Sunday, October 15, 2017

Wrap - An Unfamiliar Ring

1. B League. When the Newcastle Jets play the Perth Glory in the A Minus League - and dominate prime airtime with post match forensics and interviews - before throwing to the NBL Sydney Kings v the Illawarra Hawks - you know you are at a quiet time of year for sport. The motor racing tries hard but is simply a niche market. Internationally and on the track there is relief!

2. NRL - Kangaroos. Why did the Australians play Fiji and New Guinea in league on the weekend? A trial? An exhibition? Seemed odd. I suspect it may be to keep the "emus" (those who will not play for the kangaroos) happy.

3. Shanghai Tennis Masters. After the disgrace of Kgyrios continued, Federer and Nadal brushed aside the other pretenders to make the final. Federer wins again, taking his victories over Nadal to four this season, including the famous Australian Open. What a supreme athlete! The older athletes seem to be showing up the softer younger ones now in many sports. There seems no end in sight for either of these powerhouses.

Even Maria Sharapova has had a drug free win at the Tianjin Open!

4. AFL Trade Period. This is an added batch of excitement for the true blue AFL fan...and it makes for a clear window where it can happen openly and freely, independent of the season proper. What for some good leadership in the NRL...25 sacked from the staff last week! The Paul Kent article re NRL waste and mismanagement is incredible (if true)...and not a promotional advertisement/ campaign on any TV in the country for the code of rugby league - ever!

5. EPL. How about the performance of Chelsea and Arsenal on the weekend? Both losing the unthinkable...Chelsea to the previously winless Crystal Palace, while the formidable Arsenal lose to the minnows Watford. Stoke got towelled up by Man City big time 7-2...more like an Amco Cup scoreline.

6. Cricket. Our new Number 6 for Australia? I will back in Jake Lehmann. Young, very gifted and knows the selectors. Or Stoinis. Travis Head may be a chance, but what great scheduling...the national team in India for 20-20 games and the local blokes playing useless ODIs against each other...the Shield anyone? Surely...with an Ashes series around the corner. That would probably be the great work of your high performance manager, Pat Howard.

7. The NRC. Never heard of it? Nor have rugby fans who know none of the players and do not know where it is even played.

8. Major League Baseball. In the climax of the MLB this year, there are two scenarios playing out for the World Series:

a. Chicago Cubs v LA Dodgers (National League). LA Dodgers lead 1-0 (best of 7).
b. New York Yankees v Houston Astros (American League). Astros lead 2-0 (best of 7).

The Cubs will need a miracle this year. As will the Yankees. The winner of (a) plays the winner of (b)!

9. Redzel. Picked it all week in Saturday's ridiculously rich 1200m Everest, but what about this horse, Vega Magic which ran second? Get it in a 1400m or 1600m race and it does not lose! Kachiiing!

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