Rob's Blog

Storm brewing over Melbourne

August 20th, 2006 · Rugby League

Nearing the business end of the season, the Melbourne Storm are well clear on the Australian Rugby League (ARL) ladder, which must be disappointing to many people from the states north of here (NSW & QLD) where the game is most popular.

I was at the Storm’s game against the Warriors last night. It was the first game I had seen live in Melbourne, and it was a different experience than the Aussie Rules games I have been watching lately.

This game had an international flavour as the opposition was from NZ, something that never happens in Aussie Rules. There was also a great atmosphere, dancing girls, fireworks and music. Combined with a vocal crowd and a smaller field it seemed like we were right in amongst the action.

Although the Storm team was beaten, it was a very entertaining evening, and I think that any Victorians who find it hard to see what all the fuss is about with Rugby League should go along and watch a game live.

Related Pages: Rugby League

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Thorpey fat or fit?

August 18th, 2006 · Sports Nutrition, Swimming

Is Ian Thorpe fat? In a country where we have a real obesity problem, there are people calling one of the world’s greatest swimmers fat because he may have put on a couple of pounds.

If he is out of shape, he has shown by his determination and previous workrate that he could easily get himself back to top form. It is most likely that he was just photographed in a non-flattering pose while eating junk food.

And there is nothing wrong with an elite sportsperson having some junk food every now and then. As part of a balanced diet, there is room for all types of food. As a swimmer, he would burn copious amounts of calories before most of us are even out of bed, and so he would need to eat a large quantity of food to provide his energy needs.

Let’s wait for the next major championship where he puts himself against the world’s best before we criticize him any more.

Related Pages: swimming, Ian Thorpe profile, sports nutrition

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Automatic Role Models

August 14th, 2006 · Sports Psychology

It seems like just about every day we see in the news some high profile sports person who has been up to no good. When athletes are in the public eye they need to accept that they are role models, whether they want to be or not. Some say they don’t ask to be role models, while other people defend them by saying that they are just human and occasionally make mistakes. However, some of them seem to make too many mistakes, and when you are a high profile athlete, you have to work extra hard not to make mistakes in public. If they don’t want to be a role model, they can stop playing their sport at a high level and get away from the public eye. While they continue to play sport and entertain people, and for many get paid very well for it, they have to accept their position in society. The way they are idolized and paid excessive amounts of money only makes them further removed for normal society. That is not an excuse, just more reason that they need to work harder to maintain their standards.

Related Pages: sport psychology

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Early Start for Swimmers

August 7th, 2006 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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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Protecting the Umpire

July 19th, 2006 · AFL, Umpires & Referees

On the weekend, an AFL player playing down in the VFL, accidentally ran into the field umpire and knocked him over. It looked pretty funny on TV, but in recent years there have been a few of these incidents and the players have been penalized for it.

Last night this player was given a week’s break by the tribunal, which he probably thinks is a little unfair. However, it is important to protect the umpire or referee in any sport. To do their job properly, they have to be close to the play without getting involved in it. The players and umpires alike need to do whatever it takes to keep that barrier.

Another AFL umpiring incident this week had the field umpire apparently swearing at a player. Even though the umpire denies it, if swearing at the player was required to get his point across then I have no problems with it. If an umpire does a good job, no one notices.

So I guess that means in both of these incidents some of the blame must go to the umpire.

Related Pages: AFL

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Wie amongst the men?

July 17th, 2006 · Golf

Young superstar golfer Michelle Wie failed again to make the cut at a PGA Tour event, this time pulling out during the second round of the John Deere Classic. She finished the first round at 6 over par, well above the projected cut line, then on the second day fell two strokes further behind before eventually voluntarily withdrawing after the 9th hole due to heat exhaustion. She has failed five times now to make the cut on the men’s Tour. Some say should shouldn’t even be there in the first place and should concentrate on the women’s tour. If she thinks she is good enough, why not? Are the men worried about losing their publicity or prize money?

Up to now she has not been good enough, but given time she should be able to pick up some money in these events. As with most skill based sports, it is possible for women to compete favorably with the men. In golf there is an element of fitness and strength as the men play from tees further from the green. Michelle Wie is able to compete with the men as she has a long drive. As with most sports, there is more prize money for the men, so I don’t blame her for trying to get some of that, though it is probably not the driving factor. As with all sports people, they want to be challenged and strive to be the best they can, and by playing with the men that is what Wie is trying to do. You go girl.

Related Pages: golf, Michelle Wie profile

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Gold Coast Roos

July 14th, 2006 · AFL

North Melbourne Football Club, the Kangaroos, have announced that they may be relocating from Melbourne to the Gold Coast in Queensland, which is somewhat of a surprise as they had been pushing into the Canberra market.

I am sure Queensland could handle another team, but there must also be a place for one in Canberra. If the expansion of the Melbourne teams continues as expected, I can see a team in Canberra eventually, and one in Tassie too, it is just a matter of time.

I always feel sorry for the fans of a club that gets up and moves interstate, it must be tough losing a local link to your team and not being able to go to watch a game every other week.

For the Kangaroo players, the Gold Coast is a great place to go to and I don’t think they will complain too much. The fans too may enjoy an occasional trip up to sunny Queensland to see their team.

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