I’m interested in how sporting etiquette changes over time. Golf, for example, is a game of great disciplines and accepted protocol. When did players walking out the “front” (lip) of bunkers become acceptable? This was never allowed in my recollection, but has become commonplace – I saw a caddie lend a club to help wrench [Read more]
GIGA BITES 2 – Director’s Cut
February 14, 2011 by 6 Comments
Below is a significantly extended version of Giga Bites, which appeared in the Saturday Age on 12th February, 2011. by Andrew Gigacz DRAWING A LONG (SUPER) BOW(L) Super Bowl XLV was played this week and the Green Bay Packers’ winning score of 31 should have come as no surprise, especially given the fact [Read more]
Poker- A sport, surely not
January 29, 2011 by 5 Comments
By Domenic Favata A recent documentary on ESPN about Poker caught my eye, a documentary that compared poker to sport. Currently, the Australian Poker tournament is underway at Crown and it was interesting listening to the comments of the “world’s best” poker players. This initial tag by the hostess made me laugh, but she was [Read more]
Tennis, snoring and the punt: a reflection
January 28, 2011 by 4 Comments
A few years ago, when I was writing Memoirs of a Mug Punter, I got in to a lovely routine. I’d start writing just after AM finished and stick at it (with occasional glances at the form guide) until midday or so. Then I’d have a bit of lunch. On a good day: left-over pizza. [Read more]
Cobba’s Big Tennis Adventure
January 28, 2011 by 4 Comments
Let me take you back to March 2008. I was surfing the net looking at various sport sites. I came across the Australian Open website which looked like it hadn’t been updated since a day after the tournament ended. However there was one new story on the list. It read “Australian Open Ballkid Applications Now [Read more]
Wrestle with this
January 26, 2011 by 3 Comments
by Phil Dimitriadis I’ve noticed that there are some not so ‘closet’ wrestling fans on the Almanac site. I found this excellent article (click on the link below) that is well worth a read, particularly for its focus on the history of Wrestling in Australia. I will write a follow up soon on the symbolism, [Read more]
JTH’s Writing Seminar
January 24, 2011 by 7 Comments
Hey peeps! So I thought id give u a look at what took place in my folder during the writing seminar at JTH’s house. After venturing through the forest (also known as the garden) in heels (not recommended) and meeting John’s very pretty wife and adorable children, the chatting and learning began. I’m pretty sure [Read more]
Know your tennis crowd
January 21, 2011 by 11 Comments
Melbourne is abuzz with the excitement of The Australian Open. Well. Sort of. Channel 7 tells us it is, and Channel 7 is abuzz with tennis, and hilariously funny gaffs which allow Todd Woodbridge to liken himself to S.K. Warne (Todd Woodbridge is like S.K. Warne the way Maggie Thatcher is like Juliet Binoche). Yes, [Read more]
Tennis Nations
January 21, 2011 by 10 Comments
There is an old saying that “Tennis brings out the crazy in us”. Okay. I’ll be honest it’s not a real saying. I just made it up. But it is true nevertheless. Tennis is such a fanatical and passionate sport. It is something about the Australian Open that makes the fans go crazy. It might [Read more]
Call the cops?
January 20, 2011 by Leave a Comment
A mistake obviously. But also a revelation of true opinions about the dominance of the Rog/Raffa show? Would a Federer loss to anyone else really loot the tournament? Picture courtesy of Dave Bruce
Federer Fever
January 20, 2011 by 11 Comments
For most of the class of 2010, the week leading up to the Australian Open was pretty stressful. Monday 17th of January meant two things. It was the day university offers came out and it was also the start of the 2011 Australian Open. Monday came and I didn’t watch any tennis, I got home [Read more]
Open Day at Flinders Park
January 19, 2011 by 1 Comment
by Rod Oaten One of my favourite days of the sporting calendar is day one of the Australian Open. No-one’s been beaten, and from the the player with the lowest ranking, who dreams of a major upset, to one of the top dogs, everyone is in with a chance. Unlike last year, when the weather was [Read more]
There is hope
January 12, 2011 by 43 Comments
By Damian O’Donnell Recently on this forum John Harms asked “What has happened to the world?” He made the point that we live in a world where “the disingenuous thrive, where mendacity is trumps…..” and he lays a lot of the blame at the feet of “rum-fart academics who have been seduced by the faddish [Read more]
Homicide’s credibility, worth pays price for social network self gratification
January 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment
By Michael Scibilia For a man with a lot to say, Corey Williams’ medium of choice is an odd one. The Melbourne Tigers import was the centre of attention during his side’s clash with Perth on Friday night, entering the game on the back of accusations that he’d defaced a courtside banner belonging to the [Read more]
2010 – The Year of the Tight Tiger
January 4, 2011 by 10 Comments
The title above does not refer to the Richmond, Glenelg or Hull City Football Clubs nor to a constipated Siberian in Melbourne Zoo but more so a poor/clumsy alliteration on what has been one of the closest run years in sport (& politics) for a long time. So what will 2011 be like in comparison? [Read more]
Federer the Fantastic
December 5, 2010 by 25 Comments
by Danni Eid I’ve noticed how cricket is suddenly taking over the main page of the website and it kinda kills me. I just can’t handle cricket, I find it boring- please don’t kill me!!!- Meh you know what, I’ve seen a premiership so go ahead, Lol. What I’m saying is I love cricket as [Read more]
“Sneaky Butcher” (or HPV 101)
December 3, 2010 by 6 Comments
by Jake “Cobba” Stevens A lot of footy fans (and probably most of you on this site) have, at one time or another, tried to explain what Aussie Rules footy is to someone from another country. It’s not as easy job to do. And I would imagine trying to picture how it is would be [Read more]
Paddle for the Mentawais – Get on Board!
December 1, 2010 by Leave a Comment
by Russell Yule The tsunami that hit the Mentawais Islands in October is the second to affect the region in since 2004. Assistance has been made even more difficult as the region is moving into the monsoon season, with weather conditions this year being horrific. Storms bringing winds of more than 100km/hr have prevented boats, [Read more]
Football hero’s homeless grace
November 12, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Just because you’re down doesn’t mean you have to be out. Brian Doyle tells a beautiful story of a struggling ex footballer who returns to the place where things worked well for him. http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=21978 Courtesy of Eureka Street
Bring on the footy. PLEASE
by Tony Robb Now that the summer sports caravans have packed up and moved north I felt it was time to reflect on a few of the not so published happenings of recent months. While CA and FA have been suitably chastened for their collective ineptitude I believe that a few other individuals and teams [Read more]