Some Sporting Observations

8. The Miami Dolphins are again cleaning house, this time looking to start afresh after the most appallingly disappointing season in the franchise’s history. Newly hired Bill Parcells immediately stepped in and fired head coach Cam Cameron as well as making other significant changes. Hiring Parcells was the best thing the Dolphins could have done and it provides great hope that the Dolphins will improve to a playoff caliber team in the next few seasons.

7. It is doubtful any of the four teams who earned a first round playoff bye will be overly concerned about their opponents next week. No winner from the first weekend of the NFL playoffs was overly impressive and it appears most unlikely that there will be any upsets this weekend. Jacksonville were probably the most eye-catching in defeating Pittsburgh but they will prove no match for the fearsome New England Patriots. The San Diego Chargers struggled against a hapless Titans side at home and will struggle to contain a Colts team who pride themselves on big time performances. In the NFC, the Cowboys will have way too much offensive firepower for the New York Giants while Seattle, who have struggled away from home, will be facing long odds to upset the Green Bay Packers inspired by Brett Favre.

6. Eli Manning proved many of his critic’s wrong this weekend by leading the New York Giants to an impressive playoff victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The much maligned quarterback dispelled the myth that he was incapable of winning in January with a sound performance that was more than enough to see the Giants advance to week two. Manning, renowned for his high turnover count, was flawless in this department, not turning the ball over at all. On top of that, Manning threw two touchdown passes. The Giants head to Dallas this week.

5. The decision to uphold the protest of Honour In War in the Villiers Stakes and strip the race from the courageous Takeover Target was abhorrently wrong. Takeover Target, burdened by an impost of 61 kilograms, fought on like the champion he is to fend off the challenge of Honour In War. At the 200 metre mark, Takeover Target shifted out but at no point did he take the running of Honour In War as the latter had not established a run to Takeover Target’s outside. It was for this that Takeover Target had the group two race taken from him. The decision by the stewards was patently wrong and was another example of what a lottery it is when any decision is referred to the steward’s panel.

4. Australian tennis is surely at one of its lowest points and the outlook for the near future does not look bright. In the throes of Australia’s summer of tennis, Australia’s “stars” have failed to fire a shot. Australia were bundled out early in the Hopman Cup, Alicia Molik and Nicole Pratt were both eliminated in the first round of the Sydney International and Lleyton Hewitt failed to reach expectations in Adelaide. Tennis Australia needs to focus on developing young talent or this period of mediocrity could stretch into decades.

3. There is little doubt that the Sydney Test between Australia and India will go down in history as one of the great Test matches. From the amazing first innings hitting of Andrew Symonds and the pluckiness of Hogg and Lee in the tail to Sachin Tendulkar’s gritty ton and V.V.S Laxman’s graceful 109 all the way through to Hayden and Hussey toughing their way to centuries and Michael Clarke’s amazing last two overs, it was action from the opening ball. In spite of the controversy that has overshadowed the match, this game will forever stand tall in the annals of cricket history as a classic.

2. Brad Hogg’s Test career must surely be over. On a turning fifth day Sydney wicket, with a Test on the line, Ricky Ponting showed little faith in his only full time spinner. Ponting opted to use Andrew Symonds and then Michael Clarke instead of Hogg. The captain, whilst proven correct in his decisions, obviously has little faith in Hogg to get the job done. Had he have a Shane Warne or Stuart MacGill at his dispatch, they would have taken an end for the entire day. Expect Australia to go with a four-pronged pace attack in Perth with Victorian leg spinner Bryce McGain a chance of being called into the team in Adelaide.

1. The umpiring in the Sydney Test was appalling and both Steven Bucknor and Mark Benson will be lucky to be appointed to a Test match in the near future. Umpires will always make mistakes. That is part and parcel of cricket. But some of their errors were disgraceful and blighted one of the classic Test matches. Bucknor in particular is under the hammer. Once regarded as the premier umpire in the game, he is increasingly making some ordinary decisions. The ICC needs to reevaluate its umpiring and the use of technology in cricket. Teams and paying spectators cannot be expected to put up with such mediocrity.

Upper of the Week: Tom Brady winning the NFL MVP award. Brady has had a truly remarkable season and is finally receiving the plaudits he deserves. Brady was near unstoppable this season and almost won the MVP award as a unanimous candidate. Expect him to only improve throughout the playoffs.

Downer of the Week: Racism in cricket. Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh was suspended for three Test matches for racially abusing Australia’s Andrew Symonds. There is no room in sport for racism and match referee Mike Procter should be applauded for his tough stance.