Oldies but goodies

by Chris Riordan

Next week we turn the calendar to another year, staring down another birthday.

Warnie aside, most of us battle the ravages of aging, looking back longingly on our “glory days”.

Sportspeople know this acutely.

Look at AFL clubs and their “youth policy” mantras.

Read the papers on our cricketers – “inject some youth!” is the cry.

Mr. Cricket’s Ashes “Indian Summer” renaissance gives some hope to us old-timers.

As Elmer Fudd might claim, “Wisdom beats wecklessness !”

Help me unveil the 2011 diary.

Let’s acknowledge those who have defied society’s accepted age limitations and continued to shine.

And Happy New Year!

Comments

  1. Straight off the bat (pardon the pun), the man who scored his 50th Test hundred overnight at 37 years of age isn’t doing too badly. Sachin Tendulkar is the leading Test run-scorer of 2010 and his average this year is around the 85 mark!

    I’ll bet Punter wouldn’t mind a year like that in 2011!

  2. Prince Charles still plays polo.

  3. Peter Senior

  4. Does Peter Senior have a son named Peter?

  5. Phantom #2

    But does Camilla?

  6. Peter Senior Junior. We could only wish.

  7. Andrew Gigacz- 5-13 the other week.

  8. Jeanie Longo – Ciprelli

    Fifth in the time trial and 12th in the road race at the recent world champs at Geelong . AT AGE 51 !!!!!

  9. #7. Thanks, JB. It was my first Michelle (5-for) in many a day, but hopefully not my last!

  10. There was a pro runner back in the 80s (can’t print his name because whilst he is deceased he still has living family) who was about 62 years old and got pinged for taking performance enhancing drugs. Steroids of some kind apparently. Now there’s a bloke who would never give up!

  11. Andrew Starkie says

    Ali was 36 (and already suffering from symptoms of Parkinson’s) when he claimed the heavyweight title for a third time.

    How old was Bradman when he score his last 100?

    Tendulkar is amazing and dare I say it, could be mentioned in the same sentence as The Don. Is that un-Australian? Yesterday’s century came in match India will probably lose.

    How old was The Golden Bear when he won the Masters in ’87?

  12. dave latham says

    John Howard looked in super touch late into his career.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o8by05rtMY

  13. Andrew Starkie says

    Brumby can kick a footy. Big Ted can swim.

  14. Anyone seen Kallis’ new feathers?

  15. Mark Schwarzer turned 38 in October and will get a renewed contract with Fulham.

  16. Peter Flynn says

    Andrew,

    Jack was 46 in’86.

    Crio,

    JK has an amazing thatch.

    Bill Roycroft

    Roy Cazaly

    Phil Taylor

    Hale Irwin

    Stanley Matthews

  17. Peter Flynn says

    PS

    Tom Watson

  18. The Hon. Joe Hockey
    Tight head prop and well known shipping hazzard.

  19. Phil Dimitriadis says

    Bert ‘Dainty’ Ironmonger. Test debut aged 45. Now that’s impressive.

  20. Andrew Starkie says

    Thanks Flynny. Sorry, was ’87 Larry Mize’ chip in? The Shark lipped out on the 18th. went to a play off and…. the rest is horrible, horrible history.

    Phil, Was Clarrie Grimmett 42?

  21. Phil Dimitriadis says

    Andrew,

    Clarrie played his first test at 33 and his last aged 44.

    Not bad considering the mortality rate for men was around 60 at this time. Clarrie and Dainty are definitely golden oldies.

  22. Cliff Young. Great in gumboots but how good would he have been in knee high Ugg Boots?

  23. Michael Tuck.

    Who was the oldest AFL/VFL player?

  24. Mick Jeffrey says

    From the little known cricket files, Kenya have just named their preliminary squad for the Cricket World Cup, and in it was Steve Tikolo who at 39 should be selected for his 5th World Cup, joining many of the elite players to have graced the World Cup stage.

  25. Peter Flynn says

    Roger Milla

  26. Enjoyed your book on the Royboys Adam, no interview with Walls though. A stick in the mud?

  27. I hope this kind of promotion is OK (delete if not)

    Dave

    Obviously you’ve read it, but all knackers can get mates-rates copies of Adam’s Maroon and Blue. http://www.vulgar.com.au/muyt.html

    Download and print out the sales form http://www.vulgar.com.au/sales.html mentioning the almamac and we’ll send it to you for $35 including p+h

    email [email protected] for more info

  28. Leroy “Satchel” Paige – MLB debut at the age of 42 in 1948.

    Final appearance in the majors was for Charlie O Finley’s Kansas City A’s in 1965 at the age of 59.

  29. dave latham says

    Thanks Ian, good to know, but already forked out for it a few years ago.

    Any other discount books always greatly appreciated.

  30. Damian Watson says

    Bob Holland took 6/54 against the West Indies in their prime at the SCG in 1985, and he was about 38 at the time I believe.

  31. Dave, while putting the book together heard through the Roys grapevine that Walls’ wife was in a rotten way. Didn’t want to intrude.

  32. Lester Piggott!

  33. Adam, that’s a shame, would have been interesting to get his responses.

  34. And Scobie Breasley

  35. PF

    I wagged school the morning of the final round in ’86. I don’t think my students minded. No-one commented anyway.

  36. If Tom Watson doesn’t get all of the 7 iron he hits to the 72nd – he pumped it and it just trickled through the green – we may have had a very, very old Open winner (in 2009). He was 60 or just about to turn 60.

  37. Ken Rosewall

  38. cow shed end says

    Nifty Neville Wilson

  39. Blacks A Fake

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