Huge week in sport!

G'day Tragics.

What a massive week in sport it has been for yours truly.  It all started last week when a mate called me and said "Adz, I've got a spare ticket to State of Origin.  Do you want to come?"
Is the Pope a catholic?...of course I was going to go.

From then on I was pumped.  I told anyone who was willing to listen.  Jealous workmates were seething...it was great.  My first Origin at the cauldron.  I couldn't wait.  

When it comes to sport; it usually takes a major disaster or a death in the family for me to miss out on something.  Cue Tuesday night, B grade, social basketball. 

It was a game like any other, I had the ball on a string and my team-mates were playing a steady support role (or something like that), then it happened!  While pulling down an authoritative rebound I landed  heavily on an opponents shoe and due to the fact I was wearing $70 runners and not a pair of Nike "Air" Jordan's, equipped with ankle support, I went down like a sack of manure. 

It was bad, real bad.  I was writhing around like an escaped goldfish on the floor.  After carrying on like a pork chop and being carried off, I knew origin was in doubt.

The next day my ankle could have secured a place on the Biggest Loser.  It was ugly and hurt.  I called my mate to tell him the bad news. He insisted that: I get some crutches, we'll catch a taxi, we won't have to walk very  far, once I get in my seat I'd be right, we won't drink much beer and finally...I toughen up.

Stupidly I decided to go.  We caught the train, which was pleasant enough, but once we hit Brissy the pain began.  Getting a taxi was hopeless, so on the dodgiest set of crutches ever made, we started the 1.5km trek to Suncorp.  Wearing my 1993 Qld jersey, I'd bought on holidays as a boy I was getting pats on the back by drunken cane toad fans as I hobbled down Caxton St.

"That's Queensland guts mate, coming to origin with a broken leg" was a common cry from the manic fans.  I'd be lying if I didn't say it lifted me.  We stopped for beer and a kebab (origin grub), then pressed on.  Finally reaching the bronze statue of King Wally Lewis, I nearly cried in relief...until we realised our seats were down the opposite end of the stadium. Bugger.

To cut a long story short, we got to our seat (after hopping up 100 stairs), got to see James Blunt sing "You're Beautiful" before kick-off (I'm serious), Qld won and we made it home safely.  Admittedly, I did have to stand on the train almost all the way home.  A young girl offered me a seat, but I was waiting for some other young turds to do the same...I'm still waiting!

I must say, that both NSW fans and QLDers alike were extremely friendly and helpful.  It warmed my heart to be honest, although one bloke went a little overboard, offering to hold my "old fella" while taking a leak - "thanks champ I'll manage".

I backed up and went through the same ordeal last night, as the Gold Coast Suns took on my team Geelong.  Thanks to better planning, things were much easier.  A shiny new set of crutches made it a cruise.  The stadium was great, the Suns did well, it was a top night.

So I got to go to State of Origin and it lived up to some very high expectations.  I saw my team tear through the hapless Suns at the shiny new Metricon Stadium.  The only thing left to do, is maybe get this ankle x-rayed.  It looks like I've borrowed the leg of a Sumo...What a week in sport!....Tragic!

It's time to go...steeple chasing?

Every now and then I'll write a post about a subject that I know absolutely nothing about, but still have an  opinion on.  This is such an entry.

I would never say that I 'm an animal activist, but I'm definitely an animal lover.  I would also say that I enjoy horse racing and the occasional punt on the nags.  With these two points out in the open, I'm not sure if I'm hypocritical by saying that steeple chasing should be banned.

If you've ever been to a jumps race and witnessed a horse (or two) fall, I'm sure you will share my sentiments.  All sports have risks, some greater than others.  The difference being people get a choice in whether they participate...horses don't.

I know I sound like a fool by endorsing horse racing, then bagging steeple chasing.  I guess falls and horse deaths in gallops are quite rare.  The horses are well looked after and are basically required to run as fast as they can...that's it.  It's a display of the power, beauty and elegance of these magnificent animals and a heart pumping sport to boot.

Steeple chasing horses also get looked after well no doubt, but are basically race horses that didn't quite make the grade.  These horses are required to run their guts out over huge distances, whilst also clearing ridiculously high fences.  It's almost like they are set up to fail.

In 2000 I attended the the famous Grand National Steeplechase in the Northern UK.  At the time I was blown away by the excitement of the event.  Over 100,000 people were at Aintree to watch the famous race, it was bloody massive.  I remember there was roughly 20 horses in the race and every jump was carnage.  Memory tells me that approximately 5 horses crossed the post that day...the rest falling.  Granted I had a few beers under the belt, but I remember thinking "how can people enjoy this".

Have a read of this snippet I found following this years Grand National:

Two horses died during the Grand National race last weekend and another was fatally injured at an earlier race in the three-day Grand National meeting.
Many are outraged at the deaths and the racing community's unwillingness to make real changes to address the problem. The deaths are par for the course in the Grand National meeting, with a total of 33 equine deaths since 2000. In that time period, 2004 was the only year in which no horses died during or as a result of injuries sustained during Grand National races.
The Grand National is the main event during the three-day meeting at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The historic steeplechase dates back to the 1830s and remains a highly popular social event despite controversy. The race consists of 30 fences ranging from 4'6" to 5'3" over 4 ½ miles. Forty horses started in this year's Grand National, but only 19 finished.

Speaks for itself!

A few weeks ago in Victoria, the melting pot for this controversy in Australia, one of the horses jumped a barrier into the crowd, injuring quite a few patrons.  Perhaps this petrified animal was either trying to escape its fate or simply saying, "screw this, you get out there and risk your neck".  Either way it was another ugly look for the under fire sport.

I am aware that their are trainers, strappers, bookies, jockeys and many more that make their living from this sport and will tell you that the stats show only a tiny number of gee gees are killed per race.  One horse death is disturbing enough for me and what about the kids that witness the horror of a horse fall.

As I said earlier, this topic is not one of my strong suits, but it's something that bothers me every time I see a stomach churning fall on the news.  I'm pretty sure that it is banned in most states, so why not Australia/World wide?  There are hundreds of websites that display facts, figures and images that back up my amateur case.  Take a look...see what you think.

Hurting animals for our own entertainment is lame (pardon the pun).  I'm sure those who hunt for sport may disagree.  I'd like to hear from them and why they enjoy the pursuit.  I'm not a vegetarian or vegan and I have have been known to squash a bug or three.  

Does this make me a hypocrite?...Who cares!... I like to have a few bob each way...Tragic!

The please explains of League!

Since moving to the great state of Queensland 10 years ago, rugby league has gradually found its way into my heart.  It took a while, but I now cheer the maroons like I was a born and bread cane-toad.

Aussie rules will always be my first love, but I have great respect for league and the men who play it.  It's a pulsating and at times brutal game, that highlights skill, strength and poise in equal doses.

Now that I've pumped up the tyres of the game, it's time to throw a few tacks on the road.  There are a few things about the sport that I don't get, have never got and don't think I will ever get.  I'm hoping that some of you tragics out there might be able to shed some light.

Number 1
I don't understand how a sport can allow players and coaches to shop around for a new club smack bang in  the middle of the season.  Tell me this isn't a disgrace!

How does a fan feel seeing their favourite player sipping a latte on the news with a bunch of big wigs from a rival club.  It must be gut wrenching.  How about finding out that your coach will be at another club next year...fair enough?....bull dust!....there are still 15 games to go this year!

Yep.  This rule or lack of a rule, has always befuddled me. 

Imagine going up to a mate and saying "your girlfriend and I have agreed to start going out next year, I hope that's cool".
Of course it's not cool.  How can my mate ever look at his Mrs the same way again.  Do you think footy is any different?

 If a player or coach isn't solely devoted to their team or club for the whole year, they should piss of straight away.  We don't want to see them swanning around on the news deciding whether they want beaches or bogans.  Show some bloody respect to your club, fans and team-mates...I just don't get it?

Number 2

Next mystery is.....Monday night football.  There are 2 things I don't want to be doing on a Monday night.
1. Picking up dog pooh in the back yard with my teeth.
2. Watching rugby league.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday are days/nights for footy.  AFL can take note of this too.  Monday we are trying to ease into the working week and starting to think about next weeks match.  All of a sudden it hits us!  There's another flaming game to go.....what a HUGE pain in the arse. 

Unless you have Fox you can't watch it, no one goes to it and even for the die-hards, it's really really hard to care about this game.  You see the score Tuesday morning on the Today Show and after you comment about what a tosser Karl Stefanovic is, you breathe a sigh of relief that the round is finally over. 

Get rid of it Gallop...agreed?

Number 3

Monday night footy sucks, but what about the Sunday night Grand Final...you must be joking.  Grand Final day in all codes is an Aussie tradition.  Barbies, beers, the kids playing, wives catching up....sensational!

Then along comes the Sunday night Grand Final.  Fans get on the gas all day and are blind by the time the dodgy international act comes on (remember Billy Idol....GOLD!).

You watch the game, then quickly say goodbye to friends as you rush the kids home to bed.  Someone was smoking the good stuff when they came up with this one.  I just don't get it?

Number 4

My final dilemma is rep games.  Playing Origin or City/Country games in the middle of the week, in the middle of the season.  Please explain?

There is no doubt that State of Origin is the games showcase.  Why not treat it that way?  Make the season shorter and allow 3 weeks off for the series.  Let clubs refresh their stocks and take a break.

Origin can completely change the make-up of the season.  The Bronco's have been hammered over the years by Origin.  The integrity of the whole season can be shaped and ruined.  Tipping and betting is thrown into chaos, while the exhausted players guts it out by playing up to three games in a week.  Dumb!

I might be wrong, but it seems ludicrous.  City vs Country may be traditional, but what's the point of it?  An origin selection match you say?  Then what is the regular season? A bowl of goldfish?  Play a few regular games in rural areas.  It's time for this game to spend 10 in the bin (years that is).

It's seems obvious, but maybe I'm missing something.  If you can enlighten me please do.  I have many more questions, but I'm starting to look like a league basher, which I'm not.  As I said, I love the game, but these issues have stumped me from day 1.  Please help!

Either the crew running the game are drop kicks, or I'm the drop kick and they are yet to be proven geniuses. What do you reckon?....Tragic!

Wanna Bet?

G'day Tragics,

Since the day man first bet on two flies crawling up a wall, Australians have loved a punt.  Initially it was purely the gee gees and dogs, but over time sports betting has exploded into a billion dollar industry that in my opinion has changed the face of sport forever.

Before I continue, I love a little bet on sport.  I am the proud CEO of a little punters club...."hi fellas", so the intention of this weeks post is not to be hypocritical...just opinionated and of course cool.  There are certain elements of sports betting that are bringing the greedy, greasy grubs out of the woodwork.  These wankers are doing their best to tarnish the credibility of some of the games we love.

Let's start with micro-betting.  Betting on no-balls, wides, first point scored or Thorpey wearing dick togs in his comeback swim?  These sort of bets are wide open to corruption, as the Pakistani lads have shown repeatedly.  Betting on miniscule events, that can be so easily manipulated by a dodgy sportsman are ridiculous and like the idea of a night AFL grand final, should be thrown on the scrap heap.

What gets on my goat, is when cheats do break the rules and doctor a sporting event; all they get is a slap on the wrist and are told:
"You are a very bad boy/girl.  Don't do it again or you will get a smack on the bot bot".
If found guilty of sporting bastardry, it should be an instant life ban with all the trimmings (meaning a kick in the nads if male...hair pull for the girls).

Cricket is a sport that is heavily punted on, especially in the sub-continent.  When an upset or an unusual result occurs, you can't help but wonder whether something fishy has gone on.  You hate yourself for thinking it, but unfortunatley cricket has become that of Johnny Howards bowling action...a tangled mess.

I'd hate to think that one day I'll be doubting the credibility of  the NBL, AFL or even the netball.  Cycling has been butchered by drugs.  Can other sports be crushed by gambling.  I bloody well hope not!

We, the fans are the big losers in all this.  We are being tempted to throw our cash away on stupid bets:

What will Ben Cousins do next?
- Join the Wiggles $51
- Run for parliament $27
- Become a male stripper $10
- Continue to be a tool $1.50


Have a go at that one....I know you want to...ha!.. It's a disgrace.  This bet is made up, but mad punters have crazier punting options thrust upon them every minute of ever day.  What happened to backing the winners and losers?  Must be too boring...who cares if it produces a fair dinkum, legitimate contest. 
Fans can also be reamed by paying to go and watch something that's result may or may not have been pre-determined.  The thought of it makes me be a little bit sick in my mouth.  I'm sure it happens. 

Live betting is another pile of pooh.  Betting on things after they have started. Hmmmm, just talking about it seems seedy.  Imagine the late odds of  the Brisbane Roar in this years A-League Grand Final.  Do we really want amazing comebacks like theirs opened up to scrutity.  I'll answer that one...no!

As I said, I love a bet, but I'm thinking we should settle down and put an emergency brake on the sports betting industry.  There is definitely room for a flutter on sports; it can add that extra spice and excitement to the experience, but... if things get out of control, it could one day spell the end of this amazing blog....and all sport in general......Bloody Tragic.

Everyone can be an Ironman!

G'day tragics.

This week the wife and I took a drive down to Port Macquarie to support my sister in law as she tackled the gruelling Port Macquarie Iron man Triathlon.  For those of you not in the know, an iron man...or iron person triathlon consists of a 3.8km swim, a 180km bike ride and last but not least, a 42km run (marathon).

A race of this nature takes the very good about 8-10 hours and the very gutsy between 12-15 hours.  That's right...15 hours of non stop, body bashing pain.  It truly is the ultimate test of fitness, strength, endurance, courage....and of course, sanity.

Before I go on, I must mention that my sister in law, Amelia raced sensationally and finished 2nd in the professional women's division.  She continues to amaze us and do everyone in her corner extremely proud. 

Amelia has participated in these events for years and it takes up a large portion of her life.  I've asked her many times why???????  Why does she put herself through this hell?  The answer is simple...she loves it.  She loves it?...Not good enough for me Amelia! 

I loved playing footy, I love playing golf, I love eating pizza, but for 10 hours at a time, without a break...come off it!  There must be more than a simple love of beating oneself to a pulp.

I'm not calling my champion relative a liar, but I need to investigate.  Why is extreme pain so pleasureable for some?  I have a theory.  See what you think.

Satisfaction - An act of satisfying; fulfillment; gratification.
Achievement - A thing done successfully, typically by effort, courage, or skill.

These two magic words are the secret to transforming agony into the purest form of ecstasy.  Humans are complex creatures, and we are constantly striving to achieve.  Any level of achievement is packaged neatly with a reward of satisfaction.

Are you with me?...Am I getting too serious for my own blog?...Hear me out.

The more obstacles that are placed in our way on the path to achievement; make the dose of satisfaction all the more concentrated at the end.  Some give up before the finish line.

Not everyone gets to taste victory in its sweetest, purest form, but those who do, find harder, more extreme challenges, to makes that satisfaction hit bigger and juicier. 

Do you get my point?  Or have I lost my shit completely?  These Iron Men and Iron Women...all completely hairless and lathered in latex(sorry lycra....oops!) are all chasing the ultimate sporting prize.  They are putting themselves through maximum pain...in a quest for the biggest, chunkiest, dose of satisfaction available. 

Have you played in a grand final win, got a hat-trick or even scored a 300 in ten pin?  The feeling of completing an iron man based on my theory, would dwarf any of these huge adrenaline hits. 

Worth the pain?  I think so.  Do you?  What is your Iron man? (work, sport, life)...let me know...go and get your reward!......Tragic.