Tag Archives: commonwealth-games

Friday musing – World Cup, Tour de France………

Chris Barwin HillsWell the biggest sporting event in the world, the World Cup has now concluded and I got it wrong with Argentina and Messi failing to ignite. Germany deserved to win in my opinion and the goal from Gotze was an absolute ripper.

We then move towards one of the more low key events being the Commonwealth Games. To me the Commonwealth Games can be equated to the old AFL pre-season competition. It is relevant, but not the main game.

With the impending retirement of Lenny Hayes, the question becomes who will now be a lot of people’s favourite player from an opposition team. Well I have always admired Hayes for the same reasons I admire Jimmy Bartel. They are both extremely skilful players who do not seek out the accolades for themselves and do not try and help the umpires umpire the game. My nomination therefore is Bartel, but I probably had him as my favourite player from another team anyway.

The final comment for the week would be the potential for Richie Porte to “do a Bradbury”. With all the retirements due to injury it would appear that Porte has a very good chance of taking out the Tour de France if he can get over Vincenzo Nibali. For someone who was supposed to be the second man to Chris Froome he has been given the chance and I will be keeping my fingers crossed for him.

Have a great weekend!

Sportzfan Radio #175.2

@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!17 October 2010 175.2 – Dr Leslie comes on and cleans up after the Gelding’s weather forecast and racing segment – stool gazing indeed! The Professor explains that the Sydney Colt was unable to be on the show this week due to an illness and increases the intrigue when he passes on that the Colt and Stan have never been on the same show together – like Clark Kent and Superman. The Panel welcomes Nicole Chvastek back to the show. Mark Fiorenti discusses the creativity and passion of A-League soccer and the Newcastle Jets gaining more funding under Nathan Tinkler. There is also discussion of the ever increasing debts of Manchester United and Liverpool and the foreign ownership of EPL clubs. Nicole talks about the interest or lack thereof in the Commonwealth Games and the many countries/athletes not competing at the Games,  Daniel says it was good to hear that Australia picked up a late gold medal in the ‘Throwing the washing machine out the window’ event.  Nicole observed “Well done those Aussies”.  Nicole also discussed the legitimacy of naming AFL players even though they had not been charged with an offence.  Paul Dalligan talks with the Panel about the Rugby League Four Nations tournament with the marquee match between Australia and England at AAMI stadium.  He thinks that the first game between Australia and Papua/New Guinea is like the Aussies playing the Wesley College Old Boys.  In a heads up, Paul has heard Jonathan Thurstons may be heading to the Parramatta Eels.  The Panel finish off with a discussion of Australian cricket and Ricky Ponting.  Is Shane Warne too old to come back?  Finally, Daniel asks the Professor which number comes after 248.  Strangely it is 250, as apparently Daryl Corletto played his 250th game after his 248th.

Sportzfan Radio #174.2

@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!10 October 2010 174.2 – Paul tells the story of a Yankees pitcher who made his displeaure known by taking all his gear out on to the field and setting it on fire.  The Professor poses the question – Is this the end of the Commonwealth Games? with attendances non existent, star athletes staying away and TV ratings down.  Paul believes the organisers should be building on it for the coming 2014 games in Glasgow.  The Gelding believes that athletes are more interested in World Championships.  Paul wraps the 2010 NRL season, talks about his experience at the NRL Grand Final and the great second half by eventual premiers St George.  He thinks the Sydney Roosters panicked in the second half.  He also highlights an NRL match being investigated with players allegedly betting on a penalty goal to start the game.  Dr Leslie comes along and cleans up after the NRL segment.  Mark Fiorenti talks soccer and chats about the Heart v Victory local derby and the Socceroos great 1-0 win over Paraguay.

Sportzfan Radio #174.1

@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!10 October 2010 174.1 – The show reprises Daniel’s singing of the Collingwood theme song from show #173. The Panel discusses Michael Vick’s injury with Dan Butterly in his US report and Dan says a quarterback in the NFL can’t take the same chances to run the ball as players do in College. Paul Dalligan talks to Dan about the rumor on Brett Favre and a former NY Jets female employee and wonders whether Brett has been playing golf with Tiger Woods.  Paul also talks about his surprise at the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs being in the match of the round against Indianapolis Colts. Dan also talks MLB playoffs and thinks the Yankees, Rangers, Phillies and Giants will win through.  #1 ranked in NCAAF Alabama losing may reignite the BCS controversy and discussion on whether a BCS College that has lost a game is more deserving of playing in the BCS title game than a non-BCS College that has not lost a game.  The Gelding talks about his selections at Caulfield and the Sydney Colt’s selections at Rosehill.  He has a discussion with Daniel about backing horses each way.  Daniel thinks backing a horse not to win does not make sense.  The Professor starts off a discussion on the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Sportzfan Radio #173.2

@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!03 October 2010 173.2 – Mark Fiorenti tells the Panel that he has deserted Melbourne Heart and is jumping back on the Melbourne Victory bandwagon. Via twitter, our US listeners indicated they had not caught up with the change to daylight saving in Australia and missed the start of the show. Daniel talks about the NBL pre-season matches being played in Darwin and the Panel query why the games are hidden so far away from the rest of the population. He also talks about NBL games being over 40 minutes instead of 48 minutes and gives an example to prove his point that less is less when people want more. Stan thinks the NBL is on its last legs. Paul Dalligan is in Sydney to watch the NRL Grand Final and is pleased it is an all Sydney affair. He also gets to see his beloved Rabbitohs play in the Under 20’s. The Professor says that if St George score more than 15 then that might be curtains for the Roosters. The Panel talks to Lisa Szatsznajder from the VIS about VIS athletes who will be competing at the Delhi Commonwealth Games. She thinks the Aussies will go well and should win at least as many medals as they did in Melbourne four years ago. Daniel thinks Richmond’s player list is better than Essendon’s whilst Stan thinks James Hird has the job ahead of him as coach of Essendon. Daniel “tries” to sing the Collingwood theme song and Sean talks about his shimmy versus the Didak shimmy. He also thinks Julie Anthony should be wheeled out each year to sing the National Anthem.

Sportzfan Radio #172.2

@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!26 September 2010 172.2 – Mordiboy thinks this is a great chance for the AFL to play a night Grand Final. The Professor suggests the AFL could use Mark Seymour for entertainment at the GF replay. Paul says if they used INXS again, ‘New Sensation’ would be ‘Old Sensation’. The ‘F’ word is worried that the first A-League Melbourne soccer derby between Victory and Hearts is going up against the AFL Grand Final replay. He thinks 20,000 will be there to see the game and tips a draw. Mark has jumped off the Heart bandwagon and is heading back to the Victory. In Premier League Mark was surprised Arsenal lost at home to West Brom, shocked Liverpool lost mid week in the Carling Cup and doesn’t look good for Everton on the bottom of the League. Paul talks NRL with the preliminary finals having been completed with the Sydney Roosters belting the Gold Coast Titans and St George getting over Wests Tigers. He will be at the Grand Final next week via a ticket from a friend from another team. Sean joins in from the Royal Show and discusses the problems created for Collingwood and St Kilda by the Grand Final replay and was thrilled to be at his first ‘live’ Grand Final. He also discusses the Commonwealth Games problems in Delhi. Daniel believes if security can’t be improved they should be called off. Paul worries that Todd Carney may miss the Grand Final due to a high tackle. Stan thinks he will get off though as contact was first in the chest region.

Sportzfan Radio #166.1

@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!8 August 2010 166.1 –The Panel talk about the AFL using technology for deciding whether a goal is kicked or not.  Stan says maybe the umpires need regular checks on their eye sight as over a period of time mistakes can affect the outcome of games.  Marie Baker makes a return to the show with her US report and says human error is part of sport so why sweat over mistakes made by referees.  She believes Brett Fravre is a drama queen who needs his own annual reality “decision” show and doesn’t think Shaq changing NBA teams again will affect his legacy.  She also feels Tiger Woods probably won’t get back to the top in golf and that A-Rod’s 600th homer as the youngest person ever to reach that mark, may not be enough to get him into MLB’s Hall of Fame.  The Gelding provides the answers to Saturday’s racing at both Flemington and Randwick.  He says it was a tough day with many long priced horses saluting and elects not to award the S-Hit ride of the day to the jockey of Bonindi but does say her ride “lacked imagination”.  No luck again for Queen Asa this week although she did run fourth so getting closer to a placing.  He tells Travis that he has no plans to run it in the Spring Carnival.  The Professor looks at the farcical situation with the Commonwealth Games venues in Delhi being incomplete with only 60 days until the start of the events.  Daniel believes the Games organizing committee should adopt the Andrew Demetriou line  “Everything is fine….there is no problem.”  A National Baseball League will finally return to Australia in November with 6 team competing.  Daniel is surprised that Stan can remember back to baseball in the late 1920’s.