Comments on: The heroes and villains of the sporting year

By: Daniel King

Daniel King — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:21:01 +0000

Where? I just googled it and nothing came up except Aussie and NZ stuff. Guess you’ll find it some dark, deep crevice though.

By: Marshall

Marshall — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:17:40 +0000

I’ve heard it used in the English press. Did you think the English wouldn’t rub France’s face in this controversy?

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 08:31:19 +0000

yeah – screw the yankees – god I hate them

By: Art Sapphire

Art Sapphire — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 05:32:59 +0000

Kudos for mentioning Randy Lerner – he even put a local charity on the Villa shirts. If only he had bought the other claret and blue team from East London.

By: Daniel King

Daniel King — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 05:13:20 +0000

It’s LES Bleus by the way and i think the Aussie media are just as racist, i don’t hear “The hand of frog” on English TV.

By: Daniel King

Daniel King — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 05:12:07 +0000

Luke W

You are right, there is no rule that says he has to confess but there is a rule that says you are not allowed to use your hands and he did…….. then had the front to admit it after the game, what a gent.

Ireland didn’t choke in the second leg, in fact they should have won 1-0 however, they did choke in the first leg.

By: jake

jake — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 04:55:41 +0000

Heroes – All Whites for qualifying for there 2nd World cup
Villans – Channel 9 for hiding the NRL season in Victoria and cutting the grand final celebrations

By: Alex M

Alex M — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 04:09:37 +0000

Great article!
My heroes:
Gary Ablett Jr. – has a child like exuberance for the game and is the best player in the game.
Peyton Manning- best QB in the NFL and a model athlete/person.
Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi – the heart and soul of Barcelona.
Randy Lerner – the most supportive, quiet and knowledgable US owner in the Premier League.

My dirty rotten villains:
The New York Yankees – unfortunately you can buy a championship.
Jerry Jones – owner of the Dallas Cowboys. Affectionately dubbed the new Cowboys
stadium “Jerry World”.
Cricket Australia Board of Selectors – YOU cost us the Ashes.
Brendan Fevola – have a guess??

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:50:04 +0000

Hero – Federer confirming himself as the greatest of all time
Villian – World’s cricket administrators

By: Fly on the Wall

Fly on the Wall — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:05:17 +0000

Heroes: as much as I hate boxing, Vic Darchinyan – he’ll end up better than any of our best. Ric Charlesworth – already has the Kookaburras firing better than Barry Dancer did, if that’s possible. Geelong – a great thing to happen to the town. The Crawford report – more funding to grassroots.
Villains: soccer – for continuing to offer up the worst sportsmanship, rugby league players – say no more, rugby union players – for pretending they’re any different, free to air TV – for showing far less than they should.

By: M1tch

M1tch — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:55:08 +0000

heros – storm, cats
villians – news ltd and fairfax media

By: Brett McKay

Brett McKay — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:12:52 +0000

All the best for the new year Adrian and Roarers all, hope the festive season has been/is being kind to wastelines and wallets..

Heroes: Danny Green, Mark Webber, Craig Alexander, the Aussie surfers (with special mentions to Steph, Mick, and Parko), Michael Clarke, Shane Watson (except when in the 90s, or bowling to Chris Gayle), my October and November form with the bat, my driver, and the footballers from all codes previously mentioned.

Villians: Tiger, Thierry, Serena, etc etc, Shane Watson (when in the 90s, or bowling to Chris Gayle), my December form with the bat, my putter, and the footballers from all codes previously mentioned…

By: James

James — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:20:22 +0000

The networks say that but people just want live games. Ratings are strong cause there’s little alternative. Think he was referring to AFL Friday night. It’s delayed on Seven til 8:30 so they can show Better Home and Gardens. Ruins Friday night footy.

By: Gibbo

Gibbo — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:15:11 +0000

also:

Hero: Lucas Neil for walking out on West Ham instead of taking a pay cut!
Villain: Lucas Neil for signing for taking ages then finally signing with Everton on the same dollars West Ham offered!

By: Springs

Springs — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:10:43 +0000

Hero: Alan Jones for his rant against Neil Green that I just listened to. I have been waiting ages for someone to stand up against the giant media corporation. That was brilliant.

By: Ken

Ken — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:07:39 +0000

*That Friday night footy is still not shown live shows how backward our sporting coverage really is.

Not sure where you are (or what code you follow – might actually be more pertinent now i think about it) but RL Friday night footy is now shown live on FTA in NSW and QLD with the second game on delay. Despite the old chestnut about how they were just re-positioning the game into the prime viewing time when they delayed it, the ratings have soared.

By: Gibbo

Gibbo — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:01:54 +0000

Hero: Danny Green for smashing a highly rated yank. The Irish FFA and supporters for being pretty darn gracious in a defeat they didnt deserve. Harry Taylor for what should have been B.O.G in the AFL granny. Vic Darchinian and Stephanie Gilmour, for being tops.
Villain: The (mainly english) tabloid press for getting on their subtly rascist high horse RE: a refereeing mistake involving the Le Blues football team and a former EPL legend. Roy Jones Jnr for getting moshed by the aussie underdog in the first round!

By: Luke W

Luke W — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 23:51:51 +0000

Hero: Thierry Henry. There is no rule that says a player must confess to committing a foul. That is the referee’s job.
Villian: The Irish team/FA/supporters. For using the Henry controversy to gloss over the fact they simply choked in the second leg. They had the better play and the better chances, but weren’t good enough to take them. The WC is better without them and their whingeing.

By: Marshall

Marshall — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:32:40 +0000

Hero – Cahill, Kewell, Schwarzer, Libby Trickett.
Villain – Henry, Stephanie Rice (no one cares who you date), Eamonn Sullivan (more time in the pool, less on Masterchef and you might win gold!).

By: Robert B

Robert B — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:29:00 +0000

Hero: Roger Federer, Dirk Kuyt, Fernando Torres, Manny Pacquiao
Villian: Tiger Woods, Thierry Henry, Floyd Mayweather Jnr

By: James

James — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:51:53 +0000

Hero. Michael Voss. Finals footy in his first year as coach. Pretty impressive. Great bloke too.

Villain. Shane Watson. I’d add that I just don’t like him.

Hero. Ryan Giggs. The dude just keeps going.

Villain. F1 politics. Boring.

Hero. Cadel Evans. Deserves some respect.

Villain. Andrew Demetriou. He had a right to protect his league but he used the media to exaggerate the point.