Almanac Golf: Golf Capital – PGA Tour returns for 2017 but a questionable Rio legacy

January 5, 2017 by 3 Comments

Hamish Neal’s column ‘Golf Capital’ is back. He builds on his pre-Christmas successes with some thoughts ont his weekend’s tournamnets – and beyond. He’s also got his finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the world of sponsorship and marketing.

Almanac Wine and Footy: Rockford, Tanunda and how to cope with winter

January 5, 2017 by 5 Comments

Smokie and Marg have been in the Barossa where they visited Rockford just outside Tanunda. As Smokie noted, this is one of John Harms’s favourite places on the planet. Here’s a story about Robert O’Callaghan and Rockford from 2009. [I love this place – JTH]

Almanac Soccer – A-League 1,000: The Distance Edition

January 5, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Hamish Neal with his musings on the upcoming Round 14 of the A-League.

Three reasons to support Pakistan in Sydney

January 5, 2017 by 1 Comment

Pat White has a lot of empathy ofr the forever-touring Pakistani cricketers. He’s calling for cricket fans to acknowledge their plight, respect their phenomenal effort, and support them in this Sydney Test match.

The Ripview Swim Classic in Point Lonsdale is over for another year

January 4, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Anyone for ocean swimming? Col takes us through some of the trials and tribulations of the sport.

Whitsundays and the days are easy, so sports aplenty

January 4, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Steve’s on holidays and happy about local (Fitzroy) prospects in the NBA.

I Barrack for the Dees

January 4, 2017 by 6 Comments

Why is Hawker Rick Kane now following the Dees? He’s got some very good reasons, none of which involve velcro. Daisy Pearce is just one of them.

Almanac Pro-running: The Bay Sheffield is run and won (and so is the Burnie Gift)

January 4, 2017 by 1 Comment

Paul Young tells us what happened in the time-honoured Bay Sheffield and in the time-honoured Burnie Gift. [Hope you took your lead from his form guide last month – Ed]

Australia v Pakistan – SCG Test, Day 1: Marvellous

January 3, 2017 by 8 Comments

Citrus Bob delights in some top-shelf Australian batting from the Big Ship, the Future Australian Captain and especially a “faultless, explosive, dynamic” DA Warner. Marvellous.

Almanac (BBL) Cricket: A Day At BBL06 (and WBBL02)

January 3, 2017 by 1 Comment

Nickthestatsguy spends an evening at the MCGfor the women’s and Men’s BBL game, and to visit the MCC Library and Museum. Nick really does love his stats.[Looking forward to more from Nick as he enjoys the school holidays – Ed]

Almanac Darts: World Championships Final is on right now – MVG v Anderson

January 3, 2017 by 6 Comments

This should be a cracker. MVG was phenomenal (hos own word) yesterday v Barney, and Anderson won’t go down without a fight.

Australia v Pakistan – SCG Test: Call for writers

January 2, 2017 by 2 Comments

We’re calling for reports, stories, poems, observations of the Sydney Test. Let’s cover every day of this last Test of the Australian home summer. Nominate a day. [Especially given that Citrus is unavailable after Day 1 – Ed].

Almanac Music: Slightly Different Teenager’s Review of 2016 Music

January 2, 2017 by 1 Comment

Sean Mortell gives a 16 year old’s take on the music year that was 2016. [I suspect Sean is not your average 16 year old – Ed]

Year-ender: The A to Z of sport in 2016

January 1, 2017 by 2 Comments

Hamish Neal takes an alphabetical approach in his review of 2016. This will remind you of how much happens in a year.

Almanac (Big Bash) Cricket: NYE in Adelaide Oval’s Bay 134

January 1, 2017 by 12 Comments

“If KFC was available at Adelaide Oval I’d buy thirty-eight pieces, inhale them and wipe the grease through the hair of my loved ones.” Just one of a number of cracking lines in Mickey Randall’s account of Adelaide’s New Year’s Eve Big Bash. [Again Mickey, you’ve gone early with noms for Line of the Year – my other fave is the dig at the selectors. JTH]

Courtins, Cricket, Christmas – and another C word

January 1, 2017 by 7 Comments

Jan Courtin is not from a cricket family and relates the story of dealing with an un-cricket family at Christmas and Boxing Day Test time. [All the best to you and your in 2017 Jan, and especially to Marshall in the weeks ahead – JTH]

Australia v Pakistan – MCG, Day 5: Smith, Starc and Car Parks

December 31, 2016 by 13 Comments

Luke Reynolds takes a punt on a Punt Road car park as day 5 of the 2nd Test delivers much more than expected.

The 5 NBA and 11 NFL games of Christmas.

December 31, 2016 by 4 Comments

Paul Campbell gives us a comprehensive low down on the NBA and NFL games played over Christmas. There was plenty more than turkey and plum pudding happening in the States

First kiss: New Year’s Eve poem for an unknown song

December 31, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Vin Maskell shifts the goalposts a little in this short poem about a long ago New Year’s Eve, a kiss, and table-tennis.

Almanac Music: Springsteen – in his own words

December 30, 2016 by 6 Comments

Neil Drysdale, when feeling down on the year that has been 2016, is given a lift by a Springsteen doco. [Sounds excellent – Ed]