Rob's Blog

Entries Tagged as 'Major Events'

Norman Black Power

October 9th, 2006 · No Comments · Olympic Games, Track & Field

Australian sprinter Peter Norman recently passed away. His silver medal in the 200m at the Mexico Olympics in 1968 is still the best performance by an Australian male sprinter. Norman ran 20.06 seconds, which is still an Australian record. Despite his great performances, he is not a well known sportsman in Australia. However, many people have seen a photo of him receiving his Olympic medal, as he was part of one of the classic Olympic Games controversies. Norman came second behind American Tommie Smith, and in front of John Carlos also from the USA. Smith and Carlos were African Americans, and made their black power salute, raising their fists with black gloves on. All three athletes wore human rights badges, with Norman showing his support for their cause.

Tags: athletics·Australia·olympics·protest·sprinters·track and field

Early Start for Swimmers

August 7th, 2006 · No Comments · Olympic Games, Swimming

It has recently been announced that the Beijing Olympic Committee are considering turning the swimming program on it’s head, so that the swimming finals at the 2008 Olympic Games are in the morning and the heats in the evening.

The reason for this is so the finals are on at prime time in the US. I have no problem with this, and I think the swimmers should welcome it. Although the world’s top swimmers are professional athletes, as with all sports, there are able to be professionals due to sponsors and the public who enjoy watching them perform.

By swimming their finals in the morning they are able to satisfy both of these groups. Physiologically, they should be more than capable of swimming their best in the morning. Look at every swimmer’s training program, and you will see that they are up early every day doing laps in the pool. If the Olympic program is switched around, you will see all the lead up meets also change their program around so they can get used to the new schedule.

I have also always wondered about how fresh the swimmers are after swimming several heats in the morning then coming out later that day to swim in their finals. Having to come to the pool fresh each day to race their finals, we may well see better performances – then we will not be hearing any complaints.

Related Pages: swimming, Olympic Games, Beijing 2008

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Lands In Trouble

July 28th, 2006 · No Comments · Cycling, Tour de France

It would not be a Tour de France without some doping scandal. I thought that when a few of the favorites were pulled out by their teams at the start of the event due to a link with a drug laboratory, then that would be it. However, the day after the end of the Tour finished, we discover that this year’s winner Floyd Landis gave a positive test for elevated testosterone, from a sample given after his big comeback win on one of the final stages.

This whole incident may go on for a long time with appeals etc, but already the damage has been done to his reputation and to the reputation of world cycling, if it could get any worse.

I followed the ups and downs of the Tour for two weeks, and even stayed up late and watched a couple of the stages. Now I feel like what I watched was not real, and I feel cheated. I feel the same disappointment whenever there is a drug scandal.

The doping cloud over Lance Armstrong is never going to go away either. In an era when many of the leading cyclists are being done for drug taking, indicating that many performances are drug-assisted, here is a guy who has won seven of the events in a row. It is hard to believe that someone who is clean can dominate for so long in those conditions.

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Aussie Team on Tour

July 25th, 2006 · No Comments · Cycling, Major Events, Tour de France

Michael Rogers, one of two Australians who finished in the top ten of the Tour de France this week, suggested it was time for Australia to put a team on the tour.

There is a big financial hurdle to overcome, but other than that there is enough interest in Australia and certainly enough talent to put together a team.

This year was Australia’s best performance – we had two riders in the top ten, Stuart McGee and Michael Rogers, and the winner of the sprint title was Robbie McEwen also of Australia.

Getting a major sponsor must be easier knowing that a competitive team could easily be put together, and the public interest will only grow with any success.

Most Australian sports fans will follow any sport, and a winning team will bring on board everyone else. What is in it for the sponsors? They need to find someone with a lot of spare cash to throw around, or someone looking for worldwide publicity, particularly in Europe.

Related Pages: Tour de France, Robbie McEwen profile, cycling

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No Stopping the Tiger

July 24th, 2006 · No Comments · Golf, Golf Majors

It seems like it has been lean times for Tiger Woods recently, though he has now claimed another Major with his win in the British Open this week – making it his 11th Major in his relatively short golfing career. He must have at least ten more years at the top left in him.

At the end of his career, if he keeps his form, he will most certainly be the most successful golfer in history. It was an emotional win, his first big one since his father died. It was also a vintage Tiger win, leading into the final day as he has done many times before, and holding off all comers to finish solidly two strokes clear at 18 under.

Despite attempts to de-Tiger the PGA tour by changing the length of courses, he continues to win. What it shows is that a true champion will shine through anyway, no matter what you try to counter his dominance. At a time when the real Tigers of India are facing extinction, golfing’s Tiger can still be spotted on any Major golf course leading the pack.

Related Pages: golf, Golf Majors, British Open, Tiger Woods profile

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Viva Italia

July 10th, 2006 · No Comments · FIFA World Cup, Football (Soccer)

For many reasons, I was supporting Italy in the World Cup Final this morning. Having spent a month in Italy last year, my wife being part Italian, and Italy knocking out Australia early in the tournament all led me to follow the Azzuri.

With the dubious penalty to France in the first half, and Zidane’s head explosion in extra time, Italy deserved to win, though going by the general play, France had the upper hand for much of the match. It would not have been a World Cup final without some controversy.

casper-soccer-kick — *No wonder the leaning tower of Pisa is leaning*

I love to watch football, and I know the diving part of the game, though it frustrates me no end to see players get away with faking an injury. I agree with a commentator the other day who suggested that they should introduce video referees who can penalize players after the game for obviously faked fouls.

I would also like to see those with an ‘injury’ given a compulsory break of 5 minutes, or otherwise substitute another player. For soccer to take off in this country, this is the area of the game they need to clean up.

Related Pages: Soccer, Football World Cup, Italy at the WC

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Unheralded man in Green

July 7th, 2006 · No Comments · Cycling, Tour de France

He is Australian, and he often wears green, but many people in sporting mad Australia don’t know of him.

Robbie McEwen is currently setting the Tour de France on fire, winning his second stage and leading in the Green Jersey running for the best sprinter.

The sport of cycling usually only makes the news at Olympic or Commonwealth Games times, and occasionally during the Tour de France. However, another ‘minor’ Australian sport, soccer, is still capturing news space with the World Cup nearing its finale.

If he can keep on winning, maybe he can get the recognition that he deserves and become a household name for his achievements in his long career at the top of cycling.

Related Pages: Tour de France, Robbie McEwen profile, cycling

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Cyclists are Dopes

July 1st, 2006 · No Comments · Cycling, Tour de France

It is not surprising to hear of another doping scandal in the Tour de France. I don’t think that the teams are just being overly cautious to ban all implicated riders, there must be some pretty damming evidence to take such a drastic action.

At least they are not covering up the problem as they may have done in the past. It can only be good for the sport which has a bad reputation for doping. They are showing that they are going to be tough on those who break the rules, even though they may be high-profile riders.

Related Pages: Tour de France, cycling, doping in sports

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The Dream is Over

June 27th, 2006 · No Comments · FIFA World Cup, Football (Soccer)

Australia’s dream run at the World Cup of Football has come to an end in a spectacular and frustratingly disappointing manner.

Australia was able to hold Italy scoreless for nearly the whole game, until literally the last few seconds of regular time when Italy was awarded a dubious penalty, winning the game 1-0. Who knows what would have happened in extra time and penalty shoot-out if it went that far, Australia had had more possession and more shots on goal and it seemed to be only a matter of time before they scored.

All this was helped by one of the Italian players being sent off early in the second half. Australia failed to capitalize on having an extra man and maybe did not deserve to win the game. In the end, the Aussies must be proud of what they have achieved and putting up a good battle with Italy they have again demonstrated their potential to the world.

I finally bit the bullet and headed into the streets to watch the game live on a large screen in Lygon Street, the Italian area of town, with thousands of others who also braved the cold.

After the final whistle had blown, and the reality of what had happened sunk in, the crowd slowly and quietly drifted away, back to their bed – maybe to dream about what might have been.

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Moore to Come – World Cup Reflections

June 23rd, 2006 · No Comments · FIFA World Cup, Football (Soccer)

Another exciting day for Australia with the Socceroos at the World Cup drawing with Croatia, doing just enough to go through to the second round, to play Italy next week.

I couldn’t bring myself to head into Federation Square in Melbourne city to watch the game at 5 am with the thousands gathered there, though, in the end, it would have been a great place to enjoy the spectacle. Instead, I curled up at home on the couch with the heater on, which was not too bad either.

Casper, Olive and Jetson at Federation Square — A day out in Melbourne city at Federation Square

There were a lot of anxious moments, with Australia behind for much of the match. A penalty to Craig Moore and a field goal to Harry Kewell got us through. The team has surpassed all expectations and done a lot for the sport at home. There are plenty more sleepless nights to come.

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