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Sporting Mind - April 2008

The I.Q of Sam Newman.

April 29th 2008 00:59
Forgive me for asking, as i am a New South Welshman - but what's the deal with Sam Newman? The AFL Footy Show panellist is perhaps the most inarticulate footballer ever to appear on a television show. He makes Mark Geyer of the NRL's "Sunday Roast" look like a raconteur that you would pay top dollar for anecdotes at a corporate speech night.

To me the show seems to be centred around this man, who spits out his words like a old man with a prostate condition, such is his inability to string words together. Why James Brayshaw and Garry Lyon allow him to make a fool of himself is beyond me.


Perhaps its just that i am not a Victorian. On the NRL Footy Show i laugh heartily at Paul (Fatty) Vautin's inability to throw to an ad-break, even though he has been hosting the show for well over a decade. Paul Harragon's cheesy grin and propensity to call everything "gold", and the occasional cameo from Mario Fenech remind me of the old-school days of jocks bullying less-popular students, such is the blokey, locker-room behaviour that goes on in the Channel 9 studios. The saving grace of course is the incomparable Matthew Johns.

But the AFL Footy Show has me stumped. Is Sam Newman really as funny as the studio audience willl have me believe? Or is he really just a massive burden on the show. Surely the AFL can unearth a few more characters slightly more one dimensional than Newman.

Perhaps you just have to be Victorian to get the joke.
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Whilst AFL is a brilliant spectacle and an institution for thousands of fanatical club supporters not only in Victoria but all over Australia, could the AFL create (or re-create) a successful origin series?

Whilst the upcome 150 year celebration game between the "all-stars" and Victoria is a marketing dream, could the AFL seek to devise some form of state of origin series


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Storm home, Harrigan counts his pay.

April 22nd 2008 01:26
Last night's clash between the injury plagued Canberra Raiders and a Storm outfit growing in form had the potential to be a boil-over. Whilst the Raiders were without players such as captain Alan Tongue, hooker Lincoln Withers, outside backs William Zillman and Phil Graham, and suspended forwards Trevor Thurling and Michael Weyman (to name a few), Melbourne had a team boasting numerous internationals, gun in-form fullback Billy Slater, and of course - lucky charm Michael Crocker, yet to lose a game with the Melbourne outfit.

Melbourne started flat, and Canberra were able to combine good field position with some early tries. The new inclusion of Michael Dobson was validated by two kicks leading to tries, and Carney's shift to 5/8 showed the versatility of a young player who should not be written out of the equation for Origin one. 16-4 at the break, and it was looking like the Raiders home record would stand strong, even against the best outfit in the NRL


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Whilst Barry Hall's latest "indiscretion" (a great euphemism for act of sheer malice) has been condemned by the media and the A.F.L, it once again proves that sportsmen are inhuman - incapable of rational thought. Therefore we should hasten to judge them in relation to normal human behaviour, but consider their actions (public OR on-field) against a new Sporting Constitution, which should be devised by a group of elite academics - possibly at the upcoming 20/20 Summit.

And if this "Sporting Constitution" is created, there is no shortage of precedent on which to base the new laws. Lets take a look at some of the more memorable moments of assault and criminal behaviour that have happened in recent times


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State of Origin - the Halves Dilemma

April 10th 2008 06:56
If N.S.W is to be any chance in this year's Origin series, it has to go with a new formula. The devastating abilities of Johnathan Thurston and Darren Lockyer (providing he is fit), is going to be too much for N.S.W. With a history of being conservative, N.S.W needs to select a halves combination that is going to threaten the Queensland line.

The candidates for the halves positions are plentiful, and with 5 rounds left before selections, the chance is there for someone to stand up and take the opportunity. I believe the selectors are worried about Matt Orford in big game situations, and are tired of picking Brett Kimmorley, who had his day a long time ago. Kimmorley has a very flat style of attack which is probably not effective in the modern game, especially against a big and mobile Queensland forward pack. Matt Orford is said to "go missing" in big game situations, however he could prove to be the pick if he has a few good games back to back


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Who wants to be a Raider??

April 7th 2008 05:00
The question must be posed.

The Canberra Raiders - the 1980's/90 powerhouse rugby league team, a team who boast a 26 year history which includes 3 grand final victories and countless international players, are struggling to keep players and coaches at the club


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The Wayne Carey interview aired Monday night on Andrew Denton's Enough Rope was disappointing to watch in terms that it didn't reveal a great deal of new information, but it highlighted the situation many sportstars find themselves in after sport - the transition from sport to life after sport.

During his career he was the King, an athletic, incredibly gifted footballer, the personification of the modern player. Respected by his team mates and his opponents, Carey was an idol to many Australians, however he will now be remembered for his misdemeanours rather than his many achievements


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