4 March 2012 237.2 – In the second hour of the show, the Professor asked Daniel what had happened to the NBL season as it seemed to have disappeared with the playoffs beginning soon and the AFL and NRL overshadowing basketball in the news. Sportzfan Stan’s view was that the league’s management needed professional help to increase interest in teams, awareness of games and boost revenues. His feelings were shared by the rest of the panel with discussions centering on the NBL’s lack of promotion of the game and a remedy involving a shared venue with other sports such as netball leading to increased awareness. Daniel reviewed the NBA giving his opinion on the teams, their standings and whether Clipper Darrell had been harshly treated . He also looked at the Twitter tag #BlameLebron. The NRL report from Paul Dalligan included highlights of St. George’s win over the Tinkler Knights. The win surprised Dalligan as the favoured Knights played well. The Professor thought the Raiders v Storm match was the game of the round so far with Billy Slater’s brilliant late try winner being a feature. Dalligan congratulated The Professor on his Bulldogs pulling out a win after overcoming a 14 point deficit. The Panel also discussed Essendon’s no-show for their match on Saturday with St. Kilda in Wangaratta and the AFL originally splitting the game points between the two teams with all in agreement that St. Kilda should receive all four points. Last moment thoughts from the Professor had the Panel discussing the Grand Prix and Bernie Ecclestone’s annual threat of axing the race.
Tag Archives: football
Sportzfan Radio show #236.1
26 February 2012 236.1 – Daniel emulated Sportzfan Stan’s usual start to the show by launching his own rants, starting with Stan himself. Daniel suggested to the Professor that Stan needed to be sent to Florida if he continues to wear cardigans on 36C days. He quickly moved on to Ricky Ponting and whether he retired or was sacked by Cricket Australia. He discussed NFL and Troy Aikman’s comment that American football will not be the most popular sport in America in 10-15 years due to parents’ perceptions towards contact sports and Daniel posed the same question about the AFL. Dan Butterly returned to the show to deliver his U.S. report and rehashed the lack lustre 2012 Super Bowl. He thought the commercials were the highlight rather than the game itself and that the Peyton Manning saga overshadowed the Giants/Patriots matchup. Dan also considered questions posed by Daniel regarding Eli Manning versus Peyton Manning. With March Madness due to start, Dan’s pick for the NCAA Final Four was, Kentucky, Michigan State, Kansas and North Carolina. He also predicted some upsets caused during the tournament. Finally he looked at ‘Linsanity’ that has taken over not only New York but also the NBA. The Gelding reported on the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield and the Sydney Colt’s results. Sportzfan Stan’s rant du jour was the usage of drugs in sports and the bad image caused by abusers. The panel expressed their confusion on the penalties outlined by the AFL and the lack of criminal charges for those found offending.
Sportzfan Radio show #235.1
19 February 2012 235.1 – Sportzfan Stan kick started the show with his weekly rant, this time on the AFL’s first financial loss in a decade amounting to $23.6 millon. The AFL’s blame-game included the start up costs of the Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney teams. John O’Callaghan observed that it’s bad economics and can’t be blamed on expansion costs that should have been factored into the budget. Tackling the issue of lack of media coverage for women in sport, Janice Crosswhite, President of Australian Women’s Sport and Recreation Association & current VP for the International Association for Physical Education and Sport for Girls and Women spoke with the Sportzfan Radio panel. The Professor indicated that the Herald Sun’s only sports article on women this week was on Olympian, Sally Pearson but was buried towards the back pages. Janice shed some light on the Sports Commission’s research in 2010 showing some progress for equality for women in sport. She also commented on Olympic historian, Harry Gordon’s claim that since 1956, women have outperformed men in teams proportionate to medals won. Janice observed there was a lack of full time sports writers devoted to covering women’s sport or other “B” sports like basketball, swimming, track and field, squash, and gymnastics. Social media may be part of the solution as traditional means have failed to date. Daniel Eade came on to talk hoops and discussed the NBA and the NY Knicks surprising the league with their “Linsanity” Jeremy Lin. Daniel thought that after losing Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire for games the Knicks would be gone but they have rebounded with Lin at point guard. Injuries were a topic of discussion too, due to the condensed season with the big name’s not being able to handle so many minutes per night. There was also comment that the NBL had yet to release any further news about the new franchise bids for Melbourne and Brisbane.
Sportzfan Radio show #235.2
19 February 2012 235.2 – Sportzfan Radio continued the coverage of women in sport featuring Australian baseballer, Simone Wearne who will be admitted to the Australian Baseball Hall of Fame next week being the first woman admitted as well as the youngest person inducted. She won silver at the World Cup two years ago and has strong hopes of usurping Japan from the #1 spot in August 2012 in Canada. She has high hopes that the future will hold a woman’s professional league in Australia. Nicole provided thought provoking ideas on how women can increase interest in their sports and promote themselves in the media. Mark Fiorenti comes on the show to talk soccer and discussed the repercussions of the financial woes of the Scottish soccer champions, Rangers who went into administration this past week resulting in a deduction of 10 points by the League putting them well behind rival Glasgow Celtic. Will this be the end of Rangers he asks? The A League didn’t provide any surprises this week except for the owner of Gold Coast United saying some bizarre things in the press. Sportzfan Stan has a go at cricket in his second rant for the day with the umpires inability to count to six leading to a five ball over in a recent International One Day series match betwenn India and Sri Lanka. Paul Dalligan can’t be accused of riding the fence making his frustration clear with NRL’s turncoat and one of AFL’s highest paid players, Israel Folau, never touching the ball observing “I’m doing a better job than Israel Folau, and I’m at a BBQ in Geelong”. Paul will present his NRL season preview next Sunday.
Sportzfan Radio show #234.1
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 show #230.1
11 December 2011 230.1 – The Panel comprising the Professor, Daniel Eade, Paul Dalligan, the Gambler and Sportzfan Stan lead off the show talking US sport with Dan Butterly including the NBA nixing the Chris Paul deal. He also looks at Major League Baseball talking about the recent free agent moves with the Miami Marlins leading the pack. Paul Dalligan talks NFL with Dan and Paul says he likes the New Orleans Saints. Dan says any team can win on any given day. Tim Tebow, Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders also discussed. Dan revisits the College Football championship game and says every game can’t count in the regular season if Alabama is playing in that game. He likes Robert Griffin III from Baylor for the Heisman trophy. The Panel look at Barry Hall’s announcement that he intends to enter the boxing world and the Professor says he is already 4-0 following his AFL career. There is a discussion about the second test and another poor batting display by Australia. Sportzfan Stan says there are some players in the baggy green who are not good enough and they should be sacked. Mark Fiorenti comes on to talk soccer and he starts with a review of the Melbourne Victory/LA Galaxy game featuring David Beckham. He also looks at how the Victory are travelling at the moment and says they are not getting enough from Harry Kewell.
Sportzfan Radio show #228.1
27 November 2011 228.1 – Due to another technical glitch, we lost the first few minutes of the show but we come in with the Sports Geek, Sean Callanan talking sports digital and social media with sports personalities in the news for the wrong reasons like Jabar Gaffney and Josh Hunt. Aston Kutcher also had problems tweeting on sports. Sean comments that the AFL draft looked terrible and was a missed opportunity. The Gelding is back to talk horse racing after his week off and returned to form even though the Sandown track was very heavy. Sportzfan Stan has umbrage that the Professor cut him short to take the Gelding’s call and says he takes a dim view of that but refrains from sacking anyone. Stan talks cricket and says it appears the selectors have got rid of most of the dead wood although he hasn’t heard of the new players selected for Australia.
Sportzfan Radio show #216.1
28 August 2011 216.1 – The Professor is back behind the microphone with Daniel Eade and Brett. Dan Butterly comes on to talk US sport with the College football season about to start next week. He is keen to see how the Mountain West Conference teams go. He also talks NBA, NFL and MLB. The Gelding is away on holidays in Hawaii so the Gambler calls in to talk horse racing and defend his selections for yesterday’s race meeting at Caulfield. Mark Fiorenti talks soccer and previews the Socceroos World Cup tie against Thailand on Friday.
The Professor in the USA #3
One of the main points of interest on this trip for me would be the visit to Green Bay to see the home of
the Packers, Lambeau Field. Having been a Packers fan since the 1970’s it has been a long time coming and one that I was looking forward to.
Let me say that I was not disappointed! The high point of the stadium tour was the chance to run out of the player’s tunnel onto the hallowed turf and to be able to stand and soak up the incredible history that has been made there….Curly Lambeau, Vince Lombardi, Paul Hornung, Bart Starr, Brett Favre, Reggie White, Aaron Rodgers, Donald Driver, Mike Holmgren, Mike McCarthy….I could go on forever.
A trip to the Packers Hall of Fame followed which included a meeting with three Lombardi trophies. (the fourth was out on a ‘Meet the Fans’ tour around Wisconsin) and an opportunity to follow the storied history through the decades.
Visiting the city of Green Bay also allows consideration of just what the people of this town of just over 100,000 people has managed to achieve. 13 NFL Championships, 4 Super Bowl wins….something that the larger populations centres in the USA can only dream of! How have they done that…focus! Green 
Bay is football with Lambeau Field the centre of a lot of the activity in the city.
I can say that there are a number of other activities that were enjoyed on the tour including a trip to Nala’s Fromagerie to sample the various cheeses of the region and Captain’s Walk Winery.
The World Cup Form Guide – Poffertjes, a 'Red' Bull and a 'lobster' on Three Lions
The biggest sporting event on the planet, the World Cup is just days away. As countries fine tune their final preparations and hope and pray their star players remain injury free for the month of June (spare a thought for Ghana’s Michael Essien and Germany’s Michael Ballack :)….), many punters are continually asking the question, “Who will lift the coveted prize on 11 July?”.
This week, “The F Word” will get off the fence he proudly loves to sit on and answer that $64,000 question. Well, I will attempt to anyway!
First, a word on my beloved Socceroos. As much as I would love to see our boys win the World Cup, Michael Caton’s catch phrase, “Tell him he’s dreaming” from the movie, ‘The Castle’ springs to mind. Whilst our boys are a competitive and proud bunch, that alone does not win World Cups. Technique, an ability to change tactically throughout a game and squad depth does. That’s not to say the Socceroos don’t have those qualities. But in all honesty, they are no match for the big boys. Getting out of the group of death will be a master stroke and marvellous feat in itself. But more on that topic next week….
Second, a word on the reigning champions and a team close to my heart, Italy. It saddens me to say this but whilst Italy possess a World Cup winning coach and know how to win a World Cup (no, this is not an invitation for you to insert a diving joke here!) they are an ageing team and one in transition. I believe they will not successfully defend their crown. Expect to see them exit the competition at the quarter final stage.
Ok, now for the other pretenders, I mean “contenders”….
Portugal
A powerhouse team earlier this decade, those days are now behind them. Not even Jose “The Special One” Mourinho could guide them to winning this World Cup. Enough said! BTW – don’t be surprised if ‘Les Elephants’ trample them in the Group Stage.
France
The French possess some of the best players in their respective positions on the planet and have class all over the football pitch. Nevertheless, harnessing that talent was a struggle at Euro 2008 and will remain so at this tournament. Besides, they say “nice guys come last”. The idealist in me hopes the same fate applies to cheats (the last sentence is best said in an Irish accent….to be sure, to be sure!).
Germany
Like Italy and Brazil, Germany has the experience, rich history and aura of a winning team. Nevertheless, Michael Ballack’s omission will hurt them. Whilst Joachim Low pulls the strings from the sidelines, Ballack pulled them on the park. He is a brilliant leader and motivator and will be missed. Further, Germany possess one of the youngest squads at the World Cup (read: “inexperience”). This World Cup may have come a year or two too early for this exciting group of players…..
Argentina
Yes, they possess the best player on the planet (Lionel Messi)….
Yes, they have an excellent array of attacking talent…..
BUT whilst scoring goals may win World Cups, not conceding them also does (note: Italy won the 2006 World Cup having conceded just one goal in open play!).
Diego Maradona’s coaching ability remains a question mark and his stubbornness to overlook defensive stalwarts and Champions League winners Esteban Cambiasso and Javier Zanetti will come back to haunt him. Vai con dios, Diego…..
The Local Lads
World Cups, especially those staged outside Europe, have a tendency of throwing up a wild card or surprise. Japan and South Korea jointly hosted the World Cup in 2002 and unfancied South Korea and Turkey went all the way to the semi finals. I hope and believe this tournament will also throw up a surprise. If so, I believe the surprise packet will be an African nation.
The host nation? Probably not. Very few players ply their trade in Europe and bafana bafana will be like a fish out of water.
Ghana? Chelsea star Michael Essien may be absent but the Ghanaians reached the final of the African Cup of Nations earlier this year without experienced players Essien, Appiah and Muntari, amongst others. Socceroos BEWARE 9again, more on this next week….). Nevertheless, and like Australia, getting out of the group of death will be an accomplishment in itself for the Ghanaians.
I believe the real ‘local’ threat will come from the Ivory Coast. Yes, they are in the “other” group of death, but frankly, any team boasting Didier Drogba as the man leading the line up front and who is supported by the likes of the Toure brothers is worthy of respect. If the Ivorians do get out of their group, their self belief will be sky high and as such, would back themselves to get beyond the round of 16. The idealist in me would love to see Drogba & Co go far. It would benefit the African Game and the “World” Game.
Finally, the teams I expect to go very far…..
Brazil
The Samba stars wear five yellow stars on their shirts. No, not becuase they did their maths homework or study astrology as a pastime, but becuase they’ve won it five times. They have the aura, experience, history, squad depth, technical and tactical ability and self belief to win World Cups. In fact, they believe it is their God given right to always win the World Cup! Heck, they’ve won it five times so who can argue with that?! A sixth time? I think I’ve already argued the point….
England
England have a wealth of talent playing at the highest level all over the football pitch. John Terry, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney are all in their prime. Another major reason for optimism is their coach, Fabio Capello. Capello has a wealth of experience at club level and knows how to win trophies (his CV includes successful coaching stints at some of Europe’s finest clubs such as AC Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid). Capello is thorough, organised, disciplined and values the team ahead of the individual. Further, he has managed to get all the abovementioned individual stars to gel and has found a system that accommodates all those big names. Many are predicting this is England’s best chance in a long time to deliver on its promise. I am one of those people.
Spain
Whilst they have never won a World Cup, the reigning European champions have an enviable blend of brilliant individual talent with a strong team mentality boasting players like Fernando Torres, Cesc Fabregas, Andreas Iniesta, Xavi and David Villa. Further, Spain play a patient, short and fluent passing game. The Spanish call this style of play “tiki taka”. I prefer to call it bold and brave. In an age when football is (arguably) becoming too defensive and physical, Spain’s exploits at Euro 2008 illustrated that trophies can still be won whilst playing an attractive brand of football where the little men of the game can still make great leaps. Spain’s only enemy is immense public pressure. How good are they? Good enough to win the tournament.
The Ace in the Pack – Holland/The Netherlands/”Total Football”/The best team to ‘never’ win a World Cup
Call them what you like but this team, this time around, appears to be the real deal. Ranked number 3 in the world and boasting a wonderful array of attack minded players blended with defensive solidity, it’s no wonder Football Federation Australia continually employs Dutch coaches in the higher echelons of our game and is attempting to emulate a Dutch footballing model and culture in Australia. The proof is in the pudding. Like the Spaniards, the Dutch strive to play a beautiful game matched with blistering pace. But why have they not won a World Cup yet? It’s arguable the reasons lie in matters off the field, rather than on it. The only thing that will stop the Dutch from going very far in the tournament is egocentric individuals and factions in the dressing room (both of which have dogged a number of their previous World Cup campaigns). The Dutch have a history with the host nation, South Africa. Dutch traders landed in South Africa in 1652 establishing a stopover on the spice route between Holland and the Far East. Can they now right the wrongs of the past and re-write a new chapter in their football history? The purist in me certainly hopes so.
My tip(S!) (hey, I did say I would ‘attempt’ to get off the fence!)
The realist in me says an Italian (albeit, one calling the shots from the sidelines) will have the last laugh and hold the World Cup aloft on 11 July. England’s time is now so throw a lobster ($20) on the Poms.
I however, am a purist and dreamer.
And World Cups are where dreams are made and fulfilled (read: minnows South Korea and Turkey gatecrashing the party in 2002 and recall Timmy Cahill punching the corner flag in that ‘amazing eight minute spell’ in Kaiserslauten on 12 June, 2006). I dare to dream and would love nothing more than to see the free flowing Spaniards meet the crafty and pacy Dutch in the final. The midfield wizardry of Xavi vs the classy movement of Sneidjer, the potent finishing of Torres and Villa (take your pick!) vs the speed and guile of Robben ….the list goes on.
Who will win?
Who cares!
Because if these two teams meet in the final a new chapter in World Cup history will begin and there will be one true winner.
The beautiful game.
The “World” game.
Mark “The F Word” Fiorenti – discussing all things concerning the World Game