If you woke up today much like myself with a slight hole in your heart at the sheer thought of not watching your favourite team run out on the paddock for at least another five months, I’m here to remedy your pain.
Down under, in our world of NRL and AFL dominance (I’ll even humor the Ra Ra’s and say Super Rugby), we can forget what a thrill it was watching Michael Clarke score his record 329 that January summer’s day.
We forget how we screamed and ridiculed LeBron in nearly every fourth quarter, and how we vented our frustration time and time again over Stosur and her ability to throw away her chance at ever securing an Aussie Open title.
So get pumped up dammit! So much is on its way in the sporting department that it won’t be long before you scream, “That was bloody out!”
NBA
“I love this game” is the catchphrase and rightly so. Hard to believe this game has only been off our screens since the Miami Heat won the title in late June, but with so many high-profile off-season trades, the anticipation for the 2012-2013 season has hit new heights.
The Los Angeles Lakers are tipped to be the new title contenders and rightly so with the recent inclusion of Dwight Howard and two-time MVP Steve Nash. Switch across to the East Coast and you’ll find the Heat now boosted with Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. Speculation is already under way about how Allen will fit into the dynamics of such a superstar team.
But the talk has to be about the newly renamed Brooklyn Nets. Formerly now known as the New York Nets, minority owner and rapper Jay-Z chose to give the team an overall and now with a new name, new kit and new signings such as Gerald Wallace and Joe Johnson on board, this makes for a team to keep your eye on. Also a credit to the Nets for managing to keep Deron Williams on for another season.
On the injury front, Blake Griffin and Boomer Andrew Bogut are on track to make their opening games, and Derrick Rose is also on the comeback trail from that horrific ACL injury he suffered in the playoffs.
First game airs October 30th when the 2011–12 NBA Champions Miami Heat play the Boston Celtics.
A-League
If the introduction of the Western Sydney Wanderers into the A-League didn’t spark new interest, then we can only assume Sydney FC’s incredible singing of Italian striker Alessandro Del Piero did the job.
Fingers crossed the fans who ruined the pre-season matches with their behaviour are long gone, and new Wanderers marquee signing Shinji Ono shines alongside his new side featuring established homegrown talents like Tarek Elrich and Shannon Cole.
Will Queensland again be the superior state, with the Brisbane Roar hoping to make their third grand final appearance in a row? Or will the Kiwis only club Wellington Phoenix live up to their hype, a promising team who are said to have been changing up their style of attack?
We may not be watching Socceroo heroes like Harry Kewell or Tim Cahill (yet) on our soil, but Friday’s first derby match makes up for it. The Melbourne Victory take on John Aloisi’s Melbourne Heart, in what will be his first game in charge.
Football is sure to get the Sydneysiders pumped up and now with our own promising derby, no longer will we let Melbourne fans dominate in this department. It’s time for us to grasp it with both hands and make it our own!
But let’s just get to the point – what other sporting event can you go along to and proudly belt out ridiculous chants beer in hand? That in itself is a gift.
The A-League kicks off this weekend, every game live on Fox Sports.
Cricket
HOWZAT! No I’m not referring to the over the top moustaches and mullets (although I do have a penchant for those stubbie short shorts), I’m talking about Australia taking on the West Indies and Sri Lanka here on Aussie soil this summer.
Cold beverages, sunburnt noses and side line sledging…ahhh summer bliss!
However if you tend to struggle to keep your eyes open with the pace of Test level cricket, or even one dayers, then the Big Bash League Twenty20 series is a ripping game to start supporting.
Where else will you see Shane Warne bowling to Chris Gayle or Dave Warner? And you won’t see Brett Lee run up against any other international talent in Australia unless you follow his Sydney Sixers in the BBL.
Yes the jury is still out on the credibility of the faster game, but those old school types should pull the wicket out of their neither region and enjoy it for what it was set out to be – smashing it out of the park!
Now if a team could just convince current unsigned Brendon McCullum to a contract.
The Big Bash kicks off December seventh.
Australian Open
Bringing the world to Melbourne, the Australian Open is the pinnacle of summer. I personally have always found those two glorious weeks in late January my favourite time of the year, every year.
The hot balmy nights. The chants of “Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!” as fans immersed in green and gold yell for their own homegrown hero on the blue court (my personal favourites are the Aussie players with the European accents).
The giggles of the crowd as Federer cracks a joke with old mate Jim Courier. The cringing moments when a ball boy wets their pants (also a feeling likened to watching Hewitt). Yes, the Australian Open provides every type on entertainment possible.
There is simply no other event held here that showcases the world’s finest athletes. Willams. Nadal. Sharapova. Djokovic. Murray.
Mouth watering.
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