I’ve had cause of late to remember 1984. I think it is my favourite year – at least for sporting memories. It’s the year I first experienced an English summer and the chance to join the sporting feasts only dreamed of from afar. Consider: At Lord’s I witnessed Gordon Greenidge’s finest knock as he pounded [Read more]

Subbies have latched on to “Fair dinkum, Unbelievable” at any opportunity during a week of memorials to the great Bob Davis. It’s his catch-cry. Essendon’s black armbands on Saturday night were to commemorate the passing of dual Premiership player Wally May (ref http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/a/Essendon-mourns-the-passing-of-Wally-May/8218 ). After his retirement, Wally spent years as the special comments guru [Read more]

The radio waves were humming last night with Saints eulogies…”lowest point ever” seemed a pretty big call. But it does look like they are in line for one of the more spectacular collapses from their lofty position – boy, has that “window” slammed! But sport has a habit of dragging participants very quickly back to [Read more]

by Chris Riordan Seemingly unrelated matters have latterly caused me to reflect on great times and, indeed, the quick passing of time. Marto texted when he heard of Lionel Rose’s passing – “more memories of growing up”. Years are most easily remembered by events. Marto was with me at St Andrews in 1984 to see [Read more]

by Chris Riordan Alex “the estranged” Fevola has reportedly (H/Sun, News section, p24, 02/05/2011) blamed the AFL culture for her “monster” ex-hubby’s infidelity, drinking and gambling – inferring that different tolerances apply to gifted sportsmen. It is easy to make light of the media/celebrity circus and, no doubt, her news grab will soon be buried [Read more]

North will limp, winless, back to Melbourne, their fans cussing a draw that has had them twice cross the Continent already this season. Geelong are unbeaten at Kardinia Park since August, 2007. Whilst “processes” and “structures” remain the catchcries amongst motivators, sometimes it is impossible to ignore the impact of a horror away trip. What [Read more]

…or is “winning is not the most important thing, it is the only thing”  still a sporting maxim? We wedged in to the TAB at Docklands on Saturday to join the throng cheering home Black Caviar. “What about Haylist’s run”, most concurred, as they had with Crystal Lily’s gallantry behind the mighty mare in recent [Read more]

Apparently another Pies Flag is a given. The world, it seems, is back on its hyperbolic axis – despite their last consecutive (can’t bear “back-to-back) premierships being over 70 years ago! Here’s a way to stay interested in what will manifestly otherwise be a “cakewalk” – using the increasingly popular “head-to-head” betting. And it is [Read more]

I somehow knew that the Brisbane Roar were still a chance. Even inside the last 5 minutes a neutral supporter, such as me, hung on to the unlikely. But it is not always so easy to “keep the faith”. How often have you ripped up a betting ticket, left in time-on or switched off the [Read more]

by Chris Riordan I’ve never been to Anfield – “You’ll Never Walk Alone” – but the hype preceding the EPL clash with ManU  rekindled a life’s ambition to visit the Merseyside stadium  – and I support neither Club. St. Kilda at Etihad or Arsenal at Emirates doesn’t carry the charm of El Clásico at the [Read more]

They farewelled the Doc last week. No need to clarify as Darrell Baldock…his simple moniker is enough to identify the subject to all footy lovers. Like The Don or Newk, it is a heightened level of recognition when a full name becomes irrelevant. Who else has earned this status? crio

St. Kilda’s NZ miscreants were punished with directives to gain full-time employment during their “sentence”. David Parkin, amongst others, has relentlessly advocated work/study/sport balance, lest players become bored (Fev’s online punting) or socially unprepared upon delisting or retirement. Charlie Sutton purportedly quarried all day and then rode his bike to training. Dan Harris, Redbacks’ revitalised [Read more]

Boxing and Rugby League – now there are two sports where hyperbole rains like confetti.”Rabbs” Warren should call them both. “Thugby”, as it has been decried, has been known for some stoushes, but the link between the sports has been dubiously legitimised recently. “The Man” Mundine was a genuine League star and is now a [Read more]

It’s a familiar summertime trap…”one too many!” A good time just tipped too far. Sporting careers, too, are too often marred by the decision to go on for “one more”. When is the right time to go? Pundits are calling for Kevin Muscat to step aside immediately after his awful mauling of young Heart, Zahra, [Read more]