akd545
NormWednesday Night Live!
March 6th 2007 13:51
In Australian culture, the time for sport has always been the weekend. All football, soccer, rugby and motor racing events are held on the weekend, and for many sporting fans the time between Friday afternoon and Monday mornings have always been a haven of sporting action.
So it becomes a rarity when mid-week gives us a great night of sport. Tomorrow night, there is not one but two huge events and I, like many sports fans, are conflicted in what to get immersed in. Tomorrow night we have the NBL Grand Final where the Melbourne Tigers and the Brisbane Bullets fight it out in Game 3, whilst one of the biggest boxing events Australia has seen will be playing out against Anthony ‘The Man’ Mundine vs Sam ‘The King’ Soliman. Tough decision.
So here at sporting mind we are giving the supporters a chance to decide. Previewing two of the biggest sporting events this month will see, hopefully we can help the fans out there decide what they should focus on. So without any futher ado welcome to the options of…
Wednesday Night Live!
Option #1: NBL Grand Final, Melbourne Tigers vs Brisbane Bullets – Game 3
This is by far one of the hardest fought finals series that the NBL has seen in its history. It’s 1st vs 2nd on the ladder, the minor premiers vs the last seasons champions. It is against two of the best sides the competition has seen for some time.
The Brisbane Bullets have made this season their year. Taking out the minor premiership, going on a league record 21 game winning streak, winning the player MVP of the season with captain Sam McKinnon, it seemed that this season was their year.
But of course, there to ruin the party was the returning champions the Melbourne Tigers. Lead by last year’s MVP Chris Anstey, they have been nipping at the Bullets’ heels the entire season, and were the only side that looked like they could stop the Bullets from grabbing that championship trophy with relative ease.
For these two sides, the finals series has been more than enough evidence that they fairly matched. In Game one the Bullets struck the first blow, downing the Tigers 98-95. Guard Stephen Black was the best on the court, earning 24 points (including 4 3 pointers), with captain McKinnon following with 18 points and 12 rebounds. The Bullets were simply to good at home, and despite Anstey on fire with 21 points for the game, they were able to limit the Tigers to 17 and 14 points in the 3rd and 4th quarters respectively to grab first victory.
In Game Two we were down at The Cage in Melbourne, and for the first half it seemed that the Bullets were unstoppable in their march to the championship. But the Tigers were able to pull out an unbelievable 3rd quarter, scoring 39 points whilst limiting Brisbane to just 16. Lead by Anstey once again, who grabbed 31 points for the match and averaged 7.75 points per quarter, Corletto was a force to be reckoned with on the court, scoring 18 points in just 19 minutes playing time. Whilst the Bullets fought back in the final quarter, lead by McKinnon once more with 19 points and 62% shots made, they could not get above the tough Tiger’s defence and went down, 105-91.
So what can we expect tomorrow night in Game 3, and for the rest of the finals series? Well first of all, home court advantage has been a big factor in the finals, and this swings towards the Bullets for Game 3, and if needed the deciding Game 5. Captain McKinnon has been a force the entire season, winning the Andrew Gaze Medal MVP for the home & away season grabbing 302 rebounds, 147 assists, averaging 20 points and 9 rebounds per game and scoring 56% of all shots made, has already proven he is out to win this season. The Tigers of course have Anstey, who actually have pulled numbers like the current MVP (grabbed 299 season rebounds, averaged 20 points and 9 rebounds, and scoring 45% from shots) and is the second X factor in the finals series. Either one of these players fail to perform on the night, and the game, and most probably the championship, will easily go to the opposition. The question is who will blink first?
Prediction: Bullets have the home court advantage, and have proven that they can defend against the Tigers onslaught when needed. Anstey will perform once again, but not like Sunday night, and Brisbane will take out Game 3 by 10 points or less.
Option #2: WBA Super Middleweight Championship Fight: ‘The Man vs ‘The King’
After last year’s ‘Man vs Machine’ fight between Mundine and Danny Green, it would seem that the boxing fans would have its fill for some time. Breaking records for being the most watched bout in Australian boxing history, it seemed that boxing had once again his the foreminds of many Aussie sporting fans.
And once again, it seems that the sporting public cannot get enough of Mundine. Tomorrow night he will square up against Sam Soliman for the WBA Super Middleweight World Championship. Both are up their as the best in the division (Mundine is currently ranked number one, whilst Soliman is ranked number 3), both have impressive win loss records (Mundine is 27wins – 3 losses with 21 KO, Soliman 33 wins – 8 losses with 13 KO), and above all, both have the passion and talent to take the title.
Why this fight has been receiving so much coverage is for two reasons. First of all, like the Mundine/Green fight both of these boxers are evenly matched, even more so then last time. But there is more to the fight than just pride as the WBA Super Middleweight Belt is on the line. This means that every punch, jab and block will lead one contender to the glory.
Second of all, this fight is turning into a ‘payback’ fight, especially for Soliman. Both boxers met in 2001 in Wollongong, NSW, and whilst Mundine won the fight on a split-points decision, many have criticised the decision claiming it was ‘controversal’. Whilst Mundine was able to dismiss Green in his last public bout, ‘The King’ has tasted defeat to ‘The Man’, and with so much more on the line this time around, do not be surprised if he comes out all guns blazing.
But will that be enough to upset the number one ranked Mundine? Tomorrow night will tell
Prediction: Both fighters have two completely different styles, and both are in peak form going into tomorrow night’s match. But Mundine is ranked number one for a reason, and whilst Soliman will be able to push him the entire bout, it will be The Mans belt when the dust settles. To make matters worse I believe that this fight will be so close that Soliman will lose once again to a split-points decision.
Well I hope this solves some fans dilemma. Whatever your decision, be it the court or the ring, at least take comfort in the fact that both matches will be good sports viewing, and make the mid-week drudge a bit more exciting.
As for me? I will be heading down to the local sports club, and hopefully watch both at the same time. I suggest all you true sports minds to do the same, as this will be one night not to be missed.
Until next time, sports minds.
So it becomes a rarity when mid-week gives us a great night of sport. Tomorrow night, there is not one but two huge events and I, like many sports fans, are conflicted in what to get immersed in. Tomorrow night we have the NBL Grand Final where the Melbourne Tigers and the Brisbane Bullets fight it out in Game 3, whilst one of the biggest boxing events Australia has seen will be playing out against Anthony ‘The Man’ Mundine vs Sam ‘The King’ Soliman. Tough decision.
So here at sporting mind we are giving the supporters a chance to decide. Previewing two of the biggest sporting events this month will see, hopefully we can help the fans out there decide what they should focus on. So without any futher ado welcome to the options of…
Wednesday Night Live!
Option #1: NBL Grand Final, Melbourne Tigers vs Brisbane Bullets – Game 3
This is by far one of the hardest fought finals series that the NBL has seen in its history. It’s 1st vs 2nd on the ladder, the minor premiers vs the last seasons champions. It is against two of the best sides the competition has seen for some time.
The Brisbane Bullets have made this season their year. Taking out the minor premiership, going on a league record 21 game winning streak, winning the player MVP of the season with captain Sam McKinnon, it seemed that this season was their year.
But of course, there to ruin the party was the returning champions the Melbourne Tigers. Lead by last year’s MVP Chris Anstey, they have been nipping at the Bullets’ heels the entire season, and were the only side that looked like they could stop the Bullets from grabbing that championship trophy with relative ease.
For these two sides, the finals series has been more than enough evidence that they fairly matched. In Game one the Bullets struck the first blow, downing the Tigers 98-95. Guard Stephen Black was the best on the court, earning 24 points (including 4 3 pointers), with captain McKinnon following with 18 points and 12 rebounds. The Bullets were simply to good at home, and despite Anstey on fire with 21 points for the game, they were able to limit the Tigers to 17 and 14 points in the 3rd and 4th quarters respectively to grab first victory.
In Game Two we were down at The Cage in Melbourne, and for the first half it seemed that the Bullets were unstoppable in their march to the championship. But the Tigers were able to pull out an unbelievable 3rd quarter, scoring 39 points whilst limiting Brisbane to just 16. Lead by Anstey once again, who grabbed 31 points for the match and averaged 7.75 points per quarter, Corletto was a force to be reckoned with on the court, scoring 18 points in just 19 minutes playing time. Whilst the Bullets fought back in the final quarter, lead by McKinnon once more with 19 points and 62% shots made, they could not get above the tough Tiger’s defence and went down, 105-91.
So what can we expect tomorrow night in Game 3, and for the rest of the finals series? Well first of all, home court advantage has been a big factor in the finals, and this swings towards the Bullets for Game 3, and if needed the deciding Game 5. Captain McKinnon has been a force the entire season, winning the Andrew Gaze Medal MVP for the home & away season grabbing 302 rebounds, 147 assists, averaging 20 points and 9 rebounds per game and scoring 56% of all shots made, has already proven he is out to win this season. The Tigers of course have Anstey, who actually have pulled numbers like the current MVP (grabbed 299 season rebounds, averaged 20 points and 9 rebounds, and scoring 45% from shots) and is the second X factor in the finals series. Either one of these players fail to perform on the night, and the game, and most probably the championship, will easily go to the opposition. The question is who will blink first?
Prediction: Bullets have the home court advantage, and have proven that they can defend against the Tigers onslaught when needed. Anstey will perform once again, but not like Sunday night, and Brisbane will take out Game 3 by 10 points or less.
Option #2: WBA Super Middleweight Championship Fight: ‘The Man vs ‘The King’
After last year’s ‘Man vs Machine’ fight between Mundine and Danny Green, it would seem that the boxing fans would have its fill for some time. Breaking records for being the most watched bout in Australian boxing history, it seemed that boxing had once again his the foreminds of many Aussie sporting fans.
And once again, it seems that the sporting public cannot get enough of Mundine. Tomorrow night he will square up against Sam Soliman for the WBA Super Middleweight World Championship. Both are up their as the best in the division (Mundine is currently ranked number one, whilst Soliman is ranked number 3), both have impressive win loss records (Mundine is 27wins – 3 losses with 21 KO, Soliman 33 wins – 8 losses with 13 KO), and above all, both have the passion and talent to take the title.
Why this fight has been receiving so much coverage is for two reasons. First of all, like the Mundine/Green fight both of these boxers are evenly matched, even more so then last time. But there is more to the fight than just pride as the WBA Super Middleweight Belt is on the line. This means that every punch, jab and block will lead one contender to the glory.
Second of all, this fight is turning into a ‘payback’ fight, especially for Soliman. Both boxers met in 2001 in Wollongong, NSW, and whilst Mundine won the fight on a split-points decision, many have criticised the decision claiming it was ‘controversal’. Whilst Mundine was able to dismiss Green in his last public bout, ‘The King’ has tasted defeat to ‘The Man’, and with so much more on the line this time around, do not be surprised if he comes out all guns blazing.
But will that be enough to upset the number one ranked Mundine? Tomorrow night will tell
Prediction: Both fighters have two completely different styles, and both are in peak form going into tomorrow night’s match. But Mundine is ranked number one for a reason, and whilst Soliman will be able to push him the entire bout, it will be The Mans belt when the dust settles. To make matters worse I believe that this fight will be so close that Soliman will lose once again to a split-points decision.
Well I hope this solves some fans dilemma. Whatever your decision, be it the court or the ring, at least take comfort in the fact that both matches will be good sports viewing, and make the mid-week drudge a bit more exciting.
As for me? I will be heading down to the local sports club, and hopefully watch both at the same time. I suggest all you true sports minds to do the same, as this will be one night not to be missed.
Until next time, sports minds.
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