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Usually when the NRL and AFL go into hibernation, sports fans return to being normal members of society. Individuals, who since March have been unable to converse with partners, suddenly take an interest in what is being said.
Normally a conversation would involve a grunt or a fake smile, anything to make the other half think you’d actually paid attention.
After all, any time spent talking could make you miss a try or a goal.
Plans are no longer made around what time kick-off or the opening bounce is, but rather dinner reservations or the weather.
But just when you thought it was safe (or possible) to make plans that didn’t revolve around a season draw along comes a weekend packed to the brim with sporting goodness.
Football, NBL, Rugby World Cup, cricket, Formula One, V8 supercars, golf (Tiger Woods’ return to the USPGA Tour) and horse racing – ignored for the past seven months – made partners everywhere look on in disbelief. I’m sure I’ve missed others as well.
Surely it couldn’t be? Yes, wives, girlfriends, husbands and boyfriends, it was.
In-fact sports administrators have filled in every little space in the calendar with an event. Why? Because there’s money to be made.
But this weekend was a little bit special. It raises the following question: What took top billing?
This is my top four in order and I apologise in advance to fans of the Melbourne Tigers and the Sydney Kings. You didn’t make the cut.
1. Garth Tander wins the Bathurst 1000 in a thriller.
It’s the sporting event that keeps giving. It’s 7-hours of action that you can either sit through, have on in the background or leave and come back to.
This year, as always, there were crashes, fire and a finish that was nothing short of nail biting. In the final stages of a race that lasts 1-thousand kilometres not even a second separated the winners Garth Tander and Nick Percat and the runners-up Craig Lowndes and Mark Skaife.
The last five laps had the heart racing and was a fitting end to motorsports grand final (despite the season not being over) at a venue that oozes history.
2. The Wallabies beat South Africa at the Rugby World Cup.
The Wallabies fought their way into the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup with an 11-9 win over the Springboks in Wellington. A James O’Connor penalty with eight minutes to go sealed the win. The bandwagon will need some more seats installed after this one.
Supporters of other codes who were bored to death by the performance against Ireland will no doubt return to the fold with a spot in the world cup final on the line.
3. Melbourne against Sydney in the A-League.
This was perhaps the most hyped game in the history of the A-League and although some feel it failed to deliver because of the nil-nil scoreline it pretty much hit the spot.
If it wasn’t for the brilliance of goalkeepers Liam Reddy and Ante Covic the score would’ve been very different.
Harry Kewell razzled in stages while Brett Emerton missed a penalty after a fine save from Covic.
There was also a red card following Mark Bridge’s elbow on Rod Vargas that sparked a strongly worded argument between both sides in which Victory skipper Adrian Leijer proved the surface at Etihad Stadium really is slippery.
4. Black Caviar equalling Phar Lap’s winning streak.
I find it extremely strange to compare the winning streak of a sprinter and a horse more comfortable over longer distances, but we do anyway. After all horse racing needs a feel good story and Black Caviar is only too willing to play the hero.
The mighty mare’s win in the Schillaci Stakes over 1000 metres was her 14th straight victory. It equalled Phar Lap’s run of 14 in a row.
The Peter Moody trained sprinter will break the record during the Spring Carnival as well. She has won millions of dollars and even has a twitter account. Who knew something with no fingers could social network so well?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.