The Sporting Day: Some Sporting Observations

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Some Sporting Observations

8. Game three of the Suns-Spurs NBA Conference Semi Finals was a massive game for Phoenix and they could not come through with the goods. The Suns, who were beaten by the Spurs in Phoenix in game one, needed to jump the Spurs in San Antonio if they were to regain the upper-hand in the series. The Suns ended up being beaten at their own game, the Spurs lighting it up to claim game three. Steve Nash had one of his worst performances. With San Antonio expected to win at home in game four, it will be up to the Suns to win three straight and that is tough against any opponent, let alone one as disciplined as the Spurs.

7. It was one of those high unusual occurrences when both Roger Federer and Tiger Woods failed. Federer went down in straight sets to local hero Filippo Volandri in the Rome Open, unrecognizable from the dominant force we usually see. And Tiger Woods struggled at the Players Championship, the tough Sawgrass course getting the better of him. These weeks are rarities indeed.

6. The Australian Government has done the right thing and stepped in to prevent the Australian cricket team from touring Zimbabwe. The regime of Robert Mugabe is tyrannical and murderous and this kind of action is necessary to send a message to the world that Australia opposes such national leadership. It would be terribly unfair on the Australian players to have to make the choice as an individual and the leadership at Cricket Australia has not been proactive on the matter. Not going sends a strong message against the regime, a matter much more important than sport.

5. Bentley Biscuit proved he has arrived in the big time with a stunning win in the group one BTC Cup at Doomben on Saturday. Settling back near last on the fence, Bentley Biscuit had a monster of a task to run down champion sprinter Takeover Target. But with Nash looking for luck and getting every ounce of it and Bentley Biscuit showing a tremendous turn of foot, he gathered the good horse with ease. Expect big things from Bentley Biscuit in the near future, a trip to England certainly not out of the question.

4. Australian rugby again got it wrong in the non-selection of Peter Hewat, Matt Henjak and Clinton Schifcofske. Naming a 59-man squad was the first mistake of the ARU. Naming such a large squad would inevitably leave those players who missed out disillusioned, making them feel unwanted by the game. Peter Hewat has every right to feel disillusioned, having been good again for the Waratahs. Depth has not been a forte of Australian rugby in recent times, particularly on the wing and it is hard to believe he is not among the best 59 players in Australia. Same for Schifcofske, who seems to have been left out because of his league background despite being one of Queensland’s finest. And Henjak is still paying the price for some old off-field misbehaviour, seeing as he couldn’t beat out the two back-up Waratah scrum halves despite a sound season.

3. The Geelong Cats are hot, as hot as any team in the AFL. They decimated Richmond last week before a super running display against West Coast, downing the Eagles at their own game. The Cats ran the Eagles ragged at Skilled, the season to date perhaps finally catching up. Cam Mooney grabbed four and Nathan Ablett three in a display that has completed the Cats transformation from underachievers to genuine contenders. Both Ablett’s were superb, as was Jimmy Bartel and Brad Ottens, who played his best game for the Cats since joining the outfit. Expect big things from Geelong in the coming weeks.

2. Crunch time has arrived for two teams down on their attack. Souths and the Gold Coast have gone through a tough few weeks and have to seriously look at changes to their attack if they are to turn it all around in coming weeks. Souths are struggling to stretch defenses with Joe Williams and Jeremy Smith not working out together in the six and seven. Coach Jason Taylor needs to look at some new blood, as does John Cartwright at the Titans. Matt Hilder is not a number six and should be replaced by somebody with a little more creative flair. The injury to Preston Campbell and the poor form of Scott Prince has only further highlighted this. Both teams need to find form soon before the season has slipped away. Both suffered their worse loss of the season and need to make amends next game.

1. It was the last-chance saloon for a number of players in pursuit of Origin jersey’s the weekend just gone and some stood up and demanded to be picked while others faded back into the pack. Kurt Gidley is one who stood up and is a certainty of a jumper, either at number six or on the bench. Paul Gallen and Greg Bird also had big games and will be right in the mix for a backrow bench spot, competing with only Ryan Hoffman after Anthony Tupou had only a quiet game. The halfback gig is still wide open with Jarrod Mullen making the most forward progress. It is only his experience holding selectors back. Brett Kimmorley may have done just enough. Brett Stewart also had a big game on Friday night and he may have done just enough to oust Anthony Minichiello. That race will be close. Eric Grothe played himself out of a wing spot.

Upper of the Week: The soon-to-happen appointment of Tony Roche as Lleyton Hewitt’s full time mentor. Hewitt is a shadow of his former self and has been on the slide for over a year. If anybody will turn it all around, it is the legendary Tony Roche.

Downer of the Week: The poor turnout at the NRL players forum this week. There were plenty to chime in a few weeks ago but when it came down to getting involved, most didn’t bother. There will surely be little more said from the players when it comes to issues regarding NRL finances.