on the track by 15 seconds (!) is an intriguing worry. A superb piece of freak form that blasts everyone off the course?...Or yet another medal presentation at the next Olympics or at the local RSL Club with an apology and a disgraced media conference?
9. Always intrigued by why our more war torn countries don't do better in the Olympic shooting....go figure.
10. Another pet hate is "Great Britain". Why do they compete as a conglomerate and not England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales...? Sounds contrived to me.
11. Some big name retirements in the USA MLB (Major League Baseball) over the weekend - Alex Rodriguez, Mark Texiera and Prince Fielder. They go on the Major league pension now. How does that work?
2. Unfortunately Channel 7 have been a total disgrace with their coverage. Outside of Bruce McIvaney, they struggled. Great to see Graham Manou is still hitting the ING signs in life. He did it twice. Although I definitely learned a lot from Russell Mark at the shooting this morning. He was very good. This bluff and crap approach to finals and replays of events already completed is amazing. The stunning 10,000m win by the great Mo, was squeezed in between the long jump which no one really cares about. No idea.
2. How hard is it to win a NRL comp? At this time of year you can see how much teams are struggling with injuries and pain. The Cowboys have hit the wall. The Sharks have struggled without Gallen (doesn't Fifita know how to give away a penalty?). The Broncos are back (v Parramatta, but who wouldn't be!)...it is becoming very interesting. The Storm are superb. How they can be so consistent over so long is beyond me - all with Billy Slater out of the team. The other stunning thing is Cameron Smith never misses a game - no injuries, pain or whinging. He is their lynchpin.
3. Jarryd Hayne may just be headed to the semis with the Titans. Great field goal. Neil Henry has done an amazing job. He did an amazing job at that niteclub in Melbourne with us that night at that dodgy casino bar they shut down a few years back too.
4. What is it about Rugby 7's...easy come easy go? No real care and concern if you lose seemingly. The women did wonderfully well. The blokes sounded like they did better in the post tournament drinkathon. F1J1 impressive.
5. Cricket - Starc dominant. Lyon solid, but ...Holland? If you can't get wickets there in Sri Lanka, you'll never get them. To have them 5/25 and now out for a million....please. No spirit or stick sadly.
Pakistan well placed v England and only need 6 wickets to draw the series. Having said that if England get a small lead, Anderson and Broad will serve it up to them! That man Moeen Ali struck yet another ton. Surely it is time for Ian Bell to return. Their middle order is woeful. Meanwhile everything bad about West Indian cricket was on show in India's cakewalk.
6. Gee I like these Campbell swimming sisters. Cate says she has 'choked' and half an hour later she goes into the 4 x 100m relay and leads Australia to silver when she got in the pool at sixth place. Brilliant. They will be back. Less media and more social media by all reports.
7. AFL. Their season is escalating with brutal intensity and fitness across a long season. The contests and fitness is amazing. So many teams are lifting their tackling and scrambling now. The game has risen to a new level over many more clubs.
8. An Olympic World Record on the track by 15 seconds (!) is an intriguing worry. A superb piece of freak form that blasts everyone off the course?...Or yet another medal presentation at the next Olympics or at the local RSL Club with an apology and a disgraced media conference?
9. Always intrigued by why our more war torn countries don't do better in the Olympic shooting....go figure.
10. Another pet hate is "Great Britain". Why do they compete as a conglomerate and not England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales...? Sounds contrived to me.
11. Some big name retirements in the USA MLB (Major League Baseball) over the weekend - Alex Rodriguez, Mark Texiera and Prince Fielder. They go on the Major league pension now. How does that work?
- MLB players must play 43 days in the majors to earn a minimum $34,000 annual pension plan. Just one day in the majors gets them lifetime healthcare coverage. After 10 years in the big leagues, benefits grow to $100,000 annually.
12. Really bad start by Leicester. They only lost three games last year. Hull will not be one of the best by season's end.
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Wrap - Brought To Heal
1. Jarryd Hayne. Surely the days of having one expensive recruit - whose arms, knees and hamstrings are as vulnerable as the next bloke's - cannot win you a comp. The Gold Coast has a startling way of converting talent into dust...in all sports. To offload a million good earnest players for one prancing stallion is not sensible. Jarryd will do some good things. He is quality, but gee the Gold Coast has a temporary sniff about it for him. He will take up boxing or checkers soon.
2. Cricket. Our inability to play grinding cricket was always going to show at some stage. Smith has lived on a fairytale for some time now. Can you imagine us in the Ashes in England? Anderson and Broad will make mince meat of this lot.
A series loss to the Lankans is a humiliation. We are soft and we are excuse makers. The talent in Australia is not in test cricket. Joe Burns has been found out (of course) and the flat track experts with the bat have been exposed too. What is Voges' average now? He needs to lift. Herath seemed to be bowling hand grenades. Starc is our only shining light. How long will he last? He has proven to have a very dubious fitness level. How can you pick Jon Holland as our next best spinner? Please....Zampa? Agar?...
Rod Marsh is still hanging around long after his expiry date. Lehmann needs to watch out too. Langer will jump in there with half a chance. Bayliss might also like to come home...
3. Olympics. Talking of whinging...that Chef de Mission for Australia. Chiller? She has already won the gold medal for that. Very soon she will be telling us it was - of course - the best games ever...ever since the last ones.The local crims have never been so busy. Was Rio going to be anything but a challenge with crime, lower standards of living, infrastructure, etc? The Olympics are well known for their ability to fry a nation's resources.
How good are those Campbell sisters, Cate and Bronte? Quick. Possibly a lap quicker than Dawn Fraser now. Loved the Mack drug cheat sledge. I think we are all tiring of the glory victory on the dias with the Olympic Gold medal surrendered at a meek ceremony a couple of years later. Swimming and Athletics are the home of the fraudsters and pure cheats.
4. Why does Andrew Bogut annoy people so much?
5. Hawthorn. They are the most remarkable team. There is probably no other team in Australia at present (outside the Cowboys and Storm...Cronulla?) who know how to win in all kinds of conditions and circumstances. A fourth consecutive flag will take some doing. They will take some beating. Even if Melbourne knocked them over!
6. Roston Chase. Who? This West Indian all rounder had a superb game v India (top notch opponent) in tests getting five wickets on debut and then a 137no to stave off defeat. Now there s someone who that country - our country ? - needs! Steel and hunger.
7. You can put money on a Foran comeback. However, this obsession our media has with stating under all articles about salary cap rorting and match fixing "we are not suggesting any of the players mentioned or photographed here are involved" is wearing mightily thin. Players know more than we are being told. They need to be brought to heel.
2. Cricket. Our inability to play grinding cricket was always going to show at some stage. Smith has lived on a fairytale for some time now. Can you imagine us in the Ashes in England? Anderson and Broad will make mince meat of this lot.
A series loss to the Lankans is a humiliation. We are soft and we are excuse makers. The talent in Australia is not in test cricket. Joe Burns has been found out (of course) and the flat track experts with the bat have been exposed too. What is Voges' average now? He needs to lift. Herath seemed to be bowling hand grenades. Starc is our only shining light. How long will he last? He has proven to have a very dubious fitness level. How can you pick Jon Holland as our next best spinner? Please....Zampa? Agar?...
Rod Marsh is still hanging around long after his expiry date. Lehmann needs to watch out too. Langer will jump in there with half a chance. Bayliss might also like to come home...
3. Olympics. Talking of whinging...that Chef de Mission for Australia. Chiller? She has already won the gold medal for that. Very soon she will be telling us it was - of course - the best games ever...ever since the last ones.The local crims have never been so busy. Was Rio going to be anything but a challenge with crime, lower standards of living, infrastructure, etc? The Olympics are well known for their ability to fry a nation's resources.
How good are those Campbell sisters, Cate and Bronte? Quick. Possibly a lap quicker than Dawn Fraser now. Loved the Mack drug cheat sledge. I think we are all tiring of the glory victory on the dias with the Olympic Gold medal surrendered at a meek ceremony a couple of years later. Swimming and Athletics are the home of the fraudsters and pure cheats.
4. Why does Andrew Bogut annoy people so much?
5. Hawthorn. They are the most remarkable team. There is probably no other team in Australia at present (outside the Cowboys and Storm...Cronulla?) who know how to win in all kinds of conditions and circumstances. A fourth consecutive flag will take some doing. They will take some beating. Even if Melbourne knocked them over!
6. Roston Chase. Who? This West Indian all rounder had a superb game v India (top notch opponent) in tests getting five wickets on debut and then a 137no to stave off defeat. Now there s someone who that country - our country ? - needs! Steel and hunger.
7. You can put money on a Foran comeback. However, this obsession our media has with stating under all articles about salary cap rorting and match fixing "we are not suggesting any of the players mentioned or photographed here are involved" is wearing mightily thin. Players know more than we are being told. They need to be brought to heel.
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