Some Sporting Observations

8. He has done it again. The luckiest jockey on the planet, Glen Boss, has once more bobbed up at the right time, getting the ride on Golden Slipper winner Sebring. Boss, who is currently riding in Hong Kong, landed the leg aboard the Slipper favourite when regular rider Blake Shinn was suspended. As has happened so often in the past, Boss took full advantage of his opportunity and rode Sebring to victory. After missing the kick, Boss rode the steed a treat, pushing it onto the fence before finding the run. The undefeated Sebring will now push onto the final two legs of the Triple Crown, which he has more than enough ability to win.

7. Joe Calzaghe is one of the great modern day champions and his victory over Bernard Hopkins will further cement his place in history as one of the all-time great pugilists. The plucky Welshman won on a split decision despite hitting the canvas in the first. Hopkins, a legend of the fight game himself, put up a fine showing but was outclassed by Calzaghe. Still undefeated after forty-five bouts, Calzaghe has promised one more fight before retiring. That will most likely be against multiple division champion Roy Jones Jnr.

6. The New South Wales Waratahs have seemingly jumped the gun in firing Ewen McKenzie. McKenzie has been told he will not be required for the 2009 season with the Waratahs hoping to sign assistant Todd Louden. Louden is highly regarded for his technical nous and his attacking mindset. He has, however, signed for Japanese Club Ricoh. The Waratahs have missed their man. This is but one more example of a trigger-happy finger not working out.

5. The AFL should take stern action against the Western Bulldogs and their defender Brian Lake after the player clearly feigned injury after taking a pack mark to avoid a shot at goal that could tie the game in their high intensity clash with Richmond. Lake collected the mark at the rear of a large pack and landed unimpeded before, after some seconds, clutching his hamstring and claiming he could not take the shot at goal with only fourteen seconds remaining. The kick was handed to talented ruckman Will Minson, who kicked straight and true to give the Bulldogs the tie. The referees should have insisted Lake take the kick. Now the AFL must fine the Bulldogs heavily in order to ensure this kind of “sportsmanship” is not seen again.

4. Barry Hall can consider himself extremely lucky to have received only seven weeks for his vicious punch to the jaw of West Coast Eagle Brent Staker. Considering the brutality of the punch, the lack of provocation and Hall’s appalling tribunal record, Hall should have received a larger penalty, with a suspension of twelve weeks not excessive. Barry Hall’s sudden repentance and subsequent preaching against his behaviour have only acted to infuriate those who felt he deserved a stiffer penalty.

3. The Sharks trouble in scoring points proved costly against the Panthers and will prove a major concern for the remainder of the season unless Ricky Stuart can instill some attacking resolve. The Sharks were once more impotent with the ball, failing to convert constant pressure into points. The Sharks were in a winning position for their first home game of 2008, a game where club legend Lance Thompson was bade farewell, and managed to blow it. If the Sharks are to become genuine contenders, they need to be able to put teams to the sword.

2. There should be no debate when it comes to who will wear the Australian number seven jersey in the Centenary Test. In recent weeks there has been a push for Scott Prince to play halfback, casting Johnathan Thurston to the sidelines. Prince, without doubt, has been in fine form this season and has been the primary reason behind the Titans surge to the top of the table. Thurston, however, is the incumbent and has improved markedly with each game. He was simply brilliant against the Warriors on Saturday night, leading the Cowboys to their best performance of 2008. Thurston is a certainty to be selected as Australian halfback.

1. Craig Bellamy’s decision to remain in Melbourne rather than move to Brisbane is the best possible news the NRL could have hoped to receive. Many thought Bellamy would return to Brisbane on a lucrative contract, a place where he came to prominence as an assistant. He chose, however, to stay in Melbourne, a rugby league outpost that requires Storm success to remain a viable market. Bellamy is the most highly regarded coach in the game today and will ensure the Storm remain the benchmark for rugby league success. His signing is the most important in a decade for any club in the NRL.

Upper of the Week: The sale of the Brisbane Bullets. The financial difficulties of former owner Eddy Groves almost led to the demise of one of the NBL’s most storied franchises but the forced sale to a consortium led by David Kemp has ensured the club will remain in the NBL. With any luck the Bullets will be able to retain coach Joey Wright and star players Ebi Ere and C.J Bruton. The NBL needs a strong Bullets and the recent news suggests the Bullets will be back in the mix come next season.

Downer of the Week: The failure of Arthur Beetson to attend the Team of the Century function, where he was named as a starting prop. Beetson is a legend of rugby league, an iconic player and a fine spy for talent. His failure to attend, a protest against the direction the game is going in, reeks of bitterness. Beetson should not have let petty disagreements mar one of rugby league’s most important ever evenings.

© 2008 Punting Ace.com