Tag Archives: cycling

Weekend musing – Tour de France, British Open, Arsene Wenger and England

Chris Barwin HillsI commented last week on a number of topics including the Tour de France, the England soccer team’s poor display in the European Championships and the British Open.

It looks like I was on the money picking Chris Froome as the winner of the race. With 19 stages complete and only a couple to go Froome froome
seems to have the field covered. Great display by Aussie Richie Porte in the tough mountain section but looks like he will just fall short of a podium finish. Certainly looks like a rider to watch for the 2017 Tour.

As much as I was on the money with the Tour de France, I was way off in my assessment of the British Open. I didn’t see Swede, Henrik 1363998228672Stenson winning. Stenson and Phil Mickelson showed a mastery of the Royal Troon course that the rest of the field struggled with. Mickelson at 17 under had an 11 shot buffer between he and the third placed golfer. The leading Australian was world number 1, Jason Day at one over par tied for equal 22nd. My selection of Adam Scott was poor as he finished at 5 over par. Our golfers need to improve their performances in major tournaments!

My suggestion for the English soccer team is to go all out for Arsene Wenger. They could do a lot worse. He is the shot in the arm that thealexis-sanchez-arsenal-burnley_3223813 English need and his time at Arsenal is limited. It would be a good move for England, Arsenal and Wenger.

Have a great weekend!

Weekend musing – AFL bye rounds, European Cup, Tour de France, British Open….

Chris Barwin HillsRound 17 of the AFL season started on Thursday night and these Thursday night games have been aptly called ‘Pie night’ games by Fox Footy. The games are largely only possible due to the bye rounds where only six games are played each round across three weekends. Many people do not like the 6 x 6 x 6 way of having a bye, but in my opinion, I think it is fine. Igunston would rather that method than a complete break in the mid-season. It affords every side a break, there is still a good number of games for each weekend and it allows for the introduction of these Thursday night games which appear to have attracted good crowds and TV ratings. I have heard some in the media saying the bye rounds mean the AFL season loses momentum. I do not agree or see it as a problem. After all, if you think about it, the old VFL competition only had six games a week and we thought that was plenty back then.

The round also started with another Hawthorn escape and I think the Swans would be ruing the three 50 metre penalties which resulted in two goals in a game that was decided by five points. The HANNEBERY50 metre penalties were there, but it is massive penalty for innocuous incidents that had little to no impact on the play. There was also a big disparity in the free kick count, especially up to 3/4 time. The Hawthorn free kicks were probably there, but there were a lot of free kicks not paid to Sydney that should have been paid. Again, in a tight game it makes a difference.

In the Euro Cup, Portugal continued the run of outsiders winning big competitions this year and without a meaningful contribution fromronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo. The highlight of the tournament though still has to be Iceland’s defeat of England. One wonders how such a result could occur when one considers the disparity between the two nations in population and football history. Clearly England need to re-invent themselves if they wish to seriously challenge for major silverware in the future.

froomeThe Tour de France continues on and I must say even with the halfway mark just reached, it looks like Chris Froome will again be in front at the end. He seems a cut above the rest and barring some unfortunate accident he is over the line.

The British Open continues to be a major Championship that eludes Australian golfers even now that we have some of the top golfers inscott the world. Greg Norman ‘was our last winner and that was a very long time ago. I see our best chance with Adam Scott, but I am far from confident that any Aussie will be lifting the claret mug this year.

Have a great weekend!

Drugs in Sport……what a mess!

meSo Essendon players were injected with substances, but it appears no-one knows what was injected due to a ‘deplorable absence of records in the program relating to its administration’ (the AFL’s Anti-Doping Tribunal’s words not mine). Hardly a satisfactory conclusion to the matter but without the ability to compel witnesses to give evidence, there was always a high probability that this would be the outcome. Proof of the offence was ASADA’s Achilles’ heel.

Sportzfan Radio commentator, John O’Callaghan said after the announcement by ASADA at the outset of the supplement scandal, that no AFL player would be suspended. He was proved to be correct. He also called for drug offences in sport to be the subject of criminal proceedings so that investigations could be undertaken by the Police and proceedings be brought before the Courts. It appears in retrospect that his comments were prescient.

Timing is everything…….and I’ll bet that the AFL is also stunned at the exquisite timing of the ASADA announcement that two Collingwood FC player’s ‘A’ samples have tested positive to the drug Clenbuterol on the day before the AFL anti-doping Tribunal’s was to announce its verdict regarding the case involving Essendon FC players.

Clenbuterol is a ‘beta-2 agonist’ that can be used alone and in conjunction with other substances to promote growth of skeletal muscle and to reduce body fat. It is not approved for human use and is a banned class of drug under the World Anti-Doping Code. Athletes commonly use the drug to define muscle. Its best known user is Spanish cyclist, Alberto Contador, who was stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title after testing positive to the drug.

With the ‘B’ samples yet to be tested, it is too early to pass judgment, however, the announcement by ASADA has certainly focussed even more attention on the drug cheats issue at a time when the AFL would like the subject to fall out of the headlines, especially with the opening game of the season less than 48 hours away.

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 show #267.1

@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!14 October 2012 267.1 – David Coutts (Coutta) joins the Panel with the Gambler, Daniel Eade and the Professor. Daniel suggests that there is a moment of silence for Paul Dalligan’s multi which went west when the Washington Nationals lost. Dan Butterly comes on to talk US sport and kicks off with the Lance Armstrong story. He also looks at the MBL playoffs and discusses Yankees player Alex Rodriguez being benched. He feels the St Louis Cardinals will play Detroit Tigers for the World Series. He believes the NHL is in mortal danger if it can’t resolve the lockout. The Gelding talks racing and the Spring Carnival with racing at Caulfield yesterday. He also discusses the revelations that Damian Oliver allegedly bet $10,000 on a horse in the same race he was riding in. The Gelding awards S-hit rides to Nash Rawiller for his rides on More Joyous and Pierro. Dr Leslie’s CSA makes a return.

Sportzfan Radio show #261.2

@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!26 August 2012 261.2 – In the second half of the show, Mark Fiorenti discusses soccer with another star player leaving Arsenal. He also looks at the Premier League round to date. John O’Callaghan provides his insights into the Lance Armstrong decision. Paul and the Professor discuss whether Brett Ratten’s tenure at Carlton is almost over after the Blues loss to the Gold Coast, the Saints mathematical chances of making the eight and how well Nick Natanui is playing for West Coast at the moment. Paul Dalligan talks rugby league and the the close race for the finals between a number of teams.

Sportzfan Radio show #261.1

@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!26 August 2012 261.1 – The Professor and Paul Gamble kick off the program with Sportzfan Stan still out of the side injured. They start the program looking at the parlous state of rugby union with the Wallabies failing to trouble the scorer for the first time in fifty years against the All Blacks. They consider that Robbie Deans tenure must be on shaky ground. Dan Butterly comes on to talk US sport and looks at the Lance Armstrong decision not to contest the USADA charges, the start of the college football season and also the start of the NFL season. The Gelding talks racing and reviews the results from yesterday’s Moonee Valley and Warwick Farm meetings.

Sportzfan Radio show #234.1

@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!12 February 2012 234.1 – Paul Gamble is in the chair hosting this week’s Sportzfan Radio and the Professor, who spent the past week in the U.S. for the NFL Super Bowl, gets to sit back and just be a ‘normal’ member of the Panel. Paul Dalligan and Sportzfan Stan round out the Panel and Paul opens by talking about the ABL Grand Final between Perth Heat and Melbourne Aces. The Professor felt that the Super Bowl was anti-climatic for anyone not a New York Giants fan and was critical of the inaccurate, over-hyped coverage that the Australian news gave to the reports of Gisele Bundchen, wife of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, abusing fans. He said the post Super Bowl news buzzed with questions of whether the Colts will retain Peyton Manning, their quarterback since 1999, who is worth 23 million if they don’t cut him by the first week in March. Sportzfan Stan’s rant was on the two year suspension handed out bythe Court of Arbitration for Sport to Alberto Contador. He was also stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title after his positive test for the steroid clenbuterol. The Professor said the penalty was a farce as Contador has been competing regardless. The Gelding talks horse racing and Black Caviar’s easy win. He also reports on Danish Rock who is now in Mick Price’s stables at Caulfield and is described as a fit colt running even times. Nick Tedeschi comes on to talk NRL and his 2012 Punter’s Guide to the NRL.  He is reserving his opinion on the Bulldogs at the moment. Dalligan’s “Dark Horse” for the year is the Cronulla Sharks.

Sportzfan Radio 31 July 2011 #212.1

@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!31 July 2011 212.1 – Sportzfan Stan starts the show ripping the Melbourne FC saying they are a ‘team of the past’ and don’t deserve to be in the AFL. He doesn’t think Dean Bailey should be sacked though and that Melbourne should wait until the end of the season before making a move. Daniel Eade comes on to talk about the NBA lockout – he thinks games will definitely be lost and playing won’t commence until December at the earliest, the chances of Patrick Mills playing in the NBL this season and the coming international matches between the Boomers & Opals and New Zealand at the Cage. He also talks ice hockey with the AIHL finals to be played in Melbourne on 3 -4 September. Sportzfan Stan looks at performance enhancing drugs in sport again and the prevalence of their use. Glenn Hampson makes his debut as a member of the Sportzfan Radio panel and joins the discussion on Alberto Contador. Mark Fiorenti talks soccer and the World Cup 2014 preliminary draw and reviews the Asian section group. He feels the Socceroos should make it through the first round of qualifying.

Sportzfan Radio #193.1

@SportzfanRadio now available on iTunes!13 March 2011 193.1 – To start the show the Panel wish Sportzfan Stan a Happy 90th Birthday. Stan says the secret of longevity for men is to have a healthy interest in the female sex. He may have done his dash with the ladies at the Tennis club. Stan leads off with a rant about another cyclist Franco Pellizotti being sanctioned for blood doping. Both he and the Gelding believe drug cheats should be banned for more than 2 years as the 2 year ban doesn’t seem to be deterring athletes from trying to illegally enhance their performance. The Panel then talk with Lynne Anderson from Repucom who released their 9th annual benchmarking report on valuing media exposure for sports sponsorship during the week.  AFL Clubs in front but NRL Clubs are closing the gap. The Gelding talks about his efforts at the track at Flemington having a successful day tipping 3 winners and a second from 5 selections. He talks about how good Black Caviar actually is and compares her with great horses of the past.  Undeniably broke the Gelding’s 23 race run with a placing or better. He almost awards an S-Hit ride for Michael Rodd’s effort on Undeniably. Mark Fiorenti talks soccer. He admits that although he has a twitter account he has yet to send a tweet. He discusses what he believes the reasons are behind Ernie Merrick’s sacking by the Melbourne Victory.