Who are our Almanac members: the story of Rev Dr Roger Ackland.

Many questions to be answered. [Great photo of the Rev Dr Roger Ackland – Ed]

Super Bowl XLIX: The Time Has Come

Justin Fris was one of the millions around the world glued to a television screen to watch Super Bowl XLIX. Justin presents the view from Gilligan’s Pub in Cairns.

Paging Dr. Zachary Smith – ‘Oh the Pain. The Pain!’

Gregor Lewis ventures into some dangerous territory on Novak Djokovic’s form for requesting an injury time-out at crucial stages in big matches. Like Stephen Colbert, we think it, but Gregor says it.

Little Local Larrikins – Part One: Meeting the Scot and the Beard

Another season of competition tennis gets under way for Sean Mortell on the hallowed en tout cas courts of Grace Valley Tennis Club in the first instalment of Little Local Larrikins.

Yoshi’s Supporting Message to Andy Murray

Yoshi throws his support behind A Murray for tonight’s final of the Australian Open, and opens a great line of questioning regarding the role of gender in sport (or any field of expert endeavour). Of course, referencing his St Kilda Football Club.

Andy Murray – Zen and the art of racquet maintenance

Dave Brown reflects on the mental side of tennis and how Andy Murray stacks up for tonight’s Australian Open final.

Breakfast With the Goodfellas: Asian Cup, Australian Open tennis and Super Bowl XLIX Previews Episode

As a huge weekend of sport gets underway, Dr Cruel and Stone Cold Steve Baker get together for a bite of brekky at Mileto’s in Windsor and chat about the Asian Cup final between the Socceroos and South Korea, the Australian Open finals and Monday morning’s Super Bowl.

Adrian Quist

Adrian Quist made a significant contribution to Australian life.

Kyrgios and The Cod

Dips O’Donnell meditates on the crumbling facades of old houses and ageing tennis champions.

Jim, the Olympics and the Forgetting

It is a cold, wet Melbourne day. Tess Pryor – on a mission to have the housework done in time to watch Sally Pearson strut her stuff at the London Olympics, meets old mate Jim struggling to find his friend’s house…

The Accident At Tashi Lapsa Pass

Originally posted in serialised form through late January, here is Louise Currie’s Accident at Tashi Lapsa Pass in its entirety.

Nick Kyrgios’ Attitudes at the Tennis Court

Yoshi delves into Nick Kyrgios’ mindset during his mild on-court explosion recently. Includes a serve for tennis fans using social media.

From the back patio – Dave’s Australia Day sporting honours

Dave Brown enlists a fine Barossa Shiraz and a fine intellect to list his Top 10 Australia Day Sporting Honours (even Phil the Greek gets a gong – and unfortunately its not Dimitriadis).

Yoshi’s Ten Biggest Sporting Upsets : February 2014 – January 2015

Yoshi lists his 10 biggest sporting upsets that have occurred between February 2014 to January 2015. There’s a healthy smattering of AFL surprises, but also some shocks from the World Game and on the tennis courts, too.

The Accident at Tashi Lapsa Pass – Part 13: Recovery and ‘Home’

The concluding chapter of Louise Currie’s harrowing experience trekking the Tashi Lapsa Pass in Kathmandu.

The Accident at Tashi Lapsa Pass – Part 12: The ICU

After a complicated surgery process, Louise is taken to the postoperative recovery ward where a difficult night awaits.

“I’ll just serve aces”: enough of the over-complimenting, it’s time someone spoke the truth

Tom Riordan has had enough of the faux politeness of tennis players. How about a bit of sledging and barracking to liven up the predictable dullness?

Playing Solo or as a Team?

Yoshi ponders team versus individual sports. How do tennis players, golfers or swimmers de-brief after tournaments and meets the way that team-based sports process their performances? Do golfers or tennis players or track and field athletes share their expertise the way veterans in team sports pass on their knowledge to young rookies?

Weekend Reading: Deflategate, the Worst Question in Sports and Cambridge United

Some great reading to get your teeth into over the Australia Day long weekend.

[Cambridge United have just held Man U to a 0-0 draw at Abbey – replay at Old Trafford.]

The Accident at Tashi Lapsa Pass – Part 11: Meeting the Mad Hatter

After the trauma of recent events, Louise is off to the operating theatre. Warning: this instalment is not for the squeamish [and that’s no joke – Ed].