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Some Sporting Observations

8. Weather once again proved itself the great leveler in Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football when torrential rain nearly led to the first scoreless NFL game since 1943. On a wild night, the Steelers-Dolphins game had to be delayed over half an hour and when play did take place, it was on a rain-drenched field that looked more like a suburban oval than an NFL stadium with markings washed away and puddles clearly visible. The game remained scoreless until the last half-minute when Steeler kicker Jeff Reid booted home the game winning field goal. Never underestimate the power of rain. The Dolphins have been winless this year while the Steelers have been viewed as one of the prime threats to the Patriots dominance. You certainly couldn’t tell that on Monday night.

7. The return of Ricky Williams is over before it began. The former star tailback has been in and out of the NFL for years due to drug related suspensions and hiatuses and was attempting yet another comeback when he was taken from the field with a torn chest muscle. The Williams injury was more bad news for the Dolphins, who are still yet to win a game. One would be a game man to wager on seeing Williams in the NFL again.

6. There was no doubt great interest in David Beckham and his LA Galaxy playing Sydney FC last night but if soccer powerbrokers in this country think that bringing in big names for one-off exhibitions will save the game in this country, they are sadly mistaken. Australian football had made some positive moves in establishing the A-League and bringing in Guus Hiddink to guide the Socceroos to an unforgettable World Cup campaign. Those days, however, are long gone and Australian soccer is in turmoil. Soccer chiefs should be more focused on bringing in a new national coach and finding quality players to partake in the A-League.

5. Channel Seven did Australian golf and their investment in it a great disservice by cutting away from the MasterCard Masters playoff featuring Australian Aaron Baddeley and Swede Daniel Chopra. On the third playoff hole, after four days of coverage, Seven decided to go to the news instead of seeing out the thrilling golf finale. There is no point in showing a sporting event if you do not show the finish. Seven should have stayed with the golf. If they had concerns about the potential of a playoff, they should have started the event earlier. All Seven did was further damage professional golf in this country.

4. Stuart MacGill has taken a great risk in sitting out the summer and having knee surgery. MacGill had an ordinary series against Sri Lanka and was considered to be in danger of losing his Test position. Subsequent reports suggested MacGill was overweight and playing injured. He has decided to undergo surgery. At his age, however, any time out of the team could be career ending. If Brad Hogg or whoever replaces MacGill has a fine series against India, they will establish themselves as Australia’s number one spinner. This may be the end of the line for one of Australia’s most underrated players of all time.

3. Australian Test opener Phil Jaques has been diagnosed with the mumps and may miss a significant portion of the Test series with India. Jaques grabbed his opportunity to establish himself as Australia’s Test opener with consecutive centuries against Sri Lanka and will be cursing his luck. The opportunity will now go to someone else. The favourite is Brad Hodge, who scored a match-winning 286 not out to defeat Queensland. Michael Hussey would move to opener and Hodge would slot into the middle order.

2. It is reported that South Sydney intend on chasing Jarryd Hayne and Kurt Gidley in 2009 after releasing hardworking prop Peter Cusack. If the Rabbitohs manage to snare either, they will be legitimate title contenders in 2009. Souths lack a quality half and an exceptionally talented outside back and the addition of either player would push Souths into the elite team level. Gidley is an exceptional player with great hands and a fantastic understanding of the game who will improve Souths ability to score points while Hayne is a rare talent who would be welcome by any club. Souths should pursue these two players with great vigour.

1. Willie Mason’s sudden decision to postpone his boxing career for at least twelve months will surely not sit well with Bulldogs players, officials and fans after the Roosters forward used boxing as his justification for demanding a release from Canterbury. Mason claimed the fact Malcolm Noad prohibited him from boxing was the primary factor in his wanting to leave. This, apparently, is not the case. David Gallop and the NRL need to step in and introduce rules to prevent players from breaking contracts merely because they want to change clubs. If not, player contracts won’t be worth the paper they are written on.

Upper of the Week: Brett Favre’s performance on Thanksgiving. It still boggles the mind how a player of his age can still be as dominant as he is.

Downer of the Week: The tragic death of 24 year-old Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor. Taylor, a Pro Bowl player, was shot in his home during an interrupted armed robbery and died later. Losing someone so young and talented and before their time is truly heartbreaking.