1. Rod Marsh has officially lost the plot. He has signalled his exit as a selector and it cannot come soon enough. They specialise in getting daft fools in that role... Hilditch... Invers... Marsh. Fancy saying that Joe Mennie is in the Test team because he bats better than others - and Jackson Bird misses out. Rod Marsh would have dropped Glen McGrath on that score. Known as "iron gloves" early on in his career, Rod Marsh is now known as "iron brain".
You'd be filthy if you were Joe 'Carpet' Burns too. Had two bad tests in Sri Lanka on a bunsen bruner and is now banished for Rod Marsh's Western Australian connection with the other Marsh family - Shaun and Mitchell. The tell me Shaun Marsh has been in and out of the Australian team EIGHT times. Dale Steyn must be salivating!
Mitchell Marsh has to be the new Shane Watson. Lots of promise - no results. Please don't even think...don't even think...of replacing him with Moises Henriques. Travis Head is a better cricketer than both of them.
2, I'm getting sick of Michael Clarke as well. He is now telling people to "move on" about the Katich issue and others. Hello Michael? hello? This is your new book sunshine...you are trying to make more money, yet again. We are over you. We are more over you now we know Channel 9 have you on their commentary team.
3. The 'tell all' cricket book...please. Johnson...even Brad Hogg....same manager perhaps? Even Mark Nicholas is writing one - an absolute bore. Max Walker was the doyen.
But why is Lehmann writing a book? Career over? Great news that he now thinks he shouldn't have selected certain blokes for an Ashes tour...who else has he got in that frame now? He needs to start winning. Lehmann has been listening to Rod Marsh and compromising himself by not choosing to coach this tour but not that tour...get your act together Darren. Ricky Ponting looms large.
4. Love an England rugby league test in slippery conditions. New Zealand relish that too. They will be hard to toss there. We have a strong chance, but will need to be up for the grind. Wayne Bennett is starting to annoy lots of people too.
5. Jose Mourinho. The nuts on the cart are loosening. The wheels are coming off. ManU are stalling on 15 points and the patience of owners and fans is being tested. Tevez is being sought...!
6. The Cubs. Sitting at 1-3 down after two losses at home (!), they are under the pump. The curse of the billy goat needs to be ended but there is that North Sydney Bears feeling about them. They can find a way to lose. They are staring down the barrel.
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Wrap - Reverse The Curse!
1. What is it with past Australian sports stars? (think Hackett, et al...Jana Drama...any number of footballers and league players...). To be arrested and detained in Japan requires some special hard work in being a dingbat. The people there are outstanding - quiet, respectful and placid. Wayne Gardner should ring Robert Allenby for some media tips. He handled his ongoing brand destruction appallingly.
2. I noticed that India (..red carpets please and oversized cheques for everyone at the ready servants) are considering the use of DRS technology. Please. Who gave them the right to defy world cricket for so long? Dohni should retire. Thank goodness Kohli (he who is hated universally) can be a little future focused.
3. Pat Cummins looked quick on TV in his comeback (yes...footage came via the rabbit ears antennas via Africa of the Matador Cup). By the way, the marketing team there at Matador must have some coin to waste. A good win by NSW. The great MOOOIIISESZ Henriques scored plenty.
4. A-League. It fills a big void of action at this time of year. Like the intensity and some solid crowds. Where is the wife's best friend - the Big Bash?
5. Wallabies. All week we heard how the hoodoo will be broken, how we will bounce back...past champions...old photos of the slim Allan Jones (success can make you fat)...and what do we get? BLOT. Hopeless joke of a referee. All these debutants just kids playing against men. Witches hats really for the NZers to run around, over and through. They do a North QLD in the last 15 minutes this mob. They pile on the points!
Chieka is kidding isn't he? He is fast losing the plot. Fancy worrying about what New Zealand newspapers do and say. They are crazy fans and manic exaggerators who love to win. 'Don't personalise it or it will break you' was the best advice he received. He behaved like a clown indeed.
6. You may have missed it but the Cleveland Indians (smashed the Bluejays) are into the World Series v the Chicago Cubs who won v the LA Dodgers today. Can the Cubs do it - or will the curse of the Billy Goat continue to plague the Cubs who have not been into the World Series since 1945? This is a major story for the Cubs and Chicago. A huge week ahead.
Youtube "Steve Bartman Baseball Fan" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq8G81oOHhY for one of the most wild stories on a bloke who helped perpetuate the curse. He is still hunted and in hiding in Chicago today!
The Cleveland Indians are looking to shower further glory on the Cleveland people after the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA championship this year. However forget a super rare three-peat...the poor old Cleveland Browns (NFL) are limping along at 0-6. They are gone.
7. Loving the EPL as always. Bumped into "Chelsea TV" the other night on Fox. It fair dinkum looks like they are filming a colour comp game from Parramatta Park! Amateurish. Fox need to negotiate heavily with Optus and get a share of the action.
8. Looking forward to seeing England function in rugby league under Wayne Bennett. If it starts to rain or snow, they could dominate.
9. Winx. Awesome and amazing!
2. I noticed that India (..red carpets please and oversized cheques for everyone at the ready servants) are considering the use of DRS technology. Please. Who gave them the right to defy world cricket for so long? Dohni should retire. Thank goodness Kohli (he who is hated universally) can be a little future focused.
3. Pat Cummins looked quick on TV in his comeback (yes...footage came via the rabbit ears antennas via Africa of the Matador Cup). By the way, the marketing team there at Matador must have some coin to waste. A good win by NSW. The great MOOOIIISESZ Henriques scored plenty.
4. A-League. It fills a big void of action at this time of year. Like the intensity and some solid crowds. Where is the wife's best friend - the Big Bash?
5. Wallabies. All week we heard how the hoodoo will be broken, how we will bounce back...past champions...old photos of the slim Allan Jones (success can make you fat)...and what do we get? BLOT. Hopeless joke of a referee. All these debutants just kids playing against men. Witches hats really for the NZers to run around, over and through. They do a North QLD in the last 15 minutes this mob. They pile on the points!
Chieka is kidding isn't he? He is fast losing the plot. Fancy worrying about what New Zealand newspapers do and say. They are crazy fans and manic exaggerators who love to win. 'Don't personalise it or it will break you' was the best advice he received. He behaved like a clown indeed.
6. You may have missed it but the Cleveland Indians (smashed the Bluejays) are into the World Series v the Chicago Cubs who won v the LA Dodgers today. Can the Cubs do it - or will the curse of the Billy Goat continue to plague the Cubs who have not been into the World Series since 1945? This is a major story for the Cubs and Chicago. A huge week ahead.
Youtube "Steve Bartman Baseball Fan" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq8G81oOHhY for one of the most wild stories on a bloke who helped perpetuate the curse. He is still hunted and in hiding in Chicago today!
The Cleveland Indians are looking to shower further glory on the Cleveland people after the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA championship this year. However forget a super rare three-peat...the poor old Cleveland Browns (NFL) are limping along at 0-6. They are gone.
7. Loving the EPL as always. Bumped into "Chelsea TV" the other night on Fox. It fair dinkum looks like they are filming a colour comp game from Parramatta Park! Amateurish. Fox need to negotiate heavily with Optus and get a share of the action.
8. Looking forward to seeing England function in rugby league under Wayne Bennett. If it starts to rain or snow, they could dominate.
9. Winx. Awesome and amazing!
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Wrap - Hoodoo Breakers
1. Phil Hughes. Why are players being cross examined about
comments on the field? This cannot be useful to anything other than a negligence suit against Cricket Australia. Comments did not kill. An unsafe workplace? I suspect the batting helmet manufacturers should have been called. Sure, sledging needs to be addressed - by umpires who should be able
to 'bin' players at First Class level. This will stop it. However, I get the
feeling that the lack of resolution is driving a hate campaign against a few of
them. What will it achieve? I must say what I have said time and time again -
Cricket Australia will have a hefty legal bill if a kid or adult is hurt now as
they play games protecting their procurement policy on helmet design. Improve
the bloody things and lead the way worldwide.
2. Australia v NZ. There is something awesome about Test rugby
league being played in front of a big crowd - in daylight - with one ref. Sure,
a few errors and dodgy calls, but authentic league.
3. Very troubled to see a player without tattoos and wearing
black boots. Should be banned.
4. Australian Cricket. This summer could be an absolute
watershed in the game's short term future in Australia. We have been belted 3-0
by Sri Lanka and 5-0 by Sth Africa and still we wheel out excuses. Bottom line?
We were arrogant and terrible! Warner the only star. Big Bash and the Matador
Cup need to be listed as distinct selection trials. The time is ideal if you are coming through the ranks.
Is there a more injured sportsman than the VIC quick bowler, James Pattinson. Tha answer? Yes - Pat Cummins. Then Couter-Nile...Starc...
5. Tim Cahill. Some sort of goal from 35m out. Lazy goalkeepers
who have not played the world's best before take note. Give 'em an inch....
6. Sydney FC on fire with 8-0 to start the year. How about lowly Newcastle knocking over the Brisbane Roar 4-0? Incredible.
7. Interesting to see Las Vegas firming as the new home for one of the most travelled of NFL football teams - the LA Raiders. Could actually bring a bit of spirit to Vegas after many years of nothing but money obsession.
8. Major League baseball. The team left: Cleveland Indians v Toronto Blue Jays (2-0 Indians up - best of 7 games). LA Dodgers v Chicago Cubs (1-0 Cubs up- best of 7 games) The Curse of the Billy Goat has haunted The Chicago Cubs. They are poised to break it...or are they? 108 years of grief?
Please read the following to brush up with history:
The Curse of the Billy Goat is a sports-related curse that was supposedly placed on the Chicago Cubs Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in 1945 when Billy Goat Tavern owner Billy Sianis was asked to leave game 4 of the World Series against the Detroit Tigers at the Cubs' home ballpark of Wrigley Field because the odor of his pet goat (named Murphy) was bothering other fans.[1][2] He was outraged and allegedly declared "Them Cubs, they ain't gonna win no more," which has been interpreted to mean that there would never be another World Series game won at Wrigley Field. The Cubs have not won a World Series championship since 1908 or played in the World Series since 1945.
9. A big year for underdogs and hoodoos:
Cleveland Cavaliers NBA winners after 46 years
Cronulla Sharks NRL winners after 49 years
Western Bulldogs AFL winners after 62 years
Leicester EPL winners after 132 years
10. I cannot believe Sam Mitchell was given the Trade punt from Hawthorn this week. The fabric is fraying. This should be what Sydney do to Keiran Jack soon.
10. I cannot believe Sam Mitchell was given the Trade punt from Hawthorn this week. The fabric is fraying. This should be what Sydney do to Keiran Jack soon.
Monday, October 10, 2016
Wrap - Tattoo and The Boss
1. The Matador Cup has arrived and even Moises Henriques is getting runs. What a farce that competition is...especially when the Australians have played so lamely abroad. Aaron Finch has been awful. Smith never seems to get ODI runs when it counts. I dare to think what sort of crowds they will get this summer. The game is in a tailspin at present. We are staring at a 5-0 whitewash. The bowling group is ridiculously poor. How many of this crew are injured - Joel Paris, Pattinson, Cummins (?)...on it goes.
Peter Nevill needs to start scoring runs or Wade will jump ahead of him. There needs to be changes.
2. Mount Panarama. Reminds me of what Austen Tayshus said about Mt Isa.
3. Soccer. Is it now too greedy worldwide? TV coverage of Australian Socceroo games is non-existent now. Surely we are not that popular? No EPL coverage unless through Optus? I thought Optus had collapsed in a heap like their pre match NRL Grand Final inflatable TV all those years ago. How Fox ever let that slip away no one will ever know.
4. NRL. Quiet as, but how many players will be charged with misdemeanours this summer? The Wrap scoreboard stands at 0 after week one. However I noticed Todd Carney is back in town.
5. AFL. What gives with the AFL trade and drafts? Totally ridiculous. Hawthorn are about to become unbeatable again with their trades. How does a salary cap work down there? Sydney have had a rails run and GWS of course. When does fairness enter the frame? Is the model out of synch with reality?
6. ManU. There could be a sudden end to Mourinho's career soon. A surly whiner is what becomes of him when his team is struggling for wins - as they are at present. He loses the dressing room quicker than most. He needs to become more animated courtside and start getting excited for his players and show his fans he cares.
7. The Phil Hughes (RIP) Hearing. Doug Bollinger has abandoned the rug. He has taken up the Crusher Cleal beard instead. A bit harsh to land him with accusations that he threatened to kill Hughes. All bowlers say this to batsmen. Would appreciate Cricket Australia doing something to change helmet design for young kids instead of hiding behind phantom excuses and 'contracts'. A huge law case awaits there.
8. Can anyone seriously believe that Parramatta are about to sign Kirisome Auva’a from Souths, released for ill discipline and domestic violence related issues?...Join the dots...please. Is the caretaker management a pack of morons too? How many jailbirds and dropkicks can one club have?
By the way, I bumped into Corey Norman this weekend on the Gold Coast at the casino. Told him that he was due to lead Parramatta to a premiership. Remarkably, he was behaving himself. Also told him I was the new full time club tatooist signed for $200K to try and recoup contract money from players with a new in-house incentive arrangement. Upstairs next to the dodgy Chinese joint. Thinking of branching out with a Jim's NRL Tattoo Removal franchise.
Peter Nevill needs to start scoring runs or Wade will jump ahead of him. There needs to be changes.
2. Mount Panarama. Reminds me of what Austen Tayshus said about Mt Isa.
3. Soccer. Is it now too greedy worldwide? TV coverage of Australian Socceroo games is non-existent now. Surely we are not that popular? No EPL coverage unless through Optus? I thought Optus had collapsed in a heap like their pre match NRL Grand Final inflatable TV all those years ago. How Fox ever let that slip away no one will ever know.
4. NRL. Quiet as, but how many players will be charged with misdemeanours this summer? The Wrap scoreboard stands at 0 after week one. However I noticed Todd Carney is back in town.
5. AFL. What gives with the AFL trade and drafts? Totally ridiculous. Hawthorn are about to become unbeatable again with their trades. How does a salary cap work down there? Sydney have had a rails run and GWS of course. When does fairness enter the frame? Is the model out of synch with reality?
6. ManU. There could be a sudden end to Mourinho's career soon. A surly whiner is what becomes of him when his team is struggling for wins - as they are at present. He loses the dressing room quicker than most. He needs to become more animated courtside and start getting excited for his players and show his fans he cares.
7. The Phil Hughes (RIP) Hearing. Doug Bollinger has abandoned the rug. He has taken up the Crusher Cleal beard instead. A bit harsh to land him with accusations that he threatened to kill Hughes. All bowlers say this to batsmen. Would appreciate Cricket Australia doing something to change helmet design for young kids instead of hiding behind phantom excuses and 'contracts'. A huge law case awaits there.
8. Can anyone seriously believe that Parramatta are about to sign Kirisome Auva’a from Souths, released for ill discipline and domestic violence related issues?...Join the dots...please. Is the caretaker management a pack of morons too? How many jailbirds and dropkicks can one club have?
By the way, I bumped into Corey Norman this weekend on the Gold Coast at the casino. Told him that he was due to lead Parramatta to a premiership. Remarkably, he was behaving himself. Also told him I was the new full time club tatooist signed for $200K to try and recoup contract money from players with a new in-house incentive arrangement. Upstairs next to the dodgy Chinese joint. Thinking of branching out with a Jim's NRL Tattoo Removal franchise.
Monday, October 3, 2016
Wrap - GF Special
1. Swans. Totally lacked pace in the centre and their inability to take contested marks right across the second half was terrible. Buddy was ordinary. Why he didn't announce himself by shooting the first goal of the game instead of a failed kick to the centre was anyone's guess. Pressure has found him out sometimes. This time of year last year was an unhappy time for him. Rohan needed to step up but didn't. McGlynn was invisible. Mills error prone.
The Umpiring was appalling. The bias was insulting. Keep Victoria safe as the AFL home was clearly the edict. I think the game needs to publicly address this.
The pace and handballing from the Western Bulldogs cut the Swans to ribbons. Rampe and Grundy kept the Swans in it. The Swans had nothing up front. Boyd and the Headbanded alphabet were dynamic in the air. A great game, only missing a live cross to Gary and Mrs Crankypants Jack's house. Just quietly I think Bruce also stole Dennis Commeti's thunder at the end. He needed to back off a bit for mine and honour his mate.
2. Man Mundine continues to confirm that he is the absolute master of idiotic comments by dopey sportsmen worldwide. Boycott the anthem? Wake up. Anthony needs to follow the example of Warren Mundine and think solutions not activism.
3. Cronulla. Monumental games from Barba, Maloney and Fifita largely went unrecognised. Ennis and Prior too. Lewis? Steady, but not in the league of the others on the night. Runs great lines as a backrower and should have kept the arm up for that near miss try. The Sharks dug deep. That last minute or so was enthralling! It could have gone either way. Great game. Better result.
4. Not real impressed with the number of Sharks fans at the post GF fan day. $12,000? It needed to be stage managed more professionally, but as premiers you can do whatever you like! It will take some kind of miracle to keep that team together...Ennis is gone....hard to replace!
What about Bellamy? In charge of the Storm for 14 seasons. He has had a finals appearance every year - except when they lost all points and came last. Six Grand Finals (3 wins - 2 stripped). 5 Minor Premierships. Nine top four finishes. Amazing.
5. Pre game entertainment at Grand Finals. How can this be so consistently bad? Keith Urban looks like a lovely fellow but we'd really rather hear Nicole Kidman sing. Sting was awful. Sambora was hopeless - so was hat girl. What is doing? Jimmy Barnes was exceptional last year...Rolling out Tina Turner's 'Simply The Best' is stretching things a bit too much.
It was intriguing to see a few innovations at the NRL GF to try and catch up with the AFL. Premiership rings (how ugly are they!?) handed over by young kids (from where?). The pre game team handshake was interesting. As was coverage of Todd Greenberg giving hugs to certain players. David Gallop would not have gotten or given that! The victor's dias in front of their crowd (like when the Bunnies won) gives an excellent backdrop and some streamers made a comeback as well...even if theyr got stuck on the high wires. The Clive Churchill announcement was botched! Too soon...no build up...no explanation of how this is decided.
6. Australian Cricket. Can anyone explain how Boland, Mennie and Worrall are our leading bowlers? They are terrible!! Sth Africa smacked us twice. Really smacked us. We are an embarrassment. An arrogant one at that. Imagine the whinging if South Africa sent that quality of bowler out here. Why are these nonsense tournaments important?
7. Daniel Ricciardo. Great win in the Malaysian GP. The shooey...what the hell?
8. A League. The timing of the start of their season is very well done. They know their place in the Australian sporting landscape.
9. Ryder Cup. USA dominated. Good to see Rory getting fired up! Did you see the Danny Willett response to the journo's question "How would you describe your first Ryder Cup experience?". His answer: "Shit". Fair enough.
10. MLB Finals: American League - Boston Redsox, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers. Wildcard game: Baltimore Orioles v Toronto Bluejays. National League - Chicago Cubs, LA Dodgers, Washington Nationals, Wildcard game: NY Mets v San Fran Giants.
Plenty of big games ahead. The Cubs may actually shake the curse of the goat at long last!
11. When did the BIG cardboard face of the player become popular in the NRL crowd!? One for the Indian cricket crowd to work on. They have absolutely dominated New Zealand. The turning Indian decks are something else.
12. Wobblies. Did they play?
The Umpiring was appalling. The bias was insulting. Keep Victoria safe as the AFL home was clearly the edict. I think the game needs to publicly address this.
The pace and handballing from the Western Bulldogs cut the Swans to ribbons. Rampe and Grundy kept the Swans in it. The Swans had nothing up front. Boyd and the Headbanded alphabet were dynamic in the air. A great game, only missing a live cross to Gary and Mrs Crankypants Jack's house. Just quietly I think Bruce also stole Dennis Commeti's thunder at the end. He needed to back off a bit for mine and honour his mate.
2. Man Mundine continues to confirm that he is the absolute master of idiotic comments by dopey sportsmen worldwide. Boycott the anthem? Wake up. Anthony needs to follow the example of Warren Mundine and think solutions not activism.
3. Cronulla. Monumental games from Barba, Maloney and Fifita largely went unrecognised. Ennis and Prior too. Lewis? Steady, but not in the league of the others on the night. Runs great lines as a backrower and should have kept the arm up for that near miss try. The Sharks dug deep. That last minute or so was enthralling! It could have gone either way. Great game. Better result.
4. Not real impressed with the number of Sharks fans at the post GF fan day. $12,000? It needed to be stage managed more professionally, but as premiers you can do whatever you like! It will take some kind of miracle to keep that team together...Ennis is gone....hard to replace!
What about Bellamy? In charge of the Storm for 14 seasons. He has had a finals appearance every year - except when they lost all points and came last. Six Grand Finals (3 wins - 2 stripped). 5 Minor Premierships. Nine top four finishes. Amazing.
5. Pre game entertainment at Grand Finals. How can this be so consistently bad? Keith Urban looks like a lovely fellow but we'd really rather hear Nicole Kidman sing. Sting was awful. Sambora was hopeless - so was hat girl. What is doing? Jimmy Barnes was exceptional last year...Rolling out Tina Turner's 'Simply The Best' is stretching things a bit too much.
It was intriguing to see a few innovations at the NRL GF to try and catch up with the AFL. Premiership rings (how ugly are they!?) handed over by young kids (from where?). The pre game team handshake was interesting. As was coverage of Todd Greenberg giving hugs to certain players. David Gallop would not have gotten or given that! The victor's dias in front of their crowd (like when the Bunnies won) gives an excellent backdrop and some streamers made a comeback as well...even if theyr got stuck on the high wires. The Clive Churchill announcement was botched! Too soon...no build up...no explanation of how this is decided.
6. Australian Cricket. Can anyone explain how Boland, Mennie and Worrall are our leading bowlers? They are terrible!! Sth Africa smacked us twice. Really smacked us. We are an embarrassment. An arrogant one at that. Imagine the whinging if South Africa sent that quality of bowler out here. Why are these nonsense tournaments important?
7. Daniel Ricciardo. Great win in the Malaysian GP. The shooey...what the hell?
8. A League. The timing of the start of their season is very well done. They know their place in the Australian sporting landscape.
9. Ryder Cup. USA dominated. Good to see Rory getting fired up! Did you see the Danny Willett response to the journo's question "How would you describe your first Ryder Cup experience?". His answer: "Shit". Fair enough.
10. MLB Finals: American League - Boston Redsox, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers. Wildcard game: Baltimore Orioles v Toronto Bluejays. National League - Chicago Cubs, LA Dodgers, Washington Nationals, Wildcard game: NY Mets v San Fran Giants.
Plenty of big games ahead. The Cubs may actually shake the curse of the goat at long last!
11. When did the BIG cardboard face of the player become popular in the NRL crowd!? One for the Indian cricket crowd to work on. They have absolutely dominated New Zealand. The turning Indian decks are something else.
12. Wobblies. Did they play?
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