Rob's Blog

Entries Tagged as 'Sport'

No Grunting Please

November 23rd, 2006 · Comments Off on No Grunting Please · Fitness, Tennis

A New York fitness club, which has outlets nationwide, has a long list of “dos and don’ts” that its members have to follow. That does not sound too bad. However, one of these rules is that no grunting is allowed, apparently to create a non-intimidating environment. And they enforce the rules too.

Recently, one of the club’s members was expelled for grunting. I don’t know if he ended up giving a bit more resistance, but eventually, Police Officers were called in by the management to escort the patron out. He admitted emitting several grunts when he was about to lift 227 kilograms.

I think sometimes you have to make some noise to get the most out of a lift, and it usually feels good too.

Where they need to stop the grunting is during women’s tennis matches. It really annoys me when I am trying to enjoy watching a game of tennis and all I can hear are the women grunting. The Wimbledon Championship has laid down the law in the past with regulating the clothing people could wear, now they should regulate the sounds the women can make too.

Related Pages: choosing a fitness club, tennis, Wimbledon

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Ian Thorpe Retires

November 21st, 2006 · 1 Comment · Swimming

Even though it is a shock to many sports fans, swimmer Ian Thorpe’s retirement today comes as no surprise. He is quoted as saying that “there are things in my life that are more important to me and I have to pursue them now”. He said he has lost the desire to swim at the elite level, though the truth may be that he has lost the ability to win at the elite level, and as his own expectations are so high he did not want to compete if he could not continue to win and break records.

I fear that without competing at the highest level, his public profile will decrease, his worth to sponsors will decrease, and his ability to continue the lifestyle and business interests that he currently has will decrease also.

We may not hear of him much any more.

Related Pages: swimming, Ian Thorpe profile

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No Rules International Rules

November 6th, 2006 · Comments Off on No Rules International Rules · AFL

Every year a representative side from the Australian Football League play a series of games against an Irish Gaelic Football rep team, in what is called International Rules. The two games, AFL and Gaelic Football, are somewhat alike, so they have made up some rules that are a hybrid of the two games.

Every year the series is full of controversy, and this year was not an exception. The problem is usually a result of the interpretation of the rules, and that the Aussies are used to a more physical game and find it hard to hold back during the heat of a competitive game.

After Australia won the series this year, and after the Irish took some very hard knocks, they have come out crying for an end to the series. Of course, we will see games again next year, as both games do not have any other international scope and it makes good money for the amateur Irish players.

Related Pages: AFL

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Lance Struggles in New York Marathon

November 6th, 2006 · Comments Off on Lance Struggles in New York Marathon · Cycling, Tour de France, Track & Field

Lance Armstrong competed in the New York Marathon on the weekend. He finished in a credible time for a non-runner at just under 3 hours.

With his huge aerobic fitness level that he has shown on the bike in winning the Tour de France seven times, you would think it would be a walk in the park for him.

No. He struggled. He said afterward that it was the hardest physical thing he had ever done. This will bring joy to all the distance runners out there to get credit for the hard work that they regularly go through.

Maybe it was so tough for him as he is not with a cycling team anymore, and therefore does not have the team resources to ‘aid’ his performance.

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Performance Enhanced Cricket

October 19th, 2006 · 1 Comment · Cricket, Sports Medicine

Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, Pakistan’s premier fast bowlers, were found recently to have the muscle building steroid Nandrolone in their system after a random drug test by the Pakistan Cricket Board. Cricket is not just a gentleman’s game anymore – it is serious business. No sport at the elite level is immune to drug controversy. This is not the first instance of drug taking in cricket, though it is probably the biggest and worst. There have been several cases of marijuana use being highlighted, though the biggest previous story concerned Shane Warne, one of the greatest players of all time, who was suspended for a year after his mum gave him a diuretic so that he could look good in front of the cameras. Let’s hope that if proven guilty that these Pakistani’s get the punishment they deserve. We don’t want the beautiful game of cricket being tainted with drugs like many other sports.

Related Pages: cricket, Shane Warne profile, doping in sports

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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

Becoming a member of the MCC

October 9th, 2006 · No Comments · AFL, Cricket, Spectators

My wife is expecting a baby in April next year, and one thought in my mind is whether to get he or she onto the waiting list for the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is an exclusive club – the waiting list is so long that it may take 20 years before you are offered a place.

To get onto the waiting list, it currently costs a non-refundable $55(at the time of writing). A lot can happen in 20 years. Once they offer you membership, if you don’t take it up you may forfeit your place. By then you may not even be interested in sport. If you do take up the offer of membership, it is going to cost you a small fortune to join and stay a member.

The current entrance fee is $660.00 (which you pay in instalments as you move through the various membership and age categories), and being a full member also cost $504 annually. If you are not at a stage to regularly go to matches or events at the ground, it is quite a bit to pay.

In twenty years time, MCC membership will probably be very well sought after. My child can always say no, I see the $55 fee as a good price to pay to just give them the option in the future.

Related Pages: Cricket, Aussie Rules, MCG

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Football: Euphoria & Frustration

October 7th, 2006 · Comments Off on Football: Euphoria & Frustration · Football (Soccer)

Tonight a friendly match between Australia and Paraguay was played in Brisbane.

My nephew Dan played Australia against Paraguay on the FIFA Soccer PC game just before kick-off, the result 1-0 to Australia. The actual game was a similarly tight affair.

The skillful Paraguays played tight football and defended well, with Australia having more attacking opportunities. These “friendly” games never seem that friendly as there was lots of tension out there. The South Americans rolled around in pain after every tackle, as expected, and it was good to see the Aussie did not follow their example. It does not need to be done.

Australia scored both goals in the game, though unfortunately the second one in the final minutes was into our own goal, the final result 1-1. From the euphoria of the first goal to take the lead, to the own goal robbing us of victory in the last minutes, soccer can be frustrating and disappointing, but I guess that is why we keep coming back.

Related Pages: Football

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Kicking the Footy

October 6th, 2006 · No Comments · AFL, Rugby League, Rugby Union

It is interesting to compare the popularity of the different football codes between the Australian states – historically SA, VIC and WA are AFL states, NSW and QLD rugby states.

AFL appears to be recently making headway into the northern states, and starting with the kids is the way to go. One thing I believe that makes Aussie Rules a popular sport with kids, and gives it an advantage, is the ability to have a social kick to kick. In comparison, throwing a rugby ball to each other does not have the same excitement.

Rob watching Australia play football (soccer) in Perth

The highly physical nature of the rugby codes also does not lead themselves to schoolyard play. With the issues of liability and the concern about injuries, we may see a gradual change to AFL. Soccer may beat them all, but that is another story.

Related Pages: AFL, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Soccer

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Beyond the Wave

October 5th, 2006 · Comments Off on Beyond the Wave · AFL

I have just finished reading a book, “Beyond the Wave” by Trisha Broadbridge. It was one of those books that when you start you just can’t put it down. It wasn’t because it was well written or anything – I was just curious to read a first-hand account of a major disaster. The sporting link made it more interesting.

The book is about the events leading up to and following the Tsunami disaster on Boxing Day 2004, in which Trisha’s husband Troy, and AFL player, was killed. The message I got from this story is that we cannot take anything for granted.

No matter how big and strong you are, the human body is still pretty fragile. We have to make the most of every day. In the words of one sporting company, ‘Just do it!’

Related Pages: AFL

Tags: AFL·Aussie Rules·Book Review·tsunami