With the World’s greatest sporting event currently well on the way in South Africa, it may be surprising that this is my first post about it. It would not be surprising if you knew that I support Australia, and up until today, they have not done anything to write home about.
After getting up at 2 am this morning to watch Australia play Serbia, I am much happier and very impressed with their performance. Although they won today, they just missed out on progressing to the knockout round.
Spain at the world-cup-2010
The team did us proud, playing great football and giving everything for their country. Missing out of the final 16 is no great disappointment, the Aussies have played above expectations.
I cannot say the same about the French team, and cannot imagine the public outcry at their team’s performance. There is always drama at the World Cup, and that is why we are captivated. A few more sleepless nights to come!
Did you hear about Ghana’s first ever participant at the Winter Olympics, Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong (nicknamed the ‘Snow Leopard’)? He competed in the men’s alpine skiing slalom event, finishing in 47th (2nd last) place. I did, but I did not hear about who won. It is another reminder of why I don’t get too excited about the Winter Olympics. The media think that it is more important to fill up their coverage time with human interest stories rather than the sporting results. As a sporting fan I watch sport to see the action, the competitiveness and the champions. At each Olympics the same thing seems to happen – the media outlets focus their telecast towards the common man, non sports fan, who are more interested in gossip and drama.
Young Australian rising star tennis player Bernard Tomic had a few complaints after his second-round match at the Australian Open against Marin Cilic finished at 2.10am local time. The 17-year-old Tomic was given a wildcard into the tournament and played well against the vastly more experienced 14th seed Croatian, pushing him to five sets over the course of three hours and 48 minutes. However, Tomic let himself down and embarrassed many Australians with his comments after the match.
He said that if he got the daily schedule as requested, that “I think I should have won” … “I can’t see after 1.00am, 2.00am for a 17-year-old to go out and play – It’s difficult.” Welcome to the big world. There are other players who have been playing at these times and winning tournaments.
If he wants to be a top 10 player, which he says he does, he will have to learn to handle playing at any time, and he will need to learn to be more gracious in defeat. No excuses.
December 22nd, 2009 · Comments Off on New Look to Topends Sports Website · Sport
If you have been to this site before, you would have noticed a new look. With just a few tweaks I think it looks much better. The navigation bar at the top now makes a lot more sense, and hopefully everyone can find what they are after. Any comments appreciated.
The news is only just coming through about Tiger Woods‘ car accident, where he backed into a fire hydrant and then ran into a neighbor’s tree. Of course, these things happen every day, but not usually to the world’s best sportsperson. Maybe he should have used a driver (golf drive, get it?). The police were quick to say that alcohol was not involved. So what was it? The initial reports had him in a serious condition, but later being released from hospital being ‘fine’ with minor face lacerations.
As the media do not seem to really know, I am going to say what I think happened. His wife who recently had a baby was awake with a crying baby in the middle of the night, woke Tiger asking him to rush down the street for some more milk. In his half-awake confused condition, he thought he was still in Australia and started driving down the wrong side of the road. He was so focused on his goal, that he failed to notice a fire hydrant and tree in his way. Of course, a more correct version of events will come out in due course.
November 23rd, 2009 · Comments Off on Another Sporting List · Major Events, Sport
Here is another sporting poll that was seen on news.com.au. They were asking for the defining sporting moment of the noughties (2000-2010), and being an Australian website there was obvioulsy an Aussie bias. Their editors had already decided on the top ten, it was the site visitors job to place it in order. First a question about the top 10 that they selected. There are some international performances already on the list – so where is Lance Armstrong’s comback and Phelp’s record medal haul? The list could go on. Based on the choices we had, as an Australian I have no qualms with what was voted on top – Aloisi’s goal and Australia’s qualification into the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Here is the full list (in the final order):
Aloisi and the World Cup Qualification for 2006
Cathy Freeman’s 400m gold medal in Sydney 2000
Bradbury’s gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Australia’s first ever gold
Makybe Diva’s triple Melbourne Cup wins
Australia’s 2009 cricket Ashes loss to England
Wilkinson’s heart breaking final kick to beat Australia in the 2003 Rugby World Cup
Final seconds mark by fullback “Leaping” Leo Barry in the 2005 AFL Grand Final
Tiger Wood’s Master’s chip in 2005
“Lay-down” Sally Robbins stopped rowing mid-race at the 2004 Athens Olympics
October 31st, 2009 · Comments Off on Balding Agassi Wears Mullet Wig · Tennis
Is this the tennis story of the century? I think it is hilarious. In his recently release tell all book, Andre Agassi admits that when he was at the peak of his career, confidently playing in front a huge audiences as the number one ranked player in the world, he was also so self conscious about his receding hairline that he succumbed to wearing a wig. Not just any wig, but a ridiculous mullet wig, boofy at the front and long at the back – the complete antithesis of what was really underneath. And why didn’t anyone notice? I can usually spot a rug a mile off. It just shows that when you have enough money you can pay for a quality toupee.
Walking in cricket means that you walk off the field when you know you are out, whether the umpire gives you out or not. Adam Gilchrist is a recent modern day player that was well known for walking. It was easy for him as he more often than not played well and made a good score. It must be harder for other players who are struggling to keep their place in the team, who do not want to give away their wicket unless the umpire says so. The umpires make wrong decisions sometimes, giving players out when they are not, and not giving them out when they are. Over time you would expect that this would even out, and this is one argument of some players who chose not to walk. The players need an incentive to do the right thing and walk when they think they are out. How about an annual prize for the best ‘walker’, based on point every time a player walks before being given out by the umpire, and extra credits when they walk and are subsequently found to be not out by the replays!
In the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament, defending champion Serena Williams was fined $10,000 for her tirade directed at a line judge. She said: ‘If I could, I would … shove [this ball] down your throat’. There were a few expletives deleted from that quote.
Can you get a bigger contrast between the champion of men’s tennis, Roger Federer and her? Thankfully such bad sportsmanship has not gone unnoticed, with the big fine and her losing the final match point based on that outburst.
Williams was going to lose the semifinal to Kim Clijsters anyway, and the fine is only a smidgeon of what she earned playing the tournament. Let’s hope she gets punished in more ways, but somehow I think she will not be repentant.
August 7th, 2009 · Comments Off on Do It Yourself Sporting Tours · Cricket, Spectators, Sport
It is becoming popular for sporting fans to get together and fly around the world to support their team. Why pay so much when you can do it yourself for much cheaper? There is a big market for these tour groups and people pay way too much for the privilege.
People pay thousands of dollars to join a cricket tour of India, where you can get by on as little as $10 a day. However, I admit that you do get plenty of extras from joining such a group, for example meeting some of the sports stars, getting priority entry, and having good seats organised/guaranteed. You also don’t have to buy your own travel tickets and organise hotels.
It is fun either way you go, but if you want to save money and make it an adventure, then do it yourself. I may even come along and do the self-guided tour with you! Careful, if you get too many of our mates together it will become one of those tours you are trying to avoid!
