The Sporting Day: Some Sporting Observations

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Some Sporting Observations

8. Michael Vick was suspended indefinitely by the NFL on Friday after entering a plea agreement in which he admitted to bankrolling a dogfighting operation. NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell called Vick’s actions “illegal” and “cruel and reprehensible”. The suspension was supported by Atlanta Falcons owner and one of Vick’s biggest supporters Arthur Blank. Vick’s plight was not helped by his estranged father, who told reporters Vick used to fight dogs in the family’s garage when Vick was younger. Vick will almost certainly serve prison time and is a longer than even money to ever play in the NFL again.

7. Last week the Texas Rangers beat the Baltimore Orioles 30-3 in one of the most amazing performances in the history of baseball. The score is the largest by a team since 1897, encompassing all of the modern era of baseball. Amazingly, the Orioles led 3-0 and the game was played at Camden Yards, home of the Orioles. Also causing significant disbelief was the fact the Rangers had more scoreless innings than innings in which they scored runs. To put the score into perspective, the Baltimore Ravens football team has not allowed 30 points since 2005. If a team was to accumulate such an above average in the NFL, they would score 120 plus points. If an NBA team was to do so, they would score over 600 points!

6. The Wellington Phoenix got off to a flying A-League debut when managing a mighty two-all draw with defending premiers and reigning premiership favourites the Melbourne Victory. The Phoenix overcame a disappointing first two-thirds that allowed two goals and saw a missed penalty to fight back with class and send the home crowd into hysterics. The Phoenix scored twice in five minutes to equalize and so nearly got the winner in the dying stages. They will be a big threat this season and should not be underestimated.

5. The Australian racing industry has never been plunged into such a large crisis as it is now with the introduction of Equine Influenza into Australia. Racing was shut down across Australia on Saturday and an embargo on transporting horses has been extended indefinitely in New South Wales. The scope of the influenza is worse than first thought and is on the verge of becoming a serious epidemic. There has even been talk the Melbourne Cup will be postponed. Randwick racecourse has been locked down, suggesting the virus has reached the racehorse population. The longer this continues the more damage this will do to trainers, owners, jockeys, breeders, bookmakers, gamblers and nearly everyone associated with the racing industry. Hopefully this is contained as quickly as possible.

4. Sunday afternoon looked set to be the grand farewell Essendon legends Kevin Sheedy and James Hird deserved. Those organizing the party forgot to tell Richmond. The Tigers played as well as they have all season to finish the finals hopes of the Bombers and all hopes of a grand Melbourne farewell to Sheedy and Hird. Matthew Richardson was magnificent as was the hard running of the young on-ballers. For Hird and Sheedy, the farwell was bittersweet but they no doubt would have appreciated the multitude who attended to pay homage. These two champions have been Essendon football and will be sorely missed.

3. St. Helen’s continued their domination of the Challenge Cup by winning their sixth Cup of the last twelve years on Saturday. With the Cup final returning to Wembley for the first time since 1999, the Saints were at the tough and brutal best in defeating proud French club Catalans. It was a torrid affair early on but the Saints won the game in the ten minutes before and after the break when they showed their fitness and experience edge. Paul Wellens was a delight to watch at the back, Leon Pruce looked dangerous with ball-in-hand and James Roby was a hammer off the bench. The Saints are a tremendous rugby league side and will continue their domination of the English game for many years to come.

2. The NRL needs to immediately scrap the rules in the game that require officials to determine intention and replace them with objective laws that are simple to enforce. Rules surrounding such incidents as accidental knock forwards and not playing at the ball need to be re-examined before rugby league fans, players and officials all do their head in. As was seen with the Todd Carney no try on the weekend, the rules are inconsistently enforced and entirely confusing. Simplify the rules for all.

1. Glory, glory to South Sydney will be ringing out across Redfern and most of the south of Sydney this week The South Sydney Rabbitohs champagne run continues after the Bunnies recorded the club’s most important win of the last two decades on Sunday. Souths decimated the Tigers at their spiritual home, Leichardt Oval, 37-12 in a win that will propel Souths into their first final series since 1989. After nearly two decades of mediocrity, disappointment, in-fighting and cellar dwelling the Rabbitohs are making true the prophecies of Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court. Souths were magnificent and can cause a boilover or two in September. Souths fans are finally getting what they deserve and they have Crowe and Holmes a Court to thank for that.

Upper of the Week: Rugby league at Leichardt Oval on a Sunday afternoon. It was tremendous to see suburban rugby league how it once was with two teams with long histories in the game battling it out in front of a packed local ground. It was good for the game and good for the soul.

Downer of the Week: A Saturday without horse racing and the potential of many more. The Equine Influenza, mentioned above, left punters wandering the streets aimlessly on Saturday with little idea what to do. Men and women who have spent nearly every Saturday of their life betting the ponies were left with no idea what to do. Hopefully this drama will end sooner rather than later.