Some Sporting Observations

8. Lisa Cropp was suspended for three months for prematurely celebrating her believed victory in the Brisbane Cup and deserved that plus a lot more. Cropp, riding Lilakyn, had made her run down the outside and was flying late when a stride from the post she stood in the irons and waved the whip. The problem was, her mount did not win and she got beaten in the tightest of photos. Had she have ridden her horse out, she may well have had a Brisbane Cup in her possession and punters may well have collected. She argued that she celebrated past the post but one examination of the photo shows this is clearly a non-truth. Jockeys have a duty to give their mounts every possible chance of victory and stewards should rub out those who do not. 

7. Lewis Hamilton created history on the weekend when he became the first black man in Formula One history to win a grand prix race. Hamilton won the Montreal Grand Prix at only his fifth start after setting tongues wagging with some tremendous early season performances. Hamilton looks a super talented driver and will, by the end of his time in the sport, sit among the all time great drivers.

6. The San Antonio Spurs have won the first two games of the NBA championship series and will win the next two. Time Duncan and Tony Parker have completely shut down the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James and the Cavs do not have the skill to recover. James will be a superstar but will not realize that potential until he is surrounded by a better supporting cast. The Spurs play some tremendous basketball and base it all on sound fundamentals. The Spurs will sweep this series and return for another run next season.

5. The appointment of John O’Neill to the position of CEO of the ARU is a step in the right direction for Australian rugby but he will not walk in and turn the fortunes of the game around alone. O’Neill is a fine administrator and he showed his ability in guiding Australia into the professional era and steering the game through its most prosperous era. But he is only one man and it will take more than one man to overturn the negativity the game has attracted in the last few years. Rugby has become staid, political in-fighting has caused serious damage, the Wallabies have been poor and staffing has been a real issue. O’Neill will need support if he is to reinvigorate the sport in Australia.

4. Grant Thomas needs to distance himself from the game of AFL for the good of St.Kilda. Thomas has been feuding with the Saints hierarchy amid claims that Thomas has been contacting players and undermining the team. Thomas has hit back, attempting to take the high moral ground but only further tarnishing his reputation. The Saints are understandably upset that Thomas is involving himself at all in the Saints with coach Ross Lyon reportedly livid. Whether the claims are correct or not, it benefits nobody to have this mess continue. Thomas would not have stood for Malcolm Blight or Stan Alves involving themselves when he was coaching and should afford the same courtesy to the new mentor.

3. The appointment of Shayne Hayne to referee Origin two is a disgrace and a result of severe short-sightedness and political game playing. Hayne is not among the elite referees in the game and has consistently polled as the players least liked official. Hayne often struggles for control and has a very poor manner in dealing with players. Paul Simpkins did nothing wrong in game one and if there was a real need for a change, Steven Clark could have filled the role. Hayne, simply, is not good enough.

2. The North Queensland Cowboys are in a lot of trouble and could fall away like they did in 2006 unless something is done immediately. The Cowboys were dreadful on Saturday evening, leaking 64 points against a team who has struggled to score this season. Excuses were naturally made with the lack of star playmaker Johnathan Thurston blamed for the horrifying loss. But the troubles stretch deeper than that. Thurston could not have saved the Cowboys last weekend and it was more the shocking defensive attitude that saw the Cowboys pummeled. Graham Murray needs to instill a better attitude in the club or the Cowboys will not be playing finals football.

1. The behaviour of Sharks backrower Paul Gallen on Monday night was appalling. Gallen played his usual game and was dominant for the Sharks but his feigning injury in order to receive a penalty was an utter disgrace and unless that kind of behaviour is rubbed out of the game, league will suffer. In an attempt to win a penalty, the Cronulla forward stayed down and then had the gall to wink at his opponents when the penalty was eventually awarded. All 16 coaches need to issue a joint statement against such behaviour and the NRL needs to look at suspending players caught pretending. League is a game for men. Not for whingers.

Upper of the Week: Tracey Bartley winning the Stradbroke with his talented steed Snipers Bullet. Bartley has had some horrendous luck of late but has battled back from the brink and it is great to see him rewarded with a win in one of the most prestigious races on the Australian race calendar.

Downer of the Week: Adam Peek and his elbow to the head of Cronulla halfback Adam Dykes. While ths shot was only glancing it was late and high and he deserved to be sent from the field and a suspension is surely coming.

© 2007 Jack Stockton