Category Archives: Sports

News, Sports

Would 11 Championships save a coach from the axe?

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We all joke on Sportzfan Radio about resident panelist Sportzfan Stan being quick to suggest sports coaches, administrators, teams & players being sacked. Most recently he called for the sacking of Melbourne Football Club coach Dean Bailey (podcast #200.1). This despite the Demons being in the top eight and with the best start to a season for many seasons. By the way the Demons have since beaten Adelaide by more than 90 points!

My feeling is that we are too quick to pull the trigger in today’s sporting world.  Even having excellent records in the recent past is not enough to save a coach or player. One only needs to look at the way the Melbourne Tigers behaved after their season didn’t turn out the way they thought it should. Two NBL Championships and four trips to the playoffs in as many seasons couldn’t save long time servant and coach of the club, Al Westover. On our show, Daniel Eade urged restraint and argued a case for Westover’s retention. History tells us that Al was sacked mid season. If one compares Westover’s coaching record to that of Lindsay Gaze, Westover had more success in a much shorter time but even that comparison couldn’t save him.

It seems that today’s ‘must have now’ phenomenon pervades all areas of sport. Being in the USA now and with the NBA finals series in full flight, I am amazed at the reaction of the media to the LA Lakers whitewash at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks. Let’s remember that the Lakers were the two time defending champion and have been one of the most successful franchises of all time with 11 championships (5 since 2000 and runners-up twice). Yet today, we are greeted with the media saying the Lakers are a ‘train wreck’…’the locker room needs massive repair’…’fractured franchise’. There have been calls to trade anyone but Kobe…meaning one of last season’s best players, Pau Gasol is on the block because the Lakers failed to win for a third time in a row. Reality check – the NBA is one of the most competitive competitions in all of sport and the Lakers have been to the big dance in each of the last three seasons. Is there really a need for ‘massive’ change?

Memo to the sports media of the world….have some patience. I find support for this proposition in the example provided by my fellow Sportzfan Radio panelist, Mark Fiorenti when he spoke recently of Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United fame. Early on in his tenure and with not much success, the media and fans were calling for his sacking (a la Sportzfan Stan). The club, to their credit, and eternal satisfaction, stayed the executioner’s hand and one only needs to look at the stellar record since, that has put United at the forefront of soccer in not only Europe, but the world. They are in line this season for the Premier League/Champions League double.

One lucky person is the former coach of the Lakers, Phil Jackson. His retirement after the Lakers last loss at least means we won’t have calls for him to be sacked by all and sundry including Sportzfan Stan. Goodness knows his 11 NBA championships may not have saved him in this ‘need it now’ world.

Restraint is what I will be preaching on Sportzfan Radio from now on!

News, Sports

The Professor in the USA #1

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First stop on the Professor’s USA tour sees me touching down in Denver to visit with Dan Butterly from the Mountain West Conference (our regular Sportzfan Radio contributor) and also take a look at baseball and the New York Mets at Colorado Rockies series played at Coors Field.

The weather has been simply stunning with the sun shining in a cloudless sky and temperatures being in the mid to high 20’s (that’s centigrade) during the day but down to a cool around 5C at night.

After watching game 1 of the series last night (from the Club seats), the Mets were truly unlucky not to have come away with the ‘w’.  On two occasions they left bases loaded, managed to strand a total of 10 base runners for the night and were 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position.  You won’t win too many games of baseball with those figures, no matter how good the pitching is.

Mets pitcher Chris Capuano did admirably after escaping from a bases loaded jam in the first to make only one further mistake in the 7th inning allowing a line drive home run to left field by the Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta. In pitching 6 2/3 innings, he allowed only 5 hits and in my opinion did enough for a win if the Mets bats had come through for him.

Unfortunately for the Mets, the usually hitter friendly confines of Coors Field were affected by a swirling cross breeze which reduced two sure home run hits from Jason Bay and David Wright to catches made on the warning track.  The Mets certainly lack a quality hitter to take the game by the scruff of the neck.  I can only hope that in the final two games of the series, the Mets hitters find some pop and can hit a winning score.

News, Sports

Sportzfan Radio #201

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What you missed on the show yesterday – the Panel having a robust discussion about jumps racing in light of last week’s Warrnambool carnival, the Professor reporting from the USA on the ‘Young Brands’ Kentucky Derby and the making of mint juleps. He passes on that Sportzfan Stan has called for the sacking of Michael Voss, the Brisbane Lions players, the Fremantle Dockers players and the rider of Dialled In. The Gelding defended jumps racing in the face of a full on onslaught from Nicole Chvastek and John O’Callaghan. He was also on the mat expaining his four selections from Saturday failing to salute. The ladies at the Tennis club won’t be happy. Mark Fiorenti discussed more mathematical possibilities in the Asian Champions League and Premier League. Paul Dalligan reviewed the Test match between Australia and New Zealand and believes Billy Slater is the best full back in the world..if not the best player. He also talks about the NRL round to date and says the Melbourne Storm’s win over the Broncos was great with so many players backing up after the Test match. Sean Callanan bats clean up on the show talking sports digital. He talks about several athletes who were caught out making comments about Osama Bin Laden and makes the point that athletes need to realise using twitter and other social medium forums are just like commenting to the media.

Punting, Sports

Sydney Colt’s Mail For 7 May 2011

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Just awful last week. Should have taken the advice I posted last week and stayed away from betting at Hawkesbury. Anyway we lost our money but our confidence is high for a good return today. Have very good mail for a bolter at the Gold Coast. Valerie, a noted punt drunk, who is sunning herself at the Gold Coast, should cop the tip.

Canterbury

Race 2 n1 LEGSMAN ($3.3) Loves the track and distance. Should get a soft lead.

Race 3 n6 RAIN AFFAIR ($1.7)  Very skinny odds but I am told based on ratings this neddy has many lengths on the opposition today.

Gold Coast

Race 4 n11 COUNT YOUR FINGERS e/w ($21.0) Huge odds about this neddy who will be ridden by Damien Oliver. I am told you should throw the form guide out here as the rider butchered it last start and Oliver is a +++. Up in distance and should get a suck run. At $21 e/w get aboard.

Money lost, nothing lost. Confidence lost, everything lost.

News, Punting, Sports

Gelding’s tips for 7 May 2011

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The Gelding’s attention is on Flemington today in what looks to be an open meeting. Winners will be hard to pick but hopefully there are some gems here for the punters.

As always the bets are on an each way and all up basis.

Flemington

Race 1 Horse 3 – Deliver the Dream (for the ladies from the Tennis club)
Race 4 Horse 4 – Sheahan (also for the ladies at the Tennis club)
Race 6 Horse 3 – Niblick
Race 8 Horse 7 – Traiana

You can hear the Gelding discuss racing with the Professor every Sunday on Sportzfan Radio at 12.30pm on 88.3 Southern FM.  The Gelding’s segment is sponsored by the Great Western Hotel.

Good luck and good punting!

The Gelding

News, Punting, Sports

Gelding’s tips for 30 April 2011

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Looking to build on last week’s excellent tipping, the Gelding’s attention returns to his home track at Caulfield.  With the great recent Autumn weather, the track should be in perfect condition today.

As always the best are on an each way and all up basis.

Caulfield

Race 1 Horse 2 – Avionics
Race 3 Horse 2 – Curtana (for the ladies at the Tennis club)
Race 4 Horse 1 – Highly Recommended
Race 6 Horse 3 – Vivid Vixen (also for the ladies at the Tennis club)
Race 8 Horse 10 – Too Deadly

You can hear the Gelding discuss racing with the Professor every Sunday on Sportzfan Radio at 12.30pm on 88.3 Southern FM.  The Gelding’s segment is sponsored by the Great Western Hotel.

Listen in to our 200th show tomorrow!!

Good luck and good punting!

The Gelding

Punting, Sports

Sydney Colt’s Mail For Hawkesbury 29 April

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1 winner paying $2.8 from the 2 races we bet on last week gave us a small profit for consecutive weeks. The races today are out of town at Hawkesbury and with the track very heavy it is purely a day for punt drunks. No mail whatsoever today from pro punters. They tell me to be smart for once in my life and not bet!

Race 5 n8 DEVIL’S ARCADE e/w ($5.2) Has won 3 from 3 first up! Has won 1 from 1 on heavy tracks! Has trialled brilliantly and is trained by Gai. What else could you want to know?

Race 6 n15 FORETELLER e/w ($6.0) Big run at Randwick and up in distance is a ++. The track will not worry this neddy.

Race 8 n11 CARMINE KING e/w ($8.5) On a dry track this neddy would have been an exceptional e/w bet. I am reliably told it has been burning up the track at Randwick.

Money lost, nothing lost. Confidence lost, everything lost.

News, Punting, Sports

Gelding’s tips for 23 April 2011

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The Gelding’s attention turns to his home track at Caulfield today.  He is looking to build on his good form from last week and to provide a little Easter present to punters.

As always the bets are on an each way and all up basis.

Caulfield

Race 2 Horse 6 – La Praline (for the ladies at the Tennis club)
Race 3 Horse 1 – Miss Octopussy (also for the ladies at the Tennis club)
Race 4 Horse 2 – Turnitup
Race 6 Horse 4 – Launay

You can hear the Gelding discuss racing with the Professor every Sunday on Sportzfan Radio at 12.30pm on 88.3 Southern FM.  The Gelding’s segment is sponsored by the Great Western Hotel.

Good luck and good punting!

The Gelding

Punting, Sports

Sydney Colt’s Mail For Randwick

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Hope like me you had a small win last week with our first selection winning and paying $6.10 which covered all bets. The weather is a worry today so I am limiting our bets.

Race 1 n1 RED TRACER Without doubt the bet of the day. Seems every man and their dog have followed the pro punters in on this neddy. Best rated runner all day and is ok wet or dry. Ran great sectionals winning last start.

Race 2 n2 PRAECIDO e/w If the track was dry I am told Gai was keen on FAST CLIP. With the early showers PRAECIDO looks a fantastic e/w bet to nothing. A nice Derby run and the wet wont bother this neddy. I have taken the current Betchoice odds of $11.0 and will have a saver bet on FAST CLIP

Money lost, nothing lost. Confidence lost, everything lost.

Punting, Sports

Sydney Colt’s Doncaster Day Mail

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It will be a very wet track at Royal Randwick today. We have been the victim of some poor riding this carnival but hopefully the punt drunk’s goddess will come to the rescue today.

Race 3 n4 STREAMA Has been the subject of some pre post big bets by a pro punter mate of mine. He says it was a cert on a dry track and he is gambling on it handling the wet.

Race 4 n9 BIG STORM I have strong mail to say this has improved heaps on the track and the wet is a plus.

Race 5 n8 GALIZANI Loves the wet and has a light weight. I’m on this neddy pre post as strong track support is expected.

Race 6 n7 FIBRILLATION E/W The 2 favs will be very hard to beat on many form lines but Fibrillation is a dead set duck. The more rain that falls the more I’ll put on this neddy each way.

I’ll have my fingers crossed for our fav ladies Gai Waterhouse and MORE JOYOUS in the Doncaster. It is hard to back her with the big weight in the wet but I will cheer loudly for her. Go girl!

Money lost, nothing lost. Confidence lost, everything lost.