The Sporting Day: Some Sporting Observations

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Some Sporting Observations

8. Age is starting to slow the San Antonio Spurs and it is unlikely that they will be able to recover against a hot Los Angles Lakers. The Spurs are a classy outfit with the likes of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli but their old legs are starting to weaken with some terrible signs in the first two games. The Spurs blew the second biggest playoff lead in history in game one and in game two they put together an appalling second half that finished in a blow-out to the Lakers. In both games, the aging Spurs could not match the energy of the Lakers deep roster. San Antonio will struggle to win their two home-court matches and if that proves to be the case then the series is effectively over. The Spurs reign is seemingly coming to an end.

7. The fragility of the “new” Australian batting lineup was on display for all to see in the First Test at Sabina Park. Against an almost no-name West Indian outfit, Australia collapsed in the second innings to be bowled out for 167. Jacques, Katich, Ponting and Hussey all failed to get out of single figures. With a bowling attack as weak as Australia has fielded in fifteen years, Australia cannot afford to collapse in such a manner. Australia will still win the series against the West Indies but the age of total dominance is over.

6. Three teams entered round nine of the AFL season undefeated and we are lucky that any of them escaped. Geelong were the first to go down, getting run off the park by a committed Collingwood team that just proved too strong. The Western Bulldogs blew a lead before having a kick after the siren to snatch victory from a tough Kangaroos outfit. The man with the ball was Brad Johnson but the usually reliable kick sprayed it. Even Hawthorn had a close call against Melbourne with the lowly Dees leading well into the third quarter before the Hawks came clear. 2008 is no lay-down. On any given day, any team can be beaten. That is the sign of a well run competition.

5. The uproar over the AFL’s new interchange is totally and utterly ridiculous. It is not too much to ask that there is some form of order when players enter and exit the field of play. Players must now wait inside the interchange box until the player he is replacing has exited. Hardly draconian. The fact that the West Coast Eagles were penalised on Saturday night merely reflects how casually clubs treat interchanging players. Until the procedure is taken seriously, the AFL must take a heavy hand to those who breach interchange rules.

4. NSW rugby chiefs have been further humiliated by their decision not to extend the contract of Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie after McKenzie guided the team into the Super 14 finals. The NSWRU announced in early April that McKenzie would not coach the team in 2009. McKenzie has done nothing but win since and his team is now eighty minutes away from becoming the first Australian team since the Brumbies in 2004 to win a Super Rugby title. The NSWRU made a terrible mistake in not reappointing McKenzie and worse, they have allowed the situation to fester with their refusal to name a successor. A decision must be made immediately and it should be to reappoint McKenzie.

3. The Queensland selectors made a number of grave errors in selection for Origin I but the omission of Scott Prince was not one of them. There have been plenty of calls for Prince’s inclusion in Origin II but he would have done little to change Queensland’s fortunes. Hunt did the job asked of him and if anything, Prince could have been more of a liability for the Maroons. Queensland’s problems were up front. Low-minute forwards who could not handle the impact and a poorly selected bench allowed the Blues pack to get on top and lay a platform for their backline. Steven Price is a must for Origin II while P.J Marsh simply has to be left out.

2. The poise of debutant Peter Wallace in Origin I was something to behold and with a brilliant Origin game, ensured he will be in the mix for years to come. Wallace was a controversial selection as New South Wales halfback with his inexperience the primary focus of critics. He put that to rest almost immediately with a stunningly composed performance that rates among the finest of anyone to wear the Blue’s seven. His kicking game was exceptional, he directed his team around like a ten-year player and he didn’t miss a beat in defence. He may have been lucky to get the spot in the first place but nobody can deny him the job now.

1. The NRL and in particular Sydney clubs have shown very little initiative in dealing with the increased poker machine tax in New South Wales and the result could be the death of a number of Sydney-based teams. Most Sydney NRL teams rely heavily on leagues club grants and the increased tax rate will severely limit the funds available to leagues clubs. The NRL and the clubs have been well aware of this for years yet made very little noise during the consultation process. To further enhance the problem, most clubs are taking a stubborn stance when it comes to relocation. The simple fact of the matter is that there must be a team on the Central Coast. Organisations such as Souths and Cronulla must seriously look at moving because the alternative may well be death. It is time for the pig-headedness to end.

Upper of the Week: The almighty win of Apache Cat in the Doomben 10,000. Apache Cat is one of Australia’s most honest horses and his fifth successive group one victory is a testament to his brilliance. The horse with the white stockings decimated a quality field, winning in the end by 4 ¾ lengths with plenty in the tank. Weekend Hussler took the early jump in Horse of the Year running but Apache Cat must surely be considered. With a heart like his, he will remain one of Australia’s most popular horses for years to come.

Downer of the Week: Chelsea’s firing of manager Avram Grant. In eight months at Chelsea, Grant took Chelsea to the Champions League and the League Cup final and very nearly pinched the Premiership. His failure, however, to bring home any silverware saw him fired. Chelsea have been extremely short-sighted in firing Grant, who is a more-than-capable manager.