Tag Archives: the-professor

Penny pinching Tigers should learn from false economy!

November 20, 2010 @packers4 Leave a comment

This is the first in a series to be known as the ‘Professor’s Rant!”

Over the last few weeks on Sportzfan Radio Stan and I have had lengthy discussions with basketball expert and panelist, Daniel Eade. The topic for most of those conversations has been the poor start…no, make that the very poor start to the NBL season by the Melbourne Tigers. Daniel conceded last week that it is quite conceivable that the Tigers could start the season with a 0-8 win/loss total….well, make that loss total.

I was surprised when Daniel told our listening audience (on Sportzfan Radio #179.1) that the Tigers, during the off season, had considered signing Corey ‘Homicide’ Williams (the reigning NBL MVP) and Julius Hodge (who played with the Tigers in 2009), but in the end Tigers management had elected to go with the cheaper option of an untried paring of TJ Campbell and Eric Devendorf. Needless to say, the cheaper option did not get the job done and, as we all expected, Campbell was cut loose during the week to make way for Williams. Who knows how long Devendorf will last, but given the loss to Perth Wildcats last night, he is possibly one step closer to a ticket home.

Make no mistake, I do not have a problem with NBL teams showing prudent financial management. Signing ‘no name brand’ imports may have been all the Tigers could have afforded. Of course, it doesn’t get fans excited or flocking to the stadium but it hopefully keeps the team in the black. This premise though seems incorrect when the Tigers are eventually forced to admit the mistake in judgment and go with the cheque book to sign Williams in an effort to save their floundering season. Problem is that the ‘momentum train’ has long since left the station and their is now almost no hope that the Tigers can fill their stadium or sign up new members.

Given the NBL is struggling anyway in the crowded summer sports market place, to go with ‘no name brand’ players is a recipe for disaster for both the scoreboard and hip pocket.

Podcast

Sportzfan Radio #179.2

November 14, 2010 @packers4 Leave a comment

14 November 2010 179.2 – Daniel thinks the Melbourne Tigers theme song is very annoying to listen to and believes there should be no basketball theme songs. The Professor wonders whether Daniel was alive when the Leyland Brothers were on television. The ‘F’ word looks at the local A-League scene. Archie Thompson back for Melbourne Victory will be a positive however the Victory have lost one of their other strikers. He doesn’t believe Victory can make the top three given their current ladder position. He is going to see both Melbourne Heart and Victory in the next week but will only be wearing a Heart scarf. Mark also has a quick look at English Premier League and the Socceroos upcoming friendly against Egypt. The Panel discuss IPL’s growing disruption to other forms of cricket with Australia’s test series against Bangladesh needing to be moved as it clashes with IPL matches. Paul Dalligan is stoked about Greg Inglis heading for the Rabbitohs and says it is the biggest signing in his lifetime. He is disppointed that Australia was beaten by the Kiwis in the last minute of last night’s final of the Four Nations Tournament. Social media expert, Sean Callanan believes the Queen has a lot of work to do to catch up to LeBron James on Facebook. He likes people quoting tweets but has a problem with journalists quoting tweets but then not linking back to the original story or using their twitter handle. The NBA and the NHL are always trending on twitter when the games are played which says those Leagues are on the ball with social media.

Podcast

Sportzfan Radio #179.1

November 14, 2010 @packers4 Leave a comment

14 November 2010 179.1 – The Professor starts by asking Daniel whether there should be a “mercy rule’ in basketball like there is in baseball, which then starts a discussion on the Melbourne Aces and whether their double header games are only 7 innings in length. The Gambler gives an update on Danish Rock who has been put out in the paddock for a six week spell. Stan has more basketball questions for Daniel about the Melbourne Tigers including whether an import (or two) will be sacked. Daniel says if the Tigers are 0-6 after the next two games they will both be sacked. Daniel doesn’t think Al Westover will be sacked though. The Gambler complains about the traffic created by the Australian Masters golf. Mordiboy sends a text predicting Tiger Woods not being able to win the tournament and thinks Daniel Gaunt will win by a shot. The Gelding discusses yesterday’s racing at Sandown and Rosehill. He says with the track being a ‘heavy 9’, runners needed some wet weather form to be in with a show. He says that like Danish Rock, Queen Asa is also going out for a spell.

Podcast

Sportzfan Radio #177.1

November 7, 2010 @packers4 Leave a comment

31 October 2010 177.1 – Paul Gamble hosts this weeks show – can he fill the Professor’s shoes? The Gelding is brought onto the Panel at the last moment as the race meeting at Kilmore that Queen Asa was running in was washed out. Daniel observes that Gambler is dressed more suitably than the Professor was last week – “He was dressed like a 16 year old thug – an American football jumper with his hat on backwards!”. Even though the Professor had a week off, he was still on the phone talking the AFL draw, the Spring Carnival as Kelly Osbourne or Scary Spice wouldn’t add to his enjoyment of the races – they’re going because it is a party. He tells Daniel he hadn’t spoken to the VRC to arrange a million dollar appearance fee for him at the Cup and he wants to know when Southern FM are going to have their own celebrity tent at the Spring carnival. The future of cricket is a worry due to poor participation rates and probably of more concern, they are falling. The Gelding talks Derby day races and sums up the Flemington meeting. By the end of the meeting, the track was heavily affected by rain. So You Think had a comfortable win in the conditions and now has five Group 1 wins. The Sydney Colt’s tip, Skilled did not perform as expected even though he thought it would win.

Podcast

Sportzfan Radio #175.1

October 17, 2010 @packers4 Leave a comment

17 October 2010 175.1 – The show starts with the Professor asking the Gelding whether the Caulfield Cup race meeting should have been postponed because of the bad weather. Stan tells Daniel that in the season opening NBL match the Melbourne Tigers were hopeless. This then prompts a discussion of the Tigers players. In the US report this week Susan Shan talks about Brett Favre and alleged problematic texts and emails to a NY Jets female employee. San Francisco 49ers are her surprise due to their poor showing in the NFL season so far. In MLB she thinks Cliff Lee is beatable but not likely during the post season. She thinks the Phillies and Rangers will make it through to the World Series whilst the Cubs and Cardinals were the biggest busts of the 2010 season. She doesn’t think Bobby Valentine will be going back to the Mets any time soon. The Gelding discusses the Caulfield Cup day races and observes Chris Munce is one of only seven jockeys who have won the Big 4 – Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Golden Slipper. The Professor calls it the ‘Grand Slam’ of racing. Gelding awards an ‘S-Hit’ ride to the jockey of Shocking who he says should have won easily. The Professor and the Gelding again talk about their interest in Danish Rock.

Punting

The Gelding's tips for 16 October 2010

October 15, 2010 @thegelding 2 Comments

The Gelding is ready and raring to go for Caulfield Cup day at his home track. Unfortunately, the weather may play a big part with Melbourne expecting a deluge of rain over the next twelve hours and many horses expected to be scratched because of the expected conditions.

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

Caulfield

Race 2 Horse 1 – Skilled
Race 5 Horse 7 – Duble Anny (for the ladies at the Tennis club)
Race 6 Horse 2 – All Silent
Race 8 Horse 1 – Shocking (also for the ladies at the Tennis club) – quinella it with Horse 17 Faint Perfume
Race 9 Horse 1 – Hot Danish

You can hear the Gelding discuss all the racing news with the Professor on Sportzfan Radio at 12.30pm this Sunday on 88.3 Southern FM. Special guest this week by phone from Sydney will be the Sydney Colt.

Good luck and good punting and don’t get wet!!

The Gelding

Podcast

Sportzfan Radio #174.2

October 11, 2010 @packers4 Leave a comment

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.

Podcast

Sportzfan Radio #174.1

October 11, 2010 @packers4 Leave a comment

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.

Podcast

Sportzfan Radio #173.2

October 9, 2010 @packers4 Leave a comment

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.

Punting

Gelding's tips for Caulfield 9 October 2010

October 9, 2010 @thegelding Leave a comment

The Gelding’s attention this Saturday is on his home track at Caulfield with the sun shining and the track in good condition, it should be a great day of racing.

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

Caulfield

Race 3 Horse 2 – Precedence (for quinella fans also take Horse 3 Moudre)
Race 5 Horse 6 – So You Think (for quinella fans also take Horse 2 Whobegotyou)
Race 6 Horse 2 – Drumbeats (for quinella fans also take Horse 1 More Joyous)
Race 7 Horse 3 – Anacheeva (for the ladies at the Tennis Club)
Race 8 Horse 1 – Military Rose (also for the ladies from the Tennis club)

The Gelding also likes Horse 6 in Race 4 Black Caviar but the odds are prohibitive for punters.

One special for the ladies from the Tennis club this week is at Pakenham when the Gelding’s own horse Queen Asa (Race 5 Horse 5) is a good thing.

You can hear the Gelding discuss all the winners and losers from today’s racing with the Professor on Sportzfan Radio tomorrow at 12.30pm.

Good luck and good punting.

The Gelding