1. NRL. Relaunching in 31 days, desperate for cash and broadcasters losing cash hand over fist. The only sport channel doing well is the Saturday SKY1 horse racing! The NRL will go bust if they mess this up. A cold and wet week ahead will be of interest re the coronavirus.
Interesting how the media clamour to support the decision to re-launch so their jobs are kept safe in TV and the media. There are only so many re-runs of the 1989 Grand Final you can watch.
2. Peter V'landys has shone in terms of being tough. A dreamer one week - a genius the next. Getting rid of Todd Greenberg seems crucial. Todd needed to double down and work differently with his new boss, but he seemed incapable of doing this. Interesting and in no place to argue with the wasted cash he presided over. V'landys knows that without it, rugby league contracts and will need so much more surgery long term.
The new COVID-19 NRL rules for players are almost impossible to follow for these guys. Off field discipline works for most, but there will be the inevitable exceptions. No public interaction or personal training. No Ubers or taxis, self isolation, cleaning regimes, strict penalties and losing competition points. Washing footballs in eskies...please.
Finally deducting competition points will occur for perpetrators. You talk competition points in a reduced length of a season (esp. if you have no points so far) and the behaviour will tighten up. If you are the person to create the problem, you will never ever play NRL again. Unforgiveable.
One slip up and the comp finishes. Or do you just sack those clubs and surge on?
3. The Warriors staying at Lennox Head...surely when people can't attend a funeral, this can't progress. The lack of consistency is a huge risk. Society will simply rise up and do their own thing at their own beach...hang on...they've done that.
4. NFL. Tom Brady's move to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is an exciting development, but getting the great Rob Gronkowski ('The Gronk') as well looks really exciting for the Bucs. The Patriots will be totally revamped and will need a lot of work to recreate anything in the next season or two. This will test Bellichik's coaching ability.
5. Rugby. Raelene Castle is gone, but sadly, Rugby is still a basket case. She will go down in history as a trail blazer before her time, with the former Wallaby captains signing sheets of paper reinforces the problems the game faces. Living in the past....still. Phil Kearns should be immediately ruled out. John Eales is the man.
6. Cricket. Like the NRL, what a fiasco. They are forever crying poor and no one has an ounce of sympathy for these cash wasters. The 'poor me' brigade is not relevant in these times. take the hit and wake up. He is citing projected share losses. Don't sell them...they will recover in time. Their greed lingers on. Can we have another World Series break away comp? That was a whole heap of fun.
Sunday, April 26, 2020
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Wrap - NRL Fantasy Island
1. COVID-19 Sport Return. The race is on to be the barricade buster! NRL is something special. Broke and desperate, they are now more important that the health of others in society. Arguing now over who keeps points and who doesn't. Conferences...no conferences. The draw...origin...Their stupidity knows no bounds.
V'landys should be knocking a few heads together and waiting for professional expert advice, not some letter not endorsed by health professionals. At least the QLD Premier - Annastacia Palaszczuk - has some commonsense there.
The NRL, without even being aware, are fuelling a sense in society that it will be all over soon. Forget the medical officers and the expert professors of pandemics...their team, under Wayne Pearce will have it all back and running next week. No problems. All cured.
The optimism is fantastic. The reality a fantasy. Anything for money. A higher price for a scarcer commodity? Nothing lost whatsoever.
Ask the Canterbury Cup players who get nothing now that their comp is shut down.
Not hearing a lot this week about their Fantasy Island concept of last week, although it was great to see a couple of the NRL hierarchy earlier in the week:
2. UFC. However one mob buying an island, training the fighters there and televising it to the world while every other sport cannot, is enterprising. Much smaller scale, but clever business...even if it too is socially irresponsible. The associated workforce are most at risk.
3. Retirements, Sackings and Contracts. Very soon sporting organisations are going to need to land an edict that says that 2020 contracts will need to be honoured in sports - where there is no play - into 2021. Mark my words...it may well be the next issue of unfair dismissal with reasons like being 'fitter than ever' with a break set to dominate. The lawyers will be licking their chops here.
4. Teams of Decades, Best Ofs, The Greatest Ever..... these could wear thin soon. It feels like the New Year hiatus. Amazing to see how small the players of the 1980s really were physically by comparison.
Geoff Toovey has announced a ridiculous best ever Manly team putting Stuart Davis (the two iron with ears) in it over Tom Trobjevic and others! There is only one clip to watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSA_oQ2PSSE
5. NRL Integrity Commission. I hope this lot are practising social distancing because before too long they will be busy. It appears Tim Lafai from Saints may have been the first one to lose his balance at home under the pressure of doing not much more than weights and no league. How many more will follow? At least public displays of aggression or alcohol fuelled violence may be contained. I wonder whether social distancing for all players in the off season might be a new NRL/ AFL strategy of the future?
6. Horse racing. No horses diagnosed with COVID-19 just yet. Enjoying the Autumn Championships at present. Great wins by Colette and Through The Cracks, Indy Car, Away Game and Splintex. Addeybb (Queen Elizabeth Stakes) and Etah James (Sydney Cup) were superb! Liked Leale, Inverloch and Super Titus as well.
7. Might and Power has carked it. Totally memorable for big wins at a distance...Melbourne Cups, Caulfield Cups, Cox Plate - the lot!
V'landys should be knocking a few heads together and waiting for professional expert advice, not some letter not endorsed by health professionals. At least the QLD Premier - Annastacia Palaszczuk - has some commonsense there.
The NRL, without even being aware, are fuelling a sense in society that it will be all over soon. Forget the medical officers and the expert professors of pandemics...their team, under Wayne Pearce will have it all back and running next week. No problems. All cured.
The optimism is fantastic. The reality a fantasy. Anything for money. A higher price for a scarcer commodity? Nothing lost whatsoever.
Ask the Canterbury Cup players who get nothing now that their comp is shut down.
Not hearing a lot this week about their Fantasy Island concept of last week, although it was great to see a couple of the NRL hierarchy earlier in the week:
2. UFC. However one mob buying an island, training the fighters there and televising it to the world while every other sport cannot, is enterprising. Much smaller scale, but clever business...even if it too is socially irresponsible. The associated workforce are most at risk.
3. Retirements, Sackings and Contracts. Very soon sporting organisations are going to need to land an edict that says that 2020 contracts will need to be honoured in sports - where there is no play - into 2021. Mark my words...it may well be the next issue of unfair dismissal with reasons like being 'fitter than ever' with a break set to dominate. The lawyers will be licking their chops here.
4. Teams of Decades, Best Ofs, The Greatest Ever..... these could wear thin soon. It feels like the New Year hiatus. Amazing to see how small the players of the 1980s really were physically by comparison.
Geoff Toovey has announced a ridiculous best ever Manly team putting Stuart Davis (the two iron with ears) in it over Tom Trobjevic and others! There is only one clip to watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSA_oQ2PSSE
5. NRL Integrity Commission. I hope this lot are practising social distancing because before too long they will be busy. It appears Tim Lafai from Saints may have been the first one to lose his balance at home under the pressure of doing not much more than weights and no league. How many more will follow? At least public displays of aggression or alcohol fuelled violence may be contained. I wonder whether social distancing for all players in the off season might be a new NRL/ AFL strategy of the future?
6. Horse racing. No horses diagnosed with COVID-19 just yet. Enjoying the Autumn Championships at present. Great wins by Colette and Through The Cracks, Indy Car, Away Game and Splintex. Addeybb (Queen Elizabeth Stakes) and Etah James (Sydney Cup) were superb! Liked Leale, Inverloch and Super Titus as well.
7. Might and Power has carked it. Totally memorable for big wins at a distance...Melbourne Cups, Caulfield Cups, Cox Plate - the lot!
Sunday, April 5, 2020
Wrap - Parra Matters
1. Who Matters? I think we have all finally worked out that doctors and nurses are more important than loud mouth, whinging footballers and sports stars. There are so many who remain out of touch, dreaming for some miracle cure by June. Strap in tight...September/ October is the date, especially with the beach bound morons! The season will be cooked by then and quite frankly so long as our friends, family and mates are safe, no one really cares about the dreamers and the 50% pay cut folk... as much as we miss the sport.
Could be watching the Wuhan Tigers before too long.
2. NRL. The NRL are dreaming if they think they are back by June. There are more stupid stories than the Super League days right now. Scare mongering. Busier than a signwriter on a cruise ship company, trying to rebadge the floundering crafts...
In the end, what makes an NRL player more important than a brickie? a painter? a cleaner? Nothing. The world is doing it tough and quite honestly, why would you actually sponsor rugby league? Times are about to shift big time for rugby league.
Buy four islands in North Queensland, set up four conferences, self isolate abroad... honestly.
3. Changes. I am sure Peter V'landys is spewing that coronavirus arrived, because I am sure he was looking forward to sacking Greenberg. It may look bad now. He must have been very unhappy about Greenberg's efforts to mange the clubs and wages. Greedy clubs and players are being exposed too.
I noticed they are considering using international players in State of Origin. How many years have I been banging on about this?
4. Parramatta of course have been announced as Premiers leading the comp (+46 point differential) which has delighted the crowds, having won the first and last game of the season. That is rightful compensation for the cheating scandal of Melbourne Storm in the early 2000s.
5. Hugh Bowman. Mr Randwick. Literally finds a way to win on that track. If he doesn't win, he is close to second... back him.
6. Racing - Eric The Eel. Thankfully horse racing continues - why? Not 15 mins face to face for anyone. Social distancing can occur with no crowds. The Queensland horse, Eric The Eel ran a great race for the Australian Derby at Randwick in the first day of the Championships. He paid well for the third place and at one stage looked like winning the thing. Get on him!
If you want to win in the next couple of weeks, get on these horses and be humble enough to back them for the place:
5. NFL. Noticed that the New England Patriots have put the Boston-New York rivalry aside and delivered masks and gowns to assist their southern friends. A nice touch by Robert Kraft, the owner.
7. Daniel Hughes won the NSW Cricket - 'Best Player' award. A thin field after the Test players basically set up the year. Steve O'Keefe has announced his retirement after not getting another contract for NSW - 300 First class wickets and 9 Tests...retiring content.
8. PayTV. How many nostalgia games can there be replayed - how many replays or interviews with drug taking AFL players and disgraced league players. Lots of talk, but no action makes them pretty boring.
9. Golf. Had to laugh when I saw the social isolation rules had been reversed. It is true, outside of the PGA not many blokes hit the ball too close to each other in the weekend club rounds. Plenty of separation - esp. if on the bag around the 18 holes!
Could be watching the Wuhan Tigers before too long.
2. NRL. The NRL are dreaming if they think they are back by June. There are more stupid stories than the Super League days right now. Scare mongering. Busier than a signwriter on a cruise ship company, trying to rebadge the floundering crafts...
In the end, what makes an NRL player more important than a brickie? a painter? a cleaner? Nothing. The world is doing it tough and quite honestly, why would you actually sponsor rugby league? Times are about to shift big time for rugby league.
Buy four islands in North Queensland, set up four conferences, self isolate abroad... honestly.
3. Changes. I am sure Peter V'landys is spewing that coronavirus arrived, because I am sure he was looking forward to sacking Greenberg. It may look bad now. He must have been very unhappy about Greenberg's efforts to mange the clubs and wages. Greedy clubs and players are being exposed too.
I noticed they are considering using international players in State of Origin. How many years have I been banging on about this?
4. Parramatta of course have been announced as Premiers leading the comp (+46 point differential) which has delighted the crowds, having won the first and last game of the season. That is rightful compensation for the cheating scandal of Melbourne Storm in the early 2000s.
5. Hugh Bowman. Mr Randwick. Literally finds a way to win on that track. If he doesn't win, he is close to second... back him.
6. Racing - Eric The Eel. Thankfully horse racing continues - why? Not 15 mins face to face for anyone. Social distancing can occur with no crowds. The Queensland horse, Eric The Eel ran a great race for the Australian Derby at Randwick in the first day of the Championships. He paid well for the third place and at one stage looked like winning the thing. Get on him!
If you want to win in the next couple of weeks, get on these horses and be humble enough to back them for the place:
- Plonka (Randwick runners and those listed below)
- Colette
- Raheen House
- Eric The Eel
- Rubisaki
- Forever Free (Caulfield)
- Buffalo River
- Diamond Effort
- Salsamor
- Watch The Cat (Doomben)
- Okeechobee
- Get Stuck In
- Sizzlefly (Morphetville)
- Shamino
- Ecumenical
- Cliffs of Comfort (Ascot)
- Media Baron
- Red Can Man
- Golden Dice (Alice Springs) - 8 wins in a row!
5. NFL. Noticed that the New England Patriots have put the Boston-New York rivalry aside and delivered masks and gowns to assist their southern friends. A nice touch by Robert Kraft, the owner.
7. Daniel Hughes won the NSW Cricket - 'Best Player' award. A thin field after the Test players basically set up the year. Steve O'Keefe has announced his retirement after not getting another contract for NSW - 300 First class wickets and 9 Tests...retiring content.
8. PayTV. How many nostalgia games can there be replayed - how many replays or interviews with drug taking AFL players and disgraced league players. Lots of talk, but no action makes them pretty boring.
9. Golf. Had to laugh when I saw the social isolation rules had been reversed. It is true, outside of the PGA not many blokes hit the ball too close to each other in the weekend club rounds. Plenty of separation - esp. if on the bag around the 18 holes!
Monday, March 23, 2020
Wrap - A Good Tasering
1. Coronavirus. The whole sporting world will come to a grinding halt soon. Amazing how panic and self absorbed thinking dominates in tough times. The anxiety levels in society are incredible. Worry is a wasted emotion. Worry about what you can control. Empty stadiums look terrible, but it is the only solution for the codes desperate to get paid from their pay TV masters.
2. NRL. Luke Keary did not have his best game v Manly...over the tryline and the ball is inexplicably knocked out of his possession. Then his field goal hits the upright and bounces away...The Roosters have great forwards, but their backs and centres are ho hum at present. They miss Latrell even if they don't want to admit it. Manly look tough this year. A great win by them.
Warriors are terrible. being noble and staying in the country, but should they be banished from the NRL forever? Or is this their lifeline? When you look at it, why do we have NZ teams in the comp and not another Australian team? Strange. I hardly think they are bringing in great funds into the NRL coffers.
Canberra look pretty slick again. Curtis Scott looks to be a better player after having been tasered. Could have brought some sense to him.
3. NRL Cash Drought. How can the NRL be so short on cash? Where is it all? Tina Turner commercials? They have presided over the greatest mismanagement of any code on record. Greenberg will need to go. Greedy players are also coming to the surface now...the TV deal is so pivotal to the success of the code. Without it, they are a suburban comp. Players play - clubs pay them for playing. No play makes it hard... Club amateurism and mismanagement will be exposed.
Had to laugh with Gus Gould, pleading with players to stay well... Unfortunately viruses don't read his newspaper columns, blogs, or watch his shows.
4. Shaun Johnson. Can there be a worse buy than this bloke? He has so much ability but is a poor decision maker under pressure and has bad hands! The Cronulla forwards looked so much better without Woods - lots of go forward, but like so many teams, strike power out wide is lacking. Another Wade Graham injury seems so predictable these days. Great player but plays half a season tops these days.
Melbourne don't miss out on too many close games going their way. Smith et al regroup each year and surge on. If I was a CEO, I'd be signing Smith as my coach when he retires.
5. AFL. Closed door play in the AFL looks worse than the league, because they have such regular huge crowds. The Gold Coast Suns looked OK in pre-season, but were terrible yet again. The Swans had a top victory in Adelaide, but tried hard to throw it away. I liked the stamp of GWS (but their inconsistency will strike). Hawthorn just seem to keep on staying strong. All done for a while yet...probably a good thing.
6. Farnan - Golden Slipper. The effort in the Golden Slipper by Farnan was incredible. Another Hugh Bowman special. Started at the front and was never thwarted. This horse has done this for about a month now over 1200m or thereabouts. Gai Waterhouse has seven slippers now...top effort.
7. Coronavirus Winner - Sheffield Shield Winners. How lucky are NSW to have won the shield? Fading fast but when you win your first four with Starc, Cummins, Warner and Smith, you are in a good place. 47 titles now for NSW since the first 1892-93 season (Vics - 32; WA - 15; SA - 13; QLD - 8; TAS - 3).
8. Coronavirus Winner - Coaches. All those coaches going down the gurguler when comps were cancelled. They seemed really keen on public health all of a sudden.
9. A-League. The TV audience world wide is immense apparently as there is nothing else to watch. I am not hearing the sounds of opening chequebooks. They may be all asleep.
10. Tom Brady - Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Big news that the new England Patriots legend quarterback, Tom Brady has signed a two year deal to play at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I was just in Tampa myself and went to Raymond James Stadium - seats 75,000 and is huge. Think Wally World with the giant car park around the field! To borrow an old line..."What is a buccaneer...it is what is on the side of your buccan-head". Boom tish!
2. NRL. Luke Keary did not have his best game v Manly...over the tryline and the ball is inexplicably knocked out of his possession. Then his field goal hits the upright and bounces away...The Roosters have great forwards, but their backs and centres are ho hum at present. They miss Latrell even if they don't want to admit it. Manly look tough this year. A great win by them.
Warriors are terrible. being noble and staying in the country, but should they be banished from the NRL forever? Or is this their lifeline? When you look at it, why do we have NZ teams in the comp and not another Australian team? Strange. I hardly think they are bringing in great funds into the NRL coffers.
Canberra look pretty slick again. Curtis Scott looks to be a better player after having been tasered. Could have brought some sense to him.
3. NRL Cash Drought. How can the NRL be so short on cash? Where is it all? Tina Turner commercials? They have presided over the greatest mismanagement of any code on record. Greenberg will need to go. Greedy players are also coming to the surface now...the TV deal is so pivotal to the success of the code. Without it, they are a suburban comp. Players play - clubs pay them for playing. No play makes it hard... Club amateurism and mismanagement will be exposed.
Had to laugh with Gus Gould, pleading with players to stay well... Unfortunately viruses don't read his newspaper columns, blogs, or watch his shows.
4. Shaun Johnson. Can there be a worse buy than this bloke? He has so much ability but is a poor decision maker under pressure and has bad hands! The Cronulla forwards looked so much better without Woods - lots of go forward, but like so many teams, strike power out wide is lacking. Another Wade Graham injury seems so predictable these days. Great player but plays half a season tops these days.
Melbourne don't miss out on too many close games going their way. Smith et al regroup each year and surge on. If I was a CEO, I'd be signing Smith as my coach when he retires.
5. AFL. Closed door play in the AFL looks worse than the league, because they have such regular huge crowds. The Gold Coast Suns looked OK in pre-season, but were terrible yet again. The Swans had a top victory in Adelaide, but tried hard to throw it away. I liked the stamp of GWS (but their inconsistency will strike). Hawthorn just seem to keep on staying strong. All done for a while yet...probably a good thing.
6. Farnan - Golden Slipper. The effort in the Golden Slipper by Farnan was incredible. Another Hugh Bowman special. Started at the front and was never thwarted. This horse has done this for about a month now over 1200m or thereabouts. Gai Waterhouse has seven slippers now...top effort.
7. Coronavirus Winner - Sheffield Shield Winners. How lucky are NSW to have won the shield? Fading fast but when you win your first four with Starc, Cummins, Warner and Smith, you are in a good place. 47 titles now for NSW since the first 1892-93 season (Vics - 32; WA - 15; SA - 13; QLD - 8; TAS - 3).
8. Coronavirus Winner - Coaches. All those coaches going down the gurguler when comps were cancelled. They seemed really keen on public health all of a sudden.
9. A-League. The TV audience world wide is immense apparently as there is nothing else to watch. I am not hearing the sounds of opening chequebooks. They may be all asleep.
10. Tom Brady - Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Big news that the new England Patriots legend quarterback, Tom Brady has signed a two year deal to play at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I was just in Tampa myself and went to Raymond James Stadium - seats 75,000 and is huge. Think Wally World with the giant car park around the field! To borrow an old line..."What is a buccaneer...it is what is on the side of your buccan-head". Boom tish!
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Wrap - Self Isolation On The Coronas
Lads, with the sporting world in freefall - 'postponement', 'cancellation', 'self isolation' - become important words. More important for some sports than others. Fancy The Masters, French Open/ Wimbledon, NBA, MLB, NHL, PGA, EPL, European Football...all of them going into stoppage mode. Unprecedented, but important for world health. Although Anthony Mundine would dispute this (hopefully his brain is donated for scientific examination one day). Over reaction? By some I suspect, but we are not medics. Cancelling events seems to be panicking. Postponing and delaying them, more considered.
The current climate is a great opportunity for these athletes to earn money without playing, rest up and do some running repairs and surgeries... the fans now have to do a double take. The world without sport is a little dull it must be said.
Playing behind closed doors (NBA Grand Final, ODI, League? AFL?) can't be much fun however. It will test the character and patience of fans.
The fear of legal recourse against owners and corporations is lively!
The power of Pay TV and streaming services is very apparent too. Play on behind closed doors and give us content - or we won't give you cash!
1. Best News. The best news to come out of the lot is that there will be an end to the useless ODI cricket series between Australia and New Zealand! Also, if the Warriors could just return home to NZ and not bother us ever again, it would all work out nicely too. Oh, and a merciful end to the A-League season would be really well received too. Supercar season? Waratahs collapse? Add that to the same dung heap.
Interesting to see how sports played over multiple countries are impacted, but localised ones hold a little more control.
2. NRL. When will we simply get to a point where player discretions equal loss of competition points - and individual fines set by the Integrity Commission (they are a limp lettuce leaf). The impact on the team would be immense, but it would straighten out the idiots real fast. Fans would rise up through the traditional trolling online and clubs would get rid of fools and recruit on character - and skill. Self regulation. What young player would step out of line with a Shane Webcke or a Glenn Lazarus staring at them in a team talk?
Great to see the game back on our screens, but cannot see the season exciting too many with empty stadiums, if it lasts. Maybe one fan in every row?
The thought of taking games to the north of the country in the warmth, makes sense, but bringing every player to a 'Super Round' arrangement at a single venue represents a complete ignorance of the spread of coronavirus. Dumb.
Crystal Ball: as players test positive at certain clubs, other clubs will not want to play against them! This amounts to forfeits and then we will have complete chaos. Let's see where we are by next weekend.
3. NRL - Round 1. Eels looked only just, but what do you expect...lacking pace out wide. How Michael Jennings got another contract is beyond me. He was done six years ago at the Roosters. Roosters rusty...Sharks gallant (they will absolutely miss Morris - and needed to offload a forward instead. eg. Araon Woods). Titans woeful and Warriors horrible. Interested in the Henny Penny Knights under Coach O'Brien. Could surprise with a solid roster and great juniors.
4. ODI Cricket. Mercifully it is over. A series win? Will Cricket Australia come out and admit the season was a disgrace? Or will they make India share IPL players with them for two weeks each Australian summer for the BBL? We have gone soft. packer would never have allowed it.
5. EPL. Who wins? Surely Liverpool take the title if the competition is unable to recommence? However who is relegated? This will be problematic and may see a season next year with those heading upwards crowding out the top league...on that principle, does the bottom league become an untenable size?
6. US College Sport. What about US College sport... you have four years of eligibility to play. With their basketball and baseball/ softball being cancelled (not postponed), this means that a player in the final year is now done. So, regardless of their form, their potential or their emerging talent...they are finished.
Wait, the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) then weigh in and say that only baseballers in Division 1 colleges will get an extra year - so everyone else will whistle in the wind. Surely not. For a new player coming in, they now have to compete with five years worth of players. Older players staying (if they have no job already lined up) will bring extra costs to parents and greater competition, meaning first year players will be put onto the bench. Crazy topsy turvey times.
The current climate is a great opportunity for these athletes to earn money without playing, rest up and do some running repairs and surgeries... the fans now have to do a double take. The world without sport is a little dull it must be said.
Playing behind closed doors (NBA Grand Final, ODI, League? AFL?) can't be much fun however. It will test the character and patience of fans.
The fear of legal recourse against owners and corporations is lively!
The power of Pay TV and streaming services is very apparent too. Play on behind closed doors and give us content - or we won't give you cash!
1. Best News. The best news to come out of the lot is that there will be an end to the useless ODI cricket series between Australia and New Zealand! Also, if the Warriors could just return home to NZ and not bother us ever again, it would all work out nicely too. Oh, and a merciful end to the A-League season would be really well received too. Supercar season? Waratahs collapse? Add that to the same dung heap.
Interesting to see how sports played over multiple countries are impacted, but localised ones hold a little more control.
2. NRL. When will we simply get to a point where player discretions equal loss of competition points - and individual fines set by the Integrity Commission (they are a limp lettuce leaf). The impact on the team would be immense, but it would straighten out the idiots real fast. Fans would rise up through the traditional trolling online and clubs would get rid of fools and recruit on character - and skill. Self regulation. What young player would step out of line with a Shane Webcke or a Glenn Lazarus staring at them in a team talk?
Great to see the game back on our screens, but cannot see the season exciting too many with empty stadiums, if it lasts. Maybe one fan in every row?
The thought of taking games to the north of the country in the warmth, makes sense, but bringing every player to a 'Super Round' arrangement at a single venue represents a complete ignorance of the spread of coronavirus. Dumb.
Crystal Ball: as players test positive at certain clubs, other clubs will not want to play against them! This amounts to forfeits and then we will have complete chaos. Let's see where we are by next weekend.
3. NRL - Round 1. Eels looked only just, but what do you expect...lacking pace out wide. How Michael Jennings got another contract is beyond me. He was done six years ago at the Roosters. Roosters rusty...Sharks gallant (they will absolutely miss Morris - and needed to offload a forward instead. eg. Araon Woods). Titans woeful and Warriors horrible. Interested in the Henny Penny Knights under Coach O'Brien. Could surprise with a solid roster and great juniors.
4. ODI Cricket. Mercifully it is over. A series win? Will Cricket Australia come out and admit the season was a disgrace? Or will they make India share IPL players with them for two weeks each Australian summer for the BBL? We have gone soft. packer would never have allowed it.
5. EPL. Who wins? Surely Liverpool take the title if the competition is unable to recommence? However who is relegated? This will be problematic and may see a season next year with those heading upwards crowding out the top league...on that principle, does the bottom league become an untenable size?
6. US College Sport. What about US College sport... you have four years of eligibility to play. With their basketball and baseball/ softball being cancelled (not postponed), this means that a player in the final year is now done. So, regardless of their form, their potential or their emerging talent...they are finished.
Wait, the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) then weigh in and say that only baseballers in Division 1 colleges will get an extra year - so everyone else will whistle in the wind. Surely not. For a new player coming in, they now have to compete with five years worth of players. Older players staying (if they have no job already lined up) will bring extra costs to parents and greater competition, meaning first year players will be put onto the bench. Crazy topsy turvey times.
Monday, March 9, 2020
Wrap - Sporting Promotions
1. Australian Women's Cricket World Cup. Shemmozzle in the wet, for Australia to get there, but a huge final and a great spectacle. Katy Perry was pretty awesome when compared to a few others we have seen over the years. Why does the MCG always get this stuff so right? A huge, supportive crowd too.
The Australian women's cricket team really have struck a chord with the Australian public and don't for a moment forget the power of their advertisement - "C'mon Aussie c'mon...c'mon". It rings true with the viewers - still. No Perry in the team, but Mitchell Starc in the crowd (How does that work, but well worth it when your wife, Alyssa Healy, bats so superbly!). Beth Mooney and Meg Lanning are two of the best ever as well. India, as the biggest cricketing country in the world, will be smarting after such a thrashing.
In the end, girl power is rising in world sport as many tire of the brutality of UFC, the diving in soccer, violence and grubbiness (I note an England rugby player grabbing the crotch of a rival overnight...ugh?), drug taking... on it goes.
2. NRL. Finally the season gets under way next week. About time and with a NRL season launch video that needed to showcase more players and tries and ALL clubs - not entertainers, the game divided, protesters and the like. This alienates. There are so many great young players in the game and so many legends. Surely there is a better song than Tina Turner's old one (?). The younger brigade would have no idea. Some will be upset and marginalised that there were no crucifixes in the footage.
The game has changed a lot since the days of footy cards and Scanlen's gum. We are the fading past as supporters and most of us have probably not attended more than a game or two each year live. Anyhow, we are part of a different world of first home buyer's grants, baby bonuses, extra leave provisions from work, record low interest rates... the younger generation have never had it better!
For the future of the game, it must showcase its multicultural nature more as the once 'traditional' league lover is a fading supporter. The Aboriginal players and Pacific Islanders are the bright future of the game, regardless of what anyone else thinks. Their skill and robustness is amazing. State of Origin may need to flex to embrace the world spotlight too before too much longer. The women's game is growing too and is a key part of the strategy of every mainstream sport in Australia now (cricket, rugby, soccer). Footage of one and all athletes excelling in scintillating moments of endeavour would have been best. That gets the crowd going!
Foxsports and Jimmy Barnes got it half right, but there was more dust than footage for mine. How hard is it to get your back catalogue and find great tries. Most of the footage was not even from the SFS (Benjo flick...Thurston field goal, Sattler, etc).
I half expected Billy Idol, the boring judiciary mayhem, stupid refereeing errors to feature as well (Ashley Clown?). Get back to a player focus - of all colours, creeds, persuasions and whether they are Callithumpian as well - who cares! Show tries, big hits, winning plays and acrobatics! Maybe even an immortal or two doing something great!?
3. NRL Improvement. The waste of time in each game needs to be eliminated too. When a try is awarded, it should be time off until the kick off and twenty seconds is then added in every instance to the clock for the conversion kick. The same for scrums and restarts. Peter V'landys will be awesome for the game. His is a strong and ruthless leader, if required.
4. AFL. They love a long half time break - and a super long pre-season. They need to shake this up and start earlier. Stop with the useless trials . How can the NFL be so popular and so intense, rating highly and wowing the whole USA each week with only 16 games. They become complete showdowns of high intensity. The day is closing in when AFL and NRL follow a similar model. Intensity, high powered games that matter each week. Stand alone rep or rest weeks.
Watched the Adam Goodes film the other day. Highly recommended for one and all. Some may be surprised.
5. Cricket. The Australian ODI team v South Africa is still being hampered by Mitchell Marsh in the middle order. The "coach's son" in so many respects, but he simply is too slow and lacking self awareness. I don't know if he owns a shrewd enough cricketing brain. Maxwell is a shoe-in when he gets fit. Bowlers need to offer more with the bat too. Cummins has become very ordinary with the bat (fair enough when he is busy taking wickets), but this limits him in all three forms. He needs to be rested. IPL will set his life up with cash, but does he really need to play a nothing ODI tournament in South Africa?
6. Indian Cricket. Great to see the NZ team turn the cricket world on its head and beat India twice! Unheard of really, but a delight to see. Every great team needs to grapple with adversity. Kohli wavers a little sometimes in this space, but is still a splendid leader of toughness and skill - however unpopular outside of India.
7. Waratahs. They reserve a special line each week for incompetence. Is it so expected now that no one really even cares? They are in all sorts of trouble. Has anyone thought of recruiting the Crusaders coaches? Their culture in their franchise is awesome. This is built, ingrained and lived. It should be on every NRL coach's Christmas visit list....a few might learn how to break dance too. The Chiefs can play and dominate. They may threaten this year too. Crusaders will take some break dancing moves to beat them yet again however.
8. UFC. Another nasty bloke with heaps of tats has belted the life out of another nasty bloke and sought a re-match. Scoop. Footage of swollen foreheads and eyes ripped from sockets does nothing for me. This is not a sport for your daughter either I suspect, yet many partake. When will it be banned as I suspect most men and women don't like its brutality.
The Australian women's cricket team really have struck a chord with the Australian public and don't for a moment forget the power of their advertisement - "C'mon Aussie c'mon...c'mon". It rings true with the viewers - still. No Perry in the team, but Mitchell Starc in the crowd (How does that work, but well worth it when your wife, Alyssa Healy, bats so superbly!). Beth Mooney and Meg Lanning are two of the best ever as well. India, as the biggest cricketing country in the world, will be smarting after such a thrashing.
In the end, girl power is rising in world sport as many tire of the brutality of UFC, the diving in soccer, violence and grubbiness (I note an England rugby player grabbing the crotch of a rival overnight...ugh?), drug taking... on it goes.
2. NRL. Finally the season gets under way next week. About time and with a NRL season launch video that needed to showcase more players and tries and ALL clubs - not entertainers, the game divided, protesters and the like. This alienates. There are so many great young players in the game and so many legends. Surely there is a better song than Tina Turner's old one (?). The younger brigade would have no idea. Some will be upset and marginalised that there were no crucifixes in the footage.
The game has changed a lot since the days of footy cards and Scanlen's gum. We are the fading past as supporters and most of us have probably not attended more than a game or two each year live. Anyhow, we are part of a different world of first home buyer's grants, baby bonuses, extra leave provisions from work, record low interest rates... the younger generation have never had it better!
For the future of the game, it must showcase its multicultural nature more as the once 'traditional' league lover is a fading supporter. The Aboriginal players and Pacific Islanders are the bright future of the game, regardless of what anyone else thinks. Their skill and robustness is amazing. State of Origin may need to flex to embrace the world spotlight too before too much longer. The women's game is growing too and is a key part of the strategy of every mainstream sport in Australia now (cricket, rugby, soccer). Footage of one and all athletes excelling in scintillating moments of endeavour would have been best. That gets the crowd going!
Foxsports and Jimmy Barnes got it half right, but there was more dust than footage for mine. How hard is it to get your back catalogue and find great tries. Most of the footage was not even from the SFS (Benjo flick...Thurston field goal, Sattler, etc).
I half expected Billy Idol, the boring judiciary mayhem, stupid refereeing errors to feature as well (Ashley Clown?). Get back to a player focus - of all colours, creeds, persuasions and whether they are Callithumpian as well - who cares! Show tries, big hits, winning plays and acrobatics! Maybe even an immortal or two doing something great!?
3. NRL Improvement. The waste of time in each game needs to be eliminated too. When a try is awarded, it should be time off until the kick off and twenty seconds is then added in every instance to the clock for the conversion kick. The same for scrums and restarts. Peter V'landys will be awesome for the game. His is a strong and ruthless leader, if required.
4. AFL. They love a long half time break - and a super long pre-season. They need to shake this up and start earlier. Stop with the useless trials . How can the NFL be so popular and so intense, rating highly and wowing the whole USA each week with only 16 games. They become complete showdowns of high intensity. The day is closing in when AFL and NRL follow a similar model. Intensity, high powered games that matter each week. Stand alone rep or rest weeks.
Watched the Adam Goodes film the other day. Highly recommended for one and all. Some may be surprised.
5. Cricket. The Australian ODI team v South Africa is still being hampered by Mitchell Marsh in the middle order. The "coach's son" in so many respects, but he simply is too slow and lacking self awareness. I don't know if he owns a shrewd enough cricketing brain. Maxwell is a shoe-in when he gets fit. Bowlers need to offer more with the bat too. Cummins has become very ordinary with the bat (fair enough when he is busy taking wickets), but this limits him in all three forms. He needs to be rested. IPL will set his life up with cash, but does he really need to play a nothing ODI tournament in South Africa?
6. Indian Cricket. Great to see the NZ team turn the cricket world on its head and beat India twice! Unheard of really, but a delight to see. Every great team needs to grapple with adversity. Kohli wavers a little sometimes in this space, but is still a splendid leader of toughness and skill - however unpopular outside of India.
7. Waratahs. They reserve a special line each week for incompetence. Is it so expected now that no one really even cares? They are in all sorts of trouble. Has anyone thought of recruiting the Crusaders coaches? Their culture in their franchise is awesome. This is built, ingrained and lived. It should be on every NRL coach's Christmas visit list....a few might learn how to break dance too. The Chiefs can play and dominate. They may threaten this year too. Crusaders will take some break dancing moves to beat them yet again however.
8. UFC. Another nasty bloke with heaps of tats has belted the life out of another nasty bloke and sought a re-match. Scoop. Footage of swollen foreheads and eyes ripped from sockets does nothing for me. This is not a sport for your daughter either I suspect, yet many partake. When will it be banned as I suspect most men and women don't like its brutality.
Monday, March 2, 2020
Wrap - Where The Sun Don't Shine
1. The Sharks. Hopefully they can put away the loss of Gallen, Brayley snr and Prior, but with Fifita and Woods, I am not seeing the spark. Woods is massively over rated. Perhaps the death riding of a great recent club is topical (no home ground, CEO rotation, young coach...). Matt Moylan has been very disappointing with injury after injury. Throw in the over paid Dugan (not his fault and why would he want to go anywhere at $900K a year!?) and the imminent departure of Morris... mild turmoil pre season.
I am not as convinced as some re Bronson Xerri. He would have been awesome at Little Athletics, but his hands are problematic. His passing is problematic (he doesn't do that much) and he runs, but can he play? The reaction by a few to the signing of Jesse Ramien (who also rarely passes) has been petulant and childish. I am worried for their season already. But everyone enjoys seeing the Sharks triumph.
2. Chinese Swimming. We are always quick to throw stones at other nations, but have a pretty dismal record ourselves around drugs in Olympic sports if the truth by known. Sun Yang will hopefully be rubbed out, but Mack Horton needs to win now, or look a bit foolish himself. Like India in cricket, the Chinese are feared in Olympic sports organisation because they are a financial powerhouse! Sun Yang has been kicked where the sun don't shine.
3. New Zealand Cricket. Southee and Boult always seem to produce in New Zealand tests. They play best at home. A nasty chase looms for them but Bumrah is no bum. They can bowl these Indians and will never give up. Kohli is up to some whinging as usual, but they will aim up.
Fascinating how Australian Cricket can fold on itself sometimes too. A bad ODI loss to South Africa. Smith and Labaschagne need to score tons. Too often it is left for Warner or Finch. Can we omit Mitchell Marsh please? Every time he plays he gets a slow 15 runs and we lose. Not sure Hazelwood is up to ODI cricket any more.
4. Sheffield Shield. NSW are in the final, but it will be interesting to see if Cummins, Starc, Hazelwood, Smith, Lyon, Warner all play...If they do, call the engraver.
5. Rugby. The Waratahs have finally kicked in...like the look of this Angus Bell.
6. EPL. Well the great Liverpool run of success has been halted by Watford 0-3, but the race to avoid relegation is more exciting. Watford's effort underpins the desperation. Close at the bottom this year with the Canaries from Norwich even winning.
7. Tennis. Who would have thought...? Nadal wins the Mexican Open. Djokovic wins the Dubai Open. Same old, same old. The younger players are still not a patch on them after so many years!
8. AFL. Still months away from starting seemingly, but interested to see Dusty Martin still Best On Ground in the Victorian Origin game. Toby Greene, loathed as he is for his cockiness, is still one of the best in the AFL too.
9. NFL. Will he or won't he? Tom Brady's future at the New England Patriots is a huge story. He should insist they sign some decent receivers as part of any deal.
I am not as convinced as some re Bronson Xerri. He would have been awesome at Little Athletics, but his hands are problematic. His passing is problematic (he doesn't do that much) and he runs, but can he play? The reaction by a few to the signing of Jesse Ramien (who also rarely passes) has been petulant and childish. I am worried for their season already. But everyone enjoys seeing the Sharks triumph.
2. Chinese Swimming. We are always quick to throw stones at other nations, but have a pretty dismal record ourselves around drugs in Olympic sports if the truth by known. Sun Yang will hopefully be rubbed out, but Mack Horton needs to win now, or look a bit foolish himself. Like India in cricket, the Chinese are feared in Olympic sports organisation because they are a financial powerhouse! Sun Yang has been kicked where the sun don't shine.
3. New Zealand Cricket. Southee and Boult always seem to produce in New Zealand tests. They play best at home. A nasty chase looms for them but Bumrah is no bum. They can bowl these Indians and will never give up. Kohli is up to some whinging as usual, but they will aim up.
Fascinating how Australian Cricket can fold on itself sometimes too. A bad ODI loss to South Africa. Smith and Labaschagne need to score tons. Too often it is left for Warner or Finch. Can we omit Mitchell Marsh please? Every time he plays he gets a slow 15 runs and we lose. Not sure Hazelwood is up to ODI cricket any more.
4. Sheffield Shield. NSW are in the final, but it will be interesting to see if Cummins, Starc, Hazelwood, Smith, Lyon, Warner all play...If they do, call the engraver.
5. Rugby. The Waratahs have finally kicked in...like the look of this Angus Bell.
6. EPL. Well the great Liverpool run of success has been halted by Watford 0-3, but the race to avoid relegation is more exciting. Watford's effort underpins the desperation. Close at the bottom this year with the Canaries from Norwich even winning.
7. Tennis. Who would have thought...? Nadal wins the Mexican Open. Djokovic wins the Dubai Open. Same old, same old. The younger players are still not a patch on them after so many years!
8. AFL. Still months away from starting seemingly, but interested to see Dusty Martin still Best On Ground in the Victorian Origin game. Toby Greene, loathed as he is for his cockiness, is still one of the best in the AFL too.
9. NFL. Will he or won't he? Tom Brady's future at the New England Patriots is a huge story. He should insist they sign some decent receivers as part of any deal.
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