By Darren Walton
January 27th 2008 @ 8:19am
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Sharapova back into the spotlight after emotional Open win
Maria Sharapova finally wrestled the spotlight from her oddball father with an emotional Australian Open triumph at Melbourne Park today.
In an awesome display of absolute dominance, Sharapova lifted the Daphne Akhurst trophy for the first time after romping through the season’s first major without dropping a single set – despite facing three of the world’s [...]
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![Aside from the token gesture that was the Hall of Fame Tribute Match held in 2008, the concept of State of Origin footy has been outside the AFL landscape for over a decade now.
The last true Origin clash was in 1999, when Victoria defeated South Australia by 17 points. In front of only 26,063 fans.
The [...] Michael DiFabrizio: It’s time to bring back the AFL State of Origin](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/afl-demetriou-rudd-th.jpg)
![Peter Roebuck in a forthright column in the SMH some days ago made the fearless statement that the current Australian side cannot win back the Ashes. If this is true then the much put-upon selectors (who got Shane Watson right as an opener, it must be remembered) will have to start putting together a side [...] Spiro Zavos: Can this Australian side win back the Ashes?](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/australian-cricket-ponting-th.jpg)
![There was jubilation this week as I flipped over the newspaper to find the words “troubled footballer”, “nightclub” and “urinate” co-located in a sentence! It was the perfect opportunity to bust out a team that a couple of mates and myself have selected and re-selected many times over the years.
With its genesis in some [...] Andrew Jones: The Nitespots XI, part one](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/craig_gower-photo-th.jpg)
![With finals in the two biggest sports in the land taking place, every weekend in September is filled with drama, excitement and tension. It’s the time of the year where legends and infamy are forged.
The question I want to look at today is if the pedigree of some clubs dictate their fortune? Is there DNA [...] David Wiseman: Why September is the best month of the calendar](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/why-sept-soward-young-th.jpg)
![The Sports Minister, Kate Ellis, who famously did not know the difference between rugby league and rugby union, is floating the proposition that successful athletes should pay back part of their expenses incurred training at the Austalian Institute of Sports and other similar institutions.
The Minister, in the great tradition of the Rudd Government’s penchant for [...] Spiro Zavos: Should successful athletes pay back their AIS costs?](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/should-successful-athlete-pay-back-th.jpg)
![We’ve all heard the argument against A-League fixtures clashing with FIFA dates and this weekend is a case in point. The FFA admits they’ll review the situation at season’s end, but with a congested fixture list next season, it’ll be a tough decision.
The 2010-2011 Hyundai A-League campaign will see eleven teams compete for the ‘silver [...] Ben Somerford: 33 or 22 Rounds in A-League Version 6?](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/five-reasons-a-league-th.jpg)
![As 2009 draws to a close, so will end one of the most controversy laden years for NRL off the field. Barely a week seemed to go by without another player being splashed all over the papers for “all the wrong reasons.”
The NRL has steeled itself to get tough on players and clubs in 2010 [...] Steve Kaless: Gambling on matches a risky bet for the NRL](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/nrl-roosters-storm-th.jpg)
![The most important part of any season is getting into a position to play finals, and hopefully grab that double chance. During my time at Hawthorn, we were very fortunate to play in thirteen consecutive finals series (1982-94), including seven straight Grand Finals (1983-89).
Usually a month out from September you would know that you’re [...] Robert DiPierdomenico: In finals footy, the players must do everything right](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/in-finals-footy-hawthorn-th.jpg)
![To little fanfare earlier this week, St Kilda secured the services of an Irish lad named Tommy Walsh. But behind the scenes this was a big, big decision for the 2008 Young Gaelic Player of the Year. And in the end, it says a lot about the lure of the big-business, professional game we call [...] Ben Somerford: The AFL is tempting Ireland’s true promise](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/the-afl-tempting-ireland-tommy-walsh-th.jpg)
![It’s cold here in England and occasionally windy as well. Perfect weather for cricket. The Poms love wearing an anorak to Lords or The Oval, a thermos of tea and a cheese sandwich tucked under the arm on the Bakerloo Line or Northern Line.
When they arrive at the grounds, they can buy a plastic bucket [...] Geoff Lawson: Twenty20 has set the cricket world alight](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/twenty20-west-indies-th.jpg)
![Gary Ablett’s contract is threatening to completely derail Geelong’s premiership defence. Make no mistake, this story will dominate the headlines every week until a decision is made: will he stay or will he go?
The rumour mills will be in overdrive as every media outlet endeavours to break the story before Ablett breaks his silence.
For a [...] Justin Rodski: The longer Ablett waits, the greater discontent becomes](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/afl-round-10-gary-ablett-th.jpg)
![Well maybe it isn’t going to match Origin for intensity, but the NRL All Stars game certainly looks like it is here to stay.
I’ll going to throw a cut out pass over this race based issue which seems to have cropped up on the Roar.
For what it is worth, when the players, clubs and fans [...] Steve Kaless: All Stars gets five stars](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/nrl-all-stars-wendell-sailor-th.jpg)



